Chapter 33 - Enter the Dragon
Benton was madder at himself than at Yang Ru.
As someone who had raised three children through the turbulent teenage years, Benton was quite familiar with an immutable law of nature—kids screw up. It was unfortunate that Yang Ru chose the middle of a life and death fight to do so, but it was what it was. Besides, it was in the boy’s character to do what he did. Withdrawing from a fight was not easy for one with the lava qi aspect focused on momentum.
Benton should have considered the boy’s nature when making the plan to face that last wave. Actually, he should never have put the boy into a situation where he could get hurt in the first place.
As much as the father and grandfather from Earth laid the blame on himself, the memories of the cultivator, Su, presented a much different take. Yang Ru was the one who violated an order. Whether it be in battle or even simply in talking to the member of a rival sect or in any number of situations that could go from fine to deadly in an instant for a cultivator, making a single step out of place, even using the wrong phrase in greeting, could get people killed.
In the Flowing Tiger Sect, Yang Ru would be punished. Severely. Being kicked out of the sect with his cultivation first being destroyed was an option. Disobeying a direct order in combat was only second to betraying the sect in severity. Disciples had been summarily executed for less.
The more Benton thought about it, the more he came around to the advice followed in Su’s memories. Benton wasn’t on Earth anymore. Mistakes carried life and death consequences. The boy needed the lesson brought home. Hard.
Not an execution or having his cultivation destroyed, obviously, but Benton had an idea.
“Yang Ru, come here.”
The boy approached, trepidation written all over his face.
“Give me your spear,” Benton said.
Yang Ru looked stricken as he handed it over.
“If I can’t trust you, I can’t let you fight. Here, take this.” Benton handed him the last remaining mortal spear from his spatial ring. “Stand behind your sister, and only act if it is absolutely necessary to save her life, understand?”