《Defiant Will》


 Chapter 1...Fire

    ¡°Kai-er¡±


    A girl barely above her tenth year came running over from behind a corner of an old thatched hut. The girl had a cute appearance, with little dimples in her cheeks and bright cheery, innocent eyes, her twin black pony tails bouncing of her back as she ran. Her skin was a soft white and gave the impression of being like soft wool. She smiled, revealing her small white milk teeth, and making her small pink lips curve cutely. It could be said that she was like a lively, cute little rabbit.


    ¡°Mei-er¡±


    A boy of around 11 years turned around as he heard the cute girl¡¯s voice. He was tall for his age and quite well fed and well built. His black eyes followed the girls as she came running to him. He had black hair and a tanned light brown colour to his skin, which added to his appearance of an honest, hardworking boy. His handsome but childish face broke into a grin and he waved at her; his grin had a free and unrestrained quality to it that only children with peaceful lives could produce. He was a little tired and worn out, as his clothes showed, but he was happy.


    It would not be wrong to think he would be chased by many girls for his looks and his hard working temperament, in a few short years¡¯ time.


    ¡°Kai-er, I came as soon as I heard from the others¡± said the little girl. Her eyelashes fluttered as she looked down at her sandals, avoiding looking at the boy all of a sudden. A slight red blush crept up her soft, white cheeks, which the boy noticed. It was very touching and truly gave the impression of softness and warmth.


    ¡°Ahh, ehm...thanks¡± he said flustered. He kicked at the ground with his shoe tip. ¡°The others should be coming soon.¡± He twisted his fingers behind his back and looked at the girl¡¯s lowered head.


    They both stood quite close, but yet noticeably apart. The timid girl sneaked glances at the boy¡¯s face and slightly defined arms and chest. The boy felt his cheeks warming and kicked at the ground with his worn out shoe tips. He couldn¡¯t help smiling even wider and feeling really warm inside.


    ¡°I just came back from the farm with my dad...so I¡¯m...you know¡± he started hesitantly, as he moved his arms and picked at the dirt on his shirt. The girl stepped back, as he turned to show her, and raised her hands up in front of her as if fearing he would do something. Her eyes flashed with a little fear and nervousness at the same time.


    ¡°Ohh...it¡¯s fine, hehe it¡¯s good that your so hard working¡± she replied quickly, waving her cute little hands at him. She glanced at his dirty shirt, seeing through the loose threads of his shirt and at patches of his chest¡¯s tanned skin. She clutched at a small cloth at her waist.


    ¡°If you want I can help you wipe some of the dirt off¡± she said quietly. Her cheeks reddened further with embarrassment but she shuffled forward shyly towards him. Her eyes levelled with the boy¡¯s lips and she could feel his slightly hurried breath on her head. The boy was just about to raise his hand to her fragile shoulder when...


    All of a sudden cheers and shouting could be heard from around the corner of the hut. The girl immediately stepped back and placed her hand behind her back. The small cloth she hid behind her back was tied again around her dainty rope belt. She appeared slightly relieved but annoyed as she looked behind her.


    Two boys and a girl, around the same age as the boy and girl, appeared. The boys were average in most aspects, except one of them was brawnier than others of his age by quite a bit, while the other was noticeably shorter and sharp eyed. The girl who came with them was slightly chubby and had fewer fingers on one of her hands. Otherwise her appearance was quite average, like most of the village girls. She was quite unremarkable, other than her deformity.


    ¡°Look Mei-er is already here¡± cheered the brawnier boy. The other two nodded their heads and their smiles widened. He seemed the oldest out of the 5 children, and was muscular, quite defined for his age, but his face was quite simple and gave the impression of an amiable giant.


    ¡°Mei-er, will your mommy let you come out this late?¡± asked the chubby girl. Her round little face was scrunched up with concern. The other 2 boys also frowned and appeared worried for the cute ponytailed girl.


    ¡°Ohh yeah, Mei-er I never asked¡± said the handsome boy in surprise. ¡°You won¡¯t get into trouble again like last time right?¡± he asked suddenly. His brows drew together and he really felt like slapping himself, to clear his mind. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry if¡ª"


    ¡°No no it¡¯s ok Kai-er, don¡¯t worry¡± interrupted the cute little girl. Her cheeks brightened further like little tomatoes, as she looked at the boy. She gestured at him and the others to relax, while feeling happy that they cared for her. She was asked by the other village children to play excessively, and she would get into trouble with her mom for being out too long.


    ¡°Oh, ok then¡± he said, appearing greatly relieved.


    ¡°Come on Kai-er, show us what you found then¡± said the shorter boy with monkey like eyes. He bounced about constantly as if he couldn¡¯t stay still. He appeared very excitable and intelligent, with energy just leaking out of him in excitement.


    ¡°Alright Wei-er haha¡±


    They followed the handsome boy, making guesses at what he was going to show them, as they went. They walked out of the small, cosy village they lived in and went through some of the nearby farmlands. It was evening now, so nobody was on the farms, not even the livestock, except for the 5 friends. The sound of their laughter filled the calm air as they entered a wooded area, near the village fringes.


    ¡°Ping-er do you want me to carry you? It¡¯s quite a long way until we reach the spot I want to show you¡± said the handsome boy. His dark eyes and hair blended him into the darkening forest quite well.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine¡± said the chubby girl. Her forehead was a little damp and her face a little pale. She clenched her pudgy hands onto the hem of her dress.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, look I¡¯ll carry you¡± said the brawnier boy. He hopped over and placed her chubby short arms around his strong neck and gave her a piggyback.


    ¡°Ahh¡± she squealed in surprise. Her round cheeks turned red and she hugged the boy¡¯s neck tightly. ¡°Only for a little while ok Zhang Lei-er?¡± She held on tightly and smiled shyly.


    They laughed as they heard what she said, and carried on walking while throwing stones and stamping on leaves, each talking about their day.


    Soon they reached a small, hidden clearing with a small blue pond surrounded by large arcing trees. There was a small blue bird with a bent wing lying beside the water. The blue bird had little black eyes and made soft chirping sounds. It struggled to move away from the children, and cried out little chirps.


    ¡°Ahh the poor little birdy¡± cried the cute little girl. She ran forward and sat down beside it. The bundles of twigs and grasses that were placed around the bird roughly, were gathered together by the girl and bundled together much tighter. The bird struggled a little but quietened down quickly, as it felt the girl¡¯s soft touches. She was very good with handling animals.


    ¡°I found it out on the farm. My dad wouldn¡¯t let me take it home since he thinks it will die anyways so I tried to find a quick safe place to hide it. That¡¯s how I found this place¡± said the handsome boy. He smiled apologetically and shrugged his shoulders a little.


    ¡°Xing Kai your dad is too mean¡± said the chubbier girl. She pouted and slide off of Zhang Lei¡¯s back. ¡°It¡¯s so pretty and small.¡± She crept over and sat beside the bird and stroked it while making soft, soothing sounds.


    ¡°Your dada was probably right Kai-er, but we can take care of it for a while right?¡± said the brawnier boy. He hopped over and squatted beside the girls as they stroked its wings. The sun had set and made the woods seem dark but yet strangely safe. The long branches seemed to stretch out and embrace the space around them, like a mother would her child. They all sat around the bird and the blue glowing pond.


    ¡°Have you fed it yet Kai-er?¡±


    The cute girl looked over at the dark eyed, handsome boy shyly.


    ¡°Yeah, I gave it some bread and water from the pool. The pool seems to have some small healing properties like the village healer¡¯s one.¡±


    ¡°Hey, let me stroke it¡±


    The short boy pushed Zhang Lei over, who then fell onto the ground. Zhang Lei got up and grinned. He pushed back at the short boy, who then fell even further away.


    ¡°How do you like it Gang Wei?¡± The brawnier boy laughed as Gang Wei got up and frowned. The small boy jumped onto Zhang Lei and they wrestled on the ground beside the pond. Xing Kai grinned and jumped on top of both of them, pushing leaves onto their faces.


    ¡°Hey be careful, you¡¯ll hurt the birdy¡± said the cute girl. She started laughing as she watched the boys rolling around on the ground. ¡°Let me play¡± she said. She crawled over and started throwing leaves at all three of them. The chubbier girl carefully placed the bird to the side and grabbed a hand full of leaves with her good hand and threw them.


    The 5 children rolled about the ground, laughing and throwing leaves and splashing water at each other, until they were completely exhausted. It was completely the kind of scene that would make even a warrior warm hearted. They lay down, exhausted, besides the little blue bird again and took turns stroking it gently.


    ¡°It sucks none of us know how to cultivate otherwise we might have saved the poor bird¡± said Xing Kai. He rested his chin on his hands and looked at the little bird¡¯s broken wing. The bird had settled down quite a bit and seemed to be recovering.


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    ¡°Can cultivators do that?¡±


    Xing Kai shrugged with uncertainty at Zhang Lei.


    ¡°If I was a cultivator then I would become a hero and marry a beautiful princess¡± said Gang Wei. His bright impish eyes were glazed over as he dreamed. His sharp nose and chin did not seem like the kind that heroes might have.


    ¡°Who would want to be a cultivator? They¡¯re scary people...I even heard my mom say they drank blood¡± whispered the chubbier girl. The woods creaked under a slightly cold breeze.


    ¡°No way, that¡¯s crazy¡± said Zhang Wei. ¡°I wish I could be a cultivator. My dad used to be the metal smith for a big city and he said cultivators are brave warriors who train and fight for their country.¡±


    The 2 boys nodded their heads thoughtfully, with admiration shining in their eyes. They both dreamed about great exploits and heroism, and the vast, outside world.


    ¡°What''s so bad about cultivators, Song Ping?¡± asked Gang Wei.


    ¡°They have to leave and fight all the time. They get hurt and some even...you know¡± said the chubbier girl. She rested her head on her disfigured hand, as she petted the little bird.


    ¡°But don¡¯t you think that¡¯s heroic?¡± said Gang Wei, frowning at the plump girl.


    ¡°Cultivators are scary people, they hurt all sorts of innocent people¡± she said adamantly. Gang Wei pouted in thought for a while. He shrugged his shoulders and went back to tying a stick to the bird¡¯s bent wing, with a thread from his shirt.


    ¡°Would you leave to go to war Kai-er?¡± asked the cute girl. She blushed slightly as she looked over at Xing Kai who was lying opposite to her.


    ¡°Maybe...heroes that old man Fu speaks about sound really cool, but ...I don¡¯t really care about the outside world. I like this place; it¡¯s fun here. Safe¡± he said. His dark eyes followed the girl¡¯s and his heart thumped when he saw her smile happily at these words. However he had to lie a little; he often dreamed of the vast world, and wished deep down he could travel to all sorts of lands, gaining enough experiences to fill 3 lifetimes. One for each parent and himself.


    ¡°Good¡± she muttered shyly. She looked back down at the bird and couldn¡¯t help her sweet smile broadening, her fingers making little circles in the dirt. It was easy to see why she was so good with animals, as she was so honest and pure hearted, that nothing about her could make someone feel uncomfortable around her. Very few children were still like that at 11 years of age.


    The poor blue bird eventually fell to sleep, and they gathered some more soft leaves and covered it to hide it from predators. They then made a little hole beside the bird and poured some pond water into it, if it needed a drink.


    ¡°That should do it¡± said Xing Kai, as he clapped his hands together. He wiped his hands on his dirty shirt and they headed back to the village. Zhang Lei carried Song Ping back again, and they laughed and joked as they left the woods. The sky was dark and the bright full moon could be seen over the brow of the hills and farmland.


    A night with a full moon was always considered an auspicious night, ever since stories of the moon¡¯s creation spread around the world.


    ¡°Hey can you hear that?¡± said Gang Wei. His ears twitched as he turned his head to better hear.


    ¡°What?...hey...I can see a black tinge near Xuan¡¯s land¡± said Xing Kai. The other¡¯s immediately turned serious and strained to see this forbidding sign.


    ¡°I can see the same black layer in the sky above the village¡± exclaimed Song Ping. She


    lifted up off of Zhang Lei¡¯s shoulders to see further. The boy¡¯s faces dropped and the girls both stifled their sobs.


    ¡°If it¡¯s a fire we need to get there fast, before the winter stocks are destroyed¡± shouted


    Xing Kai. His figure bolted forwards followed closely by the others.


    ¡°Lo Yanmei hold my hand¡± said Xing Kai. He grabbed the cute girl¡¯s hand and pulled her along as they sped forwards over the farm land.


    ¡°Look, it really is a fire¡± shouted out Song Ping. The village was coming into view in


    the distance. A giant dirty black smoke cloud hung over the village, in the dark night sky.


    ¡°I can hear them shouting¡± agreed Gang Wei. His small, agile feet let him race forward past


    Xing Kai as he ran at the front. ¡°Th-this doesn¡¯t s-sound g-good¡± he stuttered, as he ran.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± said Lo Yanmei. Her face was bone white, except for the redness on her


    cheeks. Her hands were sweaty and she gripped tightly to Xing Kai¡¯s hands. Both she and Xing Kai¡¯s knuckles were completely white and their hands had become numb from gripping so tight.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Gang Wei what can you hear?¡± shouted Xing Kai. He gripped tighter onto Lo Yanmei¡¯s hand


    as his heart dropped even further. His heart felt like it was a heavy boulder sinking into a deep, dark sea.


    ¡°Th-they¡¯re s-screaming¡± he said, as his voice quivered. Lo Yanmei almost tripped as she


    ran and Song Ping whimpered. Tears formed in their eyes and they clenched their hands tightly.


    ¡°Keep going, w-we don¡¯t know what¡¯s happened yet¡± said Xing Kai. He pressed his lips


    together tight and wiped quickly at this eyes, with his dirty, torn sleeve.


    ¡°Mei-er hop onto my back, I¡¯ll carry you.¡± In an instant she grabbed his neck and he held her delicate little ankles. He ran on, gasping for air.


    They could now clearly see the raging tips of the flames, and the black, evil smoke was


    swamping out onto farmlands. It was the worst fire their village had seen in generations.


    ¡°I can hear them¡± agreed Zhang Lei soon after. His eyes were red and but he stayed firm. He


    continued running as he grunted and sucked in air through his teeth, like a thrashed horse.


    The burning village was soon in clear sight and they ran through a small alley, around a burning hut and saw what explained everything for them, in an instance.


    A group of fierce, nefarious men appeared carrying burning sticks and throwing them at the straw thatched roofs of their homes. All the houses around them were burning, creating a world of flames and fire that licked the night sky above them.


    Dogs were running around yelping and barking, with fur burnt, and the flesh cooked on their paws and backs. Cats screeched into the night sky, as they ran from the flames. No dog even gave the cats a second look, and no cat could even care about the mice that were burrowing into the ground. They all scrambled for their lives.


    Sobs could be heard from all of them except Zhang Lei, Song Ping and Xing Kai. Zhang Lei


    put the frozen Song Ping down, and slapped her cheek. Song Ping twitched and tears fell down her cheeks.


    ¡°Waaahh¡± she wailed all of a sudden and hugged Zhang Lei fiercely, hoping to shield herself


    from the horrors she saw around them. She bawled loudly and clutched tightly onto Zhang Lei¡¯s shirt with her little chubby fingers.


    ¡°Everybody come on, we need to find our parents¡± shouted Zhang Lei above the crackling fire. He pulled Song Ping and the crying Gang Wei with him, through another ally. Xing Kai followed, his eyes wide open and his mouth gaping. Tears swelled up in his eyes and ran down his face, as he looked around at his village being destroyed. Lo Yanmei tightly wrapped her arms around Xing Kai¡¯s necks and sobbed into his back. Her face had completely scrunched up and she pressed her head into Xing Kai, soaking his shirt in tears.


    They continued through more alleys, hearing the haunting screams of those who couldn¡¯t


    make it out of their homes and were banging on their burning roofs and walls to get out. Some couldn¡¯t get out fast enough and suffocated, while others succeeded but were scorched by the flames that rushed up into the hole they made to escape.


    Babies, children, women and men, young and old alike howled in their homes.


    ¡°T-this is h-h-he-hell¡± cried Song Ping. She covered her eyes refusing to look anymore


    as she was pulled along by Zhang Lei.


    They continued through the town, unconsciously heading towards the village square.


    The screams were more intense here and other wild, bloodthirsty, savage men appeared setting fires. They were covered in blood, roaring with laughter and clapping each other on the backs.


    ¡°Bastards¡± cursed Gang Wei, between his sobs. He clenched his hands tightly into fists and


    trembled. They all hid around the corner of a burning hut, waiting for the men to leave.


    ''How did this happen? Who is doing this to our small village?''


    Xing Kai felt wildly confused and it was as if he was running through a nightmare. He was gripping Lo Yanmei''s ankles so tight his nails dug into her skin, but she didn''t even notice herself.


    They neared the village square where Gang Wei¡¯s, Zhang Lei¡¯s and Song Ping¡¯s homes were.


    It was there that most of the villagers were gathered.


    The village square was a big patch of grass and stones, where people would set up stalls


    for trading, or relax under the huge trees. It was a popular place as in the hot summers many old men and children gathered in the shade and played with the other villagers together.


    ¡°...¡±


    There Xing Kai, Zhang Lei, too finally broke. They howled and fell to their knees with the others beside them.


    The village square was a pool of blood.

 Chapter 2...Coward

    Xing Kai howled as he saw what had become of his precious village and the people he knew.


    The ground was several inches deep in blood, and formed streams down the sides of the square. Blood dripped down from bodies hung from tree branches. Men, including boys and elderly were battered, naked, and covered in cuts, with barbed arrows puncturing their chests. The red glow from the burning village added dark shadows to the countless dangling corpses.


    Women were stripped naked and queues of savage men stood before them, as little girls and old ladies were all pressed down to the ground. The more barbaric among them chose crueller methods of satisfaction; the scenes were unthinkable. Xing Kai and his friends, could not even begin to understand the despicable actions of the men. The men did not look much different to the ordinary villagers, under the blood they were covered in, yet they were so cruel. Could ordinary people be so vile?


    All these images blended together in Xing Kai¡¯s mind, and he felt like his mind was splitting. One corner of the square he could not bear to look at was where a pile of women several meters high, had been formed, after going through the men¡¯s torturous pleasures. The haunting red glow revealed nightmarish marks on the piled up bodies of women.


    Gang Wei screamed, which under all the other noises of burning and screaming, could barely be heard. He got up suddenly and charged over to one of the women.


    The woman he ran towards was being jabbed at with spears by a group of 5 laughing men.


    Xing Kai could barely move, as he saw Lo Yanmei desperately tried to hold him back.


    ¡°NO¡± screamed Song Ping. She shot off in a different direction, to the not-so-distant pile of female bodies. Xing Kai felt a faint warmth trickle down his legs.


    ¡°Arrgghh¡± cried Zhang Lei. His voice broke under the screaming and he tore hair off his head in fistfuls. ¡°MAMA¡± he screamed. His simple appearance was replaced by a raging, grieving madman.


    Zhang Lei looked around through his streaming, crazed eyes and found a sharp and jagged splinter of wood. He grabbed it tightly between two hands, and charged like an ox at one of the men who was currently pressing himself against a woman. The woman had stopped crying long ago, and just looked over to the side with listless, empty eyes waiting to die.


    ¡°Hey there¡¯s a little brat over there¡±


    ¡°Gang Wei, WATCH OUT¡± screamed Lo Yanmei. Her eyes were completely red and her lips were oozing blood from biting them so hard. She had gotten off of Xing Kai¡¯s back and stumbled over to the edge of the square. Each time she felt her heart was tearing when she couldn¡¯t stop the others from running off. She felt tortured that she tried to stop them going to their parents, when she too would have done the same.


    However there was no trace of movement or understanding in Xing Kai''s eyes, except for horror and


    fear.


    Gang Wei ran past a group of men, barging past them in his fury. However, one of the men in the queues casually lifted his bow and fired an arrow straight into Gang Wei¡¯s knee.


    ¡°Arrggh MOMMY¡± he screamed. He stretched out his hand desperately towards the woman, as he fell into the pool of blood.


    ¡°XIAO WEI?¡± screamed the woman in shock. She looked past the men standing around her with spears, at her son 10 meters away. ¡°Xiao Wei RUN¡± she shouted. One of the men lunged forward with the spear and buried it in her mouth.


    The Gang Wei''s mother screamed, choking on blood, but refusing to look away from her son.


    ¡°Grab the boy haha, we¡¯ll show them a good time together.¡±


    One of the men grabbed Gang Wei by the scruff of his neck and threw him beside his crying mother. He scrabbled over to her side, but all of a sudden a spear rammed through his stomach, pinning him to the ground, just out of reach of his mother¡¯s hands. Gang Wei screamed and clutched the spear in his stomach, but one of the men kicked him in his face.


    Gang Wei¡¯s mother spat out her teeth and blood.


    With unnatural strength she pushed the man beside her, away from her son. However as she stretched outto embrace her dying, howlingson, the men grabbed her by her limbs and spread them out. The man who had been pushed aside, then grabbed a spear and grinned at Gang Wei¡¯s pleading mother.


    In this moment, Xing Kai saw the man¡¯s eyes clearly from across the square. Those dark, evil eyes, gleamed with laughter and excitement. Xing Kai watched as the man rammed his spear between Gang Wei¡¯s mother¡¯s legs, until it emerged from her throat. Xing Kai could see Gang Wei freeze as he saw the life leave his mother¡¯s eyes and then he too was sent to reincarnate, with another spear thrust from the man.


    This...this is..


    Xing Kai jerked his head away from Gang Wei''s dead eyes, only to find that men had gathered around Song Ping and had tore the clothes of her; they were taking turns with her. One of the men had noticed that Song Ping¡¯s hand was disfigured so they evened it out on the other hand.


    Xing Kai looked down and noticed he had wet himself. He couldn¡¯t remember when it had happened. A metallic taste filled his mouth, and his throat burned with pain.


    ¡°ZHANG LEI¡± screamed Lo Yanmei.


    She was yanking at Xing Kai¡¯s shirt, pointing to Zhang Lei who was already half way across the square. The men in the queue waiting before Zhang Lei¡¯s mother laughed and slowly raised their bows.


    ¡°MAMA, WAIT I¡¯LL RESCUE YOU¡±


    Zhang Lei charged through the pool of blood, leaving huge ripples. As he neared his limp mother, he swung the jagged piece of wood at the grunting, blissful faced man.


    He had not swung too far before shrill whistling sounds filled his ears.


    ¡°Big brother Lei¡± croaked Xing Kai. His voice was now barely above a whisper, as he had screamed his throat raw and dry when he saw Gang Wei die. Xing Kai raised his arms weakly as he cried out to the distant Zhang Lei, who being struck by arrows. His shoulders shook violently as he sobbed, and his hands hung out in the air trying to somehow embrace his friend, as Zhang Lei fell beside his mother.


    Xing Kai¡¯s big brother Zhang Lei was covered in arrows. His back was oozing out blood, while the arrow tips emerged from his chest, raising his body slightly above the blood covered ground. He had collapsed before his dead-eyed mother, his jagged piece of wood leaving only a scratch on the grunting man¡¯s cheek. The man didn¡¯t even bat an eye as he ferociously attacked Zhang Lei¡¯s dead-eyed mother.


    Xing Kai stopped breathing and his arms fell down limp, to his sides. He turned his head away from that nightmare only to see Song Ping again.


    Song Ping had screamed and screamed until her throat was raw and she coughed out mouthfuls of blood between her cries. However the man who current straddled her, a bear like man with a hulking frame, was striking her repeatedly between his thrusts. Song Ping very quickly became unconscious, but the man continued hitting her. After a few minutes the man roared with passion and struck her one final time, incredibly hard. The man then threw her defiled and beaten body onto the pile and was jokingly cursed at by the other surrounding men for being too rough.


    Song Ping lay broken and battered like all the other women on the pile.


    ¡°Xing...Xing Kai¡± cried Lo Yanmei. She pulled at his arm trying to get his attention. ¡°We need to leave¡± she shouted. She appeared to be pulling Xing Kai away from the square. ¡°Xing Kai, please move.¡±


    Xing Kai¡¯s throat croaked horribly every time he breathed. He watched the horrors around him almost absent-mindedly for a few seconds. The infernal appearance off the square was already burned into his mind, and he hadn¡¯t seen either his or Lo Yanmei¡¯s parents, but he still felt such overwhelming fear that standing up and leaving was like asking him to lift up the sky.


    Suddenly laughing sounds could be heard from behind one of the burning buildings nearby. Lo Yanmei crawled over to hide behind a burnt door quickly, while dragging a slow moving Xing Kai with her. As the laughing sounds neared the door Xing Kai felt himself overcome with monumental fear and snapped back into attention.


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    The men walked past the door lying against the alley wall.


    Xing Kai breathed a ragged sigh of relief, which one of the men heard.


    Please no¡­I don¡¯t want to die


    One of the men walked back and noticed Lo Yanmei¡¯s ponytail. Xing Kai¡¯s heart beat felt painful and he wished it would just stop already.


    ¡°It¡¯s a girl¡±


    A man of around 50 years grabbed Lo Yanmei from her hair, not noticing Xing Kai in the dark. Lo Yanmei, in the instant she was pulled away screaming, looked at Xing Kai. A chill ran down his spine as he locked eyes with her.


    Her small, bright eyes that were red from crying, changed between defeat, sadness, anger, and disappointment, to regret.


    Lo Yanmei was pulled away by her ponytails, kicking and screaming but not once revealing Xing Kai, who was beside her only moments ago just watching her being taken away.


    Xing Kai felt utterly relieved that he was not discovered, and loathed himself for thinking like that. He dug his nails into his legs as his heart felt such pain and disgust at himself.


    She didn¡¯t call my name¡­she saved me while endangering herself


    ¡°Looks like we''ve got a good one here, hahaha¡±


    The men pulled her to a side of the square and pushed her down into a deeper pool of blood. Xing Kai moved his head around the burnt door and saw through the gap, as her clothes were torn off her back and she was grabbed by all 3 of the men together. They were not going to take turns.


    He felt the world become quiet, as the crackling sounds of the fire and the screaming faded away.


    ¡°I...I ca-can¡¯t...need to l-leave¡±


    Xing Kai¡¯s voice was so hoarse and rough that he could barely speak at all. He crawled out from behind the door and stumbled through the alley, on his shaky legs. He walked faster between the burnt homes, and then began sprinting through the flame lit alleys and ash covered herb gardens, stumbling and falling as he went.


    Xing Kai wheezed and gasped as he ran straight out of his village. Fortunately he was not seen by any of the men who destroyed the village and he slipped away successfully. He ran through farmland wildly, eventually reaching the forest near his home. But he noticed the same red glow in the distance. Xing Kai ran even harder until¡­


    He saw the home he lived in all his life burning.


    What if my parents are already¡­


    The little hen hutch he cleared every day, during the earliest hours of the morning. The tree in the back garden he climbed and swung from. The tool hut he hid in when he was smaller, when he used to play with his frien¡ª


    Immediately Xing Kai blinked his eyes hard and stopped the memories. All of it was on fire. Xing Kai pushed his way through the bushes near the forest edge but then stopped.


    A hammer fell on his soul.


    His heart clenched and twisted.


    There were 4 men of varying ages. One was just over 20 years, while another was perhaps 30. The other 2 men were older and more towards the half century mark. The 20 year old had braided hair down to oneside, while the 30 year old was missing most of his left ear. The two older men had grey hair and foul, fat faces like greedy pigs.


    ¡°N-no¡­no¡­no¡± croaked Xing Kai. His dark eyes watched with horror, as the savage men dragged his kind hearted, young mother around the burning home to the pig¡¯s water trough. His father was brought as well, with his hands tied behind his back and with a ghastly, large wound on his head.


    ¡°Hey little weakling, we¡¯ll be nice to you¡±


    The men dropped Xing Kai¡¯s father to his knees and made him face his crying wife. Xing Kai¡¯s mother was being held by the youngest man, and she was on her knees. A blade was placed by her throat, by one of the pig faced men.


    ¡°Beg me to kill your wife¡± said the knife holding man. His mouth was twisted into a grin with sickening glee. The other men around them laughed in agreement.


    ¡°YOU COWARDLY BASTARDS, IF YOU HAVE ANY REAL STRENGTH AND HONOUR FIGHT ME¡± roared Xing Kai¡¯s father all of a sudden, into the clear night.


    Xing Kai felt a piercing chill run through his soul.


    Dad don¡¯t¡­you¡¯ll get hurt¡­just beg for mercy


    ¡°As if the world works like that¡± said the man with the missing ear, as he sneered at Xing Kai¡¯s father. He slapped him around the face brutally.


    ¡°Now listen carefully...¡± said the grinning man with the knife. He walked over to Xing Kai¡¯s mother, and pushed his hands down the top of her dress. His mother''s tears and stifled cries sent sharp pain through Xing Kai¡¯s heart. He dropped to his knees, feeble and weak. He felt like his mind was breaking.


    Xing Kai suddenly recalled painfully, how Zhang Lei and Gang Wei both ran immediately to their mothers, even when there were so many men there. Yet when Xing Kai thought about facing just 4 men, he trembled and just felt indescribable fear.


    ¡°YOU BASTARDS¡± roared Xing Kai¡¯s father. He struggled furiously but couldn¡¯t free himself.


    ¡°Leng stop it, that¡¯s enough¡± cried Xing Kai¡¯s mother. She shuddered from the man¡¯s rough touch, and begged Xing Kai¡¯s father to stop struggling. Her face was twisted with grief and but she held back her tears as best she could.


    ¡°Fei Fei NO¡± roared Xing Leng. He thrashed about wildly, using every bit of his strength to get closer to his wife. Xing Kai shook violently and uncontrollably, watching his mother being groped even more openly, as his fatherstruggled. His father fiercely struggled, screaming and cursing, before Xing Kai¡¯s eyes.


    However Xing Kai¡¯s mother kept begging him to stop.


    ¡°I...I¡¯m so sorry, forgive me Fei Fei¡± cried Xing Leng suddenly in defeat. He bowed his head as he couldn¡¯t bear to see


    his wife molested by another man. ¡°Do it¡± he muttered between sobs. His broken voice hurt Xing Kai so much that he simply couldn''t breath anymore. He tightened his fists but fear held him so tightly in place that he could almost feel the hands that made him kneel and squeezed his heart.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± the man goaded. He slipped his hands down Xing Kai¡¯s mothers back, as he squatted down to their eye level. ¡°I want you to look at her as you say it.¡± The man''s eyes were like a vulture eying a wounded animal.


    Xing Kai felt his world dimming, his vision narrowing as he suffocated with fear. He could only see his mother''s tortured, tearful appearance, and his father''s broken, slumped body.


    Mother no...no, please...somebody do something¡­why is nobody stopping this...


    ¡°I BEG YOU TO KILL MY WIFE¡± screamed Xing Leng. His sorrow-filled, insane howl rang out for miles, and completely embedded itself into Xing Kai¡¯s mind.Xing Kai shivered down to the bone and whimpered soundlessly at his father¡¯s broken appearance.


    Why is nobody helping us? Why are they doing this to us?


    The men grinned and shared a look of success. Like they had won a bet.


    Suddenly the pig faced man lifted Xing Kai¡¯s mother up and tore the clothes straight off of her. In an instant Xing Kai''s and his father¡¯s eyes were widened until they cracked at the corners and bled.


    Xing Kai watched as his naked mother¡¯s head was pushed into the pig¡¯s water trough and the old man pushed himself into her. The water writhed as his mother thrashed about, and bubbles quickly rose up as his mother screamed into the water. She was being drowned and violated at this very moment, before Xing Kai¡¯s eyes.


    Xing Kai felt his heart seize.


    The world around him darkened.


    He collapsed to the side, as he faintly heard the haunting howl of his father, blood bursting out his mouth like a red spear into the fierysky, as he was stabbed in the back by the men that held him.


    Xing Kai saw his mother struggling against the men¡¯s grip in the water. She was getting weaker and struggling less as she drowned, while the old man hammered into her with savage intensity, whileroaring with laughter and pleasure into the burning sky.

 Chapter 3...Defiance

    No...n-no


    Xing Kai slowly opened his sore eyes. Blood oozed from the corner of his eyes again.


    What happened?


    Xing Kai got up slowly, feeling an immense weight resting on his mind. His heart felt like it had fallen into the deepest trench of a chaotic sea. He looked around in the dark and saw his burnt home. Everything was reduced to ashes and only a faint trail of smoke rose in the sky.


    Xing Kai felt his chest deflating and his mind becoming completely empty and quiet. What lay before him was the sight of his father butchered into pieces and his naked, bruised mother floating face down in the trough of bloodied water.


    Xing Kai breathed slowly with his dry, torn throat. His eyes were widened in disbelief.


    He staggered forward tripping over the tree roots and pushing his way through the final few bushes.


    ¡°Mommy...daddy¡±


    He stumbled out of the woods and into the front yard of his destroyed home. The ground felt a little warm from the ashes under his feet. Grey ash, floated up in the air as he ran past the burnt, crumbling fence.


    Xing Kai dropped to his knees and quivered as his gaze fell over his father¡¯s mutilated corpse.


    I can fix this...I just need to put dad back together


    Xing Kai scooped his father''s remains together and packed him into his open rib cage. He started to sob and tremble as he worked frantically.


    Mom too...I need to make sure she doesn¡¯t drown


    Xing Kai ran over and pulled his mother¡¯s bruised body out of the blood red water.


    ¡°ARRGG¡±


    Xing Kai screamed as he saw his mother¡¯s body and dropped her. She lay on the ashes beside the trough. Xing Fei had dark bruises around her neck and chest; the bruises lower down her body and legs were even an even worse shad of blue and green. Her face had also not been spared. Ithad been horrendously cut, resulting in the blood coloured water.


    ¡°Mommy¡± he cried. His quivering voice kept calling to his mother over and over. He hugged her cold, blood stained body to his chest and rocked back and forth.


    ¡°Mommy it¡¯s my e-entire fault...It¡¯s all m-my fault...if I w-wasn¡¯t such a c-coward...I WAS A COWARD¡±


    Xing Kai screamed into the air and wailed in despair. Xing Kai pulled at his hair and scratched at his skin, determined to reveal the bones underneath.


    ¡°Why did this happen? God, WHAT DID I DO WRONG?¡±


    He shouted louder and louder. He looked around at his destroyed home, his slaughtered father and his torture mother. He caressed his mother¡¯s hair and looked at the face that had raised him, at the face that always made him happy, at the face that always smiled when he saw her, at the face that made him feel safe.


    That face that was no longer recognisable.


    He looked across at the remains of his father, and his father¡¯s blood that formed a dark red sludge of blood and ash. He clenched his hands into fists and pulled his lips back over his blood covered teeth. His lips cracked and oozed blood, while his eyes widened to the extreme in rage.


    Xing Kai turned his head up to the sky, with his mother¡¯s head in his lap.


    ¡°ICURSE YOU GOD¡± screamed Xing Kai. His upturned face howled at the clear night sky.¡°ONE DAY I WILL KILL YOU GOD.... YOU TOOK MY PARENTS FROM ME.¡±


    Xing Kai''s face contorted and blood flowed down from his eyes and lips.


    ¡°AAAARRRGGGGG...AARRGG¡±


    His desolate cries rang out though the hills and woods. He retched and coughed up blood and pieces of red flesh from his throat as he grieved over his lost family.


    Astonishingly, even some of his vital Heart''s blood was spat out. A long while passed with bleak cries ringing through the farmlands and forest.


    Xing Kai held his mother, and dragged her beside his father. He shivered and retched as he worked. He meticulously scooped up all of his father''s remains beside his mother, and stumbled to their feet.


    ¡°For my Father and Mother my heart''s blood shall be given¡±


    Xing Kai smacked his fist powerfully over his heart and more drops of Heart¡¯s blood were spat out onto the ground above his parent''s bodies. Xing Kai¡¯s face paled considerably with each drop but he endured; every ounce of his anger and grief was used to keep him standing.


    These drops of Heart¡¯s blood were no ordinary thing and could not be given up easily. Each drop carried his condensed natural talent, his Will, and his life essence; Heart¡¯s blood could only be removed when on the precipice of death.


    ¡°For my Father and Mother, my eternal respect, gratitude...and endless love. A thousand debts are to be repaid...a hundred duties to uphold...and one life lived in your memory.¡±


    Xing Kai sobbed quietly between his words. His normal tanned skin, from all the hard work under the sun, was incomparably pale, almost translucent. His eyes were grey and rheumy with cataracts and riddled with twitching veins.


    Xing Kai¡¯s body was deteriorating.


    ¡°If I had to suffer...torture at the hands of a Nightmare...to be reincarnated as your son again... I would give my life a hundred times over.¡±


    Xing Kai''s grey dying eyes were filled with love and warmth and a soft smile lifted his bloody lips. He walked over to one of the smouldering sticks and some half-burnt wood and placed them ceremonially around his mother and father.


    He retched and choked on his own blood and flesh, torn out from his throat. His eyes could only leak tears of blood, as he could produce no more tears. Soon there was a small fire blazing around his dead parents.


    Xing Kai watched the flames send his parents to their next life, filled with crushing guilt and anger at himself.


    THUMP


    Xing Kai¡¯s heart was slowing down; only a few weak pumps kept the blood flowing through his body.


    As the flames died down the air became colder. Xing Kai looked down at the puddles of blood around him and the ashes of his burnt home and family. His eyes stopped crying tears of blood and his throat bled more slowly as his heart slowed down.


    Xing Kai slowly walked away feeling a void in his heart and soul. He wandered around the farmland he tended to with his father; the animals that he raised with his mother and the meadow where they had picnics with neighbours. Xing Kai drifted back towards the village unconsciously. He walked with the blood drying around his eyes and mouth on his almost blue skin.


    My friends are here


    THUMP


    The lifeless Xing Kai neared the village square. The fires had already burnt out and destroyed most of the homes. The ground was covered in black and grey ash and the smoke cloud hung in the air, burning Xing Kai¡¯s tortured throat.


    This is their resting place


    Through Xing Kai¡¯s clouded eyes, he could see the village square; women in white mounds with patches of black and blue, the floating men below the arching trees and the pool of dark red blood.


    THUMP


    Xing Kai dragged his feet through the pool of blood making quiet swishing sounds and ripples.


    There¡¯s Ping-er


    Xing Kai looked at one of the piles where a small girl lay, with his cloudy, grey, dying eyes. Memories of Song Ping drifted through his mind. Memories of how he heard rumours of the crippled, fat girl, that everyone shunned and threw stones at. He had stood up for her once, and they became friends. She was incrediblyshy, but eventually she became eager to take part in all the little pranks they pulled in the village. The years of her life spent depressed and scared, hiding from those who ridiculed her, were quickly made up with the fun and laughter they had shared.


    But Song Ping had died.


    THUMP


    Xing Kai walked on through the square.


    There¡¯s big brother Lei-er


    Xing Kai saw a sturdy young boy laying face down, with arrows filling his back. Zhang Lei was like an older brother to Xing Kai. They both worked on the farmlands, and their father¡¯s knew each other well. When Xing Kai first met Zhang Lei he admired him greatly and followed him around in all his free time, but it was when Zhang Lei was humiliated by the old men for not being able to count to 10 during a card game, that Xing Kai defended him and they became brothers.


    He argued with the old men and won Zhang Lei¡¯s honour back by cheating in a game of cards, so Zhang Lei would win against the old men. Zhang Lei beating the elders at a game of cards naturally became a well known story, as those old men were legendary at card games. No one doubted Zhang Lei¡¯s intelligence and the pair swore to be brothers and that they would help each in everything they did.


    But Zhang Lei had died.


    THUMP


    Xing Kai walked further through the square.


    Gang Wei, rest well friend.


    Gang Wei was nailed to the ground by countless spears and his mother sheathed many more with her body. They didn¡¯t even have complete bodies left, with so many spears broken and otherwise, buried into them.


    Gang Wei was an unruly fellow and the one that created the most trouble in Xing Kai¡¯s life. They had met as rivals, during a tree climbing challenge the village had held. It ended with Xing Kai in Gang Wei¡¯s arms, when Xing Kai had fallen out of the tree and Gang Wei caught him as he fell. Xing Kai never forgot that his life was saved by Gang Wei, so he regularly took the blame for Gang Wei¡¯s fights. The village punishments grew progressively worse and his reputation in the village became quite infamous among the children. Gang Wei swore to himself to calm down and eventually settled down completely so Xing Kai would stop suffering for him.


    But Gang Wei, the crazy ape turned playful monkey, had died too.


    THUMP


    Xing Kai reached a certain corner of the square.


    Mei-er...I...I am....


    Xing Kai stood beside Lo Yanmei. She was lying in pool of blood, her torn dress scattered around her, was dyed red. An unmistakable patch of red could be seen lower down her body, but Xing Kai did not notice it in particular. Xing Kai could not bear to see the bruises around her neck, on her face, her back and her chest. Xing Kai quivered and bit into his lips as hard as he could.


    I did this to you¡­if only I wasn¡¯t so pathetic, you would be alive now...I killed you with my pathetic weakness


    Xing Kai felt like his soul was slowly falling apart.


    He dropped to his knees.


    My mother, my father...my brother and my friends...Mei-er...my home.


    THUMP


    Xing Kai¡¯s grey eyes darkened with red as the vessels burst and then slowly turned black.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    THUMP


    I have nothing left


    THUMP


    I have lost everything that makes my life worth living


    THUMP


    Xing Kai¡¯s eyes were completely black, and his skin frighteningly translucent. His arteries could be seen throbbing slowly between his muscles and his nails fell off.


    THUMP


    I failed absolutely everybody that mattered to me.


    I did not stop Ping-er...I did not stand beside my brother when he fought for his mother¡¯s life...I could not repay my debt tohim forsaving my life...I could not...Mei-er...I did not reach out to her. I even caused her death¡­


    THUMP


    He could feel his soul splitting, fracturing and squirming. His mind felt incredible, all-consuming pain, which he welcomed as his punishment.


    I could not even stand to fight for my mother and father...they died right before me...tortured to death


    THUMP


    Xing Kai felt excruciating pain as his soul broke. His face twisted savagely, his teeth grinding and cracking.


    His soul tore in to pieces.


    The blood pool formed by the dead villagers rippled. It was the smallest vibration, unnoticeable to anyone who might watch. The ripple mysteriously swept right through the pool and past it. The vibration travelled through bodies, homes, trees, weapons, everything.


    A vibration so fine, it was hardly worth mentioning, travelled as far as 3 miles to Xing Kai¡¯s home.


    After this, single, small ripple passed through the village everything stopped. The air dropped in temperature, sounds silenced, movements froze.


    The soul pieces moved apart towards Xing Kai¡¯s skin.


    All the pain and emotions he felt crystalized in to a single thought.


    THU¡ª


    ¡°I WANT REVENGE! I WANT TO KILL THOSE THAT TAKE FROM ME MY HOME AND MY LOVED ONES¡±


    In this single moment of calm in the bubble around the village, a single heart-tearing, soul-shattering scream burst out of Xing Kai¡¯s snarling mouth.


    ¡ª UMP


    Xing Kai¡¯s torn soul trembled, as if hearing a King¡¯s mighty roar. The pieces did not leave Xing Kai¡¯s body, and came back together, as if to merge.


    Xing Kai¡¯s black eyes and translucent skin seemed to exude the Will of a King; a Will peerless under the heavens and rivalling the arrogant Gods.


    But the thought did not end there.


    "I WILL KILL EVERYTHING THAT STANDS BEFORE ME! I WILL KILL THE GODS....THE HEAVENS WILL FEAR ME...NOTHING CAN STOP ME...I WILL BECOME SO STRONG THAT NOBODY WILL THINK TO TAKE FROM ME AGAIN"


    As this momentous and overbearing thought appeared, it branded itself into Xing Kai¡¯s very existence; into his very heart and into the single speck of Heart¡¯s blood he had left.


    The soul fragments quivered violently.


    TTHHHUUMMMPP


    This heart contraction was deep and powerful. As Xing Kai¡¯s heart completed a beat, the whole area that the mysterious ripple extended to also thumped a beat. The bubble that seemed to have enclosed this small village, in a small country among powerful forces, in a vast continent, trembled.


    Thunder clouds mysteriously appeared in the clear night sky. They grew in size and earth shattering thunder shook the skies.


    Odd flecks and drops of blood moved from within this 3 mile radius bubble. The drops moved slowly but time also seemed to have slowed in this bubble, so the drops seemed remarkably fast yet slow all at once.


    These drops were the Heart¡¯s blood of the hundreds of dead villagers.


    The odd drops of blood gathered with unstoppable momentum, each carrying some force and Will, be it regret, hate, sadness or rage. These drops gathered towards Xing Kai.


    The soul fragments inside of Xing Kai quivered and squirmed. They then rushed apart, as if determined to flee Xing Kai¡¯s body. Souls were formed by the Heavens, so they naturally would not follow the Will of a being who wanted to kill the Gods.


    TTHHHUUMMMPP


    This mighty beat stopped the soul fragments in their tracks and the flecks of blood gathered around Xing Kai like hungry ghosts finding a host, like drifting sailors sighting an island.


    The soul fragments struggled greatly, refusing to stay in Xing Kai¡¯s body. The dark thunder clouds trembled and loomed over the village; lightning constantly crackled above the village.


    The hundreds of drops of Heart¡¯s blood lamented and were irresistibly attracted to Xing Kai¡¯s body.


    TTHHHUUMMMPP


    On the third beat of Xing Kai¡¯s heart, the Heart¡¯s blood of hundreds of murdered people entered his body. The soul fragments twisted and turned greatly but could not escape the might of Xing Kai¡¯s crystalized Will, which was burned into the speck of his Heart¡¯s blood.


    The thunder cloud exploded in size all of a sudden blanketing the skies, while the lightening within it grew larger and noticeably furious.


    The Heart¡¯s blood all rushed towards the soul fragments and turned them dark red. Then black. And then a dark colourthat seemed more like a void. The Heart¡¯s blood of the hundreds of murdered villagers, children and adults alike, completely entered Xing Kai¡¯s soul fragments.


    CCRRAACCKKLLE


    The now monolithic thunder clouds heaved and the lightning gathered all into a single bolt, the thickness of a fine hair. The atmosphere was thrumming with the power released by the fine bolt of lightning, which was far more potent and deadly than any amount of lightning that had previously appeared.


    It was legendary Sovereign lightning.


    It struck down in the instant that all the Heart¡¯s blood was absorbed into the suppressed soul fragments. The lightning struck Xing Kai¡¯s single speck of Heart¡¯s blood, attempting to incinerate the defiant Will burned into it, to conquer the heavens and kill the Gods. It seemed to bypass Xing Kai¡¯s very flesh and spent all its power to eradicate the crystalized Will embedded in the speck of blood.


    TTHHHUUMMMPP


    Xing Kai¡¯s Heart¡¯s blood speck did not bow to the Sovereign lightning strike. The extraordinary lightning strike met directly with the tiny, inconsequential speck of blood, yet it could do nothing. The speck of blood resisted and defied the attack, by simply refusing to be eradicated. No matter how much power the omnipotent and transcendental lightning carried, Xing Kai¡¯s crystalized Will was too powerful to be broken. Xing Kai''s anger and desire was too powerful to be eradicated.


    The soul fragments could no longer struggle against all the Heart¡¯s blood that filled it, and submitted completely. The blood speck was not damaged in the slightest by the Sovereign lightening and stayed as arrogant as the Will burned into it by Xing Kai. It would now control the soul fragments instead of the Heavens.


    Xing Kai had detached himself from the control of the Heavens.


    CCRRAACCKKLLEE


    The dark monolithic storm clouds crackled even more intensely and thundered with all its might. It could not accept that the supreme Sovereign lightning it summoned could not crush a puny speck of blood containing a small boy¡¯s heretical Will.


    How could a mere village boy¡¯s Will be so defiant?


    The Soul fragments gathered inside Xing Kai¡¯s unconscious mind, but shockingly did not merge like it would have done before Xing Kai¡¯s heretical Will was formed. It seemed that with all the absorbed Heart¡¯s blood they could not merge.


    Instead the soul fragments formed a ring inside Xing Kai¡¯s mind and settled there.


    The bubble around the small village faded away.


    Xing Kai was still on his knees with his head raised to the skies. His black eyes and translucent skin entirely made it seem like he was possessed by ghosts.


    The storm cloud was now grew greatly agitated as it saw the soul fragments rest unmerged in Xing Kai¡¯s mind. It was now far more thunderous then when it first appeared due to Xing Kai¡¯s heretical Will, and even more thunderous when it saw Xing Kai absorb hundreds of people¡¯s Heart¡¯s blood. But it was now more worried, than enraged, that Xing Kai¡¯s Will could defy its lightning.


    Just as the bubble disappeared the storm clouds contracted, in an instant, into a palm sized cloud. This monolithic storm cloud which had managed to produce Sovereign lightning, and carried a Will of its own had condensed so tightly.


    It flickered and with impossible speed, appeared before Xing Kai.


    It paused, as if looking at his face, and then passed straight into Xing Kai¡¯s mind.


    It rushed straight to the soul fragments and hovered between all of them, in Xing Kai¡¯s mind. All of a sudden it shot out Sovereign lightning no weaker than the previous, at each soul fragment.


    Strangely it did would not destroy the soul fragments, but instead drew them together as if the lightning was a rope.


    The soul fragments moved closer but only very slightly. The soul fragments were very stable at this point and didn¡¯t need to merge together; each fragment was so strong that it was simply impossible to reform a whole soul now.


    These soul fragments were no longer the property of the Heavens but instead independent and controlled by Xing Kai¡¯s speck of Heart¡¯s blood, so as the lightning drew them desperately closer, the Heart''s blood speck pushed them apart into a ring shape again.


    No matter how much lightning the cloud used, it could not pull the soul fragments close enough to merge. It exhausted itself, as it produced more lightning ropes to merge the soul fragments together desperately. Since the heretical Will could not be destroyed, it would at least merge the soul fragments, so Xing Kai would not totally defy the Heavens.


    As the cloud became smaller and smaller, it reluctantly accepted the unprecedentedevent that had occurred. It wasted itself away releasing tremendously powerful Sovereign lightning, knowing that a crisis may have befallen the Heavens now.


    Xing Kai¡¯s soul had teared into pieces.


    His Will had brought him back to life.


    However his Will was so strong that it attracted hundreds of people¡¯s Heart¡¯s blood and absorbed it into his soul fragments, to form an unrivalled Blood Soul.


    Then he formed a peerless heretical Will, which would not submit to even Sovereign lightning with only a speck of Heart''s blood. Not even a single drop was needed to resist Heaven''s wrathful Sovereign lightning. A minuscule speck was enough, his Will was so strong.


    However, what truly defied the Heavens Edict was that his soul fragments would not remerge to form a whole Blood Soul...rather it seemed that an 11 year old boy had formed multiple Blood Souls.


    Each one soul fragment was strong, containing hundreds of people''s Will, yet submitted to Xing Kai''s indomitable, defiant Will.

 Chapter 4...Revenge

    Mother...Father....farewell


    Xing Kai¡¯s eyes cleared of the blackness that covered them, and blood started to slowly suffuse to his skin, returning it to a pale tanned colour. His throat was torn extremely badly, and his internals suffered horribly by losing so much of his Heart¡¯s blood.


    I swear I will get revenge for all of you. I refuse to live as a weak person in this world anymore.


    Xing Kai lowered his head and saw the village square, the pool of blood he was in and the ashes scattered about the destroyed homes.


    How did I get here?


    A bewilderment expression appeared on Xing Kai¡¯s blood stained and pale face. But he shook his aching head, and stood up slowly. He looked around at the broken remains of his village and its people.


    This time, instead of tears, a rage entered Xing Kai¡¯s eyes. An all-consuming rage bubbled up from his heart and filled his mind. This strange new feeling felt comfortable, as the shroud of anger covered his eyes and blanketed over his mind.


    Xing Kai made feral grunting and growling sounds deep in his chest, and took slow steps out of the square. There were all kinds of strange weapons on the ground, but Xing Kai picked up a sword from among them.


    It did not fit well in his hands. It felt far too heavy and unwieldy. Never the less he held on and dragged it across the ground beside him, snarling and grinding his teeth as he walked. He left the village square and followed the widest street out of the village. There were many pairs of bloody footsteps on the cobbled ground, all leading out to the woods in the distance.


    Memories flashed through his mind as he walked over the footsteps of the destroyers of his home. Memories of Song Ping, Zhang Lei, Gang Wei and Lo Yanmei flitted across his mind, making him sink further into despair. He couldn¡¯t cry, or make much sounds other than grunts and growls, but his face twisted with sorrow, and increasing rage.


    It was only now that he consciously faced the disaster that had befallen his peaceful and happy life. He could only just about hold onto his sanity as the images appeared again and again. He could not bear to go back and give them a funeral, but neither could he stop the torment that racked him as he imagined their rotting corpses.


    He felt he would surely go insane if he went back to cremate them, but he knew he would forever be tortured by the regret if he did not.


    If I must suffer for the rest of my life with this torment, then so be it. As long as I can crush all those that have hurt me and my loved one¡­then I will endure the pain.


    Xing Kai fuelled himself with more anger to distract himself from the sense of duty he felt to cremate the villagers; he convinced himself that getting revenge was more important, so he didn''t have to go back to that painful place. Just collecting wood that he could use to burn all the villagers would be impossible, and he would not burn them raw. He didn''t have the strength to, so he simply focused on his revenge.


    Xing Kai dragged the tip of the long steel sword along the cobbled ground. The clattering sound accompanied his growling in the night. His red rimmed, vein filled eyes stared ahead, as if already seeing his nemeses, miles away in the distance.


    He followed the bloody trail through the forest doggedly. He was hungry, thirsty, his mind splitting with ugly thoughts, his heart aching and his body racked with pain. Each step felt like he was shouldering the entire village on his back.


    The tracks became thinner and patchier until eventually, Xing Kai noticed that he was lost and there was no trace of the tracks to be seen.


    No problem...I will still find you...you cannot hide from me


    Xing Kai continued to walk through the woods randomly, determined that if he spent enough time that he would eventually encounter them or their tracks again. For an indeterminable amount of time he spent dragging the hefty sword around and not finding a thing. The woods were a cold and foreign place, in the night.


    Xing Kai eventually stumbled through a ring of densely packed trees, and onto the small blue pond he had shown to the others. Xing Kai winced sharply in pain as he remembered the scene of them playing together by the water. But he still fell beside the small healing pond and cupped water into his mouth veraciously. He then lay down beside the water, having almost drank all of it. He panted and rubbed his aching chest, feeling a weak itching sensation.


    Xing Kai could not stop himself from remembering how excited he was to find this place. He was eager to share it with his friends, since it was sheltered by the large sweeping trees easy to climb, and had a pool. It had felt really warm and safe, but now it felt cold and haunted, as if the trees were invaders coming to snatch him, or jailors standing together to imprison him.


    A faint rustling sound could be heard beside him, and he looked over to see a strange nest of leaves... A blue little bird poked its head out from among the leaves and chirped weakly but cheerfully.


    Xing Kai narrowed his eyes and felt contempt in his heart as he looked at the little bird. The longer he looked the more he loathed the weak but happy little bird. It was weak and would have died had they not come to help it.


    I am also too weak and have lost everything because of it, while you¡­you luckily had us to save you. You¡¯re weak just like me, but you lose nothing, while I lose everything. How is that fair?


    Xing Kai snarled and felt great injustice that he suffered while it didn''t. He raised his sword before he had a moment to doubt his decision, and swung it down on the bird in a fit of rage, and jealousy.


    Xing Kai lifted his sword up to look at the crushed bird. He salivated as he saw the exposed red meat and the warm blood dripping down the bird. He felt a savage glee emanating somewhere from within his mind for killing the bird. He felt disgusted with its weakness and inability to defend itself, so he simply chose to take its life from it. He grinned at the dead bird with contempt and superiority


    But it was innocent...even if it was weak, did it really deserve death?


    This thought rose up from within his mind also and clashed with his anger and contempt. He felt the hatred for the bird quickly fall away.


    I cannot become like them...forgive me little bird, I did not think before I acted, I have committed a grave mistake


    Xing Kai tightly shut his eyes and slapped his forehead 3 times, leaving a very red mark. He then picked up the little blue bird and buried it, without another thought of eating it. As he worked he painfully reminded himself that he and his friends had worked to care for the bird. Yet he had killed it in a fit of self-loathing and anger, to satisfy his own arrogant desire for superiority and the feeling of power.


    Xing Kai¡¯s old beliefs and thoughts still held greater sway than the new thoughts he had of the world.


    Xing Kai left immediately afterwards, longing to leave behind the feelings of guilt that he felt swelling up again. He ran through the dark foreign woods still pulling along the slightly bloody sword. It was not long before he was deep into the forest again and charging about blindly in anger.


    Xing Kai happened upon a trail left in a mud patch and followed it with renewed determination.


    After a few hours, he finally set his sights upon those that destroyed his home. All were of different ages, but all were men. They wore blood stained clothes of higher quality than the poor linen that the villagers wore. They also carried high quality steel weapons and even high quality steel and leather armour. All blood encrusted and slightly dented from constant use.


    They were cheering and singing merrily in a distant clearing around a large camp fire. Xing Kai could only make out a few figures vaguely from so far, among the bushes.


    At least one will die here tonight...and I make sure that one of you are among those numbers


    Xing Kai realised, as he chased their trail, that he stood almost no chance of winning. Yet he also knew bitterly well that he couldn¡¯t just train and hunt them down later. He simply did not have the methods to preserve his life in the forest, let alone become stronger. As for going to another village or some town¡­he didn¡¯t even know where to begin looking for them.


    So Xing Kai resolved himself to killing as many as he could in exchange for his life. At least he wouldn¡¯t die as a coward and he would have honour enough to face his family and friends.


    Xing Kai crept closer carefully in the dark, from bush to bush. He could see a few sentries that stood near the bright camp edge. The guarding sentries were very lax, drinking alcohol and joking about with the other men, but still standing in a very well-lit area. Xing Kai crept to a safe distance and watched the men.


    ¡°They were hardly worth the effort¡±


    ¡°They may be poor but they had some women so there was a bit of fun there¡±


    ¡°Bah the women were all brutish and not fit for anything more than birthing foot soldiers¡±


    The men¡¯s loud discussions and unrestrained laughter spread all the way to Xing Kai¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Actually, there was this one little girl with...¡±


    Xing Kai moved away, refusing to hear anything else. The more he heard the more he felt like he would lose what little control he had. He gritted his teeth, and with shaking hands crawled away. He lay in waiting for one of the men to leave on his own, rather than charging at them, as he felt he absolutely must kill one of them. Charging at them now, his mind still understood, would fail quickly.


    Xing Kai watched the men gesturing and roaring in laughter. They belittled the lives they had taken and the way they tormented them so much that Xing Kai was beginning to feel that there was something fundamentally wrong with these men.


    How many people must they have killed, to think so little of the massacre they created? Killing innocent people is fun? Or are villagers worth less than livestock to them?


    Xing Kai could only grind his teeth and clench his hands into small tight fists. His outrage shone from his eyes, and they began turning red again. Feelings of hatred and blood lust rose up inside of him and he felt an uncontrollable desire for killing. He let it wash over him, and drown out his painful thoughts; Xing Kai did not care why they destroyed his home with such impunity, he just wanted to get his revenge.


    However Xing Kai was not entirely without luck, as the person who first emerged from the camp was the very man who grabbed Lo Yanmei and directly brought about her death. The chuckling man loosened his belt as he walked and after entering not too deep into the woods, lowered his trousers and relieved himself against a tree.


    As the man moaned in relief Xing Kai stealthily creeped closer, while holding the sword half way up the blade so he could control it easier. Without the brutish man even noticing, Xing Kai had already slipped behind the man.


    Fortunately, the trees concealed the man from the camp sentry''s sight.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Xing Kai could hear the man sigh in relief and his pupils dilated as he focused on him. The man before him had pulled Lo Yanmei, as she kicked and screamed. She begged to be released, but they forced her to the ground. Xing Kai narrowed his eyes and silently crept even closer. He was surprisingly agile, making barely a sound.


    Lo Yanmei¡¯s eyes appeared in Xing Kai¡¯s mind. That moment she locked eyes with him. The next when she screamed with all her strength, as she was held down on the ground.


    Xing Kai roared in his mind, releasing a growl from his damaged throat unintentionally.


    Bastard, I won¡¯t let you off no matter what


    Xing Kai¡¯s raging growl startled the man, who turned around expecting a bear. Instead he saw the flash of cold hard steel, and an icy pain shoot into his chest. The sword had not gone far at all, and was not a fatal blow at all. He started, as he looked down to see small, bleeding, trembling hands holding the sword that was in his chest.


    Look me in the eyes! Iwant you to know that it was a lowly villager thatfinished you


    Xing Kai drilled the man¡¯s skull with his glaring eyes, and the man felt the sword sinking in slightly further. He looked up incredulously at Xing Kai¡¯s merciless, enraged, red eyes. For a moment he thought Xing Kai looked like a demon, with such a pale but bloodied appearance, wearing blood stained clothes and an evil expression filled with fierce killing intent.


    The man snorted in anger after a moment and prepared to swat the boy he saw before him, when he felt a painful jerk to his soul. He immediately focused inside his body, and felt his Heart¡¯s blood being separated from his blood and rushing to his wound.


    The man¡¯s face whitened instantly. He trembled and looked again at Xing Kai. The same cold stare bore into him, as if he wanted to communicate something. The Heart¡¯s blood was pulled straight out of the man¡¯s body while he was still alive. As soon as all the drops came out, his soul was severed from his body, and the man died.


    He died a tragic and an unthinkably excruciating death.


    The strange pull on the Heart¡¯s blood did not stop and pulled the blood straight through Xing Kai¡¯s skin. It travelled up his Jingmai, his meridian channels, to his mind and his void like soul fragments. There the Heart¡¯s blood gathered together before the soul fragment ring, as if being judged by an almighty King¡¯s court. The Heart¡¯s blood trembled before this dark force that pulled at it.


    Xing Kai watched within himself in astonishment as the blood was refined by having the man''s Will stripped from it and then condensed by strangely converting it between a blood mist form and then liquid to solid and then back to liquid state. Then this condensed liquid state refined Heart''s blood was cycled back through his Jingmai into his body. He immediately felt his injuries heal slightly and his body strengthen. It was such a blissful feeling, like he was dipping into warm honey and he felt energy flow through his body. Neither his strength nor injuries had changed much strangely, but the refining and cycling process felt invigorating.


    What was that?


    The strange comforting sensation faded away slowly. Xing Kai noticed a warmth on his feet, and looked down to see blood trickling out of the man¡¯s chest. Xing Kai pulled the blade out and hesitated. His eyes had dulled in their red colour and the shroud around his mind had retreated slightly under the effects of cycling the refined blood.


    He squatted over the man who lay dead on the ground. He was one of the men, who hurt Lo Yanmei, but now he was dead mere hours after. Xing Kai felt his eyes water slightly and a powerful sense of justice and retribution permeate his body and mind. The anger and guilt in his heart, however, only strengthened. Since he managed to exact a small amount of revenge he would not hold back.


    I know this vile, bastard¡¯s life is not equal to yours, but at least he will no longer walk the earth Mei-er


    The hatred and anger he suppressed when he killed the little bird and heard the men¡¯s mocking words were completely unleashed, and he shivered with a thrill passing through him. The shroud that had subsided for a while had fallen again, but even heavier and more pressingly.


    Do not think I will leave you in such a good shape after what you¡¯ve done


    The bitter snarl on Xing Kai¡¯s young face, turned into a cold smile. He lifted the blade and let out the anger he felt for his father¡¯s poor death.


    Xing Kai was determined to leave the man¡¯s corpse a hundred times worse than what he saw of the villager¡¯s. What right did this man have to a proper sending off for reincarnation, when the innocent villagers he slaughtered did not receive one?


    Having spent several minutes hacking and punching he fulfilled the regret of the villager¡¯s by the smallest amount. He could feel the strange shroud of hatred and anger falling deep into his mind, as he mutilated the corpse. Most of his actions still remained his own, however.


    He quickly pulled some leaves and branches over to cover the mess, and then retreated again. The unbridled rage in Xing Kai¡¯s mind could not be stopped by him now and he gave into the emotions completely. His eyes darkened to a deep red now.


    Xing Kai stood still and stared at the camp of cheering men. Men that had crushed dreams and ended the lives of hundreds for humour. The men were sharing fine alcohol and eating expensive meats from the village, while recounting the violence and cruelty with which they killed. They were boasting and congratulating one another.


    Xing Kai could not bear it a second longer, and under the shroud of anger that bubbled up within him, sprinted forward straight to one of the sentries.


    The sentry noticed him too late and could only gasp as Xing Kai swung the blade at the man''s throat, his eyes glowing with his determination to exact his revenge. He would not show mercy, and he did not have the strength to care for chivalry.


    Blood gushed out, but several drops of Heart''s blood also appeared. These drops flew imperceptibly into Xing Kai, and straight to the soul fragment ring. It was refined and cycled around the body in a few moments, recreating the same indescribable, blissful feeling.


    Xing Kai charged forward, and buried his sword in a drunken man who lay on the floor. The man gasped and suddenly felt unbelievable pain as his Heart''s blood was pulled out.


    A few people had noticed what was happening and warned the rest. No sooner had Xing Kai¡¯s sword been buried into another drunk man beside the first, that men had gathered to attack him.


    Even drunk and caught off guard, the men reacted with lightning speed.


    Arrows whistled through the air and struck Xing Kai¡¯s legs, shoulder and stomach. One narrowly missed out on tearing his pale cheek open and left a gouge instead as it flew past.


    Xing Kai fell to his knees as pain filled his mind. Two more arrows hit him and went straight through his back and out through his sides.


    Xing Kai erupted out a fountain of fresh red blood, and dropped the sword from his bleeding fingers.


    He could just make out a couple of men with pig like faces, and a couple younger men besides them, sitting around a crate of discarded bottles and bones they were burning.


    THEY¡­THEY MUST DIE WITH ME


    Xing Kai roared in his mind and stood up with every bit of strength he could muster. His rage towered as he saw his parent¡¯s killers not too far away him.


    I WILL NOT BE A COWARD


    Xing Kai howled furiously with his torn throat and staggered forward.


    Suddenly a spear punched through his stomach and pushed straight into the ground meters away... Xing Kai lay on his back draining his blood into the dirt. All the anger in his mind billowed to such an extreme point that he felt his mind was splitting all over again.


    One of the men came closer and sneered as he loomed over Xing Kai.


    ¡°The little village bastard must have tried to get revenge¡±


    The twin pig faced men also sauntered over to stand above Xing Kai. They had the same vile look in their eyes as they did when his father begged them to kill his mother.


    ¡°He looks a little like that whore wom¡ª¡± started the smaller pig faced man with a sneer.


    ¡°AAARRRGGG¡±


    Xing Kai roared and threw a fist of dirt in the air. He broke the shaft of the spear in his stomach, with his arms, and swung it at the pig faced man, with every fibre of his being. The blow struck the man¡¯s cheek with a light pat.


    The two pig faced men were cultivators, not ordinary men. If he didn''t rely on surprise, he would have been unable kill any of these men. In pure strength Xing Kai was still only an 11 year old, and vastly weaker than these men, who could twirl swords with ease that he could barely lift off the ground.


    "Brat, are you that desperate to taste reincarnation?"


    Xing Kai was pulled off the spear and casually slapped across his chest, before he could even bend his finger, by one of the men. He was sent flying, several meters away, retching several mouthfuls of blood and flesh. He could see with his fading vision that the camp was still in disorder. It only occurred to him now, that he should have been covered in arrows like Zhang Lei. Otherwise how could he have possibly survived so long?


    Then he noticed the rumbling in the ground.


    ¡°....COMING...THE WEST¡±


    ¡°A ...OF T...NDRED...¡±


    The voices faded away, as did Xing Kai¡¯s vision.


    I came so close...so close damn it...if I was strong none of this would have happened...weakness is my greatest sin


    Everything became dark and quiet, and his mind slipped away into sleep.


    His inconsequential Heart¡¯s blood speck, with his crystalized defiant Will...had grown by half in size.

 Chapter 5...Chant

    ¡°The boy has....wounds are...too early, far too early...a normal person could not ha¡­¡±


    Xing Kai could faintly hear voices around him.


    I failed in my revenge¡­I failed again¡­mommy, daddy¡­


    Xing Kai felt like his body had been trampled on by a legion of horses; as if it had been thrown off a cliff and tossed around by the seas. There was a sharp pain from his shoulder and legs, and even as he tried to move, excruciating pain lanced into his stomach and back.


    ¡°Give him a few...lucky to still be...¡±


    I¡¯ll never see them again¡­


    Xing Kai drifted back into his tormenting dreams, while his soul fragment ring simmered away silently. Xing Kai came back to consciousness quite a few times only to slip back down into the deep recesses of his mind. Each time he would be bombarded by pain and grief, forcing him back into his deep slumber.


    After an unknown amount of time passed, Xing Kai felt his body was strong enough to stay awake for more than a few minutes and he moved slightly. He opened his weary eyes slowly. Through the slits of his eyes he could see a blinding white light overhead and some beds in a row opposite to his own. Xing Kai winced painfully as he shut his eyes tightly, and relaxed into his bed again.


    I must have been rescued by a nearby village...wait¡­did they kill those vile men? They must have done...what do I do now?


    Xing Kai felt his heart tighten and a shock to run through his body. He sucked in a breath of cold air through his damaged throat. Xing Kai pulled himself up slowly, feeling incredibly anxious and nervous for some reason.


    ¡°Crkkrk...crkk¡±


    Xing Kai opened his mouth and tried to call for help ,but his throat was too damaged, and would not allow him to make anything more than guttural sounds.


    My throat?


    Xing Kai tried to inspect the internal damage to his throat; he found it was scarred deeply and the flesh was rough, with chunks missing from it. The lining was particularly rough and stung terribly when he tried to speak. He sat naked in his bed, with bloody and dirty bandages applied around his chest and limbs. He stunk of some foul herbs that were almost completely dried out, and hardened the bandages around his body, like a shell.


    I can¡¯t speak? Damn it...I don¡¯t have anyone to speak to anymore so I suppose it doesn¡¯t matter


    Xing Kai lay back down slowly on the bed cursing himself for his weakened condition. He noticed that there were two long rows of beds in this hall, with many people on them with different severe injuries and distracted himself by inspecting them from afar. They all wore the same deep green clothing with leather padding.


    Don¡¯t the Nalan family¡¯s town militia wear these type of green clothes¡­if it was them, then surely they could have defeated those vile demons. It¡¯s finished then¡­my village has been avenged¡­


    Xing Kai felt deflated and looked up at the ceiling as if looking at the skies above. He unconsciously clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, as he thought about those villainous men being killed by others. He could tolerate that others had stolen his revenge, but Xing Kai was most angry with himself for being too weak to get it, when it was right before him. He knew he would be far too weak to get revenge himself, by all rights he should be dead right now. He understood that painfully well.


    I didn¡¯t have the strength to get revenge¡­I just don¡¯t have the qualifications to carry the burden of avenging the village¡­I was just too arrogant and weak; but now everything is finished¡­and I have nothing left to live for¡­


    Xing Kai felt bitterly angry and disgusted in his weakness more so than ever now. He could not bring himself to enjoy having his revenge taken from him, but he still appreciated that the people who had done such evils to his home and loved ones, were now gone.


    Xing Kai closed his eyes and tried to feel happy, but his jaw stayed clenched and his fists tightly balled.


    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing they ran or else the casualties would have been too much for us to handle¡±


    A voice could be heard from the far end of the infirmary, and doors opened to reveal an old woman and two young girls following behind. Xing Kai had almost gotten up to call them, but suddenly felt it was better to pretend to stay asleep. For some reason, he wasn¡¯t sure why, he didn¡¯t want to talk to them.


    ¡°They barely managed to survive the last mission and then had to run into a rogue group of mercenaries¡±


    ¡°If the mercenaries hadn¡¯t ran, they would have slaughtered the lot of them...that Captain Nalan Jin is a fool¡±


    ¡°Hush hush, if others hear you speak of him like that, you¡¯ll get trouble from his men¡±


    ¡°Humph, he can try what he likes I¡¯m not scared of him¡±


    ¡°As you should be; you work for me in the town infirmary, there is no one who would dare cause trouble for you¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not wrong. Everybody knows Captain Nalan Jin almost got his men killed when he ran into that rogue merc group, and survived thanks to luck. Why the hell would mercenaries like them run from Captain Nalan Jin¡¯s company? He got lucky they ran, otherwise he¡¯d be dead.¡±


    Xing Kai heard this and a cold sweat broke out on his back. He gritted his teeth as he heard the more rebellious girl¡¯s voice and clenched his fists tightly. Xing Kai felt his heart race and a strange joy bloomed in his heart.


    They¡¯re still alive¡­my revenge is still possible¡­it must be your fate to die at my hands


    Xing Kai would never forget the faces of those barbaric villains. Although he felt that he was still not worthy of burdening the revenge of the village, he was now more certain of what to do with his life. A cold smile appeared on his face, but suddenly he had the sensation that he was being watched.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake already?¡± exclaimed the more cautious sounding girl. She had a caring appearance, with soft brown hair and watery eyes. Her face was gentle and warm, matching perfectly with the feeling she gave people of warmth and comfort.


    Xing Kai opened his eyes, feeling stupid for having given himself away. The smile had faded away quickly and he contained his strange delight inside himself.


    ¡°Awake? That boy is awake? Let me check...¡± said the old woman. She had a stern appearance and certainly did not appear to be the type who accepted disagreement or complaint from others. She placed her knobbly fingers over Xing Kai¡¯s wrist and frowned for a moment. She then checked the other wrist, causing the two girls to be very surprised.


    Xing Kai felt a strange weak sensation flow up his arm and into his throat. It wondered around a few times, and then dissipated.


    The old woman removed her course finger tipsfrom Xing Kai¡¯s wrists and clucked her tongue, with a frown appearing on her aged face. She paused for several heart beats.


    ¡°He¡¯ll be fine in a week¡±


    She turned around and left the hall of beds in no time at all, as if she wasn''t an old lady. The two girls glanced at each other, but then looked down at Xing Kai¡¯s pale weary face.


    ¡°Where are you from?¡± asked the brown haired girl softly.


    ¡°Silly, have you forgotten what old lady Zhou said? He can¡¯t speak¡± said the more rebellious girl. She had flaming red hair, pear like teeth and white skin. She had an alluring, tight figure and her harsh and fiery attitude, would leave any man feeling stimulated.


    Xing Kai watched the two girls exchange a few angry comments and glare at each other. The brown haired girl turned away from her, and leaned over Xing Kai to feel his throat with her soft palm and delicate fingers.


    ¡°It really is still damaged...quite severe¡± muttered the brown haired girl, with her soft voice. She pressed lightly on various places on his throat, and rubbed lightly in others.


    ¡°What would you know?¡±


    The red haired girl also leaned over by Xing Kai¡¯s side and placed her cool, slender fingers on Xing Kai¡¯s throat. She was surprisingly gentle, as she felt his throat.


    ¡°It¡¯s already improved by this much...can this really be possible?¡± cried the rebellious red haired girl.


    Xing Kai had his head tilted up, with the girl¡¯s hands stroking and rubbing his throat continuously. He could smell their soft, shiny hair, and could even feel the warmth of their bodies leaning over his chest. He also noticed some softness brushing against his chest which were warm and moved slightly, as the girls felt his throat. He felt quite peculiar with these two girls hanging over him, and touching him however they liked.


    What a strange pair of elder sisters


    Xing Kai frowned and pushed the two heads hovering around his chin with the little strength he left had in his arms. The girls started and moved away, while glaring at each other as if it was the others fault that he complained.


    ¡°Here use this to talk¡± said the brown haired girl. She pulled out some parchment and ink from a draw and passed it to Xing Kai. He hesitantly took them from her gentle, warm hands and stared at them for a moment with his dark, tired eyes.


    What am I meant to do? Perhaps I should just stay here until I¡¯m strong enough to leave, and then join a martial school or something like that¡­


    He wrote his name down on it and passed it back to her, as they were staring at him a bit too much.


    ¡°Ohh, nice to meet you Xiao Kai, my name is Rong Lan¡± said the brown haired girl smiling sweetly.


    ¡°My name is Yun Lifen, Xiao Kai¡± said the fiery red haired girl.


    Xing Kai stared back at them. They passed him the parchment and ink, and he accepted it, but didn¡¯t write anything else.


    I don¡¯t want to have to answer too many questions; perhaps I can get away with pretending to not know how to write...


    The two girls stared back at him in bewilderment, not knowing what to say, as he shrugged weakly at them.


    ¡°Do you not know how to write?¡±


    Xing Kai shook his head once. He stared at the two girls with a slight apologetic expression.


    ¡°Do you want to learn how?¡±


    Xing Kai was surprised and his eyes widened slightly.


    I can¡¯t afford to stay here very long, otherwise I might never find them again¡­regardless ,who knows how long it will take before I¡¯m strong enough to get revenge...but I can¡¯t refuse their offer without a good reason either...


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    Xing Kai nodded his head to the girl''s delight.


    Xing Kai firmed his decision in his heart and watched the girls argue over who would teach him his letters. Xing Kai would ignore both anyways since he planned to leave as soon as possible, and find a way to enter a city and its martial school...


    The girls eventually came to an agreement and agreed to both teach him equal number of hours per week, as if he was going to be here months. They argued fiercely over any little thing it seemed.


    ¡°Ok Xing Kai, we will both teach you¡± said Yun Lifen. Her sharp beautiful eyes glared at Rong Lan, who stuck her tongue out in response.


    ¡°Anyway, do you have a place to stay? Any family?¡±


    Xing Kai looked at the two for a moment wondering if they were trying to catch him out.


    They should know that I was rescued by the militia, how do they expect me to have a place to go?


    Xing Kai shook his head, feeling his throat tighten as he thought about his lost home. He forced his nails into his skin, to keep himself from crying in front of the two girls. He hated that he had to do this, to stop himself from crying all over again.


    Enough of this weakness¡­it won¡¯t help you, so forget about it


    ¡°I thought so. Why don¡¯t you come stay¡ª¡± began Rong Lan, when all of a sudden the doors to the hall wear opened and in walked old lady Zhou followed by a militiaman.


    ¡°You two, stop pestering the poor boy¡± said old lady Zhou. She and the militiaman walked up to Xing Kai¡¯s bed. Xing Kai tensed up, preparing for anything that they might do to him.


    ¡°Old lady Zhou what¡¯s wrong? Why bring a militiamen here¡±


    Yun Lifen spoke remarkably timidly now. She stepped behind Rong Lan as soon as the militiaman had appeared, and her eyes were noticeably dimmer and less self-assured.


    ¡°You¡¯ll see¡± replied old lady Zhou.


    She placed her hand on Xing Kai¡¯s wrist for a moment as if confirming something to herself. ¡°He¡¯s health after just a month of rest. He is quite strong, and he also needs a place to stay.¡± Old lady Zhou looked at the militiaman, who had been glancing at Yun Lifen¡¯s chest and figure every few seconds. Rong Lan stepped a little further in front of Yun Lifen, covering her figure almost entirely and crossed her arms. She glared angrily at the militiaman, who smirked slightly. Yun Lifen seemed to shrink behind Rong Lan more, with every glance he made.


    ¡°Hold on, your enlisting him into the militia?¡± cried girls. Rong Lan and Yun Lifen both didn¡¯t like the sound of such a young boy being sent to fight for the town.


    Xing Kai growled in his throat, catching everyone¡¯s attention. His cold stare and fierce eyes surprised them.


    ¡°If you join the Militia you will have a place to stay, you¡¯ll be fed regularly, and given a pay¡± said old lady Zhou.


    ¡°But you have to be strong and brave. Militiamen can die at any time.¡± added the militiaman. He was a young man, at least twice Xing Kai¡¯s age, with a greedy lecherous face. Xing Kai felt angered the longer he looked at him.


    Xing Kai¡¯s eyes imperceptibly flickered and he nodded his head.


    ¡°Of course, since you can¡¯t speak, you will find it quite hard to take part in the training and in missions but otherwise¡­you can do alright cleaning the men¡¯s boots¡± said the man arrogantly. He didn''t believe the boy was injured as severely as what he had heard and so he could not see what all the fuss was about. Barely anybody in the town would be able to survive the kind of injuries people said the boy had, including himself, then how could the little brat have survive and heal that fast as well? It was all bluster, and the kid would go running for his parents on the first day of training, in the man''s opinion.


    ¡°Then it¡¯s settled¡±


    Old lady Zhou stared atXing Kai¡¯s face as if trying to read his mind. Her wrinkled, stern face frowned as she looked at him, but she sighed and walked back out of the hall with the militiaman after a few heart beat''s time.


    ¡°Xiao Kai, the militia is a dangerous group, they fight and die all the time, it¡¯s not worth it¡± exclaimed Yun Lifen. As soon as the militiaman left the hall she returned to her usual spirited self. Rong Lan acted like nothing unusual had happened.


    These elder sisters are indeed strange


    ¡°Yes, you can just stay with us at our home Xiao Kai. The militia has bad man in them¡± agreed Rong Lan. Yun Lifen nodded her head.


    Xing Kai looked over at the two concerned sisters and felt the same warmth inside that the older sisters in the village gave him. His slightly cold expression eased. Xing Kai picked up the parchment and ink and wrote the words ¡°No¡±.


    The girls read it and sighed.


    ¡°They won¡¯t treat you well. And speaking isn¡¯t that much of a problem, we can help you find a job till your ready to find your own place if you don¡¯t like ours¡±


    It¡¯s not you that is the problem. I need strength and the militia can help me until I can go to a city. I also can¡¯t afford to carry more debts than I already owe...I want to walk my own path, without relying on others.


    Xing Kai shook his head and slowly eased himself deeper into the bed. He rolled over onto his better healed shoulder and closed his eyes to sleep.


    ¡°We¡¯ll come back later to feed you properly ok?¡± said Rong Lan.


    Xing Kai felt his throat tightening and heart clench, the more kindness he received from the girls. He soon drifted off to sleep feeling slightly better than before.


    Xing Kai was awoken gently by the two older girls later on and gratefully ate what they gave him. He listened to the two girl¡¯s arguing and felt like they truly suited each other well. He went back to sleep and woke just before the sun rose, as he did before with his father.


    Each morning of the week he woke early and in the same way.


    He found himself covered in sweat, and with dark nightmares drifting around the edges of his mind. Thoughts of home invaded his headas soon as he was awakeand he began sobbing quietly into his pillow miserably each time. Sometimes during the day he would also cry.


    I CAN NOT BE WEAK. Every time I think like this, I must think of my revenge


    Xing Kai firmed his resolve again and again. He replaced the haunting nightmares and heartrending thoughts of home, with the desire to grow strong and to avenge his village. Each night he remembered less of his happy memories and more of the scenes he saw in the village. He had burned into his mind the the sight of the men laughing and celebrating in the camp, after what they had done to his home. The two pig faced men were his greatest focus of revenge and he obsessed over them in his dreams.


    Xing Kai spent an increasing number ofhours every morning, chanting quietly to himself, feeling anger and disgust at himself. He cried less, gritted his teeth and tightened his fists more often, every successive morning. Whenever he would be overcome by emotions, he would force himself to become angry and to hate his weakness.


    Can never be weak, must never be weak, can never be weak, must never be weak...


    Xing Kai¡¯s chantmade his determination ironclad and unyielding, and he became accustomed to the pain of losing his family and friends. He became accustomed so fast,since he buried himself in anger and his desire for strength. His personality and bearing changed over the course of this week; his old beliefs and thoughtswere slowly outweighed by the new thoughts and opinionshe had of the world.


    On the last day of the week the girls checked him again to be astounded to find almost all his injuries were truly restored, except for his throat. Strangely Xing Kai¡¯s throat did not recover any further that week, then the rough and torn state it was in since the start...


    ¡°The militia are having a big recruitment day today, so you can join with the new batch. You¡¯re very young and most of them are criminals and the homeless, so leave if you don¡¯t like it even a little bit...¡± said Rong Lan. She and Yun Lifen both offered to take him in countless times over the week.


    ¡°Such a young, innocent, cute boy should not be made to join the militia¡± muttered Yun Lifen, as she bandaged an injured person beside Xing Kai.


    Nobody is forcing me elder sister Lifen


    Xing Kai slipped out of his bed and looked around for clothes.


    ¡°Wait, we bought some clothes for you¡± Yun Lifen and Rong Lan both called out and brought him some clothes. Xing Kai could see that the clothes they offered were slightly worn, probably by their own brothers, but he accepted a piece of clothing from both girls, so they wouldn''t argue.


    It must be nice to have older sisters like these two


    Xing Kai had listened to them talk about their parents and their brothers. They were both naturally quite soft hearted for young children, as they had taken care of the neighbour''s children when they were younger. Quite a few girls their age were married and already had their own children.


    Xing Kai put on the borrowed clothes, and smiled fractionally to express his gratitude. The action felt very unnatural and strained already.


    ¡°That militiaman will come and take you to the recruitment stall, so just stand outside the infirmary and wait for him. If he doesn¡¯t come then just forget about it and come back to us ok?¡± said Yun Lifan. Her pretty face was scrunched up slightly with concern, and she patted him on the head before going back to one of the injured men.


    ¡°Here, take some money before you leave¡± shouted Rong Lan. She was busy tying a splint to a broken leg but pulled at her waist pouch and tossed it to Xing Kai.


    50 BLOOD COINS...This is far too much money


    Xing Kai jerked his head up, to see the girls smiling at him.


    ¡°Take it¡±


    ¡°That much money is nothing much to us two sisters¡±


    Xing Kai nodded his head seriously. It would have taken Xing Kai several months hard work on the neighbour¡¯s farm before he earned this much money back home. He firmly tied it to his waist and navigated his way out of the wooden building. He had learned quite a bit from the two girls, so he knew he needed some money to live at the militia camp, but he could earn a lot if he worked hard in the militia, so he would pay them back quickly.


    He stood outside of the infirmary, on the busy street. The sun was now quite high in the sky and the crowds already felt the heat, as they ran about shopping and working.


    Xing Kai waited for 2 hours but no one turned up to take him to the militia recruitment stall.

 Chapter 6...Path

    The sun was clear in the sky, and made the busy street very hot and the people sweaty. There was not a cloud in sight and loud voices called out sales and other odd things from the sides of the street. Naturally, this being where the town infirmary was located, it had a high volume of people passing through each day. Many stores took advantage of this, setting up stalls and shops on the crowded street.


    Damn that bastard. Could he not have sent a messenger to let me know he wouldn''t come...why bother saying he''ll come get me if he won''t?


    Xing Kai steadily felt his temper rising. He was never much of an angry person, and the loud shouts and hot weather were all normal things in his village. But he felt incredibly annoyed that he was made to stand around like an idiot for so long.


    Xing Kai stomped through street, leaving the infirmary entirely. He had heard several young boys, lead by their families, talking about the militia recruitment. They had said it was at the town square.


    Xing Kai blended in quite well among the heaving crowds with his dark hair and dark eyes,while wearing ablack shirt and dull brown trousers. Even his new shoes were a dark ox''s leather, much like the town''s people''s own shoes. Wearing such dark clothes was just the downside of this city, as they didn''t have the minerals for dying clothes.


    He didn''t refrain from pushing his way through the crowds, even though his wounds were still bandaged;on the outside, the crowd could only see a normal, handsome boy, although with a very unwelcoming cold expression on his face.


    After following the increasingly wider street and the growing crowds, Xing Kai reached the town square where the militia recruitment stall was set up. It was only 5 minutes away from the infirmary.


    He couldn''t even be bothered to walk 10 minutes? Damn it he must have expected me to get here myself, I guess


    Xing Kai grumbled in his annoyance, which drew several puzzled looks.


    "Everybody that wants to join, stand in a line and be prepared topresent your ID"


    Xing Kai frowned and looked around at the other people in the line. He noticed many carried little green cards, but there were a few poorer looking fellows who didn''t. There were also some men, who looked like war refugees, they were in such poor shape. Naturally they too, didn''t have an ID card.


    Ohh well, let''s see what happens


    Xing Kai stepped out of the ring of watching families and into the line before one of the stalls. The square was far larger than his village''s one, and was quite ornate. The ground was of uniform, cloudy stones, with a dull looking lead jointing them. It was a far cry from the village, which still used dirt as primary housing construction


    material.


    Xing Kai admired the ground and the tall stone buildings around him, while trying not to look like a complete bumpkin. Regardless, Xing Kai''s young andhandsome appearance, drew plenty of attention from the men and teenagers in the line, as well as the surrounding crowds. They whispered and pointed at him, some mocking him while a few pitied him.


    "Poor boy must have been orphaned in the last attack"


    "Little beggars and criminals like him should be forced to join the militia and contribute to the city, rather than drifting around like trash"


    "He''s too handsome to be from a normal commoners family...does nobody recognise him?"


    "He''s not from this town, I know all the big important families and their young masters, so he must have come from another town that was attacked"


    Xing Kai ignored the discussions and focused on the green clothedmilitiamen at the end of the line. The stall at the end of the queue was manned by a few militiamen who recorded details. The recruits were then sent to the side, to one of the militiamen, who made the recruits complete a small test to see if they were in decent shape. It was at this little sandbox, where the testing wasdone,that a lot of eyes rested on. The recruits were showing off their fighting strength, by sparring with the testing militiaman.


    Xing Kai had watched that sandy square soon after joining the queue too, until he eventually arrived at the shaded table. He stood before one of the seated militiamen with the sun shining down over his dark hair.


    "ID?"


    "..."


    Xing Kai shook his head, like he saw the other men do.


    "Do you not have an ID card?"


    Xing Kai nodded his head.


    "Alright, I''ll put you down as homeless/criminal"


    Xing Kai watched the man fill out a few other odd details.


    "How old?"


    Xing Kai gestured with his fingers an age of 13. He had heard from the sisters, that anyone under 13 was not allowed to enter.


    "What''s your name?"


    Xing Kai had prepared for this, and pulled out a folded piece of parchment and showed it to the grey haired man. The man read it and frowned. He wrote the name down anyways


    "Jokes aren''t taken as very funny in the militia, little boy"


    The man glanced upwards at Xing Kai after writing his name down.


    Xing Kai reached out and reversed the parchment and placed it under the man''s nose. It read the word "Mute".


    "Hah, crafty kid...alright off you go. If you pass the basic test, then you''ll be given basic training for a month. After that you take part in missions and you''ll be an active member of the militia. Then naturally you receive more training depending on what rank you have in the militia"


    The man rattled off these lines in a bored, lazytone, but Xing Kai could make out everything he said. The man passed him a small slip from a stack by his legs.


    "Next..."


    Xing Kai walked away from the stall, and to one of the men standing by the sandbox. The man didn''t take the slip,and justglanced at it before pushingXing Kai rudely towards the sandbox squareand went back to talking with his friend.


    I wouldn''t be treated like this if I was strong


    Xing Kai swallowed his complaint and stepped into the sand square and faced the militiaman standing there.


    "Alright boy, pick up the sword and try to hit me"


    The man crossed his arms and waited for Xing Kai to struggle to lift the sword off the ground. Many men struggled to hold the sword level with the ground, and very few had actual fighting experience.


    My first real attempt at combat...I don''t care about honour and fairness, if you refuse to use a sword, then it''s your lose...I just want to win


    Xing Kai had a lot of time over the last week to understand what and who he wanted to be. In that time he realised that the things spoken about in stories just couldn''t be true.Heknew he couldn''t live and fightlike a hero, so heabandoned ideas like fairness and chivalry.


    Xing Kai stepped forward steadilyand pulled the large wooden sword out of the sand with a jerk that sent sand flying into the air. He had barely felt the weight of the sword at all, but attributed it to the fact thatthe swordwas wooden.


    But the other men should not have struggled so much in wielding this wooden sword...


    Xing Kai gave a few practise swings with the sword in the air, twirling it around like a wooden stick. The man standingin front of him,frowned and uncrossed his arms. The others around them frowned and watched Xing Kai.


    "How the hell is a little brat like him swinging around such a heavy sword when our precious son couldn''t?"


    "The militiamen must have exchanged the practise swords to make it fair on him. Otherwise how could a runt like him do anything."


    The crowd had similar thoughts, but they had all watched the spars and could recognise the sword quiet easily...as the same one Xing Kai held with ease.


    Fight like those bastards who destroyed my home...they must have some skill if the militiamen were truly lucky not to run into them, like the elder sisters said


    Xing Kai hadn''t actually seen any of the vile men fighting. Yet over the last month he kept having dreams and remembering things, that he certainly didn''t experience himself. Hesimplycouldn''t explain how he was being fed these memories that he didn''t own.


    Xing Kai took a confident stance with his legs spread and his sword hanging by his side. The militiaman who faced him only saw a trace of a savage glint in Xing Kai''s before Xing Kai''s relaxed position turned into a rapid dash and stab at his throat.


    "Damn brat"


    Xing Kai kicked forward and lashed out with the sword at his neck.


    "Is the kid trying to kill him?"


    "How the hell did he move so fast?"


    Xing Kai had crossed the few paces in a blur and the sword whistled through the air as it reached the man''s neck. Remarkably the man already had his guard up, and managed to avoid the wild attack,as his instinct born from numerous battles warned him.


    The man kicked out at Xing Kai''s knees, looking to take advantage of Xing Kai''s unstable stance to drop him.


    It worked


    Xing Kai exclaimed in his heart as he saw the leg sweep over the sand to his knees. Xing Kai had actually decided to merge a few different memories together for an attack pattern he thought could work. With uncanny dexterity and flexibility, Xing Kai jumped overthe swingingleg and punched the man in the nose.


    Good, good. Now to finish it


    Before Xing Kai had a moment to consider, he was grinning unintentionally, as he fell on top of the falling militiaman. He raised his sword to the man''s throat. In a single fit of inexplicable excitement, Xing Kai was already prepared to complete the scene from his memory.


    Wait, what am I doing?


    Xing Kai suddenly felt the strange grin on his face, and the man landing on the ground. He was sitting on his chest, and was resting the wooden sword tipon the man''s exposed neck, asthe poor mangrabbed his bleeding nose. He was too surprised to think about his exposed vital points...he was clearlystill too inexperienced.


    "Arrgg, what kind of little devil are you?"


    Xing Kai hopped off quickly and pulled the cursing man off the ground and walked away quickly. The man had not felt the presence of the fast sword on his neck, but everybody else had seen it clearly.They were silent and gaping with shock.


    Xing Kai quickly threw the practise sword aside and left the sandbox with cries of surprise beginning to ring out in thehot,crowded square.


    The man wiped his nose, only to see that all the militiamen were looking at him strangely. The crowd''s loud discussions and gossiping quickly made him realise that he had lost badly tothe little boy. But before he call for Xing Kai to come back, he was already gone.


    How did I do that? It shouldn''t have been that easy to beata militiaman, they''re not weak...or perhaps I''ve becomestronger...


    Xing Kai slipped into a group of recruits who had entered a tent at the end of the square with his head down. He quickly passed his slip over to the bored militiamenand received an armful of clothing, linens, and other odd items of necessity. Xing Kai was then directed out of the tent and lead to the militia barracks, with a group of other recruits. Fortunately nobody had seen his battle, so he didn''t have to waste his energy trying to talk to them.


    How did that actually work?


    Xing Kai was quite confident in his agility and flexibility, but he knew he couldn''t possibly have moved that fast or nimbly before. Also, he had to accept that the sword was clearly heavier than what he felt it was; he had seen too many people struggling with it.Yet how had he become so much stronger and faster?


    Could it have something to do with that strange sensation I felt?


    Xing Kai''s eyes widened.


    Could the effects of that strange blood absorption and refining have made such huge improvements to my strength? But that doesn''t make sense...how could blood...


    Xing Kai suddenly had a strange idea come to mind, and he froze in the middle of the street. He stared wide eyed at the ground; his heart hammered greatly, even more than when he sparred against the militiaman.


    That blood...only Heart''s blood is special and could possibly grant such mystical improvements...but how the hell did I absorb and refine it? Surely this mean I''m a cultivator of some sort right?


    Xing Kai thought back to the stories he heard of cultivators at home, but was overcome by a sudden sharp pain as he thought about the village. He chanted to himself and jogged back to the group of recruits.


    None of the villagers ever said cultivation was like this...not forgetting the Heart''s blood is vital for living, and can''t be taken out easily even from a corpse...perhaps it''s not a cultivation method...


    Xing Kai felt his excitement about being a cultivator settle down.


    Anyways it''stoo strange for a village boylike me to be this strong...then again they don''t know I''m from a village...I''ll pretend I''m from a distant town that taught cultivation...that should reasonably explain my strength...


    Xing Kai came up with a series of believable lies by the time they arrived at the town wall. The group of new recruits were left at the 8th training barrack, and they were told to prepare their beds and change into their new light greenclothing.


    Xing Kai hid his money pouch secretly under the hard bed, and kept a few coins in his shoes just in case. All the while Xing Kai felt more and more certain that he wasn''t a cultivator. What kind of cultivation was that anyways? He thought that it wasn''t a cultivation method and more likely a strange phenomenon that was probably common to other people too. Yet he couldn''t shake off the feeling...that it was an incredible method of obtaining power.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Heart''s blood contains remarkable things...if someone were to absorb that, then surely they would have great progress...but it would require a lot of deaths.


    Xing Kai pondered on it for quite a while, and decided he would waited until he knew more. It didn''t seem like a smart idea to expose his strength.


    Soon after they were all ordered back outside of the domed wooden barrack, to listen to an introductory speech about the Nalan family militia.


    Xing Kai found a seat on the stone benches near the back of the seating area. There was a large stone platform at the front, with a slim man and several men behind him.


    "Alright, all of you settle down now"


    The man at the front of the platform was a fierce middle aged man, with sandy brown hair and grey eyes. It was midday and many of the recruits moaned about the heat, while the militiamen stood straight and unconcerned.


    "If your not silent in the next instant, you''ll be placed on night watch at the forest walls"


    All the recruits suddenly gulped and silenced themselves immediately. The effectiveness of just thesefew quiet words was shocking, at shutting them all up.


    "You lot think that joining the militia will mean instant privileges...and instant power, among the town''s people? Correct?"


    The sandy haired man spoke slowly and clearly, his grey eyes locking onto all the recruit''s eyes, men and boys alike. Nobody dared to look away at this moment.


    "Yes sir" shouted back a few nervous voices. Some others shouted back disagreementto the man''s question, but many just stayed silent.


    "Wrong...wrong...wrong. Only the militiamen who have earned their green clothes are respected. Over the next month you''ll be beaten into fighting shape. Some of you have come to learn cultivation methods... while some want to leave the town and move to the big cities...you are welcomed to do so... however only a handful have cultivated enough and achieved enough to receive the recommendation letter from me. Without the recommendation letter...how do you plan to enter the big cities?"


    The man''svoice filled every ear and his words captivated every mind. Truly many of the recruits aspired to cultivate for the strength needed to enter the big cities...and almost all dreamed about the legendary recommendation letter secretly.


    "You should know, entry into the big cities is possible without the famous recommendation letter...however joining the national military will be far harder for us townsman and villagers...while having the recommendation from a former national military Shuzu means certain benefits are available from a big city"


    The fierce grey eyed man, seemed to almost turn into a businessmen, the way he was selling the idea of the letter. His smooth confident smile fed the desires of the recruits, while the senior militiamen smiled bitterly. They all remembered the desire to gain the legendary letter, that in the big cities gave you all kinds of alluring benefits...apparently the letter had all sorts of uses, many of which were clearly dubious if you thought for just a moment.


    What he''s saying doesn''t make sense


    Xing Kai scowled the more he listened to the man. Surely leaving to go to a big city wasn''t that hard for a town right? Plus Xing Kai found it unlikely that the national army wouldn''t accept townsman or villagers for troops...why wouldn''t they?


    But these benefits froma Shuzu''s recommendation sound interesting...


    Xing Kai felt intrigued by the title. It seemed like hemight made the right choice coming here in his opinion. He would be given cultivation materials, and also an opportunity to gain an important sounding recommendation letter that would give him benefits in even the big cities.


    One should first know that the cultivation scraps from the big cities was enough to power a town for years, the big cities were that mighty. Comparing a town and the big cities was like a puddle compared to the sea.


    So if this letter could really deliver some benefits, even little ones,thenXing Kai had to admit the man had ability. He could smellsome lies from the man and sense a little wickedness from his eyes...but strength was strength. And this man had plenty of it apparently.


    "Regardless, if your not interested in the letter of recommendation...then protecting your families and the pay should be enough to make this work satisfying for you."


    Some of the recruits scoffed when they heard this. What kind of money is worth risking your life every week to guard the walls and do missions?


    "It''s all about the power you have in the town...the fear people have of you"


    Some of the recruits muttered this not too quietly, but none of the militiamen or the fierce eyed man said anything. The nearby recruits snickered and had lewd looks in their eyes as they nodded their heads. When Xing Kai saw these expressions and heard their comments he felt a disgust rise up inside of him.


    What the hell is wrong with these men? Don''t they want to become strong and powerful? Why do they just want to terrorise the weak people of the town...


    Xing Kai may have changed and experienced much, but he had yet to recognise the common evil in even the average man.


    Xing Kai reluctantly supressed the desire to beat them up, and continued listening to the fierce eyed man.


    "Naturally you all know that joining the militia is permanent, and only death, my permission, or the recommendation letter gives you the freedom to leave us. Try to escape and you''ll be hunted down by the militia for desertion"


    What...I didn''t know this...damn it, what if I find those mercenaries and I have a chance to chase them down and kill them?


    Xing Kai pressed is lips together tightly into a line and clenched his hands into fists. he glared at the militiamen, as if he had been conned, but none of the other recruits were complaining.


    Now I really need that letter...and fast too. Or perhaps I could just run away and ignore them hunting me down...but I don''t have the strength for that yet and I want that letter too...


    Xing Kai grunted and leaned back into he cold stone bench, and folded his arms. He narrowed his eyes as the sun glared at him.


    "After you''ve had your month of basic training you will be put into a newtask force, and ranked according to your performance. If you should do well in your task force, you will be trained further and given more cultivation materials. Higher ranks will also be given if we find you to be of the required standard."


    I suppose it''s worth sticking around since there is cultivation materials and good opportunities to build battle experience. Cultivation, training, and battle experience...plus I can get my hands on a ticket into the big cities and their cultivation materials, if I stay.


    "Of course listen to all orders given to you by superiors...unless you think that you are stronger than your superior, in which case you can fight and take his rank from him. All disputes are similarly dealt with the same way. A fight to the death at the camp grounds. These disputes can not be settled during duty."


    Quite a few recruits nodded their heads in agreement with this rule, while many paled slightly. Xing Kai thought it was strange that the sandy haired man encouraged his men to fight to end their disputes. But then again, Xing Kai also felt that it was sensible to engrain a desire for strength in his men, so they would become better soldiers.


    "For now, return to your barracks"


    The man stood ramrod straight throughout the whole talk without a trace of a sweat breaking out on his forehead in the heat. He watched the recruits standing and


    leaving the benches. Some of the recruits gathered together and talked while others walked back alone, like Xing Kai. The senior militiamen''s and thefierce sandy haired man''s eyes were both drawn to Xing Kai for a moment.


    Xing Kai and his 12 fellow recruitsquicklyentered the 8th training barrack and waited around for the next orders.


    "Hey kiddo, what''s your name?"


    Xing Kai turned to face an 18 year old boy with patches of stubble on his face. Xing Kai pulled out his parchment and passed it to him. The boy read it over, and flipped it. His frown cleared and he nodded his head.


    "Oi the rest of you, this one''s called Xing Kai. He''s mute alright?"


    The others looked over at Xing Kai but didn''t notice anything special about him, so ignored him.


    "Here. My name''s Yu Dong"


    The bristly boy passed the parchment back, and Xing Kai thanked him with a nod. He also ignored the rest of the recruits since they ignored him. It was not like he was going to go around and pass them the piece of parchment and then forcefully shake their hand.


    The recruitsof the 8th training barrackdid not have to wait long, before they were all called out again for their cultivation materials to be supplied. They also were told their schedule for the next week, which included lessons on geography, history of the town and area, and most importantly the militia codes and battle tactics. Physical training was fitted in throughout the day.


    Xing Kai and the 8th recruit batch were lead to a hall, were they all sat down on rising rows of seats before a large chalk board. it was a very basic set up, and the board mostly untouched.


    An old man, with patches of white hair, but a straight tall frame, walked into the hall. He took slow steps, but they didn''t give the impression of infirmity but more like the balanced, measured steps that a confident youth takes. He had a large unseemly scar running down his face and a wizened, knowledgeable bearing.


    This man doesn''t seem ordinary


    Xing Kai leaned forward on the bench and focused avidlyon the man. Xing Kai felt a familiar sensation to when he was listening to the teachers and story tellers in his vil--


    Can not be weak, must not be weak, can not be weak...


    Xing Kai dug his nails into his hands.


    "In our Piercing Clouds country we are of the 3rd province. This province is considered the weakest amongst the 3 provinces however. There are still a number of true big cities in this province, while our town can be considered of quite decent size within this province. In fact it would be possible for in the next few hundred years to becomea truly big town...if our militia was strong enough. As for becoming a big city...perhaps we could achieve it in a few thousand years..."


    Is the difference that huge? Then how big are the true cities...


    Xing Kai felt his throat catch as he imagined the vast scope of such a city. If this town needed hundreds of years of a strong militia just to become a big town, then what would a be required to become a city? Strangely neither the man nor the recruits were fazed by such a ridiculous difference in size; Xing Kai truly appreciated what it meant to be toad at the bottom of a well, looking up at a small patch of the sky.


    "For you to understand the basics of the kind of warfare that occurs among all towns, and what our militia does, you need to remember that point. We need to supress the other town''s while strengthening our own, for us to achieve such mighty heights. Your names would be forever written down in the annals of this town''s history if you contribute to it''s rise to greatness."


    The old man''s voice made a faint whistling sound, due to his missing teeth, and seemed to hypnotise the listening recruits.


    "Thanks to Nalan Zhen''s rule and honourable general Shen Han''s leadership of the militia, we have managed to grow this far and even have gained cultivation manuals. It is with these crucial cultivation manuals that we will have enough strength to overcome the other town''s and become mighty rulers of this area."


    The recruits were already dreaming of lording it over on theenemy towns, and leaned forward on their seats. The old man smirked. It would truly take very little to incite the men to hate the town''s that attacked them so often and so brutally.


    "In our whole world, there are untold numbers of people...in the wars that make and break whole countries, millions die with ease..."


    Xing Kai''s heart beat filled his sensesas he listened.


    So many deaths...no wonder those animals were so unconcerned when they slaughtered my home...but that level of brutality is still not natural surely?


    "With so many people and such vast lands, clearly there would seem to be many paths to becoming strong...so strong that you rise to the gold sky, past the dark one...so strong that the seas overturn with your hands...so strong that the earth shudders with your every step...so strong that death can not touch you"


    The old man''s words had everyone''s heart''s beating hard.


    Now I''ll know what I am...


    "But there is such a path...the path of the Sanguinary cultivator"


    Paw: This second release was to make up for the day thatI didn''t release a chapter when I had actually planned to. This double release day could be turned into a triple however...if 10 people give me some kind of feedback, even a simple rating, then I will post another chapter today (6 hours left!) =)

 Chapter 7...A Question

    Hey Shoga, followers and favouriters, this is my thanks. Watch this space...


    They all listened with bated breath, and on the edge of their seats. The old man''s smirk broadened as he saw the sparkle in the recruit''s eyes.


    "Sanguinary cultivators are powerful beings who cultivate their Heart''s blood and soul. They make their Heart''s blood more and more powerful, and their soul more bloodthirsty and profound...until they are ready to choose a path to ascension."


    "The path is the vital part for all cultivators...all true heroes and heroines of the past knew the significance of the path. When a path is chosen, their soul must successfully take the form of the weapon chosen. Only when a cultivator has chosen a path, canthey begin their true journey to ascension, by nurturing their Heart''s blood and their soul together, as the sanguinary trains"


    ...my Heart''s blood?


    Xing Kai felt anxious and worried. He knew he had barely any Heart''s blood left at all. Almost all his vitality and natural talent had been destroyed when he spat out so much Heart''s blood in his grief.


    "As the stories say, there are some rare talents, withexceptionally powerful souls and incredible ability...that can train in 2 paths."


    The man paused. The recruits eyes were blazing with admiration and desire.


    "These monstrous talents are called 2-path sanguinary. They have incredible potential and vast power on a battlefield, as they can adapt to the sudden and volatile changes in war, with their dual weapon mastery. They are unrivalledmasters of warfare."


    The recruits widened their eyes and all of them thought ofthe legendary heroes from the old stories, who could wield two weapons and would carve deep channels of slaughter and carnage in war. Their eyes shonewith admiration and excitement, young men and old alike.


    "As for the path to choose...that mostly depends on the cultivator. Many people have a natural belonging with a certain weapon, and choosing it as their path, increases their odds of successfully completing the soul transformation and begin treading the path of ascension. However, those monstrous talents are special since their soul can handle two transformations and still not be destroyed. Once a path has been chosen and the soul takes that weapon''s shape, either sword or bow, you are classed as a true sanguinary cultivator."


    Everyone except Xing Kai nodded their heads in agreement with the old man''s words. Many of them had already decided on a weapon to train with according to their favourite hero from the stories they heard. But Xing Kai found all of this new and surprising.


    So that''s how it works...those with 2-paths should be incredibly powerful and more likely to ascend right?


    "However, the difficulty in reaching that Stage is huge...many cultivators dieat another person''shands before they successfully find a path and transform their soul. And even then...many cultivators suffer an agonising death as their soul fails to transform and instead tears. Anycultivator whose soul has torn,die a horrible deathand can never reincarnate."


    The old man''s voice turned grave and his eyes sharp. The recruits gulped, and the determination in many of them faded slightly from their eyes.


    Could that strange ring be my soul? No, no no that thing is in pieces and is far too strange...plus I''ve never sensed my soul before, why now? I wonder whatthat thingis though...


    "Naturally given the numbers of people in this country, the big cities have many who reach that Stage. After that a whole new world opens up to you, as a sanguinary cultivator. But that life is difficult and many perish in the face of the Death Retributions that they must endure over the course of their lives."


    The recruits nodded.


    What''s a Death Retribution?


    "The ladder to ascension is a tall and narrow one. A cultivator must inevitably push many others off, if he is too climb higher. It is full of bloodshed...so much bloodshed would obviously cause Death Retributions to appear more often and more dreadful than the last."


    Ahh so a Death Retribution is the consequence of killing many people on the path of cultivation...I suppose all cultivators receive that challenge...


    "The steps up the ladder to the gold sky, are separated into important Stages. The first few are essential to forming the correct foundations for ascension; they are Blood condensing, Soul condensing, and Path finding. After that there are other stages, of which the final three are the well known Lord, King and... Emperor of War Stage."


    Xing Kai and all the other recruits burned these names into their minds, all aspiring to become the next great War God and have legends written about them.


    "Sir, what about those freakish monsters?"


    One of the recruits of younger age called out. Many of the recruits nodded their heads with understanding, while Xing Kai frowned.


    "Ohh you mean the blood cultivators. Well tobe honest this...this nobody knows much about. Some claim the blood cultivators are the devils, or perhaps an alternate path of cultivating...some even say that blood cultivation is thetrueway to ascend to the gold sky."


    Many of the recruits frowned. The stories everybody heard from their mothers when they were being scolded, was that a horrible monster cultivator would suck their blood dry and eat them. Surly that couldn''t be the truepath to ascension?


    "Sir, how can those freaks be true cultivators, how can theirs be the true path of cultivation?"


    The old man frowned and snorted at the young recruit.


    "Did I say it was the true way? I merely told you that people say it is the true way to ascend...I did not say that it was the true way to cultivate."


    "But sir, how can that freakish blood cultivation path be the true way to ascend but not the true way to cultivate? Surely it must be both or neither. Cultivation is all about the path to ascension isn''t it?"


    "True. Cultivation is about ascending to the gold sky. But, the path of the blood cultivator is not chosen by anybody. It happens due to some strange occurrences...and it is fundamentally impossible to choose to become a blood cultivator; hencemost do not even consider it a true path at all."


    The recruits bobbed their heads with a strange,relieved look of understanding in their eyes. The old man appeared more knowledgeablein the recruit'' eyes, but to Xing Kai he could feel an airuntruthfulness to the man''s words. Almostas if the old man was guessing what he said...as if he was unsure.


    Blood cultivation? That must be why some villagershad such a bad opinion of cultivators...wait...could that be what I am? I have absorbed blood before...and refined it...


    Xing Kai felt his heart begin to hammer heavily against his rib cage. He wasn''t certain, but it seemed that most likely he had become a blood cultivator, just based on the name alone.


    "Then what about a heretic? I thought all blood cultivators are heretical?"


    The old man turned to face another young recruit.


    "A heretical cultivator is he who does not follow the mandate of the Heavens. He chooses to oppose the gold sky. His path is much harder to walk, as he faces Heavenly Tribulation as well as Death Retribution. Heretics are the third category of cultivators...they are as different to Blood cultivators as blood cultivators are to sanguinary cultivators."


    "Sanguinary cultivators follow the path ordained by the Heavens to ascend...blood cultivators are an obscenely powerful group that the Heaven''s tolerate for some reason...but heretical cultivators must walk their own path. The fusion you speak of is possible in this huge world...but yet none have ever been spoken about in the legends...why do you think?"


    The recruits frowned in thought, and came to their own conclusions. Truly, in the stories Blood cultivators were reviled and appeared tyrannical, as were the heretics in stories, yet they had never heard anybody say that blood cultivators were heretical. Could it be that all blood cultivators were heretics or none at all?


    "From my understanding a heretical blood cultivator, would be far too ghastlyto beallowed to exist. They would likely be struck down by a particularlypowerful Heavenly Tribulation,and exterminated...or their path of cultivationis so difficult that they fail to ever progress very far."


    "Then who is the strongest? Is it heretics or blood cultivators or..."


    The old man snorted and glared at the recruit who asked this question. His scar gleamed and trembled for an instant.


    "Cultivation is not that simple, you fool. He who has the strongest Heart''s blood has a indestructible body, while he who has a more powerful soul will have the most powerful attacks. That alone is what matters, not what category you belong to."


    The old man was indignant and his nostrils flared.


    "Our own Piercing Cloud''s 3rd provincehas a mighty and righteous Archer King, who would beat any 2-path sanguinary beneath King Stage. He has even beaten a heretical cultivator of the Lord Stage of the Spear. You show great disrespect to everyone when you ask such ignorant questions. Just because heretics or blood cultivators have greater strength doesn''t mean they are better."


    The old man was red in the face and spit glistened in his lips.


    "Little brat, things like blood cultivators and heretics are far, far and far away from our small little world in this town. A heretical cultivator is struck by tribulation as soon as he forms heretical Will, according to how severe his Will is. With all the injustice and war in the whole world, many curse the Heavens...but how many actually become heretics? How many actual carry such powerful Will, that tribulation is required to exterminate it? Forget aboutLord Stage heretics...before a person even begins cultivating how is he meant to survive Heavenly Tribulation? Those individuals are wild and dangerous, and ferocious to the extreme. Yes heretics are mighty, but not automatically better than any other. Most heretics fail to ever get past the first few Stages as the requirements for breakthrough become huge."


    The old man seemed to settle down a little.


    "You need not worry who is stronger, and who is weaker...although heretics have an unnaturally powerful Will, they lead an impossibly difficult life. How many can live a heretic''s life? Sanguinary have their own advantage, while others have their own."


    The recruit shied away into his seat and bowed his head. All the recruits were sobered up from their wild fantastical dreams.


    The world is truly huge...so many different ways of becoming powerful...but why did he sayheretics have to survive tribulation before cultivating? Can a person only become a heretic before he starts cultivating? So can cultivators not form heretical Will? And why was he so disturbed by that question...almost like he was jealous haha...


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    Xing Kai squinted his eyes and stared at the old man, trying to get an idea of what was wrong with him.


    Theman calmed down and wiped his chin and lips.


    "Needless to say, there are many powerful cultivators in the world. Sanguinary cultivators are all you have to deal with, don''t think about blood cultivators or heretics. They are both rare to the extreme, and the world too large for anything definite to be said about either of them. The world has seen the rise of all kinds of powers, comparing them just based on heretics or blood cultivationis absurd."


    The recruits nodded their heads. Suddenly Xing Kai was waving a piece of parchment from his seat at the back and highest row of the hall. He had written a question while the man spoke.


    "Ohh you''re the mute brat who broke the nose of an Early Blood condensing Stage militiamen, during the entrance test...hehe someone read out what he''s written."


    "It says...can a cultivator not become a heretic?"


    The recruit sitting close by to Xing Kai frowned as he read the question.


    "No...a heretic closes himself off from the path of sanguinary cultivation...and who knows what effect it has on blood cultivators. Since hereticsbecome cut off, a cultivator can''t form heretical Will and expect to keep his cultivation. He''ll lose all of it, hence a heretic must be a non-cultivator from the beginning."


    Xing Kai nodded his head slowly as he thought this over. Then he wrote another question down and passed it to the young recruit beside him.


    "He''s saying...Has anyone ever managed to ascend?"


    The recruitsmirked and everyone burst out into laughter. They all knew the answer to this question.


    "What an idiot. He must be a village fool"


    "Truly he must have lived under a narrow tree to hide from the rain"


    "Hold on, didn''t the instructor say he beat an Early Blood condensing Stage militiaman?"


    "Must be a mistake. He''s obviously a runt from a backwards village, or some strange brokendownclan somewhere"


    The snickers and comments were all heard by Xing Kai, as they didn''t even bother to lower their voices. The old man frowned, glancing at Xing Kai''s dark eyes, and noticed that he was unfazed by the ridicule.


    "To answer your question...not one person has ascended in thousands of years...in this vast, endless, cruel world we have seen the meteoric rise of Bojing Hai, a 3-path sanguinary cultivator who managed to reach Emperor Stage in Spear, Sword and the Bow...yet he disappeared hundreds of years ago having apparently failed to ascend. He has been the strongest to walk the earth since the last ascension."


    Emperor Stage in 3-paths...what a monster


    Xing Kai''s eyes flickered slightly as he heard the man''s words, but he stayed composed on the surface. He quickly scribbled down another word.


    "The kid''s wrote...Nightmare?"


    The recruits all stopped snickering and whipped their heads back to the old man to see his response this time. The old man chuckled and nodded his head a few times, as herubbed his chin.


    "Good question. But I really don''t know what a Nightmare truly is."


    "The best I understand of them, is that they are most likely related to blood cultivators, and their path to ascension. As you all know, a Nightmare is so named as they are truly a bane of all wars. Whenever a war occurred and a Nightmare appeared...absolutely everyone was slaughtered. All Nightmares that have appeared in history, have slaughtered like no other...even Bojing Hai included. It seems like Nightmares need to kill vast numbers of people to ascend...and then they disappear."


    "Sir, since Nightmares are so strong, why do they appear so often but Emperor Stage cultivators so rarely?"


    "Fair point. But you''re mistaken. There are at least 3 Emperor Stage War Gods in every country, including our own, except they don''t appear in battles very often. However Nightmares, only appear once every century or so...and then disappear in under a few years. There are 2 known Nightmares in the world right now, but at least 17 Emperors. If there were any fewer, the Nightmares would have killed everything on this land already."


    "But sir, no one has ascended in thousands of years, why do Nightmares not count then?"


    "It''s like I said. I don''t know what a Nightmare is, I only guessed it had something to do with blood cultivators. The last ascension has been so long ago that I don''t know if a blood cultivator has ever ascended at all. That''s why I think it is possible that blood cultivators perhaps become Nightmares in their final Stage, and then leave this world. Whether they go the gold sky or elsewhere I don''t know. But no Nightmare, whateverthey are, have failed to leave in 5 years of appearing."


    "Then surely the 2 Nightmares will be leaving soon, right?"


    "Yes...they will. Both Nightmares should be leaving after one final massacre in the next few years..."


    This doesn''t make sense...why doesn''t everybody stop wars for a yeartowards the final year of the Nightmares existence and see what happens? Plus why are the Nightmares so successful in leaving but there are so many Emperors that fail to ascend, even that monster Bojing Hai couldn''t ascend...


    Xing Kai rolled the ink bottle between his fingers as he thought. Hewanted toget as much information as he can, now that he had the chance. Xing Kai scribbled again and showed it to the slightly annoyed person beside him.


    "The kid says...do heretics go the same place as blood cultivators/Nightmares?"


    This made everyone raise their brows, including the instructor.


    "No heretic has ever survived the Heavenly tribulation when they attempt to reach Emperor Stage. The most powerful heretic known to me is King Daiyu. She was a truly despotic War God; a King Stage heretic with 2-paths...even Emperor Bojing Hai would haveavoided her. However she too died under the Heaven''s tribulation."


    The old man was very pale and sweat glistened on his forehead. He spoke slowly.


    "Listen well all of you. No heretic has been allowed by the Heavens to reach Emperor Stage...it is unimaginable how powerful an Emperor Stage heretic would be, when at King Stage they can already rival Emperors. But...they are a forbidden existence. Be careful what you say...no heretic has ever ascended...they have all died...none has escaped Heaven''s wrath. Disease, luck, wars, tribulation...one way or another heretics have all died young."


    The old man felt sweat rolling down his back at the thought of such a thing. An Emperor Stage heretic was an intolerable abomination for the Heavens. Cultivators knew this, so they tended to avoid discussing such an almighty being for fear of being smote by the Heavens.


    How insane is that? This is even more confusing


    Xing Kai felt his heart pounding heavily and his palms becoming sweaty. Even his brow had sweat breaking out. His teeth clenched and his legs tapped repeatedly against the floor, as he thought about such a powerful being.


    I want to become that strong. I too shall rise to that level of power...and surpass it...this...this feels so...


    Xing Kai had never felt such a thrill before, and it deeply shocked him that he actually had such a passion for cultivation. He thought his whole life would be without colour and purely drivenby revenge and hatred for his weakness. But now Xing Kai felt that cultivating to a supreme level was his purpose. He wanted power so he wouldn''t lose anything he cared about, but now he also wanted power because he enjoyed it. Xing Kai''s Heart''s blood shifted imperceptibly, and wriggled with satisfaction at the prospect of ultimate power.


    Hold on...what about...


    Xing Kai gasped loudly, which made all the recruits turn and look at the boy who was scribbling with a passion on the parchment. Even the old man was intrigued and curious to see what would get Xing Kai so heated.


    As soon as Xing Kai finished scribbling, he flourished the parchment to the young recruit beside him. An insane maniacal glow could be seen in Xing Kai''s young eyes, which made the recruits shiver strangely.


    The 19 year old recruit hesitantly took the parchment between his hands and read the scruffy writing slowly.


    Everybody watched with shock, as the recruit paled and sweat immediately broke out on his forehead.


    "ARE YOU INSANE? I REFUSE TO READ THIS ALOUD"


    The recruit threw the parchment back as if it was burning him and then scuttled away from Xing Kai. Another quickly snatched the parchment as it drifted through the air and similarly he paled completely and threw the paper away with a screeching sound.


    "Alright that''s enough, pass the parchment to me"


    The old man felt worriedbut incredibly curious now. He lunged forward remarkably fast to snatch the parchment out of another''s hand.


    The recruits ranging from 17-54 of the 8th recruit batch watched the old scarred man turn a ghostly pale shade. The instructor''s hands shivered and he suddenly tore the paper into pieces.


    "We will not d-discuss this m-matter further. End of lecture, all of you return to yourbarrack"


    The old man''s voice was stumbling a little and he looked at the pieces of parchment on the ground as if they were a terrible beast.


    "Boy, you would do well to remember the story of Han Cheng. He too spoke a little carelessly, but the Heaven''s did not even forgive his dogs and chickens."


    The recruits were only just standing up out of their seats, when they suddenly froze after hearing the reference to Han Cheng and his burning. He was a well known merchant, who made his money selling weapons between warring provinces. One day he apparently insulted all cultivators for their stupidity andlaughed attheHeavens for creating cultivation in the first place. His whole family had heard him, and they all burned to death a few moments later, while their mansion was completely unscathed.


    They burned to death during winter, while their carpets were unscathed...if it wasn''t the work of the Heavens what else was it?


    "Just what did that kid write? How heretical must it have been for the instructor to fear the Heaven''s wrath?"


    This question bounced around in all their heads, as they stood up to leave. They all looked at the fallentorn parchment, as they wondered what could have been written, with fear and morbidcuriosity.


    Pity...where would I find a person whoknows theanswerbut is also willing to tell me?


    Xing Kai reluctantly left with the others, ignoring the stares he got from the recruits. He didn''t know the story of Han Cheng so he was unconcerned.


    "That boy...old lady Zhou had a feeling he wasn''t normal...first the healing...then the spar at the entrance test...and now this fearless question"


    The old man rubbed his head, wiping the fat drops of sweat away from his forehead. He then flicked his fingers and a strange force struck the pieces of parchment and turned them to dust; without a second look back,he left the hall with slightly hurried steps.


    He never felt so incredibly grateful that a little boy was mute.

 Chapter 8...The Forest Wall

    Xing Kai put the question out of his mind, seeing as he wouldn''t get an answer. The two people who had readthe question he wrote on the parchment, were still pale and one of them even fainted. The loud bang of thehall door being closed behind him, made him collapse onto the ground, unconscious.


    "What the hell is wrong with these two?"


    "They couldn''t be that scared...they''re probably just faking"


    A few of the older recruits grumbled and poked fun at the two, but their voices betrayed the fear they felt.


    "Why doesn''t one of you just right the question down again? That way you''ll be fine"


    "Are you crazy? There is NO way I''m repeating those words"


    The pale faced recruit looked scared for his life and went straight to his bed and pretended to go to asleep. The other recruit had awoken already but he just ignored everyone and twitched randomly as he layon hisbed. The morbid curiosity of the group rose,but the tension and fear was making some of the men visibly sweat.


    "Hey kid, write the question down again"


    Everyone slowly turned their heads to look at Xing Kai with horror. The man who spoke was burly and tattooed heavily with beasts. He stood with his arms crossed and smirk on his face.


    His hulking frame dwarfed all the others and his brazen request made him feel proud; he planned to become a task force leader one day, and lord it over the other recruits, so he felt it was important to appear powerful early on. This arrogant nonchalance for what scared the instructor, would make him more powerful in other''s eyes, he thought. Anybody would agree thatdoing things that other people don''t dare, is an easy way of showing superiority.


    It''s probably better if I didn''t say anything...they look like they''d thank me if I didn''t


    Xing Kai shook his head slowly, unintentionally narrowing his eyes and glaring slightly. He hardly looked imposing with such a small body, but the recruitswere relieved inside as well as chilled. The burly recruit shrugged, feeling satisfied with his display of power and bravery. He was too stupid to realise the danger that Xing Kai presented, had he actually wrote his question again. Ignorance was the burly man''s bliss indeed.


    "Whatever...little brat is probably just acting big because of his looks" scoffed one of the recruits. He had his nose upturned arrogantly to Xing Kai, but one could clearly see the sweat roll down his temple.


    "What do you mean probably? The shitty runt obvious thinks he''s hot stuff...he''s lucky i''m not so interested in that crappy question or I''d beat it out of him"


    A few of the recruits chuckled and tried to restore some of their pride.


    "Do you remember what the instructor said? The brat apparently beat the entrance test militiaman"


    "As if...that militiaman was at early Blood condensing Stage, plus I couldn''t beat him; there''s no way he could have done"


    "Well whatever...all I care about is getting toearly Blood condensing Stage. That would be a dream come true for me...life would be so easy, lording it over the town''s people"


    Some of the otherrecruits expressed similar desires and filled the air withtheir plansof abusing their power and acquiring certain benefits with it. But it was an undeniable fact that strong militiaman were like emperors in this town, and many acted as the recruitsdescribed.


    "You''ve seen the special treatment the militiamen get from the ladies...and from the drinking inns, haha"


    Xing Kai scowled, turned away from the men and went to his wooden bed in the corner. He had not metmen like these before in his village, and found them incredibly repellent and grating to his ears and eyes.


    How are they happy with such little power? Why stay bottled up in this little town...you might be powerful here but as soon as someone stronger appears you''ll have to kneel again


    Xing Kai snorted and thought back to the lecture from the old man. It only took him a few moments for him to be swept up by the thought of how large the world was. This town alone was thousands of households greater than his village. Yet cities were unimaginably greater than this town...one could spend a whole day trying to imagine how grand that place would look. And that was just cities in this weak province...Truly it was easy for Xing Kai to get swept up in his imaginings of the wide world.


    The recruits spoke for a few more minutes before being interrupted by a militiaman with a small box. He barged through the door and placed it one of the recruit''s beds. Inside were a dozen little books suitable for children, judging by size.


    "These are the copies of the first layer of Blood condensing Stage. As soon as you complete this you can be considered early Blood condensing Stage cultivators."


    The ordinary looking militiaman walked out with no further comment and slammed the door behind him. In a blur of motion, recruits pounced on the box andgrabbed a booklet. Xing Kai waited, as did the pale recruits, and picked one up. He tried to pass a booklet to the pale recruits behind him, but they avoided him strongly in all forms of contact.


    Hereturned tothe corner of the barrack, on his wooden bed again. He flickedthe worn, black cover over andbegan reading the manual for sanguinary cultivation of the first layer of theBlood condensing Stage.


    This...this is...


    The booklet really only had a few thin pages, handwritten and slightly worn out and crinkled. It had crude diagrams of the human body and the Jingmai. Even using inner sense, it would be hard to identify the meridians it was indicating.


    However, the real issue for Xing Kai was that the diagram was showing a certain pattern. The pattern was showing which channels the Heart''s blood had to be circulated around the body. The manual said vaguely that the Heart''s blood would permeate into the flesh and transfer the natural talent and potential of the person into his body...


    It sounded very vague and much like guesswork. Yet one thing was clear, as Xing Kai flicked through the rest of the pages quickly, and that was that the Heart''s blood had to be moved and used to strengthen the body.


    I only have a speck of Heart''s blood left...How in theworld am I meant to do this training?


    Xing Kai had hoped that the old instructorwas mistaken about the need of Heart''s blood for the Blood condensing Stage, or that he might get away with using the speck he had left, in some way. But now it was clear...he was in trouble.


    Xing Kai thought back to the discussion, feeling like there was something he was missing...


    Suddenly Xing Kai slapped his forehead and gaped in astonishment. His heart beat thundered and veins could be seen bulging on his temples.


    I can absorb other people''s Heart''s blood...could that blood be used instead of my own?


    Xing Kai quickly controlled his expression but he couldn''t stop his excitement surge in his heart.All sanguinary cultivators could only use their own Heart''s blood to strength their bodies for the Blood condensing Stage; that was clear from the manual. They had to rely on the strength and power of their natural talent and potential to become strong bodied cultivators. But Xing Kai could use other people''s Heart''s blood. He could continue increasing the strength of his body endlessly...


    I must truly be a blood cultivator...this must be themonstrous, freakish power that blood cultivators reputedly have. An indestructible body...truly, as long as I have enough Heart''s blood my body will so powerful that even an arrow couldn''t harm me...


    Naturally Xing Kai''s comprehension for the scope of his strength was limited to the vague stories he heard of blood cultivators from his village. Hehad never even seen a cultivator until recently, so hebelievedblocking arrows wasthe extremes ofa cultivatorsstrength.


    But if I''m a blood cultivator...will this manual even be right for me? Blood cultivators seem to be the reason cultivators have a bad name, so it''s not like I can ask for help...and even then, could I trust the help given, when I know so little...


    Xing Kai felt his excitement deflate slightly, and he was frustrated that his knowledge was now crippling his growth.


    Knowledge is also power...without knowledge there can''t be growth, and without growth there can''t be strength.


    Xing Kai closed his eyes and examined his internals. His sense was still vague and difficult to control, but he had taken a few lessons with the village healer to learn how to better control his inner sense. Hedidn''t improve much over the years, but he practised regularly.


    Yet Xing Kai could stillsense that some of his tissues were denser and stronger than in the past. The grains of his muscles were finer and deeper, with a dark red colour to them.Some of histendons were a slightly brighter shade of grey, and the connective tissues around his organs thickened in places. But these improvements were in odd places and in patches of his body only.


    His constitution was stillthe same, as the improvements were too irregular and unbalanced. If he was hit, the improvements would not help much at all, as he had too many untrained areas of his body.


    Xing Kai sighed andreleased his inner sense concentration.When he remembered back to the revenge he attempted to get, he faintly recalled the sensation of Heart''s blood being refined and cycled around hisbody. It had happened automatically, and just flowed around his body ingeneral. That would explain the uneven strengthening to his body he reckoned.


    Good thing I''m in the militia then...


    Xing Kai nodded his head with satisfaction at the unexpected bonus of joining the militia. Apart from the obvious benefits, he was also encouraged and even rewarded to kill people. He had to kill for Heart''s blood, but how difficult would that be on his own? He couldn''t kill innocents, and he didn''t have the strength to challenge random villains in the first place. But the militia covered this problem excellently, by providing support.


    Xing Kai pulled out the folded up sheet of parchment and scribbled a few things onto it. This naturally drew the attention of some of the recruits, but they were relieved as their eyes followed his narrow figure to the barrack door, and away from them.


    Xing Kai opened the door and stepped out into the hot, sandy camp grounds. He could seethe militiatraining in the camp, and there was alsothe recruits from previous batches, training in a nearby training ground. They were made to run and lift weights under the afternoon sun; sweat rolled down their faces and the sun baked their backs, but the militiamen were unrelenting in training the recruits.


    Xing Kai set off, with an eager look hidden within his cold expression, to the main camp building. It was a large stone building with heavy brick walls and hefty wooden beams supporting the roof. Xing Kai looked at the stone building, with only the word heavy echoing in his mind. His village''s homes were not totally rubbish, but with enough effort and time, the walls could be broken with your hands and the roof could be pulled apart. But these walls were very solid and could even resistan angry bull''s charge with impunity. The sturdy grey bricks and black tiles on the log-like beams was a eye-opening sight to Xing Kai.


    This should work. If I can already beat early Blood condensing stage militiaman...then why wouldn''t this work


    Xing Kai stepped into the cool building, with excitement bubbling up inside of him again.


    "Hey, you''re that brat that mushed brother Fa''s nose yeah?"


    An officer, wearing asingle black strip on his shoulder, called out behind one of the desks in the large entrance hall. He appeared very reliable and solidly built. He had soft brown eyes and a familiar face for some reason.


    "My name is officer Rong Nianzu. What would recruit Xing Kai be doing here?"


    Ohh, he''s elder sister Lan''s brother...wait, she never mentioned him before? Why didn''t she tell me she had a brother in the militia?


    Xing Kai nodded his head, but his cold expression turned slightly bizarre with confusion. Xing Kai passed the parchment to him and waited to see what he would say.


    Rong Nianzu frowned as he read, and looked over Xing Kai a number of times.


    "Sorry, we don''t allow recruits to take part in missions until theyhave undergone the basic training. However...seeing as you managed to get one up on brother Fa, we could let you join the wall defence"


    Xing Kai frowned. He thought thatsince he showed strength equal to the militiamen who took part in missions, he too would be allowed to join the missions. Wasn''t he good enough?


    "I can see that you disagree, but you can''t even talk...do you know how problematic that could be for the rest of the task force? If you try and take an officer''s rank by killing one, that could work...but nobody would follow your orders or even now what your orders are for that matter. Again you wouldn''t be sent on missions...not until you complete basic training anyways."


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Rong Nianzu appeared apologetic, but he returned to his work at his desk as if expecting Xing Kai to walk away now.


    What the hell? He basically means that even after I complete my basic training I''ll only ever be placed on wall defence...how am I ever going to become strong there?


    Rong Nianzu looked up from his papers, and scoured Xing Kai''s face, wandering why he was so insistenton joining the next available mission out of the town. He then was surprised to see Xing Kai suddenly smirk, and step forward.


    Xing Kai then wrote 4 words on the back of the parchment that made Rong Nianzu''sface to twist horribly.


    "Why would you want to join the forest wall night watch? Are you looking to die? We only send highly experienced militiamen to defend that wall at night,and criminals are sent there to die"


    Xing Kai looked unwaveringly at Rong Nianzu''s twisted face. They stared at each other for a dozen heart beats, before Rong Nianzu shook his head and grumbled in submission.


    He stood up and went over to one of the draws, and pulled out a bundle of papers. He recorded Xing Kai''s details, from the entrance sheet that he also located, and officially entered Xing Kai''s name into the forest wall night guards list.


    "Although this is highly irregular, people have wanted to join the forest wall before or been forced to defend the forest wall, so you should be allowed to join with my authority alone."


    Rong Nianzu finished writing down a few details and then turned to face Xing Kai. There was a barely perceptible gleam in Xing Kai''s eyes, during the whole process, that shone quite brightly now.


    "How much do you know about the forest wall?"


    He asked casually not expecting any answer, but was stunned when Xing Kai shrugged his shoulders.


    "...Are you purposely trying to wind me up? Why did you join if you didn''t even know what it was?"


    Xing Kai wrote a quick response down on the parchment.


    "You want to?...you want to go to dangerous places? Do you truly seek death at such a young age?"


    Rong Nianzu glared at Xing Kai, but only unwavering determination shone from his eyes and clearly expressed no desire for an early death. Rong Nianzu stopped his hand from removingXing Kai''sname from the guards list, as he about to a moment ago.


    "As you wish..."


    Rong Nianzu sighed and led him out of the headquarters and out of the training camp. They soon reached the weapons store of the militia. It was acompact, small building made entirely of stone. It looked damaged, with cracks and black stains on the walls.


    "If you weren''t in such a rush, you would have been trained in how to use a weapon...whatever, go choose one for yourself"


    Xing Kai grunted and looked around at the rows of weapons on the racks.


    It''s better to have a light and fast sword, so I can at least attack how I like, rather than a heavy, powerful one...as for the other weapons...only a bow would be worth considering...


    Xing Kai picked up an ordinary looking, slightlybentsword and the necessary gear with it. He was instructed on how to care for the blade edge and what things to avoid that could damage the blade. He had noticed that there were only low quality weapons available, but he thought it was just because he was a recruit and hence he was shown only the poorest weapons. A town''s militia would surely have better weapons that the rusted and chipped lot in there right?


    They left the battered weapons store, going to distant, darker area of the camp. The walls here were taller by 2 meters, but broken and painted in dark red blood. Even the hot afternoon sun couldn''t displace the chill in the air here.


    Leading up to the tall, rickety wooden walls, there were numerous narrow paths made of wood and dirt. It was a maze built to confuse and divert the enemy, when they inevitably break through the walls and enter the camp.


    Past the narrow and winding maze of death, and the broken wall, was the forest. The forest was the real nightmare about this area of the camp. It was sodensely packed with ancient trees, that even a child could jump across from branch to branch without needing to ever step foot on the ground. The forest edge had been pushed back leaving 20 meters between the lonely wall, and the dark forest. 20 meterswide and 100 meters along the wall, of clear land between the wall and the forest.


    This clear stretch of land however was covered in flies and crows. The ground was dotted with broken weapons and broken bodies. Beasts of many kinds and men of different clothingcould be seen on the ground being feasted on. With the ancient looking tree''s great height, thisstrip of land was covered in a dark shadow that the sun would never reach.


    "This place is where we suffer the most attacks. From wild beasts to enemies, we regularly have to do battle here, and many times we have lost. This is why the wall is so broken. The wall is breached by beasts and then funnelled into the narrow paths behind us. There we have to hold the enemy back, from invading the camp entirely."


    Rong Nianzu pointed out a few particularly damaged parts of the wall, where there were gaping large holes left unrepaired. The maze of tunnels behind those gaping flaws in the wall, were almost full to the top with strange mangled bodies.


    Why isn''t this wall defended better? This is ridiculous...


    Noticing Xing Kai''s scowl, Rong Nianzu explained.


    "We leave this place like this because it makes it almost a certainty, where all the attacks will occur. We don''t have enough elite troops to defend the whole wall, so they are centralised around this area. Thanks to that, we almost never get surprise attacked elsewhere along the wall"


    "Also most of the attacks are from wild beasts from the forest, as you can see. We get a large profit from killing them and selling their valuable parts and plus it keeps the population of beasts in the forest in check. It suits us and the forest to have this common battlefield"


    Xing Kai nodded his head slowly, but his eyes still held a trace of disagreement.


    This place really is a death trap. But the militia and the beasts intentionally struggle here, to grow stronger


    Xing Kai''s thinking wasa truththat underpinned many of the wars in the world. Both the militia and the beasts of the forest willingly sacrificed lives to strengthen themselves and they welcomed it. Adversity births strong people and on the back of one powerful person, a whole country could be formed!


    Xing Kai felt this wall reminded him too much of his own village. It too had a glaring weakness, butwas exploited by a stronger force for their own desires. Now a glaring weakness was being created intentionally, so that they could benefit from another''s foolish attack. Yet they could also end up welcoming a force they couldn''t handle...in which case it was the end of the town.


    Xing Kai felt anxious when he thought about how much the town was standing on a knifes edge. Yet this was cultivation. Xing Kai felt far more excitement than fear...he strangely enjoyed this tense feeling.


    Xing Kai hummed low in his throat, and felt a chuckle rising up his chest.


    Pity there are so few people who raid this wall, and it is mostly beasts. Who knows how long I''ll have to wait before I can get more Heart''s blood...


    "If you want to back out, let one of the officers know. Remember, you still have to take part in your normal training and make sure to appear an hour before nightfall at this wall. Follow what the other''s do."


    Rong Nianzu had another long look at Xing Kai, and then left. Xing Kai watched him leave, feeling unsure of what to make of him. The man seemed very nice, but yet Rong Lan hadn''t mentioned he even existed...perhaps they were cousins, reasoned Xing Kai casually.


    XingKai left the broken wall and walked down one of the more cramped paths of the maze, to get an idea of what it would be like in the night. He returned to the barrack soon after, with his sword and small cloth bag of things needed to repair and maintain his sword''s edge.


    Naturally, having been onlya few hours since they joined, and Xing Kai already carrying a sword, drew a lot of attention from the recruits. Some of them were even left with gaping mouths and round, unblinking eyes.


    "How the hell..."


    "Hey kid, why are you messin'' around with a sword for? Give it to me"


    The same burly tattooed man jumpedup off his bed andsauntered over to Xing Kai''s bed in the corner of the barrack. To anybody''s eyes it appeared that the boy was trapped and was going to be mauled by the bear like man for cocky behaviour.


    Xing Kai turned his head and gave the bear like man a quick look and then shook his head. He then placed the small bag beside his bed and then placed his thin sword against the wall by his bed.


    "Brat you''re asking for a beating, and I won''t deny you, your wish if you annoy me again. Give me the sword right now and beg for forgiveness...and I''ll consider not slapping the teeth out of your mouth."


    The burly man''s face was going very red. He could not tolerate the open disrespect he felt he wasgetting from acrippled brat. How could he ever expect to lord it over the other men, if even a brat could disrespect him? Slappingthe cowering boy''steeth out, was the only way the burly man could think of, that would restore his respect and standing among the men.


    "Poor kid is finished"


    "Who you calling poor kid? He seems heretical to me..."


    Some of the recruits whispered amongst themselves, but Xing Kai ignored them. He sat on his bed and crossed his legs, with the manual in his hands.


    "I don''t know which wretched woman gave bi--"


    The man stomped forward to Xing Kai''s bed, spiting out vile words in his anger, but Xing Kai suddenly exploded off his bed with a leap andappeared before the bear like man in a blur. The speechless recruits, watched as the young boy grabbed the man''s heavy, outstretchedhand and clenched.


    "ARRGG"


    An unmistakable crackling sound rang out.


    The burly man roared as his hand was broken. Xing Kai yanked the man on to his bed and under everyone''s amazed gaze, he twisted the man''s arm into a horrible angle.


    With a resounding crack from the man''s shoulder, he screamed.


    Xing Kai didn''t stop there, as he lifted the man by his jaw, and threw the man across the barrack, head first into the wall.


    Xing Kai breathed raggedly with a crazed look in his eyes. He was not tired, but rather filled with rage. The insult to his mother, was one he refused to accept in any form. He had failed her once, and allowedher tobe killed. Now he would not even allow a bad word about her in his presence.


    This was a conviction he had planted into his heart during his time in the hospital, grieving his lost family and friends.


    The solid thud reached everyone''s ears and they all mutely looked at each other, and then at Xing Kai. Xing Kai had already sat down on his bed, and opened the first layer of Blood condensing Stagemanual. He was grinding his teeth and gripped the manual tightly in his hands, as he tried to calm himself down.


    "Better to not mess with this kid"


    "He''s definitely not below early Blood condensing Stage"


    These thoughts bounced around the recruit''s heads as they watched Xing Kai read the few pages off the booklet. The bear like man had slide down the wall and lay on the floor in a crumpled shape. Some of the men he had befriended carried him out and took him to the infirmary.


    300 heart beats later in the silent barrack, anotherofficer came and called them to attention. He did not say anything about the missing recruit, the burly man, as if he never existed in the first place. He did however smirk when he saw the blood stain on the floor, as if he was used to it.


    "Your training has been organised and I have brought your routine for the next month with me. You will be living by this plan for the next month, so memorise it"


    Without another glance he left the recruits to look at the routine he stuck to the door of their barrack.


    The recruits looked over the routine and more or less agreed with it, however when Xing Kai saw it, he frowned with an odd expression.


    There really is very few hours of training...but then again the training seems pretty intensive, so the free time is mostly for recovering I think...


    The routine for the recruits would be 2 physical training sessions in the day, with 2 sessions of instruction about related information, such as geography of the nearby area, the history of the towns, the militia''s codes and fighting tactics etc. Each session was an hour, so only 4 hours was spent doing militia training.


    I''ll just sneak into the older batch of recruit''s training sessions,in my free time...no rule against that huh...

 Chapter 9...Visualising

    There were still several hours until Xing Kai had to be at the forest wall, and the schedule showed that the 8th barrack he was in, had no sessions scheduled for the rest of the day. Given that he had several hours Xing Kai made up his mind.


    He grabbedhis sword and left the barrack, ignoring the looks of apprehension andintrigue on the other recruit''s faces. Having stepped out of the circular prism shaped barrack, Xing Kai looked around.


    There were different groups training at the grounds now. There were still exhausted recruits running around sand tracks, while there were other recruits lifting, throwing and squatting stones of different sizes. The stones were grey, and ranged fromthe size of small dogs, up to boulders the size of horses. Most of the recruits were lifting stones of the small dog size and straining tremendously to do so.


    A run to warm up...and then perhaps some stone lifting to get an idea of how strong I am now...and sword practise is vital


    Xing Kai walked to the training ground, and with no further prompting, he began running on the wide elliptical track. He ran on the outer most edge so that he couldn''t be kicked off for getting in other people''s way.


    Naturally given his small frame, his handsome appearance, and sword, he drew the attention of most of theearlier batch of recruits and some of the training instructors. Xing Kai was running fully clothed and with a sword bouncing off his hips, on the outside lane of the track, yet he was quickly catching up to the other recruits. They quickly brushed it off as a boy''s eager energy and that he would tire out soon and go back to whatever rich home he lived in.


    However Xing Kai didn''t slow down or stop. Within a few minutes Xing Kai had made a complete lap of the 1 kilometre track and was running alongside the other recruits.


    The other recruits running on the track,looked over at him and were quitesurprised by the new addition to their running, but not overly so. These recruits were all in their prime, ranging from 20-40, and were challenging each other to a race. They were covered in sweat and had long since thrown their clothes off, and ran in shorts.


    They''re fast...


    Xing Kai felt a spark of pride and competitive spirit flare up as he looked over at the men running free and unrestrained. It was almost like a passive fight, the way the men were glaring and grinning at each other.


    But I''m faster...


    With sand flicking up into the air behind his every step, Xing Kai leaned forward towards the ground and began powering forward. With each explosive burst and contraction of his refined muscles, his unrefined flesh exerted greatly to keep up and not shake itself to shreds. Xing Kai gritted his teeth and ignored the scorching pain in his thighs and stamped into the ground harder and faster.


    In just a few unhurried heart beats, Xing Kai had powered ahead of the gallant, red faced men, and was kicking clouds of sand into the air behind him. His powerful kicks and lunges propelled Xing Kai rapidly around the remainder of the thousand meter track, in a little over a minute.


    A bit more...


    Xing Kai tightly shut his eyes and bit his lips. He pitched forward even closer to the ground and pumped his arms furiously. His sword clattered against his leg wildly, but he ignored it. The pain from the tissues and sinews in his body he had not refined with Heart''s blood were struggling greatly to keep up with the power output from the tempered flesh.


    The long stretch of the track allowed Xing Kai to close his eyes from the sun, for a little over 10 seconds before he already reached the curve of the track. Through his half-lidded eyes Xing Kai could just make out the scene of the bare chested men in the distance.


    I can catchthem...if my life depended on catching them, would I let them go? Not a chance


    Xing Kai unconsciously turned the training he was doing now, into a situation in real life where he had to chase the men to live. As soon as he did this he felt like his life truly did hang entirelyon just catching up to the men. If he failed now, it would mean that he had just discovered a situation that might occur in the future where he would fail and die...or worse; lose something or someone he cared about.


    Xing Kai couldn''t concentrate well enough to analyse the condition of his muscles and sinews, but he felt that they were actuallyimproving and getting stronger every second. As the pain increased, the refined flesh was seemingly strengthening the unrefined flesh.


    Nothing to worry about now...only my Will can cause me to lose now


    Xing Kaicould feel that this race was turning slightly too wild in the back of his mind, and that he might do serious damage to himself just before he went on the forest wall night watch. Yet he had already imagined a scenario where running would save his life, and so now he wouldn''t back down. It was just a bonus to Xing Kai, that he was actually not going to be injured in the process and instead benefit from it.


    With a low growl in his scarred throat, Xing Kai forced his ankles to help him push off the ground faster. He cupped his hands and pushed the air behind him, using every bit of advantage he could to reduce the burden and resistance, from the air,against his body. He forced his steps into the ground and pitched even further towards the ground, until he was practically running to stop himself from falling face fist into the ground.


    This was all he knew about how to run fast. On instinct and strength alone,Xing Kai managed to accelerate even further.


    "Oi, check the kid out"


    "No way..."


    Xing Kai blistered across the track and was quickly gaining on the men. His hammering steps and the plumes of sand attracted plenty of attention in the process. The old recruits looked on with astonishment, while the younger recruits were full of jealousy and anger. What Xing Kai did not know was that the people he was racing against were actually early Blood condensingelite recruits, who were being personally trained by middle Blood condensing Stage militiamen.


    To match them was one thing...but to be exceeding them was a very different story. These men had been chosen for their talent, and had taken a little over a year to break through the first layer of blood condensing. How could a random child recruit, already be beating them?


    For every ten seconds it takes me to catch up to them, I lose a friend...


    Xing Kai upped the imaginary pressure on himself.This method of training, was pure insanity, and Xing Kai was fortunate that he was not injuring himself. Itis common practise to make your trainingas close aspossible to real life situations, but there is also a fine line between extreme training and self-harm. XingKai didn''t understand these concepts so he merely pushed himself, applying pressure on himself that his personality couldn''t allow him to kneel to.


    As the seconds ticked by, Xing Kai pushed himself increasingly harder, and his refined flesh and sinews provided him with the speed he desired. He gritted his teeth even harder and his nostrils flared as he endured the pain.


    "What the hell do you think''s got him so riled up?"


    Some of the younger recruits thought that Xing Kai was trying to disrespect his seniors by lapping them, so they hoped greatly that Xing Kai would fail and fall horribly. Theolder recruits had similar thoughts, as did some of the instructors, as most of the ground paused their training and watched XingKai.


    Just a few more seconds before Iwould lose somebody


    Xing Kai shot a quick look up and saw that the men were only a few meters away, yet Xing Kai continued to run on the outside track. The track began to curve and the gap between the men began to stretch wider. Even the men were aware that a kid was about to lap them, so they all put on a burst of speed around thewide bend.


    This is weakness


    XingKaigrowleddeep in his chest and with a monumental push, forced himself to accelerateeven further. The gap betweenhim and the men stayed thesame.


    Am I going tofail again? Ifthis was real, would I really have lost another person close to me?


    Xing Kai''s eyes flashed, and his cupped hands curled into tightly clenched fists. His temple bulged with veins. His simple run to warm up his body, had become a serious question of his ability.


    The gap between the men and Xing Kai narrowed. The track was reaching it''s point of maximum curvature, but Xing Kai continued to narrow the distance between them, to the watching men''s astonishment.


    ...2...1...


    Xing Kai turned his head to the side and his eyes shrunk as he saw that he was level with the men. His legs continued pounding into the ground, and in relief he slowed down, but the decreasing curvature of the track allowed him to stay level with the men.


    Success


    Xing Kai grinned and felt a rush of pleasure. He raised himself out of his precarious running pose, and straightened himself. Xing Kai''s smile froze.


    There was one, lone man who was running ahead of the men by a few meters.


    ...Sss....


    Xing Kai felt all his pleasure immediately be replaced by a crushing blow of defeat. He had fallen short of one man, by just a few meters.


    Xing Kai stared at the back of the young man. The man was slightly sun burnt, and very red. His toned back and chest was covered in sweat and his feet were baking on the hot sand. His black hair fell wildly around him as he ran.


    "The brat''s slowed down...you reckon he''s given up?"


    Xing Kai, even though the curvature of the track was decreasing, was beginning to slow down. Xing Kai stared at the man, and his fists loosened.


    I really need more Heart''s blood. I wouldn''t have lost if I wasn''t held back by my unrefined muscles so much


    Xing Kai did not admit his defeat. He was too proud to quite believe he was the loser, but the imaginary situation he created presented him with only one answer. He was still to weak. If this was real, he would have lost someone, or his own life.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    This was a hard to ignore truth, when he already set his resolve to overtake the men in ten seconds. It again highlighted that he is not ready for getting his revenge.


    Xing Kai kept his speed steady, running fast enough so that he placed 2nd among all the runners. Sensing that Xing Kai was no longer pursuing to overtake him, the lead runner also slowed down and re-joined the others.


    The men were not happy having been lapped, and even the lead man, who managed to pull ahead of Xing Kai,was not happy, as he knew he couldn''t keep up that pace for very long. Now as he looked across the track he could still see Xing Kai running alongside him. It angered him greatly that he could be overtaken and lapped by a boy, ifthe boywanted to, but the boy merely chose not to do so.


    If Xing Kai had not run on the outside track lane, he would be far ahead of even him.


    All the men felt a strong burning sensation in their heart. It was disappointment in themselves and a desire to defeat Xing Kai. Although the men did not know Xing Kai they had already set him as a target to defeat.


    As for Xing Kai he was indifferent to the men. The fact that he lost bothered him, not who he lost to. He would race these men again in similar conditions if he could, otherwise he would set himself a different challenge and situation.


    "Who do you think the kid is?"


    "Why''s he wearing recruit clothes, when he''s obvious completed the second layer of Blood condensing...he can''t bea recruit right?"


    "As if...who could possible get to the third layer of Blood condensing Stage in under a month?"


    The watching recruits speculated amongst themselves, while the instructing militiamen gathered together. People steadily returned to their training as they noticed that Xing Kai and the men were stopping their race.


    The instructor for the elite recruits was stunned also. He doubted even his own ability to match the boy''s acceleration. AlthoughXing Kaiwasn''t blindingly fast in his eyes, he was astonished with his speed. He was so young yet already so fast? While his acceleration was rivalling a middle Blood condensing Stage militiaman''s...


    "This...he is not normal..."


    The instructor let the men continue running. It was rare that they received such a challenge and it would encourage them to keep becoming stronger. These elite recruits, had already undergone normal basic training, and were already actual militiamen. They were being put through this recruit style training in the hope they wouldn''t become like the other early Blood condensing Stage militiamen, becoming lazy and arrogant.


    The recruits had already been running for about an hour at that pace and forced themselves through another 2 hoursbefore they collapsed. Xing Kai did not stop and continued running in the outside track for almost 2 more hours.


    His dark hair was dripping sweat onto is face, down his soft features and off his chin. His green recruit clothing had already turned completely dark with sweat and he ever clattering sword remained by his side.


    Xing Kai felt a strange coolness permeate his flesh and run through his Jingmai. It travelled throughout his body, but concentrated on the parts of his body that the refined Heart''s blood hadn''t affected. His overstrained tissues and overstretched sinews rejoiced greatly on the arrival of this coolness.


    Xing Kai was too tired to be able to concentrate his inner sense, and investigate this bizarre feeling himself, and chose to continue running until it stopped. He felt running at the pace he was going at was optimal for the strained flesh and he was right.


    For the 4 hours he ran under the scorching sun, he exhausted himself in a few minutes and spent the remaining 4 hours recovering. By the time he too stepped out of the track he was utterly tired, yet his body was better then when he started.


    I made progress...this was a worth while run...


    Xing Kai sat down onto the sandy ground and leaned his head back on his shoulders. He gazed up at the clear sky, sighting a lonesome bird flying high in the sky. It was completely unrestrained, not like the men who ran gallantly and fought each other through a race, but truly free. It traced smooth, carefree circles in the sky high above.


    Xing Kai felt his mind clear as he watched the mighty bird, flying alone in the sky. Thoughts of home and his grieving in the infirmaryseemed insignificant when compared to the freedom and unrestrained pleasure Xing Kai felt the bird must be experiencing.


    IfI could live like that...could I live like that?


    Xing Kai felt like he was getting at something, at a thought that seemed far and unclear. He felt curious about this strange thought, and pulled a curious expression as hepondered.


    What kind of life is this bird living for it to be enjoying such supremacy in the skies?


    Xing Kai gazed at the bird, no trace ofjealousy or happiness in his eyes. He casuallythought about the bird,not rushing for an answer in the slightest. After a while Xing Kaidrifted away from those thoughts.


    A life of cultivating to an extreme height...to get revenge and live like a powerful person. Xing Kaiwas fixated on these thoughts. Only a powerful person could live well, and becoming powerful was all that mattered. He was fixated on this belief. Xing Kai stopped thinking about the carefree bird, and the hazy thought at the back of his mind.


    Time to familiarise myself with the sword


    Xing Kai stood up appearing far more relaxed and untired then he felt. Although he was stronger than he was before the run, he was not full of energy to take advantage of this gain in strength.


    I must become comfortable with this sword first and foremost


    Xing Kai stepped slowly over to the sword training area, and picked up a wooden sword of similar shape to his own. Under the unblinking eyes of the recruits, Xing Kai began hacking atthe paddedwooden post before him.


    "Any idea which family he''s from?"


    "No idea...but I heard there''s a kid who beat brother Fa earlier today at the entrance test"


    "No way--"


    "It''s true...looks like there are two brats with obscene strength"


    Some of the instructors were discussing amongst themselves, and were equally surprised that an early Blood condensing militiaman was defeat in the entrance test. None of them connected Xing Kai and the other mysterious youth together, as they could see that Xing Kai had awful sword handling skills.


    Even though he already carried a real sword at this waist, they thought he must have been given it as a means to rope him into certain faction of the militia. Promising recruits were often given incentives to join one captain or another, using weapons or money...


    With not even an iota of concern for the people watching him, Xing Kai continued his amateur attacks on the wooden post. The weight of the sword was of no concern to Xing Kai, but the shape and method to use the blade was. He had a huge lack of experience, and swung as hehaphazardly for an entire hour before he felt he was satisfied with the length of the sword. He then put the wooden sword away and pulled his real sword out.


    Naturally, if he was going to stake his life on a sword in a dangerous place, he would be mad not to practise with it beforehand.


    The sound of steel sliding over the wooden sheath was dull and slightly rough sounding, due to the bend in the sword. He brandished the blade before him in the hot afternoon, and gazed at the sharp edge and tip. He could vividly recall the night of the attack and his revenge and although this sword felt very different to the other one, it sent a cold chill through him.


    The same savagery and anger started to flare up, but Xing Kai focused on familiarising himself with the sword, rather then on the memories. He moved his arms in arcs and circles, stepping around the wooden post as he did so.


    He looked incredible strange to the recruits and they retrieved their gazes and returned to training. Xing Kai continued his slow steps and slashes with the sword for almost an hour. He didn''t increase the speed, but just tried to get an idea of how the sword moved best.


    Gradually his form eased up and his handling of the sword became more natural and smooth. His confidence grew and he began slashing at the wooden post. He was very wary that the sword couldn''t survive strong forces and clashes, so he was sure to moderate his blows.


    It sticks quitea bit...and the sword pulls slightly to the side when it moves through the air...need to counter that imbalance


    Xing Kai become quite familiar with the sword after 3 hours of practise. It was his first time practising with a sword, his first time to consciously feel the blade. So far he had merely used the sword like a giant knife...now he gave the weapon full attention.


    With the sun nearing the west horizon, Xing Kai sheathed the sword and left the wooden post and the hot sandy training ground. He quickly found the eating hall, and managed to get a hefty serving with his child like appearance. The rumours of his strength had not spread to the cooking workers yet.


    His sweaty dark clothes were surprising to many of the recruits and militiamen. Rarely did anyone train so hard as to end up in such a shape, with sweat dripping off the tips of their hair and clothes darkened to a dark green. It revealed his identity as the bizarre running kid quickly, and conversations centred around him and his possible background.


    Having eaten, he unceremoniously washed at the washrooms, which waslittle better than a very large pool witha solidified bar of herbsand oils in hand.Having saidthat it was still quite good compared to his village.


    Xing Kai put his clothes to the washing workersand picked up another set of clean recruit clothes, and left feeling refreshed andenergetic. He waseager to join the forest wall night watch, and test whether he could use the refined Heart''s blood like the first layer of Blood condensing Stage described. This night would be his first step into cultivation, and towards his revenge.


    5 weeks have passed since you arrived...now I begin chasing you

 Chapter 10...Hallucinations

    Xing Kai walked through the darkening camp. The camp flickered with long shadows and fires were being lit, to keep the camp bright. Recruits were returning to their barracks from training and groups of militiamen were getting to their posts. However, as Xing Kai walked towards the forest wall, he noticed that the militiamen were very lax, and indifferent to their tasks.


    Many were drinking alcohol openly and brought tables with them to play games. And this was even happening near the walls too. The men were not taking their guarding duty seriously, and although their weapons may not be high quality he noticed that they were not taken care of in even the most basic way.


    Can they not even wipe the blood of their swords? And their bow strings are meant to be kept in a box, to prevent moisture damage...


    Xing Kai felt increasing dismay as he looked around at the guarding militiamen. They were all relaxing at the stone wall, seeming quite content and confident in their rocky defences to keep any enemies out.


    Xing Kai scowled and walked faster through the camp. The more he looked around the more he agreed with Rong Nianzu''s words.


    With such lax guarding, no wonder themilitia leaderswant to all the attacks to occur in one place...


    Although Xing Kai had no military experience, even a half-wit could see that the guards would be slaughtered by arrows with the way they were guarding the wall. They were rowdy


    and unprepared...a rain of arrows would clean them up in one quiet sweep. But why were the officers not leading them better?


    Xing Kai could not reconcile this point no matter what he thought. Yet he was gladdened to see that as he approached the forest wall, the guards were suddenly very careful and vigilant. There were even officers patrolling, their black stripped shouldersdistinguishing them from the normal green.


    These are far better...so all the real militiamen must really be gathered up here then...


    Xing Kai suddenly recalled something he heard Rong Lan, and Yun Lifen had said. They both had cursed the militia for being full of lazy bullies and arrogant brutes. With so few good militiamen, it was understandable...


    The camp was particularly dark here, as the sun had fallen below the raised horizon of the forest. Bright fires and lanterns were distributed and created an entirely different atmosphere to the other part of the camp.


    Xing Kai looked around and felt reassured with the security here. The scowl and anxious feelings he felt back at the otherpart of the camp faded here. He unconsciously loosened his clenched fists, and his shoulders relaxed. Whatever it was that distressed him there, was not to be found here at least.


    Just looking at these militiamen, it will be interesting to see who qualifies to be called the Nalan militia''s so called elites...


    Xing Kai began walking briskly to the infamous forest wall in the distance. He could see the maze like paths and the broken, jagged outline of the lonely wall even from a kilometre away in the night.


    If this works I have to be careful the militiamen don''t realise...if I''m kicked out of the town for being a blood cultivator, I would be finished...


    Xing Kai jogged over the last stretch of the way, and through the narrow maze paths, then climbed up the wooden wall. The wall, beingconstructed of wood, was another point to encourage people to attack this side rather than the rest of the imposing looking stone walls.


    Xing Kai looked around and along the wall but noticed that the area was empty. Nobody was on the wall, or anywhere nearby.


    Where are the rest of the night watch? It''s already very dark here, if enemies were to approach we would have no warning...


    Xing Kai immediately turned his head and looked around at the foreboding stretch of land, feeling like a disaster was coming.


    Rong Nianzu told me to come here...I couldn''t be in the wrong place


    Xing Kai felt his anxiousness rise up and he frowned deeply with worry. His face was not matching the expressions someone of his age should have, and appeared disturbingly like a weary man.


    Xing Kai turned back around and looked at the maze like paths extending from the rickety wall behind him. There was nobody hidden in them either. Xing Kai ran along the wall to make sure, as the maze had high walls and narrow paths, but there really was nobody lying there in wait for enemies.


    Xing Kai alone was standing on the forest wall.


    I''ll just wait and see what happens


    Xing Kai did not believe from the appearance of the militiamen he saw nearing the forest wall, that these elites would be any worse than them. Xing Kai was hoping he was misinformed rather, than there being a catastrophic weakness lying in the town wall.


    A hour paced and the sun had completely set.


    Xing Kai had pulled his sword out already and had been pacing the length of the wall. He kept his eyes thoroughly trained on the slightest movements in the forest shadows, and he felt he could see something moving about in the shadows. There were black shadows that didn''t completely blend into the forest darkness...


    If the wall is attacked now, we''ll suffer a huge loss


    Xing Kai could only continue his vigilant watch of the soft shadows and hope that he could handle whatever came his way. Yet Xing Kai was still quite young and lacked experience, so his anxiety only grew. Seeing such a huge weakness in the camp undefended and unnoticed was frightening. Xing Kai''s own village was equally exposed and was not spared.


    NO, no...don''t start thinking


    Xing Kai shut his eyes and jabbed his feet with his sword, as he clenched his teeth.


    Can not be weak, must not be weak...can not be weak, must not be weak...


    Xing Kai felt incredibly on edge, as if he was being ensnared in a nightmare. Xing Kai''s mind rushed to his worst fears in an instant, completely going against what he wanted.Thoughts of his village and friends had bubbled up. He could not stop images of his friends rotting in the pool of blood, without a sending to the next life, flash in front of his eyes.


    These images weighed heavily on his mind. He knew he would suffer when he decided to get his revenge, instead of sending the villagers off;he felt like he was being weighed down by hundreds of duties and wishes, and that he was beingpushed down into the earth and the eternal inferno below. Every time he was tormented like this, it cemented his desire for revenge.


    Xing Kai chanted to himself, and gritted his teeth even harder as he shivered and trembled.


    2 more nightmarish hours passed.


    Xing Kai felt like he wascracking under the overwhelming pressure he felt.


    This place...this place is my worst...place to be...


    The forest wall was looking more and more pathetic the longer he looked. Yet gripped by nightmares and self-reproach, Xing Kai refused to leave the wall. If nobody was going to come guard the wall, then Xing Kai refused to call for help.


    That would be defeat, and succumbing to the pressure.


    So Xing Kai continued pacing along the wall and pushing the tormenting thoughts down. While Xing Kai''s mind was struggling desperately to keep itself together, Xing Kai''s Heart''s blood was resting calmly in his chest. It was not disturbed in the slightest by the hallucinations that Xing Kai was facing, but instead watched Xing Kai struggle in confusion.


    The speck of ordinary looking blood, seemed to bebaffled by Xing Kai''s crumbling fortitude. The Heart''s blood carried the crystalized Will of Xing Kai, yet the sameXing Kai was for some reason struggling against the puny hallucinations he faced? How could he have such tyrannical Will back then, but have such weak Will now...


    Xing Kai stifled a sob, and stared down at the haunting stretch of earth, with hatred and anger. He hated that he felt so weak and anxious when he was so close to gaining more strength. To Xing Kai, this represented an opportunity to gain Heart''s blood and the glaring weakness in the forest wall, would encourage his prey...he could not falter now.


    Xing Kai continued to supress the onslaught of thoughts, and his chant become, even more so, his life line. He felt the more he chanted the more he was able to face up to the hallucinations...and within another hour he was able to completely force the hallucinations away.


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    4 hours of building tension and torment were finally banished.


    Don''t let thoughts of home distract you now...only when I am strong can I indulge myself in grief


    Xing Kai had buried the sorrow deep down inside himself. He wasn''t proud that he didn''t call for help and had managed it alone...as he felt the weakness itself was detestable and shouldn''t have appeared in the first place.


    Something isn''t right...I shouldn''t have even been forced into such a state


    Xing Kai suddenly felt weary again, but for a different reason. When he left the infirmary he had already set his resolve. He felt there was perhaps a reason he suddenly was overcome with pressure and hallucinations.


    As Xing Kai thought this, unknown to him, the void-like dark soul fragment ring deep in his mind, seemed to simmer as if it had been riled up. The fragments seemed to wriggle slightly, but they froze with a start when Xing Kai''s Heart''s blood focused on it...


    Silence.


    The dark movements seemed clearer to Xing Kai.


    He looked into the forest and leaned over the edge of the forest wall, concentrating on every slight movement he could perceive.


    "OI, YOU COCKY BRAT, YOU SEARCHING FOR DEATH?"


    A bellowing voice shattered the silence and made Xing Kai almost jump straight over the wall. He whipped his head back and balanced himself quickly, with his sword in hand, and a cold, ready gleam in his eyes.


    In the distance of the dark camp, were a few men walking casually up to the wall.


    Is this the night watch of the forest wall? The elites of the Nalan militia?


    Xing Kai frowned and grunted at them unhappily. The men were all around 35 years, and carried more than one weapon. Three had bows on their backs and bags of javelins and arrows in hand. Another two appeared like any ordinary man, one could not identify a single outstanding feature on them. Yet they both carriedhefty long swords and an assortment of wicked blades and knifes.


    There were two other men in this group of 7. One was sharp nosed, tall and thin framed, with a shaved bony head. He carried a bow on his back and a spear in his hand.


    The other man, was very eye-catching. He was the brash man leading these men. He had short oily black hair and a robust body, which supported the spiked shield, sword and bow he carried. He had powerful set and bearing which made it difficult to focus on his face clearly.


    Are all these men, multiple path sanguinary?


    Xing Kai felt a spark in his head and his eyes flickered for an instant. However the thought immediately was removed from his mind. A 2-path sanguinary cultivator was considered a rare talent, while 3-paths were peerless geniuses of history. Emperor Bojing Hai himself was a 3-path sanguinary marked in history as an ultimate War God. It was fundamentally impossible for so many multi-path sanguinary cultivators to appear in a town.


    "Brat, if you just stand there you''ll get shot down by archers; have you not been paying attention to your lessons?"


    One of the archers shouted to Xing Kai, in a joking manner and the others roared with laughter. Xing Kai looked over his shoulder again at the forest and then decided to duck down below the wall.


    "Kiddo, you can do whatever you like, we heard what junior Nianzu said. But you''ll just get yourself killed. Do as we do, and you might just be awake to see your mother in the morning"


    The brash and boisterous man laughed and then leaped onto the wall with such grace, that Xing Kai was amazed. The other men casually followed, and withremarkable ease, landed softly on the wall, meters above them.


    These men truly aren''t ordinary


    The men then settled down in certain spots along the wall, placing their weapons in a calm and neat fashion, in hands reach from themselves.


    They are used to this...which means they''ve fought and survived defending this insane place, many times...to the point that they casually show up and not a trace of worry existsin them


    Xing Kai had to give some respect to the men, even though they seemed lazy and indifferent, like the other part of the camp''s militiamen. The men continued their conversations and talked loudly and freely, completely ignoring the existence of the forest behind them.


    Xing Kai sighed and decided to watch the forest anyways. Several more hours passed and stars brightened the dark night sky around the legendary moon.


    It was legendary for it''s other name: the bright palace of Immortal Mingxia of the gold sky.


    Xing Kai was very doubtful of the story in the past. He too had heard of the story of how she had ascended from this world, hoping to save her loved one''s soul from the Heavens, before he was reincarnated and lost all memories of his past life.


    Unfortunately she was too late, and her loved one''s soul was already attached to another mortal body and reincarnated. But she believed in her loved one, and instead created the moon, her graceful palace, so when her loved one is reborn he will hopefully remember her and ascend to meet her again ina new life.


    Xing Kai chuckled, which drew strange looks from the men.


    I will be far to late to save my family''s souls or my friends...how knows how long it take me to become an immortal...but maybe I too can build a palace to attract the reincarnations of my parents and friends...


    This thought of Xing Kai''s was repeated innumerable times by others, itwas a common dream among the world''s people. Be it wedding vows, songs, or stories, Immortal Mingxia''s story proliferated around the world untold eons ago, and it was ingrained into many features of ordinary life.


    Xing Kai did not believe it, even now he was doubtful of the story''s claims, but he was now more impressed by one thing more than any other. How strong must she have been? Emperor Bojing Hai was a horrifying force of destruction, yet Immortal Mingxia was even stronger...what does that level of strength even mean?


    Xing Kai''s eyes gleamed and moistened as he looked up at the bright moon in cold, winter night sky. Her palace alone was more than he could imagine...


    That is strength worth having, even if...


    "Brat, stay focused or who willkeep such vigilant watch on the movements of the enemy ants in the forest?"


    "Let us know if they incur on our territory"


    The elite militiamen occasionally poked fun at Xing Kai, but he ignored them out of respect for their strength. All of them insulted each other far worse then they did Xing Kai, so he felt they at least pitied him some small amount.


    The criminals that were tied up in the maze,sometimeduring the night,were heckled even worse by the men. Theywere sentenced to die heredefending the town, yet they were mercilessly heckled even now, by these men.


    The night creeped into midnight and the forest became more chillingly coldand Xing Kai could seem to see more malicious enemies every second. Sweat broke out on his back as his eyes flickered between the shadows of the land and the trees, but Xing Kai''s imagined enemies never seemed to tire of the repeated motions.


    "Brat, I think I''ve had enough of you staring like that. Stop it. We got it covered with our sense, so sit still already"


    The bulky officer waved his hands at Xing Kai and gestured for him to settle down.


    How can he sense things in the forest? Sense...hold on...can he extend his inner sense out of his body, like that old lady? Inner sense can really become like that?


    Xing Kai''s eyes widened in shock. Yet he found that it explained their nonchalant behaviour, so he really did settle down against the wall top.


    Extending the inner sense out of the body...that would mean you would know everything that was going on around you, right?...they''d be unbeatable in war...


    Xing Kai continued to ponder about the men and their remarkable ability.


    Perhaps cultivating toa certain Stage allows you to naturally control your inner sense in such a way...


    Xing Kai felt it was the most possible answer, but before he could think on it any further, all of the men leaped to their feet and raised their weapons.


    They were ready for battle, with arrows sentflying through the night, before Xing Kai could even look over his shoulder.

 Chapter 11...First Success

    How did they all move so fast? Do they all have the ability to extend their sense?


    Feeling truly weak in front of these men, Xing Kai also jumped up and readied his sword. By the time he had got into the defensive stance he had developed in the afternoon, arrows were already claiming lives.


    All 7 men were throwing either javelins, or using their bows. Xing Kai''s eyes raced across that bloody stretch of land, and saw the arrows covering strange black forms, while the black lethal javelins were staking the strange shadows straight into the ground.


    Xing Kai could barely track the motion of the shadows as they raced out of the forest and into the clear battleground. The cries of pain and death revealed the enemy to Xing Kai first.


    They were apes, snakes, panthers, boars...the flickering shadows were all wild beasts of the forest. They were normal beasts, not the blood beasts that could also cultivate and train their bodies.


    The robust and oily black haired man placed his bow down, and with a growl jumped straight over the wall, and into the horde of beasts. The spear wielding man also rushed straight off the wall and into a mass of shadows. The two ordinary looking swords jumped over the wall, casually and opened a strange hatch in the wall. All of a sudden, groups of criminals rushed out screaming and crying.


    The ordinary looking men ignored them and entered the fray, covering the holes in the wall with their flashing long swords.


    No human enemies? Damn it...but I can stilltrain and gain battle experience here


    Xing Kai felt a little disappointed, but quickly reassured himself that this would be an important opportunity to train his skills. These beastswere not the fearsome half-descendants of the Primeval, so they could not cultivate, yet their strength was prodigious.


    Xing Kai steadied himself and prepared to jump.


    "Kid, you are not these beasts equal. Standing here and surviving the hallucination effect is enough of an achievement"


    Xing Kai snapped his head back in the direction of the voice. One of the archers gave him a passing glance as he shot arrow after arrow into the dark. This one glance contained pressure and authority that Xing Kai suddenly wanted to kneel to.


    The hallucinations? So this place has this kind of effect?


    Xing Kai glared at the strip of land. Already he could make out bodies of beasts lyingon the earth. During the day he had seen that the ground was littered with bodies and bones, so naturally the ground was saturated with blood.


    That would explain the pressure this place exerted...it would also explain how the criminals had the courage to rush out into the battle. They had been driven insane, so they were welcoming their deaths.


    This place is truly fearsome...this level of battle, and the constant deaths would surely not be an ordinary place.


    Xing Kai looked over at the 3 archers, who unemotionally dealt out death to the waves of beasts. His hand tightened on the sword and with a surge of emotions in his chest, Xing Kai threw himself over the wall.


    It''s like they all say, cultivation is about challenging and defeating...there is no way I''m stopping at just defeating the hallucinations, I need to fight too


    The archers called out to him as they fired rapidly, but Xing Kai was already washed in the noises of the battle, and would not hear them; the archers spared another quick glance at him, and then let him fend for himself.


    Xing Kai landed quite deeply in the mud and pulp of flesh, and had to exert himself to pull his legs out of the sucking morass. He levelled hissword with his eyes, adopting the comfortable ready pose he had self-created during the afternoon.


    A lean and fast shadow rushed straight to Xing Kai. It''s eyes were ice blue, and had gleaming white fangs, which raced towards Xing Kai''s throat. It wasyoung panther.


    It wants to kill me


    Xing Kai felt the moments passing by slowly, as he jumped out of the way of the panther''s attack. He swung the sword over his shoulder as he fell, with all his strength.


    His blow grazed the panther, leaving a thin cut in it''s silky fur, and it slide to stop by the wall. It turned to face Xing Kai, who had quickly steadied himself, but was suddenly encountering a red fist swinging towards his skull.


    This is too close


    Xing Kai ducked out of the swing, but was slammed into the ground by an ape''s body. He felt a crushing force on his side and ribs, but managed to avoid any serious injuries, as he rolled away from the ape.


    Xing Kaibarely stood up, but had tomeet the panther''s second attack suddenly.


    These beasts


    Xing Kai cursed in his mind. His heart was hammering away in his chest, and anger welled up inside him. Blood lust rose up and filled his eyes, turning them a ruby red colour. The panther noticed this change in Xing Kai, but confidently continued its pounce.


    Xing Kai met the attack head on, as he just managed to raise his sword and they both rolled into the ground. Xing Kai''s back and arms were being clawed into a ragged state as the panther tumbled about Xing Kai. With Xing Kai''s anger swelling, he pushed the panther away from him with all his strength.


    He rolled to the side while the panther fell a mere few feet away. Its weight was far greater than it appeared by a considerable amount.


    This is far harder than I expected


    This was Xing Kai''s first honest battle, without the element of surprise or the enemy underestimating him; it was favouring very poorly for him. Xing Kai wobbled to his feet and spat out a mouth full of metallic tasting blood.


    A crushing blow struck Xing Kai''s hip and sent him flying several meters into a pile of bodies.


    I can''t die like this, this is pathetic!


    Xing Kai held back a howl of pain, and hoped that for the few seconds he was immobile on the ground, another beast wouldn''t come and finish him. This was the sorry story of far too many people, their destiny simply didn''t include them rising to glory,and they died early.


    I survived


    Xing Kai could feel the pain ebb away enough for him to begin moving. For a few seconds he was spared death.


    Suddenly a ferocious bite, crunched into his shoulder and his own hot, red blood showered into the air, and the beast at his shoulders.


    Xing Kai''s heart slowed for an instant, his Heart''s blood juddered. The deep, void-like soul fragment in Xing Kai''s mind seethed and a tremendous flow ofemotions crashed into Xing Kai''s mind.


    Xing Kai''s anger rocketed upwards and he grabbed the panther by the neck and pulled it straight off, and it yowled in pain. Xing Kai''s sword carrying arm was almost useless with the amount of damage done to his shoulder.


    Yet with a enraged growl, not losing out to any of the beasts in his animalistic cry, he raised his arm, with sword in hand and slashed at the panther''s throat, as he swung to the side. With blood shooting out of it''s neck, it swung it''s paws about desperately.


    Suddenly theape appeared directly above the panther, that lay over Xing Kai, and fell towards his chest.


    DIE WITH ME


    Xing Kai howled in his mind, and with immense anger and determination lifted his sword with his limp arm. The ape''s fiery red eyes widened and it fell onto the raised sword.


    The ape screeched and buried Xing Kai under its furry body, and pressed him straight into the mud. The panther bled out over his legs, while the ape was bleeding straight over his face, with the sword digging into Xing Kai''s collarbone.


    What a pathetic fail...seems my journey is cut short


    Xing Kai was racked with pain, and suffocating under the weight of the bodies above him.


    Xing Kai pushed the sword to the side, and all of a sudden a few drops of blood rolled down the hilt and straight into his skin. The blood went into his flesh, and into his arm''s principal meridians, up towards his mind. There the blood was dragged before the soul fragment ring, and refined.


    In a short moment the blood was miraculouslyrefined and then sent down his Jingmai into his body, as a few small drops. These few drops were sent from the dark soul fragment ring, to nourish the body.


    Wait the first layer, I need to use the first layer method


    Xing Kai was shocked back into attention, and concentrated quickly to use his inner sense to try and direct the ape''s refined Heart''s blood. However he was far too slow and only a few dregs remained in his meridians, before he could he stop the blood from being absorbed by his flesh randomly.


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    Xing Kai cycled these dregs of refined blood through his Jingmai according to the method shown by the first layer manual. The blood was starting to seep into his Loumai, and then into his tissues in a ordered and balanced manner.


    The Heart''s blood healed his shoulder and hip significantly, andtheheavenly, exquisite sensation, from his first time absorbingrefined Heart''s blood, permeated his body again.


    His pain dulled, and his body felt vigour and power returning. Although a great deal of Heart''s blood had randomly been absorbed by his tissues and tendons, his injuries had a greater demand for the refined blood, so they had recovered quite substantially before Xing Kai had begun cycling the dregs.


    It works...I really must be blood cultivator


    Xing Kai sighed in his heart, and his eyes moistened. He had a lot of pressure on his shoulders, and many doubts, but this was his first real success. He knew now that he had a path to becoming powerful...he could not see the light at the end of the tunnel...but he could feel a cool breeze, telling him an exit was ahead in the distance.


    Xing Kai pushed the dead ape off his chest with effort, and sat upright. With a savage growl, Xing Kai pushed his sword into the panther''s neck. The panther''s Heart''s blood came rushing out, up his sword and into his waiting hands.


    As the blood rushed up his principle Jingmai, and was refined, Xing Kai was ready and waiting. As soon as the blood was released from the mighty soul fragment ring''s bindings, Xing Kai directed the Heart''s blood to follow the path of the first cycle of the first layer of early Blood condensing Stage.


    The effects were incredible this time. His injuries healed far better, and more completely, leaving no imbalance in his healing. He felt his body fill with vigour and he could shrug off the fatigue and the pain that pressed him earlier. Although the effect and the heavenly, blissfulsensations were not as powerful as when he refined human Heart''s blood, by cycling it according to the first layer, the effects were not paltry.


    I can really improve now...my path is set


    Xing Kai grinned, but not with childish excitement, but with the same coldness and hardness as before. He pushed the panther off him legs, and stepped his way up the pile of bodies around him, looking to take advantage of the higher ground.


    ...no way...


    All around Xing Kai there was not a single living beast in sight. The 4 elite militiamen on the ground had slaughtered the beasts with ease, and were no going about putting the criminals out of their misery. The ground was showered in arrows and the javelins created horrendous statues of the beasts, pinned in shape to the ground, as they ran or roared.


    There death poses were very life-like, and created a strange tableau of the battle, that left Xing Kai in awe.


    These men are truly elites


    Seeing the carnage now, everything still and quiet, he could tell the fullextent of the battle.


    "HEY, THE BRAT LIVES"


    One of the men shouted out and set off a round of cheering and laughter, as they went about collecting arrows and javelins. One by one, the standing dead beasts collapsed as the javelins were pulled out.


    I am no where near their level...


    Xing Kai did not feel disheartenedbutinstead felt excited, and his passion soared. Seeing the men''s strength, he knew he would be able to learn from them well. As for the forest wall, there was not one point he was unhappy about now. The glaring weakness in the wall, would become his opportunity to grow and would supply the resources he need, to become strong. He truly felt this was a perfect place to train, and that joining the militia was the perfect choice.


    Xing Kai could train, learn and rest safely while experiencing intense battles with skilled cultivators.


    Xing Kai stepped down the pile of beast bodies and looked around. He looked at the forest edge in the distance and felt more confident, but far more respectful as well. With the towns surrounded by forests and wild lands, he was certain that only the powerful could travel between them alone.


    Xing Kai was not ready to leave the town. He was not even capable of it.


    Hewiped the blood of his blade and checked it for any chips and scratches. He was very meticulous about the care of hissword, as his life was dependant on it.


    Their weapons are of top quality, far better than the stuff that us militiamen get...


    Xing Kai was not jealous and he didn''t covet their weapons. He would like a better one for himself, but he would not take theirs.


    As he walked along back to the wall, he remembered that the men had killed some of the criminals, who had barely survived with harsh wounds.


    It''s a pity I couldn''t get any human Heart''s blood...that would be very effective


    Xing Kai rather hoped that he could perhaps have killed one of the criminals in the fray, but he didn''t go out of his way to hunt them down, and just jumped over the wall without aiming for them. Although, for power, he was willing to kill people, he didn''t want to kill mindlessly. Even if they were criminals...


    Perhaps I could have...


    Xing Kai suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked around.


    I could have taken their Heart''s blood if I put them out of their misery, without having to actually have done the deed myself


    Xing Kai kicked himself, and made sure to do the deed the next night, should their be criminals sentenced to the forest wall night watch. It would be free Heart''s blood, with none of the burden of murder!


    Xing Kai set off again towards the wooden wall.


    The same for the beasts too. If I notice any beasts that aren''t completely dead, I can absorb...


    "...Crksht"


    Xing Kai suddenly stopped and exclaimed. He sucked in a cold breath and looked around him.


    Can I take dead beast''s Heart''s blood too? It can''t have disappeared right?


    Xing Kai felt his heart race and he looked around at he stretch of land covered in bodies.


    Suddenly Xing Kai rushed towards a dead snake and pushed his sword into it.


    With bated breath and sweaty palms Xing Kai watched as blood trickled out...and a fewsmall drops of blood fly up the sword and into his hand. Defying all sense, the Heart''s blood still travelled up Xing Kai''s Jingmai and was refined by the soul fragment ring.


    After refining the dead snake''s Heart''s blood, only a speck was left.


    Only a tiny speck of blood remained after the powerful refining, but nevertheless Xing Kai cycled it in accordance with the first layer manual. His delight was dampened slightly however, when he noticed that the effectiveness of the refined blood was far reduced.


    With such a small quantity of blood and of such weak strength, there was no noticeable improvement to Xing Kai''s body.


    But Xing Kai didn''t stop. He quickly stabbed his sword into another beast and repeated the process. Thanks to the powerful soul fragment ring the process was very fast, and outwardly it appeared that Xing Kai was crazily stabbing all the beasts around him in fear.


    "Hey brat, have a little more faith. We CAN actually kill a cat you know, no need to check"


    The brash, powerful bodied man''s voice rang out and all the other men roared in laughter. One of them had actually seen Xing Kai struggling against an ape, so he thought it was quite bemusing to see him checking that all the beasts were dead.


    But the men didn''t take offense, and let him do so, thinking that the young boy was insecure.


    Xing Kai ignored their laughter and meticulously stabbed every single beast on the stretch of bloody earth. The men continued howling in laughter for a long time, while Xing Kai accumulated strength, as he tirelessly wandered around looking for more blood. In fact it suited Xing Kai that they thought he was being paranoid, as they wouldn''t check to see what he was actually doing with their strange sense this way.


    His status as a blood cultivator was far to dangerous for Xing Kai. Even his own friends had disliked features of cultivation that actually came from blood cultivators. Not that it bothered Xing Kai much at all.


    With free resources like these to boost my strength, even if there were a million bodies and only a fraction of the rewards, I wouldn''t stop until all the small rewardswere in my hands...


    With a cheerful smilesuitable for Xing Kai''sage, hewandered around alone collecting blood from dead men and slain beasts, in the night.

 Chapter 12...A month

    I''m sorry...I''m-m...forgive me...please....


    Xing Kai jumped up.


    It was completely quiet, everybody in the barrack was asleep.


    Stupid dreams


    Xing Kai slammed his forehead three times, and then got up out off his damp sheets. His black shirt, gifted by the two elder sisters, was clinging to his skin and gave off an unpleasant stink. Faint moonlight shone through the barrack windows along the opposite side, and Xing Kaichuckled in his gravely throat. After absorbing so many dead beast''s Heart''s blood, a few hours back, he had corrected a few imbalance in his tissue''s nurturing.


    Although there was still a difference between the strength of his tissues, due to some of them receiving the nurturing of Human refined Heart''s blood, while the other tissues only benefited from dead beast''s refined Heart''s blood, the gap was now smaller.


    Even his throat had shifted from a totally useless state, to now an incredibly gravelly tone. It was a small change, hard to perceive, but indeed it had improved.


    Xing Kai pulled the door open, and left the barrack. With the moon so close to setting, Xing Kai felt it was better to just have an earlier morning, rather than lay around in bed. He washed himself and replaced his smelly bed sheets with a new set.


    I need to get used to this...the pressure will only increase over the next few weeks


    Xing Kai felt tired mentally. He had only slept a couple ofhours after he was forced to leave by the elite militiamen, so his mental faculties were strained. The refined Heart''s blood did not work on strengthening the mind, so Xing Kai could only rely on rest and peace.


    By the time Xing Kai had finished setting his bed, the so called guards woke up from their drunken slumber. Xing Kai walked through the camp, feeling disdain for the men. They were lazy and endangered everyone''s lives with their irresponsibility.


    Xing Kai, did however, recall that he refused to call for help when he was alone at the forest wall, facing it''s horrid hallucination effects. Although that too was irresponsible, it was for an entirely different reason to the lazy men, and he couldn''t help feeling annoyed at the men.


    He arrived at the eating hall and was amused to find another hefty meal on his plate. There were no queues as most of the camp were sleeping or just waking up, so Xing Kai was given a hefty portion of meat and vegetables for breakfast. Perhaps it was because he looked miserable, or perhaps because the cooks were generous to the first served, but Xing Kai ate greedily and gratefully, whatever the reason.


    His mood lifted slightly with the meal, and the weight on his mind eased up. He felt more clear minded, and he returned to his barrack to put on his recruit clothing. By now even his fellow recruits were waking up.


    Hmmm...the first scheduled training session is today...I think I''ll squeeze in a quick run to cool my head though


    Xing Kaibeltedon his cleaned sword, and left thebarrack in a flash, before the other recruits even noticed. By now the sun had already begun its rise, and the camp brightened.


    Xing Kai found a quiet spot on the training grounds and began running in large circles. It was at a very relaxed pace, with no strength being exerted at all. Running like this, Xing Kai felt his mind clearing little by little. He chanted under his breath for the whole hour he ran.


    He laterreturned to his barrack and wasthen led out of the barrack with the other recruits, by an officer, to begin training. The session was quite intense for the recruits and many feigned exhaustion and stopped over the course of the hour.


    This of course was not what Xing Kai did. Each hour was important to Xing Kai, as each hour was an hour of training that brought him closer to revenge and increased his strength. So to increase the burden, Xing Kai lifted one of the grey stones about half his own size, and ran around the track.


    One should now that the density of these rocks were not normal. Even the small, dog sized rock weighed 200kg,while the one Xing Kai carried wasover 900kg. With this weight on his back, and it''s irregular shape to grip, Xing Kai ran for an hour, leaving all the other recruits in the dust.


    The greater the burden, the faster Xing Kai experienced that remarkable cool sensation. He found that it was coming from the very tissues that were the most strengthened. A black residue would be secreted, which flowed through his Loumai, allowing it to be transported around Xing Kai''s body through his blood.


    His connective tissues, his tendons, his muscles all benefited from the black residue, and it helped correct the imbalance in strength that was created when Xing Kai absorbed the mercenary''s Heart''s blood. This didn''t decrease the strength of the nurtured tissues, so Xing Kai believed that it couldn''t beold refined Heart''s blood. Somehow his refined flesh was producing it''s own strengthening substance, to support the weaker flesh.


    The new batch of recruits also had sessions with instructors to teach them more about the militia. During these sessions, important information related to the town''s demands, the supply and the enemy town''s was delivered.


    Xing Kai found these sessions to be incredibly valuable, even more so than the training sessions, sinceguarding the forest wall at night,increased his strength far more. Whether it was related to history, geography or even economy Xing Kai absorbed it all.


    Naturally he attempted to ask questions, but absolutely everyone rejected to read out what he wrote on the scraps of parchment, and even the instructors just ignored him. For the first few days, the recruits and the instructors thought he wasbeing atrouble maker, and an arrogant brat, but news had been leaked that Xing Kai was repeatedly guarding the forest wall at night, and the instructors could ignore him no longer.


    The forest wall was a place all militiamen feared, so naturally Xing Kai was given the due respect for guarding it.


    Butstill nobody wanted to read what he wrote. They were all fearful he would end up saying something heretical somehow, evenabout the metal crisis in the town!


    One of the things Xing Kai learned that was particularly interesting, was the relationship between the towns. Since the Piercing Clouds country was so large, it had divided itself into 3 provinces. The rulers of the provinces were powerful allies of the Piercing Clouds Royalty, who had thenbuilt the legendary cities that everyone worshipped, to administer the laws of the country.


    But the provinces themselves were mostly empty and overrun by wild beasts and dense forestry. Even the cities couldn''t manage all of it, and they only focused on areas they were interested in.


    The areas they weren''t interested in, the wild uninhabited lands, was where the towns were located. Even Nalan town''s 80,000 homes was considered a meaningless speck to the cities. The error in rounding the population ofany city in the province, was already 1000 times greater than the population of this town!


    Thus,this supposedly uninhabited land was ruled by the townships alone.


    This was a dangerous arrangement for the poor villages and towns, as they would be hunted by everybody, and as soon as a town was considered powerful,a city would come along and pressure them with monumental taxes!


    This was the struggle of the towns and villages.


    The Nalan town was considered decent among the towns, and had rival towns which they feuded with greatly. The Nalan family wanted desperately to raise the town into a force that the city would recognise, as even with monumental taxes imposed, the town would enjoy the protection from the city, and possibly the family could even move to the city as nobles!


    This was also the dream of the town''s people. Security was everythingfor the weak.


    The instructors also taught the battle codes and tactics that the militia implemented, and during one of the sessions the instructor eventold them about the strength of the nearby towns. According to intelligence, there''sonlya few thousand Blood condensing Stage men, while the number of Soul condensing Stage experts...numbered fewer than 30.


    This was across tentowns, with a net population of over a million, yet under 0.1% actually managed to complete the first layer.


    Of the 0.1%, under 0.5% actually reached Soul condensing...


    The one month of basic recruit training passed quickly and with little difference over the weeks.


    ......


    "Next recruit"


    An officer stood with a list in hand, calling out for the next recruit to take the test. The recruits weregrouped together according to theirbarracks, with Xing Kai standing in the 8th group beside his fellow recruits.


    At the stone platform to the side, there were several men standing and watching. They were the captainsof the militia, and were here to collect thenew members assigned to their companies. The National Military Shuzu, GeneralShen Han was also there, standing at the front, overseeing the recruit''s performance.


    No wonder this town''s militia isn''t one of the stronger ones


    Xing Kai was standing near the back of the recruits, by the same stone stands he sat on a month ago. The area beside it had been cleared for the final test of the recruits, and would end their recruit training.


    From this day forth, they would be fully recognised militiamen in thetown''s eyes, and they could enjoy all the benefits that came with such a status.


    The test itself was basic. Since nobody had hadever completed the first layer, and reached earlyBlood condensing Stage in the first year of entry, the standards of the test were set a little above the average man''s strength.


    This was what introduced the laziness in the Nalan militia, in Xing Kai''s opinion. The recruitsbarely had to train, and the test was very easy. Afterpassing, there isfar less formal training. Barely an hour a week was actually done, unless a man wanted to begin officer training.


    Xing Kai himself had created a new precedence, by joining the officer training so soon.After 3 days of joining the militia, seeing his performance andknowing the fact that he could survive at the forest wall atnight, he was given officer training.


    Even training amongtheearlyBlood condensing Stage militiamenwas not enough. After a week, he actually began training with the officers themselves.


    Everybody thought he was insane, and had already broken through to middle Blood condensing Stage somehow.


    If the test was made harder and the training longer and stricter, fewer people would be dying and the mission success rate would be much higher


    Being amongst the officers for a month, Xing Kai had a far better understanding of the town.


    Oh well...at least I can now join the mission task forces, and really boost my training and cultivation


    This was Xing Kai''s month long goal.


    Over the last month, although he could continue stealing Heart''s blood and refining it, he found that hecouldn''t absorb the criminal''s Heart''s blood if they had already died. Xing Kai had to kill the person himself, if he wanted the person''s Heart''s blood, and he wasn''t allowed to kill the criminals himself.


    Another issue was that, as the imbalance between his tissues decreased, the demand for Heart''s blood was becoming greater. On the first night, the effect was good since the quantity was large. But every single night afterwards, Xing Kai found the effects were getting weaker.


    The Heart''s blood was still being absorbed successfully, and refined excellently, but the muscles demand was getting very large. Only by increasing the number of beasts Xing Kai killed with his own hands, did his body continue it''s growth at all.


    By now, after a month of training at the forest wall, he could kill a dozen beasts. This was a significant portion of the beasts that typically assailed the wall, but no attacks were made by people, and the frequency of attacks was quite low, with onlyone big attack every 3 nights.


    This was why the forest wall was no longer that effective at supplying his cultivation resources anymore, after a mere few weeks. It could be said that in fact, only 3 attacks actually were beneficial to Xing Kai, as thethird big attack''s effects were already quite small, and Xing Kai was killing many beasts by that point already!


    After the third big attack, Xing Kai did kill more beasts, but he was limited by how fast the other guards killed the beasts. The demand for blood was exceeding the beast''s abilities to provide.


    Xing Kai now needed human Heart''s blood to cultivate efficiently, and the only way to get that...was through attacking other towns.


    If I''m lucky I should be able to join a raiding squad


    Xing Kai stepped forward, through the gap the recruits made for him, and stood at the starting line of the assessment course.


    Everyone felt it was stupid that he was made to do the test, when he was already stronger than most of the officers. Nevertheless Xing Kai casually hopped, sprinted, jumped and climbed his way through the course with elegance and ease.


    "Not even I could have completed the course so easily"


    The officer recording the recruit''s times for completing the course, muttered under his breath, with disbelief. He waspretty hard working militiamen, and trained with Xing Kai once, before he had become so strong. It left him feeling old, to see Xing Kai develop so much.


    Xing Kai then walked over tothe group of recruits who had successfully completed the test. They would later be separated under the 12 Captains of the militiaand become part of their company.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    By mid afternoon everyone had completed the test and were lined up before the grey, fierce eyed man.All 12 of his Captains stood behind him.


    7 of those men, Xing Kai recognised in an instant.


    "It is good to see so many of you passing the test, and joining the noble militia to protect our homes"


    General Shen Han''s booming voice carried far into the camp, and pierced every ear.


    "You will be, as of today, real militiamen. You will be taking part in vital operations to defend our homes, and also guarding the walls against our enemies...but first you must be placed under the 12 Captains, and their companies. From there you will be placed into squads as your Captain sees fit."


    The fierce grey eyes of Shen Han looked over at one of the men who carried a long scroll, on the stone platform. The man gulped and opened it.


    "The following militiamen will join the company lead by..."


    Xing Kai waited as the names were called out and the fresh, newmilitiamen walked to stand under their new Captains, by the stone platform.


    Of course, some Captains were more popular than others, as they undertook fewer dangerous missions, while other Captains, like the7 men Xing Kai recognised, were notorious andfeared.


    Stupid idiots...they don''t even realize that everyone could be forced into an intense battle to protect the town at any time, yet they still want to join the inexperienced and less skilled Captains. Truly many of these men just came here to enjoy the status and the benefits, rather than actually working to defend the weak town''s people


    Xing Kai watched as the crowd filtered and shrunk as men were assigned to their new Captains. Eventually only Xing Kai and two other men remained, and the scroll was closed.


    "As for recruit Chong and recruit Jung, you are both to be given squad leader positions, due toyour performance in the test. You will both be joining Captain Nalan Jin''s company and lead a squad of 15 militiamen each, as he has lost a great deal of his men in an unfortunate accident, so he needs new leaders."


    Xing Kai watched as the two men excitedly joined Captain Nalan Jin, who had a satisfied and lazy smile on his face. This was the man who had accidently saved Xing Kai''s life, by stumbling into the rogue mercenaries. Xing Kai had learnt a lot about him over the month...and felt contempt for the man.


    "Recruit Kai...will be promoted to an officer. Officer Kai, given your condition you were not given a senior officer''s title, and leadership of a 50 man half-company. Should your speech improve then you be given the position stated. But for now...you may choose which company you want to join"


    Everybody gasped as they heard these things. Remarkably Xing Kai would have formed the 13th company in only a month of joining the militia, while only being apparently 13 years old! Only his famous inability to speak stopped him.


    "Officer Kai, I would like to offer you to join MY company...we would greatly appreciate someone of your ability...and you would enjoy some lovely...rewards...for joining MY Nalan company"


    Captain Nalan Jin stepped forward on the stone platform, wearing his silk clothing, and gem encrusted sword. He was the image of corruption and the face of the many issues in the militia.


    "Damn lucky brat"


    "He''s definitely got it easy now"


    "No way can he refuse Captain Nalan Jin. The kid has to accept the Nalan family''s orders if he wants to stay in this town...particularly he has to agree to Nalan Jin''s commands...he is way to vicious if you don''t"


    Thenew militiamenmuttered and whispered amongst themselves, filling the air with soft, hissing noises. Xing Kai looked at Captain Nalan Jin''s handsome powdered face, and his ornate sword and tailored clothing. He had heard plenty and seen even more, that the man was crooked, and he abused his powers openly. He was an awful leader in battle, and an expert in telling snake whispers behind people''s backs.


    His whole company was full of arrogant bullies who supressed the town''s people.


    Scum...as if I would ever bow my head to you


    Xing Kai''s face visibly became cold and to the delight of a some of the Captains, Xing Kai snorted and turned his face away.


    "He dares not to give face to a Nalan clan''s son?"


    "He is far too cocky"


    The new militiamen who joined Nalan Jin''s company all sneered, and many other militiamen sneered at him as well. Their cold mocking gazes and self righteous sneers, added to the contempt Xing Kai felt for the crooked and vile Captain Nalan Jin.


    Xing Kai was actually glad that he didn''t have to lead anybody, as he didn''t really care much for others. He merely wanted to use the militia to improve his cultivation, not build a city with them. He strode forward ignoring the burning gazes of rage from Nalan Jin, and stood before one of the 7 men he recognised.


    These infamous 7 Captains, were precisely the 7 forest wall night guards.


    The company that Xing Kai joined specifically, was Captain Hong''s, the same burly and brash man who led the forest wall night guards.


    "Welcome brat. I''ll leave you under officer Jie''s squad, so go meet him at my quarters as soon as you can"


    Captain Hong smiled faintly at Xing Kai andXing Kai did the same strange gruntthatwashis chuckle, in return. The other night guard Captains also smiled at Xing Kai, and they gave him winks or a thumbs up for his insult to Nalan Jin.


    The 7 elite militiamen being Captains, was no surprise to Xing Kai. However, since there were only 12 Captains in the militia, it conflicted with the impression that Xing Kai had, that the militia was lazy and arrogant. If 7 of the 12 Captains were so great, then how could the militia be in such poor shape?


    But this was because of a simple point. Captain Hong''s company actually had the fewest men, but they were the most powerful and fearsome, so he was still considered a company leader. The other 6 Captains also lead very powerful companies, butthey were all very small also. This was because only men who wanted to become powerful, or gain the legendary recommendation letter and become a city cultivator,joined these companies. They were not lazy or undisciplined.


    On the other hand, Captain Nalan Jin''s company comprised of over 800 men alone. Him and his 4 other fellow Captains, represented almost all of the around 5000 strong Nalan militia. Naturally with so many men, and his status as both a Captain and a son of Nalan, his company acted like they owned the whole town. They only worked as town guards and peacekeepers, so they spent most of their time wandering around the town, harassing as they pleased.


    This distribution was forced upon General Shen Han, as the militiamen simply would work well under the 7 harsh Captains, and the 7 Captains wouldn''t even take such militiamen even if they were forced to. That being the case, the Shen Han allocated troops in such a way...the militia would collapse if it was any other way.


    "Now with all things concluded, you may return with your Captain, and he''ll arrange the necessary things for you"


    General Shen Han didn''t say much else, and simply left the platform, with the 7 elite Captains following him. As he left, he glanced at Xing Kai and seemed almost to smirk, but the expression disappeared so fast that Xing Kai doubted he even saw it.


    Officer Jie...he leads the raid missions often!


    Xing Kai held back his excitement and left the area calmly with the few other recruits who joined the 7 Captain''s companies. Xing Kai gave them a friendly nod in their direction and then left them behind.


    He returned to his barrack and collected his few possessions, including his barely touched money from within the bed frame.


    He left the barrack without a second look back at the building or the people he lived with for the month. All of them had joined for the status of a militiamen, so Xing Kai was uninterested in them. He could vaguely recall one of them had introduced himself, but Xing Kai had long forgotten his name.


    Xing Kai jogged through the camp and headed towards the quarters of Captain Hong, which was obviously placed by the forest wall. He ran across a few militiamen and officers that he had trained with for a time, and they respectfully greeted him.


    Although Xing Kai wasn''t arrogant, he was still young, and thesight of grown men nodding respectfully towards him, made him feel very satisfied inside. Yet again, there was tangible proof for Xing Kai, that strength meant one could live a better life. Receiving respect from people you hardly knew, was a special kind of pleasure that few could enjoy in life.


    Yet Xing Kai knew well enough that this kind of pleasure was wrong, and based on a foul type of greed. It would do harm to become obsessed with it, so Xing Kai made an effort to subdue the satisfaction he felt.


    Plus, this respect would be stripped from him should a more powerful person appear, this Xing Kai was certain of, so he was doubly cautious not to become influenced by his pride.


    Officer Jie is strong too...already at peak Blood condensing Stage, at the age of 37! He might be able to reach Soul condensing Stage before his good years pass by...


    Xing Kai had trained during the last week with officer Jie, and was barely keeping up with him. Officer Jie had a lot of battle experience and a powerful cultivation, as Xing Kai discovered during a spar. Xing Kai had lasted only a few moves, before he was disarmed of his sword.


    A large stone building faced Xing Kai when he arrived at Captain Hong''s quarters. It also served as the mission and intelligence centre for the militia. With a loud knock, Xing Kai announced his entry. Normally militiamen announced their arrival with a loud call, but Xing Kai introduced knocking to the camp, by accident.


    "Officer Kai, you''re here? Come in"


    A deep voice welcomed Xing Kai through the heavy oak doors. When Xing Kai entered he saw a tall, well-built man with black steel armour and a broad sword on his back. He was looking over a large table covered in maps and sheets of information.


    "Put your things in barrack 2, you''ll be staying there from now on. As for why your here...join me at sundown precisely, at the forest wall 31st opening. There will be thirty men lead by me, of which 13 will be at or above middle Blood condensing Stage, including you and I..."


    The man turned to Xing Kai and looked him dead on in the eyes, with surprising force.


    "This is an important mission, as you can tell. If we lose men, we will be losing a significant portion of the entire militia''s strength, understand? No mistakes can be allowed"


    This is a huge raid! How can so many of the elite militiamen be dispatched like this? What kind of mission is this?


    Xing Kai nodded solemnly.He understood, that with such valuable men being sent, if just a single one dies, it affects the power dynamic between the towns. A single peak Blood condensing Stage expert dying, would encourage a flurry of attacks to rain down on the town, which would chip away at it''s resources and reserves.


    Of course, the town wouldn''t collapse if a peak or even several late Stage experts were to die, but the town would have to dig deeply into it''s reserves, to defend against the tide of opportunistic attackers.


    After discussing a few more details about his pay rise, his training schedule and his duties, he left the stone building. No details about the mission were discussed, as they were strictly kept secret and none of the other 29 men knew anything either; only the 7 Captains and the general knew about the details!


    Xing Kai knew this part of the campwell, so hequickly found the washers and gave up his old recruit clothing and received his new green officer''s clothing, with the black strips sewed in.


    Quickly afterwards, Xing Kai went to the weapons store and returned his old sword. He had taken immaculate care of it, and the sword returned the favour almost as if it contained an old soul that desperately wanted to be loved and used for battle. With his black strips, Xing Kai took a new sword that was actually forged in the town, using the few metals the town could mine from the surroundings.


    He then found his new barrack and took the same corner bed that he did in the old barrack. He kept the money and his odd few possessions, comprising of his maintenance gear and his gift clothes, out in the open. He trusted these men, and so openly stored his belongings, as a show of faith. He was gladdened to see that many of the other beds in the barrack where also covered in coinsand odd items, completely unhidden from the others.


    This is how a militia should be...if you are going to fight and trust each other to protect your back, you should also trust them not to covet your belongings


    By the time the sun was setting, this part of the camp was already on guard and only conversations related to cultivation or the cities could be heard. Xing Kai walked through the camp to the forest wall like always, not giving any indication that an important operation would be occurring tonight.


    At precisely sundown and no earlier, Xing Kai arrived at the 31st hole in the forest wall. There was a particularly tall section of walls in this part of the maze, and the forest edge was closer than anywhere else along the wall.


    The 30 men arrived in the space of 10 heart beats, and without another word, all of them rushed out of the hole and straight into the foreboding forest.


    1 month has passed since I stood up there trapped in hallucinations...now I am already entering the forest, joining in critical missions...


    Grinning with his handsome young face, he entered with a group of powerful, largebodied adults, as not an inferior, but as avalued asset.

 Chapter 13...Harsh cultivation

    2 on the left, 5 on the far right. The archers will take care of any runners


    I shouldnot be far from completing the first layer...then I will become a trueearly Blood condensing cultivator


    I''m getting closer...getting stronger


    The effects weren''t as strong this time?


    Perhaps because these men were weaker than the first archer, so their Heart''s blood was less effective at nurturing my strength...


    Then again I don''t know anything about blood cultivators...it''s still hard to say if the effects should be decreasing like this or not...


    The demand has increased so fast! Even this amount of refined blood is not effective enough


    Damn it


    This is ridiculous


    These two certainly look strong...their Heart''s blood must be powerful


    Finished


    Lucky shot


    This should do it


    Again? Why is it so hard for me to break into the early Blood condensing Stage...


    Sanguinary cultivators just need to absorb a single drop of their own Heart''s blood to complete the first layer...I''m guessing their absorption rate is far lower than mine since I can absorb a whole person''s refined Heart''s blood very quickly...


    Somehow I can absorb Heart''s blood, but would I have this ability If I had more of my own Heart''s blood? Could it be that what gave me this ability, isalso what is slowing me down so much?


    Whatever I have become, I will become strong somehow..I don''t know what my cultivation route is, but as long as it makes me stronger then I''ll continue on this path


    Damn it, even if it''s the Heavens opposing my cultivation, I''ll still become strong


    The 7 Captains are not weak...with them I can certainly become stronger


    Who knows when I will get the chance to battle against a late Blood condensing cultivator...it''s not like there are many...


    Perhaps after repaying the sisters I''ll leave...the recommendation isn''t critical, and I''m not likely to face another enemy cultivator at late or peak Stage in months probably...and even then, what resources will I need to breakthroughafter reaching early Stage?


    Something doesn''t seem right


    Even my Heart''s blood is strange...little wonder my cultivation would be

 Chapter 14...Intoxicating excitement

    Bags...bags of Yao Gass?


    Am I even seeing this right? That much...


    This mud...yes...this could work


    So much Heart''s blood...


    It should happen very soon...they''ll make a run for it


    Fast! Thisattackis veryfast


    So Soul condensing really does allow you to extend your inner sense like this...


    Now!


    Step 2...if this works I could reap a humongous reward


    This is it

 Chapter 15...Gambling

    If I push them over, will I still get their Heart''s blood? Is there a range limit, or restrictions on the method of killing?


    If this works I will have the blood of a Soul condensing Stage cultivator...I can definitely break through with that!


    This is it now


    The militiamen are going all out huh? Well I can''t let you down now can I...


    I''ve screwed up


    He really is powerful...the 7 Captains never showed me their maximum strength


    It''s them!


    As if I''ll die here...you are not the last step on my road of cultivation!


    That strange ring...my soul fragments are doing this?


    So thatwas what happened when he slapped me?


    This will not be my end


    This plan will still work!


    This is my gamble


    A chance!


    Quickly now!


    Breakthrough damn it...breakthrough or I''ll die here!


    I still failed to breakthrough?


    Good thing the mud was wet enough or I would already be done for


    Time for the final part of the plan...


    Not so fast huh?


    Almost...I''ve almost done it


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 Chapter 16...Breakthrough

    Is this enough...is throwing off the cliff enough to count as me killing him? Damn it, I''m so close to breaking through!I should have just taken the whole arm then I would surely get the Heart''s blood right? I need to figure out how this works...


    Xing Kai peered over the edge of the ledge precariously and anxiously waited, with the 4 bulging bags in his hand. It could be seen how important this task was for the Soul condensing expert, as even now his severed hand wastightly gripping the bags.


    "Xing Kai get back off the edge, or are you going to chase the poor bastard down to his death?"


    Xing Kai turned around and could see officer Jie and officer Diwalking towards him. There was a perceptible gleam in their eyes and they constantly glanced at the bags in his hands. The other militiamen simply stared outright at the bags and were salivating and panting as if they were looking upon the undressed form of a beautiful princess.


    Xing Kai chuckled bitterly in his heart and stepped away from the slippery edge. He walked back to the others and passed the bags directly to officer Jie. It was at this moment that their achievement really sunk in for the panting militiamen. One of the men on the cliff top could contain himself no longer and immediately began roaring with laughter and cheered into the night sky. The men all erupted in cheering and slapped each other''s backs and even the older men were grinning from ear to ear.


    A rope was dropped down the cliff and the men climbed up the cliff face, with Xing Kai following behind. He remembered how powerful the Heart''s blood of the peak Stage cultivator was, but even that could not fulfil Xing Kai''s body''s requirements. He was certain that onlya Soul condensing expert could bridge the gap, as peak Blood condensing Heart''s blood would not give the qualitative boost in Xing Kai''s body that he needed to break through the first layer.


    As Xing Kairaised his hand to thelip of the cliff he felt a strange vibration. There was a scorching sensation on his ankle and a powerful tremor passed through his leg.


    Xing Kai''s eyes widened and he immediately frozeas he hung on the rope. The sound of the cheering menfaded awayin his ears as he focusedcompletely on his internals.


    The powerful tremor in his legmade it difficult for him to sense what it was clearly, but he could track the rippling tremor pass up hisleg''s Jingmai and up past his navel and towards his head.


    The powerful vibrationcould only be from one thing.


    Soul condensing Heart''s blood!


    Xing Kai could finally see the drops of blood when it neared hissoulfragment ring as thepowerful tremors from the blood were completelyextinguished.


    The dropswere small, and a deep red colour.


    Powerful. Vigorous.Wilful.


    Xing Kai feltthese words appearing in his mind as hewatched the strugglingHeart''s blood being pulled into the ring of Xing Kai''s soul fragments...and was refined in a single moment with ease.


    The derived, refined Heart''s blood was quickly gathered by Xing Kai using his sense and he directed it to flow through his Jingmai according to the first layer.


    The first cycling of the blood did nothing.


    The second cycle waslike a heavenly dam had broken onto the world!


    Xing Kai''s muscles greedily absorbed the Heart''s blood as it filtered downthrough the Loumai and into the tissues. The changeswere more significant in these few moments than the sum of his whole cultivatinglifetime by far!


    The muscles in Xing Kai''s body became a rich and deep red in colour, but not onlyon the surface but deep down into every fibre ofmuscular tissue. The grains in themuscles deepened and tighteneduntil they became clear striations, a sign ofthorough muscular toning.Shockingly Xing Kai''sLoumai, his blood vessels, actually embedded themselves in the grooves of Xing Kai''s muscles, which provided them with an extra layer of protection beyond what was possible for the Blood condensingStage!


    Dense


    This was first word that would come to mind seeing Xing Kai''s muscles now.Likeheavy granite and marble.They were deeply enhanced and refined, with incredible toning and bursting power. The explosiveforce they would produce could only be imagined.


    However theLoumai alsofeed into XingKai''s connective tissues and they experienced an even more remarkable transformation.


    XingKai''s tendons were the most greedy. A substantial amountof the essence of the Heart''s blood was absorbed by theyellowand pale white tendons and they becamepale white in colourentirely. It was like looking at amilky coloured metal, deceptivelyenduring and incrediblystrong. Even an axeman that could fell a300 year old tree with a single strikewould fail to damagethe tendon of his fingers!


    But Xing Kai''s ligaments would not fall behind however. They became more elastic and flexible, but yet also far more enduring and resistant. Xing Kai could feel that he could bend any of his jointsto the extreme with ease now. His agility had grown greatly with this and therefore so had his effective combat speed!


    Even Xing Kai''s skin experienced a rejuvenating effect. His skin felt icy cold as another layer of skin was shed asdust and another layer regrew beneath it in a single burst of growth. The newlayer of skin still showed his humble origins yet there was also a nobleair to him now...the kind of indescribable air of health and vigour that noble children have, due to a lifetime oflavish eating.Xing Kai''s entire lifetime of toughliving on the farm was wiped clean, and he seemed as if he had never suffered poor eating, even though hestill had the recognisable tan of a farmer.


    The most unexpected change was to Xing Kai''s bones. The bones also absorbed the Heart''s blood, but Xing Kai could only perceive that the bone''s surface seemed to have hardened...yet he was sure thatthere wasmore to it than justthat. Although he couldn''tidentify any other changes, he knew that his bones had more than just hardened on the surface.


    Strange...


    Xing Kai couldfeel his body thrumming with power and smoothly lifted himself over the edge of the cliff asif gravityhad simply disappeared around him.


    This...could I have?


    Xing Kai felt a soft thud insidehis body as ifa bubble had burst inside of him. His mind wobbled for a moment...and hefeltimmediately that he had managed to break through the firstlayer!


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    He could feel an incredibly blissful shudder running through his body and closed his eyes to savour the feeling. It was the most intense feeling of comfort but more than that...the achievement made Xing Kai deeply satisfied and content. This breakthrough was a nightmare toachieveby any standards, yet by gambling with his life he had won...and the satisfaction he felt in his mind and soul was far great than the physical one.


    Let''s see how far I can go


    Xing Kai nowredirected therefined Heart''s blood according to the secondlayer manual he had memorised. In fact Xing Kai had memorised all the way toup to the 7th layer asthe camp assumed he was already atmiddle Blood condensingStage and wastraining to break into late Stage. He never denied or confirmed the senior camp officers, and took whatever cultivation manuals they gave him.


    Xing Kai cycled the blood according to the route described. The routes were not very difficult for him to find and managed it with relative ease.


    The first circulation of the remainingHeart''s blood showed no results.


    The second circulation wasastounding.


    Xing Kai noticed that this time none of the Heart''s blood was distributed to the muscles, tendons or ligaments but instead went to his organs. Strangely thisnew circulation path meant that the Heart''s blood only filtered down to the Loumai connected to his vital organs...this was surprising information to Xing Kai.


    But the changes to the organs were even more surprising.


    The membrane and tissue structure of the organs seemed to twitch and writhe.The membrane began thickening while the internal organ''s structure began changing.


    Xing Kai''s kidneys and liver where the first tobe changed, and the organ lining became thicker slightly and the internaltissues moved slightlyto form a slightly curve in the tissues. The functions were allunchanged butthe slight curl to the tissue arrangement meant that impact forces were distributed throughout the organ more evenly...so they would be able to withstand greater impact!


    Xing Kai was incredibly clear on the fact that internal damagewas the worst and theeasiest way tokill a person. In fact all deaths could be attributedultimately to internal injuries.Without a strong inner core, acultivator would have no resilienceand endurance...they would only ever amountbe a pathetic warrior.


    The kidneys, the liver, the stomach and intestines,all experienced an increase in resilience and became tougher.Even the Loumai became thicker andless likely tobe damaged.


    However all these changes required massive amounts of the refined blood essence and it soon ran out.


    This is not too bad


    Xing Kai felt he was about half way through the second layer using the Soul condensing Heart''s blood. Heexpected that since the first layer breakthrough requiredSoul condensing blood, then the second layer would naturally need lots ofSoul condensing Heart''s blood.


    To only be half way through thesecond layer was notsurprising.


    "OfficerKai are you alright?"


    Xing Kai lookedtowards the voice and found it to be another one of the officers. Xing Kaifelt ashock and quicklygrabbed his blood coveredstomach and wheezed slightly. He nodded his head and sat down as if taking a rest. The man frowned with concern but seeing that Xing Kai was notin extreme pain he decided tonot say anything.


    If the dust wasn''t covering their sight they would have seen how badly I was injured...and explaining how I recovered from that would be even harderthan explaining how I could exchange blows with a Soul condensing cultivator


    Xing Kai''s pleasure from breaking through was slightly marred by the sticky situation he placed himself in.The only way he could have survived that exchange with theSoul condensing expert was if he was at peak Blood condensing himself...but he didn''t have the manual for the 9th layer, so how could he have reached peak Stage?


    How wouldhe explain itif anyone asked?


    While Xing Kaiwrestled with solutionsin the dark the other militiamen became to settle down and supress their excitement. Occasionally they would glance at Xing Kaiand look at him with deep respect and admiration...the men were beginning to understand that they were looking at someone talented.


    Themilitia and the town''s peoplehad never encountered someone truly talented, so they couldn''t see the value. To them, only immediate strengthwas useful, andtalent was only atool which may or may not pay out in the future. Even these elite militiamendidn''t have much appreciation for talent as a talented person could easily die when hewas weak.


    But talent like Xing Kai''s was too blinding to be ignored.


    "OfficerKai, havemy healing pill. It will help you recover faster"


    Suddenly one of the militiamen spoke out loudly and drew everyone''s attention.They looked at the man and could see a dull looking marble in his hand.Allof themen, including officer Jie removed a small marble from theirconcealed pockets andstepped towards a stunned Xing Kai.


    This is practically theft!I can''taccept such an expensivething from them


    Xing Kai looked at the men and his brow furrowed with guilt. These pills were quite mediocre but still very expensive. Their effects were limited to a 10% chance of stopping a mild infection and helped blood circulation, but that was a huge benefit for the militiamen. Hence the 150 blood coins cost per pill.


    Yet to Xing Kai''s amazement they offered it to him.


    They hardly know me yet they are so kind? Do they...


    Xing Kai pushed his thoughts aside and swallowed the almost 30 pills quietly and the men smiled, happy that they could have helped Xing Kai recover. In their minds, practically all the Yao Grass belonged to him anyways, so they were perfectly happy in giving him their hard earned pills in exchange.


    "If you''re feeling well enough officer Kai, we''ll begin making our way back" said officer Jie.


    Xing Kai nodded his head and stood up steadily to match his blood covered appearance. He felt conflicted for consuming their pills given with good intentions, while he felt an inner hatred for them.


    Hatred for forcing so many people of another town to starve. Hatred of himself for following along for his own selfish purposes.


    The successful group of elite militiamen flowed into the forest and returned to the town on a slightly different track then used before.

 Chapter 17...Report

    They encountered more beasts on their way back, attracted by the smell of blood, but the men were full of vigour and so the wild monkeys and boars were killed with relish. After a few hours they soundlessly entered the camp through the broken forest wall.


    In the maze of paths behind the wall they were greeted by Captain Hong and the other 6 Captains. Before the Captains even had a chance to count their numbers, officer Jie showed them the bags of Yao Grass.


    The 7 men immediately went wide eyed. The Captains glanced at each other with flashes of excitement on their faces, which made the men¡¯s chest swell with pride.


    "Go to the warehouse at the far end. We''ll meet you there in 5 minutes"


    Captain Hong''s voice was low and deep, reverberating in everyone''s chests. The 7 captains flickered and seemed to have disappeared into the camp.


    The 30 militiamen quickly ran to a low roofed wooden warehouse where they stored bent weapons, vats of poison and enemy clothing. There were crates stacked to one side and large gate like doors at the far end which were as thick as a small tree. The men waited in silence while some were treating the few injured men among them.


    Xing Kai had managed to cut his stomach with a small knife during their journey through the forest, so he also appeared to be treating his injuries, with the assistance of a couple others.


    In a little over 300 heart beats, the Captains returned and with them came every militiamen under their command. The 7 Captains stood on a raised platform of boxes and faced the militiamen. Captain Hong and the tall, spear wielding Captain Fan stood at the forefront while the 5 other Captains were lined up behind them.


    "Men...we have conducted an important secret raid tonight. The mission was led by officer Jie and officer Di, comprised of a total 30 elite militiamen. They were tasked with destroying the Zen family''s winter food stocks discovered by officer Lin, 8 months ago."


    Hong let this sink into the militiamen in the almost pitch black warehouse. With his deep commanding voice and the eerie scene of hundreds of men standing in silence, the men were enveloped in an atmosphere of duty and kinsmanship.


    "The mission was successfully completed, with no deaths among our own numbers."


    The men nodded, feeling both proud and triumphant that their brothers could land such a devastating blow to the rival Zen town. The shared looks between the 30 and the other militiamen was enough to transmit their feelings to each other.


    "However...during the course of the mission the men managed to capture a quantity of Yao Grass"


    The listening men instantly became wide-eyed and held their breaths.


    "Officer Jie, could you report to us the details of the mission?"


    Hong looked over at the 30 men standing separate to the neat rows of the other militiamen. Officer Jie gave a crips nod, stepped out among the circle of 30 men, and turned to address the hundreds of militiamen.


    For the next 20 minutes, officer Jie meticulously described every detail of their mission from the number of enemies faced, to how many killed, and how many injured. Even the number of beast attacks along the way and where they occurred was described. Each man¡¯s performance in the mission was described...including Xing Kai''s.


    "On our way back, officer Kai found a strange odour. I made the decision to follow officer Kai''s direction and¡­¡±


    The next few minutes particularly made the 29 men grin and the listeners to marvel. The Captains, however, shared a few looks and narrowed their sights on Xing Kai, which made him break out in sweats.


    I knew it!


    Xing Kai quickly looked down at his feet and racked his brain for what to do.


    Everyone thinks that I''m at Late stage...at best I could say that I luckily broke through somehow into Peak stage and then...with a lucky trick I managed to defeat the Soul condensing expert


    Kai quickly glanced around at the men and the Captains.


    ...they don''t seem to be suspicious?


    The militiamen gave Xing Kai amazed looks but they were focused on officer Jie''s telling. In fact, even the Captain''s had withdrew their gaze. Kai released his breath in relief.


    Thankfully nobody saw the fight in detail


    ¡°Did you clear the area of any clues that could could lead those men back to us?¡± a captain asked officer Jie.


    I can''t let anybody suspect I''m a Blood cultivator...otherwise I''m finished


    Xing Kai kept a close watch on everyone for signs of suspicion while the report was given.


    ¡°After killing all 5 monkeys we quickly fled, and managed to avoid their ape leader¡¯s detection. No more than 12 minutes were required on track B2 for us to reach the wall. Sir.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Jie ended his most successful report to date with a poorly concealed smile on his face. The Captains nodded their heads and lifted up the four bags that everyone had been expecting from behind them. Everyone¡¯s attention was drawn towards the much anticipated bags of treasure.


    ¡°As you can see, we have a large amount of Yao Grass at hand. There¡¯s almost 450 leaves in here; more than Nalan town has ever come across¡±


    Hong raised the bags up, casting a dim yellow glow on his hand and face. His eyes almost seemed to be glowing all by themselves in his fearsome face.


    ¡°We have enough resources here to really build up the power of the town. To make it safe for our families. Well...if we make the right decision that is..."


    All of the listening men sobered up immediately; everyone understood the problem at hand. Captain Fan took a step forward and allowed his penetrating gaze to roam over the men.


    ¡°But this fortunate event will have consequences.¡±


    Fan¡¯s cold voice reached everyone¡¯s ears sharply.


    ¡°Without a doubt this Yao Grass was a shipment meant for and sent by a powerful entity. For the guards alone to have more experts than a good-sized town...this is probably the work of the highest level township. One with a population bordering on a million.¡±


    A million people...to support a town like that the militia would be atleast 10 times greater than ours...


    ¡°They will definitely investigate this loss and in no time at all, conclude us and Zen town as the likely culprits. For a town of that strength...it wouldn''t even matter which one of us did it. Both towns will get wiped out and the town insignias stolen¡±


    The men swallowed.


    ¡°They will come looking for us. Either before or after they wipe out Zen town. They have little reason not to¡± said Fan.


    ¡°Especially since the Great Town Promotions are concluding. All of the powerful towns are looking for an excuse to steal other town''s insignias¡± Hong concluded.


    Did I bring a disaster onto the town?


    Xing Kai''s brows met.


    ¡°There are two important points to consider here: firstly, this hard earned Yao Grass would certainly be split up among all 13 captains for fairness if the militia learned of this. We would receive the least as we are small in numbers, even though it was our brothers who did all the work.¡±


    Everyone nodded solemnly.


    ¡°Secondly, a high grade town with many Peak Blood condensing stage men and a number of Soul condensing men will come looking for us.¡±


    The men could all see where this was headed. Slowly and silently people began raising their fists into the air.


    The unmistakable sign of battle.


    ¡°Therefore we will not be reporting this to the town. Even if we told them that we were going to be attacked, those lazy, philandering fools in the militia wouldn¡¯t change. This treasure is better off in our hands, where we can use it to rapidly build up a small force of elite soldiers.¡±


    All of the men had raised their fists into the air.


    A unanimous agreement.


    Looks like this town is going to end up in a serious war...I can''t die here before getting my revenge


    Xing Kai raised his fistlike the others, but his eyes showed very little actual determination to fight.


    I need to leave before the battle...but to do that I''ll need to travel through the wilderness without relying on the tracks...


    Xing Kai shook his head to the idea of wandering the wild virgin forests without any help or directions.


    What a rut I''m stuck in...I''m not strong enough to leave and carve my own path out, and I can''t grow any strong here since I''ve ran out of resources


    Xing Kai suddenly paused.


    Since when did I start thinking of people as resources?


    ¡°The distribution of the Yao Grass among us brothers will be as fair as possible. Listen carefully. All early Blood condensing Stage cultivators at the 1st layer will receive 1 Yao Grass leaf. Those at 2nd and 3rd layer will get 2 leaves.¡±


    ¡°For those at the middle Blood condensing Stage, everyone at the 3rd layer gets 2 leaves, while the rest receive 1.¡±


    ¡°Finally 2 leaves are to be given to each person at Late stage. Naturally the peak Stage men will not enjoy much of the benefits of Yao Grass, so they will not get any.¡±


    As Hong described the allocation, the men left their fist raised up high. There were no complaints.


    ¡°Special exceptions shall be made for officer Kai, who will receive 6 leaves, and the other men who partook in the mission each of whom will receive 1 extra leaf.¡±


    Wait, 6! I get 6 of those leaves! That would be enough for me to breakthrough! I could definitelyleave and travel the wilderness then!


    Kai tightened his fists and felt a shiver of anticipation. Xing Kai accepted his 6 glowing yellow leaves from one ofthe ordinary looking captains and clutched them tightly.


    What a stroke of good fortune. With this, I don''t have any reason to stay here anymore...


    I can finally hunt down those men


    Xing Kai chuckled in his throat, producing a horrible grating sound. His dark eyes burned with fury.


    Maybe God is finallysupporting me...


    Xing Kai looked at the leaves clenched in his fist.


    I would never have thought that I would even end up holding things like these in my hand. What would the others say?


    Xing Kai shook his head ruefully as he opened his palm.


    The leaves were quite bizarre, smooth like any blade of grass would be, yetnot as supple as expected. The colour of the grass seemed to be like straw, simple and unremarkable.However the glow it produced was very mystical, moving and flowing in a pattern known only by itself.


    The glow...it looks like it''s flowing through small veins in the leaves...the plant''s Loumai I guess...


    Xing Kai felt like his surroundings were gentlyfading away as he gazed into the soft warm glow.


    Hesmelled one of the blades of Yao Grass.


    He broughtone of themto his tongue.


    ¡°Listen well¡±


    Captain Fan called out to the men with his sharp piercing voice, which jolted Kai back into focus.


    ¡°Keep this between us at all costs"Fan said. His eyes racked over the militiamen, testing to see if anyone would buckle. "We must do this because the town is in danger, and onlywe can properly respond to defend it. Train well in the next few weeks...that will be about as much time as we can hope for. Bythen¡­¡±


    Fan shared a look with the other captains; the men looked about each other with tense expressions too.


    ¡°By then the town ownership transfer would have been completed anyways" he muttered.

 Chapter 18...Defeat

    Soafew weeks...hmm...I''ll need to repay the two kind sisters by then. Once the battle is concluded one way or the other I''m leaving. My revenge takes priority over all other things


    Xing Kai planned what to do for the next few weeks while the militiamen, around 300 of them, quietly sneaked out of the warehouse. They left in small groups or pairs, never in large groups or it might attract suspicion from any of the militiamen actually sober enough to notice.


    "This town transfer business will ruin us even if we manage to beat whatever town comes at us"


    "I know. It would be better if we installed Cheng as the mayor by force"


    "Exactly. Jin would throw his brother into a river with stones tied to his ankles if it meant he could become mayor"


    A couple militiamen whispered to each while the warehouse emptied.


    Nalan Jin has a brother?


    Xing Kai positioned himself a little closer tothe conversation.


    "I agree. If the worst does happen, then I say we make Cheng the mayor. Captain Hong and Commander Shen Han can rule the town through him and finally bring us a bit of peace..."


    "Why wait? I think we should kill that rat Jin and his dad-"


    The small grouping of men immediately separated as the Captains looked their way. The squat, dark building was almost empty with onlythe 30 man team andtwodozen othersleft with the Captains. The two dozen others were theremaining super elites who had not taken part in the mission.


    "Ok" Hong said as he scanned the group. "It only makes sense to speak to you lot in particular seeing as you represent most of the town''s strength."


    The men saluted simultaneously, raising their right fist to their heart, with Kai lagging slightly behind. The Captains noticed.


    "If I was in your place when I saw the Yao Grass being transported, I would have done the same thing. I don''t agree with how you went about it, but the results are not bad." Hong nodded his head slowly. "But I would then go back and train furiously. More furiously then ever before, to prepare for what would come" Hong said.


    Fan stepped forward with his hands behind his back.


    "I would have ran" he said slowly. "I would take everything and run away. The danger is too great, the enemy too strong."


    Don''t tempt me


    Kai looked at the Captains standing behind Fan and Hong. They were faintly smiling.


    "I would agree"


    "Yep, me too. We''re archers. We care about keeping distance from the enemy even more than Spearmen do" agreed the two archer Captains. The third nodded his head.


    The other two Captains, the swordsmen,didn''t respond.


    "Unfortunately we don''t have the luxury of a mayor that is on our side. The townspeople either stay here and die or they stay here and survive. That difference rests on your shoulders..."


    Fan and Hong continued motivating the men and convincing them that staying and fighting was the only method available to them. 300 heartbeats later the men werestanding astall as their backs would allow, with a fanatical fire in their eyes. They almost leaped straight through the door to begin training when the Captains finally released them. Xing Kai stepped forward with the last couple of men when Fan signalled them towards the door.


    However as Xing Kai made his way towards the door the two ordinary looking, sword wielding Captains stepped forward and blocked his path. The two militiamen beside Kai were surprised but as they left the door they gave him a friendly thumbs up and a grin.


    Shit, what''s happening?


    Xing Kai''s heart was hammering wildly and sweat immediately broke out on his forehead.He instinctively placed his hand on his sword and looked around at the 5 other Captains that were walking up to him.


    In the dark, and with his nerves stretched tightly, Kai didn''t notice the Captain''s surprised expressions at seeing him prepare to draw his sword.


    They did suspect me! Idiot, I was duped


    As the Captains gathered to stand beside the 2 others blocking Kai, he stepped back and took a squatting position.


    I''ll try the quick attack technique


    The two swordsmen Captains were smiling faintly as they lowered their arms back down to their sides. Hong and Fan stood beside them and faced Kai, while the other 3 were standing to the side.


    "Hey mute kid. All you have to do is nod or shake your head to the question. No need to freak out ok? Nothing''s happening here"Hong said with a smirk.


    As if


    "So..." Hong glanced at the other Captains. "You''re not at Peak stag-"


    Before Hong could even finish his sentence, Kai grabbed his scabbard in a tight grip, and using all his strength, yanked the sword out of the sheath. With a lunge forward he closed the distance to smiling sword wielding Captains, intending to slash both of them across the chest in one motion.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Sorry, but you two are the weakest here


    Suddenly Kai felt a tap under his elbow and the sword sliced deep into the scabbard, jerked, and snapped.


    No!


    Horrified with the stub of a sword in his hands, Kai prepared to lash out with it. However he suddenly felt a lurch in his heart which made him freeze on the spot.


    One of the ordinary looking Captains was standing right beside him. Still with a smile on his face.


    The tap? He made me jam my sword!


    Xing Kai growled in anger and prepared to throw the hilt at the Captains, however as soon as he looked up at the Captains he was hit by a wave. It swept right through his body, making his limbs weak, and his head dizzy.


    With a tremble, XingKai''s Heart''s blood erupted with a wave that chased after the 7 Captain''s sense. However the 7 senses left Kai''s body as fast they hit him, as if they were only flicking him with their sense.


    .....Wha...


    Xing Kai blinked hard and finally felt his body free up.


    Hong and the archers were chuckling,exchanging coins with each other, while Fan was staring at Kai. His arms were folded and his long fingers tapped rapidly on his arms.


    "Told you he isn''t a traitor didn''t I? I''ve always been a better judge of character then you Hong" said one of the archers. He had soft brown eyes which shined as he accepted the coins passed to him by Hong.


    "As if. How rare is it that someone finds a mystic plant? And a village brat of all people?" Hong snorted and turned away from the archers. All of the Captains were focused again on Kai.


    Xing Kai stared at his scabbard as soon as he hadregained control of his body. The shattered blade had sliced so far into it that the blade had simply snapped at the hilt.


    How did he do that? How did he get so close to me?


    Kai was completely defeated without taking a single blow. Hecouldn''t stop thinking abouthow he was countered so easily.


    "Listen kid"Hong began. "I know your story. You found a strange looking plant and ate it something like that. Maybe one of those mercs Jin ran into fed it to you, maybe one of them was your dad..."


    Kai growled and balled his hand into a fist.


    Hong''s brow twitched.


    "Whatever it was, you received the blessings of God in the form of a mystic plant" Hong said."Lucky bastard" he muttered under his breath.


    "Get on with it Hong" Fan barked.


    Hong grunted in reply.


    "Those kinds of treasures give a person a special physique. Stronger bodies, better foundations for cultivation; that kind of stuff...and better healing abilities. According to Old Hag Zhou, you recovered from certain death in about a month...silly bat''s probably going blind."


    The archers and Fan nodded their heads with a grimace on their face.


    "We suspected that you were growing a little too quickly, you were fighting too well, and eventhe Hag says you heal reallyquickly. Particularly since we saw you one the forest wall every night...we suspected something must be up" he said slowly. His deep voice reverberated in the empty warehouse.


    "Hong made a bet with me that you were a spy sent from a Greater Town" said the brown eyed archer. He chuckled as Hong shot a warning look at him. "Fan thought you were a traitor too, but he didn''t bet since he''s broke-"


    "Shut it." Fan shot back darkly.


    Xing Kai watched their exchange numbly.


    The healing...I never even realised they would suspect me that much for healing...how bad was I even hurt? Near death?


    Xing Kai shook his head and looked down at his scabbard again.


    I had no idea...I got far too carried away at the forest wall


    Xing Kai cursed at himself. He was completely played with even as he thought he was getting stronger and preparing to leave.


    Hell, would I have even managed to reach the forest before they would kill me?


    He looked across at Fan.


    He''d do it. Hong would too since he thought I was a traitor


    Kai thought back over the weeks when he thought he was being clever, to when he was getting a hang of his cultivation and how to go about getting his revenge. Yet he was so ignorant that he could have walked into his own funeral pyre with a smug grin.


    Only looking across at the two ordinary looking swordsmen was enough.


    Those two, he would not forget.


    "Seeing as you freaked out so badly, as Ken expected, whenHong questioned your cultivation is convincing enough for me" said another of the archers. Hehad the fastest arrow as far as Kai could tell during his forest wall nights. His had small build but huge arms and back muscles, which probably helped.


    Who knows if that''s true...maybe he''s the weakest shot of the three, and they were concealing even more of there strength than I thought...comparing to that Soul Condensing warrior from before it seems like they probably did put on an act...


    Xing Kaibitterly cursed athimselfwhileHong spoke.


    "Don''t worry though.Seeing as you got your boost from a mystic plant we can''t exactly steal any treasure from you"


    "Assuming you got your strength from a plant" Fan added


    "What else would it be?" Ken, the brown eyed archersaid. Fan didn''t say anything.


    "Since you have a better foundation for yourbody then most people from towns do, I had a feeling that you probably didn''t have a miraculous breakthrough into Peak stage" Hong said. "Not forgetting that breaking through requires a lot of focus and steady work...where would you get the time for that in a fight?"


    So my prepared lies were a total give away too?


    Xing Kai''s face fell, but he kept silent.


    "Not forgetting that you don''t have the manual for the 10th stage...a breakthrough does seem a little impossible don''t you think?" Fan added.


    "But you should be aware of somethings. Although you have a better foundation than most of these people who train in towns, a Soul condensing warrior is far beyond you, let alone us 7 and Shen Han, who trained in city armies. Ddon''t think of any clever ideas. And don''t get cocky." Hong said calmly.


    "Indeed. There were plenty of people as strong asyou when they were atLate stage in the city armies...and the Zhou brothers were even strong than them. The Zhou brothers here, and Shen Han, were all able to fight several stages above their cultivation back when they were in Blood condensing stage" Fan said with slightly smug expression. The two ordinary brothers chuckled, onewith ashy expression and the other winked. It was theswordsmen who had mysteriously appeared and tapped his elbow.


    Xing Kai said nothing, and just silently ground his teeth.


    "Enough about that stuff. He does now about the cities so it doesn''t matter anyways" said Ken, the archer Captain with brown eyes.


    Fan snorted.


    "Seeing as you have plenty of room to grow, we''ll need you to quickly cultivate and try to reach Soul condensing stage. You''re going to train with us and you can''t disagree" Hong said firmly. The archers also became serious, with no joking expression on their face.


    Even the Swordsmen were not smiling.


    "You can''t run."


    "You must fight for the town."


    "So...do you accept?" Hong said with a smirk. His huge bear like frame, powerful gaze and deeprumblingvoice were unlike anything Kai had ever experienced before.Standing before Fan, a snakein human form, the threearchers, who couldpullwild beasts apart with their bare hands, and the mysterious swordsmen...Xing Kai felt something. That, although he wascapable of bursting forth with astounding force, enough to throw boulders, and move with great speeds, like a bird in the air...even after becoming a cultivator that would kill to grow stronger, like a monster from thestories he heard from the old village men...he was still quite short.


    Kai nodded quietly.

 Chapter 19...Exposed

    "Correct answer" said Hong, as his smile broadened. "We''ll follow a similar training regime to the one you created for yourself, except for the hours between..."


    As Hong explained the training, Xing Kai silentlylistened. His fists were tightly balled up and a vein was bulging from his forehead. As soon asHong was finished with his instructions heturned around and left with Fan. The two walked out nonchalantly through the gates and out into the camp, as did the 3 archers who followed behind them. They were going to return to the forest wall to preventany quick revenge attacks that might come from Zen town.


    At least that was what the archers had beenarguing about, as they left the dark warehouse.


    Now only Kai, the twoswordsmen, and the broken sword were leftin the warehouse.


    "Ahem...little friend,I''ll apologise on behalf of my friends. They were worried you might be a traitorso theywere...you know"saidoneof the brothers. Xing Kai noticed that he seemed tosmilemore broadly then his brother. "Plus Hong and Fan are both proud of their strength, so they were a little jealous of you." He chuckled amiably.


    Xing Kaistared at the two with burning eyes which cuttheir laughter short, veryquickly.


    "Let''s clear the air first. Grandma Zhou always said honesty smelled fresh, right Hak?" said the swordsmen as he looked across to his brother, who nodded his head.


    "We''ll tell you a few interesting things so you won''t just run as soon as we turn our backs to you ok?" The brother, Hak, had an amazing magnetic voice. It was deep and rich, making Kai feel unable to ignore him. He was alsothe one to suddenly appear beside Kai and counter his quick draw attack.


    The three looked across at each other until Kai nodded his head fora second time.


    "Well, I think we can give you some good news. You can escape the town very easily if you head towards the slums at the far ends of the town. Go straight into the forest and your clear. Nobody will even come looking for you, let alone find you. We know this, since Hong put us in charge of keeping an eye on you." The brothers smiled as they saw Kai''s eyes widen involuntarily.


    Why are they telling me that?


    Wait, the forest...?


    "The reason for that is quite obvious if you think about it. You would have figured it out eventually so Hong wanted to use some fear tactics to scare you into staying here, rather then risking the escape" said Hak.


    "The forests by the slums are too dangerous to cross even for us. That''s why there isn''t awall there...well, Shen Han generally stands guard there against wild beasts, but he''s too busy to be able to stop you from entering the forest at night" saidHak''s brother calmly. "If you left in any other direction, chances are that you would eventually be caught by Hong. He has excellent stamina. But you could certainly escape the militia''s hands, Hong''s hands,if you went into that part of the forest. It''s not a trap, I can assure you that in a straight race only us two are fast enough to catch you and we won''t bother to. The other Captains would just hope that you tire out or make a mistake if they wanted to catch you."


    Xing Kai frowned.


    Does he take me for an idiot? All of them are faster then me, I can barely follow them with my eyes even now


    Seeing Xing Kai''s scowl the brothers shook their heads.


    "Roc is not wrong. What you think is fast is only a special technique used to squeeze out all the muscle''s bursting power for a short sprint. You aren''t taught the finer details of cultivation so you wouldn''t know, but Soul condensing cultivators do not have stronger bodies then even Peak stage cultivators. A lot of Soul condensing experts have quite poor physiques since they rush the Blood condensing stage and lose out on the chance to strengthen their bodies to their maximum potential."


    ...a special technique can make you that much faster? How does that even work?


    Xing Kai''s eyes brightened slightly.


    "Like Roc said. You can go to the slums whenever you want and escape, us two won''t stop you" said Hak. The two swordsmen smiled.


    Something isn''t right here


    "Ok, we''ve told you plenty that should show our sincerity. All we ask is that you hear what we have to say. Just listen. Don''t run off" Hak said.


    "Although we praise your speed, you still aren''t as quick as us two, so please don''t go barging through the warehouse walls. They''re very difficult to mend ok?" said Roc with a mock angry expression.


    Xing Kai felt anxious; his chest felt tight.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    What am I forgetting?


    Xing Kai''s brows met tightly together.


    "We said that the Captains areslower than you right?. And that Soul condensing cultivators aren''t faster then Peak stage Blood condensing cultivators...this doesn''t quite add up does it?" Hakspokeslowly. The two Captains scrutinised Kai''s expression carefully. "As far as the others are aware, they think you are working on the 8th layer of the Blood condensing stage, and that you have better foundations than most people...which is why you are faster then they are."


    "That''s fine though. There are indeed a lot of people who have solid body foundations and are even faster than you are...all of theauthentic cultivators spend a long time developing their body during the Blood condensing stage. But...when Grandma Zhou showed you to us, supposedly after you ate a mystic plant,you didn''t have much cult-"


    Xing Kai''s eyes widened suddenly.


    "Yeah we knew. However that isn''t actually a problem. The other 6 think you ate a mystic plant which rejuvenated your Heart''s Blood, thereforeimproving your cultivation talent. That would explain how you were growing so fast in front of our eyes on the forest wall. However since you didn''t even have much cultivation before you came here, you must have excellent talent in cultivation for you to be able to reach this level of strength so quickly."


    Hak and Roc looked at Xing Kai with slight smiles on their face.


    "That explains everything then, right?" Roc asked.


    Xing Kai hesitantly shook his head.


    I have no idea what they are leading towards...do they know what I am or not?


    "You''re right. Even if you had excellent cultivation talent, how could you survive that injury when you didn''t haveany cultivation.? It''s a bit unfair on you, but in reality there was no chance a mystic plant would have healed you in the condition you were in...mystic plants are just like their name suggest. Mystic. Most people only know rumours, but both of ushave seen mystic plants before...so we know that you weren''t healed by one."


    "A less obvious issue in that explanation is thatthe cultivation resources here are very poor. It''s unfortunate that townsmen don''t get cultivate like people from the cities do, but that''s just how it is. Even the most incredible talents from the cities would fail to cultivate here with just the diagrams and advice given in the manuals. Cultivation is more complicated then that, and certain items like Yao Grass and Fiend Roots, like Fiend Ginger and Fiend Ginseng, must be used at important stages of cultivation. Only a mystic plant, which you certainly don''t have, would make up for the poor resources here."


    Xing Kai''s face gradually became darker, and he felt even more resigned.


    Am I missing out on that much while I''m here? Maybe that''s why it''s so hard for me to break through...


    Roc sighedand looked across to his brother. They both sat down and folded their legs.


    Xing Kai looked at them sittingon the cold floor, and then sat down too.


    "So...the question still remains. How are you able to exceed the speed of Soul condensingcultivators who even trained in cities, without the help of a mystic plant, using just the poor resources available here...and in such little time?"asked Hak. Hisvoicefilled Kai''s ears and settled in his head in a way that Hong''s never had.


    Xing Kai bowed his head and didn''t answer.


    Zhou Hak and Zhou Roc waited.


    "Your kind...people who cultivate like you, Xing Kai, are different to us. I think our commanding Officer''s words were quite wise, he said cultivation has almost lost it''s ancient heritage. It''s been so long since anyone has ascended that the War Gods, Emperor Bojing Hai and the others, are all there is to look up to. For us Sanguinary cultivators it is sad that we have lost the stories of ascension, and replaced them with war. However, your kind benefits greatly from it." Hak''s voice was not bitter or angry, only a little regretful.


    "Both Hak and I have met Blood cultivators. The others, including Shen Han, haven''t. They aren''t bad people, not all of them are monsters like the stories say..."said Roc slowly. Xing Kai looked back up at them in surprise.


    "But they were not great people to be around either.Inbattle...they are even worse. Xing Kai, we will help you where we can, Shen Han will too since he knows about you. But after the battle it would be best if you leave. A town is not the best place for you to be...and a Blood cultivator is not the best thing for a town to have either."


    Xing Kai breathed out slowly, and nodded his head. He took out some parchment from his pocket and wrote on it.


    "Why help me?" Roc read out. He looked back at Kai. "We have no reason not to. You won''tturn on us toincrease your own cultivation, we know that much. And in exchange you will fight with us in the coming battle."


    Xing Kai smiled bitterly and wrote his honest thoughts.


    Do I even have a choice?


    "No, Xing Kai you do have a choice. Just like we said, you can leave whenever you want. With your abilities itshould be possible for you to survive the trip after a couple of weeks of training" answered Hak. "The threat posed by the Greater Town is huge, far more then you realise. Even if we didn''t, Hong was going to teach some people the techniques that cities teach to their soldiers. Thosesame techniquesthat make us appear so physically strong compared to Blood condensing cultivators. The sooner you master them the sooner you can leave, if that''s what you want. In reality it''s us who don''t have a choice, as we desperately need highly skilled fighters."


    Xing Kai looked at them both for a moment and then wrote on the parchment again.


    I''ll take part in the battle in exchange for two things. The cost of my recovery at the infirmary...and you teaching me about cultivation


    Roc and Hak both read the note and smirked for an instant.


    "The first demand is easy. Grandma Zhou didn''t use anything on you to help you recover. It would have been a waste, so she let you recover on your own. There are no fees that you owe her, or anyone at the infirmary. As for the second...we think it''s better if you learn about your cultivation from somewhere else. We don''t know much about your kind, so it would be better to not become confused due to preconceptions."


    Xing Kai did not accept Roc''s answer.


    I refuse to be crippled by ignorance. If I don''t know anything then I will be forced to just kill wildly to grow stronger. I need to learn at least what you do and try it myself


    Reading Kai''s reasoning they conceded and agreed to teach Kai what they knew.


    And one final thing...if you find any mercenaries anywhere, tell me. Anything to do with rogues, bounty hunters and explorers in the area, you tell me


    To this final request of Xing Kai''s, they agreed. With a deal made, the Zhou brothers left Xing Kai with a note and casually walked out of the warehouse.

 Chapter 20...The slums

    Xing Kai walked out of the warehouse, his hands in his pockets, his face scrunched up in frustration. There was a weak breeze which made the lone few torches crackle in the camp occasionally.


    If I had known just a bit more about cultivation...if I was more careful...I wouldn''t be in this situation.


    Xing Kai kicked at a protruding stone out of the ground, sending it clattering into the dark.


    Hell, I could have been killed in the infirmary if anybody else realised what I was. If it wasn''t that old lady who noticed...if she didn''t just reveal it to those two grandsons of hers...I''d be dead in my sleep.


    No revenge.


    Nothing


    Xing Kai booteda barrel of arrows sending it spinning off into the distance, it''s contents raining out the whole way.


    I''m such as fool...I''m just such a useless bastard


    Xing Kai''s face twisted.


    I''m the only person who survived...I can''t fail...stupidly rushing to get revenge will get me killed before I even now it...


    Xing Kai ground his teeth.


    If I had just given the town a proper sending to their next life, and not chased after those scum for revenge...I''d never be at the infirmary and in someone else''s hands...


    If I had just chosen to stay back then...I wouldn''t almost have been killed and everyone would have a proper sending


    Xing Kai''s cheeks trembled.


    A proper sending


    Xing Kai shook his head bitterly.


    They''re dead and rotting now...as long as I getjustice for the village,at least they won''t roam the world as unfulfilled spirits


    Xing Kai wiped his eyes and began running.


    I''ve made mistake after mistake. Not a single thing have I done right, not one...


    Kai ran quickly, evading all themilitiamen on guard, and went straight out of the camp.


    But moaning about it now won''t change anything


    His eyes cleared, and he set his jaw.


    Can notbe weak, must not be weak


    As long as I hold true to that, I can challenge all my mistakes and mend them


    Xing Kai''s Heart''s blood stirred slowly.


    .....


    It was dark here, unlike the town. No fires, for warmth or light.


    Clouds had moved in over the town during the night, and the air was thickcarried athickstench.


    Rotting food, faeces, stagnant water; these things could be seen everywhere across the slums. The homes of the people who first settled in this clearing of the forest were now burnt and broken, with not even tiles left on the roofs. The ground was muddy, thick like a swamp, thanks to the trees being chopped far back, to the fringe of theslums,and the ground being churned up during the early years of expansion.


    Xing Kai looked about from the roof beam ofthe building he was balancing on. From this height he could see the forest, even the old tree stumps which werenow regrown into young trees, in the distance.


    The forest seemed darker than the night sky.


    There really isn''t a wall


    Kai frowned, his brows meeting together.


    Not that a wall would do much good anyways...


    Xing Kai shook his head and turned away from the endless black forest, heading in a direction parallel to it. Having seen his escape route, Kaiwas looking for a place to cultivate.


    In fewer than 300 heartbeats he found an alley with dry compact ground. The houses oneither sides of the alley still had walls, and the end was blocked off with a still standing stone wall. Although the alley was lined with odd boxes and bags, Xing Kai found a place at the back andsat down. He put his hand in his pocket and removedhis 6 Yao Grass leaves.


    The swirling lights of the leaves still mesmerised Kai, and he found himself staring into them.


    Stop wasting time...time to train


    Hopeful before someone sees me do anything strange


    Xing Kai folded his legs comfortably and clasped all 6 leaves between his palms as the instructors had taught him. He had to explicitly ask the instructors to teach him, since they assumed everyone had already learned how to handle special plants in the town school or at home. Only to a villager was it uncommon knowledge.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Sensing the leaf


    Xing Kai closed his eyes and focused on his inner self. With focused thought and intent he began perceiving his fingertips, and then the leaves between his hands. The leaves felt like a pool while his fingers seemed like black wood.


    He began focusing on the energy pool...and almost as if his sense was forming the roots of his wood-like hands, Kai connected the pool to himself.


    It worked first time


    Xing Kai cheered in his heart and couldn''t help opening his eyes. The mysterious glow of the leaves was flowing in a gradual manner towards his upper hand. Xing Kai focused back on his inner self, and sensed the pool like energy moving through his wood like hand. It was almost like his hands were barren of moisture, making the pool flow very slowly through his Jingmai. A slight hue was being added to the Jingmai and flesh, as theenergy moved through Xing Kai''s hand.


    How mysterious...it''s just like water trickling into an ant''s nest


    Xing Kai opened his eyes and looked again at this palms, even disturbing his position in orderto study the leaves.


    I can feel the connection between the leaves and my hands...but why can''t I see it?


    Xing Kai sniffed the leaves again.


    Although I can''t see anything when the Captains release their sense, shouldn''t I see the glow moving across the gap between my hand and the leaves?


    As Xing Kai studied the phenomena, the energy moved along his arm and towards his chest, and up to his neck


    Maybe the Heart''s blood travels so much faster because of that weird thing in my head...and I''ve never sensed my body with the image of wood androots before...may be the instructor''s advice is not helping me and I should do what I normally do-


    Suddenly Xing Kai was hit by a scorching hot pain in his neck and arm all the way down to his fingertips. Xing Kai opened his eyes and saw many twisting cords standing under the skin of his hand. The pain was like scalding water and Xing Kai paledunder the sudden assault.


    What did I do wrong?


    Exclaiming in his heart, he tried to let go of the leaves but his hands were too stiff.


    Completely unresponsive.


    And the leaves were becoming very dim all of a sudden.


    Xing Kai focused on his inner self, sensingall along his arm and chest.


    The energy was out of control and being dragged through his Jingmai like a rake through vines. The energy crashed at the junctions of the Jingmai, forcing the energy to travel in great torrents through the narrow and finer vessels. Xing Kai desperately willed the current to stop, using his sense and imagination to slow the reckless flow but nothing happened. In seconds the leaves were blackened and became ashes between his palms.


    With his eyes wide open in horror, Xing Kai finally was able to move his fingers but with a timely breeze...the ashes were carried away.


    ...What


    Looking between his still outstretched hands and the air, Kai couldn''t even cry out.


    The absorption is supposed to take a few days normally...how the hell did this happen...where did all the energy go?


    Xing Kai tightly closed his eyes, while hugging his throbbing arm and tried to sense any changes.


    There were many.


    The turbulent flow of energy had cascaded violently, leaving thick hues of the energy on the Jingmai and flesh,particularly along all the smaller Jingmai the energy forced it''s way through. There, strangely, the surroundingflesh beganrevealing the appearance of many ultra fine Jingmai branching from the smaller Jingmai. Just trying to look at themmade Xing Kai feeldizzy from over concentrating.


    My neck!


    Why did it stop at my neck?


    Xing Kai rushed to focus on his neck, but was amazed at what he found.


    The wood like appearance of his flesh was now covered in a thick hue of yellow energy from the leaves, all focused around his vocal cords. But his throat was still ruined. The chunks missing from the lining of the voice box and the grotesque healing were just as they were before.


    All that energy...enough for me to breakthrough with...is gone just like that? On what exactly?


    Xing Kai''s sense fadedas he despaired.


    Why would it go here? Not even Heart''s blood acts like this when I absorb it...


    Xing Kai opened his eyes again, tovacantly look across the alley, his face completely blank.


    What do I use to cultivate now?


    Xing Kai sighed and finally turned his eyes back down to his lap. His right hand and arm felt very tender, and a burning pain lanced across his chest as he breathed in. Xing Kai almost felt like laughing at his own situation if it wasn''t a matter which affected his revenge.


    As Xing Kaimassaged the cord-like vesselssnaking across his hand, he heard small footsteps, accompanied by the sound of asack being dragged across the ground.


    A small head of brown hair appeared at the end of the alley. The head bobbed along the alley, occasionally dipping into the boxes at the side, and rummaging through them. A lone fat rat leapt out of the rubbish and scurried away which caused the person to squeal.


    "I missed it" cried the voice. The head bobbed again, and a little stamping sound could be heard.


    After a sulky kick aimed at acrate, the person continued searching among the rubbish, occasionally releasing cheers of delight. Another item was added to the bag being dragged across the ground.


    Xing Kai wasn''t sure what to do.


    Have I met anybody my own age since then?


    The small head of brown hair floated to the opposite side of the alley, allowing them both to see each other clearly.


    The person paused.


    Xing Kai oddly froze.


    The person was a little girl, around 6, with short brown hair roughly cut. She had big brown eyes, bright even in the dark alley. She wore a muddied dress that appeared to have once been soft and pretty. Her feet were covered with genuine leather shoes, light and well fitted for her feet. There was even a littlefloral hair clip, which was neatly shined and without a single scratch. In her hands wasthe mud-coated hemp bag, and a ratty doll of a womenmade of actual wool.


    Where did she got those things?


    Xing Kai blinked as he took in the confusing sight, while the little girl curiously looked backat him.


    "Who are you?" she said. Her voice waseven moreconfusing, sounding clear and proper, unlike the speech used by thetownspeople. It was a lively, curious voice.


    Containing his rising confusion, Xing Kai pointed to his shoulder, tohis officerstripes.


    "What?" Her face scrunched upin confusion.


    Xing Kai looked at his shoulder and realised that his originally green militia clothes were plastered in more mud and dust then even the little girl''s was. Kai quickly tried to clean his shoulder to show her, but she interrupted him with another question.


    "Are you friendly?" she asked curiously.


    ...wh...


    Xing Kai''s mouth dropped open but he managed to nod his head hesitantly.


    "Good" she said with a happy smile. She turned around and walked outof the alley. "Do notyou want something to eat?" she said over her shoulder, seeing as Kai hadn''t moved.


    Xing Kai quickly sensed his internals to check whether he was dead or brain damaged.


    What am I even doing? I need to sort out my cultivation before anything else


    Regardless of his inner complaints, Xing Kai got up and followed the little girl out of the alley. Walking behind her, he was amazed at how different she was from all the children that he knew. Never was he the one following behind others aimlessly.


    "What''s your name?" she said cheerfully.


    Xing Kai looked down towards her for a moment, before he pulled out his old square of folded up parchment. The ink had hardly fainted over the pastmonth since he made it. He showed it to her as she walked backwards with the muddy sack bouncing against her legs.


    Can she read?


    "Oh, you don''t talk? Hello older brother Kai,you can call me XiaoLan like my brother does...not that you can though" she said. She began humming to herself again.


    Xing Kai shook his head.


    I''ll see what she''s doing here and then sort something out for my cultivation...if it''s going to work I''d better start soon.

 Chapter 21...Double marked coins

    I only have a few days before the Captains will be expecting some kind of improvement in my cultivation...if with even 6 leaves I don''t come close to the Soul condensing stage, then the other Captains will begin suspecting me


    Xing Kai thought to himself quietly as he followed the little girl. Theyused pathswhich were at leastnot completely muddyand walked across the dark slums with only Xiao Lan''s humming filling the silence.


    "Have you only just become homeless or have you been wandering around for a while now?" she asked.


    Kai was taken aback and stilled.


    Xiao Lan continued walking for a while before she noticed his absence. She turned around to find Kai paused in thought and only needed towait for a brief moment before Kai grabbed a stick and began writing in the dirt.


    "Some weeks? Your obviously quite experienced living like this then, so I won''t have to teach you the basics" she said in relief. She turned about on the spot and continued walking while humming to herself.


    Kai watched her skipping over broken plates, in a daze.


    The pair soon reached what would have been the centre of the old town and was the current centre of the slums; a small square.Fortunately the square was composedof compacted dry dirt,and not the thick mud found everywhere else. There weretrees dotted around the square and even some grass, but it was trampled on and very pale. The square had several huts lining the sides, and several stone circles where fires could be seen burning slowly. The groundwas otherwise covered in odd broken items and what appeared to be food.


    And there were a lot of people here.


    To Xing Kai''s amazement the number of people seemed to be over a hundred and there was no lacking age group from babies swaddled in cloth to old men with frail legs. The majority seemed to be young girls and boys, older then Kai, but still not adults. It was not the empty, lonelyplace he thought it would be.


    This is basically a village


    Xing Kai looked about andfelt increasingly disturbed. The uneven huts were made from burnt wood,there wasa meagre amount offood being cooked over the fires and nobody appeared to have much strength left in them. Most disturbingly Xing Kai noticed that nobody seemed to speak much, not even the babies cried.


    Why are these people living out here?


    "I''ll show you to my home, come on. If my brother agrees you can even stay with us for a while ok?" Xiao Lan hopped along around the square and towards a small stone building. It appeared to have been madeout ofmany rough packed stones jointed with clay, around a wooden frame...there was even a window which had survived the years and had been placed into the wall, providing light to the littlehome.


    Xing Kai stepped hesitantly inside after Xiao Lan and looked about. There was only a single room which had a ring of stones and a wooden frame for spit roasting food...and Xing Kai noticed there was plenty of meat. In the back of the home, by the window, there was a few animal skins, in excellent condition, arranged to form a comfortable bed. There didn''t seem to be any other place to sleep, as there were scraps of metal and odd shiny items all over the place, but otherwise the home was excellent compared to all the others.


    "My brother made this bed. He worked really hard to get these animal skins; they''re pretty right?" said Xiao Lan happily. She patted her little bed, indicating for Kai to sit down next to her. "These things I gathered all by myself from the outer fringes, to make toys from. Some of the children here like them, and plus I can sell them sometimes to people at the market. "


    Xiao Lan eagerly showed Xing Kai the things she had gathered, carefully explaining each item''s charms and selling points.


    You already have things to do Kai...don''t sit here for another second or else


    Xing Kai''s inner voice continued trying to budge him from the small heap of animal skins he was sitting on, but Xing Kai couldn''t move. He wouldn''t.


    "This one I found with some friends. We''re working on making it look like a godly beast roaring over a cliff...do you think that would be good?" she said with acritical expression. Her brown eyes stared back expectantly at Kai.


    I think I''ve seen enough


    Xing Kai suddenly got up and left Xiao Lan behind.


    I already have too many things to take care of...if I lose focus I might lose my chances at revenge


    Xing Kai stamped out and avoided walking through the square and it''s destitute residents. His heart clenched, and faintly Kai could feel his eyes becoming warm.


    "Hey wait, I haven''t even taught youall the secrets to surviving the slums, where are you going?" Xiao Lan came running from behind and grabbed his arm with both of hers. "Plus it''s too dangerous. Even my brother doesn''t like running into the bad people, you should stay. It''s safe here, we can take care of you, promise." Her little face began scrunching up.


    Xing Kai looked down atthe little girlclinging onto his arm. He scowled andlooked away butrefusing to lookatthe square also.


    Damn it


    Xing Kai yanked his arm away but before Xiao Lan could grab onto him again, he began pulling outthe parchment and pencil again. Xiao Lan immediately became quiet and eagerly peered at this hands as he was writing. Xiao Lan''s strange behaviour and Kai''s appearance had gathered plenty of attention by now,so some of the childrencame over to them both.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Why do you stay here?


    Xing Kai himself felt like it was probably a stupid question but he needed some kind of an answer.


    However as soon as he passed the note to Xiao Lan her expression turned nervous.


    "That''s what I was trying to tell you. It''s dangerous being on your own in the streets" she said desperately. "People used to disappear all the time, so everyone kind of ended up here in the slums...but even here people disappear. Only when we gathered together did people stop disappearing."


    Xing Kai''s eyes widened.


    What did the militia say?


    This time the group of children crowding around also looked at the note. All of them collectively scowled and some of them even cursed shockingly.


    "Silly, the disappearances isn''t only among the homeless. Evennormal people in the town are disappearing but nobody can stop it, what could the militia do for us?


    What? Nobody at the militia ever mentioned something like this happening?


    Another voice interrupted Kai''s thoughts before he could ask anything further.


    "Normal people don''t disappear. My mom and dad were poor and only just survived in the town" said a quiet voice. It was a little girl about 9 years old. "They disappeared. It''s never the big rich families that have been attacked. Only the little families which barely anybody knows."


    There were many heads that nodded sadly.


    All these people...are orphaned because people, no whole families, are disappearing?


    Xing Kai looked about with his mouth slightly hanging open. He looked around at the square and felt his chest squeeze painfully again.


    My village...it''s revenge won''t be affected. I can help them a little bit, it won''t cost me much


    Xing Kai''s eyes became determined again with a firm light appearing in them.


    And these disappearances...might be linked in some way to the attack on my village


    Xing Kai looked back at Xiao Lan and smiled faintly.


    I''ll be back in no time ok?


    Seeing his note Xiao Lan became excited and lively again, even asking to come along with him. However Xing Kai refused her with a command that she needed sleep since she spent the entire night awake. With a deflated little girl back in bed and a crowd of children also returning to their shelters, Kaileft theslums.


    .....


    My advance should be enough to get myself a proper weapon


    Xing Kai stood outside the militia headquarters with a note in his hand. It had the Zhou brother''s signature on it.


    If the advance isn''t enough, then I''ll just have to make a bow for myself


    He knocked and entered. Passing the note to one of the officers, who was also one of the 300 elite, Kai received a small pre-packaged envelope of money.


    Feels a little light...perhaps 30 blood coins?


    Xing Kai thought back to how long and hard he had to work in the village before he had to earn this much, as he walked out of the solid building.


    Then again, I wasn''t at risk of dying while moving potatoes, so 30 is a little...


    Xing Kai began to feel a little disappointed, sohedecided tocount his actual earnings without bothering to conceal it. Standing in the sandy training grounds with faint rays of sunlight appearing above the camp, Xing Kai studied the coins in his hand.


    1 coin...3...5 coins in total.


    5 single mark blood coins.


    That''s 50 blood coins all together.


    Xing Kai was pleasantly surprised.


    Wait...this coins a double mark?


    Xing Kai''s jaw dropped.


    This is a double marked coin!


    Xing Kai couldn''t control the smile that appeared on his face.


    Ihave 140 coins?


    Xing Kai almost cheered out loud when suddenly he froze.


    Another...there are 2 more double mark blood coins...


    Xing Kai''s expression became comically blank.


    320...I earned 320 blood coins...


    He blinked a few times and peered closely at the coins, making sure that therewere definitely 2 ridges on the front of the small red coloured coins. He flipped the coins over in a flurry of motion and checked the authentication.


    The coins were real. There was still a faint glowofthe many tiny blood drops imprinted onto the back of the coins.


    320 coins is more than mom and dad''s whole savings


    Xing Kai felt a tight stab in the chest but wrestled past it as he stared at the money in his palms. Suddenly he noticed hisstrange behaviour and glanced around guardedly. There was nobody around.


    I''ll definitely have enough for a good bow and even some quality arrows


    Xing Kai felt grateful for a moment towards the 2 swordsmen, the Zhou brothers. He dashed off to wash, get a hefty meal as usual and gather all the clothes and money the sisters had given him. He spent only a couple minutes grabbing a sword from the warehouse and then left the camp again.


    Perhaps I can afford a good sword too


    .....


    The sun was visible even from the town square as Xing Kai stood and look up. There wasnormally ahuge number of people wandering through the streets, transporting goods or conducting business of some kind or another. Xing Kai had, however,arrivedat the town square wellbefore the streetswere bustling. Andalso before the businesses wereeven open.


    Until the businesses would be open Xing Kai walked around. Hesoonnoticed the faint cloud-coloured stones and the dark lead jointing which formed the town square. Thecloudy stone didn¡¯t seem to have a speck of dirt on it, and considering so many people walked over it daily, this was quite an achievement.


    I guess I didn''t really pay proper attention when I was here for the militia entrance test


    He knelt down and rubbed his knuckles against the cool ground.


    A smooth, glossy pebble...almost like glass.


    I think...I found one of these before


    Xing Kai recalled finding such a smooth and cool pebble in the village, but it was quite dark and murky in comparison. In fact comparingagainst thelarge meter long, weighty-looking stone slabs which paved the square,he thought his ownstone was laughable.


    What really drew Xing Kai''s attention was the lead jointing used to join the stones. Itwas truly wasteful. Lead was harmful yes, but had some great qualities that were useful for other purposes. For it to be spent on making roads was almost hilarious to Xing Kai.


    Dad spent months gathering enough lead, just make alloyed shears for the sheep...not that we had the sheep for long, since Gang Wei-


    Xing Kai tightly shut his eyes until his heart settled. He returned to his attention back to the square.


    A square like thiswould probably take our whole village 3 generations to make


    Xing Kai looked around at the buildings marking the outline of the square. They were made of thick ancient-looking wood and brightly coloured stones of similar quality to the cloudy stones used in the square.


    I wonder how much it would cost to buy one of these buildings...


    Xing Kai smiledbitterly.


    I doubt I will ever have a place like this


    The appearance was grand indeed,but Xing Kaiinstead became drawn to all the features of thearchitecture that could serve as hand holds...and as he expected, theywere all just beyond his jumping height.


    Flat roofs with large guttering to act as a shield...


    Stone buildings...stone ground...


    Xing Kai shook his head.


    Hopefully for the town''s sake it won''t be pushed to that extent...

 Chapter 22...Custom bow

    "What''s this?" said Rong Lan. She bent down and picked up the small bundle placed in front of the infirmary doors. Looking around, she couldn''t find anyone who seemed to be the owner of the bundle. As she unwrapped the cloth, a boot fell out and a few small red coins clattered on the stone steps of the infirmary. "This...hold on, didn''t I give this to?..."


    Kai smiled.


    He stood up from behind a stack of boxes and merged with the bubbling, rushing crowd, completely invisible to Rong Lan''s eyes. He soon reached a street lined with carpenters, blacksmiths, and builders; his militia coatwas inhis hands, so as to avoid creating a stir.


    I need a decent sword too, but that isn''t a priority...the bow comes first


    Xing Kai wandered through all the carpenter workshops to get an idea of who he should commission a bow from and had a quick look around the blacksmiths to get a sense of the market. Many of the businesses were family run, with sons busy carving and daughters busy paintingor polishing. The blacksmith''s shops were predominantly full ofburlysenior men,with a fewyoung men grinding in the background.


    Why do none of them make bows?


    Xing Kai entered back into the street again with a sigh. There was a lingering scent of wood on his clothes from the smears of sticky sap on hisdark shirt, and the sawdust that covered his hands and arms.


    This better be good or else I''ll have to make the bow myself


    Xing Kai looked across the front of the building. It was small, cramped between two other buildings, and with onlya single level above the shopit was also short. The front had light wood panels exposed and a door that was lifted up like a garage door. The shop window showed off a few choice furniture items crafted of similar light wood as the shop. With a hopeful expression he stepped in.


    Xing Kai marvelled at the furniture displayed across the small shop. There were many small pieces of wood carved and jointed to form complex looking puzzle boxes and scenes.


    It''s better than the other places...but no weapons?


    Xing Kai sighed and made his way back out. Suddenly, above the door frame, he spotted what he was looking for. A bow and arrow. There was even a price tag.


    Great bow


    Xing Kai peered up at the meter long bow admiringly. There was no bowstring on display, but that made Kai all the more satisfied with the craftsmen who made the bow.


    "You looking to commission a bow, officer?"


    Kai turned around, surprised at the address he was given, to find a figure walking towards him. It was a young women with sharp blue eyes,long blonde hairand a fairly muscular figure, who had called out to Kai.


    "You have a good eye for quality eh?" she said as she grinned proudly. Her face was one that seemed used to being in a grinning expression.


    You have a good eye for noticing my stripes


    Kai dropped his coat to the side and brought out his tools to speak.


    Can you bring me the bow,its string and the arrow to look at?


    The lady peered at Kai curiously as he wrote on the parchment.


    "I can''t read" she said.


    Xing Kai paused for a moment before twisting his mouth in a helpless manner; he tapped his throat with his pencil and shrugged. Understanding his message, she went behind the counter and up some steps leading to the top floor of the shop. She returned with a very muscular fellow her own age, in tow.


    "Ri, he can''t speak. Help me out" she said to thebrown eyed and black hairedfellowbeside her.


    "Alright honey" he said with a smile. He took the note from Kai and read it out.


    "Good, good. You should always check the quality of the string, I''ll go get it for you." she said. Kai looked between Ri, the rippling ox and theforthright lady beside him, in confusion.


    Who''s the craftsmen here?


    The girl went back upstairs and returned with a box and a long pole.


    "Here, have a look at the string" she said as she passed the box to Kai.Using the long pole she beganlifting the bow and arrow off of the wall display. Xing Kai looked down at the box in his hands.


    Opening it, he found a slightly red looking sinewwrapped in cloth, and resting on fine sawdust and talcum powder.


    Animal sinew eh...only a few of the more freakish forest beasts have red sinews


    Xing Kai examined the sinew between his fingers; it was waxy, slightly sticking to the fingertips.


    It''s been very well kept...probably waxed recently to prevent humidity from ruining the sinew


    "Here''s the bow and arrow too" said the girl. Kai accepted them with an expectant look in his eyes. "It''s made out of the common trees from the forest edge...nothing too special. But I did manage to get a draw of 80kg from it...I could do better but the wood can''t handle the processing." She retied herponytailwhile Kai put the string onto the bow.


    "Will you need asmaller bow officer?" Ri said with slightly narrowed eyes. He folded his arms and stepped aside to allow Kai the space to draw fully.


    Kai glanced at the young man...before a faint crackling sound was produced from the bow, as Kaiachieved a full moon with the bow.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Ohh" Ri sighed admiringly as he unfolded his arms. "Good form." He gazed slowly up and down Kai''s stance. "The esteemed officer will need one of your genuine bows, Kiri dear."


    Kiri grinned and rubbed her hands together.


    "If you told me you weren''t a punk soldier from the start I would have showed you the good stuff from the start." Not giving a chance for Xing Kai to complain, she dashed upstairs before returning with two more bows in her hands; both very familiar to Kai. They were the bow used by Fan and Hong and the bow used by the archer Captains.


    Xing Kai smirked slightly.


    So they didn''t get this from the city huh


    Xing Kai carefully and calmly removed the string from the bow he was already using, and returned it to Ri. He didn''t bother looking at the arrow at all.


    "It seems you recognise the previous sales I made of these bows...which captain are you with?" Kiri said. Writing a quick note, in displeasure, he told them his company attachment. He also added a quick scribblesaying that he was a semi-captain himself, under Shen Han''s personal command.


    Seeing Ri''s sudden pause as he read the note aloud,Kai felt rather satisfied.


    "Well...that''s rather encouraging eh. Let''s see if how you match up against the Captains then" Ri said. He glanced at Kai with an expectantlook in his eyes.


    "Ohh, so our lad''s a tough guy huh?" Kiri said withaburst of laughter. Thrusting a bow towards Kai, she locked her blue eyes with Kai. "Hong and Fan can both open this bow...with a bit of effort that is..." A wicked fire flashed in her eyes.


    Xing Kai''s eyes narrowed as he focused on the bow presented to him.


    The bow was a spliced core type. Two different woods used to provide extra bend and snap to the overall bow which would be missing if only a single wood was used. The joining of the two woods had been done so well that Xing Kai couldn''t see the seam...had the Captains not told him themselves, he wouldn''t have known.


    There''s no way I could craft the bow this well


    Admiring the bow, he rubbed the dark brown string.


    "It''s taken from one of the beast leaders of the forest according to the Captains" Kiri said.


    Let''s check the difference between us then


    Kai went into his familiar drawing stance and began pulling. Pulling with gentle ease...until it was full moon.


    "Excellent...excellent indeedlad. You must have been fed with lion hearts when you were born, eh" Kiri muttered in wonder.


    "Superb strength." Ri nodded with an admiring look in his eyes. "Withdrawn with care too...marvellous."


    Xing Kai looked down at his palms and the bow, feeling a rush of excitement.


    The Zhou were right then...the Captains may be in the Soul condensing stage, but their bodies are not much better then Peak stage militiamen...and since I''m stronger then the Peak stage militiamen now, it''s obvious that I can draw a bow better then Fan and Hong!


    Xing Kai''s eyes burned as he returned the bow and heexpectantly stared at the other bow in Kiri''s hand. With an equally excited grin, she passedhim the second bow.


    She slapped hisshoulder fiercely all of a sudden, producing a clear sound as if she had slapped a tree.


    "Only uncle Ken can pull this bow open easily, so his bowhad to bea one time special make. All new resources and a totally experimental technique...but I''ll agree to making you a unique one-of-a-kind bow...if you manage to open this bow open for me just once" Kiri said. Her eyes burned with a gambler''s passion, demanding the impossible to happen no matter the cost.


    "Oi,oi that''s going a little to far no? When you made that bow for Ken it almost put us into debt" Ri said. He grimaced and tried to dissuade his wife but seeing her stubbornly glare at him, he backed away.


    So she really is the maker


    Kai looked back at the two, Kiri itching to see a spectacular display and Ri quietly watching with his arms folded again.


    Better not lose control again...


    Writing a quick note, he waited for Ri to read it aloud.


    "You don''t want us to reveal this? Why? If you showed how strong you are you''ll get lots of benefits, so why miss out?" Ri asked with a puzzled expression.


    Kai shrugged his shoulders, evading his questions.


    Kiri shook her head.


    "Hiding your strength can also invite troubleeh. Sometimes it''s better to reveal then to hide" she said. She pointed back at the bow in Kai''s hand, signalling for him to begin drawing. However seeing Kai staring back at her with a blank expression,she threw up her hands. "Fine, we won''t say anything to anyone, ok? Now...show us what you got."


    Kai locked eyes with them, making sure that they were both sincere, before he entered his stance. He calmly regulated his breathing and adjusted his grip.


    Let''s open this thing up then...


    Silently, the bow formed a crescent.


    Then, a three-quarters gibbous moon.


    And finally with a slight creak, the full moon was formed.


    Kiri leaped and cheered while Ri pulled some glasses out of his shirt pocket and looked Kai up and down. As Kai relaxed the bow, his arms shuddered and the bow suddenly snapped back into a relaxed shape.


    "Great, great, great. Only Ken is better then you , eh" Kiri said. She ruffled his hair affectionately and winked at Kai as hestepped out of her reach. Kai grabbed the parchment and began writing to stop Kiri from pushing his head about, and passed it to a thoughtful Ri.


    "How deep''s his pocket Ri? We gotta make him a super bow, just like the one I made for Ken."


    Ri read slowly before turning to Kiri and removing his glasses.


    "He has about 300 coins he says. And he will be providing the resources himself, so the 300 is all for the labour..." Ri glanced at the excited girl before him with a serious expression.


    "Ohh? If you''re bringing the resources then why don''t we play a game? I''ll use all 300to make the bow no matter what. If yougive me good resources like Ken did, then you got a discount...but ifyou don''tget any decentresources for the bow,I''ll just make youa generic bow like the oneabove thedoor. Deal?"Kiri said.


    Staring at the outstretch calloused hand before him, Kai deliberated for a moment.


    "It''s a good offer. Ken spent close to twice that much on his bow for the labour fees, while you might get away with just half the price...as long as you manage to get everything that he did from the forest" Ri said.


    Twice as much? Hah, let''s see if I don''t make you regret this deal


    With a fierce competitive grin on their faces, Kiri and Kai shook hands, confirming their deal.


    ......


    "This is a sample of the things that Ken found for the bow. Ri''s included a note with the weight and special conditions etc. of the resources needed, so you know what to aim for." Kiri passed Kai a small cloth bag and a note describing the things that he needed to collect. "And make sure not to go too far into the forest. You don''t need me to tell you why."


    Kai accepted the things, and tied them to his waist. He removed 3 double marked coins and passed them to Ri, without any hesitation.


    "It''ll take about a week to make the bow, so the sooner you gathering everything the soonershe''ll start" Ri added.


    Xing Kai lifted his coat off the ground and with asalute he walked out of the small cramped shop and was back in the bustling street. The noises of furnaces, hammers and saws could be heard from almost all the shops as well as hearty laughter and shouting.


    It probably wasn''t necessary to hold back some of my strength...but at least I know2 things now.


    The Captains don''t have better physiques then me, only better techniques to unleash their strength...and Captain Ken is the best archer...at least he has the strongest shot


    Xing Kai pouted his lips.


    I''m probably not that far behind him in archery, but he has those techniques...so he''s still much stronger then me


    Xing Kai sighed and followed the crowd backup the street. Hedidn''t bother spending his remaining 20 coins on a sword since at that price the swords on offer would not be any better then the swords the militia already supplied them.


    Right now, Ineed to tell the Zhou brothers that I want to train in the forest, otherwise if Shen Han finds me leaving he''ll assume I''m deserting


    Kai tapped his fingers against his lips.


    Then...I can train and cultivate in the forest on my own

 Chapter 23...Training in the forest

    The camp was not as bustling as it usually was. At least Xing Kai noticed that there seemed to be fewer people running on the sandy tracks, lifting and throwing boulders, and training with their weapons. Partly was because the recruiting phase had ended and partly was because Hong''s faction had retreated to secret places to cultivate with the Yao Grass. Xing Kai strode purposefully to sparring grounds where he had practised swinging his sword over the month. It was the only place the Zhou brothers could be expected to be found during the day.


    "Ohh, you''re here so soon?" said Roc. The two brothers, dressed in only loose white shirts and black pants, were wrestling together on in the sandy pit beside the straw dummies. Xing Kai looked around the training grounds with a frown. Seeing nobody else nearby, Xing Kai wondered if these two had always been playing like this while no one was watching, or if this was a one-off scuffle he happened to walk on between the brothers.


    "I knew you wouldn''t resist waiting until tomorrow to begin training" said Hak with his manly, powerful voice.


    I want to train in the forest. The Yao Grass was useless and acted out strangely


    Xing Kai didn''t waste much time and immediately wrote what he wanted.


    The two brothers wrinkled their brows and glanced at each other. Suddenly, the note blasted itself into dust in Hak''s hands, making Kai stumble back.


    "In what way did it act up?" Hak asked seriously.


    What the...he can do that?


    Xing Kai stared at Hak, his eyes wide open.


    It must be a Soul condensing thing


    But wait, why didn''t that guy do something like that to me?


    While Xing Kai''s brain worked in over drive at the strange phenomenon he saw, the two swordsmen became unsure of what to do.


    "You won''t tell us?" Roc asked.


    Xing Kai eyes refocused on the two and he quickly gathered his thoughts. He moved to write another note.


    The energy just gathered at my throat. It didn''t heal it much


    Reading this the two didn''t appear entirely convinced. With a faint sigh, the note turned to dust in Roc''s fingers this time.


    I''m really not seeing things


    "Will you let us check your neck?" Roc said.


    Wait, these two...


    Xing Kai began frowning slightly.


    Are they that bothered?


    Wait, even I was bothered, but is it such a big deal?


    Xing Kai hesitated between shaking his head and nodding, as he tried to analyse the two brother''s expression. With a reluctant nod, he let Roc place his warm sandy finger against his throat. Xing Kai''s pupils were distinctly smaller as he looked up at Roc''s face. Xing Kai suddenly felt a current, a wave like sensation, ripple outwards from Roc''s fingertips. The curious wave scanned past the throat and returned slowly, yet didn''t seem to detect anything.


    "I don''t know what happened, but there isn''t anything different with your neck" Roc said. He removed his fingertips and stepped back while rubbing his chin. "I suppose you''re going to have to train in the forest then huh?" Hak looked at his brother in surprise but accepted his judgement without having to check himself.


    Can you let Commander Shen Han know?


    Xing Kai wrote in the sand this time using his fingers so as to not waste parchment.


    "Yeah, we''ll take care of all that" Roc replied offhandedly. His eyes were still staring at Xing Kai''sthroat in a confused manner, which made Xing Kaiscratch his neck.


    You just said you didn''t notice anything so why are you still looking at me like that?


    "Anyways...don''t enter the forest from anywhere other than the slums and don''t go too far" Hak said. He shrugged and thenwalked off towards the washing rooms without another look back. With asigh, Roc shook his head, and turned to follow his brother.


    "I don''t know how much the instructors told you about the dangers of the true forest..." Roc said over his shoulder. "But don''t annoy any of the territorial or pack species. Go for the lone predators smaller then yourself. Happy hunting."


    Xing Kai watched the two walk away.


    Trouble never seems to leave me alone for more then a few minutes at a time.


    I come here just to get permission to cultivate outside the town, and insteadI get questioned and scanned for strange cultivation abnormalities, and I see things turn to dust for no reason


    Xing Kai rubbed his head vigorously before stamping out of the training grounds.


    Just once I would like a calm conversation where something unexpected doesn''t happen...


    ....


    Xing Kai quickly made his way straight towards the forest, using the shortest route he could to traverse the slums. Soon Kai found the slum reaching its natural stopping point and outline at a thin stream. The stream was very weak but judging from its deep, curvingchannel and steep walls it had once been a decent sized brook. Leaping from one side to the other, Xing Kai faced the forest.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The trees were just as tall and thick as those at the forest wall. The tree stumps between the slums and the current forest front were bigger then Xing Kai''s eating table, and were already sprouting small trees from its base. Looking further into the forest, Xing Kai could faintly make out a dense sea of green ferns and bushes covering the ground, and huge arcing buttress roots producing fantastical paths through the forest.


    There doesn''t seem to be any beasts living in the forest fringe, but I better go carefully


    Taking stealthy steps towards the forest, Xing Kai drew his sword and cautiously entered.


    Forging a safe entry point is best done slowly since I don''t have any advice or information about this place


    He crept under the tall ferns and looked up at the canopy of leaves which created a dark green sky.


    No strange movements...no nests...no structures


    Xing Kai optimistically forged a path under the ferns for a further 50 steps before he was stopped cold.


    Turn back. Try a few hundred steps further along the forest


    Xing Kai very quickly retreated out of the forest, and began walking further down the stream, and then entering the forest again. Not long after Xing Kai had to turn back and find another path into the forest that didn''t immediately lead into the territory of beasts.


    After several hours andthe sun having passed it''s apex, Xing Kai was covered in sweat and still no further into the forest.


    I''ve tried every point along this stretch of the forest...any further and I''ll be caught.


    Xing Kai smirked.


    No wonder they said this part of the forest is dangerous even for them


    With a stubborn fire in his eyes, Xing Kai walked back up the stream to a place he determined to be the least dangerous. He pushed back into the thick ferns, stepping on any protruding stones and roots to avoid leaving tracks, he managed to reach 20 steps in before he came across the foreboding sign. A trail of trampled and torn up ferns and scarred trees, creating a line which barred Xing Kai''s path.


    Wild boar territories are not too densely populated so as long as I can lead one away then I can fight it alone...and if too many appear I can still run away easily enough


    Xing Kai quickly took off his green officer''s coat and wrapped it around his forearm.


    A bit of safety eh


    Having tied and readjusted his clothes etc hedashed out of the ferns and began climbing a thick twisting tree. Reaching the canopy ina blur, he looked across the dividing mark and beyond to see if there were any boars nearby.


    None.


    Compressing his body like a spring, Xing Kai launched himself over to a tree several tens of steps away. With a scrambling of hands and feet, he was back among the branches looking for any targets.


    Cocky boars...they made their territory too big


    Xing Kai leaped even further, enjoying the rushing of wind past his ears as he flew towards another tree. Like this, Xing Kai made his way across multiple trees, traversing hundreds of steps into the forest, before he came across a target.


    A red bristled boar with thick tusks close to a meter long.


    Sweet


    Xing Kai slowed down his excited heart and scoured the ground below him for any other beasts nearby, but was relieved to find none. With a grin appearing on his face, Xing Kai delicately swung from the branches, until he was right above the beast.


    From just 15 meters above, Xing Kai could count each thick sharp bristle that lined his vertebrae, and smell the rich smell of dirt on it. The boar reached a height of over a meter and around a meter long too. But it certainly wasn''t soft and slow. A cursory look of its rippling legs spoke of its hard earned strength and fighting ability. Currently this adolescent boar was digging beneath the roots of the tree Xing Kai was perched on, so he could clearly see several white blobs appearing in the ground.


    White root fungi...they''re one of the things that have special properties


    Xing Kai was pleasantly surprised, at the lucky encounter. He had another quick look around the ground, and after feeling certain that their were no nearby threats, he dropped beside the boar.


    The boar squealed sharply and desperately scrambled away. It eyed Xing Kai furiously after creating several steps space, glancing at the sword and all over Kai''s body. With another loud squeal it kicked forwards, barrelling towards Xing Kai, with his tusks raised to gore him.


    Xing Kai dodged to the side with ease and sliced deeply into it''s flank, creating a fountain of blood. The beast fell and rolled across the ground before smacking into a thick wall-like tree. It shivered and cried in pain.


    Just like the Captains, using only one blow to defeat the beasts


    The beast immediately made to escape, while crying for help, but Xing Kai pounced with astounding speed and hacked its skull open. With a light flurry of leaves sounding, Kai rolled to the side and calmed his breathing. The familiar sensation of Heart''s blood traveling up his Jingmai appeared and was cycled accordingly.


    Only equivalent to Middle stage? Unless the Heart''s blood is from a Peak stage beast then the blood just won''t have much strength


    Xing Kai leaped back up a tree and calmly cleaned his blade.


    It''s strange...this boar''s Heart''s blood is only Middle stage, yet the beast would obviously have risen to Late eventually...


    If the Heart''s blood is a animal''s, a human''s, potential then why is the Heart''s blood I extract isonly equal in strength to the current cultivation level of the animal or person?


    Harsh crashing sounds appeared suddenly from the distance causing Xing Kai to look over. Several boars charged over with flaring nostrils and gnashing teeth. Xing Kai waited and watched as the boars looked about and decided what to do. Xing Kai mulled over different solutions as to why the Heart''s blood only had power equal to the current cultivation achieved, while the beasts eventually calmed down.


    Xing Kai looked about again, satisfied that no more beasts were coming, before dropping down again from above. Immediately this caused the boars, 5 of them, to gather together. The smallest was the same size as the previous boar that Kai had killed, while 3 were clearly adults, as tall as somemen and a full 2 meters long. Even the bristles found on their backs were not ordinary, being as thick as a thumb and a hand long.


    3 Late stage and 2 middle huh? It''ll be good practise but the Heart''s blood is worthless to me


    Xing Kai backed up against a wall-like thick tree, large enough that even 10 men couldn''t encompass the tree''s girth. The boars were not foolish however, and instead steadily encircled Xing Kai. Suddenly two of the adult boars rushed towards Xing Kai, intending to pin him against the tree with their meter long tusks, while the others watched.


    With a twinkle in his eyes, Xing Kai leaped over the two charging boars,avoiding the charge that sent shudders into the colossal tree. But the other two younger boarsimmediately turned about and leaped into the air, intending to deal a fatal blow to Kai''s body.


    Damn


    Xing Kai extendedout with his arm, allowing the blow of the leaping boartoland on him so astoalso cut a deep wound into its back. The result was that the blow sent Kai flyingthrough the air, and the boar staggered against a tree.


    Hai, what a hefty thing, if it was to hit me like that while on the ground-


    Before Xing Kai could even get up properly he saw the 3rd adult boar charging straight towards him with great momentum. Xing Kai had just enough time to raise his sword, forcing the boar to dodge to the side.Xing Kai was quick to take advantage, and immediately burst forward with great speed to slay the staggering boar with a hack to the skull.


    Pity...Late stage Heart''s blood is no goodfor me


    With this sudden thought flashing across his mind, Xing Kai felt a strange pang in his mind which made him feel dizzy.


    The4 other boars rushed towards him with frenzied eyes, closing the gap between them and Xing Kai in little time.


    TheHeart''s blood of the dead boar was not drawn out this time?


    Xing Kai looked down at the boar in shock.

 Chapter 24...Repressing

    <div>


    I can stop the Heart''s blood from being absorbed?


    Xing Kai stared wide eyed between the dead boar and the bloodied sword.


    What does this mean


    Xing Kai could hear the beast thundering towards himand took cover beside the carcass of the boar. With the dullsmacking sound of body against body, Xing Kai and several boars sprawled through bushes and ferns. Xing Kai came to an abrupt stop as his whole body slapped against a gargantuan tree root.


    With a gasp Xing Kai rolled underneath a fern.


    Damn sword


    Xing Kai''s sword had been caught between the tree and his face, creating a cut on his brow. The boars were up and charging towards him.


    Just whenI stop taking in the Heart''s blood I get injured...


    Xing Kai got up, grabbing a thick handful of mud and slapped it over his brow. He winced as the mud mixed with his wound, but it cleared his eyes for a moment. Using all his strength Xing Kai threw himself to the side, and used the weaving roots of the trees to dodge their charges. Xing Kai tried to space the boars out as he dashed about between the trees.


    This has gone on for long enough


    Xing Kai dropped down ontoa patch ofdry, spacious groundwith hisknees bent and his sword raised. Ferns were being pushed apart furiously from 4 different direction all heading straight towards him.


    Practise. This is practise. Do it just like the Captains do


    Xing Kai growled and pushed his fear back as two boars burst through the foliage and charged straight towards him.


    Xing Kai''s heart pumped deeplyand his muscles bunched together tightly.


    He charged towards one of the boars, taller even than himself, and threw his sword straight into its skull. Immediately helunged forwards, timing the fall of the defeated beast, tograb his sword and yank it free. Xing Kai twisted about to face the other beast.


    Come on. Quickly


    Xing Kai urged desperately in his heart as the Heart''s Blood of the Late stage boar was refined and cycled directly to his injuries. In only a few moments his wounds were sealing.


    Suddenly Xing Kai felt a heavy force impact him from the side, slamming him off his feet and over the bristly boar beside him. A sharp and cold pain lanced into his shoulder and neck, causing him to scream.


    Xing Kai thrashed wildly, realising that a heavy, brownfurred beast had latched onto him and was furiously tearing at his shoulder. But Xing Kai''s muscles were thick and astonishingly dense, forcing the beast to retract its mouth quickly. And with a howl Xing Kai swunghis fist over his back, striking the beast heavily.


    A howling screeching sound was produced from the beast, and a hail of fists struck Xing Kai''s head and chest.


    Xing Kai rolled about, using his legs to clamp onto the beast and finally managed to get above it.


    It was a monkey. It had 4 horribly long fangs which couldn''t even naturally fit inside its mouth, giving it a constant look of aggression and violence.


    Xing Kai didn''t even spare a second to crush the monkey''s throat using his thumb. He urged desperately to get the Heart''s blood of the beast and cycle it around his fatal wound.


    Damn it, only a Middle stage?


    Xing Kai managed to regenerate a rough patch of skin to cover his wounded neck, but he didn''t have enough to heal himself any further.


    I could take one of these easily at the forest wall. This place is really too fearsome


    Xing Kai grabbed his sword and looked everywhere fearfully. There was no movements, only the howls of monkeys and the squeals of the boars in the distance.


    I''m not turning back until I beat them


    Xing Kai stubbornly stood up andclimbed up a tree to swing his way to the commotion. His senses were tightly strained, his sword ready to meet any threat above or below him.


    Quickly he arrived at the scene of several beasts facing off.


    Ten monkeys...twelve? And some of them have black fur...


    The boars were surrounded by the monkeys and were cornered against a thick mass of coiling roots. The boars were putting on a brave front, but there were far too many to face.


    So even this is true


    Xing Kai shivered as he quietly watched. His face was pale, but his eyes were wide open recording every detail before him.


    The boars trembled and became more aggressive, displaying a threatening front to the gang before them. But the sharp screech from a black furred monkey, as big a full grown man with a tail that was almost as thick as an arm, silenced the boars. The monkeys clamoured and goaded the boars by throwing dirt and posturing before them.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    The black furred ones, 5, gathered before the boars and sniffed them, inspecting them. Xing Kai who was watching above was astounded, but secretly preparing his sword. There was a strange light in his eyes, and he cleared the mud off his brow.


    This many...I want to see what happens if I fight this many


    Xing Kai''s heart hammered and he could feel a rush in his blood and an itch in his bones.


    Just as the 5 monkeys finished their inspection, Xing Kai was aligneddirectly above them.


    I need more experience, more of a challenge


    Xing Kaitightened his grip on hisswordto the point that hefelt thewooden hilt cracking and splitting.


    Just as the 5 were returning casually to their gang, one of theyounger boars could tolerate it no longer andprodded the Late stage monkey with his tusk.Before the monkeys could even cry outin outrage, XingKai dropped downfrom above silently...and spikedone of the boars in the head with his sword and gauged the eyes ofanother boar.


    Hoping for an instant of confusion to continue his surprise attack, he pouncedat the 5 monkeys. But he failed.


    The monkeys werequick to react, and backedoff rapidly while the other monkeysrushed him and the boars.


    Xing Kai roared with a maniacal grin and exchanged fists and kicks with the monkeys.Unfortunately, although the boars were outraged to the extreme, only the blinded boar involved itself in the brawl while the other two simply escaped.


    Xing Kaifaltered as he noticed the boars retreating instead of fighting, and received a vicious fist to the cheek in return. However, he was already cycling theblood of severalmonkeys and theMiddle stage boar, so was packed full of fighting energy. With fists that lashed out and legs that had unstoppable strength, he killed one after another.


    This. This. This is it


    Xing Kai couldn''t stop himself from howling in pleasure and excitement.


    His back, his stomach, his head. He was struck viciously everywhere.


    But Xing Kai was unconcerned. He relished in exchanging a fist for a kick, a punch for a punch.


    The twelve were reduced to under half thanks to the blind boar''s charging and Xing Kai''s fighting.


    The 5 black monkeys were incensed and went straight to clamp down on him with their finger sized fangs.


    Xing Kai spun his legs, waved his arms, blocking from all sides and fighting equally with the beasts.


    One kill, two...three. Xing Kai found a natural rhythm with which to move. There were only 2 black furs left and 5 battered brown furs, and after a few more exchanges they fled, leaving the dying boar alone with Kai.


    ...so...free...


    Xing Kai felt his vision was throbbing. His ears were filled with a sharp sound that deafened him to even his own breathing. He slowly looked down at his hands; many fingers were dislocated.


    Ohh


    Xing Kai wobbled slowly in place as the world began to stabilise again, the high pitched scream leaving his ears, and sensation returning to his body.


    Xing Kai felt his cheeks wet with tears, and could finally hear himself sobbing.


    ............


    There was a crowd.


    It had gathered by a small stream, used to be a deep brook from its appearance, where the forest neared their homes. Although judging from their clothes it didn''t appear that their homes were in all that great of a shape. Much like the stream, the people were weak but there was still traces of their better past.


    "How did...what''s all this meat?" cried one of the elders. Heaped before them was several dead beasts, mostly boars and monkeys, which one of the children of the slums had noticed.


    "A boy was gathering all of this, dragging them out of the forest and piling them here" shouted a small girl. The crowd of adults, youths, and elders became very wide eyed. They all turned to look towards a certain little girl who was currently bravely examining the bodies herself. She was even tasting a few strange mushrooms.


    "Xiao Lan..." said one of the older girls. The curiouslittle girl turned around and shook her head, as if already knowing what was being asked.


    This made the crowd even more astounded. They discussed with themselves for a long time under the sun, and eventually everyone of the slums had gathered at the mild stream.


    Unlike the stream however, the people were beginning to stir...beginning to show some strength.


    .........


    Xing Kai blew his nose, and cleaned his hands in the small stream beside him creating many little ripples.


    Need to buy more parchment too. I''ll just have to write in the dirt until then I guess...


    Xing Kai got up, andclimbed back up the roots, into the far reaching branches above. He travelled slowly, making sure to keep a special eye out for the monkeys. It was their territory after all.


    And perhaps I should get gloves too...


    He looked down towards his sword.


    I need to practise with this...but not with beasts. They don''t fight like people do


    He continued, reaching a full kilometre into the forest without encountering any beasts or any markers. The beasts had indeedmarked their territories widely. However after a full kilometre there were obvious signs everywhere. Fruit seeds and cores could be seen everywhere, while old nests of leaves and branches could also be seen occasionally.


    Xing Kai eventually came across a small group of black furs, and followed them. Very quickly Xing Kai arrived at a beautiful complex web of roots, and twisting trees and hanging vines. Below all this was a considerable sized pond...blue like the sky even though there was no clear patch of sky above.


    In fact, Xing Kai was fairly certain that the water was not even reflecting the shadows of the black furs gathered about it.


    A special pool


    Xing Kai quickly backed away and made sure he was concealed from all angles.


    That much...and it''s even more magical than the village healer''s one


    Xing Kai contained the pang inside his heart and eyed the settlement warily. There were many black furs, but some seemed more dominant than others directly barging past the fellow black furs aggressively. There were 4 of these dominant appearing ones, although none of them were as domineering around a certain black furred monkey.


    It was this particular monkey, with a hairless tail, which gathered the attention of the congregated beasts. Xing Kai was single-mindedly focused, almost wishing he could speak in the tongue of the monkeys. As they all settled, with 4 dominant and 15 black furs, the hairless-tailed monkey began throwing odd items into the pool and in turn the other monkeys followed. They didn''t seem particularly concerned about the process and just threw items into the magical pond withno ceremony or order.


    Those arebeach larvae...someblue veinedrose stems...


    Xing Kai listed all the things that he could see being added with an increasingly shallow breath. By the end, even some bloodand meat was added to this blue pond...but just as it didn''t show any reflections, it didn''t show any changes upon having all these things added toit.


    Suddenly the monkeys were screaming and shouting, as anothermonkey appeared from deep within the knot of roots.


    Xing Kai froze and felt his heart lurch sickeningly.


    I didn''t see it coming?


    Thismonkey was very different from all the others. It was silver furred and very muscular, appearing more like an ape. It wore leather around it''s upper chest, shoulders and arms similar to the armour worn by some militiamen, and on it''s waist was a belt and sword.


    As it sauntered through the gathering, it glared at everyone beforeit dropped a head into the pond and then walked away.


    Xing Kai''s eyes were pinpricks as he watched the head tumble down into the pool...


    It was one of the mercenaries who attacked his village.

 Chapter 25...A Soul Condensing Beasts death

    The head created a small splash and sunk into the unresponsive blue water as if it was any other vegetable.


    Xing Kai eyes were widened so far they began to crack, his jaw tightly clenched together. A shiver went through his very being. It''s one of them...one of them actually died. Xing Kai clamped his eyesshut but the dying expression of that mercenary was completely seared into his mind.


    Dead...could they all be dead?


    Xing Kai looked back at the gathering but all the black furs were separating and heading in different directions. The silver ape and the hairless tailed monkey both went together deeper into the forest. Xing Kai hesitated for only a moment before he followed them. He gazed deeply at the pool as he passed it.


    The two beasts travelled quite quickly, heading towards a particular destination, but Xing Kai could only control his chaotic emotions. Perhaps that one was the only one to die...maybe the other mercenaries got away...Xing Kai felt sick as he hoped that the mercenaries were not all killed, but he couldn''t deny thedread hefelt in his heart.


    They travelled for only a few minutes beforeXing Kai heard something peculiar. Has one of them?...Suddenly Xing Kai jerked to the side and drew his sword. A hairless tail, thick as an arm, swiped down where Xing Kai''s head would have been. The monkey dropped onto the branch together with Kai, revealing it''s 4 dagger like fangs.


    Big...it''s bigger than even the adult boars


    Xing Kai shivered at the powerful, pinkish tail coiling behind the beasts back. Xing Kai looked over the monkeys shoulder worrying where the ape had gone, but the monkey suddenly bolted straight towards him.


    Fast. Xing Kai flung himself straight off the branch and flew towards the ground. An stretch of the arm, and he managed to stop his fall before hitting the ground; he crouched on the branch and eyed the beast sauntering towards him. I can already barely hear where the other one went, I need to end this quickly.


    Xing Kai decided to take the battle to the beast as he rushed up the tree and slashed. The beast almost sneered as it ducked the slash and with lightening speed embraced Kai in a vice like grip and roared in his face in triumph. Brute. Xing Kai butted the ape in the nose, blinding its eyes with tears. He burst out of the beasts clutches using his strength and plunged the sword straight into it''s chest. You would have been good practise too...His eyes were cold and hard as he drew out the blood and left the beast to fall out of the trees.


    Usingrapid steps and long swings on vines, Xing Kai searched for the silver ape. Between the huge trees and their beautifully curving branches and the varieties of green vines hanging from above, Xing Kai forged a path. His nostrils were flared and his eyes bounced about the surroundings hoping to find any trail.


    It can''t be too far into the forest...I''ll keep looking. Xing Kai barged past territory markers, crushed nests under his feet and ignored any beasts that didn''t detect him. The other''s were killed. I''ll comb this whole place if I have to, but I will find that beast.


    Kai did not have to wait long however, before he came across the ape. It was sitting with its rippling thick legs dangling on a branch high above Xing Kai while eating some fruits. It placed the core to one side, beside a pile it had already formed, and licked it''s fangs. They were shorter relative to it''s mouth compared to the other monkeys, but it''s size was as large as an ox even while crouching. Only these formidably thick branches could support such a heavy beast.


    Xing Kai froze under its gaze, feeling a crushing weight from its presence alone. It knew I was coming...and didn''t even care? Xing Kai''s mouth twisted and he readied himself with his sword, levelling it to his eyes and adjusting his stance for balance. Xing Kai''s heart pounded, and the ape almost appeared to smirk at him for it. The mighty silver furred ape dropped down, sliding down a tree and landed before Xing Kai...before calmly drawing the sword from its sheath.


    The two eyed each other.


    Xing Kai growled and exploded towards the ape with all the strength of his legs. The 50 paces between was closed in two breaths by Xing Kai, as with a resounding roar he leaped and swung at the ape''s head.


    The ape twirled under the branch using his tail and appeared behind Kai seamlessly. With a howl of soul shaking force, the ape sliced the air with its sword aiming for Kai''s exposed back.


    Back off!


    Xing Kai screamed in his heart as the mysterious wave struck his body, jilting him as he landed on the branch. A powerful wave was released by Xing Kai''s Heart''s blood which dispelled the effects of the vicious wave which lingered in his body.


    But the sword of the ape was already swinging down on Xing Kai''s back.


    I''m not dying this quickly. In desperation, Xing Kai managed to raise his sword and let the mighty blow launch him down to the ground.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    His back struck against a tree, winding him as his body wrapped itself around the branch. Xing Kaicould faintly see the ape sliding down a chain like vine towards him. I...I''m not that weak...Xing Kai pushed himself to his feet, and felt a horrible pain in his sides. His sword had shattered after coming in between him and the tree branch, leaving a deep cut in his sides.


    Soul condensing stage beast?


    His lips curled and he threw the broken sword aside with a brief look of anger. His clothes were almost completely unrecognisable now, soaked in blood and dirt, and now wrapped around his midriff tostop the bleeding.He pulled the cloth off his forearm and retied it to his knuckles. The ape would wait, he knew.


    If you really have killed the mercenaries...then I want to see if I''m also strong enough to have done it


    Xing Kai''s eyes had an intense force in them as he gazed at the ape, which grunted in amusement.


    The two clashed again, with Kai sliding under it to deliver a punch to its neck. Everything he had seen in training, seen in actual fights, seen in his nightmares he put on display. Any feints he tried would fail and he would be kicked and punched by the omniscient ape. Xing Kai''s body was resilient however, and he took the casual blows from the beast with relative ease.


    And so the ape grew thirsty for a battle.


    The sword of the ape, a bloodied long sword, would slice the air and hack at him with cruel intent every so often. The howls were ineffective it quicklyrealised, and so it simply slapped Xing Kai about intending to wear him out.


    There''s such a big gap...that Soul condensing warrior could create a far more powerful wave, his presence was torturous, yet he wasn''t even close to this ape. The Captains...it makes sense now


    Xing Kai scrambled to get out of the way of the ape''s swing and caught his breath. He had wounds all over, ranging from bruises to split tissues that were the result of the ape''s physical attacks. He watched the ape pull the sword outof the trunk of a tree. It leaped towards him with great speed.


    Xing Kai''s eyes shot about rapidly, looking for some advantage or trick to use, but the intensity in his eyes had only grown stronger for a direct fight. Using a vine and his rapid speed he tangled the beast in loops and clawed his way towards the beast to kick it in the skull.


    The blow was another miss.


    The ape dodged, not with ease however, and managed to tear the chain like vines with a few savage twists of its body.


    More...I can do more


    Xing Kai growled as he tried to utter his thoughts, and began dodging again.


    The forest was not spared in the carnage of the two''s battle, and the beasts nearby began clearing out of the way. The roars of the two were soul stirring and the impacts between them were frightening.


    Xing Kai''s eyes were completely consumed in the fire of the battle, and he began exchanging cuts deep down to his bones in exchange for striking the beast. First his forearm, then his legs Xing Kai offered all his limbs to the sword so long as he could hit the beast...and he did. The ape''s right arm was completely broken from a kick of Xing Kai''s, and some its ribs were broken from his punches.


    The two felt a primal bond between each other, as the balance of power shifted chaotically with each blow between them. They were certain that they could kill the other but at a harsh cost.


    Good, all animals are proud of their strength, so why don''t we fight each other to the death with our fists?


    Xing Kai grinned maniacally as the Soul condensing beast rushed towards him. He erupted with strength and speed as the two exchanged blows again...but Xing Kai was again coming out short. With a feint towards his stomach, the ape stabbed his shoulder, breaking it. Before it could grab him, Kai pulled himself off the sword and bolted.


    The furious howlingape followed, but suddenly a figure appeared before it.


    It was a boy, no older then Kai.


    He was dressed in rags, covered in dirt and without any shoes. Yet as he looked at the incoming ape from beneath the cap on his head, he was calm. His face, handsome in a cold detached way, formed a small smile. A thinsword was drawn from a leather sheath tied to his back, and his feet steadily placed under him.


    What?


    Xing Kai managed to stop himself while gritting his teeth to the pain. How did someone else appear here? However, pushing his suspicions to one side he raced back to defend the boy.


    "What could have left a Soul condensing beast in such poor state?" said the boy. His smile grew as he noted all the damage done to the charging ape. "Pity...maybe I''ll find what did this to you. Until then..."


    The boy dashed forward with staggering speed, surpassing even Xing Kai''s top speed by a half fold, and sliced deeply into the shocked ape''s legs. With a twirl and mysterious sway, the boy dodged the ape''s thundering fists, and cut into its back.


    How can he do that?


    Xing Kai stumbled and almost fell as he rushed back towards the ape. He dodged the swing, but careful, the ape uses it''s tail...he knows...but the ape isn''t able to evade his attacks? Why is the ape faltering now?


    Xing Kai appeared on the branch, trapping the ape between him and the unsuspecting boy. The ape attacked the boy again, but Xing Kai immediately lashed at it''s sides with his leg...however the ape dodged again.


    How? Xing Kai grasped at his side and evaded as the ape focused on him again.


    But the boy had noticed him and was stunned. The ape, almost perfectly, took advantage of this brief pause to attack both the boys using it''s tail and sword.


    But while the boy managed to evade with a bizarre swaying motion, Xing Kai had to use all his reaction speed and strength to dodge. Again? How is he doing that...that, swaying? What is it?


    The boy again swayed, but suddenly almost like a blur he rushed past the ape, leaving a thick cut to it''s sides, and appeared before Kai. His mouth was tightly pressed into a line as he studied Kai, with a deep look in his eyes. The ape behind them actually took this chance to throw it''s sword at the two and ran.


    Xing Kai saw the flying sword and yanked the boy to the side rudely, who instantly twisted Kai''s arm off him. However he noticed the sword flying past them, and with the same horrifying speed, he blurred and grabbed the hilt of the flying long sword. He gazed at it disappointedly, examining it closely, while forgetting that Kai or the ape even existed.


    Xing Kai growled at the boy, wanting to unload some curses on him, but instead ignored him and chased the ape. He rubbed his palm, feeling a sharp pain coming from it and his wrist. Whoever he is, I don''t care. I''m killing that beast first


    With a sigh theboy stabbed the long sword deep into the trunk of the tree, and with his great speed he overtook Kai and reached the beast. Kai could only watch as the boy used incredible moves, swaying and jolting, slicing and feinting, to destroy the ape.


    In the 4 breaths that Kai took to arrive at the scene, the ape was already dead at the cap wearing boy''s feet.