Chapter 16: Treasure
The opponents inside the array appeared one, then two, then three, and so on.
Each time Song Jia defeated one, her strength would increase as she gradually regained her fighting ability from her past life.
After she hit twenty opponents at a time, the duration from when the opponents would appear would be longer, allowing her to rest in between.
Sensing that Song Jia was already getting exhausted, Song Huo broke the array.
In total, she defeated three hundred and twenty-five opponents. Once the array was gone, Song Jia dropped down on the floor, eyes closed.
'This body still needs more stamina.' Song Jia thought.
Song Huo hurriedly went toward his niece. Worry etched on his face. 'Did I push her too far?'
"Jia'er! Jia'er!" He shook her.
The sound of Song Huo's worried voice alarmed Lu Ping. She opened her eyes and immediately ran towards them on the stage.
"Miss Jia!!! Second Master! What happened to her?!!"
The two people had worry all over their faces. Their hearts beat like horses racing.
"Mmm.. Need..sleep.." She groaned.
Relief washed over them.
"She needs rest.." Song Huo picked up his niece from the floor and carried her to her room with Lu Ping following them.
"Make her comfortable first. Once you're done, go back to the arena. I will teach you martial arts." He instructed Lu Ping who eagerly nodded.
Once Song Jia laid on the bed, Song Huo waved his hand and a pill bottle appeared. He poured out a pill and brought it to his niece's lips. "Eat this pill.."
Eyes closed, Song Jia opened her mouth and took the pill, she swallowed it seconds later, a bitter taste in her mouth. Moments later, she felt more comfortable. She fell asleep shortly.
Lu Ping brought a change of clothes for her mistress and a towel with water in a basin. She started to wipe her face, neck and the rest of her body. She then changed her into clean robes and covered her with a blanket. Song Jia was asleep the whole time.
When she finished, she put the things away and left the room to go back to the arena.
"Second Master." She bowed to him.
Song Huo nodded in response.
"Head to the stage." He leapt to the stage, followed by Lu Ping who walked there.
"I will teach you the basics first." Song Huo began. He showed her the fighting stance, legs spread a little, fists tucked below his ribs.
Lu Ping followed his every move, trying to keep up and remember every step.
Song Huo didn't go easy on her either. He saw the determination in Lu Ping's eyes so he made sure she had a good foundation.
While Song Jia rested, her body began to recover from fatigue. In her consciousness, she simulated all the moves she has learned from the past. She focused her spiritual energy to flow through her, strengthening every muscle fibre and bones. Moments later, her body began to absorb spiritual energy faster. Only two hours after Song Jia was brought to her room when she woke up, stretching her limbs.
She got up from the bed and walked around when suddenly Little Crystal spoke from inside the Spirit Artifact.
"Jia! I can feel something familiar!" She sounded excited for some reason.
"Huh? What is it?" From Little Crystal's tone, it was not something bad so she wasn't worried.
"It's a spirit artifact!"
"Eh? Another one like you?" Song Jia wondered if she will have another spirit like Little Crystal.
"No, I'm older than this one. But it's still useful! You should go get it."
'Useful? Hmm.. I guess it wouldn't hurt to have it then.'
"Alright, lead the way.."
After that, Little Crystal told her the direction of where the Spirit Artifact was kept.
It led her to the Treasure room. Her grandfather Song Qing wasn't able to show this to her before. He only told her briefly about it.
"Where is it?" She looked around the room and saw countless treasures.
"Over there! The one that looks like a bracelet."
There it was. On a shelf. Encased in a box, the bracelet with jade stones was stored. It has probably been there for generations with nobody even knowing what it was for. She also didn't know and just trusted Little Crystal's word.
She took it and threw it to Little Crystal. "Here…"
But only seconds later Little Crystal exclaimed once again. "Jia! Jia! I found more."
"More? There are more?" She didn't want to seem like she was stealing. "Are you sure we should take it?"
"Yes! Yes! Go get that one.. And that one.. Ooooh.. This one.. And that one!" Little Crystal scanned the whole room and showed her which one was useful.
"Umm.. I think that's enough for now. I could just come back here next time."
"Alright. I'll listen to you then." Little Crystal pouted.
Song Jia went back to the direction of the arena and saw Lu Ping practicing her punches. When Song Huo saw his niece enter, he signalled for Lu Ping to stop. The latter slumped on the floor, panting heavily.
"You rested enough?"
"Mn. My stamina is still low.. Uncle, are we going to the back of the mountain today?"
"If you want to.. It's fine. Let's go.." Song Huo jumped down the stage and started walking out. Lu Ping clambered up from the floor and followed them. She was drenched in sweat but she didn't complain.
Song Jia smiled faintly when she saw Lu Ping's eyes. She was far from the little girl she met all those years ago. Although she was tired, she didn't complain at all.
She remembered the spirit fruits in the Spirit Artifact and thought it a good idea to have some now. She willed it to appear on her hand and it did. Three pieces of spirit fruit appeared on her hands.
"Here." She handed one to Lu Ping who gladly accepted it. Lu Ping was thinking she must have brought it from the basket she brought in with them. However, when she looked at it closer, she wasn't sure if she really brought it from the kitchen in the residence. But no matter how she tried to recall, she was too tired to even think clearly.
"Uncle, do you want some fruit?" Song Jia showed him the fruit, the scent instantly wafted into Song Huo's nostrils, invigorating his senses.
"Sure! Thank you, Jia'er." Song Huo almost drooled from his mouth when the fruit came closer to him.
Once the two took a bite of the piece of fruit in their hands, its juices flowed inside, refreshing them. Their energy was immediately replenished.
Song Jia also leisurely ate the fruit as they headed their way to the back of the mountain.
Lu Ping was not tired anymore. She also didn't feel hungry.
Song Huo noticed that the fruit has more spiritual energy compared to the ones he had before. 'Did they sell better fruits at the market now?'
Once they reached the exit of the passageway, Song Huo opened the door and the door and the light from the sun almost blinded them if it weren't for the vines that hid the door from other's eyes.
They followed Song Huo until they reached a small hut.
"This will be where you can rest while you're here." The hut only had two beds, a small kitchen, two chairs and a table.
Song Huo walked out and signalled for the two of them to go in the lotus position.
"Now, use this area to gather spiritual energy. You can also practice your martial arts here. Just be careful not to catch others' attention. I will leave a sound stone to you so you can just contact me if you need anything or if you want to ask something." Song Huo handed Song Jia a sound stone. He also gave another one to Lu Ping. "For when she can't contact me."
Lu Ping received it with both hands and bowed. She thanked him.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone