C117-2: The Dignity Of Sect Master

"Good evening, sect master. The chair you’re sitting on is broken. Please sit carefully," Han Xuhan, currently used to the random appearances of Xuan Zi in his hut, replied without missing a beat as he entered the hut.

Xuan Zi nodded appreciatively. "Oh yes, of course. It almost broke apart the moment I sat. Currently, the only thing holding it together is my telekinesis."

"That is a very neat and impressive way to use telekinesis, sect master. This one is in awe," Xuhan replied.

"Not as impressive as your cultivation speed, disciple. I must admit, even with all the resources you’re practically robbing from elder Shen, I never imagined you would reach the fourth layer so soon. It’s incredible how far innate comprehensive ability in its purest form can take a child. Almost makes me want to look specifically for others like you and guide them in different paths of the great dao, just to observe where each of them end up."

Han Xuhan gave a curt bow full of modesty, maintaining his silence and ignoring that bit about his 'robberies'.

"This chair seems to have been broken by physical force alone, disciple," Xuan Zi remarked off handedly.

"....That is correct, sect master."

"Hmm, The origin point of the cracks suggest that it wasn’t intentional either. The applied force was uneven and spiky, with a poor choice of target area. You're having trouble adjusting to your improved physique, yes ?"

Sometimes, figures like Xuan Zi and Kong Ye scared Xuhan in ways not even the scariest horror movies used to. The cliched xianxia term 'old monster' actually fitted them to some degrees. The way they observed the world around them contained a hint of razor sharp analytical mindset that he couldn’t see ever being common in a regular society. Granted, they weren’t some sort of terrifyingly intelligent beings beyond human weaknesses and errors, but considering the environment and social state they likely grew up in, being able to match in terms of intelligence and creativity with someone from the twentieth century was already quite impressive.
Han Xuhan did not think people who grew up in ancient times were stupid in any way. But constant exposure to advanced scientific reasoning could do wonders for the mental growth of any average Joe.

"Once more, I must praise sect master's discerning eyes," Xuhan said.

Even if Xuan Zi was taken aback by his uncharacteristically modest replies, it didn’t show on his face. The 'old' man maintained a standard smile that seemed just a few degrees more meaningful than Xuhan's own.

"Worry not, disciple Xuhan. You're not alone in finding your own body hard to control. This is a common phenomenon amidst youths at the physique transformation realm. And any sect worth their title knows that. In fact, our sect, as well as a few others, has a long running tradition to deal with this exact problem. However, this year we've run into bit of a dilemma over how to conduct the program since almost the entire sect will be travelling to the Titanfall archipelago for the tournament. It has been decided that we shall have to cut some corners and let you disciples learn it the hard way, in the classic method that would never fail to give you the drive and ardour to learn like your life depends on it !"

Xuan Zi's solemn and grandiose declaration brought Han Xuhan nothing but bad premonitions. Briefly, he remembered a similar scene from his childhood. His father had made a declaration with the same catchphrases right before throwing him into the pool in order to make him learn how to swim....

'Yeah, that's how I learned it boy! That's how my father learned it too! And his father, and the fathers before him! This is the classic style! If it doesn’t make you learn how to do it, you know what will happen, hahaha! Wait, damn-don't drink i- ah shit, hold on!  Where the fuck is the lifejacket?'

Han Xuhan's face darkened with each second he spent relieving that memory. Was this what philosophers meant by 'mankind's history is forever doomed to repeat itself'?

Instead of drowning both his past and present self further amidst those memories, Xuhan decided to focus on the more important details of Xuan Zi's words.

" I wasn’t aware that our destination is called the Titanfall archipelago ! I must admit, the name doesn't ring a bell...."

Xuan Zi's smile brightened. "Oh yes, it’s not a place you’ll find on maps in the mortal world. Even most cultivators wouldn’t know where it is. Let's just say it is a very special place, full of wonders that could kill a man or show him his path to heaven."

"Aren’t those two the same thing-ah, right, my mistake," Xuhan controlled himself from making a fool of himself with great effort.

"Hahaha! That's a good one, disciple," Xuan Zi burst into laughter, making Han Xuhan's dark premonitions grow stronger. The old man never looked this happy before. Something insidious was up....

"Sect master, might I ask a question about the test tomorrow?" Xuhan said, keeping his suspicion hidden. It was never a good idea to show animosity toward a figure who might just be his only shelter from a brutal death in this cruel world where overpowered cultivators like Fang Xie and brother BB were eyeing him constantly. Of course, he couldn’t completely throw away the possibility that Xuan Zi himself had some sort of a sinister scheme up inside his sleeves. But what he didn’t know wasn’t something he could deal with. His only choice for now was to stick by the man's side with an upright expression on his face.

"Oh sure, go ahead," Xuan Zi replied curiously.

"How are we to reach this secret archipelago ? I understand that the Celestial Gateway technique is obviously going to be linked to our journey by some means. That much is obvious to the entire disciple body. But what exactly-"

"Ah, can't tell you that! That's a surprise better left for tomorrow. We left that part out of the scriptures intentionally. For today, I have a more impactful surprise for you!"
One of Xuan Zi' hands reached within his robe and pulled out a small package carefully. He then offered it to Xuhan.
"Go on, take it. It comes from your crazy nemesis, Fang Xie!" He dramatically revealed.

Han Xuhan took the package and was about to open it when he noticed the issue.

"This package....seems to have been opened already, sect master."

"How observant of you, disciple ! "

Han Xuhan looked up at Xuan Zi, whose standard grandfatherly smile hadn’t receded at all the whole time. Looking up and down a couple more times as realization slowly dawned on him, Han Xuhan proceeded to open the thick wrapping and found a small box within. There was also a paper full of tiny writings attached to it. He took a look at the paper. It contained two different handwritings, one of them recent enough to leave ink prints on his fingers.
The box too, was unlocked despite there being a familiar locking spell cast on it. Xuhan himself owned a lot of gadgets with similar locking methods.

"Trust in the dignity of your sect master, disciple. The act of destroying a simple lock shouldn’t be a reason for you to look upon me with such distrust. I did it for your own good. That realization will occur to you in due time. Goodbye."

Before Xuhan could apologise for his acting mishap, Xuan Zi vanished right in front of his eyes tracelessly.