After the incident with the bandits, nothing interesting happened for the rest of the journey. It basically had the same pattern as the first. During the remaining 2 days of the journey, Chang Guan continued cultivating but never stopped communicating with the others.
Itou Ayaka had even more talent than Chang Guan had thought, and would reach the 1st layer of the Qi Condensation stage within 2 weeks. Although he wasn't too sure how amazing that was, he was sure that it qualified her as a genius.
At this point, the group had reached its final destination The Imperial Capital. Since they had arrived, Chang Guan and the Itou Merchant group separated. Yoshida Taiki actually decided to remain with the Itou Merchant group for a trip back to his home.
Yoshida Taiki noticed Chang Guan approaching, he immediately began speaking,
"Oi Chang Guan, where are you going?"
"I'm heading to the Black Desert region."
"Oh yeah! I remember you told me that's where you're from..."
"It sure is."
"Well... What are you, um, going to be doing there?"
Judging by the way Yoshida Taiki was talking and his shy facial expression, it was clear what he wanted. In response, Chang Guan merely sighed, shook his head, and said,
"I can't tell you why, just that it's very important. I'm sorry I can't accompany you, but that's the way life works, man..."
*Sigh*
Both gave a deep sigh, Chang Guan said,
"I'll miss you, man, you're one of the best friends I've ever had."
He wasn't lying. As a genius of the Ryuu clan, most people were scared of accidentally doing something bad around him, and so, he was always avoided at his own home. His job was to cultivate and as such, there were only very few people that he could properly talk to. Those people were, Ryuu Mami, Ryuu Kiyoshi, and his grandfather.
In fact, that was why he developed a habit of sleeping so long. Since he had no one proper to talk to or play with most of the time, he figured he might as well spend the time sleeping instead. After all, Chang Guan wasn't a cultivation machine, someone who could cultivate forever and never get tired of it. That's why he always had plenty of breaks.
He especially liked this one moss-covered rock in the forest. It was nice to sleep on and wasn't too far away from the path, or the Ryuu clan for that matter.
He could remember the first time he met Ryuu Kiyoshi.
===
In a large, hidden clan in the forest, a martial tournament was being held. This tournament was between the younger generation of that clan, and amongst all of the participants, there was one that stood out more than the others.
It was an 8-year-old boy with emerald green eyes, black hair and pale skin, as white as snow. He was wearing a spacious white-blue robe and had a lonely aura.
He stood out from the rest because although the tournament had already begun a long time ago, he had never fought. Every time he had an opponent, that opponent would instantly forfeit. As such, he had gotten all the way to the semi-finals without a hitch.
"Ryuu Sasaki vs Ryuu Kiyoshi!"
The green-eyed boy, Ryuu Sasaki, calmly walked up onto the stage, as he did so, he inwardly thought, `Great... Another opponent. I bet he'll also give up. It seems that my first tournament will end with me doing nothing.´ Then, he looked over on the other side of the stage.
There, a red-haired boy with black clothing and a saber hanging by his waist was standing. He seemed about 9 years old, and his short red hair was left to freely blow in the wind. This boy was glaring at Ryuu Sasaki, his eyes spitting fire. Ryuu Sasaki thought, `Ryuu Kiyoshi, was it?´
"The match begins!"
After this yell from the referee, the match began. But the expected scenario didn't happen. Instead of forfeiting, Ryuu Kiyoshi launched towards Ryuu Sasaki. As he moved his body split in half, creating 2 separate Ryuu Kiyoshi. This was the Body Double Tactic.
This Tactic, like the other elementary Tactics, had 7 layers. The Body Double Tactic allowed you to create a clone of yourself and each mastered level would give the clone a power totaling to 10% of your power. This meant that a seventh layer Body Double Tactic could create a clone with 70% of your power.
Ryuu Kiyoshi launched forward, having his body double stay directly behind him, sticking to him like a shadow. As he approached Ryuu Sasaki, he unsheathed the saber hanging from his waist and made a swift horizontal slash.
Quickly reviewing the Body Double Tactic in his head, Ryuu Sasaki, Jumped back and created his own body double. He wasn't sure how mastered Ryuu Kiyoshi's Body Double Tactic was, but his Body Double Tactic was on the third layer, so his body double had 30% of his power.
Then, Ryuu Sasaki tried launching a kick at Ryuu Kiyoshi's abdomen. Meanwhile, His body double jumped back and pulled a set of throwing knives from his sleeves, then, he threw them in a curve around Ryuu Sasaki aiming at Ryuu Kiyoshi.
As was quite clear at this point, Ryuu Kiyoshi was trained mainly in Saber Techniques. Ryuu Sasaki, on the other hand, practiced the much trickier art of hidden weapons. He especially appreciated using throwing knives, which were easily hideable in his large robes.
Sensing that he was in a bad situation, Ryuu Kiyoshi's body double grabbed Ryuu Kiyoshi's robe and pulled him back, helping him escape from both the kick and throwing knives.