Authors note:
the use of ' = 'inner monologue' or conversation with Archie.
Quotation marks " = "Speaking out loud"
The next day Grandpa Yin ushered the two out of the house to where a carriage was waiting. The trip to the Soaring Dragon Palace would take half a day.
"Once we get to the entrance of the sect, you will follow the new disciples into the outer sect.
Michael, we will continue toward Daoist Yi's lodgings where you'll be able to start your work"
Jason and Michael nodded, they had already firmed their plans last night, both eager for their future in the sect. The trip went surprisingly quick, the two were joking around and having fun with each other just like old times.
Grandpa Yin sat across from them in the carriage, a bittersweet smile plastered on his face. Having the two rambunctious youths share his house for the past month had taken some time to adjust, but it reminded him of his own children and grandchildren.
'I guess it's back to seclusion after this' he sighed
Michael looked over and saw the old man's bittersweet expression and a knowing look creeped into his eyes before he laughed heartily.
"Are you gonna miss us old man?" he asked daringly, a cheeky smile on his face.
"It's okay Master, you can cry if you want to" Jason joined in on the ribbing after reading the room.
Grandpa Yin's eyes twitched at the two adolescents giving him a hard time. Removing his hand from his sleeve he quickly gave it a swish before two slaps were sounded, one after the other. Identical palm prints were made on the left sides of the twos faces.
Whether the old man held back, or the boys had gotten used to the punishment, aside from being loud there wasn't much damage.
"Hahahaha" Jason and Michael both laughed heartily after looking at the palm imprint on each other's face. The slight stinging pain was well worth getting the opportunity to make fun of Grandpa Yin.
Grandpa Yin shook his head in exasperation; however, a slight smile could be seen beneath his white beard.
"We're here" came a voice from the driver outside.
The carriage came to a stop, the two looked out the window and could see a large path set in the middle of a clearing, a dense forest bordered on either side.
The trio stepped out of the carriage and looked at the long path, it seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see.
"This is it?" Jason looked at Grandpa Yin in puzzlement.
"The sect is right in front of us. What you're looking at is the protective array, to stop anyone entering without permission.
The other Outer Sect Disciples will be here soon, we'll take our leave".
Looks of understanding and wonder crept onto their face at the old man's statement.
"Remember what we talked about brother…" Michael said, holding out his hand.
"By any means necessary" Jason clasped his hand and pulled him in for a hug.
The two had been through a monumental change in their lives and had been dependent on each other to overcome it. This would be the first time since the incident that they would be separated.
After a heart-warming embrace, Jason walked over to Grandpa Yin and kowtowed, showing his respect to the old man for his traineeship. He knocked his head three times before standing up and fishing out a wooden carving that was around 20cm tall from his robe and handing it to the old man.
Grandpa Yin accepted the carving and took a closer look. At first glance he could tell that it was himself, the long beard that went down to his navel, the dense wrinkles and bushy eyebrows were well detailed. He could see a kind smile attached to his wrinkled face, something that seemed foreign to him these past years.
He looked up at Jason with a stoic expression before placing the figurine in his robe.
"Don't embarrass me as your master" he said before turning around and getting back into the carriage. Unknowingly to the two, the old man had a look of pride on his face, he was genuinely smiling.
Michael took one last look at Jason who had a big smile on his face, he felt a bit emotional.
'It's only for a little while. I need to become a cultivator as soon as possible…'
He turned around and entered the carriage with Grandpa Yin, leaving Jason to wait for his soon-to-be sect mates.
The carriage made its way forward, uncaring of the dense emotions. Michael did not want to look back at Jason, he was afraid that if he did one of them would change their mind.
'We're doing the right thing' he said over and over again in his head.
Archie could feel the mental distress of his master but decided against giving his input. He was aware that Michael needed to overcome this hurdle himself, he couldn't always rely on others in cultivation.
Suddenly the carriage began to shake, Michael quickly looked out the window and saw a giant boat rushing through the air. He was beginning to doubt his eyes until he saw the trees being scattered by the wake.
"What the hell is that thing??" he almost screamed in fright.
He could see a large man on the bow of the ship, overlooking the forested area. He was a middle-aged man with a lush black beard and an eye-patch with his hair tied up behind his head. Upon closer inspection he also saw more than 50 youths behind the man, some were looking scared and others arrogant. Judging by their trajectory and inhabitants, they were the new Outer Sect Disciples.
Grandpa Yin looked at Michaels reaction and laughed "That's a flying ship obviously".
Michael was dumbfounded for a second "CLEARLY! I'm not blind. How can it fly??"
"It's a mode of transport that uses Qi and arrays to fly. Although expensive, it's not that uncommon in the world of cultivators. Even I have one." He pulled a palm sized token from his pocket and showed Michael.
"It can change size and depending on the array and can carry upwards of 50 people"
Michael was gobsmacked initially, but then began to feel excited. Thoughts of flying through the sky on a sword, or a ship filled his head with fantastical scenes.
'Why are we in a freaking carriage if he had one of those all along?' he asked himself. After a moment he suddenly realised why.
He smiled with gratitude at the old man.
'Despite being cranky and violent sometimes he really is a caring grandpa. Knowing our relationship, he chose to use the slow carriage so we could properly spend time together and say our goodbyes'
Michael felt deep appreciation for Grandpa Yin, at his lowest moment he took him in and even opened a path to the sect where he could grow stronger and become a cultivator.
He bowed his head "Thank you Grandpa Yin… for everything".