What the Hell, He Was Six?

Chen Li knew that children of six or seven were often disliked by people and dogs alike, fond of pranks. He himself had been the most mischievous among his peers in the sect as a child, and after growing up, he had dealt with plenty of unruly children in the Dragon Elephant Sect. But this was truly the first time he had seen someone go as far as Xiao Hongchen...

Or rather, it was Chen Li's first time seeing something that had not involved blowing up a latrine, yet had turned out even more like a blown-up latrine than an actual blown-up latrine.

Looking at Xiao Hongchen's flushed little face and vaguely dim-witted expression, Chen Li could not help glancing discreetly at Chen Ming beside him, who was also looking back at him awkwardly. He sighed silently.

Thank goodness, the younger generation of my family is still reliable...

Just as Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen awkwardly tried to explain themselves, a sudden retching sound came from outside the small courtyard, followed by the crash of plates hitting the ground.

Xiao Hongchen turned his head in terror and discovered that his grandfather was standing at the courtyard gate, his eyes wide as he carefully surveyed every person in the yard. Behind him, several household servants clutched their chests and supported one another, fear visible in all their eyes. On the ground lay overturned dishes and shattered plates.

Seeing Xiao Hongchen's disheveled clothes and the way he turned his head in panic, trying to avoid his gaze, Jing Hongchen felt his blood pressure spike instantly. However, before honored guests, Jing Hongchen did not fly into a rage. He merely narrowed his eyes again and waved to the servants behind him, who had dropped the plates after being assaulted by the sudden stench.

"Go on, all of you. This is not your fault. Have the kitchen prepare another table."

This table of dishes had all been made from Soul Beast ingredients. They were not priceless, but they were still expensive; even at basic cost, they were worth several hundred Gold Soul Coins. Though such a sum was not even a drop in the bucket to Jing Hongchen, seeing an entire table of food ruined for no reason still irritated him.

Subconsciously, Jing Hongchen touched the belt around his waist. Soul Power flickered faintly over his fingers, and the belt adorned with golden toad patterns trembled slightly in response.

Xiao Hongchen covered his butt in terror, his expression utterly despairing. Meng Hongchen, though merely an innocent victim dragged into this mess, was just as flustered when she saw her grandfather already beginning to keep score. Instinctively, she tried to hide behind the tall Chen Li.

But perhaps she had reminded him, or perhaps the siblings' thought processes were simply far too alike. Before she could even take a step, Xiao Hongchen had already hidden behind Chen Li, leaving Meng Hongchen no choice but to settle for hiding behind Chen Ming.

There was no way we could avoid a beating... but Grandpa would not hang me up and beat me in front of guests, right?

They had guessed right. Jing Hongchen did not immediately hang Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen up and discipline them in front of Chen Li and Chen Ming. He merely revealed his usual smile, then took out a palm-sized bag from the Storage Soul Tool at his waist. It was impossible to tell what rank of Soul Tool it was.

As Soul Power flowed into it, the mouth of the bag opened and rapidly drew in the surrounding air, using the medicine stored within to purify the odor in the air.

After the bag passed over Chen Ming and the others once, the smell clinging to them was quickly removed. Even the scent on Xiao Hongchen's "poisonous hands" was completely purified, leaving not the slightest trace behind.

While changing the subject with Chen Li, Jing Hongchen quietly led the group toward a certain place within Hongchen Mansion.

It was Chen Li and Chen Ming's first time visiting the residence, so they did not know where they were going and assumed it was another reception hall or something similar.

But as the siblings Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen walked down this path, both their hearts rose into their throats.

There was no other reason: at the end of this path lay a training ground used specifically for the two siblings' everyday combat practice and cultivation.

Oh no, oh no. Grandpa is not planning to beat me in front of them, is he...? Like a husky that had accidentally stepped on a red-hot iron plate while tearing up the house, Xiao Hongchen was in total panic. Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his neck one after another.

Beside him, Meng Hongchen looked somewhat calmer, but her eyes were equally full of anxiety. She was terrified of being implicated by her unlucky brother.

Though she had also wanted to find another way to prank Xiao... she had not even made a move before Xiao had turned the tables and pranked her instead.

So she was the victim. She would not get beaten... right?

"Meng, what should we do?" Xiao Hongchen cautiously moved closer to Meng Hongchen, asking his sister, whom he had pranked, for help in a pleading tone.

"Please, this is all your fault." Seeing Xiao Hongchen trembling in fear, and realizing that he would definitely be punished worse than she would, Meng Hongchen finally relaxed a little. Then she answered irritably.

No matter what the pair of siblings, both at that universally detested age, thought along the way, the group soon arrived at the training ground.

Looking at the place where they usually sparred, Xiao Hongchen took a deep breath and prepared himself to meet his fate. But Jing Hongchen merely gave him a cold glance before turning his gaze toward Chen Ming.

"Xiao Ming, you are the same age as Xiao this year, and you are both Soul Masters. You have only just become my disciple today, and I still do not know much about your strength."

"Why wait for another day? Show your abilities here today. That way, I can teach you more effectively in the future."

Jing Hongchen turned his head toward Xiao Hongchen.

"Xiao, you have no objections, do you?"

"Huh?" Xiao Hongchen had not expected this. He stared in shock, pointing first at himself and then at Chen Ming.

"Grandpa, you want me to spar with this... senior?"

Although Jing Hongchen had emphasized that they were the same age, looking at that "giant" who stood more than a head taller than even his grandfather, Xiao Hongchen would rather believe his ears were faulty than believe that someone could grow this tall at six years old.

"What senior?" Jing Hongchen moved like a ghost to Xiao Hongchen's side and, smack, gave him a sharp knock on the head. The bone-deep force made Xiao Hongchen clutch his head, tears filling his eyes.

"Xiao Ming is also six years old. He is even a month and a half younger than the two of you. He only looks so large because he comes from the Dragon Elephant Sect and has a rather special Martial Soul... that is all... He is my disciple now..."

With that, Jing Hongchen grabbed Xiao Hongchen by the shoulder. A flick of his hand sent Xiao Hongchen, completely unable to resist, onto the Arena. He then looked toward Chen Ming.

Chen Ming nodded. Without using Soul Power, he relied solely on his physical strength to make a standing long jump, landing on the Arena with a smack roughly two meters in front of Xiao Hongchen.