XIAO SHUXIANG'S

15 - Fire Lizard [Revised]

"You two hold on. We're almost there..." Xiao Shuxiang saw a large tree standing firmly not far in front of him.

Yang Shu, "Xiao Er. Grandfather will bring Lu'Er first to rest her under the tree. Grandpa will help you afterwards. You take care of your two brothers."

Xiao Shuxiang nodded, he then waited until Yang Shu returned. The Old Grandfather tried to walk quickly while carrying Xiao Lu and also their pack of supplies.

After laying Xiao Lu under the tree, he walked to where Xiao Shuxiang and his two other disciples were.

"Xiao'Er sorry, Grandfather is troubling you," Yang Shu then carried Qi Xuan on his back.

"No matter Kek," Xiao Shuxiang started walking as he continued to smother Jing Mi, meanwhile Yang Shu walked in front of him carrying Qi Xuan.

Not long after, Xiao Shuxiang finally reached under the tree, the place where Xiao Lu was laid.

Yang Shu laid down Qi Xuan, then helped her grandson lay Jing Mi down on the grass. He and Xiao Shuxiang then began to sit leaning under the tree while watching the three children lying limp.

"Xiao'Er, didn't Grandfather think you had such a strong physical resistance with this small body of yours," Yang Shu gently stroked Xiao Shuxiang's head and back.

"I felt strange with the three of them. Did Grandfather never teach them any moves or techniques to cope with this condition?" Xiao Shuxiang could no longer help himself to ask, his tone was both upset and disappointed because his three classmates were so weak.

Xiao Shuxiang continued, "They just fought with the scorching sun, but it was as if they were just dying. Somehow if they later had to fight with Demonic Beasts? Hiya... I can't imagine it."

Yang Shu stroked his mustache and beard upon hearing his grandson's question. Meanwhile Xiao Shuxiang stared at Old Bangka beside him while waiting for a reply from his words.

"Grandfather did indeed never teach them anything other than just telling Grandpa's adventures when he saw firsthand the great cultivators fighting."

Yang Shu smiled as she imagined herself adventuring alone, "Grandfather met a lot and saw strong cultivators fighting each other and also fighting with Demonic Beasts."

Xiao Shuxiang snorted in disbelief when he heard Yang Shu's reply. "Just see cultivators fighting...? Is Grandpa just a spectator? Then how could Grandfather reach the eighth level Forging Qi? Don't say it's just a coincidence?!"

Yang Shu looked at Xiao Shuxiang, her beloved granddaughter looked slightly pouted and looked adorable once. He suddenly pulled Xiao Shuxiang over and hugged her anxiously as he rubbed his mustache and beard into his granddaughter's cheeks.

!!

Xiao Shuxiang was so shocked, unable to believe being attacked like this by Yang Shu. He screamed and grumbled in his heart.

"YES!! No More!!"

"Grandfather...! I'm angry, please don't hug!" Xiao Shuxiang could no longer bear the mustache and beard rubbing his cheeks.

Yang Shu laughed, "Alright. Sorry, sorry... You're too adorable and you make Grandpa want to hold you."

Xiao Shuxiang was now able to breathe a sigh of relief, even though his face was a bit pale. "He said. This old Bangka who stinks of earth says it...! The dangers... Does he have a strange interest in children?! Justjust wonderful... You should stay away from Xiao Shuxiang. Your pride is really at stake."

Xiao Shuxiang shifted his seat and then approached towards Jing Mi to wake her up. If it continued to be near Yang Shu, it was possible that he would again be attacked with a mustache and beard again.

"Jing Mi...? Brother Jing...? Can you hear me?" Xiao Shuxiang patted gently on Jing Mi's cheek which was still lying with her eyes closed.

Even though they are currently sheltering from the hot sun, they are still hot because the gentle wind that blows is a hot wind.

It took a long time for Xiao Shuxiang to resuscitate Jing Mi, Qi Xuan and Xiao Lu. When they were conscious, they all asked for water.

Jing Mi, "Brother Xiao... Justjust please. Give me some water,"

Xiao Shuxiang, "If there was any water, I would have already doused all of you."

Jing Mi turned her head towards Yang Shu, her face looking not excited at all. "Te-old...? Are there no wells or small rivers around here...?"

Xiao Lu crawled to where Yang Shu was sitting. "Grandfather... Lu'Er house. Please get some water..."

Yang Shu stroked her grandson and smiled bitterly. He could have gone back to the village, but it took him at most two days to get there. While Xiao Lu looked like he could not hold on much longer.

He had not had time to answer Xiao Lu's words, just as Qi Xuan was shouting. His screams caused the teacher and his three friends to panic.

"Brother Jing?! Apii...! There's fire at your feet!!" Qi Xuan shouted as he pointed at Jing Mi's right shoe that was burning at the end.

Jing Mi was surprised, as she ran and jumped up and down, apparently trying to put out the fire at her feet while screaming for help.

Yang Shu immediately put out the fire at his disciple's feet by patting him quickly, Xiao Lu also tried to help his brother by stepping on Jing Mi's feet.

As the fire at Jing Mi's feet began to go out, she immediately sat down limp as she rubbed her chest. This incident made Xiao Lu and Qi Xuan come into shock as well, they even forgot about their thirst.

"Haah hah huh! H-Almost I was burned alive, the weather like this was so dangerous, hah hah" Jing Mi felt her heart beating much faster and as if it was almost out in her ear. "Well... Gee whiz... Good thing the fire in my shoes is small, otherwise..."

He had not calmed his heart yet he was again startled by something so hot that it touched his left hand, this made him scream.

"WAAA...!!"

"You why Brother Jing?!" Xiao Shuxiang was startled as Jing Mi suddenly got up and shouted while running behind her.

"I-it's... There was something passing over my hand and it felt really hot!" Jing Mi pointed towards her seat earlier, she looked terrified.

?!

Suddenly some grass moved without any wind blowing it, making Qi Xuan, Xiao Lu, Jing Mi, Xiao Shuxiang and Yang Shu flinch.

"Ke-to-why is that grass moving on its own?!" Jing Mi's voice stammered, she sought refuge behind Yang Shu.

In contrast to her being frightened, Xiao Shuxiang, Qi Xuan, and Xiao Lu instead looked curious. Carefully the three approached the moving grass and it turned out that what made the grass sway was a small lizard.

"It's just a lizard...! You're such a coward...!" Xiao Lu turned to look at Jing Mi in annoyance when he found out that the one moving the grass was just a lizard.

"But this lizard looks weird..." Qi Xuan watched the lizard in front of him.

His words attracted Xiao Lu and Xiao Shuxiang to attend to the lizard.

The length of this lizard is about 6 cm, the shape of the head is flat, the whole body is grass-dry with a dark red color. It's just that this lizard has a small horn on its head, its teeth are so sharp and fierce. What made Qi Xuan astonished as well as shocked was that this lizard could let out flames on his body.

Xiao Lu looked astonished, "What kind of lizard is this?"

Hearing the exclamation made Xiao Lu and the others turn towards Yang Shu. The old man slowly walked up to his students, he saw the little lizard looking at them while revealing its sharp little teeth with red flames engulfing its body.

Yang Shu then explained, "In this dry and vast prairie lived a Demonic Beast in the form of a Fire Lizard. And what we see now is one of them."

"Ja-so it's called the Fire Lizard...?" Jing Mi who had been hiding behind Yang Shu had ventured to look at the little lizard that was in front of her three classmates.

"If this lizard were a demonic beast, wouldn't it be dangerous?" Xiao Lu crouched down and then started to pay attention back to this little lizard.

The Fire Lizard did not feel fear for Xiao Lu or Yang Shu and the others at all. He was silent while revealing sharp teeth and also his body that was enveloped in flames.

Yang Shu, "You guys should know that the danger level of a Demonic Beast depends on how old they are. The older it is, the more dangerous the Demonic Beast will be..."

Qi Xuan listened to his teacher's words, especially when Yang Shu resumed his words.

"... The age of Demonic Beasts was also affected by the environment. If the area they lived in had dense Qi, then they could live to tens or even hundreds of years. Just like cultivators who needed Qi to improve their martial practices, Demonic Beasts also needed Qi to increase their strength." Yang Shu rubbed his beard.

Qi Xuan, "So how old is this Fire Lizard, Elder?"

"The age of Fire lizards is only 2 to 3 weeks, after which they die,"

!!

Jing Mi and her two brothers were shocked. He then approached Xiao Lu and then crouched down near him, he noticed the Fire Lizard in front of him with a sad looking face.

"The age of this lizard is very short... Poor"

Yang Shu looked at the expressions of Jing Mi and Xiao Lu, he then gently rubbed the heads of the two. "Grandfather will also tell you something interesting about This Fire Lizard,"

"What is a Cake...?" Xiao Lu looked at Yang Shu, he looked curious.

"What is interesting about these lizards is that they breed by laying eggs. Lizard egg is only one, after the mother lays eggs. The egg was then laid by his father. And after the eggs hatch into a small lizard, then the lizard father will take care of his child for three days. After that the lizard's father will also die..."

Hearing Yang Shu's explanation made Xiao Lu puff up his cheeks, he looked even sadder. "That's nothing exciting at all...! Poor this lizard..."

"Can't the Fire Lizard live any longer, Elder?" Qi Xuan also looked pitifully at the little lizard in front of him. Jing Mi nodded after hearing Qi Xuan, as if her brother's question was the same as what he was about to say.

Yang Shu stroked her beard and mustache, then shook her head. "Entahla.c.. Grandpa doesn't know either."

Xiao Shuxiang who had stood up and was silent from the start while watching Yang Shu and his companions who were talking about the Fire Lizard, had now also started to join in.

Xiao Shuxiang thought of Yang Shu's words, he then crouched down beside his friends, watching this little lizard while stroking his chin.

"But I think... These lizards can live longer..." Xiao Shuxiang let out his opinion, it made Qi Xuan, Xiao Lu, Jing Mi and Yang Shu raise next to their eyebrows.

"How is it, Brother Xiao?" Jing Mi was curious.

"This lizard can be long-lived... If she decides to be a virgin her whole life,"

!

Xiao Shuxiang's reply made Yang Shu choke on his own breath. Meanwhile Jing Mi, Qi Xuan and Xiao Lu stared in disbelief at Xiao Shuxiang. It didn't take long until Jing Mi gave a look of admiration to Xiao Shuxiang for being so smart about it.

"Brother Xiao, you're right! If this Fire Lizard decided not to breed, he would be able to live a long life! Right, right?" Jing Mi looked at Xiao Shuxiang excitedly.

Xiao Shuxiang nodded, "Mn, right. You see he's not afraid of us, is he? These lizards are smart animals. They know to be able to live a long life is by way of a virgin for life, which is why this animal we can still see until now."

Qi Xuan nodded, "I also think so. These lizards are so smart. But I wonder, why after knowing that they still want to have eggs?"

Xiao Shuxiang, "Maybe some of the animals look beautiful until there are males who can't help themselves."

"Xiao'Eru? Where did you learn that word? What did Yang Hao teach you?" Yang Shu still could not believe his beloved granddaughter could speak so. And there was no way his grandson could have known for himself if no one had taught him.

He was very confident that his son-in-law, Xiao WeiWei would not teach Xiao Shuxiang such a thing, so the culprit would definitely be Yang Hao.

Xiao Shuxiang simply puffed his cheeks, not wanting to answer Yang Shu's words. Just let this old man think about it himself.

Just as Qi Xuan was looking at the Fire Lizard in front of him, he suddenly flinched. The look on his face suddenly turned serious, "Elder, if the body of this lizard were to let out fire... Can't it burn the dry grass here?"

!!

The question from him made Yang Shu and his fellow classmates gasp in shock. They completely forgot that this dried grass could burn easily.

Xiao Lu stood up in shock. "I-That's right!! The grass here is so dry, won't it cause a fire?! A big fire! Our village could also be in danger...!"

"But during Grandfather's stay here, not a single piece of dried grass has been burned because of this Fire Lizard..." Yang Shu was indeed shocked by the words of his disciple as well as grandson. Why had he never thought of such a thing before?

Indeed this lizard had a short age and when compared to the Demonic Beast that Yang Shu had encountered-Fire Lizard this was the weakest. But if this lizard lives in a place full of dry and flammable grass, isn't this lizard dangerous?

This lizard can trigger a vast fire, it could even lead to the village! How could there be no fire? Though this lizard always let out fire in his body.

Qi Xuan, Xiao Shuxiang, Jing Mi, and Xiao Lu upon hearing that there had never been a fire caused by this Fire Lizard, looked jolted and astonished.

"But how can that be?!" Xiao Lu and Jing Mi thought the same thing, they were both in disbelief with Yang Shu's words.

"The grass that never burns...? Could it be.." Xiao Shuxiang's eyes were rounded, he slightly opened his mouth while looking at the Fire Lizard in front of him.

***

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The Gembrot Note :

Gomenasai if the Author's Note is always haunting. Dasha doesn't bother the stalls, just here. Dasha also does not want to hurt your heart and eyes. Although this work was accessible to everyone, but seriously only a special person was able to continue following Xiao Shuxiang's journey to the end.

You also should not forget that the MC of this work is not a good person, the plot is made slow also for that reason. Arigatou stopped by.