I get to my feet and slowly follow behind them.
We walk all the way to an area quite isolated from the rest of the Clan.
There was a mountain before us.
On these mountain were caves.
Each cave had two buildings positioned beside them to serve as lodgings.
This was the Elders quarters.
The Grand Elder’s cave was the top most.
Just below it to the right was the First Elder’s cave and slightly below the First Elder’s cave, to the left of the Grand Elder’s cave was the Second Elder’s cave.
Ximen Jin leaps up and lands in front of his cave.
"Huh? how the hell am I supposed to get up th..."
I was still wondering how to get up there when Ximen Jun picks me up by my waist with one hand and leaps into the air, landing in front of Ximen Jin’s cave
He drops me on my feet.
Looking at the cave from a closer view, it is really big.
The cave alone is as high as a one story building.
Ximen Jin goes into one of the buildings and we follow behind him.
We go into what looks like the living room and they both go to seat on identical chairs both facing me.
"Ximen Yeong right?" Ximen Jin asks.
"Yes First Elder." I respond.
"Early Peak at just fifteen years, that’s some crazy talent you have there. Or could it be the so called legacy you claim to have found?." He says watching my response.
"Its all thanks to my Master, I wouldn’t have gotten here without her, and I am eternally grateful to her." I reply to him with a slight bow.
Now this part was not a lie, I have always been and will forever be grateful to my Master.
"Hmmm, that’s some strong loyalty you have to your Master." Ximen Jin says.
"Yes First Elder, as you know, I used to just be a random guy without internal energy but now I stand here as an Early Peak Martial Artist." I state.
"I see, so I’m assuming you have no intention of taking a new Master?" Ximen Jin asks.
Huh? wait...is he... does he want me to be his disciple?
"Huh? could you mean?..." I ask him.
"What do you think brother? Don’t you think he qualifies to be our disciple?" Ximen Jin says asking Ximen Jun.
Ximen Jun sits up and looks at me as if analyzing me.
He gives a little nod signifying he agrees and goes back to relaxing on the chair.
"So what do you think, you don’t want to have two Martial Grandmasters as your Masters?" Ximen Jin says with a smile.
Any fifteen year old, no, any member of the Ximen Clan would want to be the disciples of these two, first they are prestigious Elders of the Clan and they are both Martial Grandmasters.
Even in the entire Murim, except they have their eyes on someone else, no fifteen year old could resist such a proposal.
Having two Grandmasters as your masters, the number of people who can touch you would be very few.
He looked confident that I was gonna accept it.
But c’mon, I once reached the Pinnacle of Martial arts in under twenty years.
A realm you two can only dream of reaching.
You wouldn’t dare ask me to be your disciple if you knew who I was.
In my prime you’d have been begging I take you in as a servant.
"I am grateful you both think so highly of me but I will have to apologize esteemed Elders, I don’t think I can accept this." I say to them with a little bow of the head.
They both remain silent. Surprised that they were rejected.
They didn’t think it possible.
"Hmmmm, is your reason due to your late master?" Ximen Jin asks me as he relaxes on his chair.
Hmmm? I expected some kind of reaction.
I didn’t expect them to take the rejection so smoothly.
"Yes esteemed Elder and I do not think it would be proper to take on another master, at least not so soon." I say calmly, trying to hint to them that maybe they still had a chance.
"I see, that does make sense, I also won’t be happy if my disciple just goes on to have another master just because I passed away." Ximen Jin says as he strokes his beardless chin.
"Well, we will give you some time to think about it.
Now to a more pressing matter at hand." Ximen Jin says as he sits up.
"You are definitely aware of the happenings in the clan as of late.
The death of the Second Son and the disappearance of the Patriarch.
This is a sad occurrence but for Ximen Jong, this would be a great time to solidify his position as Heir to the seat." Ximen Jin states.
"Rightfully there should be no one to contend with him, but there is you, the illegitimate son of the Patriarch.
You wouldn’t have stood a chance if you remained without activating your dantian but now you have, and not just that, you are already an Early Peak Martial Artist.
So now you pose a threat to Ximen Jong.
He was always going to eliminate you but now that you pose more of a threat, he will more actively come after you." He continues.
"Go straight to the point old man." I say in my mind.
"I see, so what do you suggest I do First Elder." I ask him carrying a look of being bothered on my face.
"Well, since he wants to go after you, I say you go against him.
Though illegitimate, you are also a son of the Patriarch.
You have the right to contend for the seat.
The only thing you lack right now is backing.
And that’s where we step in." Ximen Jin says.
Hmmm, so that’s where he’s getting at.
I’ve never really been the leading type, that’s mostly Diana’s stuff.
I’ve always been the destructive one.
The one to bring chaos an bloodshed.
So to now fight to stand as a leader? Naaa doesn’t seat well with me.
But I can’t just tell them no.
I would have no justification and it would be too suspicious.
I guess I will just go along with it for now.
"Really, you two would become my backing?" I ask them with a hint of excitement.
"Of course, but it doesn’t come for free.
You have to become our disciple and before you say anything, we understand your circumstances but you should think about the benefits this could bring you.
Just think about it and get back to us." Ximen Jin replies with a smile.
What’s with this old man? is he really of the Unorthodox Faction? why is he being so nice, it’s getting creepy.
"Thank you very much esteemed Elders, I would think positively of your proposal and get back to you." I say with a little bow.
"You may go." Ximen Jin says to me.
I turn back and leave the building.
Now standing outside in front of the cave and looking down I wonder how the fuck I’m supposed to get down from this height.
I was still thinking when Ximen Jin suddenly shouts from the building;
"Go far towards your right you’ll see steps leading down."
I follow his instructions and indeed I did find steps leading down.
I go down the long journey before finally reaching the base of the mountain after twelve minutes.