Chapter 7: In the future?
"Should I call you Young Master Lone Wolf or Classmate Chen Sheng?"
In a exquisitely decorated room, Li Yue looked at Chen Sheng with a charming smile, her eyes full of amusement.
Chen Sheng, who had been secretly on guard, subconsciously replied when he saw these alluring eyes, "Then should I call you Instructor Li or Madam Liu?"
"A name is just a code. You can call me instructor in the combat academy. Outside the combat academy... you can call me whatever you like!"
Li Yue's smile became even more enchanting. She was naturally a seductive beauty, and this smile made Chen Sheng's heart flutter. Especially with her last sentence, it was really thought - provoking...
"What does Instructor Li want with me?" Chen Sheng silently recited the Diamond Sutra several times, lowered his head and eyes, and told himself that this woman was dangerous. To stay alive, he should stay away from her!
"What? Sleeping in class isn't a problem? I'm your instructor, you know!"
Li Yue smiled like a fox. When she saw Chen Sheng's mocking smile, her face became serious. She said solemnly, "Li Yue, on behalf of the Liu family, formally invites you to be an honorary guest - minister of the Liu family! The Liu family will spare no effort to train you and help you become a Soul Warrior! In the future, you won't be just a local tyrant, but at least you can live a comfortable life in the royal city."
"Live comfortably in the future...?"
The corner of Chen Sheng's mouth suddenly curved into a strange and charming arc. His ordinary face immediately became full of an otherworldly air.
He murmured this sentence with a special ambiguity, and his sharp eyes stared straight at Li Yue. It was not until Li Yue was forced to lower her eyelids by his suddenly rising aura and felt a little uneasy that he said, "May I have some time to think about it?"
"How long?" Li Yue's eyes lit up. She smiled sweetly, her face beaming with joy, and regained her invincible mature - woman aura.
"After the League of Combat Academies in Ten Western Cities!"
This time, Chen Sheng didn't hesitate and gave the answer decisively.
"Okay, my door is always open for you, Young Master Chen Sheng!"
Li Yue gave an extremely ambiguous reply. Chen Sheng left in a cold sweat, afraid that if he stayed with this extremely charming woman for too long, his unshakable self - control would be easily broken...
"Help me become a Soul Warrior? Do they think I'm a three - year - old?"
After leaving the room, Chen Sheng sneered. Although he was a martial artist from a poor family, his aunt knew a lot. She had told him something about Soul Warriors.
At the age of eighteen, martial artists can go to the Soul Pavilion to awaken their souls, but the chance of really awakening is one in ten thousand. It's already very lucky to have one Soul Warrior among ten thousand martial artists. For example, in the royal city, last year during the Soul Festival, hundreds of martial artists went to the Soul Pavilion to awaken their souls, but not a single Soul Warrior was born!
As for what Li Yue said about helping him become a Soul Warrior, it was even more nonsense. If the small Liu family could casually help someone become a Soul Warrior, the Liu family would have dominated the royal city long ago!
"After getting the Phoenix Feather Pill in the League of Ten Western Cities, I'll leave the royal city immediately!"
Chen Sheng secretly made up his mind. No matter what tricks this woman had, the best policy was to leave. Anyway, in the past ten - odd years, he, his aunt, and Ning were used to a nomadic life. If it weren't for the news of the Phoenix Feather Pill, the three of them wouldn't have come to the royal city.
"Mid - level battle soldier? He can instantly kill a high - level third - grade profound beast, the split - earth tiger. His real realm is at least a high - level battle master, right? A 17 - year - old high - level battle master? And from a poor family? Such heaven - defying talent. No wonder Kai values him! Hehe, but the man I, Liu Jing, fancy, who can take him away?"
Ms. Li leaned against the window alone, looking at Chen Sheng who was gradually walking away. Her eyes were hazy, like a thousand - year - old fox spirit.
...
In the following martial arts classes, Chen Sheng, as usual, didn't go to the square or the martial arts hall. Instead, he hid alone in the grass next to the small forest, cultivating profound qi.
In his past and present lives, he had an extremely mature mind. Naturally, he wouldn't hang out with some young boys and girls. If it weren't for his aunt, he would never have entered this boring combat academy.
Eating the dry rations he carried with him, Chen Sheng cultivated until the sky was full of red clouds. Then he stood up. Along with the students of the combat academy, he retrieved his mount and walked out.
His skinny donkey stood out among countless horses, but Chen Sheng never cared about other people's gazes. He leisurely made his way back to Qingniu Town.
When he got home, the silver moon was already high in the sky. It was Ning, with a simple - minded smile on his face and looking like a prehistoric giant, who opened the door. His aunt, with a kind face, was sitting in a wheelchair, waiting for him to have dinner together.
"Aunt, if a person can't awaken as a Soul Warrior, can they be trained to become one later?"
After dinner, after Chen Sheng brought hot water to wash and massage his aunt's feet, he finally couldn't help asking.
"Soul Warrior?"
His aunt put down the book in her hand, glanced at him a little strangely, and then said, "Of course they can!"
"This..."
This time it was Chen Sheng's turn to be surprised. Could Miss Xu really help him become a Soul Warrior? He asked in confusion, "Is it easy?"
"Definitely not easy!"
His aunt didn't wonder why Chen Sheng suddenly asked about this. She patiently explained, "Everyone in the Sacred Continent has the soul of an ancient god in their mind. At the age of eighteen, they go to the Soul Pavilion to awaken. If the awakening fails, there's only one way to become a Soul Warrior! That is to devour a soul!"
Chen Sheng was even more surprised, "Devour a soul?"
"Yeah!"
His aunt took a sip of tea and continued, "The world is so big that there are all kinds of strange things. There are some strange places in the world that breed innate souls. If a martial artist can't awaken, and by great chance finds these innate souls and successfully devours them, they still have a chance to become a Soul Warrior! But the probability is very low. In the more than a thousand - year history of the Wu Dynasty, only three people have succeeded in devouring!"
"I see!"
Chen Sheng smiled, understanding that Ms. Li was indeed lying to him. A glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes, and he asked, "Aunt, do you think I can awaken my soul?"
"You'll be eighteen in three months, right?" His aunt smiled and said, "Whether you can become a Soul Warrior, you'll know at the Soul Festival at the end of the year!"
"Okay, aunt. I'm going to the arena."
Chen Sheng didn't ask any more. His aunt was very mysterious and kept a lot of things from him. He also knew that when his aunt said "you'll know later", it meant he didn't need to ask. Even if he asked, she wouldn't tell him.
Riding his donkey, Chen Sheng headed for the arena to start his daily training.
The familiar arena, the lively atmosphere, and the faint smell of blood in the air. This place made Chen Sheng feel very comfortable, just like returning to the Death Mountains or Devil Mountain.
His opponent this time was still a third - grade profound beast, a little weaker than last night's split - earth tiger. His terrifying perception, calculation ability, and the combat instinct honed in life - and - death battles allowed him to easily kill this profound beast.
After the battle, Mr Tian passed on a message again. Ms. Li wanted to see him!
Chen Sheng had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to the private room on the second floor. After drinking a glass of wine and chatting a few words, he left rudely.
In the following few days, life was extremely peaceful!
Chen Sheng shuttled between the combat academy, the arena, and Qingniu Town. The only difference was that there was a beautiful instructor in the combat academy and Ms. Xu in the arena.
Wei Gong, who had been scared to pee by Chen Sheng that day, was very low - key. Although there was a deep hatred hidden in his eyes when he occasionally glanced over, he didn't continue to provoke Chen Sheng. Chen Sheng just pretended not to see. Wu Hui was still recuperating at home and didn't come to the combat academy. A group of young masters like Wei Mu, the biggest playboys in the combat academy, went to Devil Mountain for training for the League of Ten Western Cities and hadn't come back yet. Chen Sheng's days were extremely plain but fulfilling.
"Lone Wolf, Kai invites you over."
One day, just like usual, Chen Sheng had a drink in Ms. Li's private room, then turned around and left. Madam Jing didn't say anything and just watched him leave with a smile. After leaving the private room, Mr Tian was waiting outside and brought a message.
"Mr Tian?"
Chen Sheng thought he had heard wrong and raised his eyebrows in surprise. Mr Tian said seriously, "It's Kai, our manor lord!"
Kai!
Chen Sheng showed a look of respect. He had been in this arena for half a year and of course had heard from the servants about this legendary Kai.
One of the five strongest people in the royal city, a Soul Warrior! Kai, who had single - handedly resisted the three major families!
Five years ago, a man in a cloak came from the east and arrived in the royal city. He established Misty Rain Manor. In the past five years, the Liu family, the Wu family, and the Wei family had tried many times to take this profitable manor for themselves, but Misty Rain Manor was still there, and Kai still wore his cloak.
This was the first time Chen Sheng was summoned by this legendary figure. He was a little nervous. He followed Mr Tian into the resplendent private room and saw the man in a purple cloak, holding a wine jar.
Kai was very tall, over 1.8 meters. Wearing a purple cloak, he looked even more domineering. He turned his face slightly, looking at the arena below, and waved his hand casually. Mr Tian immediately bowed and retreated.
"Kai!"
Chen Sheng cupped his hands and saluted respectfully. The people in the arena had taken good care of him, so he naturally had a sense of respect for the owner of the arena.
"Lone Wolf, do you know what the most precious thing for a person is?"
Kai didn't turn around. He took a sip from the wine jar and then said in a low voice, as if talking to himself.
Chen Sheng pondered for a moment and then replied decisively, "It's freedom!"
"That's right! It's freedom!"
Kai suddenly turned around and said, "Lone Wolf, remember, you and your life belong only to yourself, not to anyone or any family, at least not to a small family like the Liu family in the royal city!"
Chen Sheng grinned, his eyes full of wildness and unruliness. He said lightly, "Kai, I'm Lone Wolf!"
Kai also grinned, gulping down strong liquor. He waved his hand, indicating for Chen Sheng to leave. After Chen Sheng left, Kai said softly, "I was overthinking. This kid is like a lone wolf. He won't be recruited by any family, let alone a small family like the Liu family. It seems Ms. Xu is wasting her efforts. Well, I'll observe for a while longer. I can think of a way to train him well. Then I'll take him back to the family. Maybe in a few years, there will be another peerless genius in the dynasty."