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--- Chapter 217 ---
Three months later.
Wu Tan City - Primer Commercial Street.
A crowd of people gathered in a park, watching with great interest as the sound of metal clashing echoed fiercely.
"Whoa, whoa, what happened?"
"Why is the street filled with people?"
"What's with that sound? Fight? Is there a fight there?"
The newcomers who have just arrived at this street asked in confusion.
A random watcher, who had been in the street for a while, answered with great fervor, "A wandering Dou Grandmaster Expert is testing a kid from our street."
"He said the kid has great potential to become a master, too."
"And to be honest, I think so, too. Although the kid's past is sad, he has always been kind, sensible, and polite to the people in the city."
"This... You're not talking about Han Yuan, are you?" The butcher who sold various meats to Han Yuan for a whole year is one of the newcomers who arrived on the street.
"Han Yuan? That kid? The one whose family got slaughtered by bandits and took care of his sister alone by himself?" Another newcomer said in surprise.
The random watcher chuckled, "I mean, is there any more sensible kid in this city other than him?"
With the three major clans and the Primer Merchants as the monopolizers of the Wu Tan City, the people have grown accustomed to arrogant and nosy members of these clans.
The people, while not oppressed, knew they weren't the same kind of people as these noble kids.
However, one kid in particular stood out in just one year.
His sad and tragic backstory caused people to sob.
Different from those noble kids, this kid is a commoner, but his sensible nature and kindness won their hearts.
Watching this kid, who wanted to change his fate to protect his sister, makes them admire him even more.
And today, that same kid is really going to change his fate!
...
...
In the park, two figures, small and big, faced each other on the concrete floor.
The small figure is eight or nine years old. Despite the kid's young age, his body is tall and well-developed, matching his long spiky black hair that reached his back. Furthermore, he also has a clean and handsome face, with his deep black eyes, which caught the attention of many girls.
The kid is wearing a torn dark-blue martial outfit and wielding a wooden spear shakily. He's sweating profusely. Yet, the determined look on his face never disappears.
Facing the kid is a chubby middle-aged man. Unlike the little kid, he's not sweating in the slightest and has a playful look on his face while holding a long wooden saber. He has crew-cut hair, puffy cheeks, and hazel brown eyes, wearing an azure-white martial robe with "Soaring Wind" symbols on his back.
"We have exchanged a total of three moves, and you're able to survive until now. Impressive!" The chubby middle-aged man praised without holding back.
"Among the young people I knew, you possess an immense potential, especially with a spear in hand."
"But..."
"To become this Meng Xi's disciple, surviving my sword attacks alone isn't enough."
He grinned at him, "Show me what you got, boy! If you can touch even the corner of my clothes, you will pass my test!"
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Han Yuan calmed down, and the slight shakiness in his hand instantly stopped. He closed his eyes briefly and then opened them again.
Yet, when Han Yuan opened his eyes again, it was as if he had become a completely different person!
"Senior, please advise..." Han Yuan said with a low yet serious tone.
Several Dou Fighters in the crowd couldn't help but feel dumbfounded.
'Those eyes! The eyes of a warrior!' They exclaimed in anticipation.
'This kid, he's... a real deal!'
At first, when all this farce started, these Dou Fighters weren't impressed by Han Yuan's martial skills. He's too young, too experienced, and simply green.
Three sword strikes received, he survived. However, experienced people know that Meng Xi was playing around. A Dou Grandmaster Expert, even if he suppressed his cultivation, wouldn't be so slow that they could see his movement.
He's playing around, irritating the kid.
Yes, he was provoking Han Yuan!
Yet, despite all odds.
Han Yuan didn't buy Meng Xi's shameless provocation. He could stay calm and rational. Those eyes aren't the eyes of a weak kid.
This kid, he's strong!
And for those who had known Han Yuan for long, seeing this side of him is shocking and saddening.
It's not hard to guess why a kind boy like Han Yuan could possess such a pair of eyes.
'He had gone through a lot...'
A peak Dou Master Expert, who watched Meng Xi's test from the very beginning, noticed the wandering master's movement. "He's going to make a move."
And sure enough, Meng Xi slashed down his wooden saber casually, but this casual swing looked different to ordinary people and Dou Fighters.
For ordinary people, it was just a casual chopping motion.
On the other hand, Dou Fighters saw that Meng Xi actually used a bit of his "Wind" Dou Qi to attack Han Yuan. A faint, windy energy enveloped the blunt wooden edge, sharpening it.
If Han Yuan took this attack head-on, he'd get injured!
Many Dou Fighters wanted to warn Han Yuan, but the brave kid also made his move.
Han Yuan didn't charge forward as they expected. He buried his little foot firmly on the ground, gripping the wooden spear and twisting it, making a loud sound.
Then, Han Yuan drove the twisted wooden spear forward. The momentum caught everyone off guard for a second.
Crack!
The wooden spear exploded upon meeting Meng Xi's sword, turning into a cloud of dust.
"Well, you fail-!" Meng Xi was about to tease Han Yuan. However, he didn't expect him to jump out of the dust cloud and threw a punch.
A straightforward punch enhanced with Dou Qi.
"Roc's Fist." Han Yuan's eyes gleamed as he connected his fist with Meng Xi's stomach.
BAM!
A heavy sound reverberated in the park.
Everyone was shocked.
He did it!
Han Yuan did it!
He successfully touched Meng Xi's clothes, thus passing his test.
Meng Xi's mouth twitched helplessly. "To think you'd use your weapon as a distraction to attack me."
"Kid, I don't know if I should praise you for your bravery or stupidity."
"Did I pass?" Han Yuan didn't care and asked in return.
Meng Xi rubbed his stomach helplessly, "Well, you did reach me.
"You passed, with flying colors at that!"
"From now on, you're my, Meng Xi, disciple!"
"Whoa!" The crowd erupted. The exchange between Han Yuan and Meng Xi was entertaining for them despite being very short.
It shows the determination of a kid and his cleverness.
They cheered for Han Yuan, wishing for the best for him after being taken as a disciple by a wandering master.
Of course, some are envious, but after putting themselves in Han Yuan's shoes, they didn't think they could do the same. After all, Meng Xi is a Dou Grandmaster.
The strongest person in the Wu Tan City is a Dou Grandmaster, too, and that meant a lot to people's lives here.
Meng Xi placed his hand on Han Yuan's shoulder and then looked at the people in the crowd, "Everyone, from now on, Han Yuan is my disciple, and anyone who touches him will taste my saber."
"Oh, also, I will probably stay in Wu Tan City for a while."
"So, I planned to build a Martial Dojo. Anyone who doesn't have family or a background may join."
"Remember, my Martial Dojo's name... Soaring Wind Dojo!"
Then, Meng Xi and Han Yuan instantly vanished from the crowd, but the enthusiasm didn't fade away. The announcement that Meng Xi wanted to open a Martial Dojo is like a bomb to them.
After all, the appearance of a Martial Dojo in the Wu Tan City with a Dou Grandmaster backing it is challenging the authority of the three clans and the Primer's Merchants.
By then, the city was 'eventually' bound to be not so peaceful.
...
Meanwhile, Han Yuan and Meng Xi returned to the small courtyard that Han Yuan owned without problem.
Regardless, no one would have ever thought the high and mighty Dou Grandmaster would suddenly be kneeling before the "disciple" he recently took.
"I'm sorry for being too haughty earlier, Master!" said Meng Xi with a panicked look. "T-This subordinate deserves a punishment."
Han Yuan glanced at Meng Xi calmly, "It's alright."
"Your skillful acts convince others."
"Good job, Meng Xi."
"From now on, try your best to promote our dojo. If you do well, I might reward you."
Upon hearing this, Meng Xi couldn't help but tremble. "Y-Yes, Master, leave it to me!"
But Meng Xi trembled, not because of fear. But because of excitement!
As for why, about three months ago, Meng Xi was a struggling martial artist whose family's inheritance dwindled and barely reached the Dou Master Realm at the age of twenty.
Yes, he wasn't even a Dou Grandmaster!
Back then, Meng Xi met Han Yuan and Xiao Yixian by accident. They saw something in Meng Xi and recruited him into a group called Martial Union, training him into what he is now.
In mere three months, Meng Xi rose from 3-Star Dou Master to 9-Star Dou Grandmaster with the help of the "miraculous pills" Han Yuan gifted to him.
Hearing that Han Yuan might reward him again, Meng Xi couldn't help but get excited. If he does well, Dou Spirit, no, Dou King Realm might not even be a dream!
While Han Yuan and Meng Xi discussed their next plan, Xiao Yixian was training a group of kids in the courtyard. They are around her age, and the oldest is only two years older than her.
These kids are war orphans and abandoned children who lost their way in this world. Han Yuan took them and planned to train them into a group of elite, the foundation for his organization in this world.
"Steady!" Xiao Yixian informed the kids in the backyard as Han Yuan and Meng Xi walked in.
Han Yuan wiped his sweaty face with a towel. "Well, it's nice to see you guys training diligently."
"But this is just the beginning."
"From now on, all of you will be part of the Soaring Wind Dojo. Your job is only one: train and become stronger!"
"Yes, Boss!" The kids shouted in return.
"Mm." Han Yuan smiled proudly at them.
...
...
Another three months passed.
Today, the Soaring Wind Dojo finally opened to the public.