"Azure Flight? Fake Joint Body Inst.i.tution? What in the world is that about?" he grumbled unhappily .

"Actually, I've heard of that . Do you remember the administrative chairperson who managed the Disabled People Federation?" Mom asked .

"That d.a.m.ned fatty?"

"He broke an arm when he was little but he was a real Ordealer . He's quite the big figure, you know that, but he was transferred to the federation . I heard he even made improvements to it and he's the one who invested in Azure Flight Inst.i.tution . It started off as a Real Joint Body Inst.i.tution, but after accepting some under-qualified or disabled student, it was demoted to a Fake Joint Body Inst.i.tution . If they do accept our son, it won't sound as bad . Plus, there's no harm in going to talk to them first," Mom suggested .

Dad nodded . "But Fake Joint Body is still Fake Joint Body . "

"But at least you've tried . Those Real Joint Body Inst.i.tutions aren't willing to accept him, no matter how friendly your relations.h.i.+ps with them are . No Real Joint Body Inst.i.tution will risk accepting a student that might not graduate . "

"I'm really not that bad . Why won't you let me try?" I pleaded .

"This fatty has a strange personality . I've seen him at a meeting but we did not get to interact much . I'll try," Dad said before calling for his sword .

Again, he jumped on it before disappearing into the horizon moments later .

"Are you really interested in these?" Mom asked me .

"Yes . I've been dabbling in it for a few years now," I told her .

"Is that why you've been faring so poorly in school?" she deduced with a sigh .

"No, I just can't study," I explained, without mentioning that the pressure they put on me was part of the reason .

"Alright . Go upstairs . "

That night, Dad knocked on my door . "Are you asleep?"

"No, come in," I called out .

He opened the door and walked in .

"Don't tell me it's not settled?"

"The princ.i.p.al's called Pang Dahai . Call him Uncle Dahai . I'll bring you to meet him tomorrow . Share all your strange ideas with him and I think he'll let you in," Dad told me .

"But you burned my book, Dad . I might mess up if I do it verbally," I replied nervously .

Dad smiled before sticking a strip of jade onto his head .

I perked up . "Oh! You read it all before burning it so you remember?"

He removed the jade strip and threw it at me before ruffling my hair . "I've told Uncle Dahai all about it but only briefly . He wasn't keen on meeting me before, but after sharing some relevant knowledge, he was impressed and accepted my request . Of course, I

I talked about the things you wrote inside, so I believe you two will get along," he encouraged .

"So you're not mad at me, Dad?" I asked sheepishly .

"Mad? What a joke . No one's taken the path that you're about to embark on! But if you don't do me proud, I'm going to give you a good beating," he said .

Comforted, I nodded .

After he left the room, I stuck the strip of jade onto my head and saw a beam of light along with the whole content of the book .  

The next morning, Dad knocked on my door again .

He entered wordlessly and proceeded to drag me outside . I haven't even begun processing anything when I felt a towel slapping onto my face . Clothes came flying toward me and in a second, I was all dressed .

"Are you going to eat breakfast?" Mom asked, smiling .

"Nah, we're going to see Pang Dahai," Dad replied .

"Be respectful!" Mom reminded .

Before I could agree, Dad dragged me out of the house .

Two swords flew out from within the house . "Are we going together or are you going to follow behind me?"

"I . . . I got a D for sword control . We're only allowed to fly with a C and above . . . " I stammered .

The next thing I knew, Dad had already willed one of the swords to tilt to the side to give me a good whack on the b.u.t.t .

He was about to hit me a second time but he stopped . He sighed loudly and said, "What in the world have you been learning these few years?"

"I told you, I'm just not made for these," I answered frustratedly as I ma.s.saged my b.u.t.t .

Dad shook his head and released his control on the sword . The sword floated gently in the air .

"What else are you hiding from me . Spill it all," Dad demanded before pulling me up and onto his sword .

I shook my head . "I can fly without controlling the sword . "

He stopped and let me down . "Show me . If you can do it, I'll never hit you again . "

I nodded .

"What are you going to use?"

I ran back into the house and came back out with a backpack .

"Can this backpack match my speed?" Dad asked .

"As long as you don't go too fast . My speed is adjustable, but I'm not ready to go fast yet since I only made this recently," I answered nervously .

Dad hopped onto his sword and made his way up .

.

I pulled a rope hanging from the backpack . Two jet engines started spinning rapidly and hot air shot out, pus.h.i.+ng me into the air . I controlled the direction of the air flow and caught up with Dad .

Turning around and seeing me close behind, Dad moved his lips slightly and I heard his voice ringing in my head, "What on earth is this?"

"It's a jetpack . It's not as fast as your sword but it can still go at ten meters per second and there's still room for improvement," I shouted .

Dad shook his head .  His crisp voice sounded from within my ears, "You can't even use voice travel? How bad are you, exactly? You don't have to raise your voice, I can hear you . What is this jetpack powered by?"

I explained, "Gasoline and a motor . These are cheap materials, easily available in the market . They're even cheaper than a bottle of limitless water that is being used by those cultivating medicine . I got a D for voice travel, too . So far, what I've learned to do is to read with the jade strip and some basic levitation techniques . "

"Why didn't your teacher call to inform us about your atrocious performance?" Dad asked, raging .

"I have a voice-changing device . I'll record my voice with the jade strip, tweak it, and send it to her . She didn't suspect anything at all and I've been using it for years," I replied with a bitter smile .

"You unfilial boy! I'm going to beat you to death!" he shouted, slowing his sword down .

I yelled back, "You promised not to hit me if I could catch up!"

Dad stopped a meter in front of me and sighed . "Alright, alright . I think you're all grown up now, anyway . I shan't hit you anymore . "