Blocking the Door / Sparring

As for why he had fainted, that was a story that had to be told.

That day, he had hidden behind a wall, quietly watching the battle before him.

Seeing the fighting grow increasingly fierce and whole swaths of buildings collapse around him, he had already intended to sneak away.

But just as he was about to leave, a child standing behind those elders had forcibly unleashed a power that did not belong to him, with someone else's help.

Caught off guard, Shi Qingyun had been swept up in the attack. Before he fell, all he saw was a beam of devastating light burst from that child's eyes and shoot toward Shi Ziling.

Space was pierced layer by layer, and a tremendous roar rang out across the square.

He knew nothing of what happened afterward. When he woke again, he found himself back in his own room.

A crowd surrounded him, too. Drawing on the few memories he still possessed, he recognized his grandfather and older brother among them.

Apart from those two, he recognized no one.

But he could not speak this world's language, so he could only meet their concern with silence.

After that, for various reasons, Shi Qingyun had been left at the Martial King Manor.

His life over the past few years had been fairly decent. At least he had encountered no great dangers, nor had anyone bullied him out of contempt.

He belonged to a branch lineage, and specifically to Shi Hao's branch. Meanwhile, Shi Yi's branch had grown powerful over the years and had been heavily suppressing those of the other branch.

None of them had been doing particularly well, and after Shi Ziling left, things had grown even worse!

Fortunately, the protection of several ancestral elders who favored Shi Hao's branch had kept Shi Yi's branch from exterminating them to the last.

Perhaps because Shi Qingyun's grandfather had left with Shi Ziling and his wife, those clan elders had taken especially good care of his everyday needs over the years to make it up to him.

As for why Shi Yi's supporters had not completely purged the Martial King Manor, the most important reason was that Shi Hao's grandfather, the Great Demon God Shi Zhongtian, had gone out to seek precious blood for his grandson.

He had yet to return. Thus, until Shi Yi fully matured, his branch did not dare take things too far and still exercised some restraint.

Nevertheless, Shi Qingyun understood his own predicament perfectly well. Once the Rain Clan and the people of the Martial King Manor discovered that the child they had kept under such tight watch in the Second Ancestral Land all these years was not Shi Hao, but his older brother...

They would surely leap into a thunderous rage, and some of that fury would be vented on him.

His comfortable days would then be over. Living here in the Martial King Manor, he had to plan an escape route in advance!

Just as Shi Qingyun was lost in thought, an ill-timed noise interrupted him.

Standing in the courtyard, Shi Qingyun could clearly hear the clamor coming from outside his gate.

He sighed inwardly. Although life had been decent these past few years, there were always a few irritating flies coming to bother him.

With resignation mixed with anger, Shi Qingyun prepared to head toward the gate, pondering what he should do.

It looks like it's time to strike hard.

Otherwise, people will keep thinking I'm a soft persimmon they can squeeze.

Chapter 3: Blocking the Door

Shi Qingyun straightened his clothes and came to the gate. Before he even opened it, he clearly sensed a group of half-grown children standing outside his home.

At that moment, the children outside Shi Qingyun's gate were chatting and joking with one another, occasionally bursting into laughter.

Their leader wore a swaggering, arrogant expression as he hurled all sorts of provocations toward Shi Qingyun's gate.

"Shi Qingyun, you turtle hiding in your shell! Do you dare come out and fight me?"

"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you. You fatherless, motherless brat, what's so impressive about hiding in there under the ancestor's protection?"

"Come out and fight! Let me see just how strong you are."

While spewing abuse at Shi Qingyun's little courtyard, he shot the children behind him a look, signaling them to take over. Naturally, they understood.

They instantly grasped what that look meant.

After all, they had done this more than once or twice. They already knew the routine by heart.

A moment later, mocking laughter rose from their mouths, mixed with boasts. They jeered while chiming in with all sorts of remarks.

With only a gate between them, Shi Qingyun naturally heard every word. His expression did not change, but his hands hidden in his sleeves had clenched into tight fists.

Although he was older mentally, the half-grown children of this world were not comparable to the children in his original world.

Their minds were far more mature.

Besides, this had happened more than once or twice. In the past, Shi Qingyun had never taken their bullying seriously. With an ancestor protecting him, they did not dare do much anyway and could only wage a war of words!

Lately, however, it had become increasingly frequent and increasingly excessive. This time, they had even come to block his gate, which made Shi Qingyun furious.

As for why they were doing this, he naturally understood the reason. It was simply for their own benefit.

They had set their sights on his small allotment of cultivation resources.

At the Martial King Manor, all children of the appropriate age underwent a baptism at six and were introduced to the path of cultivation.

Shi Qingyun would soon turn six as well. It was time for his baptism.

These children all belonged to Shi Yi's branch. Since their allegiance differed from Shi Qingyun's, hostility between them was only natural. They wanted to injure him and then seize the opportunity to take his cultivation resources.

However, the Martial King Manor had a rule forbidding private fights. Only with both parties' consent could they go to the Dao Demonstration Platform to compete.

That was why these youths were behaving this way. They wanted to goad him into fighting them.

And judging by how practiced their behavior was, this was not their first time.

The Martial King Manor also stipulated that no one could enter another person's domain without permission. That was why they kept shouting outside his gate but did not dare push it open and enter.

Without those rules, Shi Qingyun believed they would have smashed through the gate long ago!

Although Shi Yi's branch was powerful, they still did not dare violate these rules handed down by the ancestors.

Shi Qingyun steadied himself, pushed open the gate, and strode out. He looked straight ahead, his face expressionless and utterly calm, as though he did not regard them at all.

When the youths saw Shi Qingyun emerge, their words faltered for a moment. Then even louder, more grating voices poured into his ears from every direction.

Shi Qingyun showed no unusual reaction and remained just as he had been before.

Naturally, he would not blindly rush forward to vie with them in brute force. If he did, he would fall right into their trap.

If Shi Qingyun charged at them without thinking, what awaited him would surely be punishment from the Martial King Manor's Enforcement Team. The consequences of fighting privately were quite serious!

He could still distinguish what mattered and what demanded caution.

Seeing that Shi Qingyun remained so composed even now, Shi Long knew his scheme had failed.

Rather than becoming annoyed, however, he marched up to Shi Qingyun with an aggressive air.

Shi Long was taller than Shi Qingyun. Standing beside him, he blocked the sunlight falling on Shi Qingyun, casting a dark shadow that covered him.

Shi Long lowered his head, stared into Shi Qingyun's eyes, and said:

"You finally decided to come out. I thought you were going to spend your whole life as a turtle hiding in its shell!"

Shi Long rolled his wrists, tilted his head, and said to Shi Qingyun, "Well? How about a little sparring? I'm sure you won't refuse! After all, the ancestor takes such good care of you. You shouldn't disgrace him."

"If you did, we really would look down on you."

Shi Qingyun naturally recognized the attempt to goad him. But at this point, he could not be bothered to think about it any longer. One way or another, they would have to fight.

Hearing Shi Long's words, the other children around them began egging them on, shouting:

"Spar! Spar!"

"If you won't spar, you're a coward! A coward!"

Shi Qingyun fell silent for a moment, then raised his head and stared straight into Shi Long's eyes. Coldly, he said, "Since you've invited me so graciously, elder clan brother Shi Long, I'll respectfully oblige. If you suffer any injuries, I hope you'll be understanding."

Shi Qingyun cupped his hands toward Shi Long. Although his words were respectful, his tone brimmed with provocation.

Shi Long naturally heard the implication as well. A glimmer of triumph flashed in his eyes, along with a trace of malice.

"Of course. It's only sparring, and injuries are unavoidable. If you're afraid, younger clan brother, I'll hold back."

An invisible force erupted from the two of them and collided in the air.

But a moment later, Shi Long seemed to remember something and immediately reined in his imposing aura.

His tone also lost its earlier arrogance and overbearing edge. Instead, the two now appeared to be an affectionate elder brother and a respectful younger one.

"Hahaha! Once a word leaves your mouth, even a team of four horses can't bring it back. Everyone heard you! I knew younger clan brother Qingyun wasn't someone who only knew how to cower at home." Shi Long gave Shi Qingyun a hypocritical pat on the shoulder.

Seeing how quickly Shi Long changed his face, Shi Qingyun remained outwardly unmoved, though inwardly he could not help reflecting, In this world where the strong rule, no one can be underestimated!

While Shi Qingyun was thinking this, Shi Long noticed his distraction and muttered inwardly, This brat isn't thinking of backing out, is he?

"Since you've agreed, younger clan brother Qingyun, let's go!" Shi Long urged somewhat impatiently.

With that, he reached for Shi Qingyun's arm, intending to drag him to the Dao Demonstration Platform.

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Chapter 4: Sparring

Shi Qingyun naturally would not let him have his way. With a nimble sidestep, he evaded Shi Long's outstretched hand. Seeing this, Shi Long's displeasure with him deepened.

He thought darkly, You'll get what's coming to you in a moment!

"Let's go. We'll see what you're really made of on the Dao Demonstration Platform!" Shi Qingyun spoke first.

After saying that, Shi Qingyun did not speak to Shi Long again. He walked around him and strode ahead.

He had little interest in putting on an act with Shi Long here. Better to finish the fight early and head back.

Seeing Shi Qingyun walk ahead, apparently so eager to receive a lesson, Shi Long temporarily suppressed his displeasure with him.

Shi Long beckoned, calling everyone to follow behind Shi Qingyun.

Shi Qingyun felt the appraising, curious gazes of those behind him, but paid them no mind as he walked calmly ahead.

He was quietly weighing things in his mind. Previously, he had simply not wanted to stir up trouble. Besides, he had regarded it as nothing more than squabbling among children, not something that would lead them to bring a group to block his gate as they had today.

It looks like someone behind the scenes has made a move!

At that thought, Shi Qingyun sighed inwardly with some resignation.

Suppress the younger generation to weaken the opposing faction's strength!

What a clever scheme! Shameless, but very effective!