Ren Fang's Decision (1)

"Fanxin, if you won't accept this cruel training, I won't let you leave this island. I'd rather you spent your whole life here alone than let you go to your death." Grandpa Nick looked at Fanxin and demanded, "Tell me, are you willing to accept it?"

"I am. No matter how cruel it gets, I'll accept it. I definitely won't back down." Fanxin looked earnestly into Grandpa Nick's eyes and spoke sincerely.

He wasn't lying to Grandpa Nick, because he really was ready to cultivate. Before, he hadn't known about his origins, so he could drift through life and slowly while away the time. But he couldn't do that anymore, because he had parents. He wasn't an unwanted orphan.

His parents might be in danger now. He had to grow stronger. Only then could he search for them and rescue them. If he was weak, he couldn't do anything. Going after them would only mean throwing his life away.

"Very good. I'll start training you tomorrow." Grandpa Nick nodded in satisfaction.

"Oh, Grandpa Nick, do you know what my parents look like? Could you tell me? I really want to see them."

Fanxin asked. He had never seen his parents and dearly wanted to. Even a photograph would have made him happy.

"Hehe, sorry, but your parents wore masks whenever they met me. I don't know what they really look like. I only remember their scent. As long as I smell that distinctive scent, I'll know it's them. So I'm sorry," Grandpa Nick said helplessly.

"Is that so? My parents are awfully mysterious!" Fanxin said, a little disappointed.

"Hehe, don't be disappointed, though. You still have a chance to see your parents." Seeing Fanxin's disappointed expression, Grandpa Nick immediately comforted him.

"Oh, how?" Fanxin immediately brightened and asked.

"Go home and get a good night's sleep, and you'll know," Grandpa Nick said.

Fanxin couldn't understand what he meant and pestered Grandpa Nick for an explanation. But Grandpa Nick paid him no attention at all, and in the end, he had no choice but to give up.

"Oh, um... Grandpa Nick, can... can I join the training?" While Fanxin was feeling frustrated, Ren Fang suddenly spoke up.

She stammered somewhat. Clearly, even now, she still couldn't accept Grandpa Nick being just a head.

At her words, Little Black Cat, Fanxin, and Grandpa Nick all looked at Ren Fang in some surprise. They had assumed a girl like her wouldn't take part, so they hadn't counted her in. They hadn't expected her to want to join such cruel training too.

"Hehe, young lady, are you sure you want to take part? This is no ordinary training. At best, you might lose an arm or a leg; at worst, you might lose your life. And that pretty face of yours might be disfigured too. Don't you mind?" Grandpa Nick asked with a smile.

"I... I'm willing," Ren Fang said with a nod.

"But you're not determined enough. That won't do. When I train people, I don't like them backing out halfway through. There's no point in me teaching someone like that," Grandpa Nick said. Ren Fang had stammered, which clearly meant she lacked resolve.

"I really am willing!" Ren Fang shouted.

She wanted to undergo the training because she had thought about everything she had been through. All those things had happened because she hadn't been able to protect herself. If she had been strong enough, none of it would have happened.

So she wanted to join the training and become stronger.

"Hmm, are you sure?" Grandpa Nick paused at her words, then asked.

Even he didn't know why he had asked, because Ren Fang hadn't been at all determined just moments ago. But now she surprised him. It was as if she had become a different person in a matter of seconds.

"I'm sure." Ren Fang nodded, her eyes blazing as she stared at Grandpa Nick without the slightest intention of looking away.

"Very good. To prove to me that you're truly willing, jump down from here! Oh, there's something I should remind you of: there are ferocious crocodiles down below. You could very well lose your life." Grandpa Nick nodded and pointed at the sea.

At that, not only Ren Fang, but Fanxin and Little Black Cat were stunned as well.

"Grandpa, what are you doing? Someone could die! Don't do this. Can't you just let her join the training?" Fanxin said at once. He didn't want an innocent person to die like this. Ren Fang was such a pitiable girl. She had already suffered enough. Was Grandpa going to take her life too?

"That's right, Grandpa Nick. Don't make her do it. Let her join the training, and if she really can't handle it, she can just quit," Little Black Cat said.

"Hmph, what do you know? Why did she end up like this? Because she wasn't strong enough. This is a world where the strong prey on the weak. If you aren't strong, you can only be bullied and trampled on."

Grandpa Nick looked at Ren Fang and said, "Although I don't know who you are, I can see that you've probably suffered quite a bit. Whether you want to keep suffering or escape it all depends on what you decide in your heart."

"If you don't fight, you'll die. If you fight, you'll die too. But if you fight, there's still a sliver of hope. How will you choose? It's up to you." Grandpa Nick said, "To gain strength, you must lose several lives before you have a chance. If you cling to life and fear death, you'll never become a powerhouse."

With that, Grandpa Nick fell silent and moved quietly ahead.

Ren Fang didn't move forward. Looking at the sea, she saw the crocodiles swimming in it, and a slight chill crept into her heart. Crocodiles were ferocious creatures. The moment she fell in, she would become their meal.

"Hey, don't listen to my grandpa. He's just a strange old man," Fanxin urged. This was no joke. If it were him, he wouldn't be afraid, because he could fight those crocodiles. Besides, he had swum across the sea to get here and even had a fierce battle with a crocodile.

But Ren Fang was an ordinary girl. If she fell in, she would be in danger.

"Hey, Ren Fang, you only live once. Think carefully, think carefully!" Little Black Cat said.

"I know, but I have to do as Grandpa says. There's still fear in my heart, and I have to overcome it before I have any chance of becoming stronger. So..." Ren Fang nodded, and as she spoke, she jumped straight off the bridge. Her body plummeted, and before long she was above the surface of the sea, on the verge of falling into the crocodiles' jaws.