Murim Recurve

Burkurel Re Clan Central Settlement; situated in the centre of the settlement were a variety of double-storeyed houses constructed almost in a circle. And, situated in the centre was a pond, also acting as the settlement's reservoir of water in times of need.

And among the double-storeyed houses surrounding it, there was one that was the tallest, also sporting the largest floorspace. Just the way it was built dictated that the person living here wasn't just a regular Harmoniser dispatched to take care of the Settlement.

At present, two figures were seated on the ground, feeling the grass that bristled with the wind. They had immersed their feet in the pond waters, watching the fish swimming within. upon sensing their presence, the fishes began to swim closer towards them, at times tapping their feet using their tails.

One of the two was an old woman in her eighties, possessing a strong figure despite her age. Appearance-wise, she seemed like she was only in her sixties. Wearing the Re Clan's dress, she sported a hat on the top, relaxing in the atmosphere while deep in thought.

Seated next to her was her husband, wearing the Re Clan's dress while holding a fishing rod. But, there was no hook in it. But even then, the fishes jumped out from the water and bit on the fishing rod from time to time before retreating into the water.

The effect they exhibited was due to their affinity to Water Qi. So, to the fishes, the couple seemed no different from the water they lived within.

"How close are you?" The Lady spoke after some time, her tone slow due to the slow life she led.

"A decade if I don't obtain any inspiration. Three to four years if I get some inspiration. What about you?" The man replied in a tone slower than her.

"It feels even farther for me," She sighed, "It isn't easy becoming a Martial Master. I hoped mastering a Pranic Art should allow us to meet the Celestial Emperor and be induced into a Martial Master. But even that seems hard. At least, I need a few more years before I can even figure out if I would be able to attain it in this lifetime."

"The head Elder may not show it, but he's growing in on age. He has at most a decade to live. He's been an Elder for four generations already. I won't be surprised if he suddenly died this year." The man sighed, "Once he disappears, our Clan might face a lot of difficulties. The other Elders are relatively younger. And the Elders dispatched to Bura Fort cannot return to our Clan until their deaths."

"Hopefully, you achieve it." The lady said as the eyelid of her third eye trembled once, "You were a splendid Clan Head once. I'm sure you'll be even greater as an Elder."

The couple was the previous Burkurel Re Clan Head and Central Lake Head, having retired once their successors took up the spots. They had retired to focus on meditation and hopefully become Martial Masters and replace their Elders that were growing in on age.

"Hopefully," The man said when his eye parted open a little, sending him in a trance. Upon seeing the scene, the lady was overjoyed, looking at him with tears in her eyes.

Sometime later, his third eye's eyelid closed-back fully. It was a sign that he was close to fully opening it. The moment his third eye opens, he would become a Martial Master. And his current state proved that he was closer to attaining the Realm than what he had assumed first.

But, the man wasn't happy at all, sighing with a forlorn expression as he expressed his sadness, "We have committed a grave mistake, dear."

"W-What mistake?" The lady was stunned for a moment as she stammered, expressing her worry.

The man sighed as he got up, motioning for her to follow him as they returned to their house. Telling her to remain waiting in the living room, he exited the house, approaching some of the houses in the Settlement as he beckoned for some people.

Soon, he brought all the people to his house. The moment she saw the people, the lady was shocked, "Dear, why have you brought in everyone?"

By everyone, she meant those from the Four Great Clans they had secretly nurtured to help them during times of necessities. The Four Great Clans were of prime importance, especially their Pranic Avatars. Each one had unique abilities, being able to sense anything and anywhere, being able to heal all injuries, being able to carry messages at the fastest speeds no matter the weather, and finally, being able to carry people over incredible distances.

So, the importance of their Pranic Avatars was definite. At present, the scouts were a family of four, parents and two children that had recently become Harmonisers. The healers were a family of four, but the fourth hadn't matured yet. So, they only had three Harmonisers.

The transporters were a father and daughter duo, and finally, the messengers were a family of a mother and two daughters. Overall, they were 13 people that the couple had been secretly nurturing from the time they had been in power.

And this way, as long as the nurtured group gave birth, their bloodline would continue and the future generation Harmonisers would have the respective Pranic Avatars too.

The lady sighed for a moment, recalling the amount of trouble they had gone through to steal a child from each of the Four Great Clans and eventually force them into obedience and eventually pin them to the Burkurel Re Clan's Central Settlement.

Upon hearing the lady's question, her husband sighed, also taking out the Magic Artifact, Humming Waves, "This is our mistake. The Magic Artifact is still not that grave of an offence, since it is still a materialistic product. But…"

He looked at the group of people, sighing as he closed his eyes, "I have put you all through misery."

He then sighed before speaking aloud, having heard the footsteps coming his way, "Come in, father."