The Growth of a Titan

After yelling this, Sol looked at the old man and asked unsure.

"Did I do it right?"

However, the old man didn't respond but simply let out another roar of laughter.

He couldn't help it, he was too overwhelmed at Sol becoming his disciple. The old man couldn't control the smile that threaten to split his face in half.

When last had he been this jubilated in his long life? Maybe this was a first! After all, he had gained such a wonderful disciple, now he was sure to win that bet with those bastards!

It was only after a few minutes that the old man was able to calm himself down.

"Ehem, Ehem, yes brat, you did it right."

After saying that, the old man continued to smile at Sol, who felt wholly uncomfortable at his gaze.

This feeling increased even more for Sol as the old man began pacing around him; stopping a few times only to poke at his body.

"Uh… Master?"

Sol called for the old man who seemed to be in a trance. The old man only stopped poking Sol after he had done so a few more times.

Then after taking several steps back, he explained.

"Brat, I was just examining your body to see what you currently lack. Your first set of training will be focused on that aspect. But before that, tell me why you chose to become my disciple now instead of when I offered to help you take revenge. Do you not want to take revenge and instead want to discover your origins?"

After hesitating a bit, Sol explained.

"I'm not giving up on my revenge, absolutely not."

Sol vehemently shook his head, while a fierce expression appeared on his face. But his expression then relaxed as he continued.

"Initially, I just thought Master was unable to help me, but after I discovered you were an Outsider as well, my mind was made up to not become your disciple."

"Is it because you thought I was like the Church, that I'm only taking you in as a disciple for the benefit of where I come from?"

After seeing Sol nodding his head, the old man sighed and said.

"Listen brat, your revenge has nothing to do with the conflict between the Eastern Continent and the Western Continent. I won't drag you off to the Eastern Continent and exploit your hatred for the Church to fight against them. Do you understand?"

The old man was eerily serious about this, and Sol can understand that he wanted to clear any doubts he had.

"And besides brat, my reputation… uh that… it isn't so great over on the Eastern Continent. So don't go announcing you're my disciple!"

"But I thought Master was called the Great Tea-"

"Wait! Stop! Stop!…"

The old man immediately cut off Sol, then coughed in his hand and said awkwardly.

"Ah, brat, forget that I mentioned that name. That's just one of the many titles that I don't go by anymore. So, moving on from that, understand that I took you in as my disciple because of your talent; nothing more nothing less."

Sol kind of relaxed a bit upon hearing that, he indeed had his worries but not anymore. However, Sol had questions of his own, several in fact now that he knew his Master was from the Eastern Continent.

But only two came to mind to ask right now.

"Master, I'd like to ask you… how did you meet my father? And why exactly are you looking for a disciple?"

The old man rubbed his beard for a moment then answered with a melancholic look on his face.

"I actually met your father in this very place. It was several decades ago-"

"Ah, wait! You met my father several decades ago?"

Seeing that Sol was back to his old self interrupting him, the old man went to rage, but then Sol suddenly ask once more.

"Did… Did you see my mother as well?"

"Your mother?"

The old man paused and blinked. He then shook his head and said.

"No, I only saw your father, not your mother." 𝗯𝐞𝗱𝐧𝗼𝐯𝐞𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Sol hearing this became dejected, but also a bit confused.

He knew his father had come here many years ago, but he didn't know it was before he was born. Wouldn't his mother have been with his father then, since he wasn't conceived?

The reason for Sol's confusion was that he didn't know of the strange occurrence of him being a newborn even back when his father first met the old man.

The villagers weren't aware, only the high-ranking members of the village knew, but they didn't mention anything to him or anyone due to the village Chief's orders.

But even though Sol was unaware of this now, he would soon come to know in the future.

"Damn brat! Do you want me to answer your question or not!"

Sol snapped out of his thoughts and apologized to the old man.

After snorting the old man continued.

"As I was saying, I met your father several decades ago. At that time I took an interest in him because he was the first person my Innate Dharma was unable to work on."

Sol had a question pop into his head. He was going to ask what was an Innate Dharma, but not wanting to interrupt his Master again, Sol simply kept quiet.

"As for your second question, brat. I was looking for a disciple because of a bet I made with a bunch of bastards."

Sol saw his Master's face turn grim upon saying that. It's as if he was thinking of something unpleasant. But then his face lit up before he laughed and began gloating.

"Haha! But who cares about those bastards? I definitely won this bet! Just thinking of rubbing my win in their faces, that I gained such a talented disciple in Martial Arts, I can't wait!… Bwahaha!!"

Unable to handle the raising joy he felt once again, the old man burst out into another round of laughter.

Sol seeing his Master so excited could tell this bet must have been extremely important.

"Alright brat, look. After I train you you're going to enter the Martial Alliance Academy and defeat the disciples of those bastards. And don't you dare loose, you hear me brat?"

Sol nodded seriously, but then he showed a confused expression as he asked.

"Master, what's the Martial Alliance Academy?"

"Oh, that? It's an Academy on the Eastern Continent that gathers all the outstanding disciples from the Seven Holy Sects and Five Great Clans. Even some youths from the Barbarian and Sakrian tribes in the north and southwest of Jianghu are accepted there!"

Despite his Master's enthusiastic praise for this thing called an Academy, Sol could only tilt his head to one side not understanding a thing his Master just said.

The old man seeing Sol's reaction smacked his forehead.

"Right! This is like putting the horse before the carriage! While I train you I should explain some things about the Eastern and even the Western Continent. That should be…"

The old man's words suddenly trailed off, because when he looked at Sol he saw that he had his head down muttering under his breath.

"Horse before the carriage…??"

Hearing this, the old man blinked. He realized he might have underestimated Sol's lack of knowledge about the outside world.

'No, he doesn't just lack knowledge, he doesn't even have a basic understanding of how the outside world works! But I really can't do anything about this aspect, he'll just have to learn those nuanced things as he interacts with kids his age. Though, I could teach him our customs and some basic things, however, that's it.'

"Does that mean riding the carriage in reverse…??"

"Brat, forget about the horse and carriage!"

Sol who was still trying to understand what his Master had said, stopped and looked up.

"Your studies can come later, but first, I need to test some things before I can start your training. Give me one of those bracelets."

The old demanded as he extended his hand towards Sol.