Spring Winds

In front of me was a path. The rain was beginning to pleat down harshly, and most likely, those men have stopped by now.

Of course, I couldn't get out unscathed. I had a few scratches where they have attempted to grab me and a leg injury where they tried to make me fall.

Limping along the path, I slowly looked for some shelter. And sure enough, I found a cave.

Using a faint echo of spiritual energy, the results were that the cave proved itself to be empty. This should be enough for me to rest in while the storm continued to rage.

Limping as deep as I could, I sat myself down and hoped that the storm would clear soon.

I attempt to wrap the wound of my leg, but it hurts too much to move. Just grabbing a small piece of fabric from my robe, I rip it to make a bandage to slow down the bleeding. Hopefully, be then I won't bleed out. And based on the looks of it, the wound didn't hit any major veins, but still is rather large.

Laughing at my misfortune, I think about the events of today. Who am I kidding? How am I suppose to be anything significant in the cultivation world if I can't even defend myself and barely get out of a fight alive?

What's the point anymore. If I don't succeed, I already know that I'll be kicked out of the family. Probably would be best to forget those hypocrites.

All except my brother. If I had a choice, I would rather stay with my family to be with my brother.

Ahh, if it weren't for me, maybe my brother wouldn't be too pitiful...

A few years in the past...

A pair of hands caught me — familiar ones.

"Big brother..." I cried as I held onto the body of my eldest brother. With him, I knew I would be safe. With him, I knew no one could bully me. Except for him, of course.

I can't remember what followed, but I do remember being very warm after that encounter. It was like I was wrapped in a blanket of warmth and safety. I must off passed out of fear or relief then. Maybe both.

A faint waft of food and the cracking of wood slowly drew me out of my slumber. My eyes were heavy, and the light cast around the cave was a warm orange.

"You're awake! Thank goodness you're okay."

"...water..."

"Oh, here you go," the girl scrambles her way over to me. In her hand, a canteen. Opening up the lid, the mouth of the bottle goes to my lips.

Fresh and cool water goes down my dry mouth and throat.

"....thank you..." I rasped. My voice doesn't seem to of recovered yet.

"En, it's no issue," she smiled and then sat back down.

She's an interesting character.

"You should rest, you know."

"..eh.."

"I didn't see you at the entrance exam. Well for martial arts anyways. Are you in the cultivation department?"

"...eh..."

"Oh, that's cool! Building up your spiritual energy and then bam!" making a punching gesture with her hands, "pushing pure energy right at the enemy." She beamed at me in awe. "That's so awesome."

"... uh... eh... I guess.." I felt my face growing hot. Do I have a fever? That's not precisely how cultivating works, but I wasn't in the mood to correct her. Its good to be enthusiastic, I suppose.

"Well, anyways get some rest. Since you are here, I can assume that you are taking the entrance exam tomorrow, right?"

"uh, yeah."

"Great! You'll need a lot of rest then. Sleep tight; we have a long journey for us tomorrow!"

"en, goodnight."

I shut my eyes and tried to get some sleep. This girl is extraordinary, not someone I would expect to see in the Central Valley, but I suppose everyone is trying to strive towards greatness by joining these sects.

While I attempted to sleep, I probed around my body to see if my meridians and dantian was unharmed. Aside from a few externals injuries, I should be able to be up and running by tomorrow's entrance exam.

"Snore!"

Aiya, this girl...

Who the heck snores so loudly, not to mention a girl! I haven't heard my brother snore at all, yet this girl sleeps easy to her heart's content! Tsk, she lets her guard down too quickly.

Well, it helps to know that at least I'm not alone tonight. We can be alone in this vast big world together even if it's just for the night.