Ryuu was very happy, for the first time since his mother's death he has been in a much better mood, he was no longer hiding his sadness behind the veil of fake smiles and happiness.
Ryuu had fun playing hide and seek today, unlike hopscotch he had played hide and seek with his mother and aunt when he was young, after arriving in Ayindril his elder sisters had played a couple of times with him, but playing with people of his age was a different experience the adults always knew where he was as such there was no fun but now it was a different as such he had loads of fun.
Silvestre: "Hey everyone I have an idea, why don't we go to the spring we found a couple of weeks ago, it will be fun swimming there."
Everyone agreed at that, but as they were about to make their way towards the swimming pool, a loud roar distracted them, followed by a loud scream, "Ahhhhhhhh".
They turned to see a woman getting mauled by a bear, and a man all bloodied lying a few feet away from her.
Toni gave a loud scream at the top of his lungs, "Mommy! Daddy!", as he tried to run towards the people who were attacked by the bear. But, only to be held by another person, the Old Leader of the town bellowed out an order, "Take those kids to safety it is a beast from the mountain."
One of the strongest villagers charged at the bear with his Mid Houtian level, charged at the Bear as he used a Martial Skill, "God King's Heaven Splitting Axe.", although the name was arrogant but at the end of the day it was only a Level 2 skill, but enough for them to save their fellow villager.
Shamsir, was 43 years old this year, when he was just 8 year old kid he had stumbled upon an injured half dead old beggar, his parents were kind hearted people who provided the beggar some shelter and food, but the beggar still perished but not before bestowing the skill and cultivation method to them.
The only cultivation technique the village had and the only skill they had, the village head was his uncle, who had raised him after his parent's death next year in the hands of wild beast, Shamsir had worked hard since then to become strong and by his 43rd year of birth he had stepped into Mid level Houtian, becoming the strongest person in the village as well as he was Head of Security of the village.
Shamsir had a smirk on his face as his axe mad contact with the bear a loud 'ding' was heard, before the bear snorted as he swiped his paw at him, then suddenly he found himself facing the sky, 'huh what happened why am I staring at the sky', a stray thought passed through his mind only for him to feel intense pain as he sprayed a fresh blood from his mouth before collapsing on the floor.
Arpaesis's face was pale beyond comparison on seeing the strongest person of Tardide lying on the ground injured, his only blood relative his nephew was lying there and would die soon. But he did not have time for grief, he knew his people were in trouble specially the children of his village, as such he had to be strong.
"The beast is Peak Houtian, every warrior come forward we will hold the beast here, others flee carry our future generations and flee, the beast is at least Peak Houtian."
Hearing this everyone's blood froze, as more than dozen people advanced each having various cultivation but all weaker than even Shamsir, they knew they will not make it but they will buy time for their children to escape.
Ryuu's new friends started to cry out of fear, some fearing the loss of their loved ones. Ryuu seeing their teary face felt a sense of déjà vu, this children were about to experience the greatest loss of their something which he will never allow as such he made his move.
He shot forward faster than the others could follow with a bang, the ground where he was standing caved in as everyone standing beside him fell on their butts, Ryuu's aura erupted freezing the beast on its track with fear, before the bear could react Ryuu appeared in front of him sending a reverse roundhouse kick, with his left leg, on its jaw. The bear was no ordinary beast, it was a Stone Bear a Peak Houtian Rank beast weighing more than a tone, but unfortunately today it was unlucky to come across a predator of rank 10th Wanxiang Adept rank, as such with a loud bang the beast was lifted of it feet as blood and broken teeth flew out from its mouth, Ryuu did not stopped there as he send a knife strike with his right hand on the lower part of the bear causing the beast to turn on its side, Ryuu's left hand was pulled back as fire suddenly erupted from it before he send a palm strike with full force, a loud bang was heard as the Stone bear, a 5 meter long beast, Ryuu's flaming hand was embedded deep inside the beast as flash of hot flame erupted from the mouth of beast with an agonizing howl, as the beast was roasted from inside out, the beast had died even before it fell causing a small crater as the area shook with small tremor. Ryuu pulled his hands out hand out of the bear as a smell of medium rare cooked bear meat hit his nostrils, "hmmm, I think I should try cooking as a hobby, it seems I have the making of an awesome chef", he mused loudly enough for everyone to hear.
Silence complete utter silence as everyone looked at Ryuu with a mixture of fear, amazement, with a hint of worship.
Ryuu turned to see the entire village well except those injured looking at him with perfect imitation of a fish, causing his brow to twitch in irritation as he shouted out, "What are you all waiting for we have to tend the wounded."
At his shout the people were finally brought back into their senses as they ran towards their injured comrades