145 Cultivation Techniques (2/2)

”It's fine. It's fine.” Chonglin nonchalantly waved his hand. ”Truthfully, I don't have much to do these days. All my personal disciples have gone beyond my teaching and I'm viewed as too important to teach the newbies. I get pretty bored.”

”I would think the leader of such a large and complicated sect would have plenty to keep him busy.” Ed commented.

”Hehe.” Chonglin chuckled. ”You're still young. Tell me, Smithy. What do you think makes a good leader?”

'Smithy?' Ed didn't like the nickname but didn't bother arguing about it. ”A good leader is both feared and respected.” He confidently answered.

”True.” Chonglin nodded. ”Perhaps I should rephrase the question. What makes a happy leader?”

”A happy leader?” He repeated, never having really thought about such a question. He frowned. ”Power?” He guessed.

”Wrong!” Sect Leader Fang shook his head. ”The correct answer is...” He paused for dramatic effect. ”Delegation! A good leader delegates all the hard work to others so that he can be lazy and happy! All the prestige and benefits with none of the work. This is what it means to be a true man!” He proudly proclaimed.

Slightly speechless at the shameless philosophy, Ed was beginning to wonder if he should have taken up Tai's offer to join the Fire Dragon Sect instead. Well, he was learning a lot personally from Sect Leader Fang, so he was benefiting at the very least.

Chonglin yawned, stretching his arms wide. ”Well, we'll talk more tomorrow.” He said. ”I'll teach you everything I know about cultivation and throw you in the training rooms. That'll probably keep you busy for a few months.”

”Months?” Ed asked.

”You'll see. You'll see.” Chonglin waved as he walked away.

...

Now alone, Ed returned to the courtyard he was staying at. It was practically deserted since all of Sect Leader Long's men had left with him. It seemed the argument this morning had been a serious one. Only Tao, Flair, Hina, and Haru remained behind.

Flair was busy messing with one of her inventions as usual. It seemed she never liked to have downtime. Well, at least it was easy to keep her occupied.

Haru was actually training despite the late hour. A strange glow lit up on his body under the moonlight. He was jumping between various wooden poles stuck into the ground so rapidly that he appeared blurry even to Ed.

'What an odd power.' Ed thought as he watched. 'For a power to be dependent on the moon and the sun. Even amongst stress awakened espers, it's unusual.' He thought back on everything he had learned today. 'Maybe it's related to the sun and moon created from the remnants of Pangu?' He shook his head. 'No, that story is too ridiculous. Maybe it's related to a unique body constitution?' He remembered reading about the Starlight Technique, which was specifically for those that absorbed power from the stars. Was the sun not a star? Was the moon not just reflecting light from a star? 'I'll have to get Sect Leader Fang to take a look at him. Maybe I'll have him join the Purple Origin Sect while I'm at it.'

Ed glanced at Hina. She was sitting down on the grass and watching Haru train. A miniature Tao was resting in her lap. It seemed she had no desire to grow stronger. But for some reason, she still continued to follow Haru.

'What a disappointing esper.' Ed scowled. He walked towards her and sat down, joining her in her watching. ”What are your plans from now on?” He questioned.

”Huh?!” She practically fell over as she jumped in surprise. ”Wh-what do you mean?” She asked.

”Haru.” Ed said. ”You keep following him. Look, I don't care if you have a crush on him or whatever, but-”

”I don't have a crush on him!” She interrupted, speaking the words rapidly in a high-pitched voice. She blushed as she calmed down. ”I don't have a crush on him.” She calmly repeated while watching Haru again. ”I just... want to apologize... But he never gives me the chance. He ignores me whenever I try talking to him.”

”Is that so?” Ed watched silently for a moment before standing up. ”It makes sense he ignores you. After all, you're nothing but a bug.”

”What?!” She turned to him. ”A bug?” She questioned, feeling both confused and insulted.

”Right. A bug.” He nodded. ”Look at him.” He turned to look at Haru. ”He's already strong, and he's quickly getting stronger. He's giving it everything he's got for whatever his goals may be. Nothing will get in the way of that.” He turned back to her. ”Look at you. Lazy. No goals. No drive. A former noble who can't do anything by herself. Why would he listen to your apology in the first place?”

”I don't understand...” She mumbled quietly.

”What?” Ed asked.

”I don't understand...” She mumbled just a bit louder.

”I can't hear you! Is that how you're planning to apologize to Haru?!” He taunted.

”I DON'T UNDERSTAND!” She shouted in frustration.

”There you go.” Ed replied. ”Right now, you're not worthy of apologizing to him. For someone to apologize, the two parties must be equals. Would an elephant listen to an ant if it tried to say sorry? No, it would already be lucky to not get crushed for getting in the elephant's way.” He pointed at her. ”You're the ant in the story. If you really want to apologize.” He pointed at Haru. ”Then work hard to become an elephant.” He turned and walked away, leaving her in stunned silence.

”Ah, Sect Leader Fang must be rubbing off on me.” He chuckled to himself as he left. 'It's rare for me to teach something useful to a weakling like that. Well, if she's going to keep following Haru, who is following me, then she needs to at least make herself useful. Nothing worse for a group than dead weight.'