Morning. Just as the sky lit up in the yellow wood village, a boy living in a cottage at the edge of the village had just woken.
Aedan leaped off the bed, threw off his leather pants and shirt only to return to his natural state. All of this was done in one breath. When done, he noticed a note on the bedside and picked it up.
[All villagers are to gather at the communal hall in the evening.]
"Huh? Is there something happening? I should look for grandpa later to ask about it." Keeping the contents of the note in his mind, he washed himself in the river close to his cottage before changing into a new set of clothes, a leather pants and shirt just like the ones he wore before.
Once everything was done and his stomach full, Aedan took a deep breath thought. "Wait, today's is my day off, I don't need to be in the kitchen. Then what do I do? I known..."
After a moment of pondering, he ran towards back of his cottage where had several mature ironwood trees.
Ironwood trees were the most important resource here in the forest. A single pieace of it is about as sturdy as iron, the weapons made with it by the Redwood Village's technique could cut through almost anything.
"Hah! Hah!" .....
Standing in front of a young ironwood tree, Aedan took a half step with both fists carrying the wind, and practiced the set of fist martial arts he leaned in the sect, Snake Fang Fist.
Snake Fang Fist was only a pure martial art that didn't need one to be a warrior or have lifeforce, even so Aedan practiced it carefully, making it particularly beautiful.
All cultivation techniques and manuals were divided into 4 categories: pure, elementary, intermediary and advanced. Pure martial arts had no requirements and the easier to learn from, but their effects are also the worst.
Higher grade manuals would render greater effects during one's cultivation, but the higher you go the requirements grow as well.
Back then, the Clan's secret Lifeforce Manual he practiced in was only a low-grade Advanced manual. With the Village's current strength, it would be hard to resist these many forces which is why they kept hidden in the forest.
After practicing for a while, Aedan drenched with sweat, and his breathing rate was quick as his muscles were sore. Looking at his reflection in the water, he laughed at himself as the image of a young lady dressed in white appeared in his mind.
If there was one reason to why he didn't care about his engagement with prettiest girl in the green wood, then it could only be this person.
'I wonder what she would think if she shall me like this. No I shouldn't be thinking about that, there's still time.'
While lost in his thoughts, a sound came whistling from this back: "Hey traitor! Stop right there!"
A hand that was too fast for him to dodge hit him hard on back, Aedan was caught off balance and almost fell in the river. Raising his head, he saw two youths dressed in black.
The one that hit him fit and a lot of muscle for his age. His eyes from him had a tinge of disdain inside them as he looked down upon Aedan, who had just stood up and straightened himself.
However, instead of the strong one, his eyes stopped on the thin, handsome youth behind him. Understanding fell upon him in that instant, among the outstanding youths of his generation, this youth, Awan was second only to him.
His parents were both part of the village's management and his grandfather served as the leader of security for three decades and his position in the village was only bellow the Village Chief, and the main family.
An important thing to notice is that Sanya is very popular in all nearby villagers who has thousands of promising young men who wants to marry her.
Awan was certainly no different. The hierarch of the in the tribe was very simple, first came the villagers, followed by the officers, village elders and the village chief, They were charged of keeping their true identity of the clan as a secret while maintained a friendly relationship with the neighboring villages.
Above the Village Chief was the Clan with it's fewer members, four elders and the Clan Head. their cultivation were all on the Cleansing Stage and beyond.
To the other surrounding villages, the Yellow Wood Tribe was only but a small tribe of hunters and craftsman that would sell their Ironwood crafts to the others. How could they know there is an ancient clan behind the village?
With the exception of the Clan Head, all other clansmen stays further to the mountain and would rarely interact with the villagers so their true powers was able to be kept as a secret.
Aedan while a grandson to the Clan Head and a son to the Former Village Chief, but the former wasn't a information many knew about. To them he was only the son of the former chief and given both father and son disgraced the Village Rules, coupled with the son returning as a cripple, only could say his popularity within his family couldn't be any worse.
The marriage agreement was made years ago by the Village Chief as a way to appease the tribes nearby that has been getting more and more aggressive in the territory.
The engagement may have been dissolved, but that didn't meant their village would get to engage another youth to her. It was probable they would give her hand to another promising youth from one of the stronger tribes.
Awan knew that as well but he couldn't keep himself from hating Aedan and all his doings.
Despite realizing everything at first glance, he knew it wasn't the time to play his cards. In that moment, Aedan had a face full of anger and addressed the thin youth." Awan! What is the meaning of this?"
Awan's face was still, yet he couldn't trick Aedan who could see the deep hatred in his gaze. Despite the fame he made for himself as a generous and prideful warrior, he was a person who took revenge at every possible opportunity, and Aedan clearly understood that.
When he first returned to the village, he recalled that the two of them had a little conflict. This was because his men were him and spreading to the villagers he was a traitor that he care little to their lives who broke the laws only for himself.
And since he indeed broke the laws, even the Clan Head that stood above the villagers had no say in this and could only let Aedan get mistreated by the Village elders and the ordinary clansmen.
During these past few months, lots of rumors about him spread in and out of the village, slandering his name and putting him as a villainous and greedy person.
Grabbing his leg that was swollen with the hit, Aedan knew this was something he won't be able to escape from.
As long he stayed here, this person won't stop looking for trouble and worse his family had a lot of influence in the village. At worse, they might try to take over his grandpa's position.
As the youth stepped away, he seemed to remember something and turned back.
"Oh, the is another thing. The village elders are all displeased with your presence, and a ultimatum was given this morning. In six months, our clan will be holding the clan's annual contest for the younger generation. Every member of our generation is going to compete and a designation will be given according to one's own performance. But for those who fail get qualified, they will be sent to work on the herbal fields and exiled from the Village. Have a nice evening!" Awan turned around and left with his goons while feeling proud of himself.
What! Aedan's heart stopped for a second and his face changed dramatically. Six months? Are they crazy?! With his foundation broke how do they expect him to recover until the time for the familiar tournament?
Isn't it exactly aiming at him?!
What! Aedan's heart stopped for a second and his face changed dramatically. For the elders to agree on this means his own grandfather's influence in the family is much weaker than the former days.