XIAO SHUXIANG'S

9 - Unnamed Steps [Revised]

Xiao Shuxiang along with Jing Mi, Hou Yong and Feng Ying were sitting under a tree-not too far from where Qi Xuan was. He was seen conversing with Jing Mi and Hou Yong.

From that conversation, Xiao Shuxiang knew that the one who was going to go to the tournament was Jing Mi. His previous conjecture was also correct that other than Xiao Lu, Qi Xuan would also come along.

Jing Mi was so excited, "I really can't wait to go there!"

Xiao Shuxiang, "Don't you know that the world you're going to is very dangerous...?"

"Don't think about the danger Brother Xiao has, but think about the beauty you'll see! The elder always said that each place had its own dangers, and it took a certain amount of courage to face it!" Jing Mi clenched her hands while speaking steadily.

The plot!

Hou Yong snatched Jing Mi's head, "When did the Elders say that? The elder only ever told-if met with danger, we should turn around and run as far as possible without looking back!!" he was really upset to see this friend of his having to go to the tournament and leave him.

"You Yong...!" Jing Mi returned the news from her brother. He made Xiao Shuxiang shake his head slowly.

From what was originally a tit-for-tat now turned into a wrestling match, even Jing Mi and Hou Yong to rolling on the ground.

Xiao Shuxiang then turned his gaze towards Feng Ying. This 5-year-old boy kept silent. It was just that the gaze of his eyes continued to point towards the finger of Xiao Shuxiang's left hand.

!!

Xiao Shuxiang subconsciously hid his hand, it made Feng Ying look down disappointed.

Seeing the lethargic facial expression of this boy made Xiao Shuxiang hold his breath. "This child is very dangerous to starve."

Jing Mi touched Xiao Shuxiang's shoulder, "Brother, don't be afraid. Brother Feng will do nothing to you. He's a good kid and also submissive,"

Xiao Shuxiang looked at Jing Mi's messed up hair and uniform, he then saw Hou Yong then grunted softly. "You're satisfied with wrestling?"

Jing Mi smiled proudly as she tidied her hair, "This boy will not be able to beat me in haphazard wrestling!"

"I'm Still Not Giving Up!"

"Akh!"

!!

Hou Yong attacked Jing Mi, he locked her brother's neck with his right arm then pulled her up until the two of them rolled back on the ground. They wrestle again.

"You guys, let's stop." Xiao Shuxiang still wanted to ask Hou Yong and Jing Mi a lot of things, she had not even questioned her place right now.

It was a pity that the two friends did not hear Xiao Shuxiang, they were completely dissolved in the fight locking each other's movements using their hands, feet, and other limbs.

"Didn't you guys hear? I said hin-!!" Xiao Shuxiang's words were cut off as his face almost hit the feet of Jing Mi who was rebelling against Hou Yong.

He was speechless, the look on his face turned flat and his gaze turned cold. Feng Ying felt fear when she saw the change in Xiao Shuxiang's expression, she immediately ran out of nowhere.

"You Two..." Xiao Shuxiang stood up and began to relax the muscles of his hands, shoulders, neck, and legs.

He got ready and the next second jumped in to join the struggle between Jing Mi and Hou Yong.

!!

The three of them were really grappling fiercely.

!!

As Hou Yong was trying to catch his breath, Xiao Shuxiang and Jing Mi pulled him back to grapple.

!?

Likewise as Jing Mi crawled out of the fight, Xiao Shuxiang and Hou Yong worked together to pull her back in.

!!

While Xiao Shuxiang was free from the struggle, Jing Mi and Hou Yong dropped him again.

For quite a while the three of them exchanged a lockdown, even Qi Xuan who had finished absorbing the Qi looked astonished looking at the three of his companions.

Xiao Lu who finished training seemed to open his mouth wide when he saw his younger brother, Xiao Shuxiang was between Hou Yong and Jing Mi.

!!

The struggle ended with Jing Mi being downstairs, where her face smelled grass, as both her hands clamped the neck of Hou Yong lying on his back. Meanwhile, Xiao Shuxiang sat in Hou Yong's stomach while stepping on his two hands.

Xiao Shuxiang's hand was seen pulling Jing Mi's leg, she used it to lock onto Hou Yong's leg. From this incident, it was clear that Hou Yong was on the side that suffered the most because he could not fight anymore.

While the second was Jing Mi because she had to withstand the weight of Hou Yong and Xiao Shuxiang. Although her legs hurt from being pulled, but at least she could put up a hand lock on Hou Yong-neck - of course she had to do that with a face kissing the grass.

"Sa-Brother Xiao! H-Stop, I'm Reddening!" Hou Yong and Jing Mi were already not strong anymore, they felt that their entrails would come out.

Xiao Shuxiang resentfully began to let go of the two. Honestly, this was the first time he felt exhausted just from a little wrestling like this.

"I even wrestled with three bear demonic beasts in my first life, but I didn't feel tired at all. But this time... Haaah.I don't want to admit it, but I'm really getting weak right now." Xiao Shuxiang tidied up his clothes as well as his hair.

Hou Yong and Jing Mi attempted to change their position to supine while breathing.

Hou Yong, "I-I'm really tired. My body is all sick."

Jing Mi, "Kukira... The contents of my stomach have come out all over, it was a struggle yes-tiring and also the longest than ever... Haaah... We do."

*

*

*

Today's dinner, Xiao Shuxiang along with his fellow classmates enjoyed the grilled fish captured by Yi Wen, Hai Feng and Bao Yu. There were also some fruits discovered by Yang Shu, Zhi Shu and Ro Wei.

Xiao Shuxiang saw the disciples of Yang Shu eating very voraciously. Although Feng Ying was the youngest, she was the one who ate the most.

He wondered as he looked at the boy with his eyes that resembled those of a dead fish. "Is the food really stored in his stomach?"

Xiao Shuxiang gulped before finally shaking his head, unwilling to think about it anymore.

After he finished eating, he approached Yang Shu and asked for permission to practice. This had indeed become his habit for evening practice.

Yang Shu allowed on the condition that this beloved grandson of his did not go too far. Jing Mi and Hou Yong followed Xiao Shuxiang, they were worried that this fellow-sister was lost. Xiao Shuxiang himself did not mind it, after all he would only practice ordinary movements.

*

*

*

When he got a good training ground, Xiao Shuxiang started warming up. Jing Mi and Hou Yong were just watching themselves from a distance away, the two friends were seen sitting cross-legged while occasionally staring at the stars and then re-directed their attention to see their brother practicing.

Xiao Shuxiang demonstrated some moves with the sword given by Yang Shu earlier. Although the style he displayed was fairly simple, but every movement seemed so sharp.

!!

Hou Yong looked amazed, "Woaah! Our Xiao brother... Learn from where? Though it's a skill in our sect, but Brother Xiao's way of doing it is even more formidable than 'Sister Lu Yang Beautiful' and Qi Xuan."

Xiao Shuxiang himself trained for quite a long time, he was so excited that he did not realize that Jing Mi and Hou Yong had been watching him ever since.

!!

Xiao Shuxiang stopped his movements, he sheathed his sword and started walking to where his two friends were. His body gestures looked awkward, he even rubbed his nape gently. "Ga-gawat, what would I say if they both asked about my movements earlier...?"

Before Xiao Shuxiang could speak, Hou Yong and Jing Mi withdrew their hands first and settled themselves between them.

!!

"What's wrong with you guys?!"

Jing Mi, "Brother, that was a good move! Did Xiao WeiWei's aunt teach you? I heard from my uncle, aunt Xiao WeiWei is so good at swordplay! His sword movements were like dancing, extremely beautiful and also sharp! Wuuuh's... I get goosebumps when I remember my uncle's story!"

!?

Xiao Shuxiang looked at Jing Mi rubbing both of her own arms, the twinkle of this boy's eyes filled with admiration which she thought was a little excessive.

She then smiled awkwardly in response to Jing Mi's words. She was not taught by Xiao WeiWei at all, but she would not tell this child.

Hou Yong was no less amazed, "Brother Xiao. Can I see the sword you used? I think it's different from the sword we got."

"Sure," Xiao Shuxiang allowed Hou Yong to see the sword he was wearing.

His sword was completely the same as Hou Yong's, even older and looking extremely worn out, as if it could be broken with just a slow move.

Hou Yong blinked, he could not believe it. "I don't think it's his sword... Maybe your hand is Brother Xiao!"

He immediately put the sword beside him then and quickly grabbed onto Xiao Shuxiang's two hands. This sudden action of his made Xiao Shuxiang flinch.

Hou Yong scrutinized the palms of his friend, those hands felt smooth as well as soft. He stroked the palm while furrowing his brows, and then looked at Xiao Shuxiang with a serious look.

Xiao Shuxiang felt strange about Hou Yong's behavior. He and Jing Mi even looked at each other.

"What's Brother Hou?" Jing Mi asked Hou Yong.

Hou Yong lowered his voice, he was very serious now. "Brother Xiao...?"

"You why? What's up?" Xiao Shuxiang astonished.

"Brother Xiao... Are you... A female?"

!!

Xiao Shuxiang and Jing Mi gasped when they heard the words coming out of Hou Yong's lips. His cheeks began to turn red, his upper lips looked twitching. With a loud voice, he immediately snapped at Hou Yong.

"Hey! Do You Want to Die...?! I'm a Man..! Do I Have to Show My Pride You're Believing, Huh?!"

!!

Jing Mi and Hou Yong reflexively closed their ears due to such a loud voice.

Xiao Shuxiang grumbled. "Tsk, this is the second time I've been called a girl...! What kind of life is this?!"

Hou Yong, "Be calm Brother Xiao... I didn't mean to insult you. But your hands are really very smooth and your face is too!"

!!

His breath seemed to be stifled when he saw Xiao Shuxiang's annoyed face, Hou Yong finally did not so continue his words.

"Oh!" Xiao Shuxiang turned his face rough because he still felt annoyed to be considered a woman.

Seeing this behavior, made Hou Yong and Jing Mi feel that Xiao Shuxiang was similar to Xiao Lu.

Jing Mi tried to calm him down, "Eiii... Brother Xiao. You don't feel so upset. What I heard from my uncle, when I was a kid the boy looked beautiful. When he grows up, he will be very handsome. Don't be mad,"

?!

Xiao Shuxiang stroked his chin, thinking of the words just now. "Yeah. k. I think it has a point too. I'm not angry at all. It's too late, let's go."

Seeing their brother was already not upset anymore made Hou Yong and Jing Mi feel relieved. I don't know what their elders would do if this kid complained.

It was a pity that the two of them did not know that Xiao Shuxiang was not a complaining child like Xiao Lu. Compared to complaining, he preferred slashing the neck of the person who was upsetting him.

*

*

*

While walking towards the place where Yang Shu's hut was-Xiao Shuxiang and Jing Mi and Hou Yong returned to chat. This time they were discussing about the sword stance of their sect.

"... So you name that style, 'Nameless Steps?'"

Jing Mi nodded, "Because if giving him the name 'Incomplete Steps', doesn't that sound pathetic?"

Hou Yong, "I actually want to name that book of skill... 'The Book of a Thousand Secrets! The Most Secret And Unparalleled...!!"

Xiao Shuxiang saw this one friend was filled with spirit, but it was precisely Hou Yong's remark that made him raise his eyebrows next to his. "Isn't that too long to name a style?"

Hou Yong, "But isn't that a cool name?!"

Xiao Shuxiang and Jing Mi both shook their heads.

Being too engrossed in conversation, the three of them were unaware that they were already where Yang Shu's hut was.

Xiao Shuxiang along with Hou Yong, Jing Mi, Qi Xuan, Hai Feng, Bao Yu, Yang Shu and Xiao Lu slept outside. While Zhi Shu, Feng Ying, Ro Wei and Yi Wen slept inside the hut.

The conversation between Xiao Shuxiang and Jing Mi and Hou Yong continued even as they were all trying to sleep on the grass while looking at the starry sky.

Hou Yong spoke a little softly, worried that his sleeping companions would wake up, "... We also did not think that the book of skill we learned was the book of the former peanut seller, hiih..." He shook his head with a disappointed face.

Xiao Shuxiang looked at one of the trees. On it was Xiao Lu, Hai Feng and Bao Yu were sleeping soundly while tightly hugging the tree branch. Qi Xuan and Yang Shu were also seen sleeping on top of another tree.

For Jing Mi and Hou Yong, this was their first time sleeping on the grass. They usually sleep in trees like their friends. However, since he still wanted to talk to Xiao Shuxiang, it was finally here that they were! Sleep with grass and cover the sky.

In Xiao Shuxiang's first life, he had already gotten used to it like this. So of course all this is not a problem for him, instead he feels more comfortable.

Xiao Shuxiang spoke again to Hou Yong and Jing Mi. "Didn't you guys learn another style? I see you're only practicing three moves..."

Jing Mi, "Said the elder, we should be able to master that one style first. You need to know Brother Xiao, other than those three moves there are actually two other moves. But those two moves were too difficult for us to master."

Xiao Shuxiang, "What was the last move of the move? The moves that bore me so much to see."

Hou Yong twirled his hands, trying to set an example to Xiao Shuxiang while explaining, "The two movements are spinning with salto backwards and should be very fast...!!"

Xiao Shuxiang and Jing Mi gestured for Hou Yong to lower his voice. Looking at the boy who reflexively covered his mouth while being aware with the gesture made Xiao Shuxiang hold back his smile.

***