Somewhere near the western border of the Ryu empire, there exists a small, secluded sect of fire element cultivators. Its name is the 'Ember Sect'.
Outside its gates a certain Meathead disciple could be seen arguing with the sect disciple guarding the entrance.
"Come on Yuuma! Aren't we friends? I just want to speak with him!"
"Yeah, I'm not buying it! You were cursing and swearing at the guy last time I saw you. So no, I'm not budging until you leave."
"I wasn't in my right mind back then! I have calmed down and reflected on my actions from back then. Can't you at least deliver a message to him for me?"
"I'm not going to go curse the sect elder's favorite disciple on your behalf! Sorry, but the answer is still no!"
After waking up in the abandoned cave Nox had left him in after Walpurgis. Kenji had read the note his new master had left for him. It read:
"Hey Meathead! You fell asleep before you answered me, so I'm dumping you outside your ex-master's place! I don't really have the time to deal with your emotional baggage right now, so drop it off by the time I come pick you up! Also, I'm a chick! Get that through your meathead skull!
Signed your new master, Nox Manus.
Don't go around spouting my name just yet! Your new mommy Nox has got a ton of enemies you're too young to tussle with. Okay, that's all! See you later!"
Soon after reading the message, Kenji walked out of the cave and into the familiar forest near his old home. He then found his way to the Ember sect's front door and started begging to talk with his former junior.
"That's not what I meant! I just want to-!"
"Like anyone would believe that! You've been repeating yourself for weeks now, can't you just let it go? I know it's not easy to accept, but revenge won't change what's already done! So, just leave already!"
"I'M NOT HERE FOR-!"
"WHAT IS ALL THIS RUCKUS ABOUT?" A young dwarf wearing the sect uniform yelled, cutting off Kenji's words as he walked out the gate.
"Kenji, don't!"
"It's you! I have something I want to tell you!"
"Hm? So, it's you again! Didn't you learn last ti-!"
"I am sorry!" Kenji said, as he bowed in apology.
"What?"
"I know now the way I treated you and the other disciples back then was inexcusable! For that I apologize!"
The person Kenji was currently apologizing to was one of the many disciples he had bullied over the years.
"You're sorry! Have you gotten so desperate to return that you are resorting to this!"
"No! I'm not here to beg the sect to take me back! I just want to apologize to the people I have wronged! That is all!"
"You want to apologize! Then what's my name?"
"…"
"You can't remember, can you? Then do you remember what you called me back then?"
"I'm sorry!" Kenji spoke as he bowed even lower.
"You're sorry? After years of calling me a 'midget', and that's all you can say to me?! WELL, GUESS WHAT! I DON'T FORGIVE YOU!"
"…"
"WORDS HURT YOU KNOW! DO YOU REALLY THINK SOME CHEAP WORDS OF APOLOGY IS ENOUGH TO WASH AWAY ALL THAT PAIN?!" The dwarf shouted as tears started forming in his hate-filled eyes.
"…"
"ANSWER ME YOU BASTARD!" He yelled as he grabbed Kenji by the collar.
"I know it isn't, but I don't know any other way!" Kenji said while giving the short man a guilty look.
*Bang*
"Just get out of here already!" The dwarf said after he punched Kenji in the stomach. He then turned around to walk back into the sect.
"Whoa! Are you okay? He may not have used his qi, but Hiro still has some ridiculous arm strength!" Yuuma the guard asked.
"*cough* Yeah! I'm fine!" Kenji coughed out while holding his stomach in pain.
"Are you really just here to apologize?" Yuuma asked, while helping Kenji up from the ground.
"That's what I've been saying for the last week and a half!"
"Well, sorry, but can you blame me? It's just that you looked so pissed off when you left and with good reason to! Your cultivation was crippled! Anyone would assume you were here for revenge!"
For a cultivator, living with a broken core is considered to be one of the greatest shames one can bear. When a cultivator breaks their core, all their stored-up qi will run out of control, tearing them apart from the inside out. That means the more they have, the more dangerous it becomes. Hence, a common consensus amongst cultivators is that they must have been weak and talentless in the first place to have survived. These preconceptions, as well as spiritual damage if they have reached nascent soul, along with the sudden change to their lifestyle brought on by their lack of power, is enough to drive some people mad. This is why many cultivators say they would rather die than become a crippled cultivator.
"Yeah, well! I was shown the errors of my way by my master!"
"You still call him that? Well, it doesn't matter!"
"So, will you let me in?"
"No, sorry! Sect's rules and all that! If I let in an outsider without permission, then it wouldn't be long before I would be begging here alongside you!"
"…"
"*sigh* Tell you what! If you're really sincere about wanting to apologize then, after my shift ends, I'll ask around a bit to see if anyone is interested in talking to you."
"Thanks! I owe you one!"