The Old Scholar

Back in the Golden Fire Sect, Leilani and the rest followed Sect Master Sun as she brought them to a part of the sect that was hidden from view at the triple fork on the road leading to the guest dorms. This was on the right path that led downward toward the rest of the sect and opened up into a massive complex of buildings, small towers, and even combat arenas which were built on a large plateau on this side of the mountain, this part was also obscured from view from an outside POV due to the massive forest that was right below the plateau, covering it with massive trees that provided the perfect cover. 

"This is the sect proper. Here is where we have classes for the younger students who are in high school or grade school" Sect Master Sun stated as they walked towards one of the pagoda towers 

"On your left and built into the mountain is the student's dormitory, younger students who are in grade school are sent home via teleportation which is something I must admit we have copied from your own academy. Originally, all students of all grade levels were required to stay in a dormitory but thanks to the efforts made by Crown Princess Takana, she has allowed us to have proper teleportation pads that can bring  the young ones home which is a good thing" The sect master added as she pointed to the massive dormitory and the rows of teleportation pads near them 

{!}

As they rounded a corner to go down some more steps, there was a group of Golden Fire high school students who were making their way up the stairs and they bumped into the  Imperia Students despite there being space for both sides to pass without trouble. 

"Hey! Watch where you're going outside-..." The lead Golden Fire student shouted before trailing off as he saw the Sect Master looking at him with narrowed eyes 

"What were you going to say young one?" Sect Master Sun asked with a deceitfully sharp tone 

"Ummm...I apologize for running into you...I was not looking where I was going" The student replied as he immediately bowed his head and then bolted up the stairs with the rest of his friends following behind him 

"Hey! What is the meaning of this!? How dare you disrespect our students!" Another but older voice chimed in, with all eyes turning from the Golden Fire students to the new voice. The voice belonged to a tall and well-built man who was bald and wearing a golden set of martial arts robes

"These are our visitors Sir Myrid...Did you forget what I mentioned in the meeting last week?" Sun shot back at him, with the man's eyes going wide as he looked at her 

"Ah! Sect Master...I....uhhh" The man began to stumble over his words and stutter as Sect Master Sun took a step down closer to him 

"Run along Sir Myrid. I believe you have a class to attend to" Sun added with a cold glare and a low growl which made Myrid stiffen up in fear 

"Is my job-" 

"It will be if you don't go now" Sun cut him off before watching him bow and apologize before bolting up the stairs past everyone 

"I am truly sorry for the attitude that my students and staff are showing. It is a problem across the Jade Empire as a whole, it stems from the pride and honor-based feudal system that once governed the land until about 80 years ago, and despite the best attempts of us educators and the government, it is still very common to see people fight over the most petty reasons" Sect Master Sun stated as she turned to Leilani and her group and bowed her head 

"It is fine, I informed my students and Takana informed us when we got here to expect such a thing" Leilani assured her with a small smile, with the students and professors behind her also nodding and saying words of agreement 

"That is so embarrassing" The Sect Master stated as she placed her face into her hands before taking a deep breath and then letting out a big sigh 

"It is fine, shall we continue on with the tour of the sect?" Leilani asked her as she placed her hand on the left shoulder of the Sect Master who returned that smile 

{!} 

Just then, Sect Master Sun looked up and saw a blade flying straight toward the back of the head of Leilani, she was about to push the fellow dean of the way but Leilani moved faster than she expected and didn't even see Leilani jump up to grab the sword, she moved as if she had it with her all along, one moment there was no sword, the next there was. 

"Hmm, not really good craftmanship I can guarantee you that" Leilani commented as she held the Jian-style sword by the hilt and did a little flourish, noticing that the sword was poorly built 

"Ummm, how did you-" 

"Get away from her Sect Master!" A voice called out to her from above, with all eyes turning to the voice 

Leilani and the group saw a group of 9 people flying in on swords and hovering just above them, all of them were wearing the purple robes of 4th-year college students in the sect and they all had their weapons drawn and aimed at Leilani. 

"What is the meaning of this!?" Sect Master Sun shouted, her voice causing the group of students to fall off their flying swords and crash onto the ground before they quickly picked themselves up 

"Master! These outsiders are not fit to step foot into our sacred grounds!" The leader of the group said 

"Xin Jiang...Who are you to decide who is fit to step into MY grounds?" Sect Master Sun shot back as she took a step forward, reaching the end of the steps, seeing the students unconsciously step away from her as she moved forward 

"My father always said in order to prove your worth in life, you must show the strength to be worthy!" Xin Jiang shouted back, still not daring to lunge forward out of fear of the Sect Master 

"Is that so?" Leilani chimed in as she stepped forward, with Sect Master Sun giving her a worried expression 

"Yes! You and your outsider students and professors didn't even show how skilled you are to be here! For all we know, you are all here to learn our secrets!" Xin shouted in reply, with the rest of his group shouting words of agreement 

By this point, a small crowd was forming on either side as students and professors emerged from the school buildings to see what all the fuss was about outside. They whispered amongst one another as they were trying to figure out what was happening, with some of them shouting for the Imperia students to leave as they agreed with what Xin and his group stood for. Sect Master Sun was about to yell for them to silence but was stopped as Leilani placed her hand on her shoulder 

"Leave this to me" Leilani whispered with a small smirk that confused Sun as she saw her walk past her and turn to the gathered crowd 

"Right. Since you are all in agreement that we have to prove our worth here, let me ask my students. Imperia! Will we stand down?!" Leilani shouted as she turned to her students 

"No we won't!" The Imperia students and professors shouted in response 

"Will we run!?" 

"No we won't!" 

"What shall we do?!" 

"We will fight!" 

"And!?" 

"We will win!" 

The shouts from the Imperia students shocked the students who were watching and even the professors, with everyone feeling a tinge of fear down their spine as they saw the unwavering confidence and pride in their voices and expressions which was surprising to them. 

"Well, you have your answer everybody! It's open to all challengers from the college level, no grade schoolers or high schoolers allowed. So! Who is willing to put their money where their mouth is and step up to us?! You?!" Leilani stated as she looked around before locking eyes with Xin Jiang and his group who now had expressions of anger and fear mixed together 

"Huh? Where was that bravado you all had earlier?! You were all so confident in talking shit about me and my students just a few moments ago, so where is it now huh?! Are you all bark and no bite?! Is this what the damn Golden Fire Sect really is?! A sect full of cowards and backbiters who can't defend the position they stand on?! Shameful!" Leilani added, hoping to see them react and accept the challenge presented by her and her students 

There was a silence that followed the declaration, with all eyes on Leilani who was still waiting for a response. Some of the students and professors looked over to Sect Master Sun and saw her sigh in disappointment and shake her head as she pinched her forehead with her left hand. The sight of their own Dean looking at them with such disappointment sent their morale plummeting as they were basically confirming what Leilani had called them out to be, rats who could only squeak but not bite. The professors who tried to turn away suddenly felt their Sect Master's eyes lay upon them which forced them to stay put and wallow in their shame as no one was stepping forward to accept the challenge that Leilani had turned on them. 

{!} 

Suddenly, a blade landed right in front of Leilani, with all eyes turning once more skyward as they saw a group of 6 people floating downward on their swords before standing a few meters away from Leilani, all eyes locked on her. Leilani looked at them and observed each of their features, the first one was a young man and  he looked to be in his 20s who had a well-toned and well-built body hidden under a pair of beige and blue robes that hugged his muscular physique, his sword was holstered by his side and his black hair was tied into a ponytail that fluttered in the wind. The next was a young beautiful elf girl on his right dressed in the same robes as him and also wearing a pair of swords that were holstered on her sides. Behind the two before her was a kitsune girl with fluffy white fur on her tail and her ears and a dragonkin girl with red and white scales and finally, was a buff, tan, young man whose robes were sleeveless, with short black hair that was spiky and a lanky but tall young man with his skin pale and his long hair a mess that covered his face and made him look like a woman from time to time. 

"Is this challenge open to all?" The leading young man asked with a snake-like grin 

"Of course, open to all of the college level. And you are?" Leilani asked him 

"I am Han Changpu, I am a 6th-year student of the Sect and leader of the 'Order of Fire', I accept the challenge put forward by you outsiders" Han answered her as he took a step forward 

"Order of Fire?" Leilani asked 

"It is the premier club for some of the best and brightest in the Sect Miss Leilani" Sect Master Sun answered her from behind 

"Mhmm! And as such, we do not take the insulting challenge you have given to our undergraduate brethren. It is with their shattered pride and honor in mind that I Han Changpu and the rest of my fellow members of the 'Order of Fire' accept your challenge and hope to show you all what for!" Han declared as he pointed at Leilani who did not look impressed 

Before anyone else could say anything, Xin Jiang and his group also stepped forward, their eyes filled with resolve and determination as they looked at Leilani. 

"I Xin Jiang and my friends also accept your challenge! We shall show you outsiders what true power is!" Xin stated with a determined resolve 

Leilani then turned around to see Sect Master Sun looking at her with a slightly defeated look as she was very much embarrassed by the show that her sect had put on on day one of their damn visit and at this point, she was done trying to help her students whom she knew were going to get bodied after hearing about so many things from her master when she was in Imperia. 

"So be it" Sun stated as she looked at all of them 

"Everone in the sect is to report to the Grand Battleground immediately. Sir Pyrus, ring the challenge bells" Sun ordered as she looked at one of the orc professors who nodded and then ran up and past everyone 

"Now, before we begin this battle. I will let you all know this. I am wholeheartedly ashamed that despite the years you have spent in this academy, learning that pride and honor are things that do not require extreme actions to be defended, and also learning that no one's worth is determined by their strength, you have all failed to learn them properly and place them in your hearts. If you win, then that's that, I will not punish you all for your abrasive and inexcusable behavior. But if you lose, and pray to the Gods above you do not, I will give you all a punishment that will make you regret even being born. Am I understood?" Sun asked the two challenging groups of her students, with her stare sending shivers down their spines but not shaking their resolve 

"Of course Sect Master" Han and Xin acknowledged as they bowed to her in respect 

"All right. I hope this serves as a lesson for everyone watching that being a prideful bastard is not worth the shame and humiliation that comes with your overbearing pride being shattered by those who are much more talented and stronger than you. I have done my best to try and instill common sense and using your heads but it seems that I need to show you all the consequences of using the same arrogant and idiotic thinking that has plagued this nation for so long " Sun added as she looked at her college students and especially her professors

{!}

Then, there was a chorus of bells ringing around the sect and the air shifted around everyone like an ill omen about the event that was about to fall upon everyone present.

"Let's get started then" 

.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Meanwhile, back in the capital, Crown Princess Takana was personally dispatching several companies of treacherous soldiers who had sworn allegiance to General Zhong and the Third Prince. The streets of the capital were running red as columns upon columns of fully armored and battle-ready soldiers died in droves. Civilians scattered and watched on in horror as the Crown Princess mercilessly dispatched her foes, watching her punch some into red mist, engulf them in fire with her fists, or turn them into ice before shattering them with a single kick, it was brutality at its finest. 

{!}

Around ten to fifteen minutes into her rampage, the necklace that Takana was wearing lit up, and teleporting around her were Assistant Sect Master Moon and the loyal garrison from Xuan City. Much to her initial surprise before a knowing smile appeared on her face when she saw her student. 

"I take it my former professor gave you that matching necklace?" Takana asked with a smirk 

"Yes Master, she gave it to us to bring help to you" Moon replied with a small bow 

"Your Highness! The Xuan Garrison of 4,000 warriors awaits your command!" One of the soldiers stated as he gave her a bow 

"Mhmm! Take half of your men and secure the Jade Palace, the Jade Emperor is there with what's left of his personal guard and a clone of me. The rest of you, enter each noble house in the city and drag these damn traitors out and bring them to me at the Jade Palace, those who resist, tell them their Emperor demands it, those who do not follow after being told that, beat them and bring them anyways, no deaths understood?" Takana ordered 

"Understood Your Highness!" The soldier nodded before turning around and commanding the garrison to the letter

Watching the soldiers disperse, Takana looked up into the sky as she felt a shift in the wind, with Moon also noticing the shift of the elements before looking at her master 

"Something troubling you Master?" Moon asked 

"Mhmm...I get the feeling that stupid has occurred..." Takana replied with narrowed eyes 

"Is it concerning your brother?" Moon asked, with Takana shaking her head in reply 

"No...not that, more of something about to go down and people being taught a lesson....the only time I felt like this was when I was a student in Imperia...." The Crown Princess stopped as she mentioned her former school, a look of realization dawning on her before she let out a sigh and then squeezed her temple with her right hand 

"Something the matter Your Highness?" Moon asked with a tilted head 

"Yes, but we can deal with it later. For now, let's flush out some rats" Takana replied as she buried the feeling of embarrassment and disappointment into her soul for later

A/N: New Chapter. Enjoy! Hehehehe, and it seems that there is something in the works for Leilani and her students are now going to be fighting the 'Order of Fire' and Xin's group. Let's see how they stand a chance next chapter!