BLUE SLIVER LOVE (Soul Land 1) •Rewrite•

•005•

Chapter Five: Fatherly Intervention.

The Picture of Ling Lixue above is mine. Please do not copy or repost without my permission. Thank you.

Yu Xiaogang was in his office, the familiar scent of parchment and ink filling the air. His desk was cluttered with scrolls and books, each filled with information which he had painstakingly collected over the years. Some of which had almost caused him his life.

As he sat, skimming through a particular piece of parchment his mind wondered back to his son. Lixue was growing and he needed to be trained harder. Yu Xiaogang sighed, pondering over a new training regimen for his son and new student. He needed to make sure Lixue got to level thirty as soon as possible.

Suddenly he felt a shift in the atmosphere. The air grew colder, hair on his arms standing on edge as an almost imperceptible tension filled the small room.

A hooded figure materialized from thin air, moving silently until he stood before Yu Xiaogang's desk. The Grandmaster finally lifted his gaze, meeting the concealed eyes of the visitor. The cloak fell away to reveal a man of imposing presence, with a rugged face and eyes that held a deep, sorrowful gaze. It was Clear Sky Hammer Great soul master also known by a few as Tang Hao.

"Tang Hao," Yu Xiaogang greeted calmly, though the weight of the man's presence was undeniable. "I was wondering when you would show up."

Tang Hao nodded, his voice a low rumble. "Yu Xiaogang, or should I say, Grandmaster. We have much to discuss."

Yu Xiaogang gestured to a chair, and Tang Hao seated himself. The room felt even smaller with his presence. "This is about your son, isn't it?" Yu Xiaogang asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Yes," Tang Hao confirmed. "Tang San. He's shown extraordinary potential, more than I had hoped for. But with that potential comes great danger. His twin martial souls... they will attract attention."

Yu Xiaogang nodded. "I suspected as much when I first saw him. The Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer... it's a rare and dangerous combination. I have already advised him to never show his second martial soul as we both know how so many feel about the people from the Clear Sky clan. The Spirit Hall especially, will be keen to know if his abilities posses a threat to them or not."

Tang Hao's eyes darkened at the mention of the Spirit Hall, his body slightly emitting with static charges. "That's precisely why I've come. My presence around my son will only place him in jeopardy and I cannot always be there to protect him. He needs to learn to become stronger in a safe environment, one I cannot provide for him so that is why his safety and his training... they fall to you now."

Yu Xiaogang leaned back, thoughtful. He was surprised by Tang Hao's demand but then again Tang San showed great promise. "Tang San has a rare gift, but he also has the right to live a life unburdened by constant fear. I will train him, help him master his abilities. But he needs to grow strong enough to stand against any who might threaten him."

"He will need more than strength," Tang Hao said. "He will need wisdom, strategy, allies. The path ahead of him is with nothing but peril, and his enemies are powerful, growing more so each day. The Spirit Hall will stop at nothing to claim him, or to destroy him."

Yu Xiaogang's eyes narrowed. "I know and that is why his training must be rigorous and comprehensive. I will ensure he learns not only to fight but to think, to anticipate his enemies' moves. And he must understand the importance of trust and the bonds of allies." Tang Hao's expression softened slightly. "You speak as though you have known him for a long time."