As one rises higher and higher, it is inevitable that one might fall as well. This was a law. Nothing ever went as planned. The reality of the world was different.
Murphy existed for a reason. To right the wrongs or make the wrongs more wrong.
A genius, lauded with as many praises and envy as they could ever wish for, could rise and shine brighter than his peers.
A genius was like the full moon and the stars were the normal people surrounding him.
Nan Gongfan, an outer disciple of the mystified Lord Guanjun, was one of the stars that glittered and surrounded the full moon - Bei Moi.
Even though there existed various types of stars, Nan Gongfan was unmistakably on the smaller side.
Bigger than the moon, was the sun. The sun was bigger, denser, and brighter than the moon.
But…even the sun could be eclipsed by the moon.
The youth named Zhao Wei wasn't the sun or the moon or one of the generic stars. He was something else.
He was more.
A red supergiant?
A galaxy maybe?
Zhao Wei was like a black hole with no limits, with no dynamic feedback process, he could swallow the stars, the moon, and the sun.
Nan Gongfan saw it that way.
If Bei Moi was a super genius, an elite among elites that overshadowed his peers, then Zhao Wei was an entity that devoured the said super geniuses.
A demonic devourer. More unreasonable. More powerful. More unpredictable.
Nan Gongfan felt he was simply unmatched as per what he had already observed.
No, he didn't yearn for that power. He couldn't envy it or feel jealousy toward it.
It terrified him. It kept the hairs on his back on end. It made him feel…weak and powerless. It was a level that he couldn't ever wish to reach.
Dreams of being invincible? Those were mere illusions.
The youth not only held unopposed strength among his peers but also quite a handful insights of into life.
He was very peculiar, verging on eccentricity.
Who could act and speak carefreely like him?
Nan Gongfan could never imagine himself like that even though he was…very social.
Nan Gongfan had an inkling that that person could even speak bullshit and many would believe him. He, himself, included.
The words from Zhao Wei's mouth carried too much authenticity.
Even though he had already profiled Zhao Wei's base attitude, Nan Gongfan couldn't truly decipher the man behind that handsome face.
He felt himself too stupid to even try and he gladly accepted his own inferiority.
One's own Path and resilience, huh?
Even though it would take time to erase his inner feelings of envy and jealousy toward the exemplary and true geniuses, Nan Gongfan was determined to turn over a new leaf.
He didn't want to live that life of always comparing himself to others who were despairingly more talented than him - a gap that was nigh impossible to overcome.
Bitching about every little disadvantage that one had wasn't gonna cut it.
Some people were just meant to be better and more talented. The world was an unfair place in the first place.
Just make a chilled lemonade from the lemons it threw in your way.
Even though Zhao Wei wasn't going to know or care, Nan Gongfan felt that he had helped him. That change in mindset was all he needed.
"Sixth Brother, are you okay?" Nan Gongfan carefully asked as he gazed at Bei Moi's injured arm.
"I am alright." Bei Moi expressionlessly replied as he walked away from the Sky Guards Battalion grounds.
He didn't want to stay there any longer.
Those under the discipleship of Lord Guanjun were meant to be brothers under the same master and not enemies. It was a rule and that's why they addressed each other as such.
Nan Gongfan momentarily looked at the back of Zhao Wei.
'He's met all the conditions to be our master's next core disciple but what would master think about him?'
'How is he going to react in the face of this monster?'
'Would master be pleased with him? Well, it doesn't matter. I feel that his spot is already reserved.'
'We will meet very soon, Zhao Wei.'
Nan Gongfan then turned away and followed Bei Moi who was surely walking so quickly…in frustration?
"Sixth Brother, wait for me!" Nan Gongfan called out to Bei Moi in a goofy way.
This only made Bei Moi increase his pace as Nan Gongfan followed behind with a cheeky grin on his face.
***
"Hmm, Zhao Wei was it? What an interesting lad. Master would surely be surprised by the quality of our geniuses this time round. I didn't expect one of them to wield such might at a very young age, one year younger than the super genius, Bei Moi." Third Guard grinned after watching everything unfold at the practicing grounds.
"He seems like someone who has faced death and despair but overcame it all to grow stronger. What sort of experiences did he go through to have such thick killing intent and how the hell can he still remain in control?"
Third Guard as the one in charge of the Sky Guards Battalion, there was nothing that happened within the Sky Guards Battalion that he didn't know unless he feigned ignorance over some matters.
"I didn't believe Master Ye at first but it seems I was gravely mistaken."
"I should inform the Lord, no, I will just wait for him to leave seclusion. It won't be long anyway."
From the rooftop of the main building, the man known as Third Guard couldn't help but anticipate the day when his lordship would choose disciples.
He then looked at the receding figures of Bei Moi and Nan Gongfan as various thoughts ran through his mind.
"Little brother, without defeat how can you hope to be much more than a super genius? This is the life beyond. The world outside is harsher and crueler than you think." He sighed and then, disappeared.
***
Zhao Wei exhaled gently, ignoring the looks of reverence, envy, and admiration from the surrounding youths.
'Soon.'
It was pure coincidence that Lord Guanjun saw the situation inside the Sky Guards Battalion. Was it Third Guard that told him or was it Ye Lingyun or maybe…it was by own volition?
Zhao Wei didn't know. He didn't care.
He had already achieved the best possible scenario.
'The journey is about to branch off to another path once again.'
Zhao Wei only believed in himself, prayed to himself, didn't trust fate, and took self-dependency to a whole new level.
Whatever means he was going to use to grow powerful didn't matter.
Using others? What was wrong with that?
Lord Guanjun served a greater purpose. He was the gateway to actualize one of Zhao Wei's plans.
After all…everything had to go according to plan!
***
Enjoy!
For more advanced chapters and extra support(Patreon.com/OneArmedImmortal)