Interlude: Su An

    ~~~

    Of those who took the Xiao Sects entrance exam, many were children without exceptional backgrounds. Some were orphans. Some were poor. Some were just utterly unremarkable.

    Su An considered herself to belong to the latter category.

    Her mother died shortly after she was born. Her father was a city guard who spent most of his days guarding the walls. As a result, Su An had grown up largely without adult guidance or supervision. She got into fights with the neighboring kids and wandered into parts of the city a young child wasnt supposed to.

    To Su An, every day was an adventure. Perhaps, that was why she had taken the Xiao Sects entrance exam.

    The Xiao Sect was the best of the best. People talked about it in reverent whispers, and Su An couldnt help but find herself drawn to it. The mystery. The power. The fame. She wanted all those things. Her father had no qualms with her chosen path. Most parents wouldnt. To join the Xiao Sect was a great honor, one many aspired to.

    Unlike most of those people, Su An managed to get in.

    Su An, daughter of a simple city guard, was accepted into the strongest Sect of Eastern Port City. When said like that, it sounded significant, monumental even. Unfortunately, the truth was anything but.

    People from common backgrounds were not uncommon among Outer Disciples, something Su An discovered early on. It was a numbers game. Many took the entrance exam every year, and there are only so many prestigious clans within the city. Thus, many of the people who joined the Xiao Sect were ordinary. Talented but ordinary.

    However, it is an entirely different story if one is talking about Inner Disciples.

    Many people from ordinary backgrounds joined the Xiao Sect. That much was true. They were people who were considered talented among their peers. Yet, upon entering the Xiao Sect, they learned how average they were. They trained and trained every day only to ultimately be left behind by those who possessed real talent.

    Of those who passed the Xiao Sects entrance exam with Su An, most never became more than Outer Disciples. Some of them left the Xiao Sect, having given up on ever achieving notoriety. Others were transferred to other branches more suited to their meager talent. It was something Su An saw countless times, and every time it happened, she thanked the Heavens for being gifted with talent above her station. Su An was a true rarity, a person from a common background who had risen to become an Inner Disciple. Many expected her to fail, but she hadnt.

    As an Outer Disciple, Su An had been diligent and talented. As an Inner Disciple, not much changed. There had been some initial friction as she found herself being looked down on by some of the Inner Disciples from wealthier backgrounds, but Su An had managed to win them over. She had always been good at making friends.

    For a moment, it looked like her time as an Inner Disciple would be as simple as her time as an Outer Disciple.

    Yes, for a moment, Su An had thought someone like her could one day become a Core Disciple and had allowed her mind to be filled with fantasies of what her life would be like once that happened.

    Then everything changed.

    It wasnt the result of something someone else did. No one conspired against Su An or accidentally caused her harm. If it had been something so easily solved, everything would have been fine. However, the root of the problem did not lie in anyone else.

    It lay within herself.

    She was the problem.

    It was something Su An had seen countless times before. All people eventually hit a wall, a bottleneck they could not overcome no matter how much they tried. Their growth slowed down until they might as well be crawling while everyone else was running. Eventually, they were left behind. Yes, Su An had seen it countless times. It had happened to many Outer Disciples she had known, and now it was happening to her.

    That was how she knew it was the end of her.

    It wasnt as simple as putting in more effort. Things wouldnt work out just because she tried harder. What Su An was facing was the harshness of reality, and there was nothing she could do other than submit to it.

    She would soon lose the authority she had as an Inner Disciple. Her peers would realize she was stagnating and leave her behind.

    In no time at all, shed find herself at the very bottom of the Inner Disciples.

    After that, it would only be a matter of time. Either shed be relegated to a minor position within the Sect, or shed be sent to one of the Xiao Sects branches where someone of her skill could be better used. As Su An agonized over it, she found herself preferring the latter option. At least that way, the other Inner Disciples wouldnt be able to see her humiliation. Some would even consider it a graceful exit. There were many days in which Su An wondered if she should take the first step and go to Elder Gang to request a transfer before her state became apparent. Better to leave than to be kicked out.

    Never in a thousand years would it have ever occurred to Su An that Boss would willingly get into the ring with Yun Han.

    Boss wasnt a coward, but Boss also wasnt stupid!

    Watching that fight had been the worst experience of Su Ans young life. Every second of it, her heart had been ready to stop as she watched Boss challenge someone who could kill him with ease. Every second, her heart had leaped with hope as Boss pulled another surprise before it froze with terror once more.

    By the end of it, she was pretty sure she had aged several years.

    She didnt wait for Boss to return to the Xiao Sects room. She immediately rushed out to meet him in the hallways at top speed.

    Boss!

    She caught him in the tightest hug she was capable of, lifting him off his feet. Su An knew Boss wasnt good with physical contact. Indeed, she caught his panicked look out of the corner of her eye.

    Good!

    That would show him for worrying her so much!

    Boss! I cant believe you fought Yun Han! It was an amazing fight!

    Su An immediately shut her mouth when she realized just how proud she had sounded there. No! That wouldnt do at all! Boss couldnt get the idea that this type of thing was okay for him to do!

    Ah, but Boss definitely shouldnt have done that! This Su An has lost years of her life just from watching! Boss can never do that again! In fact, this Su An should go right now and tell Boss father about this!

    A guilty expression appeared on Boss face, further proving that bringing up his father was always the most effective strategy against him.

    Before Su An could continue with her guilt trip, a polite cough caught her attention.

    It was then that she remembered Young Master Xiao Fang had been with Boss. Indeed, he stood there with his arms crossed, an amused look on his face.

    Well, brother-in-law, Young Master Xiao Fang said, I see you are in good hands now. Well talk more later.

    With that, the Young Master of the Xiao Sect walked away, effectively abandoning Liu Jin to Su Ans mercies.

    Liu Jin looked at Su An.

    Su An looked at Liu Jin.

    I am definitely telling your father about this, she said.

    Boss was Boss was Boss.

    One day, hed be better than everyone. One day hed shine brighter than Young Master Xiao Fang and even Young Master Xiao Nan.

    Of that, Su An was certain.

    Until that day came, someone needed to remind him not to do boneheaded stunts.

    ~~~