Typer’s room: Hello guys. Sorry for the delay, but here is the chapter!
Well, Not much to say about this chapter except that another character appears! Someone a bit more normal than the other, though. Anyway, I can at least say that there’s one single secret about him that I won’t tell so soon. *evil smile*
As I said before, this is VASTLY a work in progress, and wasn’t made to be posted initially, so there might be some inconsistencies. If so, please do tell me, as I want to make it an enjoyable read ^^
May your reading be enjoyable.
----
“Geez Xin. As excited as always, aren’t you?” I said in a cheerful tone. “And why are you so eager to try and beat a girl like me? I’m a fragile girl you know~?” I asked in a teasing tone which made him become even redder in anger.
“It’s BECAUSE you are a girl!” he said angrily. “HOW CAN YOU BE A GIRL AND YET BE THE STRONGEST IN THE STREETS?” He screamed at me in anger.
“What do you mean by that, Xin?” The guard asked confused.
“SHUT UP BROTHER!” Xin shouted at him in anger. “You have no idea what I’ve been through because of her!”
Well, that’s a funny story there. Ever since i’ve started walking the streets, as you would expect, there was some kind of hierarchy amongst the kids on the streets based on their strength and house status.
I would gladly ignore most of these and simply roam around the streets while looking for interesting things and getting the occasional sweet using my cute looks. But when I passed through the kids playing, Xin, who was the leader at the time, noticed that I was new and challenged me to a fight, saying that if I lost I would have to obey him.
Not that I’m saying that Xin was weak. Well,not that he was all that strong though, being only a bit stronger than normal, but still fairly well amongst the average. But he was much faster than normal, so he could deal with older kids with a fair amount of ease.
But… My cheaty power…
I quickly overpowered him in front of his friends, so he became angry and have been hunting me for revenge ever since. Which I do find it kind of funny, because it feels like a little brother that keeps challenging the older brother on video-game or something of the kind. So even with him being a bit obnoxious with all his challenge and so on, I can’t help but smile whenever we end up meeting.
But to think that he and the guard were brothers… That was unexpected for sure.
“Fight me, Lia! This time I won’t lose to you!” He said while yanking his arm that was being held by his brother.
I sighed helplessly for a moment before giving a quick look behind towards Ping, who had a slightly wry smile in her face, as if saying that kids will always be kids.
Seeing that she didn’t seem all that bothered with it I turned my attention back to Xing, who was tapping his feet in annoyance before smiling to him. This was our usual signal that he could attack me.
“TAKE THIS! FLYING DRAGON KIIIICK!” He shouted while running forward and giving me a… Flying kick. Big surprise there… Actually, it was really impressive that someone as young as him could do something like that.
But it was really easy to dodge that, so I simply took a step to the side and let him fall on the ground besides me. As he blinked surprised, he turned his head towards me and I smiled at him, which made him become completely pale.
I quickly sat on his back and grabbed his arm in a lock.
“OUCH, OUCH, OUCH! I GIVE UP, I GIVE UP, I GIVE UP!” He said while slamming the ground with his free hand.
I quickly lifted myself from his back while smiling all the time. His face became as red as a tomato in shame and anger while his fist were clenched as he raised himself from the ground and clearly wanted to throw a punch at me.
But I knew him far too well. So I simply lowered my head peering at his red face while smiling cheerfully.
After a few seconds I felt a soft and childish hand landing on top of my head and started to pet me.
Waaah! Petting feels SOOOO good. I won’t even say that I can get addicted to this. I’m already addicted.
I can’t remember being so addicted to it in my last life, so maybe it's something to do with my body from this life? Maybe something to do with my spirit? I couldn’t really be so sure about it. And I didn’t really care about it at all.
After around a whole minute, Xin finally took out his hand, making me pout lightly in displeasure, but our usual agreement was for one minute wait on defeat. Maybe I should extend it before the next fight?
Make it five minutes? Maybe throw in a few chin scratching too… That sounds good as well.
As I thought distractedly about it, Xin started grumbling.
“Dammit! Not even when i use my secret flying dragon kick!” He said in anger. “How come you are so strong even though you are a girl?” He asked me the usual question while looking at me angrily.
“Well… Flying kicks aren’t exactly a good attack when your opponent is aware of it, you know?” I said in a teaching tone. He grimaced before nodding weakly.
“Xin! Do you always do this when you meet her?” The guard asked angrily as he recovered from the shock.
“But I’ve never even hit her!” The boy said angrily. “Not even once! Even though she’s a girl I can’t hit her without going all out!”
“And what the hell do you mean by ‘even though she’s a girl’?” The guard asked angrily. “You make it sound like...”
“Maybe it’s because Little Lia have potential as Spiritualist?” Ping said with a pensive tone, but her words shocked the siblings who stared at her in shock before turning to me.
“...YOU CHEATING BASTARD!” Xin shouted while trying to run towards me with his fist swinging wildly, but the guard quickly held him by the neck.
“Hey!” I said angrily. “I never used that against you! I barely even know how to use it at all!” I said angrily, which made they look at me in confusion for a moment before nodding in defeat. “Besides, if that counts as cheating, then Xin is cheating too.” I said while nodding.
Once again they froze and looked at me in confusion while trying to understand my words. It was Ping the first one to process the meaning of them and widen her eyes in shock.
“You mean...” She asked confused.
“Hmm.” I nodded. “Xin also have spirit.”
“Huh? How can you say that?” The boy asked me while tilting his head in confusion.
“Well…” I said while thinking on my words, but since I couldn’t quite put it into words, Ping quickly came in.
“Master Roshi, a spiritualist currently staying on the household praised Lia’s sense greatly.” She said with a proud smile.
“Then...” The guard looked towards Xin. “Xin can become a Spiritualist?”
I nodded at his words, and soon noticed as the two looked shocked at each other for a long time, then the guard’s eyes started to get watery as he pounced at the boy and hugged him.
“THAT’S GREAT XIN! YOU CAN BECOME A SPIRITUALIST!” He said in an emotional tone which shocked me as tears flowed from his eyes.
“That’s… Brother… Let go!” Xin said while becoming embarrassed and trying to free from his brother’s hug, but he still looked shocked. “Me…? A spiritualist…? Like Lia?”
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
For a moment he simply stared at me, probably trying to digest the information, but after a few seconds his eyes started to burn with an energetic fire as he raised his fists towards me.
“I’M GOING TO BECOME AN EVEN STRONGER SPIRITUALIST THAN YOU! YOU HEAR ME?” He shouted at me before darting away. “I’M GOING TO FIND A MASTER FOR MYSELF!” He said while running away.
“Where the hell will you find a master, you fool...” The guard said with no hope of being heard before turning to me. “Is what you said… True?” He asked me, and I simply nodded with wide smile. “I see… Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
“Because I didn’t know what it meant?” I said while tilting my head. “I only learned about spiritualism recently.” Besides, if i remember right, there were a couple of other kids I knew that might also have talent. Well, I think, they do have a more lively and abundant energy than the usual people you see walking on the streets…
“I see...” The guards said before kneeling in front of me, getting me by surprise. “I’m going to see that Xin is tested. If what you said is true… Do know that our family shall be forever indebted to you, Lia.” He told me in a solemn tone before raising and walking away.
I looked at him in shock as he walked after his little brother who since long had disappeared behind a corner. Watching the scene in confusion over their overreaction, I caught sight of Ping who had a satisfied smile in her face.
“It’s good to see someone who actually reacts the usual way when finding that they have talent.” She said with a relaxed tone.
“That’s the usual?” I asked while looking at her in confusion.
“Yes. The fact that you barely minded being a spiritualist is very odd by itself, Little aide.” Ping said with a nod. “Anyway. Do you need me to take you home or can you find your way there?” She asked while changing topics.
“Hmm” I shook my head. “I know where father’s smithy is. Thanks for everything, miss Ping.” I told her with a smile. It had indeed been an interesting day, even if i spent most of it simply washing clothes.
“It was nothing.” She said with a quick nod. “Do remember to come back early tomorrow so we can resume your training, okay?”
I nodded before giving her one last goodbye and walking away. It had been quite an exciting day, so I was a bit more cheerful than usual, making me hum a song from my previous life as I walked. I couldn’t quite remember what it was about, but the melody was still fresh in my mind. {E/N : It’s an MH’s bgm for all I know, knowing Warhawx’s obvious liking of MH}
While happily skipping my way, I quickly reached the wide avenue that had once separated my territory from the uncharted lands and quickly crossed the gap as I watched the setting sun.
Reaching my home-turf, some of the merchants started to recognize me, and one or another would call me to ask where I’ve been. I told them that I ended up sneaking on Tian’s mansion and discovered that I had talent as a Spiritualist. This made many of them stare at me in shock for a long time which left me doubtful.
Is being a spiritualist really that much of a deal? Maybe I really am underreacting to this whole story?
My answer came the moment that I reached the smithy and knocked on the door.
“Who’s it?” A gruff and intimidating voice came from within, sounding so tough that even a bandit lord would fear about replying.
“It’s me, Uncle Lao.” I shouted back.
It took him one quarter of a second to open the door. A bit more than the usual.
“LITTLE LIA!” The gruff voice now sounded ridiculously mellow as the owner came to hug me.
A large man, as large as a bear, as strong as a bear, as smart as a bear and even tougher looking than a bear appeared from behind the door. Being easily the biggest of my father’s assistants, he was easily at two and something meters high, and could probably kill a bull using his fingers alone.
And he was also one of the guys that spoiled me the most.
“Is it true, little Lia?” He asked me while giving me a bear hug and taking me inside where the air was about as warm as fire. “Is our little girl really going to become a Spiritualist?”
“Yep.” I said with a short nod, and the big burly men started crying like a little girl while hugging me.
“Waaah! MY LITTLE LIA IS BECOMING A GREAT GIRL!” He said while crying loudly.
“GODDAMIT LAO! WHY DID YOU GO AND DO THAT!” Someone shouted as a piece of metal hit the man on the back of his head.
“YOU BUSTED THE SURPRISE YOU BLOODY IDIOT!” Another one shouted, getting my attention as I saw that all the blacksmiths were gathered on the store.
I looked at them in shock for a moment before finally understanding what was happening and opening in a wide smile.
“Bloody bastard.” My father said while kicking the unconscious Lao that fell on his back before turning to me. “Oh well… Congratulations for becoming a spiritualist, dear.” Father said while crouching and petting me. I smiled widely while feeling his large hand petting me.
“Thanks daddy.” I told him while hugging him before turning to the others. “Thank you, uncles!” I said in a loud voice.
“UOOOH! THE PRINCESS THANKED US!” “I FEEL THAT I COULD WORK FOR DAYS RIGHT NOW!” “MARRY MY SON LIA! WE’LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU!” “LET’S MAKE HER OUR GODDESS!” “WAAAH! LITTLE LIA IS SO CUTE RIGHT NOW!” “SHE’S GROWING SO FAAAST!”
The grown men all started to shout like little kids, and I even heard a slightly disturbing idea coming from one of them, but I decided that it was just me hearing things.
I smiled happily at all the blacksmiths who were making such a fuss for me. Probably all the lack of excitement I had when discovering that I had talent as a spiritualist came here. While father started to scold the one asking to marry his son, one of the other blacksmiths came to us while carrying something folded inside a cloth.
“Here Lia! We made this for you as a congratulations!” The man said while lifting the cloth to me.
I looked at it confused for a moment, but when father made a nod for me to pick it up, I quickly extended my hand and grabbed the strange object in my hand before unfolding the light cloth from around it.
“Eh? This is…” I said while looking at the object in my hands.
“This will be your first blacksmithing hammer!” Father said proudly. “I decided to make it for you since you were...”
“Bullshit! You made it the day you heard her say that she wants to be a blacksmith!” One of the smithies interrupted him, making me chuckle.
“Goddammit Xiao! There was no need to tell her that!” Father said while throwing his hammer at the guy, his face red from embarrassment.
I giggled a bit more before hugging his head.
“Thanks daddy! I love you!” I said cheerfully. “Does this mean that you will start teaching me?” I asked excited.
“No. That’s for when you are older. No changing this one.” Father face’s suddenly came closer as he said in a firm tone.
I pouted at his words while looking angrily at him.