Blessed by Talent

"Heaven and earth were dark and yellow; the universe, vast and wild."

"The sun and moon waxed and waned; the stars spread across the sky."

"Cold gave way to heat; autumn harvests were stored for winter."

Morning.

Xu Chuan taught the two little ones the Thousand Character Classic.

He had written out two copies, one for each of them.

He had also built a set of desks and chairs to suit their height, making it easier for them to study.

He read a line, and the two followed along on their sheets, repeating it after him.

Their clear young voices echoed through the courtyard. The roosters and hens had come out of their coop and were wandering about, pecking here and there.

Thin wisps of blue smoke rose slowly above the kitchen.

After breakfast,

Bai Jing held her youngest son while supervising Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan as they copied characters.

The two wrote stroke by stroke, taking great care.

Xu Chuan began renovating the house. Between planning, gathering materials, and finding people to help, he was busy as a bee.

Even so, he still made time each day to walk through the fields and woods.

He checked on things, pulled weeds, and tended to other small tasks.

Then he practiced the Little Dragon Elephant Art for an hour.

With Heaven Rewards Diligence, only perseverance could bring results.

A month and a half passed in the blink of an eye.

The Xu Household's home had changed beyond recognition.

It was now a residence with five main rooms, a hall, and a courtyard half a mu in size.

Even in Dongxi Village, it ranked above average.

When a new house was completed, custom called for a housewarming. That meant another feast for guests, though gifts would come in too.

The years passed with a snap of the fingers.

Before long, the Year Sacrifice arrived.

Under Xu Chuan's daily instruction and Bai Jing's strict supervision, Xu Mingwei had learned to recognize every character in the Thousand Character Classic and could write nearly half of them.

Xu Mingyuan was still young and had only reached the stage of recognizing characters.

After the Year Sacrifice,

Xu Chuan finally decided to bestow a talent on Xu Mingwei.

After a second-generation descendant was born, the Bloodline Genealogy gained another page.

It also produced five Fate Talents.

They were Natural Divine Strength, Seek Profit and Avoid Harm, The Way to Wealth, Eagle Eye, and Whispers of All Spirits.

These talents had no owner, and Xu Chuan could bestow them on himself.

But he dismissed that thought as soon as it came.

Even if he took them all, he was only one mortal man. He could not be everywhere at once.

As things stood, he already possessed three Fate Talents, yet Daily Divination was of little use to him at present.

For a lineage to grow strong, its members had to pull together with one heart. That was the path to lasting prosperity.

"Shitou, you're the eldest son of my wife and me. One day, you'll have to hold up the Xu Household. I intend for you to pursue the Martial Way. Do you object?"

Xu Chuan's usual gentleness vanished. His expression was solemn.

Xu Mingwei sensed the weight in the air. He lifted his little face, looked Xu Chuan straight in the eye, and nodded. "Father has taught us many things lately. Shitou understands."

"I'll do as Father says."

"Shitou will set a good example for his younger brothers!"

"I won't disgrace the Xu Household or make Father lose face!"

Xu Chuan nodded with satisfaction, then took out the Bloodline Genealogy.

"Drip a drop of blood onto this."

Only Xu Chuan and Xu Mingwei were in the main room. Everyone else had been told to stay out.

Xu Mingwei trusted Xu Chuan completely and did as he was told.

The Bloodline Genealogy absorbed the blood. Xu Mingwei was startled, but he asked no questions.

"Now kneel, close your eyes, and recite after me."

"In the year of Yisi, we reverently honor our ancestors. May their virtue reach their descendants and their blessings shelter our home. Through spring and autumn, our devotion shall never cease. May the spirits hear us, protect our family's good name, and accept this offering."

"In the year of Yisi, we reverently honor our ancestors. May their virtue reach their descendants and their blessings shelter our home... May they accept this offering."

As the first-generation ancestor and the Bloodline Genealogy's true master, Xu Chuan could bestow talents on himself directly.

Everyone else had to follow strict requirements.

With Xu Chuan presiding, he could choose which talent to bestow. Without him, the Bloodline Genealogy would grant a random Fate Talent.

When Xu Mingwei finished reciting, Xu Chuan sensed a translucent thread extending from him to the Bloodline Genealogy.

The Bloodline Genealogy gave off a faint blue-green glow and was about to grant a talent at random, but Xu Chuan stopped it.

He touched Xu Mingwei's brow with a finger and bestowed two talents on him: Natural Divine Strength and Eagle Eye.

Since the boy was to follow the Martial Way, Xu Chuan would give him every relevant talent he could.

Natural Divine Strength would make his strength grow day by day, far beyond that of ordinary people. His muscles and bones would gradually transform as well, making him suited to the Martial Way.

With Eagle Eye, as the name suggested, his eyes would become as sharp and piercing as a hawk's, able to discern the smallest details.

With both talents, the bow was destined to be the weapon Xu Mingwei wielded best.

"All right, Shitou. Open your eyes."

Xu Mingwei obediently opened them, but the black book was nowhere to be seen.

"How do you feel?"

"My forehead felt cool just now, but it doesn't anymore. Father, what did those words we recited mean?"

"They're the prayer the Xu Household uses to honor its ancestors. We ask them to keep us safe and bring our family flourishing fortune. Remember it well and pass it down through the generations."

"I will, Father."

Xu Chuan smiled and rubbed Xu Mingwei's head. "Starting tomorrow, you'll get up early and practice martial arts and archery with me. After that, you'll read and write with A Yuan, then come with me to inspect the rice fields and woods."

"I don't expect you to be good at farming, but you need to understand the basics so you can make decisions when the time comes."

"You'll spend all the rest of your time practicing martial arts."

"Can you do that?"

"Father, Shitou can!"

Determination shone in Xu Mingwei's young eyes.

Raised by Xu Chuan's teaching and example, Xu Mingwei was a child who could bear hardship.

Apart from reading and writing with Xu Mingyuan each day, he spent most of his time following Xu Chuan, learning what his father knew and how to conduct himself.

Xu Mingyuan felt left out and clamored to join his older brother, but Xu Chuan refused and even scolded him sternly.

Xu Mingwei comforted him instead. "When I practice martial arts in the courtyard, you can stay with me."

"Yay!"

Xu Mingyuan cheered up at once.

Every day, he looked forward to Xu Mingwei's return so they could be together.

Several nights later,

"Husband, Shitou is only six. Aren't you being too hard on him?"

"These past few days, I've seen how tired he looks. It truly hurts my heart."

Xu Chuan chuckled. "If my wife wants to be the tender mother, then I can only be the stern father. If we both spoil him, what sort of person will we raise?"

"Perhaps you're right, husband, but I..."

"That's enough." Xu Chuan raised a hand to stop her.

When he needed to be firm, he would be firm.

Seeing the worry still in Bai Jing's eyes, Xu Chuan sighed. "Our Shitou has grit, just like me. He can work hard and endure hardship. Give him some time, and he should adjust."

In a few months, the talents would gradually begin to show.

"We aren't short of money for now. Don't skimp. Add some meat to our meals every day."

"Shitou will need it for his martial arts training."

"I understand."

"Then, my dear, let's turn in for the night."

Xu Chuan's hand began to wander, but Bai Jing pushed him away.

She turned onto her side and said evenly, "I'm not feeling well tonight. Husband, you'll have to take care of yourself."

"Uh—"

Xu Chuan's eyes went wide.

That woman had some nerve!

He watched her quietly for a while, then blew out the lamp and went to sleep.

The next day,

The ink-darkness of dawn had not yet faded, but the eastern sky had begun to turn the blue-green of a crab shell.

In the courtyard,

Dark sweat stains soaked through the back of Xu Chuan's cotton shirt. Each time he exhaled, white mist formed a thin arrow.

Young Xu Mingwei imitated his movements. His plump little arms looked like sections of lotus root, and every motion came out crooked.

Xu Chuan stopped now and then to correct him.

He praised the boy when he did well and scolded him sternly when he did not.

Xu Mingwei's eyes were full of resolve. Even when he felt wronged, he swallowed it down without showing a trace.

More than half an hour passed.

After they washed up, it was time to study.

"Heaven and earth were dark and yellow; the universe, vast and wild."

"The sun and moon waxed and waned; the stars spread across the sky."

Two clear young voices pierced the thin mist, startling the dozing sparrows beneath the eaves into flight.

Another new day had begun.