Disclaimer–I don't own Naruto or High School DxD.


Chapter 9

Masters of Shaolin

A beam of sunlight pierced the window, illuminating the dusty room.

The room was a glimpse into the past, a traditional Chinese dwelling preserved in time. The wooden floorboards creaked under the heavy past, while the walls and ceilings filled the space with warmth. Brown curtains with red accents draped the window, matching the carpets that softened the floor. A round table stood in the center, holding a candle holder and an oil lamp that cast flickering shadows. Potted plants added a touch of greenery to the corners, contrasting with the earthy tones. A lone figure slept on a bed by the wall, wrapped in blankets. Across from him, a wooden door awaited his awakening.

The curtains parted slightly, letting in a ray of sunlight that hit the bed.

The person on the bed stirred under the light but did not wake up.

A knock on the door echoed in the room, but the person ignored it. The knocking persisted, louder and more urgent. Finally, the figure groaned and opened his eyes, wondering who it was.

The figure tossed the blanket aside and sat up, rubbing her eyes. This person was a young woman of Asian descent, but her beauty transcended any stereotype. Her hair was a black cascade of silk, her nose a delicate bridge, her lips a pair of roses.

There was another knock on the door.

She dragged herself out of bed and shuffled toward the door, her eyes still shut. She reached for the handle and opened it, bracing for the intruder.

She blinked as the light hit her eyes, making them water. Her eyes were almond-shaped but lacked any sparkle. She saw a young man standing at her doorstep, waiting for her.

He bowed respectfully. "Master Xiao, Grandmaster Yuu requests your presence at the training grounds." He spoke with a clear and firm voice, his eyes never leaving hers.

She nodded curtly. "Do you know why?" She asked, her voice cold and sharp.

He shook his head. "Apparently, someone new has come to challenge Grandmaster Yuu."

She frowned, sensing trouble. "Very well. Tell the Grandmaster I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

He bowed and left, closing the door behind him.

She slammed the door and dashed to the bathroom, where she splashed some water on herself and wiped it off. She tied her hair in a high ponytail and wore a yellow outfit. Her shirt had gold buttons that gleamed in the light. Her pants were baggy except for the ankles, where they hugged her legs. A red belt cinched her waist, adding a splash of color. She slipped on a pair of black shoes that allowed her to move freely.

She was ready in a flash and left her room in a hurry. She passed many doors along the hall, behind which trainees slept or practiced. Each door hid four or five of them, eager to learn and grow. She felt a surge of nostalgia, remembering her past.

She loved Shaolin more than any other place in China. Shaolin was a haven of equality and harmony, where gender and identity did not matter. Shaolin trained the body and mind to the fullest, establishing itself as a school of excellence and discipline. Women and men faced the same challenges and consequences, learning from each other and growing together.

But still, there are a lot of prejudices against women, like women cannot be more powerful than men or are less capable.

Growing up in Shaolin, the masters have often favored the boys over her. She had endured years of mockery and scorn, sharing a room with four male disciples. She had suffered mental abuse and torment.

The only place where she could find solace was the bathroom where she would spend most nights crying her eyes out.

But every day made her stronger.

Her tears gradually dried up until one day, they ceased to flow.

She rose stronger every time someone knocked her down.

Every time she was wounded, she healed faster.

Every day she endured this hell, she became more like the devil who ruled it.

Until one day, her training, struggles, pain, and scars paid off when she single-handedly defeated a hundred peers.

That day, she became the beast that haunted the nightmares of this hell.

That day, she also earned the respect of her juniors and seniors and silenced her rivals. She received a promotion to the rank of master. From then on, she taught recruits who came here to train and often went on missions.

She hoped that her father was watching her from above and that he was proud of her. She longed to go home and see her mother, but she had many responsibilities to fulfill before she could return home.

The only good thing about the promotion was that she acquired a private room and possessed her own space.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realize when she reached the training ground. But she snapped out of it when she saw the imposing figures of the masters on the stage with Grandmaster Yuu at the center.

Grandmaster Yuu was a strange man. He was old. No, old was an understatement. He looked ancient. A rumor had lingered here for as long as she could remember, suggesting that Grandmaster Yuu was centuries old. And he looked the part. He was the same as twenty years ago when she first arrived here.

Grandmaster Yuu had long white hair and a matching white mustache that reached his chest. He leaned on a wooden cane.

Grandmaster Yuu was also the only one who wore a different outfit. While his uniform resembled theirs in shape and style, the only difference was that it was black with white buttons.

Xiao walked until she stood next to Grandmaster Yuu. She bowed deeply and greeted him, "Good morning, Grandmaster Yuu."

Yuu turned his head slightly toward her and smiled warmly. "Good morning to you, too, my child. We have been waiting for you."

"I apologize for making you wait," Xiao said respectfully. She straightened up and joined her fellow masters behind the Grandmaster.

"Now that our last master has arrived," Grandmaster Yuu began, "I think it is time to introduce the boy before you all."

Xiao hadn't realized who the Grandmaster was referring to until she noticed a teenage boy, around fifteen or sixteen years old, standing in front of the stage where the masters and Grandmaster stood before the students.

The boy had a round face with black hair and black eyes. He looked like an ordinary teen except for the scar running from his forehead to his cheek.

"This young man," Master Yuu said, "arrived on our doorstep early this morning seeking me. Why don't you introduce yourself, boy, and tell us why you are here?"

Xiao was impressed that the boy did not flinch at the eerily wise tone in the Grandmaster's words. Instead of hesitating, the boy stood even taller and fixed a fierce stare at the Grandmaster.

"I am Xian Ji. I am here to challenge you, old man," the boy said boldly.

"Hohoho," Grandmaster Yuu laughed, "is that so?"

"Yeah! I challenge you to a fight, so that when I win, I will be proclaimed the strongest in all of China," the young boy shouted fervently.

His words made the old Grandmaster laugh even harder. "My, oh my," Grandmaster Yuu murmured as he stroked his long mustache, "quite rowdy, I must say. I will accept your challenge, boy, but only if you defeat someone from here." Grandmaster said, pointing a thumb at the Masters behind him. "You can pick anyone."

Xian bared his teeth and let out a low growl. He scanned the Masters, who ignored him and looked straight ahead as if he was nothing.

That was when his eyes landed on Xiao standing in the front row. A smirk crossed his face, and he pointed a finger at her. "I want to fight her," he said arrogantly.

Grandmaster Yuu turned toward Xiao slowly. "Hm. The youngest Master of Shaolin. Nice choice." He then motioned Xiao to come down from the stage. "Xiao, if you would do the honor."

Xiao bowed to Grandmaster Yuu. "I will, Grandmaster Yuu," she said before leaving the stage and standing a few feet from Xian. Her hands were behind her back as she gazed at Xian indifferently.

The youngest master of Shaolin looked at the teen before her. He did not seem anything special, just a troublemaker who thought the world revolved around him. Over the decade that she had spent here, she had seen countless people like this boy enter Shaolin, challenging either the masters or the Grandmaster himself, only to be taught a harsh lesson that they would never forget.

Every time a troublemaker came here looking for a fight, they would leave as a completely different person. Some would even join Shaolin to improve themselves. But by the end of their fights, these rascals would find meaning in their lives one way or another.

This time, it was her duty to teach a troublemaker and set him on the right path. And she knew exactly how to deal with proud, selfish, and loud brats.

Behave as if they don't matter to you, and it will always provoke a reaction from them.

And that was the strategy that she was going to use. That is why she took a relaxed stance and kept her eyes as unimpressed as possible.

She smirked in her mind when it seemed to work. She could clearly see the twitch of annoyance in the boy's posture.

And then the boy charged at her. As he approached her, he lifted his right leg to kick her.

Xiao did not move from her position, even as the teen's foot was close to her face. While she was confident that she could withstand a kick from a normal teen, what she did not expect was the force behind the kick from Xian.

The kick stopped an inch away from her face but sent a blast of air that untied her ponytail and let her hair fly free.

It made her eyes widen. Even behind her, the masters and Grandmasters were astonished. None of them had expected such a powerful kick from a child.

Xian smirked as he lowered his foot. "If you don't take this fight seriously, you're going to lose, big sister." The respectful term of 'big sister' that juniors often used for their seniors sounded mocking and disrespectful.

Xiao narrowed her eyes as if examining him. "I don't need to take you seriously. You are nothing but an ant to me," she mocked. She knew it was cruel, but it was also an effective way to deal with hotheads.

Xian snarled and started throwing punches and kicks at Xiao.

While Xiao dodged the kicks and parried the punches, she kept her eyes on Xian. Even though they looked uninterested, she was actually impressed by the boy's skill in martial arts.

Xiao dodged the kicks and brushed off the flurry of punches like they were nothing. 'This brat...' Xiao thought in her mind. 'His form is quite remarkable. His attacks are coordinated. He isn't attacking blindly like so many before him. Instead, he is aiming for my vital points.'

Xiao noticed Xian was going for a punch in her face. She moved to block it, only for Xian to feint and go for a kick at her stomach.

Her eyes widened, and at lightning speed, she moved the hand that was going to block the punch down to her stomach, stopping the kick.

And once again, she was surprised by the amount of power behind the teen's kicks.

"How do you like it?" Xian asked smugly. "I am pretty good with kicks, aren't I?"

Xiao pushed his leg away, causing the teen boy to do a flip in midair and land on his feet nimbly. "Indeed. You are not an ordinary boy."

"So, finally admitting me as someone worthy of being your opponent?"

Xiao ran a hand through her long hair, flying wildly because of the air. "No. You are no one special. Just a little boy with a minor power."

Xian felt his lips twitch in irritation. "How dare you!" he yelled, rushing at her, but Xiao was faster.

Closing the distance in an instant, she grabbed his right arm with her left hand. Then, she delivered an uppercut to his chin, causing his head to snap upward. Interlocking her right leg with his left, she yanked his leg away, causing him to lose balance and topple hard onto his back on the ground.

Xian had closed his eyes in pain, but when he opened them, he saw a demon. A demon with white glowing eyes and a hand coming down on him like a blade, trying to sever his head from his body.

But Xian was too mesmerized by this image. He could not look away even as the blade-like hand was inches away from his face.

But then, curiously, the hand did not touch his face. Instead, it missed his head by an inch and hit the ground.

The resulting impact was so powerful that it caused a loud explosion. The impact of the hand hitting the ground created a hole, and a small fissure extended from there.

Xian looked to his left and gulped when he saw the crack in the earth's crust. He looked back at Xiao, who was looking at him blankly.

"As I said," Xiao continued in a monotone voice, "You may be different from normal people. But compared to people in this temple, you are nothing special." She then stood up, turned around, and started walking back to the stage.

"Hey, wait!"

Xiao let out a sigh mentally and turned around.

Xian had jumped back to his feet and was looking at her fiercely.

"This fight is over, boy," Xiao said in a menacing tone, "If I wanted, I could have killed you. So, take this moment as a gift and be glad that you get to live another day."

"I know that," Xian said, "But you're strong. So..." To everyone's surprise, Xian bowed deeply, bending at the waist to a ninety-degree angle. "TRAIN ME!"

Xiao raised an eyebrow. "Why the sudden change in your attitude?"

Xian looked at her with firm resolve. "I have my reasons but I need to grow stronger."

Xiao stared at Xian for a moment before turning back. "I don't see any benefits from teaching you, boy. You should go home."

"Now, now, Xiao," Grandmaster Yuu's voice drew everyone's attention. "You should never reject someone within these walls like that."

Xiao's eyes shifted to the Grandmaster, smiling and stroking his mustache.

"You see, Xiao," the old Grandmaster began, "Taking a disciple will benefit you greatly."

Xiao straightened herself and asked, "How?"

"Training a disciple is the best way for a master to demonstrate their knowledge and his ability to teach others," Grandmaster Yuu said wisely. "Not to mention, it will also help you pave your way to Grandmaster one day."

Xiao scowled and objected. "But Grandmaster, there are many others who I can teach. Why do I have to teach a troublemaker like him?" She finished pointing at Xian, whose eyebrow was twitching in annoyance. "And aren't masters as young as me not allowed to take disciples?"

Grandmaster Yuu gave Xiao a cunning look and smiled wickedly. "Consider this a challenge to your patience and abilities, Xiao." He then turned to Xian, who was still on his knee. "What do you say, young man? Are you ready to get your body shattered?"

"Hell yeah, old man! Throw anything at me and I will still come out on top," Xian shouted eagerly.

Xian's words made the old Grandmaster laugh. "Quite the spirited young man you are, Xian."

While this was happening, Xiao was on the side, popping a vein in her forehead. "Don't I get a say in this," she muttered to herself.


Xiao was muttering as she walked through the corridors again.

The gathering dispersed, and Grandmaster Yuu singled her out to guide Xian to one of the available rooms in the student's quarter.

She knew Grandmaster Yuu had a soft spot for troublemakers and believed that they could be changed if given the right training and teachings.

There was something that Xiao did not understand. Why did Grandmaster Yuu assign Xian as her disciple?

Someone as young as Xiao wasn't allowed to take disciples. They first needed to gain experience by training regular batches of students in martial arts, basics of mystic arts, and meditation. Only after gaining enough experience, which usually happened after reaching the 40-year-old mark, was a master allowed to take a disciple.

Without turning her head noticeably, Xiao glanced at the boy following her. Her eyebrows knitted in a frown.

Xian was walking casually, in a casual posture and without any discipline. His eyes were wandering everywhere, and he was barely focused on anything for more than a few seconds. His walking style was odd. He took long steps, and his back was arched a bit backward. His hands were behind his neck.

All in all, to Xiao, Xian seemed like a boy not beyond hope. But it would require a great deal of guidance to put him on the right track.

"Hey, hey, big sister," Xian suddenly blurted out, catching Xiao's attention. "How are you that powerful?"

Xiao's frown deepened. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Xian's eyes closed, but it did not affect his walking line. "You know," he began, "The thing you did back in the courtyard. You literally cracked the floor. How did you do that?"

Xiao's face turned normal. "I trained," she said simply.

"Eh? Training allows you to do that? No way!"

"You will know if you train hard too," Xiao said, sounding like an encouraging teacher.

"Really!?" Xian exclaimed excitedly. "Alright, baby! I can't wait to train and start cracking the earth!"

The two turned around a corner and were led into the student's quarters. A lot of students would bow in respect as they passed Xiao. Xiao would nod to them. Xian would just stare in awe at the amount of respect that Xiao commanded from her juniors.

"You sure are respected a lot," Xian said, his gaze shifting between the bowing students.

"When you have bled, puked, and fought through prejudice and pride, you become worthy of being respected," Xiao replied in a wise tone.

"Those were some awful wise words," Xian said playfully, "Please, no more preaching."

Xiao felt a sweatdrop appear on the back of her head.

Soon enough, the duo was standing before a door.

"This is going to be your room," Xiao said, pointing at the door. "You will be sharing this room with four others. You will find the basic commodities in a cardboard beside the empty bed. Your uniform will be delivered to you by someone later. Any questions?"

"Okay first off," Xian put a finger up. "Why do I have to share a room with others? Second," he put another finger up, "How are you guys going to know my clothes size? You never asked."

"First, you share a room because we say so. Second, you get clothes of our choice. Big, small, loose, tight. Does not matter. Just pray that it fits you."

Xian's eyes widened. "B-But that's not fair."

Xiao shrugged her shoulders casually. "Life is hardly ever fair kid."

Xian's shoulders slumped as he accepted his fate. "Alright, I guess."

Xiao nodded appreciatively. "Good. Meet me at the prayer hall in fifteen minutes. I suggest you freshen up. We will begin our first round of training."


Xiao had already arrived at the Prayer Hall.

She was thinking about the boy she had to train and teach. She could see that he had talent and skills beyond the average people. But she also wondered about the strange strength that he had shown.

Was he gifted? Was he a descendant of a hero? Was he somehow connected to the superhuman project that she had been a part of for a while? Or was it something else entirely?

She had many questions about the boy in her mind. She considered asking Grandmaster Yuu about them but decided to wait. She could always ask later.

Xiao looked around the room. It was time for the morning prayer before the students began their training. As she scanned the room, she saw her disciple enter.

He wore a similar outfit as her, except for a sleeveless yellow shirt. The teen walked up to her and gave her a one-handed salute.

"Yo, big sister! How do I look?" Xian asked with a cheerful smile.

Xiao wouldn't admit it, but the Shaolin uniform suited the boy. He looked like a warrior, not a vagabond. "It doesn't matter," she said in a stern voice. She raised her right hand and pointed behind her with her thumb. "Go stand with the other students."

Xian's shoulder sagged a bit, but he straightened himself and smiled brightly before walking away to join the others.

Xiao watched him go. She appreciated his positive attitude. In this world where everything was so negative, having a positive outlook was always helpful. A frown crossed her face. Had she misjudged him? Despite spending only a few minutes with him, she found, surprisingly, that the teen didn't come across as a delinquent.

Xiao sighed. She could reach a conclusion later. The morning prayer was about to start, so she joined the other masters.

The morning prayer in Shaolin involved the masters and students praying to Lord Buddha for guidance and good health. Grandmaster Yuu always led the prayers. He stood at the front, with the masters behind him in rows and then the students behind the masters.

Grandmaster Yuu clapped his hands twice, and everyone knelt on their knees, followed by Grandmaster Yuu. He clapped his hands again twice, signaling everyone to join their hands and close their eyes. Then, he chanted the prayer while everyone stayed silent.

Soon, the prayers ended, and everyone headed to the dining hall for breakfast, which varied every day. Today, it consisted of fish, steamed rice, soybean milk, steamed meat buns, and deep-fried dough sticks.

After everyone finished breakfast, it was time for the morning training. Students filed out of the dining hall and moved to the center yard, where they trained.

Xiao noticed Xian standing in one corner, looking confused. She knew what puzzled him. She saw him notice her and waved him over with her hand.

Xian made his way through the crowd of students with some difficulty, dodging them as they rushed to the training ground.

"So, where are we going?" Xian asked as he reached Xiao.

"Follow me," Xiao said as she walked away, "We will start with mid-level training."

"Really? I don't have to go through the beginner level?" Xian asked incredulously.

Xiao glanced at Xian over her shoulder. "Do you want to start from the beginner level?"

"No! No! No!" Xian exclaimed frantically as he looked away and put his hands behind his head.

Xiao faced forward again. "It's a good thing that I fought you earlier. It showed me enough about your abilities and where we need to start."

Xian smiled smugly. "So, you admit that I'm good, huh?"

Xian's words made Xiao frown. "I never said you lacked talent. You have it. But it's up to you whether you want to improve or not."

Xian's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Of course! I'm going to train as hard as I can and then become strong enough to defeat you, big sister. By the way, how many levels of training are there?"

"There are five. Beginner, mid, tough, extreme, master."

"Oh... So, you must have completed the master-level training, right?"

Xiao shook her head. "No. I'm undergoing the master-level training."

"Wait! But aren't you a master?"

Xiao nodded. "You're right. But every master in Shaolin is currently undergoing master-level training. The only person who has completed it is Grandmaster Yuu. Most retire before finishing it."

"Oh... How long does it take to complete the master level?"

Xiao shrugged. "Depends. But at most, it takes thirty years."

"WHAT! Do I have to wait sixty years to finish my training?"

"If you survive, then yes."

"Fuck! And here I thought I could end my training in two years like all those Shonen manga main characters and beat up the big bad in a year or so. But it doesn't matter how long it takes. I will surely overcome every obstacle and become a master."

Xiao didn't comment on Xian's words but she had a sweatdrop on her forehead. She wouldn't say it out loud, but the teen's enthusiasm to learn and challenge his superiors was oddly contagious.

They reached a different part of the temple. It was a large square area with the temple on three sides. The remaining side was open and showed a stunning view of the mountain range where the temple was located.

The courtyard already had students standing at attention. There were three masters as well.

Xiao gestured at the three rows of students. "Go stand there at the last row," she told Xian.

Xian nodded and joined the last row of students.

Xiao, on the other hand, went to the front where the three masters were standing and took a center position. "Good morning, students!" She greeted in a stern tone.

"Good morning, masters," the students echoed.

"Today marks your tenth day of mid-level training. We will review what you have learned in the past ten days. Come and take two bowls from this table, one by one," she said, pointing at the China bowls on the table. "The masters behind me will oversee the checkpoints that you must complete in sequence. Each checkpoint will challenge you with a different task involving these China bowls. Hurry up! Time is of the essence."

The students sprang into action. They each grabbed two bowls and held them in their hands. Xian followed suit with his own China bowl.

When everyone had their bowls, Xiao spoke again. "Alright. Follow me, all of you. We are going to the training area."

The students trailed behind Xiao, who led them to another area beyond a corridor.

The area was enclosed by four walls. But what drew their attention were the various spiked posts, bells, levers, and other devices scattered around the area.

"You know what to do, right?" Xiao asked.

Xian scanned his fellow students, who tried to look brave, but he could see them trembling. He raised his hand and looked at Xiao. "I'm sorry, but I don't know what I have to do," he said with a puzzled expression.

Xian felt a chill when he saw Xiao smile. It was the first time he had seen her smile, and it did not bode well for him.

"Let me explain, Xian," Xiao said sweetly, "You will be racing against the other students."

"A race?"

"Yes, a race," Xiao confirmed. "But there is just one catch.

"And the catch is...?"

"You will be given hot boiling water in the bowls at the start of the race. You have to carry the bowls in your hands while running the race and overcoming the obstacles. You have to ring a bell as the first task while holding the bowls. How you do it is up to you. The next task requires you to cross a pool of boiling water. You will have a lever to pull. If you succeed in pulling the lever, a wooden plank will emerge from the pool. You can use it to cross the pool. The final task is to carry burning wooden sticks and light a candle with them. Also, every time you drop a bit of water, you will be punished with a bamboo. And another thing, you have to run the race barefoot."

"T-That... This is not training. This is torture!" Xian protested in a terrified tone.

"Oh dear, are you quitting already Xian? What happened to your ambition to become the strongest? This is just the beginning," Xiao said in a mocking tone. "But of course, you are free to leave if you want."

Xian felt his eyebrow twitch. He could not back down now that his pride and skills were at stake.

"Alright, students begin!"

And then chaos erupted in the courtyard.


Xiao scanned the courtyard, watching the students tackle the obstacles. Her gaze lingered on her disciple, who stood out from the rest. He had flaws, but he also had grit. Xiao could see the difference.

As soon as the race began, Xian sprang into action. He sprinted towards the first challenge: a bell that he had to ring. He displayed remarkable agility as he bit the rope attached to the bell's clapper and yanked it back. Then he released it, letting the clapper strike the bell's rim with a loud clang.

He did not spill a drop of water from the bowl he carried. It showed his impeccable balance. Xiao was pleasantly surprised by his skill. She did not expect him to be so good at this.

The sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts. She turned and saw Grandmaster Yuu approaching her. His wooden cane tapped the floor rhythmically. "How is he doing?" he asked, looking at the students with interest.

Xiao followed his gaze and saw her disciple moving to the next hurdle. He had to navigate through a field of sharp spikes and jagged rocks.

Then, he had to cross a pool of boiling water. Xian reached for a lever near the pool and pulled it with his teeth. A wooden plank emerged from the water, bridging the two sides of the pool. Xian attempted to run across the plank but realized it was too hot to touch. He had to improvise.

Xiao admired his quick thinking as he ran along the plank, stopping every few steps to cool his feet by hopping on one leg and then the other.

"He is doing better than most," Xiao said.

"I see," Grandmaster Yuu said, keeping his eyes on the students.

They stood in silence, observing the students' performance. Xian had already advanced to the third challenge ahead of everyone else. It was impressive, considering this was his first time doing this exercise.

"He is quite impressive, isn't he?" Grandmaster Yuu remarked in an admiring tone as he watched Xian.

"Tell me, Grandmaster Yuu, why are you so fascinated by delinquents and training them?" Xiao asked.

Grandmaster Yuu looked at her and raised his right eyebrow curiously. "Why do you ask?"

Xiao avoided his gaze as she answered, "I have been wondering about it for a while."

Grandmaster Yuu turned back to the students and nodded thoughtfully. "It is a good question." He paused for a moment before continuing. "You see, geniuses and prodigies are easy students for a teacher. You just point them in a direction and they will follow it and even find their oaths along the way. As a teacher, all you have to do is guide them and they will figure it out. Delinquents, however, are a true challenge to a teacher's abilities. No one expects anything from them. They are rejects of society. But they are not without talent. They have it, but they need to discover what they are good at. Once you find it, you have to constantly push them on the right path and make sure they don't stray away. And when that delinquent, who everyone thought was hopeless, becomes a respectable member of society, the satisfaction that moment gives to a teacher is incomparable."

"That seems logical," Xiao uttered slowly. "You seem quite experienced in this, Grandmaster."

The old man laughed softly. "Why? Your father was a perfect example of that kind of student. He was always causing trouble. Xian has a lot in common with him."

"I see..." Xiao's eyes dimmed with sadness as she peeked at Grandmaster Yuu from the corner of her eyes. "Grandmaster, what about my mother... When can I talk to her?"

Grandmaster Yuu shut his eyes and let out a breath. "Soon, Xiao. Soon. But you have to complete the mission first."

"How long will the mission take?" Xiao asked, annoyed.

"Patience, Xiao. Patience," Grandmaster Yuu said in a gentle voice. He stroked Xiao's head lightly. "It will be over in a few days. Come to my office tonight, we will talk more about the mission."

Xiao nodded. "Yes, Grandmaster."


It was evening, and Xiao found herself in the vast library within Shaolin with her disciple. Evenings at Shaolin were reserved for mind training and learning about important academic topics.

Xiao went around the library, selecting books that Xian needed to study. For now, she wanted to keep it short and give him a small assignment. She picked up three books - one about the history of martial arts, one about the basics of mystic arts, and one about the mysteries of the human body.

She could have chosen many other topics, but these books provided the essential knowledge Xian would need.

Xiao walked back to the table where Xian was sitting patiently. She placed the books on the table gently before sitting opposite Xian.

Xian looked at the books in disgust. "Don't tell me I have to study these."

Xiao raised a questioning eyebrow at the disgust in Xian's eyes before she shrugged and answered, "To truly become strong, it is important to train your body and mind equally."

"We can always do meditation to strengthen our mind, right?"

"True. But you also need to know the basics of important things. If you do not understand the basics, you will never understand the advanced parts either."

Xian released a sigh of defeat and picked up a book. "Mystic Arts and Where It Originates," Xian said, reading the title and raising a curious eyebrow. "What are mystic arts?"

Xiao motioned for Xian to come near with her index finger.

Xian leaned forward in anticipation.

Suddenly, Xiao slapped her palm against Xian's chest, causing Xian to widen his eyes. But his surprise did not stop until he realized that his location had changed too.

No longer was he inside the traditional library but in a field filled with red and white tulips, sunflowers, and various other beautiful flowers. The sky was clear blue with a few clouds floating around. There were a few trees scattered around the area. Xian could hear the ocean roar due to the water crashing with rocks. That gave him the idea that he was on a cliff.

Xian turned around, and indeed, he was on a cliff. He blinked and squinted his eyes because, in the distance, he could see three figures standing right at the borders of the cliff.

Xian slowly walked toward the figures, and the closer he got, the wider his eyes went. Because he recognized the figures.

"Mom… Dad…"

Those words came out of Xian's mouth involuntarily. His eyes traveled to the third figure, the only one who had turned his face around. The moment the figure's eyes fell on Xian's figure, a smile appeared on the figure's face as he raised his right hand, carrying a bottle of traditional wine.

"Yo, brat!"

But before he could respond, Xian felt a pull on his chest, and he suddenly disappeared from the place, reappearing inside the library. He stared at Xiao with wide eyes filled with panic.

Xiao, who still had her hand on Xian's chest, gave the teen a curious look as she removed her hand.

"W-What the hell was that?" Xian exclaimed, breathing heavily.

"Soul Reflection. It shows you the thing that you desire the most," Xiao said in a simple tone. "It gives you a brief knowledge of your soul's wish."

"Soul's wish…?" Xian whispered slowly. He stared at his palms before clenching them into fists. "Can we please do this later?"

Xiao looked at Xian with slight worry but nodded nonetheless. "Sure, take the evening off and cool your mind. Also, take these three books. You have to finish them within this week."

Xian nodded his head. He picked the books up and slowly walked out of the room.

Xiao watched the teen walk out of the room. She put her head in her hand and released a tired sigh. Maybe she was a little too rough on the boy. Soul Reflection was a mystic art often used to help a person who was lost or had given up on life. Choosing to use that mystic art was a lapse in her judgment, given the hundreds of other mystic arts she could have chosen instead.

Her ears twitched, hearing the sound of someone approaching. She raised her head slightly and saw a young lady stop beside her. The young woman bowed respectfully.

"Master, Grandmaster has asked for you in his office," the woman said respectfully.

Xiao nodded. "Alright. Thanks for informing me."

Xiao left the library shortly afterward. It did not take her much time to reach the Grandmaster's office. She knocked on the wooden door.

"Come in," Grandmaster Yuu said from inside the office.

Xiao carefully opened the door and stepped inside. She did not visit the Grandmaster's office very often. It was like the fourth or fifth time she had come here. The last few times she visited the Grandmaster, it was to discuss the mission.

Xiao noticed the Grandmaster sitting in a Thunderbolt pose before a human-sized Buddha statue. He was praying with his palms joined together.

Xiao stopped a few feet away from the old Grandmaster and knelt down on one knee. She did not speak and waited for the Grandmaster to address her.

It took a few minutes for the Grandmaster to finish his prayer. The old man did not turn around as he addressed the younger female. "Xiao. Good, you have come."

"You called for me, Grandmaster," Xiao said while looking at the ground.

"Yes. It is time for you to depart for the last part of your mission," Grandmaster Yuu said.

Xiao raised her head in hope but she managed to keep the hope out of her voice. "I see."

"Visit the laboratory for the last of the blood donation and then Dr. Qianhi will give you a package that you need to deliver to the Rebel camp," Grandmaster Yuu said. "You remember the Rebel Camp, right?"

"Of course, Grandmaster," Xiao replied.

"Good. Now go and rest. You will leave tomorrow evening."

"Of course, Grandmaster." Xiao stood up and was about to leave but the Grandmaster's voice stopped her.

"And Xiao. Try to avoid any suspicious people while you're on the mission."

"May I ask why?"

The old Grandmaster nodded his head. "From our sources we have found out that someone by the name of Naruto Uzumaki is going around causing trouble in the country. While we generally will not be bothered by this, we have a reason to believe that he has been sent by the Biblical Heaven to hinder our Pantheon's growth in both relevance and strength in this new age. After all, that would not be the first time they have done something like that."

"I am quite sure I can take care of any hindrance in my mission," Xiao said confidently.

"I am sure you can, Xiao," Grandmaster Yuu replied with a warm and proud tone. "But we don't want him to know about our powers, right? We don't even know what kind of orders he has from the Biblical God. That is why, I want us to fly under his radar as long as possible."

Xiao understood what Grandmaster Yuu was trying to say. She knew that her mission was important because the endgame of the mission would reduce the suffering of her people under the tyrannical government. So, she bowed respectfully and said, "Of course, Grandmaster."

"Good. I will pray for a successful mission and safe return."

With that Xiao left the office, leaving the old Grandmaster to pray by himself. She had a mission to prepare for.


xxx


Author's Note: What will entail for Xiao at the end of her mission?


Poll Results:

1. Large Harem (5 members) - 20

2. Medium Harem (4 members) - 7

3. Small Harem (3 members) - 7

4. Single Pairing (default: Gabriel) - 6

5. No Pairing - 1

So, the poll has been closed and the above is the result. As you can see, there is a clear victor. I don't need to tell anything more.


Story Update: I am extremely sorry for the short chapter and the late update as well. I want to write more but currently, my college life is eating me away as well as the ongoing recession causing a sharp decrease in campus placements is very stressful. The stress is actually making me think that I should give up writing but I also don't want to.

Before I end this chapter, I would like to give a bad news and (hopefully) good news.

Let's start with the bad one first. I will be going on a month long break from November 20 to December 20. But before that I plan to release at least two chapters, which hopefully I will be able to fulfill.

Moving on to the (hopefully) good news, I plan to go on a weekly or biweekly schedule after the break. It will depend on how long the chapters will be. If you have read the previous chapters, then you would notice that most of the previous chapters were 10000-12000 words long. I plan to reduce the amount of words for each chapter to meet this schedule. If I plan to write 3000-4000 words per chapter, then the story would most probably be weekly. If I plan to write 6000-7000 words per chapter, then the story would probably be biweekly. Of course, your feedback on this matter would be appreciated.

Anyway, that was it for this month.

The next chapter should hopefully drop within two weeks.

Bye Bye!