XIAO SHUXIANG'S

4 - Selling Donkeys [Revised]

"Boring..."

Xiao Shuxiang leaned against a tree while lazily playing a strand of reeds. He was currently staring at a girl who was practicing swordsmanship, far in front of him.

"He kept repeating the same sword movement for more than half a century. I as an invincible cultivator for the first time felt bored seeing someone train..."

Xiao Shuxiang looked at Xiao Lu, the girl seemed to be gasping for breath, sweat droplets pouring down her forehead.

"It... Still not enough! Must be stronger and faster! Strong and fast!"

Xiao Shuxiang was feeling saturated, Xiao Lu had only made three moves from a sword stance over and over again. He even wondered, though,

Is it really a move?

"The moves were decent, but his sword technique was far from complete. I'm not sure if it can be used to kill or not. I can actually give him some direction, but I don't want to."

?!

Xiao Lu almost fainted from continuing to train hard endlessly under the scorching sun, Xiao Shuxiang had already started to not stand it and ended up summoning the girl.

"Hey...! Rest if you're tired, you'll really faint if you force yourself."

Xiao Lu heard it, he gave his sister a sharp look and then sheathed his sword while walking around with a waist-rigged twist.

While in front of Xiao Shuxiang, he started to exclaim. "Xiao'Er! What did you call me? 'Hey'? I am your brother Xiao Shuxiang...! Call me 'Beautiful Brother Lu'...!"

Xiao Lu's cry made anyone who heard him uneasy, Shuxiang obviously did not like the noisy girl's words in front of him, especially with his attitude that was like he was bullying her.

"How dare this boy... All my life, not a single person has dared to claim to be My Brother knows!"

Xiao Lu actually liked to tease Xiao Shuxiang in a rude manner. Her sister looks cute and adorable when angry. He liked to provoke his sister's emotions, without her realizing that he could have been in danger if he had really offended Xiao Shuxiang.

Xiao Lu, "Why look at me like that little dwarf boy...!?"

"You...!" Xiao Shuxiang stood up, feeling shocked and annoyed when it said 'dwarf boy'.

Indeed his body was now that of a seven-year-old and when compared to 14-year-old Xiao Lu, he was clearly shorter. But, how dare this brat to call Xiao Shuxiang that way!

"Calm down Xiao Shuxiang, right now you have to adapt to your current environment. And this chatty brat is just like a grain of dust to you, so be calm..."

"Hmph," Xiao Shuxiang turned his gaze the other way, not liking to see Xiao Lu's face. His actions made the girl raise next to her eyebrows.

Xiao Lu, "Ha! What the fuck is that expression! Where's his brother's call?" Xiao Lu pulled Xiao Shuxiang's right ear.

"How dare he pull Xiao Shuxiang's ear! Although now I am only at Forging Qi level one, but that is enough to eliminate your one hand brat!" Xiao Shuxiang did not let go of Xiao Lu's hand that was still pulling his ear, he simply gave him a sharp look.

Unbeknownst to this girl, she started counting using her right hand. If in the count of five Xiao Lu did not release his hand from Xiao Shuxiang's ear, then this girl would absolutely not be able to use her right hand anymore.

"Why Are You Staring at Me Like That, huh? Want Berta-!"

Along with the unfinished words of Xiao Lu, his left hand was suddenly held. Xiao Shuxiang intended to break Xiao Lu's right hand by flowing his Qi. However, he had not yet done so, an exclamation sounded.

"Lu 'Er...! What did you do to your sister?!"

!

Xiao Lu and Xiao Shuxiang were startled, they simultaneously turned to the origin of the voice they had just heard.

Yang Hao walked up to them while pulling three donkeys.

The man intended to take these donkeys to the market to sell, but he saw his two children. What struck him was that Xiao Lu was so rudely treating his own sister. While Xiao Shuxiang seemed to want to chop up his brother using an eye gaze.

"Dad?! I-I Didn't Do Anything?!" Xiao Lu was so surprised, he immediately let go of Xiao Shuxiang's ears and raised both his hands while shaking rapidly.

Xiao Shuxiang, "This time you survived boy."

Yang Hao walked up to Xiao Lu and then gently stroked his daughter's head. "Lu'Er, you don't bother your sister like that. You're his brother, you should have protected him,"

"Yes Dad, Lu'Er's sorry." Xiao Lu was slightly bowed.

Yang Hao then turned his head towards Xiao Shuxiang, he now touched his son's head while asking, "Xiao'Er, what did your brother do to you?"

The question from Yang Hao made Xiao Lu flinch, it made him glance at Xiao Shuxiang sharply and intended to threaten him. "Don't dare say anything to Dad or you-"

"He pulled my ears very hard! And also threatened me not to complain to anyone!" Xiao Shuxiang pointed at Xiao Lu as he looked at the sharp glances that were pointing at him.

!!

Xiao Lu's mouth and eyes opened wide, he was very shocked by his sister's words. "You-you! Xiao'Er lied to Dad...! I did pull his ear but I didn't threaten him! You don't accuse me of that..!"

"You did it and it's not an accusation, I'm not lying..." Xiao Shuxiang was seen putting on an innocent face while staring at Yang Hao. He then turned his gaze to Xiao Lu while smiling inwardly.

"Don't get me wrong, but I'm much more experienced at threatening someone with such a look. Your level is very far below mine, Xiao Shuxiang!"

Yang Hao sighed when he heard Xiao Lu's confession saying that he had pulled Xiao Shuxiang's ear. "Lu'Er, since when did Father teach you to bully like this?!"

He looked at Xiao Lu, his tone slightly higher. Although Yang Hao's facial expression did not show anger, but Xiao Lu's facial expression turned slightly pale. Nervously, the young girl tried to defend herself.

"Dad, I've never bullied anyone. I'm just bullying Xiao'Er...!"

Hearing Xiao Lu's remark made Xiao Shuxiang dumbfounded with an eyebrow raised next door. "Hey, I haven't committed any crimes and have been hated like this? Absolutely outrageous."

Yang Hao shook his head slowly, "Lu'Er. You don't like that, I don't like you bullying your sister. Apologize to Xiao'Er now,"

Xiao Lu frowned when he heard his father's words. He admitted, his attitude was indeed a little outrageous to Xiao Shuxiang. With a sigh he grabbed his sister's right hand, "Xiao'Er... Forgive Brother dad? Brother is sorry."

Xiao Lu's words this time were so gentle and sincere. Yang Hao smiled warmly, he then touched Xiao Shuxiang's shoulder. "Xiao'Er, you don't take your brother's action. He didn't mean it that way,"

Xiao Shuxiang only smiled faintly towards Yang Hao and also Xiao Lu. "I'm sorry? I Xiao Shuxiang will just apologize? Huh! Nothing in history, black stream cultivators apologized to others that easily. I Xiao Shuxiang, will remember what you did this brat! And I'll make sure I get back to you!"

Both Yang Hao and Xiao Lu considered his smile as a sign that he did not mind Xiao Lu's actions.

The two of them did not realize that his smile had other intentions.

Yang Hao, "Yes already, what if you two come to the market to sell these donkeys?"

"Lu'Er doesn't come with Dad, Lu'Er still wants to continue training,"

"Alright, practice hard. What about you Xiao'Er?" Yang Hao realized that his daughter, Xiao Lu was eager to become a strong cultivator like his grandfather, Yang Shu. That was why he trained diligently even without any resources.

Xiao Lu was also eager to explore the world as his grandfather often told him. Yang Shu told him a lot about his experiences, including the strongest sects that exist in the Eastern Continent.

That was why the moment Yang Shu said she wanted to take him to the young cultivator tournament, she was so excited that she could not sleep. He continued to train to be able to boast of his grandfather, his desire to win was so strong and he was sure he would be able to come out as a winner in the tournament later.

Unfortunately Xiao Lu was too proud of himself, he did not realize that the world he was about to explore was extremely cruel and dangerous.

In contrast to him, Xiao Shuxiang knew very well how cruel the world of cultivators was. It's just that he had another problem, he,

"I don't know where I'm at yet, this village seems to be far away from the city. I don't even know if I'm still in the Eastern Continent or not. So I better go with him,"

Xiao Shuxiang looked up as he looked at Yang Hao, he then nodded slowly in response to Yang Hao's question.

*

*

The trip to the market was quite far away, this made Xiao Shuxiang know one thing, his place was now very far from the city. Even according to him, he was in the fringe region.

Looking at the bustling market made Xiao Shuxiang smile faintly, while deep in heart laughing widely. He was unceasingly amazed by the moves he created, 'Resurrection Steps'.

He laughed at the elders and cultivators who were trying hard to kill him to stop the mess he was doing.

While he was busy in his mind, suddenly one of the donkeys accidentally wagged his tail right in front of Xiao Shuxiang's face, barely slapping his cheek. He was obviously shocked and it made his mind crumble. The look on his face changed immediately.

Yang Hao was unaware of what was happening, as well as the perpetrator who was wagging his tail earlier.

Xiao Shuxiang stared dejectedly at the three donkeys walking beside him, the three of them instantly gasped and their feelings became uneasy.

!!

His threat made the three donkeys approach Yang Hao, as if seeking refuge from him. The man gasped as his three donkeys suddenly docked to him.

"What's wrong? Afraid sold?" he asked as he rubbed one of his donkey heads.

Xiao Shuxiang then approached Yang Hao, he then saw that the three donkeys were silent without making any sound. He smiled faintly as he shook his head slightly, the threat worked.

"Why does this donkey want to be sold?"

Yang Hao sighed, he then displayed a sour face, "Heah, there is an old man who needs money as his travel supplies to include his students in the Young Cultivator Tournament,"

Xiao Shuxiang's forehead shriveled, "Young Cultivator Tournament? Where's the tournament?"

Yang Hao instantly stopped walking, he looked at Xiao Shuxiang deeply. His actions made the boy also stop his steps.

Xiao Shuxiang's breath was restrained, he looked at Yang Hao carefully. "What was my question just strange? Is he suspicious?"

Yang Hao himself was researching Xiao Shuxiang from head to toe, his son was already seven years old now.

Although he thought that Xiao Shuxiang did not have the talent of Xiao Lu, yet somehow since seeing his son this morning, He felt that Xiao Shuxiang was a little different, not as usual.

Yang Hao could not explain what he felt. And as he looked at Xiao Shuxiang's nervous face, he smiled faintly.

One thing he knew, this seven-year-old was filled with curiosity.

He gently stroked Xiao Shuxiang's head while smiling kindly. "You seem interested in Xiao'Er?"

!

"Ah... Mn," Xiao Shuxiang nodded, "I'm actually thinking of a way to finish you off if you just start knowing my identity. The thing is, my practice is now only at Forging Qi level one, and my physical condition is only that of a seven-year-old. It will be difficult for me to fight adult men, especially the market conditions are crowded. Haah, thank goodness you don't suspect me, so this Xiao Shuxiang doesn't need to do anything dangerous."

Xiao Shuxiang tried to shake off his nervousness by smiling in response to Yang Hao's question even though the smile seemed awkward.

Yang Hao continued his steps along with Xiao Shuxiang and his three donkeys. While walking, he explained about the tournament of young cultivators he knew.

"Young Cultivator Tournament takes place once in 10 years, only white and neutral flow cultivators aged 6 to 14 years are allowed to follow it. The venue of the match itself was always changing, and this time the venue of the match was at the Lotus Flower Sect."

Xiao Shuxiang frowned as Yang Hao called out the name of the Lotus Flower Sect. "Mn? Lotus Flower Sect? I have never heard the name of that sect before. I know the name of the small, medium, and large sects that exist in the Eastern Continent. The sects I destroyed more were small and medium-sized sects, but I never heard the name of this sect. Did the Ice Lotus Sect make a name change?"

Yang Hao could see Xiao Shuxiang frowning, "Xiao'Er? What are you thinking?"

"I was just thinking about the Lotus Flower Sect, what kind of sect was it?"

"Hmm, Father also did not know for sure what their sect was like. But what I heard was that the sect was in the middle of a historic lake. The sect was arguably the Coat of Arms of Hope of this Continent."

"Hmm... What does that mean? Is it possible that I'm not in the eastern continent?"

Before Xiao Shuxiang asked again, an old man's voice called out to Yang Hao.

"Hao'Er's? You're that?"

Yang Hao and Xiao Shuxiang almost simultaneously turned to the origin of the voice. It turns out that the one who called them was a donkey seller.

The conversation between Yang Hao and Xiao Shuxiang earlier, made both of them unaware that they had already reached their destination.

"Uncle Bai, how are you?" Yang Hao smiled kindly as he looked at Jing Bai, the old man who was about 60 years old standing under a tree, a place commonly used to sell animals such as horses, chickens, and other animals, and donkeys.

Merely, Jing Bai returned Yang Hao's smile with a cold expression. There was no smile on his face when he saw the man and his son.

Jing Bai's expression made Xiao Shuxiang astonished, while Yang Hao was seen rubbing his nape awkwardly.

"I'm healthy, why did you just come visit me?!" Jing Bai spoke softly, she made Yang Hao flinch and smiled awkwardly.

Since childhood, Yang Hao had always come to his place to help sell donkeys or to play with his son. But since Yang Hao got married, he only came occasionally to this place, that was when he was going to sell donkeys.

Yang Hao clearly knew the reason of Jing Bai's attitude towards him. Awfully, he began to speak. "I-I'm here to sell Uncle's donkey,"

"You only came when you wanted to sell donkeys, otherwise you wouldn't have come to visit me, Basall!"

Jing Bai from the beginning already knew Yang Hao would say that, it could be seen from the three donkeys he had pulled. But he was upset because Yang Hao gave no other reason to him. At least, he wanted to hear this man say that in addition to selling donkeys he also wanted to visit him.

"Help... Hao'Er, I have come to think of how you can marry Xiao WeiWei with your insensitive personality. You're piquing," Jing Bai pinched Yang Hao's gaunt cheek.

"Don't do this in front of my son, Uncle..."

Yang Hao caught a glimpse of the silent Xiao Shuxiang while looking at him in astonishment. Xiao Shuxiang himself felt that Jing Bai had the same personality as the old geezer who had once hugged and kissed him anxiously.

Jing Bai removed her pinch from Yang Hao's cheek, she then bowed her body slightly as she looked at Xiao Shuxiang. His forehead pucker up, "Hm? This...your son? Xiao Lu?"

He touched Xiao Shuxiang's face with both hands, his actions made the boy anxious. Xiao Shuxiang did not want to end up being hugged and kissed again with the old geezer.

Yang Hao, "Bu-not Uncle, this is Xiao Shuxiang. His sister Xiao Lu, and also Lu'Er is Uncle's woman, she's my daughter."

"But this one's prettier than your other son,"

!!

Xiao Shuxiang gasped at Jing Bai's remark, she did not think that she could be considered a daughter. "Bad!! This old man was so brave to Xiao Shuxiang!! I would probably accept if this old man mentioned I had a funny or adorable face, but if you say beautiful it is the biggest insult..!"

Yang Hao was also seen jolting upon hearing Jing Bai's words, he nervously said. "Pa-paman, don't say that. If Lu'Er heard he would be so angry Uncle!"

"Ha ha ha, all right, all right." Jing Bai laughed as she looked at Xiao Shuxiang's annoyed expression. This seven-year-old boy looks adorable. "But why are you selling asses again? Didn't you bring 20 donkeys here two months ago, huh? What's your money? Don't tell me you're using it for a bet?"

!!

"Of course not, I'm a fine man! Uncle Bai doesn't seem to know me,"

"Ha ha ha, I know you very well! You came at the right time, some of my subscriptions wanted a lot of donkeys to carry their luggage,"

"Well, that's good Uncle. Well, take these three tails. They won't disappoint!"

"All right, I'll get you the money first." Jing Bai walked towards one of the shops in this market, the shop was a dining place where ducks were the main dish. In addition to selling donkeys, he is also the owner of this food store.

Xiao Shuxiang who had been watching the conversation between Jing Bai and Yang Hao now understood one thing, Jing Bai was an old man who liked to laugh a lot.

It didn't take long, Jing Bai walked out of the store carrying a bag of money. He walked up to Yang Hao and Xiao Shuxiang, then handed the money bag to him.

"Take this, two hundred pieces of silver."

"Eh? Two hundred? Shouldn't it be a hundred and fifty pieces, Uncle? Why is there an extra?" Yang Hao gasped to hear that the money Jing Bai gave him had an additional fifty pieces of silver, whereas the donkey cost only fifty pieces of silver for one.

"I heard from my niece, she said she was going to participate in the Young Cultivator Tournament representing her sect. Ha ha! I thought that your father's sect was just a joke, it turned out that he had received a direct invitation from the elders of a large sect! I'm so happy...!"

Yang Hao laughed awkwardly. "I also until now still have a hard time accepting the fact about the father sect who got a direct invitation from the elders of one of the big sects. It's unbelievable,"

Unlike him, Xiao Shuxiang was more than unexpected if the three donkeys he carried were only valued at 150 pieces of silver, isn't that too little?

"If you're happy, you should give a lot of money."

!

Jing Bai choked upon hearing Xiao Shuxiang's words, while Yang Hao gasped in disbelief at the words coming out of his son's lips.

"Xiao'Eru? What you just said. You're this..." Yang Hao rubbed Xiao Shuxiang's head, he smiled as he shook his head.

Jing Bai herself again laughed, "This beautiful child is so funny..."

"Xiao'Er, in this place one piece of silver can already feed ten children like you. Youunderstand?"

"Mn, really? You might be surprised to know the true portion of Xiao Shuxiang's meal."

***