XIAO SHUXIANG'S

23 - Leaving the Traveling Lodge [Revised]

This was Xiao Shuxiang's fourth day together with Yang Shu and his fellow students in the Traveling Lodge.

Xiao Shuxiang's condition had already begun to improve. Several times Yang Shu gave him medicine and also drained his Qi to speed up Xiao Shuxiang's healing process.

"Taste of bitter Kek... It's the umpteenth time I've taken medicine and it never changed. The longer it gets bitter!" Xiao Shuxiang immediately drank the water after taking the bitter medicine that Yang Shu had given him.

"You'll recover quickly after drinking it, now just treat your external wounds..." Yang Shu asked Xiao Shuxiang to remove her clothes.

Xiao Shuxiang said, he immediately took off his clothes and exposed his bruised back to Yang Shu.

"The fever is almost gone, once Grandpa uses the Qi to help process the medicine, the bruise on your back will no longer be there." Yang Shu slowly smeared the medicine onto Xiao Shuxiang's bruised back. While smearing the medicine, he also drained his Qi.

"Grandfather is a waste of energy, the Qi here is too little. Grandfather would only be exhausted if he continued to treat me with Qi..."

In addition to receiving Yang Shu's help as well as concoction medicine, Xiao Shuxiang also every night always healed himself with the Qi he absorbed. However it was indeed not easy to heal wounds with such a little Qi.

"You think Grandpa is that old to the point of having to be exhausted just from treating you...?" Yang Shu pinched softly on Xiao Shuxiang's cheek while kissing the gnash of his granddaughter's head.

After Yang Shu treated Xiao Shuxiang, he requested that his grandson rest. Even though Xiao Shuxiang himself was feeling better and did not need to rest anymore, Yang Shu still forced him.

"All right, I'll take a break..." Xiao Shuxiang finally gave up.

During the four days of being in the hut, during that time also Qi Xuan, Xiao Lu and Jing Mi practiced with Grandma Tian's direction.

Although Granny Tian was not a cultivator, yet she had always met many cultivators who had stopped by her hut.

Ever since she was young, Grandma Tian had devoted herself in this hut to helping the travelers. He never asked for rewards, but the travelers still gave him something like giving Granny Tian a little of their hunting.

Some cultivators also often gave Granny Tian a medicinal recipe or handed out a bit of their martial arts to him.

Because of that, Granny Tian had more knowledge than ordinary people regarding martial arts.

As of right now, Grandma Tian was giving some explanation regarding the technique of creating a technique by observing and analyzing the surroundings.

"... There were cultivators who could create a great sword style just by looking at the flow of water, feeling the gusts of wind, and looking at the flying birds. You can do that too..."

Granny Tian also explained, "Creating a style is difficult but not impossible as long as the person tries and continues to work hard without feeling tired."

Jing Mi, Qi Xuan and Xiao Lu were so eager to listen to Grandma Tian's explanation, they then practiced what Grandma Tian said.

Every day, Jing Mi, Qi Xuan and Xiao Lu used their senses to observe the surroundings. Starting from observing birds that fly, swaying grass, dew drops and leaves that fall from trees.

This observing activity honed their sensitivity to the environment. Not only their vision, but also their hearing and smell.

By the time of the fifth day, Xiao Shuxiang's physical condition had already returned to its original state. The bruise on his back was gone, Xiao Shuxiang was delighted that he did not need to take the medicine that was torturing his tongue.

"Other times... I don't want to take that bitter medicine anymore." Inner Xiao Shuxiang.

Yang Shu said goodbye to Grandma Tian, she said she would continue the journey together with her four disciples.

"Grandmother Tian, even though only briefly Grandma taught Lu'Er. Thank you, Grandma." Xiao Lu hugged and kissed Grandma Tian's cheek.

"You sweet boy, take good care of yourself." Grandma Tian stroked Xiao Lu's hair softly.

"Grandmother Tian, we also want to thank you for the briefing that Grandma Tian gave all along..." Jing Mi and Qi Xuan saluted, but Granny Tian rejected him and said that they only needed to hug and kiss him.

"Neneek...?! Take Care of Yourself Well...!!" Jing Mi and Qi Xuan hugged Grandma Tian tightly.

"You too..."

Grandma Tian turned her head towards Xiao Shuxiang, she smiled as she asked the child to come closer towards her.

Xiao Shuxiang said, he thanked Grandma Tian for allowing himself, Grandfather, as well as his fellow students to stay here.

"... Thanks for the food and medicine, too." Xiao Shuxiang.

Grandma Tian scrutinized Xiao Shuxiang from top to bottom, she then looked at Yang Shu with a dislike look.

"Shu'Er, you're taking this sweet child into a dangerous world..."

"You need to take good care of yourself, son. As much as possible avoid problems, and also..." Grandma Tian whispered something in Xiao Shuxiang's ear, this made Xiao Shuxiang flinch.

"I-I mean Grandma?" Xiao Shuxiang furrowed his brows after hearing the whisper from Grandma Tian.

Grandma Tian simply smiled as she gently rubbed Xiao Shuxiang's hair. He then looked at Yang Shu back.

"Shu'Er, you have to take care of them all."

"Yes, I'll take care of them. Then we're gone." Yang Shu then took his four disciples along, they slowly started walking away from the Traveling Lodge and Grandma Tian.

Along the way, Xiao Shuxiang thought about Grandma Tian's words. "That old granny meant, what exactly?"

Jing Mi realized that Xiao Shuxiang was as if she was thinking of something. He then gently patted his brother's shoulder, "What are you thinking Brother Xiao?"

"I don't want to say it," Xiao Shuxiang sped up his pace, he walked away from the silent Jing Mi with his mouth wide open enough.

Jing Mi, "I can't believe she said such a thing... Geez, I can't believe he refused to answer me."

"Brother Xiao? What's wrong with you? Do you hate me...?" Jing Mi caught up with Xiao Shuxiang.

When he was near Xiao Shuxiang again, he asked. "Hey, Brother? Really, do you hate me?"

"I don't hate you, instead of thinking about me. You better tell me, what have you learned from Grandma Tian?"

Jing Mi smiled widely, she became aware that during her stay at the Traveling Lodge... Xiao Shuxiang simply lay on the cot without taking part in the training together with him.

"Brother Xiao, you are very much at a loss. The three of us got directions from Grandma Tian for our development. I learned to sharpen my senses and also learned to create a style!" Jing Mi looks proud.

Xiao Shuxiang smiled, "Well! So what moves have you created, Brother Jing?"

Jing Mi laughed proudly, she looked arrogant as she said the moves she created to Xiao Shuxiang. "He he! I call it a style... Ten Death Fist Movements!"

Xiao Lu and Qi Xuan who heard Jing Mi shook their heads slowly, they felt that Jing Mi was showing off too much with Xiao Shuxiang.

Xiao Shuxiang also felt the same way, "That sounds good, how do you do that style? I want to see, as great as any moves you create to the point that you dare to show off in front of Xiao Shuxiang."

Jing Mi then stopped her steps, as did Xiao Shuxiang, Xiao Lu, Qi Xuan and Yang Shu.

Jing Mi smiled widely, "You guys take a good look at me...!"

Xiao Shuxiang looked at Jing Mi standing up straight, the boy breathing deeply while closing his eyes. Xiao Shuxiang felt that Jing Mi was doing full concentration.

The next second, Jing Mi powerfully punched the air with her right fist. Each movement, changing the position of both legs and also his body.

Of the ten movements. three of them were fists, while the others were elbow and kicks.

Jing Mi stopped her movements upon hearing Xiao Shuxiang's question. "I observed the b*bi of the forest and the apes. Is something wrong, Brother Xiao?"

Xiao Shuxiang smiled, "That's a great move, Brother Jing. But you must keep practicing to perfect it."

Jing Mi rubbed her nape, smiling in embarrassment as she received praise from Xiao Shuxiang. Whereas before, he had shown this style to Yang Shu, Granny Tian, Qi Xuan and Xiao Lu. The four of them also gave him praise, but somehow the praise from Xiao Shuxiang was more touching.

"Then, Let's Continue the Journey Again!!" Jing Mi exclaimed excitedly.

Along the way, he told Xiao Shuxiang about what he had learned from Grandma Tian. Jing Mi also told about the moves created by Qi Xuan and Xiao Lu.

Mi Jing. "Brother Xuan had a great stance, wind like gathering around him as he took out that stance. How cool...!"

Xiao Shuxiang, "Right? Qi Xuan's. Try to showcase the moves you created. I want to see it,"

Qi Xuan sheepishly said, "I... Still have to learn well. I'm still ashamed to show it because I'm not as good as Brother Jing..."

Jing Mi patted Qi Xuan's shoulder softly, "Brother Xuan, you don't go low. I know you're great too!"

"You learned a lot of things in a short period of time, it's good." praised Xiao Shuxiang. "During my recovery period, they didn't waste time lazing around. Well, at least compared to when leaving the village, they are a little stronger now."

Xiao Shuxiang then walked up to Yang Shu and inquired about the demonic beast, the Silver Horned Wolf he had once fought.

"Don't worry, Grandpa has already defeated him. And Grandfather also got an addition to our travel provisions from the Demonic Beast." Yang Shu smiled as she stroked her beard.

"others? What extra, Master?" Jing Mi walked up to Yang Shu when she heard her teacher's remark, she looked curious.

"It looks like Grandpa hasn't shown it to you..." Yang Shu stopped walking and started picking up something behind her clothes.

Qi Xuan, Jing Mi, Xiao Lu and Xiao Shuxiang noticed the object issued by Yang Shu.

It was a crystal stone the size of a child's fist like Feng Ying. The crystal is bright red. Xiao Lu, Jing Mi and Qi Xuan looked amazed because the first time they saw something as beautiful as this.

"This is what a Cake?" ask Xiao Lu.

Yang Shu explained that the one in his hand was the Demonic Core. "This crystal only exists inside the Demonic Beast's body. Its function is similar to Dantian, which is used to store Qi..."

Yang Shu also explained that the darker the color of the demonic core, the more Qi stored within it.

"... Demonic Core is beneficial for improving cultivation practices..." Yang Shu explained with a simple speech so that his students could quickly understand.

Xiao Lu took the demonic core in Yang Shu's hand. He, Jing Mi and Qi Xuan watched the demonic core closely.

"How do I improve my practice with this, Master?" ask Jing Mi.

"You have to absorb the Qi in it, just like the way you absorb the Qi in the environment,"

"Well, that's how it is..."

Xiao Lu then began to concentrate on absorbing the Qi present in the demonic core, but Yang Shu immediately seized the demonic core in his hand.

"Don't absorb it carelessly. Demonic Core, besides having Qi. If you're not careful, the poison can be absorbed into your body."

"Grandfather, why didn't you say that from earlier?! I-just almost..." Xiao Lu stroked his chest in relief.

"This Demonic Core is better sold," Yang Shu kept the demonic core back, and began to ask his students to return to continue the journey.

"What the Demonic Core will sell, there will be poison in it," Xiao Lu was still curious about the discussion of this Demonic Core.

Yang Shu only said that as Xiao Lu had gotten longer and longer in the world of cultivators, he would understand more.

*

*

*

"Teacher...? Why do we have to do this?" Jing Mi glued a leaf to her cheek.

"You look like a leaf man now," Xiao Lu noticed Xiao Shuxiang whose entire body was covered by leaves.

"You yourself are also the same," Xiao Shuxiang sneered.

Qi Xuan walked up to Yang Shu, "Elder? Why do we have to look like a bush like this...?"

"This is called the Incognito Technique..." Yang Shu explained, "We have to do it to avoid the beasts. If you guys are done, then let's follow Grandpa."

Yang Shu and his four disciples continued their journey in a creeping manner, their bodies covered by leaves so that as they walked they looked like a pile of moving leaves.

"The sap of this tree makes me itch. When we get out of the woods, I want to take a shower..." Xiao Lu scratched his cheeks as well as his hands, he was already tired from having to creep and now he felt itchy.

"We'll be out of here soon, even according to Grandpa's estimation... We won't sleep in the woods anymore, so hurry up."

Yang Shu and his four disciples continued to move, hiding behind trees and bushes.

Another reason they were disguised like this was because Yang Shu's sword broke in two while fighting the Silver Horned Wolf. And among his four disciples, only Xiao Lu's and Qi Xuan's swords were still intact.

As for Xiao Shuxiang's sword, the tip was no longer there. The Jing Mi Sword itself broke into three as it was worn by Xiao Shuxiang against the Silver Horned Wolf.

As a result, they must continue their journey by stealth to avoid ordinary wild animals or demonic beasts.

Xiao Shuxiang, "Life... It's the first time I've done anything this ridiculous. Xiao Shuxiang, the sky already owes you a lot. You'll have to demand payment someday."

Yang Shu and his four disciples moved in sequence, where he was as the guide, followed by Xiao Lu, Qi Xuan, Xiao Shuxiang and Jing Mi.

Jing Mi complained of pain in her hands, feet and body. "I'm not strong anymore. Brother Xiao? Don't you feel exhausted? I noticed, you just kept creeping without stopping one bit."

Xiao Shuxiang's. "Brother Jing, I'm just as tired as you are. But I never complain, let's walk."

Jing Mi just wanted to talk again until she smelled something strange. "You what is this...?"

Not only did he kiss her, but also Xiao Shuxiang, Qi Xuan, Xiao Lu and Yang Shu. They stopped his movements and began to look around to find out the source of the smell they were smelling.

Jing Mi peered slightly from the crack of the bushes, she felt that the smell she was smelling was close. While peeking, suddenly his eyes were rounded, his face was pale and his body was trembling.

Xiao Shuxiang felt familiar with the smell he smelled, but he forgot to remember this smell until he noticed the change in Jing Mi's face.

"Brother Jing? You why?" Xiao Shuxiang touched Jing Mi's shoulder, she slightly jolted as the child's shoulder trembled.

Xiao Shuxiang then took a peek from the bushes like Jing Mi. His eyes widened when he saw what was in front of him.

"That-that's..."

***