6 Chapter 6 - Master Long

Chapter 6 - Master Long

After witnessing all the participants flee, there wasn't much left for the tournament management to do. They presented Xi with a ring and in a seemingly kind voice, they asked him to leave.

Meanwhile, as Xi made his way home with his family, Xue finally reached her own home. She couldn't help but doubt how fast she had run. Being a resident of Grace of Dragons City, she had been able to purchase a grand home for her family and herself with the winnings from the last tournament. As she burst through the front door, her family was taken aback by her sweat drenched appearance.

The first one to regain her composure was Xue's mother, Li Meiying. Li Meiying had a slender figure and carried herself with a gentle posture, exuding a dignified air. Her dark hair cascaded down her back in silky waves, framing her captivating almond-shaped eyes that sparkled with an azure light, radiating both intelligence and warmth. She looked upon her eldest daughter with concern and asked, "Xue, what happened? You asked us not to come watch your tournament because you didn't want anyone using us to control you. So, what happened? Are there people after you?"

Xue shook her head, still pale. It was unclear if her paleness was due to the exertion of running or from her fear. She kept repeating, "Monster, a true monster," as she made her way to her room.

Beside Li stood a small girl who bore a resemblance to the two women. This little girl also had almond-shaped azure eyes. She was an adorable child, especially when her eyes lit up upon seeing her sister. However, her face lit up not only out of love for her sister...

"Big sis, did you bring back something tasty?" she asked as she held her mother's hand. Small droplets of drool formed at the corners of her mouth, showcasing her eagerness as she clung to her panicked sister.

Xue, slowly emerging from her terrified state, was awakened by her lovely sister's words. "I'm so sorry, my dear little Lin. Sister isn't feeling well, but when she feels better, she'll get some delicious food for you." Even in her distressed state, the sound of her sister's voice was enough to bring her back.

As Xi made his way home, he stumbled upon a cute little girl arguing with a man behind a food cart. The man appeared exhausted and said, "I can't give you food. How many times do I have to tell you?"

The little girl pouted even more, cheeks resembling two melons, and replied with equal annoyance, "I told you my sister isn't feeling well. I want to make her feel better by giving her some delicious food. Just give it to me, and I'll pay you later."

Xi Long and his family happened to be onlookers. He tugged at his mother's dress and asked, "Mother, can I have a gold coin?"

Ling smiled and produced a coin from thin air. The tournament organizers had given them a ring with a small storage space, about 10 feet by 10 feet, which allowed them to store items. Carrying around 100,000 coins would have been difficult for anyone.

After receiving the coin, Xi walked up to the cart and placed the gold coin on it. In his childish voice, he asked, "Can she get food with this?"

Everyone was stunned by this act. The cart owner wouldn't need to work for a couple of weeks. He nodded in acknowledgment. Lin looked at the boy who had bought her and her family food and felt immense gratitude. "Thank you so much," she said, bowing.

Xi smiled and turned around, while Lin did her best to commit her benefactor's appearance to memory.

Ling and Shen smiled, and Shen teased, "Maybe we should find out who she is and get you engaged, hahah!"

Ming chimed in, "Good idea, two birds with one stone. If word spreads about his temper, we might not get the chance in the future, teehee."

Feeling battered by the day's events, Xi felt like finding a hole to jump into. But he knew his family were hard workers.

They continued to tease him all the way home. Surprisingly, when it came to teasing him, his grandma and father became an invincible duo.

The next morning, as Xi walked to the table after his bath, he was greeted by his parents' smiling faces. As if they had rehearsed it, they said in unison, "Good morning, Bam Bam."

Xi turned around and headed back to his room.

*****************************************************************

Xi was lying on his bed, reminiscing about his dark past and muttering, "They called me 'bam bam' for a whole month straight."

He was getting ready to attend the tournament and remembered that his mother kept the storage ring, ensuring they would be well-prepared even if the tournament lasted longer than expected. This tournament was anticipated to be grander than the previous one, as it had been quite some time since the last tournament was held in the area. Xi recalled the signs posted on the streets, announcing the cancellation of the previous tournament due to the damage caused. He felt a mix of sadness and embarrassment, knowing that the true reason was the public's fear for their safety.

However, with enough time passed and the tournament taking place in a distant district, Xi was hopeful that everything would go smoothly. The district, Jade City, was about a week away, and the tournament was scheduled to begin in a month. Xi couldn't contain his excitement to participate in this new tournament.

Jade City, located directly east of Grace of Dragon City's district, was a trade capital supported by a few villages and three minor cities. Nearly surrounded by the great lake, it boasted multiple ports and great wealth. However, it also required a strong army to defend against both human and monsters.

Two weeks had passed since Xi's birthday, and the news of the tournament had dispelled his previous melancholy. Yet, a new anticipation began to stir within him. While engaging in farm work, he repeatedly asked his father if they could leave early. But the answer was a daily rejection, until today.

During breakfast with his family, Xi, sipping his tea, asked his father, "Father, can we leave today for Jade City?"

Shen, while eating rice, nodded and replied, "Yes, I was just about to tell your mother to start packing. We will leave at dawn tomorrow."

The kitchen fell silent. Xi glanced at the sun to confirm that it was not setting in the east. He then put down his tea and prepared to pinch his father's face. However, Shen swiftly gave him a loud slap and shouted, "Pinch your own face, ingrate!"

Rubbing his cheek, Xi exclaimed, "Yes! It's not a dream!"

Ling couldn't help but ask, "The tournament is still two weeks away. Even if we want to leave a few days early, do we really need to leave this early?"

Shen nodded and clarified, "Fishermen have been gossiping about the increasing number of sea monsters in the area. It's better to leave early and avoid any potential delays."

Ming Zhi nodded in agreement, having encountered sea monsters during her travels. She also knew that the rainy season was approaching, which could further escalate the danger. When sea monsters moved on land, their strength was halved, but the high humidity during the rainy season minimized this disadvantage. Moreover, if it was raining, they would have no disadvantage at all.

The family gathered their belongings and stored them in the storage ring, a significant advantage as time froze inside. Ling and Ming had prepared numerous meals in advance using the storage ring's convenience.

The next day, Xi stood in front of his house wearing only his white martial arts robes. All their necessary items were in the storage ring. He wanted his mother to wear the ring, symbolizing the shared responsibilities within their family. The robe, a special gift from Ming, provided both durability and ample protection, equivalent to being covered from head to toe in leather armor. Standing at 6 feet tall with a well-toned body, Xi exuded an air of reliability and strength.

As Xi watched the sunrise, his family joined him from behind. Shen observed his son basking in the morning sun with immense pride.

Xi turned to face his family, eagerly waiting for his father to announce their departure. However, his father had something else to say.

Shen declared, "Let's go and terrorize another district, Bam Bam."

Instantly, Xi's face turned sour, and he thought to himself, "Goddammit."

Qingmei, one of the most developed countries west of the great lake, boasted prosperity within the cities. However, the paths outside these areas remained rural and dangerous. Although soldiers from the imperial family patrolled the roads to prevent banditry and eliminate monsters, the roads were still underdeveloped.

The Long family walked along the road when Xi heard screams accompanied by a loud, scratchy roar. Although he couldn't sense qi yet, his powerful body heightened his senses.

With a frown, Xi said, "I think someone is being attacked by monsters."

Everyone frowned, realizing that they were still near Grace of Dragons City and monsters were already making their presence known. It was clear that the situation was more perilous than they had anticipated. Although they were still far from the coastline and taking the commonly used road, the common monsters were becoming aggressive—a concerning sign, thought Ming Zhi.

Shen urgently said, "You scared ingrate, go kick their asses."

Xi also felt the urge to intervene, but he hesitated as he looked back at his family. Ming reassured him, "We will hide in these bushes. Hurry up and make sure no lives are lost."

Encouraged by his grandmother's confidence, Xi started striding toward the source of the screams.

As Xi arrived, he witnessed a caravan of people facing two forest serpents—monsters commonly found in the forests. These serpents were approximately human-sized, covered in green-brown scales, and possessed sharp fangs. Their diamond-shaped heads and entirely black eyes marked them as formidable creatures.

Monsters cultivated their bodies and qi simultaneously, which made them stronger than humans of the same cultivation level. However, there were exceptions. Xi observed a man engaged in a fierce battle with one of the forest serpents, holding it at a standstill. Although he couldn't gauge their exact strength, he recognized that they were far from ordinary.

The man was highly skilled and exuded an air of superiority. With a tall and imposing figure, he commanded attention wherever he stood. His sharp features and intense gaze reflected unwavering determination and an unrelenting pursuit of perfection. Styled hair reaching shoulder length and immaculate grooming added to his refined appearance. Clad in a shiny green robe that reflected the sunlight, he noticed Xi's arrival.

As Xi approached, the man yelled, "Don't come any closer. I can only hold this one back!"

But it was too late. Unaware of Xi's true strength, both the humans and the beast assumed he was merely a bystander there to witness the spectacle. Witnessing the enormous monster pounce on Xi, the man contemplated sacrificing his own back to save the foolish youth, only to become the fool himself.

The serpent lunged and leaped into the air, its wicked jaws poised to devour Xi's upper body. Xi looked at everyone else while it soared towards him, thinking to himself, "Thank goodness no one is hurt. It would have been disappointing if I let someone die because of my indecisiveness."

When the serpent was ten feet from his face, Xi seemed to finally take notice. He clenched his fist and slowly extended it forward.

All those present watched the fist move, witnessing no extraordinary technique or remarkable speed. The small fist appeared destined to be instantly consumed by the colossal flying serpent. Yet, halfway through the extension, a powerful gust of wind enveloped the fist, and when it came to a halt, the pressure was so great that it collided with the serpent...

And the monster vanished. The once formidable and malevolent serpent turned into a scattered mass of pulpy flesh within the forest.

The members of the caravan stood in astonishment at the incredible feat Xi had just performed.

Xi, however, was feeling disappointed. He exclaimed in agony, "Dammit! Grandma could have used the gallbladder to make some medicine. Hey you, can I have yours?"

The man was overwhelmed by the amount of information to process. Initially shocked by Xi's seemingly youthful appearance and extraordinary strength, however his fear intensified upon hearing Xi's words. The man instinctively grabbed his right side and contemplated, "He did save my life and the lives of my people. Sigh. I hope I can live without it."

Closing his eyes, the man nodded in acceptance of his impending death. He opened his arms, ready to embrace his fate.

WHOOSH!

The man felt a splat on his back, convinced that his precious had been taken from him. But after a moment, he realized he felt no pain. Opening his eyes, he saw Xi looking at a fist-sized green stone, nodding approvingly.

Xi, who had managed to hold back at the last moment, had successfully destroyed the second snake as well, leaving behind only its gallbladder. After confirming that no more monsters remained, he began walking back towards his family.

"Wait," the man suddenly spoke up. Xi placed the hand holding onto the gallbladder behind him and said, "You said I can have it."

Xi raised an eyebrow, puzzled. The man shook his head and clarified, "I don't want that. I want you to be my master."