AUTHORS NOTE: Writing is a really weird but enjoyable experience for me. This is my 3rd chapter, but I have hundreds of different ideas but deciding which ones to use and which ones I shouldn't is the problem. This is really weird.... Enjoy the chapter and please comment, so i know if people are enjoying it or feel changes should be made.
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Chapter 3 - Shi Jin Awakens
Liu Family Mansion, under a tree...
Liu Ai could be seen with her head in between her knees lifelessly. She had been coming here everyday for 2 months since Shi Jin's death.
Liu Ai sat there, wishing, hoping that everyone heard wrong and that he would come back and rum her head like he used to. As he was sitting there in deep thought, she heard foot steeps, she didn't pay any attention to it because a lot of servants walk by.
Still in deep thought, she felt a shadow loom over her. She opened her eyes to see a pair someone standing in front of her and because she was looking down she only saw two feet in a nicely decorated shoes.
Her heart palpitated, as hope took over her. 'It can't be' she thought
She hurriedly looked up in excitement 'He's back' she thought however this hope and excitement was instantly shattered as the figure standing before her was a stranger she had never met before.
She was surprised and with a 'Humph' she looked back down returning to her downcast mood.
The boy having noticed her dissatisfaction was puzzled, he thought 'Did I do something wrong?' he looked at her in confusion but then suddenly burst out laughing. He laughed so heard tears started to fall.
Liu Ai was already in a bad mood and having someone she didn't know laugh at her caused her to feel irritated and angry, she angrily growled:
"Who are you? and why are you disturbing this young miss? Go away before I call the guards to throw you out"
The boy smiled brightly, his neat white teeth showing. He was a very good looking boy probably 7-8, he would grow up to be a dashingly handsome. He gazed at Liu Ai, smiling happily, he said:
"Hello there, young miss I am Lin Chong, let's be friends" he said happily as he stuck out his hand for a hand shake.
Lin Ai noticed this guy was really good looking making her daze for a moment before regaining her composure:
"Hmph, this young lady does not wish to befriend you, go away, shoo"
"Young miss don't be like that, this is my first time in this city, my father and your father are very good friends so I hope we can get along, I even brought you sweets, here take it"
'Hmm? sweets' Liu Ai looked up hesitating slightly before taking a red box out his hand. She looked slightly timid for a moment then she returned to her haughtiness:
"Hmph, this miss thanks you, hmm my name is Liu Ai" as she said this she opened the box and started eating the chocolate. After one bite she was surprised at how tasty they were and started gobbling it with no regard for who was there.
As if struck by lighting she suddenly realized that Lin Chong was still there. She smiled wryly with a mouthful of chocolate, a red streak flashed across her face as she said:
"Do you want some?"
"Sure" Lin Chong replied squatting down next to Liu Ai the two started to chat away.
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He Clan, Hideout
Mmmm so uncle wants to begin phase two... ahaha interesting, very well let's begin. "Xi Peng" he called out and instantly a tall, pale, skinny man appeared from the shadows dressed in full black cloth, head to toe, the man continued "It's time to begin get in contact with the rest and tell them to begin overtaking the Shi Clan business and destroy their merchant carts"
"Yes master" Xi Peng said in a dark croaky voice before disappearing as fast as he appeared.
The man sat in his chair with an evil grin, he thought "Ahh Shi Clan, poor guys to face the wrath of uncle after all these years, It's really unfortunate..."
...
The people of jianghu continued to live their lives. Life continued peacefully on the surface and the Wushi city deteriorated even more...
Compared with the thriving, bustling nature of Jianghu, the central government grew increasingly autocratic, with the emperor power increasingly consolidated. The Eastern Chamber Guards were formed, growing into a formidable force that influenced jianghu to some degree. The current emperor of LongXia Dynasty. Long Yuanzhang. grew increasingly suspicious and weary of the 8 sects, due to their increasing influence and interference in state affairs.
10 years transpired... along with most peoples memory of Shi Jin...
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Inside Longyang's domain
Shi Jin was lying on the floor with a serene look on his now devilishly handsome face. The azure cocoon slowly dissipated and with it, revealed the now 16 year old Shi Jin.
He had grown and looked around 6 feet, his hair had grown reaching matching the length of his body. Shi Jin's eyes slowly opened concentrating.
As soon as he regained his consciousness he felt strong power coursing through his body. Then a deep voice sounded out:
"You woke up... hmm 10 years, not bad..." Longyang spoke calmly as if 10 years was nothing in his eyes.
"Ahh, Senior Longyang, I woke up..." as Shi Jin was processing Longyang's words his gasped " Senior... did you say?..."
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Yes, you have been slumbering for 10 years... 6 years was spent completely transforming your body and 4 years for the memories that master left for you however you will not be able to access all of it until you meet the requirements and how you do that is for you to find out."
Shi Jin thought for a moment before asking :
"Am I allowed to leave now?"
He had been away for 10 years now. He missed his foster father and Liu Ai, he thought 'they must of suffered all these years... believing I am dead I need to get back as soon as possible'
Longyang remained silent for a moment before saying:
"I'm afraid not child, you are not ready and it my responsibility to make sure you know everything you need to know and even if I can't train you for a long time, for 4 months I will help you strengthen your body and set a stable foundation at that time you will be able to leave"
Shi Jin looked slightly disappointed but filled with determination. He nodded:
"What do we do now? Does the training begin now?"
Longyang sighed:
"Patience is a virtue child... remember these words... we will begin by learning about martial arts and cultivation. To begin all forms of martial arts are divided into two types, external and internal.
Internal martial arts focus much more on the mind and will. They train in the manipulation of internal forces, such as vigorous qi or internal breath, which can be cultivated through inner. The main characteristics of Internal marital arts are relaxation, precision and breathing. In internal martial arts the aim is total control of body and mind.
Powerful Internal Martial artist can unleash frightening internal power with their skills.
On the other hand there is external martial arts. External martial arts focus on power, strength, flexibility, endurance and reflexes. External martial artist manifest power entirely through physical means. External martial artist cultivate through inner and instead of gathering Chi into their dantian it is gathers in the muscles and makes our attacks even more formidable.
In terms of sheer destruction external arts beat internal martial artist by a long shot however internal arts are more critically accurate."
Longyang stopped, giving Shi Jin the chance to absorb all the information. Shi Jin on the other hand sat there rapidly digesting and thinking of all thoughts of things. As curiosity overtook him, he couldn't help but ask:
"Being as unbiased as possible, what is stronger internal or external martial artist?" Shi Jin's eyes where sparkling as he curiously asked.
"Hahahaha, that is a funny question child. Hmmm if i am to be 100% honest with you... internal and external are both equal. Depending on the individuals ability and talent an external martial artist can easily defeat and internal martial artist vies versa. In this world there is a saying, `The most respected in the north is Shaolin; the most respected in the south is Wudang`. With focus on Internal Skills, Wudang disciples incorporate Taoist concepts within their martial arts, where as Shaolin disciples incorporate Buddhist concepts with their martial arts . Wudang internal arts such as 'Tai Chi fist' where as Shaolin practice External arts such as 'Taizu Long fist'."
"Ahh" Shi Jin nodded in enlightenment.
Longyang continued:
"However External and Internal are just the two forms and methods of training. To train you need inner's, inner's are also divided into external and internal however under that are the attributes that the particular inner specializes in." Longyang paused for a moment before continuing "The inner attributes are; Tai Chi, Yang Hard and Yin Soft. All inner's and martial arts skills under the heavens fall under these three attributes it's either one or the other and can never be both." once again Longyang paused gazing intently at Shi Jin who sat with his legs cross, arms folded in deep thought.
"That is just the tip of the ice berg there is another thing inners do and that is unblock certain meridians in your body. One inner cannot open all of them"
"I don't understand..." Shi Jin said confused
"Hmm, practicing an inner will unblock some meridians channels, yes... however each inner will only unblock the accupoints that correspond with it, do you understand?"
Shi Jin nodded:
"So there more inner's you master the stronger you become?"
"Exactly and as a full external martial artist, you will only cultivate External inner's and increase you strength and body method (flexibility, speed, reaction and endurance)" Longyang paused, to let Shi Jin absorb everything before going on to say "These are basic stuff you should know. There are some more in-depth things that you shall discover yourself and gain insights in them through training. We will begin training now..."
And with that the domain that was once dark transform into a training ground. With huge fighting stage and weapon racks with all types of weapons surround the stage. Huge rocks ranging in different weights and practice dummies in another area. Surrounding all of this in the far distance where huge mountains making Shi Jin wondered how they got here...
"When we begin you are going to wish you where dead. As the successor you will surpassing your limits at every give moment, so prepare yourself..."
Shi Jin shuddered, hearing Longyang talk in such and creepy/mischievous tone...
And so it begun 4 months of the most hellish and brutal training...