EXPERT'S INHERITANCE
Rath woke up with a startle on the same spot with his father's amulet laying on top of his chest.
'What the-… Was it real?' he asked himself as he rolled his eyes around the starry sky in confusion.
"Oh No! What time is it? Mom is going to kill me!" he jumped up and hurried back home, knowing what a fearsome lady his mother can be at times.
The moment his house was in sight he saw his mother anxiously walking in front of their house and looking here and there. He hesitated to step forward since he didn't know what to say but his mother rushed forward as soon as she caught a glimpse and hugged Rath tightly.
"Thank God you're safe, Rath. I was worried that what happened to your father might-"
Rath gently put his finger on his mother's lips and went to his room silently with something stuck inside his mind.
As Rath laid on his bed, he recalled those terrifying scenes and his body trembled with the emotions of fear, reverence, and fascination as he tried to fathom the strength of the two beings, and while wondering that, his fatigued body fell asleep.
On the other side, Rath's mother couldn't help but frown at the change in her son's demeanor, he was exactly like his father whenever he came out of seclusion,
'That way to look down on the world and only have the ambition to reach the peak. It is exactly the same; I guess my son is just like his father.'
…
Next Day!
As the first rays of light reached the earth the ambitious boy awakened. He dealt with his morning rituals and greeted his mother.
"What happened, you seen a bit troubled ever since you came home late?"
At his mother's inquiry, he replied respectfully, "I don't know, Mom. I'll tell you when I understand myself."
"Okay fine! Just tell me when you feel like it."
"Hmm, I will!"
Afterward, Rath went on his way to Academy, but even then his thoughts were on that vision. He could not understand the complex situation but he felt something different inside of him. He grasped the left side of his chest where the Expert impaled him with his hand.
'Why do I feel so different after that?' he questioned his odd feeling.
On his way when he was just walking, lost in his daze. Many students along the way were pointing at him and whispering to each other, but he didn't notice their gazes filled with pity and mockery.
News of Rath's return was soon reported to Jean, Jape's sister,
"He must have quite the guts to come back the very next day. Looks like I will have to truly show him the difference in strength and family background."
…
Rath entered his class in a daze, oblivious to his surroundings. As he sat on his seat he felt an anxious gaze on him.
"What is it Garfield?" Rath asked with a tilted gaze.
His friend seated behind him scolded Rath for his reckless behavior with genuine worry in his tone, "YOU'RE asking me that? Who the hell told you to provoke those from the Junpo family? Why couldn't you ignore them and be on your way? YOU had to break Jape's wrist. I know you were once a young master, but right now your cultivation isn't improving, your status is low. You should have been down to earth."
"I couldn't just let him insult my parents and let him trample all over me, now could I?" Rath replied as nonchalant as ever.
"Oh yes you couldn't but who told you that breaking his wrist was a good idea?! You could have talked your way out." The boy continued pushing the matter and ended up annoying Rath.
"Why are you so concerned, Fatso?" Rath looked at him intensely.
His friend shook off the insult and tried to be the bigger man as he explained the situation, "Jean is after you. She just announced that you and all your friends would be considered her and Junpo family's enemies."
Rath held his forehead, "Isn't that the brat's sister whose arm I broke? That might be a problem."
His friend sighed, "It sure is. Just tell me what you need; I'll try to arrange it to the best of my ability."
"Thanks. You're a true friend, Fatso." Rath winked.
Annoyed at the compliment Rath repeatedly gave him, his friend knew that this wasn't the time to quarrel.
"Just be careful." He said.
Not long after the teacher arrived and gave a stink-eye to Rath before he began the lecture.
The classes went unhindered, only this time, Rath was completely ignored.
…
After class just as Rath was on his way out of the academy, he was stopped by Jean's lackeys.
"Stop right there you presumptuous bastard." A skinny guy with a Mohawk called him out from behind.
"Huh?" Rath turned around to see what was going on and found a group of delinquents.
Another one of them screamed out, "How dare you to look down on the Junpo family!? We're here to make you pay for your sins!"
Rath wasn't intimidated by them and remained a nonchalant attitude, "Oh is that so, but what has that got to do with you?"
The Mohawk kid replied with a smirk, "Of course it does. After all, we work for the Junpo family."
Rath giggled with mockery for them and said, "Are you sure? because I don't think dogs can represent their masters."
"YOU….you…you better shut up." The delinquent popped a vessel.
Right before Rath was about to turn around and be on his way, a shrill voice entered their ears. Although it seemed noble, no one would've liked to hear it for a second time, "Enough! You useless insects, you had one job!"
"No madam Jean! We really beat him up and threw him in the outskirts." The Mohawk kid tried to explain himself.
"Shut up! Do you think I am blind?" Jean silenced her men. However, Rath felt an itch he had to satisfy when he said,
"No, you're stupid too."
Gasps could be heard all around them. Students and even academy staff were wondering about Rath that either he was really brave or ignorant.
Jean only looked coldly at him and said, "It seems you are tired of living."
Rath who was surprisingly not intimidated was again distracted by his thoughts of that expert.
Jean took his silence as an insult and decided to teach him a lesson again. She took a stance for a palm strike.
Rath on the other hand was confused because she was incomparably slow today. "Why is she moving in slow motion?" Rath took a side step and easily dodged to the side.
"Hmph! Lucky." Jean spat on the ground and released a flurry of attacked mercilessly, but Rath was dodging every single strike like the wind.
After several failing palm strikes, punches, and whips, Jean was frustrated. At that moment Rath found an opening and made his move.
He moved like the wind, his stance strong as earth, his movement fluid like water, and his punch filled with power. His punch went straight in her guts and she flew several meters back. She even spat out a mouthful of blood indicating that she got internal injuries.
The unexpected and surprising event shocked every eye that watched it happen. The crowd echoed with mutters and comments,
"What is going on? Wasn't Rath in the disciple realm (zero realm) while Jean in the early stage of the 1st true realm?"
"I think he broke through."
"But Jean is in the realm for quite some time while he just broke through. This conjecture also seems inappropriate."
"What are you guys thinking about. Of course Rath is a low key expert who hides his strength and face slaps people."
Rath on the other hand was clueless about what had just happened.
'It was only a simple punch but it did so much…'
Contemplating his situation he realized that his increase in strength was because it was at the peak of the 1st true realm also known as the Spirit practitioner.
'Believe it or not… I know this has something to do with what happened last night!'
Rath stormed off with a blank gesture, and with great speed he disappeared from the spectators' sights.