KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Ning stopped cultivating when he heard the knock on the door. He stood up and curiously walked out to the door.
Since he was inside a city, he didn't use his spiritual sense without reserve, so he could only wonder who came to meet him in the morning.
When he opened the door, he saw a young-ish man wearing a green robe with a gentle smile on his face.
Ning looked at the man and thought his face looked familiar, but couldn't immediately make out from where.
"Are you… teacher Ning?" he asked.
"Yes. Who might you be?" Ning asked.
"Ah, so it is you. Nice to meet you, teacher Ning. You can call me Kindley," the man said.
"Oh, what may I help you with, brother Kindley?" Ning asked.
"Nothing, teacher Ning. I heard that you were here, and came over to thank you," Kindley said.
"Thank…me?" NIng was a little confused.
"Yes. Thanks to you, my wife and son are safe," Kindley said.
Ning was even more confused. "I'm sorry, your wife and son? Are they also in the academy?" Ning asked.
"Yes. My wife is a Beast masters teacher while my son is a student. Now that I think about it, aren't you the teacher that's helping my son with his problem?" Kindley asked.
"Your son's problem?… Ah, are you perhaps Nilo's father?" Ning asked.
"Yes, he's my son. So you are his teacher too? To think not only are you helping him, you saved him too," Kindley said. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart, teacher Ning."
"Oh, there's no need for that. Nilo is a talented kid, he's doing everything himself. I'm just guiding him on what not to do," Ning said.
"Sometimes, that's just what kids need, don't they?" Kindley said with a smile.
"Oh right, you said you had a wife in the academy? I wonder if I know her," Ning said.
"Probably not," Kindley said. "She has sort of retired from teaching. She only occasionally teaches the classes. Still, she likes to stay there and look after our son while I stay here and do my job."
"I see. I didn't know you could retire," Ning said.
"I heard you are allowed once you get the Golden badge, but I'm not really sure," Kindley said. "Anyway, thank you once again, teacher Ning. Also, I'm sorry if I disturbed you. I perhaps should have waited a little longer before coming, but I couldn't wait."
"It's fine, brother Kindley. Don't worry about it," Ning said.
"Alright, thank you. I'll see you later," Kindley said and left.
Ning closed the door and walked back in. 'So… Gonez fought against me because Nilo's mother was a golden star teacher? He wanted to get close to her huh. Makes sense given that she was a Beast master too,' Ning thought.
Singeer walked out of his room and asked, "Who was that?"
"Ah, just someone grateful to me for saving his son and wife who are in the academy," Ning said.
"Oh… news must've spread around fast," Singeer said.
"Anyway, I'm going back to my room. I guess I will just stay there until the ceremony," Ning said.
"That's not a bad idea," Singeer said.
So, the two of them waited. A few hours later another knock rang on their door.
Ning walked up and opened it. This time it was Yula who had come.
"Gentlemen, it's time for the ceremony. Please come out when you're ready," Yula said.
"Okay," Ning said and went back in to let Singeer know. Ning changed into a better-looking robe for the ceremony and walked out with Singeer.
They flew down the stair hall and reached the bottom of the hotel. Then, they walked out of the door into the golden light.
Ning was shocked at just how much light was being reflected around thanks to the golden walls. There was not a single dark shadow on the road.
There was some part of the wall that reflected down onto the street.
'That looks amazing,' he thought. 'And it's also somehow not hot on the streets at all.'
They walked up the mountain as they went closer and closer to the Royal Palace.
Along the way, Ning could see a large number of people that also went up the mountain.
"The ceremony must be really big," Ning said.
"Of course," Singeer said. "You protected the most important place in the empire from 70 different Nascent Soul realm cultivators. It's not every day that happens."
"To be honest, I don't think there has been a single ceremony in the last 300 years where someone was handed a Medal of Honor," Singeer said.
"Oh, who got the last one?" Ning asked.
"I think... the last one was the Saint Alchemist for creating a 10th Grade pill," Singeer said.
"Oh right, I did want to ask people about him. Where is the Saint Alchemist now?" Ning asked.
"I… don't know. He's an elusive figure. He should be either roaming the continent or in closed cultivation somewhere," Singeer said. "Well, if he does resurface somewhere, he is such an important figure that the entire empire will find out about it instantly."
"I see," Ning said. 'I guess getting a medal isn't really that bad. The only thing that irks me is that it's the damn emperor that will be giving it to me.'
Ning had lived for a long time, but he was still unsure if he could control his emotions enough after he saw the Emperor.
'I pray I don't kill him by accident,' he thought.
They made their way past the group of people on the street and saw a massive platform created right outside the Royal Palace.
"Oh, the ceremony is taking place here," Singeer said. "I wonder if the 4 high nobles came too."
"Principal Singeer, I'm afraid you will have to wait here for now. Only teacher Ning can go any further," Yula said.
Singeer nodded and looked towards Ning. "Good Luck."
Ning nodded and walked with Yula who took him onto the stage where a few people were already staying there.
