Elder Yuan and his disciple jumped off their mounts, the two blue-streaked falcons flying into the distance the moment they landed.
They walked into the Headmaster's room, their eyes focusing on Axton, clearly ignoring the two 'kids' on the side.
"We heard that the Personal Disciple has arrived, and we came as soon as possible," Elder Yuan said amiably, though his deep eyes betrayed his tone. "We issued a challenge two days ago, and you said we'd have to wait for the Personal Disciple. Now that he's here, you're not going to go back on your word, right?"
"Of course not," Headmaster Axton shook his head. "Feel free to challenge him."
"Good," Elder Yuan smiled, turning to his disciple. "You heard the Headmaster. Express your gratitude."
Heru nodded before bowing deeply to Headmaster Axton. "My sincerest gratitude, Headmaster!"
"Now, where is he?" Elder Yuan asked, looking around and frowning at the others in the room. Who are they? His gaze fell on the seven- to eight-year-old beggar-looking kid, then landed on the umber-haired student wearing an Inner Circle outfit. He looked between the two, his face growing incredulous as he realized something.
One of them wears the Inner Circle outfit, and the other… looks like he came from the outside, a slum-looking kid. Wait! Don't tell me…
Elder Yuan stared wide-eyed at the beggar-looking kid. "Is this kid…"
"You are right, Elder Yuan. He is my Personal Disciple," Headmaster Axton confirmed.
Meanwhile, Apollo stared at Elder Yuan before turning to the Headmaster inquisitively. What the fuck is going on?! Challenge? What challenge?!
Suddenly, a burning gaze landed on him, making him turn to the middle-aged man with a mustache and beard.
"What the fuck are you looking at?!" Apollo snapped angrily, his small voice echoing in the room. He was frustrated, greatly so. He had already guessed what was happening. This middle-aged man was here to challenge him, and although he didn't know the nature or reason for the challenge, the thought of it made him furious.
Apollo hated the feeling of dancing in the hands of a mastermind.
"You!" Heru's face twitched, turning red. He hadn't expected this kid—the Personal Disciple that the Headmaster had chosen—to have such a foul mouth. He had barely looked at the kid, and before he could even say a word, the kid had insulted him first. "Watch your mouth, kid!
I don't know how you managed to convince the great Headmaster to make you his Personal Disciple, but I'll make sure to take your place!"
Heru was confused about how this kid became a Personal Disciple, but the more he thought about it, the more confident he became. This is going to be easy! I'll make sure you regret ever stepping foot in this place!
"Take my place?" Apollo sneered. So this is what's going on—a challenge for the position of Personal Disciple. Headmaster Axton hadn't told him anything about this rule, and Apollo had only just pieced it together in this brief exchange. "You think it'll be that easy?!"
Apollo decided to teach this person a lesson before lashing out at the Headmaster. Heru hadn't done anything yet, but the beggar had already sensed that the middle-aged man had the 'Young Master Syndrome,' where they think highly of themselves and bully those below them.
Furthermore, he couldn't just give up the benefits of being the Personal Disciple: a private area to train, money, cultivation techniques, battle techniques, and more—most of which he hadn't even used yet, besides his mount.
Eli, on the side, had already taken a few steps back, unable to look directly at one of the Senior Brothers. He knew their true colors, and although he hadn't suffered personally, he had seen and heard enough.
He knew that the moment the Personal Disciple said those words, Heru was dead set on making Yoma suffer.
As Heru was about to open his mouth to put the kid in his place, the atmosphere suddenly became heavy, making him turn to his master.
Heru hurriedly lowered his head.
"I didn't know you'd choose such a filthy Personal Disciple," Elder Yuan said coldly, staring at the Headmaster. Though Axton's position was higher than his, that didn't mean he would bow his head.
"Elder Yuan, we both know that cultivation is just one of an individual's strengths," Axton replied, narrowing his eyes at the elder. "My Personal Disciple shouldn't be underestimated."
At the same time, he sent a Thought Transfer to Yoma.
'I know you're angry, but don't worry, you can defeat him. I didn't tell you because it wasn't necessary.'
Apollo glanced at the Headmaster in annoyance. The pressure in the air was suffocating, but he could handle it. He could sense that he could communicate with Axton, so he did—but not through his mouth.
'You sent someone to spy on me, right? I guess you know what happened in Slumstreet,' Apollo said.
'I know, but I'll reserve that matter for another time.'
'What if I killed this guy?' Apollo stared at Heru.
'You'll win, but you won't be able to kill him,' Axton said.
'Is that so? Then what should I gain from this? I know you're hiding something else, but I need something in return if you want to use me.'
Apollo was no fool. He had long suspected that the entire ordeal—from the moment he was recruited (or rather, threatened by the Headmaster) until now—had another purpose. A plan that he wasn't fully a part of yet. However, Apollo wanted to complete all his missions and had decided that having a strong connection would be beneficial for his goals.
'You're as smart as I expected from someone who embarks on the Way of Cultivation as a Wanderer. If you manage to hold your position as the Personal Disciple, then I'll tell you everything you need to know,' Axton said.
Hearing this, Apollo's expression relaxed. 'Then it's a deal.'
Elder Yuan was silent for a moment before he turned to his disciple. "Teach the Personal Disciple a lesson."
"I will!" Heru glanced at the beggar with determination, his eyes red with anger. From the moment they first met, it had already felt like a fight was brewing between them. Though the exchange was brief, Heru preferred it that way and wanted nothing more than to battle the kid as soon as possible.