The Way of The Dao

Zhang Family. Main hall.

"Patriarch Chao, all members to be trained are ready to leave!" An old man with a strong bearing informed the patriarch of the Zhang Family.

Patriarch Zhang Chao, a man in his early 40s, stood in front of a group of young men and watched them: "Most of you are now in the Black rank, even some in the Heaven rank, so you will go out and gain experience in fighting the demon beasts".

Patriarch Zhang Chao observed everyone's reactions as he continued: "I know that several of you, if not all of you, are very nervous, but, remember, you have to gain battle experience! You are the future pillar of the Zhang family!"

Most of the young people clenched their fists while a conviction was shown on their faces.

"Besides, Elder Jinshian and Elder Hai will accompany you in your training. They will guide you. So, you need not worry if you encounter any powerful demon beasts. They are both of King's rank, so, with the two elders present, your safety is safe!" Patriarch Zhang Chao assured them that their lives would not be in danger.

The young men were a little relieved to hear that. But they still had to face the horror of fighting a demon beast.

The young people were gathered in a large group. There were 40 of them in all. 30 of them were men between 12-18 years old. The rest were 10 women, with their age averaging 15 years.

Grind

The door to the main hall opened, making a considerable noise, signaling that someone was coming in.

A beautiful figure entered the main hall, stealing beauty even from the surroundings. Not to mention the women present.

" It's the young Miss Xinya!"

Whispers could be heard among the group of men.

All the men looked with eyes of love and fascination at the sight of the Young Miss of the Zhang family. Even the women saw her with a trace of envy and sadness. Their beauty could not compare with that of the Young Miss.

That woman wore beautiful, somewhat tight clothes, as if she were ready for combat. Behind her, two mature women came following her, as if they were her servants.

The person who entered was the only daughter of the patriarch Zhang Chao, Zhang Xinya, therefore she was the young miss of the Zhang family.

"Father". Zhang Xinya came close to where her father was and greeted him respectfully.

Zhang Chao smiled and spoke aloud: "Very good! You can go and get ready, you're leaving in less than 30 minutes!"

The young people began to exit the main hall in an orderly fashion, not before taking one last look at Zhang Xinya.

After a few seconds the main hall was emptied, leaving only the patriarch Zhang Chao, the elders Zhang Jinshian and Zhang Hai, the Young Miss Zhang Xinya and her two servants, Zhang Xie and Zhang Lie, inside.

"Father, will you let me go? Please father, I need to have experience facing demon beasts too." Zhang Xinya told her father.

Zhang Chao hesitated when his daughter asked him, "Ya'er, you're the only Young Miss in the Zhang family. You can't just be taking chances. I won't be able to go and I won't be able to take care of you if something bad happens to you. I don't want to lose my daughter."

Zhang Xinya was a little frustrated but still insisted: "Father, I won't go alone, Aunt Xie and Aunt Lie will accompany me. They can protect me!" She looked at her father as she pointed at the two women behind her.

Zhang Chao hesitated for a long time, until the elder Zhang Jinshian spoke: "Patriarch Chao, don't worry, I will personally watch over the Young Miss!" He raised his hand in a sign of promise.

Zhang Chao continued to vacillate for a few seconds before nodding, "All right. Ya'er, I want you to stay close to your aunts and uncles, don't risk getting separated from the group, it's too dangerous outside Star City."

Zhang Xinya nodded brightly when she got her father's permission to go out for training.

Before Zhang Xinya could enjoy her victory, she heard her father say.

"By the way, Ya'er, have you decided who your fiancé will be? you are already at the age of marriage, so you need to choose someone and position yourself very well in the Zhang family. If not, there's Bing, he's already in the Great Heaven rank, or else there's Le-"

Zhang Chao didn't finish when he was interrupted by his own daughter.

"No! I don't want to marry any of those men. They are all beasts who think only of dirty things when they see women, or some still behave like children... I will marry the man I choose myself and love!" Zhang Xinya stared at her father, trying to tell him that she will marry the person she chooses.

The other people giggled a little as they tried to hide it. They knew that their young miss, even though she was 18, was already very mature for her age, so she wanted to find her true love and not marry someone suggested by her father.

"Haih". Zhang Chao breathed a sigh when he saw his daughter's stubbornness.

Although he knew that his daughter was something special when it came to choosing her fiancé, he still wanted her to get married soon and give him grandchildren. He only had one daughter, so he would respect her rights and try to make her happy, even if she still didn't want to get married.

Zhang Xinya really didn't like any man she'd ever seen. All those young men she sees are either proud or arrogant, so she's never seen men so favored. She didn't even listen to those young masters from the other great families. Almost all the men she had seen before always looked at her vulgarly, even if they hid it, she could discover those fierce, lewd looks hidden in their eyes.

So she hoped to find her true love. Someone who would make her heart beat like never before. That she would feel safe by his side. She hadn't even fallen in love before, so she wanted to give everything she had to her true, future husband. So she would wait to find her future man.

"Patriarch Chao, we'll be seeing you in the afternoon, it's time to go." Said the elder Zhang Hai.

"Okay." Zhang Chao nodded as he reminded them, "Ya'er, take care and listen to what your elders tell you, understand? And brothers and sisters, please take care of my daughter".

"Don't worry, Patriarch!"

"The young Miss will be safe"

"She is the future head of the Zhang family, so we will treat her as our top priority!"

Several promises were heard as they left the main hall leaving the patriarch Zhang Chao and another elder with him.

The group that was to go for training prepared to leave and went quickly, heading for the forest outside the city.