12 Changing Times 2 (1/2)

Ed made his way towards the restaurant at the middle of the plains. As he moved, the air, leaves, grass, seemed to avoid him. If one looked closer, they would notice they were moving in sync with him, allowing him to move past without causing a change to anything in his way. If one looked in his direction, they would not even see him or sense him. He was so much one with the environment, he was almost not there. Even though the plain was flat and the plants were no taller than his knees, one would still miss him passing.

He opened the rickety restaurant door to see a woman looking at him as though he had defied the heavens. He looked to the side to meet the grinning face of Tie Nse.

”I see you have reached the perfect foundation state. It is time you try breaking through to the heaven picking stage.” the grinning Tie Nse said.

”Wait... he has not yet done his heaven picking and you put him in...” she could not even continue. This mad man, did this boy offend him in a past life?

”Give it to me.” Ed said. Seeing the old pervert, he had thought he would be angry, but he was not. He wanted to get the training technique he had been promised.

”What? Oh, the technique? Worry not. I have a perfect place for you to break through.” Tie Nse seemed completely happy as he talked.

”Where? Boy, I think you should have chosen another master. Can you trust this old thing after that?” Madam Ge said.

”What do you mean? If he cannot trust me, his master, who can he trust?!” Tie Nse fumed.

”Special or not, no one would put their disciple in that valley. Say, boy. You should not go any where with him till he has told you where he is taking you. Baju valley is only one of many scary places. This old fool can pick any one.” Madam Ge advised.

”It seems I have stayed here too long. Humph! What do you know about raising a special disciple?” Tie Nse said and started walking out, ”Come, dear disciple.”

He had gotten to the door when he noticed Ed just watching him pass, only then did he pause. Madam Ge broke into a fit of laughter when she saw the situation.

”The boy is not stupid enough to follow you again.” she said, completely happy at Tie Nse's misfortune.

”Boy, what are you standing there for?” Tie Nse asked Ed.

”Are you going to give me the technique or not?” Ed asked.

”Of course I will. I need to take you to a place that will help you break through.” Tie Nse said righteously.

”Is there a possibility I will die there?”

”No... but, who can truly say.” Tie Nse said cryptically.

”Boy, I am Hila Ge, but you can call me Madam Ge. What is your name?” this woman no older than him calling him boy was weird. But he understood that appearance was not everything. She could be much older than him.