Chapter 5: Four years of peace

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Four years later - Green lake town - Scholar pavilion.

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In a small study room that is full to the brim of many scholars, these scholar age range from 12 - 30 The content of the teacher who sat on a wheelchair is very deep and profound many student listen intently of what he said until one of a student with 15 or 16 age asks with a smirk.

“Teacher, What you said [The most powerful weapon that will change the world is not the supreme Spirit arts or any supreme Combat arts, But education] Isn’t this exaggerated? or is it because you don’t have spirits root, so you despise any form of spirit and combat arts?”

Some of the students that's not convinced of this fact laugh loudly like they want to humiliate the teacher on a wheelchair.

The teacher on a wheelchair look at the youth with a carefree smile. He is Zhu Wushang in 16 years of age. He's looking more mature because of his demeanor, and with a very handsome and charming but manly face with a frail look make him more like of a highborn and respectable scholar.

“Student Tian Feng, this is a fact, and I never lie when it comes to teaching others. You can look outside and see the proof of this fact. If not for education we would still live in a cave or still wear animal hide right now. And because of the education that you guys can train in Spirits arts and Combat arts. In fact, I never despise these two arts because it is the fruit of education from many generations before us.”

Zhu Wushang touched the handle on the wheel of his wheelchair and moved to the bookshelves within the room. He kept the book that he used to teach his student in the bookshelves and turned to face them again.

“But you guys need to know that the Spirits arts and Combat arts were designed to take life not to create or invent anything new. Only education and our thirst for new things can create something from nothing, for example, my wheelchair.”

Zhu Wushang jokingly said while patting his wheelchair and many of the students happily laughed.

“Ok! That's it for today. Tomorrow is a weekend, don't forget to bring me your version of the problem I ask you in the class. There's no absolutely correct nor absolutely wrong. Who knows your solution might be better than what I think.”

He encourages his students and claps his hand as a sign of the end of the class, but many students don't move from their spot like they’re waiting for someone.

In a moment a figure of a fairy-like girl walking into the classroom. She has raven-black hair white jade skin and a goddess-like face that hides behind her blue veil.

“Haaah these guys” The teacher sigh in frustration then smiles at the goddess-like girl.

“Xiao Lan, thank you” He gave a heartfelt thanks to Xiao Lan and she also gently smiled back at him before walking behind his wheelchair, grabbing the handle above the backrest and gently bringing him out of the class.

But they didn’t know that Tian Feng sent a disapproving gaze at them.

[It’s not like I'm not appreciate you when you saved my sister, but you’re just a cripple, you do not deserve my sister.] Tian Feng thinking in his mind.

He is Tian Feng, the half-brother of Tian Xiulan. He’s born from a Concubine, but the emperor favors him because of his close relation with Tian Xiulan. Before the emperor discovered Tian Xiulan special physic and relocated her here to hide from emperor enemies and bide her time before she was strong enough to face her enemies. He’s the closest to Xiao Lan to the point of becoming a sis-con.

The emperor was furious about Tian Xiulan's decision but he can’t do anything because Zhu Wushang used his life to save his beloved daughter, and the Zhu couples are his trusted aides. Zhu Songtian is the Eastern general that’s guarding the border against the 5 empires alliance that is not so friendly and Zhu Yinbing who was the Grand General of his army and was once the strongest expert of the Great Phoenix empire.

Even he doesn’t give a damn about what Zhu Wushang has done for his daughter. He needs to think twice before provoking this couple because he doesn’t want to lose half of his empire in a civil war because of this matter.

That’s why the emperor sends Tian Feng here to monitor these two and also to protect them from His political enemy, because the emperor still wants to drag more time. Before conferring a new crown prince or finding a way to change Tian Xiulan's mind. Because in the emperor's perspective the strongest heir, Tian Xiulan should be the one that ascends to the throne.

That’s why he came and stayed here for about two years now, but surprisingly the class of this Zhu Wushang was very practical, and many subjects are beneficial to him. Almost all of Zhu Wushang's teachings are unreputable facts, and he also encourages his students to think in their own way. So he starts to think if this Zhu Wushang has the strength at least at peak commander realm, He might seriously consider him as a candidate to be his brother-in-law.

Unfortunately, this Zhu Wushang only has his brain, but not strength which is very important in this world society.

“Haaaaah” Tian Feng exhaled in frustration about the current circumstances of Zhu Wushang and his goddess-like sister.

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The street of a seaside cliff - Near Zhu Manor

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The couples enjoy the quiet time together, The girl pushing his wheelchair with a gentle smile while the boy enjoys the light wind touching his face. They stop at the seaside cliff not far from Zhu Manor then, Zhu Wushang speaks.

“Xiao Lan”

“Hmm?”

The Goddess-like girl responded and walked to his front then, Unmasking her veil to let herself see his face more clearly.

“These past four years, I never regret even once when I save you. In fact, I feel proud of what I did and I consider to achieve something with this weak body of mine. That I can even save you.” He smiles while holding Xiao Lan's hand.

“That’s why You don’t need to feel responsible for what has happened to me. I am fully aware of the nature of this world that there’s no place for people like me no matter what they have achieved. If they didn’t have spirit qi, They’re just worthless trash that no one ever wants to look at.”

Zhu Wushang mockingly smiles to himself. These four years they lived together in the Zhu manor like an average married couple did, but they are just living together and there’s no more than that. It’s not that he doesn’t like it, In fact, he likes it very much. But it’s not the reason for his deficiency to destroy her bright future.

Plus, He knew how this world works. He chooses to let her go now rather than to wait for the world to force him to let her go.

But, What Zhu Wushang sees in front of his eye is a heartbroken face of a goddess, her tears slowly dropping from her cheek.

“Why…? don’t you want to see me anymore? Do you hate me? or did I offend you?”

“No!! It’s not that.” He refuses.

“Then did you like someone? If so, it's ok. I don’t care how many women you have. Just let me stay with you…” She's starting to plead and trembling in fear but the intimate feel from her hand that Zhu Wushang is holding makes her stop, then she looks at his face.

“No!! It’s also not that.” He stops then looking at her face

“You have your life. The brightest of life I have ever seen. You attain the Peak of Spirits king realm at the age of 18. It’s amazing, so… please don’t waste your time with a wastrel like me. I want you… to have a happy and bright life and do things that I can’t achieve in my place. Plus whether I like it or not, the world will still force you to separate from me. Instead of letting that happen and hurt ourselves. I should make this clear to you. Please... don’t waste the best time of your life on me.”

Zhu Wushang speaks with a trembling voice. He tries not to belittle himself, but his defects still haunt him, but his resolve prevents him from crying, but it can’t help if his depressing emotion still makes his voice tremble.

Xiao Lan smiled. She looked at his face then said.

“My happiness is to stay with you. I don’t care what the world thinks. If the world tries to force me from you, then the world will be my enemy.”

Zhu Wushang looked at Xiao Lan, dumbfounded at her answer. He never thinks about the extent of her feelings for him.

Zhu Wushang is looking seriously at Xiao Lan's face. He honestly doesn’t want to lose her, but he always thought that [For her future he cannot be selfish] he repeats it every day and every time he’s with her, like a curse he puts on himself.

But… this time the curse has been broken, by a single heartfelt word of a girl he loves.

[If the world tries to force me from you, then the world will be my enemy.]

He repeats this domineering word in his mind before chuckling.

“Ufufufu U-WaHAHAHA!!” He laughed out loud with all of his lungs power. It’s an honest and straightforward laugh that let the negative feeling of his to be released and vanishes.

He was laughing for a while before he stopped and gently touched Xiao Lan black raven hair.

“Deep down I’m a very selfish and a hypocrite person you know? If I accept the feeling from you right now, there will be no turning back. I’ll strive to be a man that can stand with you hand in hand without embarrassing you; I’ll stop at nothing to make you mine and mine alone. Even the universe would turn on me for this; I’ll destroy this universe to have you as my wife.” He didn’t know where his confidence had come from when he spoke about destroying the universe, but it comes out naturally like it’s a part of his nature.

He then kisses her and Xiao Lan also responds with the same heartfelt kiss.