Ho Ling frowned, looking from Kai Lan, who was speaking with the ability and knowledge of someone who was not an eight-year-old child, to Hei Hei who didn't seem to think differently.
"But if we deny future young cultivators this opportunity…"
"That is how fate would have decreed it," Kai Lan reasoned, "Not everyone can become a God, can they? If that were to happen it would tip the balance of our very existence, and perhaps that would mean a greater backlash from nature. Since I pointed out the repetition and lack of individuality in cultivators to Xia Fei, I too have thought a lot on it. My conclusions are vastly different from hers. The realisation has allowed her to advance, but I question the instability that will be brought about if we were all given the same opportunity all at once. No, this is something that must be introduced gradually, and never spoken outright. One must come to their own conclusions. We will not suppress the information, but we will not advertise it either".
Hei Hei thought a moment before he nodded, "Contrary to your opinion, I believe Xia Fei would agree to this. The Doctor, I hope, can see reason on this matter".
Ho Ling looked legitimately confused, "Hold on here, Xia Fei informed me that you were her Clan. But all I have seen so far would not indicate any kind of Clan whatsoever. Who are you?"
"Her Clan," Kai Lan replied, then he turned to Hei Hei, "I'm going to go train".
Hei Hei nodded and Kai Lan left the room, Ho Ling no less confused than before.
"Why do I feel like you're taking orders from that boy?" asked Ho Ling.
Hei Hei just looked back at her, neither confirming nor denying her suspicions.
"How does that even make sense?" asked Ho Ling, "And the way he talks-"
Xia Fei released a breath, her eyes fluttering open slowly. Her gaze landed on Hei Hei first.
"Hei Hei?"
"You're back safe, Xia Fei, congratulations on your advance, rest well," said Hei Hei.
"How did…?" Then her eyes landed on Ho Ling, "I told you to only bring me back here if I died".
"You've been unconscious for two days," said Ho Ling, "I made an executive decision. Though my thoughts were that you could get the help you needed here. Maybe I should have taken you to a hospital".
Xia Fei sighed, "Master?"
Hei Hei shook his head, "Unconcerned apart from an adamance that your success should not be advertised".
Xia Fei nodded, "Agreed".
"M…Master?" asked Ho Ling, "How is that eight-year-old your-"
"Ho Ling," said Xia Fei tiredly.
"What?" asked Ho Ling, clearly annoyed that she wasn't getting answers.
"You know that anomaly in Laou Ren City a little over eight years ago that had the Cultivation World so intrigued?" asked Xia Fei.
"Of course, I studied in that area for four years before they sent me back to my lab. And a waste of time it was, I found nothing," said Ho Ling.
"That eight-year-old boy is what caused it," said Xia Fei, "So yes, Hei Hei and I call him Master after we pledged our elements to him. We protect him and teach him here, out of the prying eyes of the cultivation world to keep him safe".
Ho Ling was quiet for a long moment, pure shock in her expression before she focused on Xia Fei once more. She opened her mouth to ask another question, but Xia Fei had fallen asleep once more.
"She needs rest," insisted Hei Hei, "Dinner will be in an hour or so if you're staying the night".
Confused and unsettled, Ho Ling elected to stay for dinner, watching from a distance as Kai Lan completed his physical training that afternoon, then sitting with the small Clan at their family table as they ate.
Eventually, Ho Ling could take it no longer, "Who are you?"
Her question was directed at Kai Lan, who looked up from his meal in surprise. Everyone else at the table paused as well, confused.
"Ho Ling," Xia Fei spoke softly, still weak and tired but making the effort to join her Clan for the evening meal.
"No, I'll not be brushed aside this time. He is from a regular family, the remaining members of which hold no particular talent, yet he is in the Profound Realm at only the age of eight. In addition, he commands the loyalty of one Heaven Realm and one Divine Realm Cultivator by the most sacred and binding oath a Cultivator can make. Finally, I have studied the energies of the world long enough to get a general reading as to which elements favour who, only to find that all of them revolve around him like he is at the centre of their very creation. I want to know, who are you?"
Ho Ling stared at Kai Lan for a long moment before he responded, "I am Shan Kai Lan".
"You know that is not what I meant-"
"But it is the answer you'll receive nonetheless," Kai Lan replied, "I don't know what exactly you were expecting me to say, but that is the only name I've ever been given and the only one I plan to hold claim to. As for why I am the centre, that is because it is my place. It is where I forged my golden core because that is where the energies told me I belonged. I did not force Xia Fei-Jie and Hei Hei-Ge to swear upon their elements. That was their choice. Just as it is mine and my family's choice to live here peacefully. I understand that you are not getting the answers you seek, but in your frustration, I hope that you will not make a decision that will jeopardise the peace of my Clan. Because I will protect my Clan. My Family".
Ho Ling stared back at the boy, witnessing the flash of gold in his determined green eyes, and the absolute authority behind it.
"My elements, what are they?" asked Ho Ling, "I know you can see them".
"Air…Water…and the one you did not connect with for fear of it opposing too strongly, Spirit".
Ho Ling released a breath, a weight seeming to fall on her shoulders.
"Ho Ling?" asked Xia Fei in confusion. But after a moment to gather herself, Ho Ling looked back up at Kai Lan.
"If I swear by my elements to serve you, will you help me bond with that which should have been mine to begin with?" asked Ho Ling.
Kai Lan tilted his head in thought, "It is your path. You must choose what you want, just as Xia Fei chose…but I promise that if you are sworn to me, I will watch over and protect you as one of my Clan members".
Ho Ling nodded then stood and rounded the table, kneeling beside Kai Lan's seat, "Then I will swear".
Kai Lan turned to Ho Ling, calling the essence from his golden core, "Do you, Ho Ling, swear to serve me in any capacity I formally bestow or require? To protect me and my Clan even at the expense of your own life? To be servant, friend and Clansman for as long as you shall live?"
"I swear upon my elements, present and future," stated Ho Ling.
Kai Lan stretched out his hand which he had filled with his Golden Core's essence, "The take my hand and let your oath be sealed".
Ho Ling reached out and did so. Kai Lan instantly felt the connection snap into place. He released a breath, then looked down at Ho Ling, who released her own breath and stood at his nod.
"Welcome to the Clan, Ho Ling," he smiled, then he turned back to the table, "And in future, I'd prefer not to do this again at the dinner table".
Wu Lan sighed, "You're the one who invokes it at the dinner table".
Kai Lan paused, "Sorry, Ba".
The others chuckled as Ho Ling took a seat once more and the meal continued.