Three days had passed since Xing left Shaanxi. As much as he would’ve loved to head into Sichuan he couldn’t.
He garnered someone’s attention, and that annoyed him further. “I just want to live in peace with my daughter” Xing grumbled, “Is that so hard?”
The synergistic sounds the crickets, frogs and grasshoppers croaked in the nearby grass made Xing wary, as nestled himself in a tree looking down.
The surrounding area was littered with thick of foliage and trees. It was tranquil and peaceful, something he needed.
Xing sat in the lotus position, cultivating his Qi. He swirled the Qi within his Soul Dantian and sending it to his Core Dantian, trying his best to fill it.
After years of being lackadaisical in his practice methods. The majority of the Qi he’d cultivated had withered away like the wind.
But now he had The Guiding Star Fist, The Unrelenting Lion Claw and the Lion Pride Formation within his hands. He found many insights he’d never thought of before, realising what he lacked in terms of mental fortitude, skill and raw power as a Martial Artist.
“To be better than who you once were.” He said aloud, remembering his master’s words, finally understanding what they meant…after all these years.
“I’m such a fool,” He whispered, “I've wasted so many years….YEARS OF DOING NOTHING!”
He was disgusted with himself.
The child giggled and wiggled her arms as she tried to grab the moon. Xing opened his eyes, watching her and smiling gently.
He slid out of the lotus position and grabbed her hand, waving it a little playing with her, but she pulled it free, trying to grab at the moon once more. “You love moon little one? I do…sometimes don’t we? It’s beautiful”
Xing looked up, feeling the moon’s essence spraying across the night sky, leaving a red sheen of light on the leaves and branches that lay before him.
Crimson Moon? Xing thought, eyes finally seeing the moon’s change in colour. “It’s been a while since I last saw a Crimson Moon little one, look how beautiful it truly is,” Xing said.
He pulled the child into his lap and tilted back, allowing her to see the moon. As they both sat there watching the moon.
Xing finally understood why Susu loved the forest so much, it was tranquil, yet. So peaceful, He thought.
The swishing sound the branches made sent a ripple of goosebumps down his back. It was the first time he’d ever felt a sensation such as this, whilst his body embraced the tranquility.
Xing and the child stayed like that, until she finally fell asleep. Once she did, Xing’s mind drifted back to the problems he’d encountered at Shaanxi.
His mind lingered to the fools who tried to break into his room, waking the child. He thought they were bandits, following him into the Red Lantern Tavern, but after two days of ruminating, he found it suspicious.
Eventually, he realised that they weren’t following him but they were already there. However, his room was secluded and yes, the likelihood of a spouse working at the Red Lantern Tavern to help out was viable.
Afterall, making a living as a martial artists wasn’t always viable, especially if you lived in a city, if you loved in the western plains…you had a better chance as that land was mostly farm land.
It was also the reason why he was heading to Sichuan, it maybe a lawless land compared to the eastern plains of Huaxia, but he knew that raising the child away from vast cities and armies would be a lot easier.
What bothered him though, was the mere fact that the men he fought in the Red Lantern Tavern were of the Core Awakening Realm and warriors of that stature usually performed body guard duties for the wealthy.
“Whatever,” Xing finally said, feeling drained from thinking of the scenario. “I’m over thinking.”
As time passed, finally understood his master’s wishes and request. “Take care of this child, Xing’er” His master’s words echoed into his mind.
Words he could hardly forget. He dawdled in between Anqing to Longyan, a dawdled that brought the child into his arms.
He felt guilty as he was never a filial student to his master, but he never had any regrets about saving the child.
The only regret that Xing had in his heart, was the loss he bared, when Yun Yan died for him, more than he had ever anticipated…even after fourteen years since she died, it never left him…and never will.
Xing finally mustered enough strength, to do what was required. He couldn’t just keep calling the child, the baby, or daughter, but give her a name.
Naming her would’ve solidified their relationship as father and daughter, and despite only being with her for two months…he knew it was time to name her. “Zhao Li.” Xing finally said softly, after five minutes of consideration. That’s your name Zhao Li.”
◆◆◆
In the morning, Xing changed his mind, instead of heading west into Sichuan, he went east, changing directions just in case he was being followed.
Xing never considered himself paranoid, but now that Li’er was with him, he just wouldn’t take that risk.
The relief he felt, was just what he needed. He was never one to run from a fight, but after finding so much trouble in Shaanxi, he just couldn’t stay and with Li’er’s health improving by the day, he could say without a doubt, that he’d made the right decision to leave.
The deeper into the forest he went, the further he separated himself from society, which happened to be the farthest he’d ever been.
Xing knew the forest would end eventually, but as he was moving north, instead of East, he felt a jaded due to the numerous times he’d backtracked.
He may have lost his pursuers, but he deep down, the possibility of him being pursed was slim. However, something at the back of minds always tugged at him, making him feel as though he was being pursued.
As another day passed, Xing found himself at a river. The river flowed from the south, it wasn’t mucky overall, as he could still see the bottom of the river.
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The birds chirped around him, whilst the grass rustled as if fighting each other, as they tried to bend to the wind’s will.
The river bay they’d commandeered was small but filled with stones sand and overgrown grass trailing from the forest on the west side of the bay.
On the far right, to the east, was a boulder split right down the middle with a patch of vines growing out and spiraling up a cliff he could scale with a simple jump.
The tranquil sound of the splashing water rang into his ear, which was accompanied by further splashes from fishes hopping around.
Xing snapped up a rock, and finger flicked it into the water, hitting a fish that dared to hop in his presence.
He struck three more and nodded, as if he were proud of his work. The fish floated to the top river. Xing scampered across the pond using his qinggong.
He scoop them up with his left hand, feeling the slimy texture of their bodies, instantly visualising them over a fire, roasting their way into his stomach.
Li’er who was a few meters away from him was sitting up playing with her toy figurine waving it around as she giggled happily.
Xing smiled, turned and sailed over the river. He landed, dropping the fish in a batch of fresh leaves then sauntered around the surrounding areas, gathering a few stones and dried sticks, enough to build a fire.
Once he finished, he looked around and appreciating that no one was here. “Li’er, you can finally roam around without worry.” He said calmly.
She didn’t turn to him, but he expected that. After all, the months she’d been with him, she wasn’t given a name, but now, she does.
He remembered Fa Qing’s words regarding Li’er’s temperature should remain low, or the Yellowsting could return.
The Yellowsting Fever was a Yang based fever, meaning that at any time her body would erupt into a fever of heat, making her miserable, something Xing couldn’t bear to see.
I could get used to this, Xing thought, feeling at peace. “Su’er…I finally understand why you hated crowds so much. You can’t think straight, I haven’t been at peace with myself in such a long time.”
His mind drifted to what his master told him. He lived in a bottle and not the present. An image of Yun Yan flashed into his mind, and he felt his body tingle with shame.
Did I really use wine as a way to push away the pain? He thought sourly, all it did was forced you from my thoughts Yan’er…oh how I miss you.
The withdrawal sweats Xing felt in Shaanxi, were finally subsiding. He thought of how stupid he was to enter the The Red Lantern Tavern.
It was the worst place for him to be, but he held on, fighting off his cravings. He wasn’t where he wanted to be…but he told himself he would be soon.
A loud snap crunched into the air. Drawing Xing’s attention. He snapped his head right, but his body sprang up sprinting towards Li`er.
Three knives shot through the air, Qi smothering them from the same direction of the snap. The knives shot right past him as he landed on the ground with a skid.
He scraped up a hand full of pebbles, swirling the Qi from his Dantians into his hands, enshrouding the pebbles with his Qi. He finger flicked the pebbles, aiming at the soaring knives.
The knives made a loud thanging sound as they were knocked off course from Zhao Li. Xing surged Qi into his hand then felt his feet sizzle.
He twisted mid air then stomped the ground, sending a wave of killing aura throughout the vicinity, hoping to stifle his attackers mental fortitude.
Once his feet connected to the ground a second time. He sprinted towards Zhao Li ground shaking beneath like an earth quake with every step.
Twelve foreign Qi’s exploded around Xing in the form of small balls. CURSES! Twelve? Why couldn’t I sense them? Xing spat.
Four more knives shot out from the forest, aimed at Li’er. Xing’s heart buried itself into his stomach as he watched the knives burrow their way toward her. “NOOO!” He shouted.
Xing appeared in front of Zhao Li. He shrouded his hands in Qi. He finger flicked the knives away one by one, then stepped back, scooping up Zhao Li in one go.
She dropped her figurine and before Xing could react, she began crying as the figuring left her fingertips. two knives away, missing the third and fourth.
The knives dropped to the ground with a ding and thud. He landed on the ground, turned, masking himself in his Qi and blocking the more knives being flung at him with his Iron Shredding Claws. “COWARDS! COME OUT! LET ME KILL YOU FACE TO FACE FOR TRYING TO KILL MY DAUGHTER!” He growled, hands shifting into a defensive stance. “I KNOW ALL TWELVE OF YOU ARE THERE!”
“KNOWING DOESN’T MEAN A THING WHEN YOU ARE ABOUT TO DIE!” Someone howled in response.
Three more appeared, aimed at Li’er. Xing dodged, leapt and sped across the unleveled ground, trying his best to protect Zhao Li.
He snapped his left and right, watching the twelve different Qi’s began to spread, trying to surround him.
As he felt their Qi try to surround him, he pulsed his Qi once more, trying to sense their strength.
Their Qi lit up around him, only three were of the Mind Awakening Realm, whilst the rest were of the Core and Soul Awakening realm, which wouldn’t trouble him too much. Unless their weapons were poisoned, Xing mused sourly.
“STOP YOU FOOLS! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL THE BABY!?” A voiced hissed from beyond the trees.
“Apologies Young Master! I was only anticipating where he’d be next!”
“I don’t care what or HOW you do it! I just need him DEAD! BUT the child must be left UNSCATHED!”
Young Master? Why are they after Li'er? Xing thought, skidding to a stop.
Li’er wailed in his hands, trying to relieve herself of Xing as she wanted to retrieve her figurine. “ Soon Li’er, Soon,” Xing whispered in her ear.
Xing lithely moved through the forest, leaves crunching under his feet. Five men charged from the shadows of the rest, armed with knives, swords, and thick quarterstaff.
Ten meters separated them from Xing, but not enough distance for Xing to safely retreat.
As if he wanted to retreat.
Xing pressed forward, taking a steadying breath, allowing his Qi to swirl and thrum from his Core Dantian towards his meridians.
In the blink of an eye, three of the attackers flashed in front of Xing, their hands and weapons shimmering with harnessed Qi. He skipped backwards, senses heightened, then felt the other two men converging on him from opposing sides.
Xing spun violently, whipping his right leg in an upward arc. A bone-crunching echo sand through the river, an anguished groan fluttered from the man's mouth as Xing broke one man’s hip with a bone-crunching kick.
He appeared behind the fallen enemy. He clawed his arm off with a Iron Shredding Claw, then performed a Instantaneous Step, disappearing from out of the circle they were trying to trap him in.
The trio that tried flanked him. Scattered, but were able to catch whiff of him. Xing skipped toward the sword-wielder to his right and struck three critical acupoints along the man’s back.
It was as if the legendary Bodhidharma himself had personally taught Xing the acupoint strikes techniques, forcing the swordsman to kneel before him.
A knife fighter appeared to Xing’s left, the side where he cradled Li’er in his arm. The blade pierced the air, aimed to slash Xing's throat.
Xing half-turned, then grabbed the man’s knife arm. He then spun the man around and landed performed the only move he’d mastered since his master revised the Guided Fist.
Tenth Stance: The Guiding Star Fist - Ecliptic Path.
Xing hit the knife wielder in the chest with a precise strike, then released his Qi into the man chest.
The Qi began drawing itself onto the man’s chest, forming itself into a moon’s eclipse. As the Qi began to thrum brightly, Xing gnashed his teeth as he eyed him with venom in his eyes, then funneled more Qi in his hand, completing the eclipse. The man shot backwards, life leaving his eyes. “Thats for trying to kill my daughter!” Xing growled.
Another swordsman appeared behind Xing, but he could feeling the killing aura exhuming from him. He spun violently, eyes burning as he surged an overwhelming amount of Qi into his Iron Shredding Claw.
The swordsman brought the sword with venomous err. Xing caught the blade in hand, then twisted it the moment he actualised his Qi.
The blade shattered as if it were an egg.
He took the broken tip and jammed in into the man’s back. The swordsman went limp, incapacitated, before being flung away into the forest like a human carcass.
An earth-shaking boom tore through the valley as the hapless form smashed into an ancient tree.
The thick trunk groaned and snapped from the devastating impact. Ripples of force hissed across the grassy clearing, rustling every leaf and blade of grass.
Xing stood calmly, rooted to the forest floor, feeling every rock and pebble under his feet as his Qi thrumming through his body like an inextinguishable furnace.
He cast his steely gaze upon the remaining defiant ten men who had dared challenge him. Shock and fury twisted their expressions, mouths agape, wrongly believing the young master to be a mere Divination Realm practitioner.
How could they fathom his skills placed him among the rarefied elite of the Accentuation Realm.
His boots ground into the pebbles as Xing slowly advanced, Li’er swaddled protectively in his arms. His lips curled into a bitter smile.
“My friends...” Xing said coldly, “If you value your lives, I suggest leaving here immediately. Otherwise, like your unfortunate compatriots...” His eyes narrowed, brimming with conviction. “You will be courting death!”