The next day
"After a month, there will be competition between you kids. All of you should start to prepare. Therefore, everyone can pick any three technique scriptures from the academy's study hall. And also, know that the person who wins this competition will be rewarded with 50 low-grade essence stones. Not just that, the one who wins this competition will lead the class team against the second Academy's class team when the competition between the academies arrives." Elder Ren said, and then he looked toward Yang Zhai,
"Yang Zhai, tell me, why are there two kids missing today? Do you know anything?"
"No, elder. I don't know why brother Ming and sister Fu are missing today. But I will send someone to check their house and ask their parents." Yang Zhai replied. There was no nervousness or fear on Yang Zhai's face. His expression was calm and acted like he did not know anything. Yang Zhai was used to these things. He was not afraid of being discovered.
"Very well, then, I entrust you with that. And warn them to not be absent again. I will not tolerate it next time without a valid reason." Elder Ren said seriously.
But Yang Zhai did not say anything and only nodded, indicating that he will do what the elder said.
"That's all for today, you all can leave now." Elder Ren left the class after saying this.
"Brother Hong and sister Ci."
"What is it, brother Yang?" When Hong Mi heard Yang Zhai, he went to Yang Zhai and asked.
On the other hand, Ci An did not say anything and simply went to Yang Zhai's side as well.
"Can you go to Brother Ming and sister Fu's houses to check on them and ask the reason for their absence today? But you can go after choosing the scriptures from the academy's study hall."
"But why, brother? Elder Ren asked you to check on them, so why do I have to go?" Hong Mi didn't want to go. He was indignant that Yang Zhai was forcing him to do the work that was given to Yang Zhai by Elder Ren.
"Are you not going then?" Yang Zhai did not give any explanation and simply looked at Hong Mi with narrowed eyes.
"Ok, I will go." Hong Mi knew Yang Zhai's personality. He was afraid that Yang Zhai would ask someone to slap him again; thus, he unwillingly accepted.
"Ok, you can leave now. And you Ci An, I want you to bring the Blue Gem. I need it in a week." After speaking to Hong Mi, Yang Zhai looked toward Ci An and said.
"What!" When Ci An heard Yang Zhai, her eyes widened. She could not believe Yang Zhai. He was asking for something that nobody even asked them about. And just how did Yang Zhai even know about Blue Gem?
"I said, I want a Blue Gem that only your family holds."
"Are you crazy, Yang Zhai? Do you know that the thing you are asking about is more than I can handle? If I ask my father, he would scold me" Ci An shouted at Yang Zhai. She could not maintain her composure.
When she shouted, everyone looked at her.
"It seems that Ci An is annoyed by Yang Zhai again."
"Yeah, Yang Zhai is really daring. He does not even care about her father."
"Why would he? He is the leader of our class, after all. He has more authority over us than even our parents."
"But, an elder is still an elder. What can Yang Zhai do to them? He is probably going to have a bad end."
"You keep quiet. Have you already forgotten what Yang Zhai did to Ci An and Hong Mi when they opposed him? Do you also want to anger him?"
Yang Zhai ignored the others and continued,
"Simple, I need it. But if your father does not agree, then arrange a meeting between him and me, and I will manage it myself. I will be going then." Yang Zhai left after he said this. He did not stop to hear Ci An's opinion, which meant that he did not want to hear a no from her.
Ci An was fuming with anger. She could not believe that Yang Zhai would order him like that. Even her father did not ever order her like that.
"Yang Zhai, you unscrupulous fool. I will take my revenge someday, just wait." She muttered to herself.
Hong Mi was listening from the side. He understood how angry Ci An was. He could see that Yang Zhai was getting on her nerves more than he did on his.
"Hey, Ci An, calm down a bit. Your father is an elder, you don't have to bring what he is asking for. Just say that your father did not agree." Hong Mi said whilst he was thinking inwardly: It appears that this Blue Gem is important to Ci An's family. Yang Zhai really went overboard this time.
"What has that to do with you? Did I ask for your opinion?" Ci An shouted at Hong Mi angrily and left as well.
"What is her problem? I was trying to be nice to her, but she doesn't deserve it. Yang Zhai is doing right about treating her like that." When Hong Mi heard her, he also left with indignation.
It seemed that the discord Yang Zhai had sowed between them —when he became the leader of this class— was showing its effects now.
…..
Yang Zhai was standing outside the study hall of the Academy. Its gate was fifteen feet tall and was made of fine wood. This gate had tree patterns on it and one of the patterns looked just like the Ice Fire trees. As the kids were allowed to choose three Scriptures from the study hall, its gate was already opened for the students.
Yang Zhai entered the study hall and a beautiful garden appeared. Even though it was called a study hall, in actuality it was a garden. There were red, blue, and white flowers everywhere in the garden. At the corner of this garden was a beautiful small pond. This pond was also surrounded by flowers. Blue fishes swam in the pond. In this garden, trees with red leaves were everywhere. Green vines spiraled around the trees.
Bookshelves were standing in different places. On the top of every shelf was written the name of the path they belonged to, such as fire path, water path, ice path, wood path, earth path, and more. Every bookshelf contained many books.
Yang Zhai was not surprised or shocked to see this beautiful garden, as he already knew about it and had seen it in his previous life.
When Yang Zhai entered, a man around nineteenth came to him from the garden.
"You can choose any three Rank 1 Scriptures from this garden. For your convenience, I will be following you." The man spoke to Yang Zhai. He was also wearing blue attire. Only the elders and the staff who worked in the academy could wear these attire, but every attire had lines on them. This man's attire, which had three lines, meant a man who worked in the academy but was not an elder. A blue attire with two lines meant an elder and an attire with one line meant the Academy leader.
Even though the man said that he would be following Yang Zhai for his convenience, Yang Zhai knew that it was not true. This man was here to make sure that no one could steal anything from the garden. But Yang Zhai didn't mind these trivial matters.
Yang Zhai started to walk and look at the different scriptures. He was only doing this as a formality. Yang Zhai had techniques more powerful than this clan could ever obtain. In fact, It could be said that he knew more techniques than the clan had in its storage. Thus, these techniques were nothing to him. But to not arouse suspicion, he decided to pretend.
And then, there was another reason as well and that was that if Yang Zhai used the techniques randomly, he may incite others' suspicions too. Therefore, he always prevented himself from using any kind of technique in front of others. Nevertheless he could use the scriptures as a cover-up for his techniques. In this way, he would be able to use some techniques in front of others as well.
Yang Zhai chose one fire path technique, one water path technique, and one shadow path technique.
*****/*****