And even then, I still found it difficult to speak to them for many, many days.

Jeanette Wen gently led me away from the two men so that they could talk freely and I could have a little bit of separation from them as I dealt with the aftermath of the test.

The Ancestor's test was truly a vicious emotional ripping apart of whatever incomplete healing in any major wounds that we might have. It also placed us in impossibly painful situations which would squeeze out our most heartfelt reactions.

Cowards would run and beg for their lives.

Thieves would sneak about and steal their way out of their predicaments.

Killers would kill, and psychopaths like me would.. Massacre.

The Ancestor looked at Bruce Pang and gave him an extremely solemn and slightly worried look.

The test result was clear.

I was a person that was capable of doing the unspeakable and the unthinkable. True, true, it was in retaliation to an unspeakable event done to me first. But still.. Many would stop at killing the four murderers.

I didn't.

I gave out the death sentence to the entire Chinese Federation simply because the murderers spouted patriotic nonsense about glory to the federation.

I was a ruthless, merciless, bloodthirsty psychopath very much willing to commit genocide and try to wipe out an entire country just to take revenge.

And with my incredible RPL score as well as the strange power which I had accidentally showcased, the Ancestor and Bruce immediately placed me into a very unique category of people in their minds.

I was a time bomb.

A ticking nuclear bomb that could blow up in their faces. Yet, if guided and molded properly, I was also a bomb that could rip the enemies of the Federation apart to smithereens.

At that moment, the options laid before the Ancestor were very simple. Take me in and foster me to the highest degree, or kill me to prevent me from falling into the hands of their enemies.

Thankfully, Bruce was there and took the decision out of the Ancestor's hands.

Bruce gave the Ancestor an emotionless look and said with an emotionless voice. "He is my sworn brother."

"Hmmm???" The Ancestor's eyes shot open and bulged out in surprise. And then he gave Bruce a warm smile. "Good. Very good. Time is truly the greatest medicine. Your own test, as I remember, was not a shred easier than his."

"Indeed. And here I am, in loyal service to the Federation." Bruce said slowly.

My life was hanging in the balance, and my big bro was treading very lightly and very carefully.

The Ancestor glanced at me and then turned back to look at Bruce seriously. Both remained silent for a few seconds.

"He, and his future actions, will fully be your responsibility." The Ancestor said heavily.historical

"Naturally. As I was yours." Bruce nodded.

"And you would do well to remember the trouble and the grief you brought me all those years ago." The Ancestor said with half chucklingly and half warningly.

"That is exactly why I am willing and ready for the responsibility." Bruce said with a little smile.

"Fine. I'll let you handle this. I've done what I can do, you both know exactly what you're dealing with now." The Ancestor said while looking at both Bruce and me.

"Yes, Ancestor. And.." Bruce hesitated lightly and then leaned in to the Ancestor to whisper something in his ear, who nodded solemnly.

"You should have started with that. Just one final step left then. Bring the boy here." The Ancestor commanded while staring at me with a strange look on his face.

I remained silent, still half lost in my thoughts and my pain.

Bruce turned around and looked back to where Jeanette and I were standing.

"Come." He said softly.

Jeanette Wen finally released me from her embrace and wiped her own tears away from her face.

She led me back to the Ancestor, and then both of them stepped back to give the Ancestor and me some space.

The Ancestor looked at me and observed silently. I merely looked back at him dumbly.

Although he was the grand architect of my pain, I didn't feel much towards him simply for the fact that he did not appear in my test.

In fact, by that time, I wasn't feeling much of anything. My pain and my shock had receded slightly and gave way to tingling numbness.

"You passed the first test. The strength, determination and willingness to follow your heart which you demonstrated were all extremely impressive. However, if left fully up to me, I would have killed you right here and now to prevent future trouble." The Ancestor paused and glanced at Bruce before continuing.

"Still, the world belongs to the young. I am far too old to be meddling too much. When Bruce took you in as your sworn brother, he was essentially saving your life. You, and all the horrors you might unleash upon the world, are his responsibility now."

Truthfully, I didn't give a whit about the Ancestor's words at that point. He probably knew what I was feeling because he didn't continue his little lecture.

Instead, a marvelous looking dagger appeared in his right hand and he handed it to me, hilt first.

"Draw blood." He commanded very simply while pointing at my hand.

I took the dagger and ran its edge lightly on my left palm. Immediately, my powerful skin gave way and I started to bleed lightly.

What a wondrous dagger!

I gave the dagger back to the Ancestor who promptly did the same thing to his right palm and then beckoned for me to put my bleeding palm on top of his.

I obeyed and felt the beginnings of curiosity stirring in my heart.

For a few seconds, nothing happened as we remained in that position silently.

The Ancestor then closed his eyes and frowned very slightly.

All of a sudden, the entire massive room began to shake and rumble for a few long seconds, and then a deep and powerful scraping sound of something extremely heavy being dragged could be heard.

"You're right, little Bruce." The Ancestor opened his eyes and said in his soft voice which thundered across the entire room. "He is the second dragon we've been waiting for."