When Mrs. Xia saw my embarrassed look she walked up to me and started reprimand me for my actions earlier. That did not last for long as Raina walked over to her and pulled her back whispering something into her ear before turning to face me. She then started to explain to me in a soft voice about everything that I did wrong and how it was not socially or morally acceptable to do that.
While Mrs. Xia's slightly angry and loud reprimanding was not very pleasant to go through, it was even worse having Raina explain it to me like I was a niece child that did not know better. By the end of Raina's explanation, I was not even able to look up from my feet and using the toe of my boot to scuff the gravel. Thankfully Raina was kind enough to let me go and even mentioned that we should go eat as it was past time for breakfast to be served.
Walking back to the house we enter the dinning room through the doors that led out to the garden. Making our way to the table we sit in the same spots as yesterday with the boy having returned once more. The boy looked at me with some hostility but averted his gaze when both Raina and Mr Xia glanced at him.
Unlock usual, Mr. Xia spoke first saying, "I am again sorry for my son's attitude yesterday. While I understand why you do not wish to accept his apology, could you at least acknowledge that he gave one?"
Looking at him, I could see that he was not very pleased with the fact that he had to ask this a second time and that he also was still holding back something from earlier. If what I could gather from the situation was right, I was fairly certain it had to do with his son not wanting to repent for what he said yesterday and the day before. Knowing how much pain I use to give my father for this exact same reason, I said, " I am willing to do so as long as he gives a more cincer apology. I am not saying that this is a fault on your part, but rather that this is a problem that has arrows because of the people he has chosen as his friends. The only way to fix this is to either pull him out of that group before it is to late, or put him in a similar position as to the one he is trying to put others in."
Before Mr. Xia could respond, Raina spoke out saying, "While I agree with what you said Vale, you could have kept that to yourself as it didn't need to be said."
"I wasn't saying that to Mr. Xia. I was saying that for someone else at the table to learn that his actions have a far greater impact on those around him than he thinks." I explain.
Mr. Xia did not seem to be entirely pleased with what I said, replying, "Thank you for you input Vale, but as his father it is my job to teach him and not yours."
Hearing his words I acknowledge them but still respond, "I understand, I was just trying to give some advice as someone who has said something's to there father they wish they could take back but will never have the opportunity to again."
Mr. Xia's expertion changed and he was about to say something when the boy said, "What do you mean you could never talk to him again? You just have to go home and ask him to forgive you."
Everyone in the room turned to look at him as I looked down at the table and started remembering when Mom said the same thing to me the morning he left for work that day. Raina then placed a hand on my back as I felt a soothing warmth spread from it to the rest of my body. Turning to the side I hugged her burying my head into her shoulder as I heard Lou Xia say, "He's dead you idiot."
I was unable to see what happened next as I kept myself buried in Raina's arms trying to calm down. All I knew was that the boy was dragged out of the room by Mrs. Xia.
I thought that I was over this kind of reaction and had been able to accept what happened, but apparently getting a new life does this to people.
After about twenty minutes, I calmed down and Mrs. Xia had escorted the boy back in and to his seat. What ever she did had seemed to have gotten the lesson through to him as he was no longer as haughty as he was, no was he showing any hostility towards me. He then looked at me and said, "I'm sorry for what I said previously, I won't do that again."
Having the vague feeling that he was telling the truth I said, "That's fine. I accept your apology."
With all that said, and reminded of my parents I give a small prayer as the food is brought out. The Mr. Xia takes the first bite as is costomary and the meal begins.
No one spoke as we ate and all that could be heard was the clinking of plates and silverware. When there was no one left eating Mr. Xia asked me, "Would you mind teach Mo what you taught all of us until the normal lessons begin?"
I considered this for a moment and said, "I would not mind, but he would need to have to have a way to take notes and he would need to listen as I won't be repeating myself more than once. I would also need someone to go to the library and pick up a copy of all the Qi gathering level manuals."
Mr. Xia replied to my words saying, "I can make sure that my son will do what he needs to, but I don't know if I will be able to help with your second request."
Then without giving me the chance to think on what he had said Raina spoke up saying, "I can help with that, you just need to focus on teaching the poor lad. Though I do feel the need to remind you that the next stage of cultivation is when techniques start becoming long term techniques that you will follow for the rest of your cultivation journey."
I knew Raina was trying to be nice, but I think that she forgot my interest in creating a new technique. "Thank you for the reminder, but as you know, I like to create my own techniques. So I will be using those from the library only as reference material and information on what needs to be in the technique."
Raina then looked at me like I had grown a second head for a moment before saying While trying told hold back her laughter , "If those Elder's of my day were to hear you call their precious techniques reference material, I think they would all lose their mind." When she finish say what she wanted to say she could no longer hold back her laughter as it lightened up the room.
Mr. Xia soon joined followed by his wife and eventually Cynthia as well. Lou Xia, me, and the boy were sitting there looking at them wondering were this was coming from until they calmed down.
Once they were finished Mr. Xia called over Cynthia and asked her to prepare a carriage for Raina and to have a few maids help her collect the research copies from the library. When that was settled, a maid came in with a note book and pencil, handing it to the boy.
He looked at the maid in confusion when I got up and started walking toward the door. Just as I was about to walk through I said, "You better hurry up or I will start your lesson without you."
When I was halfway down the hall I heard some footsteps start chasing after me. Thankfully the library was not to far from the dinning room and by the time the footsteps caught up I was already through the door and walking to the back of the room.
The board still had some writing on it so I turned to the boy and said, "First things first pull up a chair unless you want to steal someone else's, but remember the one's in the front are all used by the people that were sitting at the dining table today." As I looked back at the board and started to clean it.
Behind me I heard the boy say, "Then if your teaching, who does the last chair belong to?"
Smiling I only replied a name, "Cynthia."
Soon I heard a chair scraping across the floor and turned around to see the boy sitting in a new seventh chair in the front row. "Good. Now for the second thing, I was never told your name."
The boy sat there stunned for a moment before some pride showed in his face and he said, "I am Mo Xia! Best cultivator of this years disciples."