Reaction

The news that Wu Ming had condensed Blood Qi and become a martial artist spread swiftly. In less than half a day, it had traveled throughout all of Wu Village.

For a time, Wu Ming's family courtyard was packed inside and out. Even more people had gathered than when Wu Yu had married; nearly every one of Wu Village's hundred-odd households had come to offer congratulations.

Many wore astonished looks.

Not long ago, they had heard that Wu Ming had encountered an evil presence and damaged his body, and they had all felt some regret. Yet who could have imagined that after such a calamity, Wu Ming would still soar straight into the heavens and successfully cultivate Blood Qi? Truly, fortune leaned on misfortune, and misfortune lurked beneath fortune.

"I told you, that boy Wu Ming—evil spirits couldn't do anything to him. He was bound to become somebody someday."

"Exactly. When that child was born, there was a raging storm. I was outside at the time when I saw a pitch-black bolt of lightning suddenly strike down and explode in the courtyard. It seemed like divine soldiers and heavenly generals were up in the clouds protecting him..."

"Ahem, that's going too far, Old Li. I was there too—how come I didn't see any divine soldiers or heavenly generals? Still, that storm really was fierce. Come to think of it, it was strange indeed: the moment that child was born, the rain stopped at once."

"..."

Outside the courtyard, people gathered in little groups of two and three, chatting away with great interest.

Though most of them were not close relatives of Wu Ming's family, they all lived in the same village and were connected one way or another. Even if the relation was distant enough that they could gain no benefit from it, in these chaotic times when Demons ran rampant, an additional young martial artist in the village meant greater protection for its safety. The whole village would be safer.

Inside the courtyard, Wu Qi and Liu Shi were all smiles as they received guest after guest. One household brought eggs, another sent rice and flour, and before long, a feast had been laid out in the courtyard. The gloom each family had felt after paying the Spring Tax was washed away considerably.

Suddenly.

The crowd outside parted to make way, and two figures approached together. Unlike the other villagers, both wore clean long robes of blue cloth without a single patch. Their builds were distinctly broader and sturdier, and their eyes shone brightly.

They were Wu Village's other two Blood Forging martial artists, apart from Clan Head Wu Qu. Usually, the village's martial artists worked outside, but today was the day Jingye City collected the Spring Tax, so two of them had remained home. Having heard about Wu Ming, they had come in person.

"Yang Second Master!"

"Old Brother Bai!"

At the sight of them, the Wu Village villagers inside and outside the courtyard all showed respect and took the initiative to greet them.

Within Wu Village, aside from Clan Head Wu Qu, the other four martial artists were naturally held in equal esteem by the villagers. Demon attacks did not happen often, but whenever they did, only these martial artists could defend the village against them.

"Not bad. Our village finally has someone to carry on the torch."

As soon as Wu Yang arrived, he gave Wu Ming's shoulder a hard pat and spoke with feeling.

Not just anyone could cultivate Blood Qi. Take his own two disappointing sons—they ate meat practically every day, yet at Wu Ming's age, they still had not managed to master martial arts at all. They complained bitterly every day besides.

Wu Sanbai's family was much the same. Even Clan Head Wu Qu's household was no different; several of their children had failed to amount to much. Partly, their aptitude was indeed insufficient. But partly, having been born into martial artist families and suffered little hardship from childhood, they lacked a measure of resolve.

Wu Ming's ability to stand out from the crowd was a blessing for Wu Qi's branch of the family.

"Uncle Yang, Uncle Bai."

Wu Ming smiled at his two clan uncles and welcomed them into the house. They were all distant relatives and neighbors from Wu Village, so none of their ties were particularly remote. Yet these two had never taken the initiative to visit before. This was their first time.

As it happened, Wu Ming had some matters he wanted to ask them about.

His father, Wu Qi, did not know much about matters in Jingye City or what he would face after becoming a martial artist. Wu Qu had rarely spoken of such things in the past either. Now that Wu Ming had cultivated Blood Qi, it was naturally time for him to learn.

Xu Village.

In a clean, spacious bedroom, Wu Yu wore the coiffure of a married woman. Some of her girlish innocence had faded, replaced by a touch of maturity. She held a needle and thread, sewing a small garment.

She had been married into the Xu Family for nearly two months and had not yet conceived a child, but she was already making small clothes in preparation.

"Phew."

After sewing for a while, she stopped, a faint sorrow appearing on her face.

She had heard that this year's Spring Tax had increased in silver. She knew her family's circumstances; every additional bit of silver meant another burden. She wondered how things were now, and whether Wu Ming had already gone out with Wu Qi to work.

Compared with her natal family, she was doing quite well in the Xu Family. Especially not long ago, when Xu Tong's elder brother Xu Hao had completed his Second Blood Forging, prompting the entire Xu Village to come celebrate. Though she was a woman, in Yong Country, where martial strength was revered above all else, she knew that martial artists also stood at different levels. First Blood Forging and Second Blood Forging were a difference in quality altogether.

Xu Hao becoming Xu Village's new Clan Head was practically set in stone. Moreover, after achieving Second Blood Forging, Xu Hao had gained some standing in the city as well. He had easily arranged a job there for Xu Tong—easy work, not tiring, and with decent pay.

Still, though her own life had improved, Wu Yu had not forgotten her natal family. But having married into the Xu Family, she was now their daughter-in-law and could not casually take Xu Family belongings to support her own family. At most, she could whisper a few words in Xu Tong's ear at night, asking him to help the Wu Family a little if he got the chance.

Yet even now, she did not know how her natal family was faring.

As Wu Yu was lost in thought, she suddenly heard a burst of commotion from the courtyard outside. Looking over in surprise, she saw four or five children running in merrily.

"Good news! Good news! Second Sister-in-Law, come out quickly!"

The children clustered together in the courtyard and shouted at once, their faces full of celebration. When Wu Yu came out of the house, they all stretched out their hands toward her, asking for lucky coins in return for delivering the good news.

Wu Yu did not know what the good news was, but seeing the joyous expressions on all the children's faces, she knew it was most likely something good. Smiling, she took several copper coins from her pocket and placed one in each child's hand.

"Second Sister-in-Law, your younger brother succeeded in martial arts! He's a martial artist now too!"

Once every child had received a lucky coin, the slightly older child at the front immediately announced it with great delight.

Younger brother?

Wu Yu froze at first. Her first thought was of the Xu Family's close relatives, but none of them were of an age to practice martial arts. Then her thoughts turned, and she thought of Wu Ming. Astonishment immediately appeared in her eyes.

"He succeeded in martial arts... You mean Wu Ming?"

Wu Yu could scarcely believe it, so she asked the children again.

Hadn't Clan Head Wu Qu said that Wu Ming had encountered an evil presence? Though he had kept his life, it would take a long time for his body to recover, and he would almost certainly never be able to condense Blood Qi and become a martial artist again.

"Yes, yes!"

The children happily answered while clutching their copper coins, then each ran off in high spirits.

Wu Yu still found it hard to believe until several older Xu Family relatives entered the courtyard. Each spoke to her with a smile, and only then did she finally believe it: her younger brother Wu Ming had succeeded in martial arts and was now a martial artist.

"The ancients said that one who survives a great disaster is sure to have good fortune afterward. Those words are indeed true."

Second Uncle Xu stroked his beard and spoke with some feeling.

When Xu Tong had gone to Wu Village to fetch his bride, he had heard quite a bit about the Wu Family. He had thought Wu Ming's efforts had all come to nothing and that the boy was finished. Yet in the blink of an eye, after only two months, Wu Ming had leapt upward and still become a martial artist.

Naturally, he had been immensely surprised upon hearing it. He had not paid much attention to this connection with the Wu Family before; as long as Wu Yu was honest and well-behaved, that was enough. But now that he had heard Wu Ming had become a martial artist, his attitude naturally changed somewhat.

Though the Xu Family had Xu Hao, who had become a martial artist early and had now even achieved Second Blood Forging, no one in these times would dislike having another martial artist among their relatives. With Wu Ming in the Wu Family, their circumstances were altogether different from before.

"Tong, tomorrow, take some rice and grain to your in-laws' home and offer congratulations."

That evening, when Xu Tong returned from work, he heard Mother Xu give him this instruction at the dinner table.

Learning that his younger brother-in-law Wu Ming had become a martial artist, Xu Tong was greatly surprised as well. He did not actually have a deep impression of Wu Ming. They had not spoken much when he went to fetch the bride; he only knew that Wu Ming was somewhat reserved, did not like talking much, and had little presence.

The only reason Wu Ming had left some impression on Xu Tong was that he had heard the boy had once encountered an evil presence and narrowly survived. But Xu Tong had not cared much about it. In these times, when Demons ran rampant, it was common enough to encounter evil spirits and demonic calamities. Surviving was merely a bit fortunate.

Who would have thought that

in only two months, Wu Ming had already cultivated Blood Qi and become a Blood Forging martial artist?

Xu Tong had practiced martial arts himself, for two or three consecutive years, yet had failed to achieve anything. He understood even more clearly how difficult it was to condense Blood Qi. Especially for a poor family like Wu Ming's, becoming a martial artist meant he truly possessed some talent.

"Alright, I understand."

Xu Tong had no objection to Mother Xu's instructions. His elder brother Xu Hao might not care much that Wu Ming had become a martial artist, but Xu Tong could not possibly ignore it. He would indeed need to interact more often with this capable younger brother-in-law in the future.

Wu Yu, meanwhile, quietly ate throughout the meal. She had said little all day, yet the faint upward curve of her lips had scarcely faded the entire time. She naturally understood what Wu Ming becoming a martial artist meant. All her worries about Liu Shi, Wu Ming, and their family's present circumstances had vanished completely.

With Wu Ming, now a martial artist, there, her father and mother would naturally be able to live good lives.