Four Years later,
Xiang Village, Academy
It was a new year, fresh off the start with a batch of new students around the age of 15-16. The students stood in a big hall, where they were about to be introduced to their teachers and their academy head, Ling Xiang.
The crowd was whispering, gossiping to each other, about the Xiang Village, general's sons and daughters. The whole room was filled with the students chattering and praising them.
Han Ping, right hand's general son. His body is muscular, tall, big and his hair is short. His face stood with determination. His expression is calm and full of enthusiasm. He pays no attention to the gossip around him and only looks up to the curtains, which covers the stage.
Jan Ying, daughter of the left hand general. Her body was slim, white as the snow, with long, slender black hair. Her face is as determined as Han's. The wind flutters her hair in it's direction. She takes a long breath and looks towards Han.
"Great day isn't it?" she asks, with a smile on her face.
"Yes it is" he replies, returning the smile.
Their connection between them was established since they were five. Both their parents let them play with each other, eat with each other and respect each other. They have a great sense of co-ordination. Both have been practicing sword handling, fighting and their combat skills since, the age of ten. Both are simply two monsters in a room filled of kids.
After waiting for a while, everyone settles down, and looks over the curtains, moving sideways. A bunch of elders standing on the stage, looks over the group of kids. Their black robes shows their sincerity and seriousness, of this meeting.
"Welcome everyone, to the Xiang Academy, I am Ling Xiang, the youngest of the Xiang family" a middle aged man, with gray hair starts to speak loudly, filling his voice in the silent room. The students looked towards him as he continues - "As you already, know the Xiang Village was formed 200 years ago, by the man, the first clan head, Sun Buan Xiang.. ever since then the achievements and the sacrifice of many heroes, is what led to the formation of the village... and now today, I as your academy head, declare you all as the warriors of our village, the one with the future ahead to protect this village like the previous ones did.. you will be.. our future.. Handsmen".
Everyone eyes lighten up after hearing this. The future "Handsmen" is what everyone looks forward too. The Handsmen, is one of the ancients techniques of the world f Vehimza, it is the technique to hold sword and manifest your soul and energy, surging it into the blade which can cut down anything if one has the focus to do it.
"The Handsmen, blade is not what makes him strong, it is the focus of the mind, one can express into that sword... remember that kids" Ling Xiang says as he moves aside to let a young prodigy move forward. She was around 17 years old. Her arms held the sword steady, as she moves towards a puppet made from grass. She moves her arms back and slices the puppet into half.
The kids though were unfazed by this. One of them shouts "My grandfather can do that" and everyone laughs, except the ones on the stage.
20 seconds later, the puppet's body starts to melt down. Everyone was amazed by this. The academy head shouts "Pride, one of the emotions, which releases the deadliest poison ever".
The child who made the joke fell into complete silence. His gaze is now on the young prodigy, she ignores him and looks the other way.
The academy head nods his head as he is proud of her to put the juniors and show them their places. Now.. it was time for them to introduce to their teachers.
One of the elder man, steps up and shouts "I am Jin Ping, as everyone knows, I will be the one to teach you about swords and how you use them", his eyes falls upon his son, Han Ping, as he smiles to see his determination. One of the elder woman now stands forward and shouts "I am Jen Jin Ying, I will be the one to teach you on how to control your emotions", she says as she gives a smile to Jin and her daughter Jan Ying.
Now finally a young man standing beside them both shouts "I am Mo Fei, I will be the one to teach you about fighting and hand to hand combat" as his eyes falls down to a boy in a corner. The boy eyes looks down at the floor, anyone can tell he isn't ready to become a Handsmen. His black eyes, twitched over the sound of his brother, his hands were shaking and he was relatively smaller than other kids. His brown hair shows sign of lost of faith in himself.
Mo Fei sighs as one of the teachers says - "Don't worry, Mei Fei, will be alright". Mo Fei face relaxes and all his tension loosens up after hearing the comforting words of Jin Ping. "Thank you, teacher" he says in a nod.
Academy, Sword - Training
Jin Ping stands in the middle of the new batch of students. Each of the students were given puppet and wooden sword. Jin Ping looks over to each of them. Han Ping and Jin Ying, held onto their swords, like their life is dependent upon it. Jin Ping nods in satisfaction, then his eyes falls down to the little Mei. Mei hands shakes in fear. The thoughts raveling around war and suffering bring shivers to him.
Jin Ping sighs in disappointment.
The other students were comfortable with their swords. Jin Ping says, "You people, are new, so that's why the wooden swords have been handed out to you, but don't consider this weapon, useless, indeed when you allow the surging binding energy of emotions put into them, you can turn even a small leaf into the deadliest weapon ever. Now watch closely"
Jin Ping hands reaches down to his waist, as he pulls out a swords. His gaze is on the grass puppet in front of him. His swords suddenly starts to glow, coating in white light, before finally putting it down. Now to the students eyes, it seemed like nothing happened, but the puppet body exploded as it has been cut a million times.
"That level, takes years to achieve.." he says, while brushing his beard with his hands. Han Ping was also surprised by this. This was the first time, he has ever seen his father's using his own power. Han Pin aspires to reach that level.
Jin Ping finally breaks the silence and shouts - "Confidence, it was confidence on myself.. Now all of you will do the exact same, but the light should be white, it may create, one or two cuts, but it should cut the puppet into half". Mei looks over Jin and says "Confidence?". Jin replies "Yes Confidence!!".
Jan gives a look to Mei. "What a jerk" she says. Han besides her adds "Can't agree more".
"Alright START!!" Jin shouts.
Han closes his eyes, his expression was calm as he took a long breath and three cuts made, the puppet cut down from it's waist, head and it's legs. Jin nods in approval. Han looks over the puppet, sweating, feeling a bit proud.
Jan closes her eyes, her focus was on herself, she stretches out her swords, and then BAM! two cuts made, from it's waist to the arms.
And one by one, some made one cuts, some made none and some were on par with Han and Jan. But only Mei's puppet couldn't even get a single scratch. Mei's eyes were closed. The memories of his childhood, haunted him. All those years, bullying and left alone, his eyes opens to see the puppet. But something was in his eyes, a fear. Yellow Light surged out and BAM!! backfired at him knocking him out.
Everyone eyes fell upon Mei. Jin runs towards him and shouts for medical attention. Han sneers at the sight of him. "Truly pathetic like you said" he says, as Jan chuckles at his statement.
Evening comes..
Jin looks over the students and shouts "Everyone, that's it for today, go home and.. take rest". Everyone tired, returns their wooden swords to the servants and leaves. Jin eyes frown at the sight of the wooden sword of Mei. He was curious, on why is Mei so afraid.
As he was about to leave, he sees the sword again. Curious, he walks towards it. As he bends down to touch it, a wave of yellow light pushes him back, ten steps away from it. Jin eyes widen in horror. "THAT MUCH?" he shouts. "What could he have possibly went through?" he murmurs, as he pants, sweating at the sight of that cursed item. Usually the surging energy will leave the weapon, but this one remained.
Xiang Village, Eastern Side Forest..
"Hmm I see" Ian Xiang walked with Ling Xiang, through the forest, listening to his words on the student's performance.
"Haha, Han and Jan, both are talented" Ian remarks, over their performance.
He sighs as he listens to Mei's performance. "It's okay.. there's always that one.." he says.
Jan looks at the discomfort on Ian's face "Is something wrong?".
Ian stops in his tracks. "I'll explain" he says.
Ling eyes narrows to his brother's discomfort. Ian sighs and says "You see... there performance is something I will usually see, but I was here, all alone.. looking at the performance of that Meiyou".
Ling eyes widen at the shocking revelation. "What?" he says.
"Yes... I was here.. that child was so calm, there were pieces of logs, attached to ropes, he held a bamboo stick and dodged each of them.. breaking them with.. confidence.. the light of confidence" Ian replies.
Ling looks down, his expression is in fascination. "Are you telling me, he calmly handled a situation, like he's some sort of expert?" Ling asks. "Yes and I want him to be trained" Ian replies.
"WHAT? You must be kidding right?" Ling shouts in disbelief.
Ian answers in a sincere tone "Yes, is there a problem?" as he turns around to look at Ling.
Ling wants to say something, but his words, buries under his brother's tone.
Ian sighs, and looks over that hut... as his mind replays that image.
Meiyou eyes were blindfolded. He took a deep breath, before his stick, coated in white light. The logs moved in random directions, hitting him first. He took the hit and only smiled, as his confidence grew. He took his sword and dodged these logs and one by one, swung his stick, destroying each one of them.
Ian looks over the two moons, knowing that maybe.. Meiyou is something he might no expect to be.