Chương 55: The end of the day
3rd person's POV:
Finally after multiple twist and turns, Arthur finally reached his room after being lost till 5 PM. As he entered through the door, a new face greeted him.
"Welcome back master yang" Meng li courteously greeted him.
"Ah... " Arthur awkwardly replied as he forgot and blew the time of their meeting that was 4 PM. He exchanged eye contact with Jiang li who was sighing and shrugging her shoulder, implying that she already knew what was going to happen.
"I am ashamed master Meng" He spoke with embarrassment as he cupped his fist.
"No need to be" Meng li smiled politely
"Either way, Today I have the honor to invite all of you for dinner at my humble abode. " Meng li smiled kindly and started walking towards the exit door.
"Dinner? " Arthur whispered at Jiang li as we followed Meng li from behind.
"Yes, uncle Meng has already instructed all of his cooks for a lavish dinner. " Jiang li whispered back and looked at Arthur with a deadpan expression. "Feng has already gone to uncle Meng's abode and started practicing his swords art because you were too late. "
Arthur shrugged and whispered back.
"Good for him. "
Which caused jiang li to cast a dry smile.
'Looks like he wants to talk to me after feeding me properly like a sacrificial lamb' Arthur laughed inside his mind.
Arthur kept walking in silence as the nephew and Uncle duo kept on chattering like a bunch of canaries, eventually upon realizing that Arthur was awkwardly quiet, they awkwardly tried to politely make him a part of their conversation but to various degrees of succes.
Finally the trio stopped in the room no 50 mark, a giant golden door awaiting their presence as 2 butlers and some gaurds stood in front of the door as a welcoming party.
Arthur's POV:
Finally we got to our destination as I was saved from this dry conversation. The door and the people on front made quite the lavish first appearance and as they say, First impression is the last impression, I was ready for my primitive mind to be blown away as the door slowly opened.
'Huan li room no 100 was already very beautiful, what type of surprises does this room no 50 hides? ' I thought.
The door opened and revealed the shimmering monstrosity in front of me.
"Mountains...? " I thought quite disappointed as in front of me, stood 2 mountains and nothing else.
Upon seeing my dejected expression, Jiang li smiled and patted my shoulder.
"Uncle doesn't like lavish palaces. "
"So he is a hermit type? " I asked her softly which caused Meng to burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, not quite young master. I just enjoy a simplistic life. " He smiled as he patted my opposite shoulder. Like that we continued walking up the tranquil landscape of the mountains, both the uncle and niece occasionally patting both of my shoulders along the way as if I was a child.
The fresh smell of the flaura wafted my nose as the beautiful songs of the canneries played a beautiful symphony inside my ear. The small creek singing in its own beautiful melody as the deer quench it's thirst from it. Occasionally lifting ups it's tender eyes to greet us. I felt like the king of the jungle! Or mountains to be more precise.
Finally we reached the top of the mountains on which stood a beautiful yet simple castle.
Upon entering through the castle gate. I could hear someone shouting rhythmically along with the occasional burst of thunder.
"Feng li is quite hardworking. " I commented as I turn my gaze around to find him but up to no avail.
"He is practicing on the other side of this mountain. Besides the waterfall. " Meng li smiled softly.
"He is very hardworking, doing his very best to perfect his thunder swords art. " He further continued like a proud father.
His care of his nephew and niece was genuine, I could see it in his eyes. Truly a rare quality even in my previous world.
My own thoughts were interrupted when I heard Meng li clapping his hands. 3 servants heeded to his summon as he order them to prepare some snacks for us which I politely decline.
"I already had some tea. " I replied as a smile involuntarily creep up on my face which produced a comical reaction from jiang li as she almost tripped herself.
"I would rather prefer sightseeing if you don't mind. " I politely replied with a request.
[Real polite. ] my system cut me off like an irritable middle aged women.
[Who are calling an irritable middle age woman !? ] the system commented while changing its voice to that of a irritable middle aged woman.
I ignored her as Meng li smiled and replied.
"You are allowed to do whatever you want here, think of it as your own home. " He generously offered as he spoke to jiang li about being my travel guide which I politely declined.
"I would like to wander on my own if you don't mind. " I spoke which caused a small pout to form on jiang li's pretty face.
"Hahaha." Meng li laughed heartily upon seeing jiang li's reaction. "How could I mind master yang? You can do whatever you please. Think of it as your own backyard." He replied to me with the same gentle uncle like tone.
[A backyard the size of mountains. Quite the lavish life you are living "master yang. " ] And the system strikes again.
Bidding farewell with both of them, I started trodding down the mountain path, some small pagodas and tree houses occasionally greeting me along the thick foliage.
I was following the sound of feng li's shouts, I don't know for what reason but I was mildly amused after seeing his performance in the tournament. An odd curiosity swelled inside my mind as his voice started to dampen with the sounds of the waterfall trickling through the mountain.
Jumping across the tree branches, I finally reached the spot where the rustling sound of the waterfall was at the highest.
In front of me, a moderately wide river was flowing down the edges of the mountain towards the crevice, forming a crystal clear waterfall that shimmered with the lights.
Walking in the water like-
[Jesus! ] I almost tripped thanks to the sudden shout resonating inside my mind, my system completed my sentence and derailed the momentum of my thoughts.
I finally arrived at the edge and the beginning of the waterfall below which, a platform made of black rock was standing proudly amongst the turbulent currents of the cascading waterfall.
On top of it, feng li was swinging his swords with utmost concentration. Lightning dancing around him as his movements visualizes refinement and finess. Honed by nothing else except pure hard work.
The reason for such assessment was because I saw it with my sharingan, blood trickling from his hands as the sharp edges of the sword rub against him. His hands full of callouses yet he didn't even waver as if the pain was secondary to him.
I continued watching him secretly for an hour as he practices without resting a single second. Watching him train so earnestly evoke some new complicated feelings inside of me.
His body filled with sweat as his qi was dangerously closed to exhaustion. I could tell that he always practiced day and night, calling him just hardworking was an insult to him.
Ignoring pain and exhaustion, feng li still continued to practice non stop, his mind completely concentrated on refining his sword movements.... But I could still see some imperfections in his sword movements no thanks to my talent in swords but because of my sharingan.
I felt ashamed...
Calling out the inadequacy of his movements just because I was gifted with these eyes without deserving it was an insult to a hardworking person like him, who honed those imperfections through blood and tears.
An unfair advantage that I got from the beginning was insulting his perseverance.
Seeing him working so hard made me felt like a spoiled brat who got these powers for nothing...
... I felt ashamed of myself.... I felt undeserved...I felt unworthy...
Such emotions started weighting down on me.
[Don't blame yourself host] my system comforted me.
[It's the rule of this world...
See, he has worked day and night for years yet he is only at the second level of the foundation establishment realm and on the other hand, a more talented person can achieve the same prowess by just practicing for a few months.
This unfair advantage of talent is what rules this world. The discrimination caused by not caste or race but by birth born talent which the individual has no control over. The discrimination caused by the very heaven itself! ] my system adviced me as it softly spoke the words inside my mind. Calming my mental turmoil.
[Don't feel ashame of yourself, you deserve your strength and I am the eye witness of it. Trust me. ] it whispered inside my mind.
I smiled involuntarily upon hearing it.
"Thank you. " I whispered softly as I jump down from the edge and glided towards the black platform. My mind already decided.
My landing caused the water around me to spiral and flew up like a tornado as a bewildered feng li watched my exhilarating entrance.
"Master yang is here to help his distressed student! " I smiled triumphantly as feng li watched me in a daze, as if he was processing what I just said, he smiled back at me after standing in a daze for a few seconds and kowtowed to me.
"Your student welcomes master yang. "
His reception overwhelmed me.
[Well this is awkward]
'Indeed, I just said master as a joke but did he seriously believed it!? ' I thought perplexed.
As if reading my thoughts, he burst out laughing as he reassured my awkward expression.
"What? Only you can joke around!? " He laughed heartily which is a rare occasion.
"You got me there. " I smiled and like the wise sage my system is, it acted mysterious by repeating my exact words.
[Indeed... ]
Time went on in harmony as I instructed feng li on where his sword movements where inconsistent, thanks to my sharingan, I was able to exactly copy his movements which surprised him to his bone as he stood there in horror.
We laughed and joke a little bit as we continued to practice around and I may not be the brightest bulb in this world but I could decipher it by now that what Meng li wanted to request of me was along the lines of what I was doing with feng li. That is teaching him. His doting nature towards his nephew is the prove of this.
[Real smart. ]
'Shut up. '
Hours rolled by as the night befell on us, how do I know it was nighttime? it was because the artificial sun which lit up this room was replaced by an artificial moon. Of course it wasn't a real sun but more like a powerful light bulb.
"let's end it here for today. " I said as feng li stopped swinging his sword.
"Alright." he got up and removed his shirt while jumping inside the water. Half bathing to clean his sweats. Asking me to join him which I politely declined.
After about a minute, he climbed back up and put in his shirt.
"let's go, the others have been waiting for us. " I spoke as I turn around and started to walk.
"Yang." feng li called out my name which halted my step. I turn around to inquire but to my surprise, he ran up to me and bro hug me.
[AN: Bro hug for clarification.]
"Thank you. " he whispered with a shaky voice.
"For what? " I inquire with confusion, perplexed by his over emotional reaction.
"For everything... for saving our lives back in the forest and now for training me. I am indebted to you forever my friend. " he spoke softly.
I smiled seeing him like this, "You don't need to be so serious about this, infact, you have already repaid it by giving me a place in your house. " I spoke causally and waited for his reply but contrary to my believe, feng li started snoring and sleeping like a drunk person, his face pressed against my shoulder as he awkwardly kept hugging me.
"Well... he was pretty exhausted... " I helplessly sighed as I carried him on my back in a piggyback ride as we trod along the lonely mountain roads.
[Should I sing a little to fit in the mood? ] my system asked playfully like a child.
'Whatever that makes you sparkle ' I sighed helplessly.
[Wise man said~ only fools rush in~]
we kept walking uphills as my private radio sang surprisingly well in its girl voice.
[But I~ Can't help~ falling in love~ with you. ]
"But I~ Can't help~ falling in love~ with you."
Involuntarily I started singing along with it too.
"You seem to be in a very good mood. " a familiar voice greeted me which stopped both of us singing.
Meng li was standing a few meters in front of me, standing along the road.
"You can say that. " I replied with a slight smile but my mind was somewhere else
'Was he silently watching us this whole time? ' I thought.
[Like I said, the sensory abilities of a squirrel. ]
'Shut up! '
Breaking me from the conversation inside my mind, Meng li walked towards me and gently stroke the long hair of feng li.
"Looks like he has exhausted himself again. " he spoke softly as if afraid that the noise might wake him up.
'Again? does he always secretly look after his training? ' I thought
[What a caring uncle! ] my system commented.
"Let me carry him master yang. " he again whispered to me softly as a smile crack up on my face due to his antics.
"It's alright, I am quite strong you see. " I replied as we started walking together.
"Are you sure? " he asked concern which I replied while telling him to shush up, playing along with his antics.
"Thank you. " he whispered as we started walking again.
While walking, his gaze landed softly on the sleeping face of feng li as he spoke softly.
"Usually it's my job to carry him back like this but it looks like he has found a great friend. "
I just silently hummed a tune at him while nodding my head.
"He has lots of responsibilities upon his small shoulders... " he spoke softly.
"The revenge for his elder brother, his branch clan's pride and his father's expectations. It's always crushing him from inside as he curses himself due to his low level talent. Afraid that he might not be able to fulfill those responsibilities, that's why he trains day and night even to the brim of death....
He is afraid. Afraid of the future that may lie in front of him... " Meng li's voice trailed off as small tears started forming in his eyes.
But he quickly wiped them off as if afraid that the tears will weaken him.
'That's why he overreacted
"What happen... to his brother? " I asked half afraid that it might not be appropriate to ask.
Meng li remain silent for a while then replied, his voice traced with anger.
"4 years from now, Bai li , Feng li's brother and my older Nephew was crippled publicly in this Tournament... " His face became dark as his eyes contained a blood thirst.
"The one who did this was Li Sheng, the only son of our clan's treasurer. " his voice softened but a much stronger storm was building inside his voice.
"Didn't the clan patriarch or elders stopped him? " I asked softly, feeling the anger boiling inside Meng Li and remembering our previous encounter with that raccoon young master. The face of jiang li shaking in horror came onto my mind.
"Nobody did, neither the clan patriarch nor the elders. " he replied, his voice containing a visible hatred.
"Why!? " I asked surprised and horrified at this atrocity.
"They were too afraid to broke our ancestor's rule and that is, to not intervened in a tournament battle. " his rage started shaking the very air itself.
"They even stopped me from intervening as I helplessly watched my elder nephew being pierced to the brim by that bastard's sword as he destroyed the dantian of my dear nephew. " his rage subsided as tears started involuntarily falling from his eyes.
"His screams and shout for help still haunts me to this day. " his voice softened into a whisper as he forcibly controlled himself.
Meng li gently rubbed the back of Feng li as he whispered softly.
"I promised myself that day that I won't let the same fate befell on my youngest nephew. " his voice shaking and threatening to crack as he puts his hand on my shoulder.
"But I can't directly intervened and help him. "
he smiled but this time his smile looked pitiful.
"Why? " I asked softly, afraid to break him down.
"Because his father and my brother hate me very much. " he spoke softly as the wind graze his hair.
I remained silent as I didn't want him to remember another unpleasant memory, I was aware of this experience myself.
"I beg of you...Please teach my nephew master yang. " he bowed down to me, his head touching the ground as tears started rolling down from his eyes again, the man who was once laughing gallantly. Kowtowing to me like a slave, this just further proves how much he dotes his nephew and how much regret he held inside his heart.
"I accept your request so please don't bow down like this. " I told him and help him stood up again.
"Thank you very much master yang! " He bow down to me again as we started walking uphills.
Along with some light chats to softened the mood, we eventually reached the castle as jiang li waited for us, the dinner being ready to served.
Some servants place Feng li back into his bedroom as the 3 of us enjoyed a joyous meal. Feng will eat when he wakes up, this is what Meng li told me as our trio chitter-chatter in the dinning room which may be presumed as a bad manner in our previous world, Maybe it's consider a bad manner here too but we just didn't care.
The dinner was fulfilling as I retired back into my bedroom, a giant bathroom with a pond size bathtub attached with it. After a quick dip, I lay down on my bed and slept like a log.
Past midnight, a strange sound disturbed my sleep as I woke up alarmed. Feeling suspicious, I jumped out of my window and climbed the top of the castle. Activating my sharingan and scan my surroundings, a sudden burst in energy caught my sight as I flickered towards it.
Standing on top of a tall tree, I looked down quite surprised as a lightning dragon danced around Feng li as he held his sword in both of his hands, meditating.
"Li clan lightning arts: Dragon that soared the heavens! " his sharp voice echoed throughout the forest like a thunder clap as he directed his sword towards his left. The lightning dragon roared and flew towards the direction where the sword pointed but sadly it burst into small sparks after travelling only half a meter.
"Hah.... haahh.. " Feng li breathed heavily, that technique took it's toll on him but clenching hia teeth he again started to gather qi around himself, a blue aura roared around him as a lightning dragon 2 meter in length formed around him. He did the same thing again but failed just like before. Exhausted, he took a pill and started practicing again.
After seeing him fail multiple times, I finally decided to let my presence known.
"Your control over lightning is still too weak. " I spoke up from the tree top as a bewildered Feng li look at me with surprise.
"Yang!? since when did you arrive here? " he asked to which I simply replied.
"Ever since you were failing on that technique. " I replied as I jump down and stood next to him.
"Embarrassing isn't it? " he smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head.
"I heard that some 10 years old can do this successfully. " he smiled hiding his sadness.
*Haah* I sighed internally as lightning flickered in my hand and formed in the shape of a small dragon flying around my fingers.
"Woooow... " he looked at it bedazzled as I explained.
"It's called shape manipulation, I can create 100 times bigger dragon through shape manipulation. " I explained to him about kirin.
He gulped and whispered "100 times... "
His gaze became serious as he bow down to me, "Please teach me master yang. "
"It's too late right now, let's do this tomorrow. " I replied half tried as a yawn involuntarily escaped from my mouth.
"Why not right now? " he asked hastily.
"Aren't you tired? " I asked him confused.
"I am... " he softly replied.
"Then why-" I further asked.
"I can't rest Yang. " he replied, his face containing a certain unease.
"I can't sleep" he further replied.
"Why? " I asked at his peculiar reaction.
He remained silent for a few seconds then spoke up "I am afraid, afraid that during the time I rest and take it easy, someone else will leave me behind. " he answered, his eyes filled with worry.
I remained silent and just decided to hear him out.
"I am not talented Yang, the reason why I am here and competing in this tournament of geniuses is thanks to the countless days I have trained to reach this position. I know that if I don't train even for a single day, then every genius will easily caught up with me and leave me behind. That's the harsh reality I am facing... " he clenched his hands in anger as it slightly trembled.
"But even with this much hard work, I still have hit my limit, the indicator being that I still haven't mastered this lightning dragon arts... " he spoke slowly as if he was ashamed of himself.
"You were thinking so much!? no wonder you couldn't sleep and I am telling you this by my own experience. " I joked light heartedly as
I patted his shoulder, maybe I learned a thing or two from Jiang li and uncle duo.
"Let's start. " I said as he smiled.
"Tha-" he tried to thank me but now it was my turn to interrupt him.
"Now listen carefully as I will say this only once. " I instructed as he paid utmost concentration.
"Yes sir! " feng li replied.
"To increase your control over lightning element, we will learn a technique called chidori. " I spoke seriously.
"Chieoyi? "
He had a hard time pronouncing it as I further instructed him while ignoring his mispronunciation.
"You gather chakra-I mean qi in your hand as... "
"Yes sir! "
Like that we practiced till daybreak.
...
[AN: I know this second arc seems waaay too long but trust me as it will be worth it. This arc will be special as I will add in very important plot points in it which will further get important in this story.
Stay tuned as I guarantee that the second arc will be 10 times more amazing then the first.
Bye and thanks for reading ;) ]
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