“Two copper coins and not a penny more!” Xing said smiling wryly.

The innkeeper wrinkled his brow, eyeing Xing up and down, disgusted. “You have a child sir. It’s gonna wake my guests up!…Five copper coins, no less. You want for five days, you have to pay for her too!”

“She’s an angel, she hardly keeps any noise, I promise!” Xing said.

The innkeeper waved him off, uninterested in entertaining Xing which only made Xing pout.

The inn was the only one found in the village and miles. Xing was tired of sleeping in trees and so was Li’er.

The little began fretting franticly the last few weeks, which only served to agitate him further.

He’d even almost dropped her from a tree. That gave him a fright, which made wary enough to sleep close to the ground.

However, that only served to attract wolves. He didn’t mind the wolves though. It allowed him to have meat for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

After Xing’s scuffle with the Young Master from Shaanxi. He spent the next three months roaming as he solidified his Mind Dantian.

As hard as he tried, calcifying his Qi onto his Core Dantian, the cracks that were now embellished throughout this dantian wall, just wouldn’t seal, which made him scared to fight anyone.

He relied heavily on his internal strength, during a fight, but now he had has to use his head more, or something could happen to Zhao Li.

I guess I have no choice, Li’er needs a roof over her head, Xing mused.

Xing slammed the five copper coins on the table, pursing his lips in annoyance. He turned his head and rocked Li’er back and forth as he turned his nose up to the sky. “I’m in your care,” He said firmly.

“Thank You,”

The innkeeper snatched up the copper coins, then hustled from behind his counter, picking up a bucket of from behind the counter then ushered them up the stairs before Xing could change his mind.

As the innkeeper led them up the stairs. Xing noted that the second floor had eight rooms, four on either side.

The innkeeper walked up to the third room on the right. He pushed open the beige-coloured door.

Xing walked in and was met with a bed to his right with a window above it. To the left, was a small closet. In the middle of the room was a table with three empty basins.

The innkeeper entered, slid the curtain open, and then pushed the window open. He poured water into two of the three basins then turned back to Xing.

“Your room,” He said with a smile, then left Xing to his own machinations.

As Xing entered, he bolted for the bed and sat down immediately. The softness of the bed, sent ripples of relief from his lower back, down his legs and up his spine.

“That’s far more relaxing that I expected,” Xing noted, placing Zhao Li on the bed.

Zhao Li giggled, and looked up at him. He smiled as he looked down on her, then blew a loud sigh of relief.

The room smelled of dust, wood and cold wind. Xing rocked back, feeling as the bed was ready to fall apart.

He looked, realising the bed legs were propped up on a piece of wood, leveling it out across the floor. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

Li’er grabbed his chin, after pushing herself up and freeing herself from her robes. A habit she recently picked up.

Xing laughed, scooped her up into his lap, then placed her back on the bed. She began rolling around the bed animated as ever, which made him smile.

When she got tired of rolling, she stood up on the bed and tried to jump up and down, failing each time she stood up for a few seconds.

Xing laughed, which made the little girl turn to him. She tilted her head curiously at him, then giggled into a laugh.

If this was what it meant to be a father, then Xing thoroughly enjoyed it. However, he hated how much Li’er had to be covered up, because she was an Axsumite. “We’ll stay here for a few days Li’er,” Xing said calmly. “Then we’ll finally get to go where I hope it’s better…for the both of us.”

◆◆◆

The following day, Xing found a carpenter to fix Li’er broken figurine. The relief that he felt when the carpenter said he could fix, lifted the boulders that had been planted on his shoulders ever since the figurine had been damaged.

When he returned the figurine to Li’er, her face lit up, as if she noticed the difference. That made Xing smile.

Those peaceful moments, warmed his heart. Her smile, lit a fire in his stomach, a fire of protection. One he had no intentions of dwindling to embers.

Once he was settled, they began their journey again and finally made their way to the province of Sichuan.

Not too long after entering the province, A few bandits tried to intimidate him out of his gold, silver and bronze only to meet their end, thanks to his newly found strength.

Unlike most provinces within Huaxia, Sichuan was a lot more barren. The roads were battered whilst the vegetation was drying up.

The barren nuance of Sichuan was polarising, for Xing. He was used to province that held a rich vegetation and less lawlessness.

It made him wary of raising raising Li’er here, but it could also be his only refuge.

Not having the answer and decided to see its plains. Xing wandered around Sichuan for a few weeks, feeling as though this might not be the best idea, but always remembered his Master’s words whenever he wanted to be quiet. “Protect her until Susu is strong enough.”

“Yes Master, I will.” He answered, nestling her in his arms as she smiled at him.

The banditry was a problem, but outside of that. The people within the province were friendly and looked out for each other. He liked that.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Four months have passed since his master’s death and loneliness was settling in on Xing. I might not be the only one who needs people to interact with, Xing thought bitterly. “I need a place to stay and some people at least, Li’er needs to be social, but with her being an Axsumite that’ll be problematic.”

Xing kept to himself within the forest which had rich vegetation. It was the first one he came across and the urge to settle there was becoming evident.

As he sat in a tree, watching Li’er crawling and walking, playing with her swordsman figurine.

He watched her toss it around, testing its durability, which made Xing shriek each time he heard it drop to the ground.

The creaks of a cart groaned in the short distance, making Xing drop from the tree. He picked up his bag and scooped up Li’er up into his arms, he tucked the swordsman figurine in his sack to Li’er’s complaints.

Xing shot up in the air using his Qinggong, skipping from tree to tree, following the sound of the would-be wagon, which seemed to be heading west.

As Xing passed, birds chirped loudly, startled from his presence and also scampering away in fear.

He tapped the bark of a tree, feeling the wind crumpling in his ear and Li’er complaining and tapping his sack, hoping the figurine would return to her arms.

Xing kicked off a tree, soaring to his left, then descended to the ground as the closest tree was too far for him to continue.

He skipped over a fallen tree, skidding underneath another. Then kicked himself up into the air, floating twenty meters once he’d reached the end of the grove.

Two women walking below saw him appear, then hid behind a tree. He ignored them, noticing an Axe haunched over a tree stub. “Chopping wood for the winter.” He said.

Xing twirled in the air, landing on the ground with a skid, then darted right, following the sound of the cart. The cart rocked back and forth in the short distance. “Found it.” He said. “If there’s a cart, then there’s trade. Trade means people. People means food.”

Xing squinted, then leapt back into the trees, watching as the cart followed a crumpled road that led towards a mountain, which was heading west.

An old man held the reigns, sipping on a gourd peacefully. Xing couldn’t see his face, but he followed the cart, ensuring it wasn’t a bandit haul.

Eventually, night came and Xing kept to himself up in a tree, nestling a fretful Li’er who wanted to walk. He’d fed her some milk, which eventually silenced her for a bit, but she still wanted to walk around.

Xing watched the old man starting a fire. The howling winds of Sichuan tried their best to quell it, but the fire was too strong.

A growling echo boomed across the night sky, shaming Xing as he held his stomach. The sweet aroma of roasted fish with a hint of spices touched his nose and tongue. Aren’t I supposed to smell it first before my stomach growled, He complained.

The old man went back to his cart, picked up a jar and added more spices to the fish. The urge to drop from the tree was firmly set in his mind, and he even thought about stealing it.

No! I’m a hero! I can’t do that, I can’t set a bad example for Li'er.

...but hunger would make a man do anything, even to his parents.

“There’s more where that came from.” The old man said, voice reverberating.

Xing swallowed deeply, tasting the cold wind and nodded. He wasn’t sure if to take it as an invitation, so he didn’t move.

“I’m an old man, I don’t bite, you can come on down. I’m sure the little one you have would also like some warmth.”

Xing dropped to the ground, breaking twigs beneath his feet. The twigs tried to penetrate his boots, but he ignored the soft sensation, then approached the old man’s camp.

The old man waved his hand, ushering him to an empty spot within the camp. Xing gave a reverent bow, holding Li’er tight to his chest, ensuring her robes didn’t show her skin.

“Thank You for the warm offer Elder,” Xing said, cupping his fist awkwardly as Li’er began to fret from the cold.

“There’s no need for you to be so formal, but it’s good to see you again.” The old man said

Again? Xing thought confused. He squinted, taking a good look at the old man whilst the fire snapped and crackled in the background.

A gust of way swept across the campsite, flaring the fire up, making the sight of him easier to finally recognise.

A wrinkled smile resonated onto the old man’s face, making him look friendly. His long mustache was distinct, making it easy for Xing to remember him. “Elder!” Xing shouted, placing Li’er in his lap as he bowed awkwardly. “Forgive me for not giving you face!”

“Come lad, forget the formalities. It’s good to see you’re well. I see the little one’s a lot livelier than before.”

Did he know Li'er was sick? Xing thought. “ah...yes. She’s a lot better.”

“Good good, it’s good to hear her breathing smoothly now.”

“You recognised her lack of breath?”

“Of course, I thought you did as well.”

“No no, I’m not smart enough,” Xing said

“Doesn’t matter now, once she’s fine that’s all that matters.”

“She is fine and thank you for the concern,” Xing said.

The two of them sat in silence, listening to the animal’s snarl and crickets croak, killing the silence the night had intended for both of them.

“You can take some fish lad, I assure you, its not poisoned.”

Xing laughed lightly and smiled. “I’m in your care Elder!”

The old man pulled a pipe from his sleeve, and slowly added some tobacco, then lit it with the fire. He puffed a few O’s, resting his back on a nearby tree. “I can tell you have a few questions…”

“Xing, Zhao Xing!” He said with a smile.

“Good name, and the little one.”

“Zhao Li,”

“A bit plain don’t you think?”

“Which I’d love her life to be, Elder.”

“I see, as her father you would know what’s best for her.”

“I don’t actually,” Xing said, smiling shyly. “I’m learning along the way.”

The old man laughed, puffing a whiff of smoke from his lips. “So did I when I was a few years younger than you.”

“You have a son?”

“Daughter, just like you.” He answered smiling.

Xing smiled and nodded, then eyed him, feeling Li’er try to free herself from her robes. He rolled her over and began stroking her stomach, which made her giggle.

“Congratulations.” The old man said.

“For?” Xing asked confused.

“You’re of the Qi Perception Realm.”

“You know?”

“Of Course, your Dantians roiling uncontrollably, it’s hard not to notice.”

Xing sat back surprised by the old man’s words. My Dantians are roiling? They don’t feel that way.

“I guess you had trouble with the breakthrough. That’s the only reason your Dantians would roil that way.”

“I did actually, but I plan to fix that once I find a place to stay.”

“A place to stay, you know where you’re headed?”

“Hardly, I don’t know the land. They people here seem friendly, but my situation is different.”

“Sounds as if…you running from something.”

“No…not necessarily, I’m running toward something.”

“Hooo…I wonder what that is?”

“Peace…”

The old man smiled, pulling the edges of his long mustache, then nodded as if Xing had gained his approval.

Li’er tugged Xing’s arm, revealing herself. She pulled herself free of her robes and began giggling as though she’d won a game.

Xing swirled his Qi within his Core Dantian, feeling the Qi leak through the cracks of his Dantian. He jumped back, shielding her, and raised his right coating it in his Qi.

“Oh-ho.” The old man said with a smile. “Never thought I’d see an Axsumite child.”

Xing surged his Qi forming his Iron Shredding Claws, then raised his hand in a defensive stance. “Elder, I have no quarrel with you, nor does Li’er. I just want to raise my daughter in peace. HOWEVER, if you mean to cause her harm...forgive me for being rude!” Xing said, coldly.

The old man laughed heartily, then pulled on his mustache as he nodded. He sat back, raising his pipe in the air and continued to smoke his pipe, ignoring Xing.

A few minutes passed between them and Xing hadn’t dropped his guard. He watched the old man steadily, awaiting for his killing aura to flair…but the old man held none. He seemed more interested in smoking, than on fighting.

“I won’t cause your daughter any harm Shredding Claw Xing.” The Old man said calmly.

“Shredding Claw Xing? Elder, do you know me?” Xing asked.

“Of course, I’ve seen you fight at the Grand Martial Arts Tournament six years ago. You were thinner then, but look at you, you’re a boulder now. Pure muscle.”

Xing dropped his left hand but kept his Qi swirling between his Dantians just in case the old man tried a sneak attack. “I have a proposition for Shredding Claw Xing, would you like to hear it.”

“It depends.”

“Don’t worry, this has nothing to do with your daughter. But if you agree, I can help you find a place for your daughter to stay without a problem.”

“She’s an Axsumite, why would you offer her a place to stay without trouble?”

“Are men born evil?” The old man asked.

“No, they are not.”

“Do you think your daughter is evil?”

“NO!” He snapped.

“Neither do I. Your daughter wasn’t born evil, but her actions in the future might be. If she grows up in a world with hate and no love. The possibility of her becoming evil is high. I think it’s fair to give her a chance, don’t you?”

“Everyone deserves a chance to live Elder.”

The old man turned to Xing, smiling. He puffed another whiff of smoke and Xing watched as the smoke trailed into the sky, flowing directly towards the moon. “Then we are in agreement, yes?”

“Not yet, I need to hear the proposition first Elder.”

“Stop calling me Elder, my name is Jun…Xiabo Jun.”

“Fine,” Xing said. “Elder Jun…what is this proposition you have for me?”