Author : Vasudeva_AY
Miko, observing Li Wei's stunned silence, swiftly knelt beside him, offering silent support with a reassuring hand on his back. Sensing his shock, she refrained from speaking, understanding that words might exacerbate his distress.
"From the look in his eyes, his self-respect and honor have taken a severe blow. Such a blow can shatter a person's confidence, for ever" Vivek observed, noting the emptiness in Li's once vibrant gaze. The vitality of his blue eyes seemed extinguished, leaving behind lifeless orbs.
Elder Bi's decree echoed through the room with solemn finality. "With your wife, you cannot reside within the main family branch. You will relocate to the side family branch quarters," he pronounced before departing, his authority lingering in the air.
"Let's go," Miko's gentle voice carried a warmth that contrasted the chill of the verdict, offering Li a steady hand to rise.
The Li family, an ancient lineage tracing back to the clan's origins, maintained a division between its main family and the side family branch. Those within the Li family who lacked significant influence or power were relegated to the side family branch.
Outside the ancestral house, Elder Bi stood beneath the starlit sky, bathed in the ethereal glow of the moon. "Li Wei, was a thorn in neck, his talent and the speed with which he was cultivating, was too fast. But his ascent must be curbed to ensure the success of my own lineage. Once in the side family branch, no matter how powerful he becomes, he will only serve the main family" Elder Bi ruminated, his silver hair gently swaying in the night breeze. Behind a façade of aged features lay the spark of ambition. "Your return after three years was a grave error."
The quarters of the side family lay at a distance from the ancestral home, encompassed within the vast expanse of land belonging to the Li family. Though spacious, these dwellings lacked the grandeur of the main family estate. Each house stood adjacent to the next, enclosed by bamboo walls delineating their boundaries.
Inside the quarters, single-story residences with tiled roofs and elegantly furnished wooden interiors offered modest yet comfortable living arrangements, comprising multiple rooms suited to the needs of its occupants.
Inside one of the modest rooms, Li and Miko sat on the bed, Vivek nestled in Miko's arms, his eyes observing the solemn scene. Miko provided silent support to Li, who remained speechless, grappling with the weight of their circumstances.
Moonlight streamed through the window, casting an ethereal glow upon the room in shades of white and blue.
Finally breaking the silence, Li's voice quivered as he began to speak. "After my father's passing, my grandfather entrusted his dreams and ambitions to me. And now, here I am, relegated to the side family," Li lamented, his emotions raw and palpable.
"I've shattered not only my own future but also that of this child," he continued, anguish evident in his tone. "With the blessing of supreme Orbis, a rare occurrence in our clan's history, his potential could be boundless if his talents prove worthy."
"Now, I'm trapped," Li confessed, his voice heavy with resignation. "I cannot deny him as my own, for to do so would lead to our deaths. Yet, to acknowledge him means surrendering him to the whims of the elders, or worse, to the clan leader. In any case this child will be a puppet in their hands"
"Calm down. At least none of us died, right? You saved this baby's life not once but twice. You should be happy," Miko said, her voice gentle, as she tried to uplift Li's spirits.
Li glanced at Miko and managed a small smile. "You are too naive, my dear," he thought to himself, appreciating his wife's simplicity.
Seeing him smile a little, Miko chuckled. "Now, whatever it may be, this baby is ours. At the very least, he can serve the main family, right?"
"Serve," Vivek echoed in his thoughts. "That's all I've ever known – serving others, being used as a puppet since the age of six. I refuse to let that happen again in this life. This world can grant me freedom through power, and I won't allow anyone to take it away from me."
Leverage adopted orphaned kids, especially around the age of six, and their training began then. From that tender age, they were emotionally torn apart, armed with weapons, and conditioned mentally to kill.
"But first, what I need is information—information about this Yodha(1) stuff, the ranking, family, and other aspects," Vivek thought.
"What will you name him?" Li inquired.
"Hmm, come to think of it, this baby was blessed by the deity, and he looks so purified," Miko paused, "How about Zhen?"
Li nodded, "Zhen, not bad."
Days upon days followed after the incident where the baby was blessed by the moon deity. Li lost his position as commanding captain but was appointed vice-captain due to his rank.
Zhen, already possessing knowledge about nutrition and other aspects from his past life, consumed foods to provide the most nutrition to his body. Consequently, his body grew faster and stronger than other kids his age. At just seven months old, he was able to walk unlike other children, but he didn't walk in front of everyone until he reached one year of age.
Once everyone discovered that he was able to walk and run by the age of one and a half years, Zhen began visiting the Granthalaya(2) in the family, eager to learn more about language and Yoda-related subjects.
By the age of three, he had self-educated himself to the level of an adult Yodha, absorbing vast amounts of knowledge.
Whispers and rumors circulated among the side family branch and the serving maids about the precocious child.
"They say he could read by the age of two and write shortly after, as if he were an adult."
"Indeed, many spotted him in the library even before he turned two, and have you noticed how articulately he speaks, forming clear sentences while others his age struggle with basic language?"
"Reena mentioned she saw him walking at just 7 months old, though some dismiss it as gossip."
"Regardless, he was blessed by the deity and seems to possess a remarkable intellect. He's just like his great grandfather, General Lin."
Zhen stood in the courtyard, his small body only four years old, shivering slightly in the cold winds that swept through the grassy area, with small stones lining the wooden boundary.
"It's time to begin the Leverages' basic training," Zhen declared to himself.
Leverages' basic training typically commenced at the age of six, focusing primarily on enhancing body flexibility and resilience from a young age. This foundational training also prepared for future weapon handling by molding the body's joints to increase attack potency. However, Zhen chose to start early.
As years passed, Zhen diligently trained and fortified himself. Unlike other children his age, Zhen often sat beneath a tree near the courtyard, gazing toward the open area where family children played. There, he immersed himself in painting scenes of the children, the sky, and the mountains, or indulged in writing poetry during his leisure time.
All of this made Zhen quite popular as the most naturally gifted child, blessed by the moon deity and the most beautiful kid in the entire Li family. He received appreciation from everyone, as children showing signs of early genius were thought to possess exceptional talent once awakened as Yodhas.
However, all these attributes also made him unapproachable. His reserved and quiet nature was often mistaken for arrogance by many kids in the family, making him popular yet disliked among his peers.
"Zhen, come play with us! We've got a new ball," Li Mu exclaimed excitedly. He was one of the sons of Elder Bi and a few months older than Zhen.
Standing next to his twin brother Li Mu, Li Bai watched as his brother extended the invitation to Zhen. Rather than responding, Zhen quietly and gracefully left the scene without a word.
"You asked me to play with him. Didn't you see his attitude? Always considering himself better than us," Li Mu complained to Li Bai, who listened silently.
"He's our brother, isn't he? I just wanted him to join us," Li Bai said, his expression somewhat somber.
* * * * *
(1) : A term of Sanskrit origin, denoted to a warrior.
(2) : A chamber filled with archives, ancient records, books, and scriptures.