~~~
Another week passes by. What was once new becomes the norm. Old Jiang who stands in the Emperor Realm now lives in Liu Jin's house. His presence draws a few odd stares at first, but that soon fades away. As far as anyone can tell, Old Jiang is nothing more than an ordinary old man, no different from any other.
When Liu Jin thinks about it, that Old Jiang is capable of so perfectly hiding his overwhelming aura is nothing short of terrifying. Watching him interact with the people of Eastern Port City is like watching a tiger among oblivious rabbits. They should run from him yet are unable to realize the danger. Still, this is his life now, and Liu Jin has come to terms with it to a degree. It helps that his duties and responsibilities remain largely the same.
For example, delivering medicine to their clients.
“Thank you, dear," an old woman tells him after he delivers her medicine. "I am sorry you had to come all the way here, but these old bones are not what they used to be."
"It is no problem, ma'am," Liu Jin tells Old Lady Gao. She is one of their regulars, has been for as long as Liu Jin can remember. Back in the old days, she was still healthy enough to visit the clinic. However, as time passed, age got the better of her. Nowadays, she is barely capable of leaving her bed. "We are glad to be of help."
"Oh, if only my useless son could have half of your disposition, I might be able to sleep at ease."
Old Lady Gao is a widow. Usually, her son is the one who picks her medicine at the clinic. However, he had let them know he would be too busy to do so this day. It is only to be expected. The entire city always becomes busier as the Eastern Port City Tournament draws near.
In Liu Jin’s opinion, it is a good thing it only happens once every two years.
"I am sure he wishes he could have made it to the clinic today," Liu Jin replies diplomatically before changing the subject. "Father made this dose slightly stronger. One pill per day should be all that is needed. With that, Lady Gao should be able to move without pain for the rest of the day."
The pills would not heal her. Old age is not something that can be treated so conveniently. However, the medicine will allow her to spend her last months without pain. Small as it may be, it is the only thing they can do.
Even if it feels entirely too little.
Old Lady Gao's weathered face contorts into something that could be called a smile. "Child, you are too kind to this old lady. Go now. Do not let me keep you. I have lived my life. I'm content. Go live yours so when you are my age, you will not have any regrets."
Liu Jin blushes.
Been seeing through so perfectly is nothing short of embarrassing. Liu Jin had thought that was something only Old Jiang could do, but perhaps the power of the Emperor Realm has nothing to do with it.
It may simply be the privilege of age.
~~~
Age is not something that can be overcome with medicine. That much is true. However, that does not mean it is something that cannot be overcome at all. Liu Jin knows that for sure. In fact, the entire world is aware of that fact.
Death can be defeated.
It is a piece of knowledge everyone learns. It is knowledge so fundamental it is impossible for someone not to know it. The higher one climbs through the realms of cultivation, the weaker the hold of age becomes. People in the Emperor Realm like Old Jiang or Xiao Zheng can live for almost a thousand years. If one climbs even higher, age will stop mattering at all.
One who reaches the highest realm of cultivation becomes eternal.
A true immortal.
Yes, everyone knows this. However, nothing changes. There is a way to avoid death, yet people keep going about their lives. No one is rushing towards immortality. It is something that puzzles Liu Jin’s mind as he walks back home.
Why is that?
Isn't death scary?
Liu Jin shakes his head. No, perhaps it is something that cannot be avoided after all. In the entire country, the number of people who have reached the Emperor Realm is probably around a hundred. Out of those, maybe only a tenth will reach the realm beyond. As for the realm even beyond that... perhaps only one will reach it. In Eastern Port City, is there even one person who will break into the Emperor Realm before dying?
Probably Xiao Nan, Liu Jin realizes. Xiao Nan and no one else.
Just one person.
It is something Liu Jin has never thought much about, but now the subject will not leave his mind. Even if they work hard, even if they try their best, reaching the top is nothing more than a pipe dream for most people. Maybe that's it. Even if there is a way not to die, it doesn't mean you'll ever reach it. Maybe somewhere along the way, most people just accept this, accept their death as inevitable.
It is sad.
It is way too sad.
"Well, look who is here? If it isn't the fake doctor's son," A haughty voice cuts through Liu Jin's musings, something for which he would have been thankful for were it not for the content of the sentences. Already Liu Jin feels the hair on his nape stand up.
"What do you want, Wu Yan?" Liu Jin barks back. His hands are clenched into fists at his sides. It has been a long time since he met Wu Yan, and part of him hopes he gets the chance to use what he has learned from the Xiao Sect over the past year.
"You think I could want something from you?" The other child laughs. There are a couple of other boys behind him, but Liu Jin is only focused on Wu Yan. "There is no way that can be true."
Wu Yan is the son of the Doctor Wu, the richest doctor in the city and chief source of the bad rumors about Liu Jin's father. As a dutiful son, Wu Yan has always done his best to spread the words of his father, leading to several conflicts with Liu Jin. In the past, Liu Jin lost those fights, being inferior in both training and age.
Liu Jin is still inferior in age. There is nothing that can be done about that, but training is something he has received plenty of.
"Unlike you, I am the son of a real doctor," Wu Yan goes on. "If I called you, it is only because I was shocked you'd have the guts to show your face in public. If it were me, I wouldn't dare to, knowing my father was a charlatan. Well, I guess that's the difference between someone with face and someone without it."
"Is that so?" His words are light, but the tightness of his face betrays Liu Jin's real emotions. "How can my father be a charlatan when he has healed so many people for so many years? Even some of your father's patients have abandoned him in favor of mine and now cannot stop praising my father's skills. Does that mean your father does such a poor job people prefer a fake doctor over him?"
There are some gasps from the people around them as Liu Jin finishes speaking and even some snickers from Wu Yan's group. Wu Yan's face, however, has gone red. Now, it is he who looks at the boy in front of him with gritted teeth.
"How dare-"
"No," Liu Jin cuts him off without raising his voice. His Qi flares with enough force to stun the older boy. "How dare you! Time and time again, I have had to bear your hateful words. You mock my father for being a cripple and spread your vile rumors. You say my father is a fake? When your father was unable to do anything for the Xiao Sect's Patriarch, it was my father who healed him."
By now, Wu Yan's face has gone past red and into purple. It is only a matter of time now. From the very beginning, this could only end in violence. It has always ended this way between Wu Yan and Liu Jin in the past. The only differences this time will be the one who will throw the first punch and the one who will emerge victorious.
"My father heals more people in a day than yours does in a year. Yours is too busy counting his money to bother treating people, and everyone in the city knows it. For you to mock a real doctor like my father while learning only how to count money from yours is nothing but a bad joke."
"Liu Jin!" Wu Yan roars. It is enough. His pride is wounded. He will not suffer any more humiliation. Liu Jin welcomes the violence that is to come. Wu Yan advances towards him with his fists raised.
And stops.
A hand on Wu Yan's shoulder. That is all it takes to stop the rage–No, the boy is still angry. That is plain to see on his face. Nevertheless, Wu Yan stops. He stops because he knows who the person behind him is.
"It seems you are giving my friend trouble," the one who stopped Wu Yan says as he steps forward. The boy is taller than Wu Yan, and even at his young age, his features are noticeably sharp. Liu Jin unfortunately recognizes the boy. It's not one of the kids who usually hang around Wu Yan. No, it's far worse.
It is Yun Han.
In Eastern Port City, there is no doubt the Xiao Sect is the strongest.
In Eastern Port City, there is no doubt the Yun Sect is the second strongest.
Every two years, the city holds the Eastern Port City Tournament. It is open to all young fighters under nineteen years of age. Every two years, someone from the Xiao Sect claims the first place, and someone from the Yun Sect claims the second place. There have been a few exceptions where other Clans managed to distinguish themselves, but those can be counted in one hand. While not as powerful as the Xiao Sect, the Yun Sect still possesses power, authority, and prestige. To someone like Liu Jin, the Yun Sect is an extremely powerful existence which makes this encounter extremely unfortunate. Furthermore, Yun Han is not just a member of the Yun Sect.
Yun Han is the young master of the Yun Sect, the one who will one day become its next Patriarch.
Antagonizing Wu Yan is one thing. His father may be the richest doctor in the city and powerful because of that, but Liu Jin's father is under the protection of the Xiao Sect. However, antagonizing Yun Han is another matter entirely. The Xiao Sect may like him, but not enough to start trouble with the Yun Sect over him. Such a conflict would be entirely too wasteful.
Liu Jin needs to find a way out of this situation.
"We were merely exchanging words," Liu Jin says, quieting down his Qi which was previously begging for a fight. "It was not my intention for it to get out of hand."
It is a lie, and it galls him to say it. Yet, he must. This is simply the natural consequence of the difference in status between Yun Han and him.
"Yes, words," Yun Han replies. "I heard those words. You had quite a bit to say about my friend and his father."
"I was simply trying to keep pace. Your friend had quite a bit to say about my father and me," Liu Jin fires back before he can stop himself.
"Perhaps," Yun Han agrees, thankfully not looking too bothered by his words. "Nevertheless, Doctor Wu is a friend of the Yun Sect, and his son is a friend of mine. I can simply not allow someone like you to get away with saying such things in front of me. You understand, right?"
Liu Jin can feel Yun Han's Qi sharpening. The difference in power becomes obvious to him at once. Had he fought Wu Yan, he would have won. Even if Wu Yan were to receive the help of two others as strong as him, he could have beaten him. Of this, Liu Jin is certain.
However, there is no way he can beat the person in front of him now.
"Pathetic! This is pathetic!"
A new voice cuts through the tense atmosphere. Yun Han's eyes widen, and Liu Jin finds himself turning around in disbelief. He knows the voice, yet it cannot be.
Yet it is.
Xiao Fang makes his way to them with arrogant steps. The crowd parts for him at once. Big Nose Li trails behind him like a faithful dog. The heir of the Xiao Sect does not even give Liu Jin a passing glance. He simply walks past him and plants himself right in front of Yun Han.
"Is this what the heir to the Yun Sect does in his spare time? Threaten talentless nobodies? How sad. How unsurprising. I guess that's the state of the Yun Sect nowadays. They have given up ever surpassing our Xiao Sect, so they content themselves challenging those weaker than themselves."
Yun Han frowns. "Xiao Fang."
The air becomes thick with tension. The crowd that had gathered around them only grows with Xiao Fang's entrance. The heirs of the two major powers in the city stand but five steps away from each other. A single wrong move is all it would take for violence to erupt. The repercussions of a fight between them would be felt all over the city and beyond.
"You would do well to measure your words," Yun Han says. "Doctor Wu is a friend of my father, and Wu Yan is a friend of mine. How I choose to help my friend is no concern of yours."
"Is it not?" Xiao Fang counters. "You attack a disciple of the Xiao Sect and tell me it's not my problem? Has the Yun Sect become so bold?"
A murmur passes through the crowd. Liu Jin finds his eyes widening for it is the first time Xiao Fang has ever acknowledged him as a disciple of the Xiao Sect. He never expected him to do so, let alone in such a public way. Even Yun Han raises an eyebrow. "I do not see the Xiao Sect's colors on him."
"Bah! Do not pretend not to know!" Xiao Fang shouts with all the arrogance he can muster which is quite a bit. "Do not pretend to ignore that this one learns from us and that his father is under the Xiao Sect's protection. I refuse to believe the heir to the Yun Sect is such an ignorant person. Is the Yun Sect so scared of us that even its heir can only bring himself to challenge our weakest disciple?"
Xiao Fang's words are impossibly bold and loud. At first, they are more than enough to shock the crowd into silence. However, once that shock passes, something fills that silence: laughter. It is small and barely audible, but without a doubt, for a moment, there are people in that crowd laughing at Yun Han.
The young heir's face flushes red. "Mind your words, Xiao Fang! You are-"
"What? What am I? What does the city's eternal number two have to say to the eternal number one? Quite frankly, I am amazed someone from the Yun Sect has the guts to face me after the way my cousin, Xiao Nan, defeated all the members of the Yun Sect he encountered during the last Eastern Port City Tournament. He beat them so badly I hear they are all too afraid to participate in this year's tournament."
The laughter is audible this time. The people in the crowd know of Xiao Nan and his deeds. Many still remember his dominating performance during the previous Eastern Port City Tournament. The Yun Sect may be the second strongest in the city, but no one in that tournament was Xiao Nan's match. Xiao Fang's words may be bold and offensive, but they are undeniable.
"Perhaps, we should give the crowd a preview of what my cousin will do to your fellow disciples at the tournament," Xiao Fang says. His Qi flares, and though Liu Jin dislikes him, there is no denying the strength of his aura. It is strong. Stronger than his.
Stronger than Yun Han's.
A myriad of emotions cross Yun Han's face at that moment, rage and hate the most prominent among them. There is no doubt in Liu Jin's mind that Xiao Fang has made an enemy for life.
"The tournament," Yun Han says at last.
"Huh?"
"Perhaps, you are right. Perhaps, your cousin will win the tournament once more. However, he will not be able to participate in the tournament forever. One day, our turn will come to step into that arena. I swear to you, Xiao Fang, when that day comes, we will finish what you started here, and on that day, the Yun Sect will win."
With those ominous words dripping with malice, Yun Han turns and leaves. The crowd parts for him as he passes by. Wu Yan and his friends quickly follow after him.
Rather than being threatened, Xiao Fang just watches him leave with an unamused look on his face.
"This changes nothing," Xiao Fang whispers as he passes by Liu Jin. The crowd parts for him just as it did for Yun Han. With the two heirs no longer present, the crowd soon disperses, leaving Liu Jin alone and unsure.
At that moment, Liu Jin feels unbearably small.
~~~