14 Redwood Academy (1/2)
You can wait for time yet time doesn't wait for you
...
Strolling on a path a rugged bag hooked around the juvenile's shoulder as he took a bite out of an animal's leg he bought from a street vendor.
Murmuring beneath his breath ”Oh, how I missed seasonings”
Searching for signs he failed to realize the giant banner on top of the city's gate
[REDWOOD CITY ENTRANCE EXAM]
Asking a nearby adult for directions he got whacked on the head while the adult pointed at the banner.
”...Oh”
Trying to laugh it off as a joke the juvenile still got scolded for wasting the adult's time but he brushed it off immediately.
The smile he showed to the adult in order to appease him had disappeared and covered up with a cold sneer.
”If this wasn't the wilderness you would've died.”
The juvenile was Dean who was already at the age of 16. In total, 6 years from the event has already passed and Dean wanted to go schooling...
As if, Dean found that Christian was admitted into the school two years agoalong with his other 'friends'.
For the past four years Dean had abruptly cut off his link with the Wilkes family. Of course the Clan Leader Wilkes wouldn't relinquish his grandson for no reason so he gave excuses.
If Dean remembered correctly it was something along the lines of 'Dean had been in a closed training to become a hermit.'
What nonsense, Dean had sealed himself off for a whole year inside that cove to recover his cultivation and surprisingly it was insanely fast.
According to the [Battle Intent Manual] sitting down and cultivating is a surefire way to become stronger but compared to other manuals or techniques this one was made for one thing.
Battling.
Constantly walking on a tightrope between life or death was what this cultivation manual thrived on. Others can only rely on their comprehension while Dean just needed to look for more advantages.
Taking in all the precious herbs and fighting Dean has turned into a frightening monster. A monster that has surpassed all odds.
A Nascent Soul 2 cultivator.
Children his age would at most be Foundation Establishment while those with gifted talents and medical resources could reach Core Refiner.
He couldn't just show his real cultivation to anybody so he made sure to learn a subcategory of [Battle Intent Manual].
It revolved around the idea that battle with an unknown opponent is one of the deadliest fights. This allowed for whoever created this manual to hid their cultivation to later back stab a cultivator.
The war against any foes he met on his path when walking in areas known to be dangerous would always lead to Dean getting stronger.
'Just because you have great cultivation does not mean you can rule the world'
But because of this great strength, Dean became weary. This was especially so after he received a paper
Dean received a letter from his grandpa. On one hand it was a letter for entering Redwood Academy without a problem while the other was a handwritten note.
The writing was messy making it look urgent with wet patches, presumably tears.
{Dean Wilke's father has been killed due to a higher power.
Do not take revenge
Stay strong}
At the time Dean laughed
”I had already said I wasn't part of your family so why are you sending rubbish?”
It was a minor grudge Dean held. He suffered cruel torture from his cousins because he didn't have strength and his father didn't even interfere.
What made it even more hilarious was the fact his grandpa said his father was killed due to mysterious circumstances.
”If I didn't have a strong will to survive maybe I would've 'died due to mysterious circumstances'”
Because Dean refused to acknowledge his family, his ties have already been severed.
This meant that Dean didn't have to take 'revenge' for his dead father.
Dean at least learnt a valuable message from the letter. Brute strength does not mean you can always win.