Chapter VIII: Faanao

The rumors that a boy had completed the cycle of slavery in less than ten years surprised the entire Heaven Sect. The masters were greatly excited to know that a talent of such magnitude had presented itself under their tutelage; although they knew the Fifth Master had the advantage since his direct disciple was the one who recognized the rough diamond first. They were also aware of the existing enmity.

Shoneyi paid no mind to the comments, whispers, and occasional strange looks. A boy of slightly heavy build would approach him every so often to comment on everything happening in the sect. When a flash of silver light made the boy, who was sitting and meditating, turn his head, he knew it was a matter of seconds before his sect mate approached him.

“Come on, Sho, tell me how you did it!”

The boy said while eating a piece of chicken. His mouth, full of grease, made his face shine. His other hand rubbed across the center of his stomach as if to signal subtly that he was still unsatisfied.

“Jhon Yuiji, I told you already… I don’t like you calling me that. My name is Shoneyi.”

The boy whispered between his teeth while leaving his cross-legged position. One of his arms supported him on the ground so that a fluid movement of his knee was enough to lift him and surpass the other boy in height.

“Besides, I told you that if you keep eating like that, you’ll never be able to increase your spiritual cultivation.”

Although Shoneyi was almost certain that what he had just said was completely false, he wished it wasn't, hoping to help his friend lose some weight. I don’t think he’s very good at fighting with that body mass, he thought to himself, smiling.

“If you’re smiling, it means it’s a Yes! Are you going to teach me?”

Jhon Yuiji’s face lit up with excitement, but slowly his smile faded. The corner of his mouth began to droop, and an indescribable tremor invaded his body. Yuiji closed his eyes, as this was a scene that repeated itself every week.

Not in front of Shon, not in front of Shon.

In Yuiji’s mind, those were the words he repeated over and over as he was dragged by a rope that trapped his neck in a matter of seconds. Loud sounds of a person choking could be heard; the Inner Circle members understood the situation and therefore ignored it.

“You filthy fat man, I was looking for you… I don't understand why you run from me when we are such good friends.”

A flailing of arms against the rope was part of the scene. The sound of a cord whipping the air like a lash and a large cloud of dust rose in front of Shoneyi’s cabin. Falling to the ground, Yuiji writhed from side to side because his airways were obstructed by the pressure the rope exerted on his neck.

“What…? What did you say…? You can’t breathe, I’ll help you.”

One core began to illuminate in the bully’s body, followed by the second, and the middle stage of the third. A movement of his left leg in the opposite direction signaled a powerful kick striking the boy’s stomach.

After executing such a maneuver that hit Yuiji directly in the stomach, he could be heard coughing and suffering as he was dragged by the bully's henchmen.

“I’m sorry, Lord Faanao, I didn’t mean to hide.”

Between the coughing and the painful writhing, the boy tried to get into a position that allowed him to make a deep bow to the young Faanao. The immense pain he felt could not be described in words; it was so great that Yuiji was on the verge of losing consciousness; had he not been in Shoneyi's presence, he would have done so seconds ago.

The same scenario repeated, and again one core illuminated, then the second followed, and finally a third in its final stage. If the blow connected again, it was very likely that Yuiji would never be able to cultivate his spiritual energy again; technically, it wasn't murder, which was strictly forbidden within the sect, but it was frowned upon by everyone. The poor boy would be sent back to the mortal world to spend his life as a vegetable.

The movement of his leg descended with great speed and force. Yuiji had already lost consciousness, and a powerful shockwave erupted from his location.

“He will be returned to the mortal world, it’s a shame Faanao tormented the poor boy.”

This was the murmur repeated by the spectators; they all knew it was better him than them. Some took their time, others simply turned their heads away so as not to look; perhaps by doing that, they believed they weren't part of the problem.

As the cloud of dust dissipated, a knee blocked Faanao’s great kick. A grimace of pain could be seen on the young bully's face.

“Could you stop bothering my friend? We were trying to have a conversation.”

Shoneyi said while still keeping his knee raised in a blocking position. The spiritual energy surrounding his body was almost as if it were a part of him; the sensation emanating from his person was like that of someone in the Inner Circle. No one could believe there was someone who would stand up to Faanao.

“You, you pack of useless fools, get out of here!”

His gaze conveyed rage. He couldn't believe how no one was doing anything, how none of them had intervened. Moving his eyes from right to left, he began to see how the spectators evaded his gaze.