Chapter 43 - Chapter 41: Collateral damage(1)

A smile dawned over Raja's face as he ran towards the Flowing River sect's proving grounds, he waved to all his fellow disciples as he ran."You got it this time Raja." one of them replied to his wave."You've spent five long years, you deserve this." another one added.He had finally broken through to the Foundation Establishment and would be able to enter the inner sect.His parents back home were waiting for him to return, he would get rid of everyone that ridiculed him and his family.So many people in his village doubted him, they said he was a waste who could never achieve Foundation Establishment.Today he would enter the inner sect and shut them all up.A beautiful girl stood by the entrance to the fighting arena, waving to him with a smile."Today is the day senior sister, I will prove to them that I am worthy of you." He thought to himself as he looked at her with a longing expression."Junior Raja, are you ready for the inner sect test.""Yes senior sister." he said as he entered the fighting grounds with her."After I'm accepted I'll confess to her." He firmly closed his fist with a look of determination in his eye.He was going to be fighting another fellow disciple who had broken into the foundation establishment stage recently.He entered the stage and looked at the man opposite him, his expression darkened."Filo, it's actually you." The man he was fighting today had constantly harassed and beaten him when he first entered the sect.Filo looked at him with a smug expression."Little Raja all grown up, back for another beating?." he slammed his fists together in anticipation.Raja retrieved his sword and got into a fighting stance."START!" the overseer yelled as the battle began.Filo's defense was solid, Raja couldn't find any openings.The battle proceeded for nearly five minutes before Filo made an opening, he tossed dirt into Raja's eyes."TAKE THIS!" Filo yelled as he punched Raja across the face.Raja fell on his face and struggled while standing back up."How can you be so ruthless in a promotion battle?!" the girl that had escorted Raja to the grounds spoke out while clenching her fists.Raja was disappointed that he had looked weak in front of his senior sister, his expression began to darken even further."I CAN'T FAIL HERE, I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT!" he yelled as he gathered all the remaining Qi he had.His sword began to manifest a deadly flame."This is my final trump card, flame sword form, first form, stab of heat!" he said as the sword was brought down."WHAT THE HELL! ONLY INNER DISCIPLES SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE!" Filo objected as he was struck by the attack, fear consuming him.The attack burnt him violently and he fell to the ground.Raja smiled as he saw the near dead Filo on the ground, it was likely he would never recover.The overseer walked into the arena slowly."The winner is Raja and he will be promoted." he picked up Filo and began to walk him to the infirmary.Raja looked up and smiled at the sky, it was his victory, he jumped off the stage and began to walk over to the senior sister.He would go over there and hug her, making his feelings clear today, she had always been so kind to him he could not think of a better girl.As he was a mere meter away from entering into her arms.A man appeared before him, so quickly that he could not tell when he had arrived. A man above the foundation establishment realm, he could not tell exactly who he was."Your name was Raja right?"The man had red eyes and dark black hair, he exuded a mysterious charm.Raja nodded, not sure what to say, maybe this was a senior of his sect."Your friend here was talking about ruthlessness when Filo struck you."Raja remembered what the man referred to."Yes, when he struck me it was truly without honor, he threw dirt into my eyes."The man nodded slowly."And would you prefer he used a secret technique that burnt you half to death instead?"" He sta-.""Silence."His senior sister tried to speak up but after the man merely said silence she found herself unable to speak."Answer. How do you think any of his friends or family feel after you scarred him like that?" The man asked again.Raja gritted his teeth and met the man's eyes before replying."How can you talk like this!? Filo has been known to harass disciples, I did use a bit of force but I enforced justice!"The man shook his head, clearly disappointed with the answer."And what is just, who decided that you can determine what justice is?" he asked, hoping for a better answer this time.Raja contemplated for a moment before replying."What is the right thing to do is what is just." he spoke wholeheartedly believing his statement.The man sighed deeply before a bright red aura began to emanate from him.Raja felt as if he had been stuffed beneath a mountain and fell to his knees."You know what you are, say it, we both know." the man spoke as he looked down at him.Raja began to hyperventilate, just what had he done to offend this man? But he knew what the man wanted him to say, he had heard it said all too often about people like him, people of the orthodoxies. There was no way he would admit it though."I don't know." as he said this the aura was lifted.The man turned his head slowly and vanished.Raja looked up and saw that his senior sister was also free from the pressure and began to walk towards her.There was a deep fear in her eyes, they reflected something like a great flame.At least that's what he thought.Something that looked like a light flew by him and towards his senior sister.As he began to process what happened, another man, this one with blazing fists stood before him, with his right fist piercing her stomach.