"Shut up! Do you think I don't want to thank him as well Shin? We have to act based on the worst case scenario. Imagine if the old fogey lost or died in battle against the bandit leader. That brute is going to come running at the residents here. The village will be nothing but ashes if that happens."
Rei had been able to survive in this world only due to thinking like this. Nothing had ever happened the way she wanted. She didn't expect today to be any different, so long as her and Shin were safe she was happy to throw as many elderly as possible into a meat grinder.
"B-b-but-" Shin said but noticed a figure behind Rei materialize out of thin air.
"What a lass, no trust in this old man at all. To think a lowly bandit leader like that would be able to best this young body of mine. Tch Tch Tch" Karn's voice rang out right beside Rei and Shin.
"OLD FOGEYY!!!" "Elder!" Rei and Shin exclaimed in surprise noticing the old man standing next to them. How long had it been since he arrived they wondered.
Shin bowed profusely to Karn and Rei stood straight frozen. You could see her eyes had started tearing up. She had heard many jaw breaking explosions when she had left the battlefield according to Karn. Every bang and blow that reached her ears was like a drum that shattered her heart.
"Rei you did well, good job lass" Karn felt like he was talking to his grandkids back home. Karn placed his hand on her head ruffling her hair a little.
Rei feeling the warmth coming from Karn could not hold her tears back any longer. She turned around and covered her eyes with her arm.
Of course its not like she could hide them from the blind man who could see everything.
"Mhm, I just wanted to make sure you guys were okay. Since it all turned out good and our little deal is done, lets bid farewell here Rei lass." Karn said with a little smile while stroking his beard.
Rei hearing those words felt a little pain in her heart. The warmth and the cold had come so quick she didn't know what to make of it. But alas she could do nothing about it and accepted the results. Whether she understood her feelings currently was for her to figure out later.
Just as Karn was about to leave Shin spoke. He was still on his bowing towards him like a follower to a deity.
"This junior wishes to take Elder as my master! I will do anything to get stronger to protect Rei. Please accept Elder!"
Karn who was about to activate the Myriad Mirror Martial Art stopped himself hearing those words and looked towards Shin.
Shin's eyes had a completely different glint in his eyes. Determination and rage were brewing underneath his mortal shell. Karn's God's Eye could sense emotions such as these for some reason. It seemed the harder the emotion the more easily Karn could sense it.
Rei herself was left in shock. In the cultivation world it was normal for masters to take disciples on a whim or in an unexpected encounter and many a times children of renowned merchants and royalty were able to request mentorship from a master.
Rei was shocked because Shin her little brother was never the type who wanted to fight. In short he was just too timid. How in the world was he going to undergo brutal training with such a personality?
"Shin stop it! Elder please forgive my brothers rudeness. Instead take me as your disciple in his place. I will complete any task you ask of me." Rei spoke. It's not that she didn't want her brother to get stronger but becoming a disciple of a unknown elder could result in extreme dangers.
Karn saw the whole fiasco occur and was about to say something before a blue screen appeared in front of him.
*Quest*
Two potential disciples have shown. Their recognition of your strength and wisdom is evident. Will you accept them? Or refuse completely?
Rank: Yellow
Objective: Test the potential disciples. The difficulty of the test will determine the rewards if completed successfully.
Reward: Unknown
Failure: None
[Accept] [Refuse]
Karn was absolutely going to refuse the both of them before he received the quest. He felt a little compassion for the two since they resembled his grandkids and he was planning on traveling to find more strong cultivators to fight. Danger and death would follow his journey hand in hand.
Karn thought for a second and accepted the quest.
Since he already somewhat liked the two little ones, he might as well train them up. They could prove to be useful servants, Karn thought.
------------
Shin and Rei had both kowtowed in front of the elder who had his eyes closed. If you looked plainly the blind elder looked quite benevolent but if you stared deeply you could feel quite the power sealed away in his old body.
"Shin.. was it? Get up the both of you" Karn said
"Yes" The both of them said in unison.
Rei glanced at Shin and whispered.
'Step down Shin, let your big sister handle this.'
Shin's expression did not change.
Rei was left shocked once again. Since when did her brother have the guts to stand up to her. She needs to teach him a lesson the moment this was done.
"Rei..." Karn spoke the air around him turning gloomy
"Y-Yes Elder" Rei replied with a hint of worry at the atmospheric change.
"Come here and discern my true body. Ill give you 3 tries. If you can't, you will be failed. Understood?" Karn spoke casually with a slight smile.
"Understood" Rei felt assured. She had been using the Heavenly Thief Technique for years. She had clearly seen Karn use the same technique therefore she was confident she could complete Karn's test easily.
Karn used the first form of the Heavenly Thief Technique "Phantom Haze" as 3 apparitions of Karn appeared in front of Rei.
Rei took a good look at the 3 Elderly figures and realized quickly.
'Is it over?' A dreadful thought appeared in her mind.