Chapter 05: Wants To Cripple Both Of My Arms?
Second Order Warrior!
From the first day of cultivation until the Second Order Warrior, Huang Xiaolong spent no more than three days! This was an unprecedented event.
In general, grade ten martial spirits required at least one year’s time to breakthrough to Second Order; even if one possesses a superb talent martial spirit, one needs at least six months to achieve this result.
However, Huang Xiaolong only spent three days!
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Huang Xiaolong continued to run the Xuan Qin cultivation technique so that the second layer meridians flowed with battle qi, becoming smoother and calmer.
If first layer battle qi meridians were akin to a small stream, then the second layer battle qi meridians were comparable to a small river, wider and larger, accommodating more battle qi.
The night passed.
When the warm morning sunlight streamed through the window onto Huang Xiaolong’s body, Huang Xiaolong ended his practice for the night and opened his eyes; after one night’s practice, he had stabilized his cultivation of Second Order warrior.
Wonder how’s that little brat Huang Wei’s progress? Huang Xiaolong thought, before jumping down from his bed and heading out of the room. Huang Xiaolong stretched his limbs lazily facing the sun.
In the little yard, Huang Xiaolong caught sight of the very same half-meter sized big rock in the corner that he hit several days prior. He couldn’t resist himself so he walked up to the big rock while raising his right hand-- battle qi wrapped around his palm as he lands a strike on the rock. The big rock shook violently and small pieces of stones crumbled down, scattering all over the place.
On the surface of the big rock, one can see minuscule crack lines; retrieving his right hand, Huang Xiaolong scrutinized the power of his palm, and nodded with satisfaction. As per his expectation, after advancing to the Second Order, his strength was comparable to a late-Second Order warrior-- that’s equivalent to the power of two stones.
Back on earth, if a seven-year-old kid has the strength of two hundred pounds it would be an unbelievable marvel but here in Martial Spirit World, it was nothing to be lauded.
Leaving his courtyard, Huang Xiaolong headed towards the Eastern Courtyard.
But not far from his little courtyard, he heard several manor guards’ gossiping.
“Gee, I heard Young Lord Huang Wei successfully converted his battle qi in just three days! During our time, it took us two months to convert our battle qi; at this rate, in less than four months Young Lord Huang Wei will be able to breakthrough to the First Order!”
“I wonder how Young Lord Xiaolong’s practice coming?”
“Young Lord Xiaolong? Although Young Lord Xiaolong’s talent is not bad, but to successfully condensed battle qi, he would require at least one month’s time; that is simply incomparable to Young Lord Huang Wei’s speed. To breakthrough to the First Order it would minimum of one year’s time!
So, that little brat Huang Wei already succeeded in converting his battle qi? Huang Xiaolong stood in the corridor with his hand behind his back, looking like a little adult as he watched the several manor guards walked away.
No longer bothered with the guards, Huang Xiaolong continued onwards the Eastern Courtyard’s hall. A brief moment later, after he entered the main hall, Huang Xiaolong noticed besides his father and mother, there was also his little sister, Huang Min, and his four-year-old little brother, Huang Xiaohai, in the main hall.
“Dad, Mom.” Huang Xiaolong called out as he entered.
“Sit.” Huang Peng raised his head indicating a chair. It was obvious there was a trace of worry on his face. Sitting down, Huang Xiaolong found Su Yan’s expression carried the same worry as his father’s, so he opened his mouth and asked: “Dad, Mom, did something happen?”
“A few days ago, did you beat up Zhou Guang’s son?” Huang Peng stared at his son and asked.
Huang Xiaolong directed his gaze towards his little sister, Huang Min; without a doubt, his littlesister telltale on him. Conscious that Huang Xiaolong was looking at her, Huang Min stuck out her small tongue, afraid to look at Huang Xiaolong.
“That kid was looking for a beating.” Huang Xiaolong replied calmly.
Huang Peng and Su Yan were taken aback, and exchanged a look with each other.
“How is your practice these few days?” Ignoring his son’s answer, Huang Peng changed the topic, no longer questioning on the previous matter. These past few days, Huang Xiaolong had been training day and night, regardless of the time. Huang Peng and Su Yan had of course noticed this, both of them felt comforted that Huang Xiaolong was putting effort into his cultivation.
Hearing his father’s question about his practice, Huang Xiaolong hesitated for a moment; should he tell the truth? Or should he conceal part of his strength or reveal that he already channel battle qi?
Seeing his son’s look of hesitation, Huang Peng comforted him: “It’s only been a few days, it doesn’t matter if you haven’t successfully condensed out battle qi-- I spent a whole month before I could do it.”
“That’s right, Xiaolong, your talent is higher than your Dad’s. You’ll definitely be able to condense battle qi after a month.” Su Yan said.
The truth was, both Huang Peng and Su Yan saw the hesitation on Huang Xiaolong’s face and that made them think Huang Xiaolong was embarrassed to answer that he had yet to condense battle qi.
Huang Xiaolong blanked for a moment listening to his parent's words of ‘comfort’; however, after a little thinking, he went along his parent's line of thought, saying: “Dad, Mom, rest assured that one month later I will surely be able to condense out battle qi.”
Listening to their son’s ‘oath’, both Huang Peng and Su Yan were very pleased.
However, worry deepens on their faces about the dubiousness of Huang Xialong’s oath and Huang Peng said: “Xiaolong, the day before yesterday, Huang Wei announced that he would cripple both of your arms during the annual Clan Assembly!”
Huang Xiaolong finally understood the cause of worry on his parents’ face.
Others might not dare to do so, but since Huang Wei dares say as much, then during the clan assembly Huang Wei probably will cripple his arms and claimed it was accidental. At that time, even Grandfather Huang Qide will not penalize him, just a few stern words at most.
“Cripple both of my arms?” Huang Xiaolong smiled while under the surface a trace of hostility rose.
Seeing Huang Xiaolong look of unconcern, Su Yan was afraid that Huang Xiaolong does not know the gravity of the matter: “Xiaolong, Huang Wei has successfully condensed battle qi and by the end of the year, he will be able to enter late-First Order warrior. He’ll do what he said-- at that time, he will definitely cripple both of your arms.” As Su Yan said this, an image of Xiaolong’s hands being crippled flashed across her mind and it made her eyes turned red.
“What should we do? What can we do?” Su Yan broke down in tears.
Huang Peng looked his wife that was drowning in tears and was extremely vexed: “Woman, why are you crying? Can crying be of any help?”
Su Yan turned over with a face full of tears, “If Xiaolong is disabled, what will you do then? If both of Xiaolong’s hands are wasted, how will he continue to live? Huang Peng, why don’t you seek Big Brother out, let him ask Huang Wei to let off our Xiaolong!”
“Implore big brother?” Huang Peng frowned.
“I know this will cause you to lose face, but do you prefer to see Xiaolong’s hands crippled?” Su Yan said, crying even louder.
The two little ones, Huang Min and Huang Xiaohai saw Su Yan crying so miserably, they both walked over to her side and started crying together, all three of them lumped together.
Just when Huang Xiaolong wanted to say something, suddenly Huang Peng stood up, gritting his teeth: “Okay, I‘ll go!” After saying that, holding Huang Xiaolong’s small hand, he led him towards the direction of the Northern Courtyard.
“Father, I--” Coming out from the Eastern Courtyard main hall, Huang Xiaolong opened his mouth wanting to say it was not necessary to look for Huang Ming, but he was interrupted by Huang Peng: “Xiaolong, in front of your Uncle, you must behave, understand?” After saying that, without waiting for Huang Xiaolong’s reply, he and Huang Xiaolong hurried to the Northern Courtyard.
When they reach the Northern Courtyard, Huang Ming and Huang Wei, the father and son were in the main hall; coincidentally, Zhou Guang and Zhou Xuedong were also there.
Note:
1 jin = 1.1023 pounds, weight/measurements rounded up for easy understanding.