And after learning about whatever was affecting my mind and actions, Xiù ended up walking back to the village. And Xiù also brings the (Venus Grass) back with him to the town…
While walking, Xiù actually notices how the village people live: the rich have big houses, while the poor don't even have a bedsheet… There were guards walking fast from here to there, maids getting ready to cook dinner, and there were even small children working by selling small handmade toys… Xiù even sees a young boy who carries food around for the guards…
It was something else… 'How did I not notice this? Everything feels so harsh. But it's expected since, from what I can tell, we are barely maybe at the end of the Iron Age. Technology is not even a concept yet, or maybe there is a place outside of this village… I need to learn more. About this place, this world'…
And I walk back to the Yang household and walk inside the gate. The guards look at me but don't stop me. As I walk inside, I see my little brother Guo swinging a wooden sword and doing what seems like training, but with him were 2 girls and one guy who all seemed to be cheering him on. It almost looked amusing…
But seeing me, Guo stops swinging his sword, and he looks at me for some reason in this smug way. And Guo spoke, "Oh, would you look at who it is, Xiù? My big brother, you know, today in the morning you were putting on a good, calm act. But you have shown your true colors after all. Where have you been the whole day? Running after some jade beauty again?" And after listening to Guo's words, the girls and the man laugh a little.
I look at Guo, and with a smile on my face, I say back, "Well, no, I was not running after some jade beauty. But you sure seem to have gathered a little cheerleading group, huh? Little bro," and hearing my retort, Guo's face goes stiff. The girls behind Guo almost look at me hatefully, while the guy just looks at me like I am trash…
And with a smile on his face, Guo spoke. "You know, brother, it's been a while since we last sparred, right? I think someone is forgetting their place…" And looking at Guo and hearing his words, I smile back at him and say, "Well, why not spar now? It's been a while since I stretched my old bones anyway, so just go easy on me, ok?" and hearing my teasing tone, Guo had a frown on his face; he thought, 'What the hell is this idiot thinking? Has he forgotten the gap between us?'
And I walk inside the training ground with a smile on my face, and all the guards around look at me like they were seeing me for the first time because, well, the old Xiù would have never stepped on the training ground... and everyonealso heard my words, making most of the people think, 'Oh, this is going to be fun!' The useless fellow will get beat up!' And soon, without even noticing, a little group gathers around the training ground...
And now, under the sight of many people, some from the Yang household and some from outside, Guo had to actually spar... he could not say no now! and Guo walks inside the training ground and looks at me and mutters, "Are you drunk? Whatever, just try to save some face for our family now that even outsiders have noticed this little spar..." and then with a smile Guo speaks loudly, "Oh, big brother, get ready to hear, I come!"
And Guo actually moves kind of fast, faster than anyone I have seen yet... and Guo throws a punch to my face, and I side-step and then kick Guo's knee, and Guo is not hurt, but he does end up falling down, and well, the whole training field and even the people around the Yang household become quiet... silent as air...
Clearly no one expected Xiù to do anything... so this scene kind of shocked everyone and made everyone guess if they were dreaming or not. The most dumbfounded person was Guo himself! In fact, Guo had seen through Xiù's sidestep and kick, but the problem was Guo never expected his useless big brother to actually land an ok hit... Guo did not fall down because he was hurt; no, he fell because he was purely in shock...
But then, realizing how this looks, Guo gets back on his feet and says, "Wow, big brother, you have trained? Well? Huh? Well, here I come again!" and Guo's voice was filled with questions and also a hint of anger. Guo was angry at himself for falling before someone like Xiù...
And this time when Guo came at me, he was so fast I almost did not even see him. He must have been using Qi... Well, I should also start using Qi then... I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, the world was much clearer, and also it was slower... I could now see Guo's movements, and I moved before Guo threw a punch at where I was standing, and I dodged one more almost effectless...
And after that dodge, I fall back on the ground and speak, "Oh my god, was that Qi? Ha! I could not even see you, little Guo. Good job; you seem to be growing as always in cultivation..." I stand up and dust my butt and then walk out of the training ground acting like I was hurt and lost... and everyone then took a breath, but once again everyone was still a little dumbfounded because, well, everyone thought, "Since when was Xiù! so respectful? what the?" but no seconds later everyone started to go about their day...
But the only person who was still standing in the training ground was Guo and his friends, and Guo had this weird expression on his face, and then Guo's friends pulled Guo away from the training ground, but Guo thought, "I swear his eyes, they were following my movements... but no, that's impossible; he has not even started cultivation yet..." and then Guo stopped thinking about it and just chalked it up to him seeing things...
On the other hand, Xiù walks inside his room and closes the door behind him and sits down on the bed and thinks, 'Well, he was not as strong as I thought he would be. Even though he should be at the peak of Qi gathering, I am pretty sure I would win in a life-and-death fight... Ok, now I am stronger than the Qi-gathering peak, huh? I have to step up my cultivation level fast. That little spar I had with Guo was only to compare myselfto Guo... no other reason. That's also why I acted like I lost in the end of the fight. I threw...'
But that's not the point for now. It's time to lay low and then grow faster than anyone else expects. Before whatever it was trying to get in my head next time you meet me, I will become stronger than it...