Lao Feng finished his narrative about the fall of the First Sinner, and a solemn silence hung over the place. Zhan Lu, still affected by the story, stared at the imposing statue of the First Sinner. Mei Hua broke the silence, expressing her disbelief.
"How can they do this? Erase an entire race? And they attacked him?"
Zhan Lu, with a heavy look, replied, "They are not worthy of being called children of heaven, not after what they did to him."
Lao Feng continued the explanation. "Zhan Lu and Mei Hua, do not let this leave your minds. He fell so our race could live, sacrificed himself so that all of us would have a tomorrow. Remember that."
"Father, why did you bring us here?" Zhan Lu asked.
"I brought you here to begin your training. I will teach you the magic that allowed Iroh to survive, the control of the Void Runes."
"Void Runes, master? How does this ability work?" Mei Hua questioned.
"Is it the same as what you did at the entrance, father?" Zhan Lu added.
"Yes, my dear. It's the same thing. Now, come, let me guide you to where we will be living."
Lao Feng led the youngsters into the sanctuary. After moving away from the imposing statue of Iroh, they finally arrived at a small pagoda with about four stories. The entire environment was surrounded by black and purple runes. The gazes of Zhan Lu and Mei Hua sparkled as energy seemed to dance around them. Lao Feng then opened the door, revealing what lay ahead.
The Pagoda was divided into various sections, and its intricate ornamentations bore the marks of time. Lao Feng led Zhan Lu to one of the rooms, which turned out to be surprisingly spacious, covering an area of approximately 40 to 50 square meters. Next to Zhan Lu's room, Mei Hua found an identical one awaiting her.
After a few minutes, Lao Feng returned with the uniforms of the followers of the First Sinner. They were black cloaks bearing the symbol of the 20 wings on the back. Zhan Lu's eyes gleamed with excitement as he beheld the uniform.
Once Zhan Lu had donned the cloak, he decided to replicate the runes he had observed his father create. He sat on the floor of his room and began tracing symbols on the ground. Initially, the symbols seemed like nothing more than decorated scribbles. However, to his amazement, they responded. The ground began to crack under the touch of the runes, and Zhan Lu continued, creating more than twenty small fissures.
"Wow, this is amazing!" Zhan Lu exclaimed, excited. He was about to draw the twenty-first rune when Mei Hua coughed, startling him.
"What are you doing?" Mei Hua asked, her lips curving into a smile. Zhan Lu froze, his heart racing from the surprise. He instinctively swept the floor to conceal his experiments, then looked at Mei Hua, who chuckled at his reaction.
Mei Hua, with curiosity shining in her eyes, approached Zhan Lu. Her figure was shrouded in an aura of mystery, the darkness of the new journey they were about to begin. She knelt down beside Zhan Lu and began drawing her own runes on the floor.
"How are you replicating these runes without the bracers?" Mei Hua asked with a touch of admiration in her voice.
"I don't think I'm actually replicating what Father showed, but it definitely generated something. Look here," Zhan Lu said, pointing to one of the cracks that had formed on the floor.
Mei Hua watched, fascinated. "What was the purpose of the rune, do you know?" she asked as she continued drawing on the floor.
"I can guess it has something to do with gaining entry here, maybe that's why it creates a crack," Zhan Lu suggested, his gaze fixed on the runes he was creating.
"What do you think happens if we mark something with this symbol? Does the item gain the attribute?" Mei Hua raised an intriguing question.
Zhan Lu furrowed his brow, lost in thought. "We can ask Father. He must know much more about this than we do."
Zhan Lu and Mei Hua rushed towards Lao Feng, who was already wearing his old uniform. However, something had drastically changed in his appearance. His previously white hair was now as golden as pure gold, and he seemed rejuvenated, as if he had traveled back in time to the prime of his life.
Zhan Lu was left speechless, his eyes shining with surprise and admiration. Lao Feng, with a warm smile, was the first to break the silence.
"Thanks to the abilities of this place, I can temporarily regain the strength of my youth to teach you my combat skills. I've always believed that it's better to show than to merely talk about it in scrolls."
"Father, you look amazing! Is that how I'll be when I grow up?" Zhan Lu asked, excited.
Mei Hua chuckled as she watched the scene unfold. Lao Feng affectionately ruffled Zhan Lu's hair and replied:
"You'll be even better than me, my son."
Then, Lao Feng addressed both of them in a more formal tone:
"What have you two young masters come here for?"
"Master, we came to ask some questions about runes. Zhan and I were practicing the drawings in our room, and we wanted to know if we can apply runes to a weapon or an object," Mei Hua explained.
Lao Feng looked surprised for a moment, and then a understanding smile crossed his face.
"Practicing runes, huh? Technically, it's possible. However, this technique is considered outdated and obsolete. Iroh's scrolls mention that the most effective way is to apply them directly to the body."
"On the body, father? But isn't there a limit to the number?" Zhan Lu asked, intrigued.
"There is, and that's why there are certain manipulators who inscribe runes on human skins and use them as scrolls. However, this practice is also outdated and rarely used in modern times," explained Lao Feng.
"Human skin, huh? At least they serve some purpose," Mei Hua joked, prompting laughter from the three of them.
Zhan Lu and Mei Hua stood face to face, the air heavy with anticipation and determination. Under the guidance of Lao Feng, they had trained tirelessly for weeks, honing their combat skills, learning the movements Iroh, the First Sinner, had mastered during his battle against the archangels.
Lao Feng watched with a critical eye, ready to guide his pupils. With a steel rod, he corrected their postures and movements, fine-tuning every detail to make them more efficient. Zhan Lu and Mei Hua's determination and eagerness to learn were palpable.
"Zhan Lu and Mei Hua, it's time to take your training to a more advanced level," announced Lao Feng. "You've learned the basics, now it's time to apply that knowledge in real combat. Fight each other, use everything you've learned to overcome your opponent."
Both nodded in understanding and moved apart, assuming their combat stances. Tension hung in the air as they prepared for the confrontation. Zhan Lu was focused, his amber-colored eyes burning with determination, while Mei Hua maintained a concentrated expression, her movements fluid and graceful.
In that moment, the battle between Zhan Lu and Mei Hua turned into a true spectacle of agility and skill. Every movement was calculated, every blow a response to the previous one, like a frenetic dance of strength and dexterity.
Zhan Lu, with his deep amber eyes, shining with focus and determination, advanced with grace and agility. He focused his energy on his feet and, quite surprisingly, bent down completely to sweep Mei Hua off her feet. However, Mei Hua rose to the challenge. With a nimble leap, she evaded Zhan Lu's sweep with impressive grace. In mid-air, she executed a pirouette, her hands touching the ground as her legs swept in a direct kick towards Zhan Lu.
Zhan Lu, with unmatched finesse, blocked the kick with his arms and, in a fluid motion, advanced towards Mei Hua. The battle unfolded like a storm of rapid strikes, each delivering precise attacks and defenses. Every micro movement was studied and executed perfectly. The speed and aggressiveness of both escalated, and their shadows seemed to merge in a deadly dance.
The initial smiles gave way to serious expressions, each of them trying to decipher the opponent's next move. Each move, each parry, was executed masterfully, with the agility and precision of two exceptional warriors.
The decisive moment came when Zhan Lu saw an opening and lunged to grab Mei Hua's legs, trying to bring her down. However, Mei Hua, as cunning as ever, wouldn't be defeated so easily. She began to strike Zhan Lu's back, but before she could finish her counterattack, she made a quick decision.
Mei Hua pressed a hand to the ground, revealing the mysterious runes on her arm, which glowed with an ethereal light. Zhan Lu, with amber eyes shining with admiration and surprise, noticed this and smiled in awe. But he had a trick up his sleeve as well. He punched the ground forcefully, creating cracks that tried to ensnare Mei Hua. However, Mei Hua rose to the challenge, using her runes to manipulate the ground as well. Both opponents were immobilized, their energies colliding in a tense standoff.
The scene seemed suspended in time as Zhan Lu and Mei Hua remained locked in place, measuring each other with respect and admiration. Every little detail of the battle had been executed with precision, and the breathless silence filled the tense air.
Zhan Lu and Mei Hua stood there, catching their breath after the intense sparring session. Their faces were flushed, and their bodies glistened with sweat from the exertion. As they regained their composure, they both felt a strange connection between them, an unspoken understanding that seemed to have grown stronger during their battle.
Lao Feng approached them with a knowing smile, ruffling their hair affectionately as he recognized the unique bond forming between them.
"It's clear to me that you both carry the shadows that need to be borne by the children of Iroh," Lao Feng said. "In this battle, I could see what we should focus on for each of you. It was an excellent duel."
Zhan Lu nodded in agreement, his amethyst eyes meeting Mei Hua's in silent acknowledgment. Together, they followed Lao Feng into a new chamber. The room was filled with an array of weapons, each bearing its unique description and history. Lao Feng stopped and turned to face them, his eyes filled with warmth and wisdom.
"All the weapons you see here were once a part of the School of the Twenty Wings' arsenal. They have all been wielded by Iroh at some point in his life. Today, it's time for you to choose your own weapons. Feel free to pick the ones that resonate with you the most."
Zhan Lu moved through the room filled with various weapons, his fingers lightly tracing the surface of each one. None of them seemed to call out to him in a way that felt right. He picked up swords, spears, and staffs, examining them with care, but nothing felt like it truly belonged in his hands.
Then, as he continued his search, he stumbled upon a Nunchaku. The weapon was a true marvel to him. The Nunchaku consisted of two cylindrical wooden pieces connected by a chain in the middle. As Zhan Lu held it in his hands, he couldn't help but feel an immediate connection. The smooth, polished wood had a reassuring warmth, and the chain's slight weight provided balance and precision.
He tentatively swung the Nunchaku, and as it extended, the chain whirred gracefully, forming a powerful weapon. Zhan Lu's eyes sparkled with newfound determination, and he realized he had found his chosen weapon. The Nunchaku felt like an extension of himself, a partner ready to dance with him in the battles to come.
Zhan Lu walked further into the room until he finally spotted Mei Hua. She was gracefully swinging a metallic fan in her hand, testing its movements and feeling its balance.
"What's the deal with this weapon, Sister Mei?" Zhan Lu inquired.
"Brother Zhan, from what I understand, it's a versatile weapon, suitable for both defense and ranged attacks. It seems quite practical," Mei Hua replied and then quickly glanced at Zhan Lu's Nunchaku.
"And your weapon, Brother Zhan, what does it do?"
"It appears to be swift in its movements and packs quite a punch upon impact. If I can inscribe runes on this Nunchaku, I can enhance its striking power," Zhan Lu explained with a smile.
Mei Hua laughed alongside Zhan Lu as they continued to explore the room, eventually reaching the back of the chamber, where a grand altar stood. Two imposing suits of armor were displayed, and between them were two weapons.
The left suit of armor held a red mantle that matched Zhan Lu's hair and a dark blue armor with silver accents. Next to it was a lance. On the right, the suit of armor gleamed in pure white and gold, accompanied by a longsword. These armors and weapons belonged to the two archangel siblings, the First Sinner, Morning Star Iroh, and the Archangel of Light, Nashandra.
