Above All 1 The Beginning

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The White Alyssum City has a tradition of celebrating a banquet for the first born child once he or she is three years old. They believe that luck begins at three, and the people, especially the parents began to adapt to this kind of mindset.

In the Vermillion Family's main hall, they are celebrating the third birthday of the Vermillion Family's main branch first born son.

The Vermillion Family was once the most ill.u.s.trious and revered martial artists' family in White Alyssum City. But after years have gone by, their family started to decline since they have failed to produce a genius that can contend with the other families and improve the status of their family.

Even though the Vermillion Family is declining. There are still people many people who attended the banquet. Many of these people still revere the Vermillion family.

The Jade Family for example is one of such. The Jade and Vermillion Family's founder were close allies at the time. The Vermillion Family's founder, Big Flame, once helped the Jade Family's founder, Blue Jade, in a war. Since then, Big Flame and Blue Jade became sworn brothers that helped each other in times of need. The patriarchs that followed them were also very close to each other thanks to them.

And at this moment, the current Patriarch of the Jade Family arrived at the banquet, they are one of the three the major families in White Alyssum City besides the declining Vermillion Family and the growing Bluan Family.

Roose Jade is the current patriarch of the Jade Family, he is known for his powerful defensive move, "High Shine", it is allegedly said that when this move is used, his body would gain a temporary "enlightening state" which will render whatever the enemy do useless.

"Congratulations, Patriarch Scorching Flame. I heard that your son is celebrating his third birthday today so I figured that I should go take a look. You'll never know, maybe he'll be a great kid in the future. Hahaha"

Roose Jade greeted, cupping his fist to the current patriarch of the Vermillion Family, Jiu Vermillion. If Roose Jade is known for his domineering and powerful move, then Jiu Vermillion is known for his destructive ability, "Scorching Flame".

"You're being too overconfident with my son, Patriarch High Shine hahaha. I have lived for 100 years and recently became the patriarch, I witnessed the late patriarch fail to make his son a great martial artist. Instead, crippling him of his martial arts."

Scorching heavily sighed. It has been 300 years since the start of the Vermillion Family's decline.

If they fail to produce a genius that could overturn the bleak path that the current Vermillion Family is heading. They would become the laughing stock of all the people in White Alyssum City...

"Scorching Flame, no, Jiu, stop worrying about your future you old fool..."

With these words, Scorching Flame returned from his deep thought. He and High Shine are about the same age so he looked at High Shine with a look that is hard to describe. But his next words, made Scorching Flame delighted.

"The reason I came here today is to arrange a marriage with my daughter and your son, she is a year older than your son and has a great talent. If your son has the talent that can match or nearly match my daughter's. I will be more than glad to make her his wife. What do you say?"

High Shine said in a tempting manner, although he is aware that the Vermillion Family has been gradually declining for the past one hundred years. He knew how Scorching Flame has been dilligently cultivating in his youth and became the patriarch of the Vermillion Family without the t.i.tle of a genius.

He and Scorching Flame also have an unbreakable bond like Big Flame and Blue Jade back in their days. So he is willing to take the risk of shouldering the responsibility of weakening the family by marrying his daughter to a weak man.

Of course Scorching Flame knew that this is a decision that would take a considerable amount of contemplating whether or not if it is worth doing. So he did not think twice accepting this proposition.

"Roose, I truly am grateful for meeting a friend like you. Since this is what you decided, I will return this favor to you for my son someday."

Scorching Flame said while putting his fist over his heart. This is how martial artists make an oath.

Following this, Roose called over his daughter, Rose Jade, who is hiding behind him.

She heard what her father and Scorching Flame was talking about but she does not know what arranged marriage or even marriage means so she just continued to listen to them.

Scorching Flame also called over the celebrant of today's banquet, his first born son, Arthur Vermillion.

When Arthur was called, everyone in the room sent out their greetings and congratulations to him. Arthur was leisurely eating his food when suddenly his father called him and people started to congratulate him. Although Arthur is not matured, he still knows some basic courtesy and greeted them back by smiling and nodding.

Arthur and Rose stood by their father by the side facing each other. Staring at each others eyes like any other children would do. Rose was indifferent about this so she drifted her eyes away from Arthur. Arthur, however, stared at Rose for a couple more seconds before slowly withdrawing his gaze back.

This action made High Shine and Scorching Flame smile in their hearts. The innocence of the two made their hearts feel warm.

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The banquet lasted for a couple more hours until people started to go send their goodbye to the Arthur and Scorching Flame and departed the main hall.

When High Shine and Rose also sent their farewells did Scorching Flame accompanied Arthur to his bedroom. Just before Arthur was going to open the door to his bedroom, Scorching Flame stopped him by patting his shoulder. But with no words to back it up, shook his head and opened the door to Arthur's bedroom.

This action greatly confused the three year old Arthur. Why would you touch someone and shake your head?

After going in, Arthur changed his clothes to a more comfortable and convenient clothing. He then dove right into the bed just like a mortal child would do after a long day...

A couple of hours after Arthur went into a deep sleep. A mysterious ball of light appeared out of nowhere above Arthur's head. This light is sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

"Y.. You will suffice.. I just n.. need a decade.. kid..", the mysterious light said weakly.

After the mysterious light said these words. It went directly inside the body of Arthur. As soon as the ball of light touched Arthur's body it caused an unbearable pain for the three year old Arthur.

He struggled as the mysterious light went deeper into his body. As the mysterious light went deeper, the more pain it caused Arthur to suffer. But as soon as the mysterious light reached the part of the heart, it gradually stopped and Arthur went back into sleep after half an hour of getting rid of the pain.

The morning after this event caused many doubts appear in Arthur's mind. He felt weak so he asked his father, Scorching Flame for some low grade medicinal herbs.

Arthur just treated that night as a nightmare after consuming the medicinal herbs his father gave him.