"Foul Demon Beast!!! This Old Man senses you! I'll kill you!!" roared a voice from the Zhao Clan.
"Humph! I'll just kill him too." snorted Shensheng.
Ling Fan eyes constricted.
Wasn't this situation spiraling out control?
"Follow me to the Ling Clan, the aura is over there!!"
A tiny voice spoke. "Grandfather, what's wrong?"
"It's that foul beast from last night. I detected its aura next door."
The Wang sisters quickly surrounded Ling Fan, each taking a defensive stance behind and in front of her.
"Young Miss, we should head to where the guards are," grimly said Wang Chunhua.
"Big Sis, what beast is this? Chuntao has never felt such killing intent."
"Grandfather, I'll go next door with you to investigate," said the tiny voice next door.
Abruptly, Shensheng squealed and her aura retracted.
"Hide me!" said the Divine Pig.
"What! Weren't you about to kill us all!?"
"Didn't you hear? It's that young genius...he's coming over."
"Why is it him, again?"
"You-You should flower up."
"Flower up!?"
"Yes look pretty. If he likes you, we can propose marriage. Then naturally, I'll accept him as my disciple."
"Enough!" spat out Ling Fan.
A shrill scree was heard and an icy aura filled the courtyard. Frost crackled as it creeped out from Ling Fan. Her eyes glowed with a silvery light.
"You want to kill me? You want to sell me?" Ling Fan cracked her knuckles. "I'll-I'll cut you!"
"Hide me first...cut me later," squealed Shensheng. Turning about, the pig ran.
"Sister, I'll borrow a sword," said, Ling Fan grabbing one of Chuntao's cane swords.
Eyes mad with rage, she said "Run piggy, run! This Young Miss will cut you well!"
The Wang sisters looked at each other.
"Big Sis, what just happened?" asked Wang Chuntao, grabbing several buns.
"You wanna eat now? Will you still eat if we lose our positions? Quickly chase after her!"
In the Ling Clan's main hall, Ling Ming eyes opened with shock.
This aura, isn't this the killing intent of a demonic beast? Fan'er!!
Ling Ming drew his sword and was about to rush out when a guard ran forward.
"Lord! Reporting!"
"Is this about the demonic beast? I already know!"
"No Lord, it's worse."
"Worse? By the Divinities, what can be worse than a demonic beast rampaging through our Ling Clan."
"Lord, its-its Old Disaster King...He-He's come to visit."
"What, Zhao Chen from the Zhao Clan next door is here?"
Ling Ming's eyes constricted to small slits his cheeks twitched endlessly.
Was today the end of his Ling Clan?
With a small grim whisper he asked, "Did Old Disaster King state his purpose for visiting?"
"No Lord, but he's brought all Five Shadows, they are armed to the teeth. Lord, this-this may be our doomsday. Old Disaster King has brought his grandson"
Ling Ming stiffened and stumbled back. "Wait, did-did you just say..Small Disaster King was here as well?"
"ARRRRRGGHGH!!! Bring my heavy armor and halberd. This Old Man will fight to the death. Alert all the guards! Protect the Young Miss. Prepare for the worst!" ordered Ling Ming with blazing eyes.
"Indeed prepare for the worst, that damnable foul beast is a horror born of the deepest Nether Hell!" Yelled Zhao Chen busting through the door. Following behind him was Tian Cai surrounded by the Five Shadows.
Hand trembling with rage, Ling Ming pointed his sword at the boisterous intruder. "Zhao Chen, You..You dare break into my Ling Clan without permission?"
Seeing that Zhao Chen and the Five Shadows were in full battle armor, this indeed was the end of days. Ling Ming was about to unleash his aura of Martial King when a rancid smell infiltrated his nostrils.
His face filled with horror.
Was this some new killer move of Old Disaster King?
Realizing what Ling Ming's reaction was, Zhao Chen's face reddened with embarrassment.
Tian Cai stepped forward. Cupping his hands, he said, "Zhao Tian Cai sees Patriarch Ling. Forgive our intrusion. Grandfather detected the foul beast and so, we have come to investigate."
Ling Ming frantically pulled out a cloth and quickly covered his nose and mouth. With red watery eyes he asked, "If you come for the beast then-then why? Why attack our Ling Clan? What is this smell worse than rotting corpses?"
Zhao Chen stepped back. This?
Realizing his grandfather was unable to respond, Tian Cai offered an explanation. "This smell is..is...It's the lingering effect of the foulest of attacks by that demonic beast. As you can see, this attack is unlike anything encountered before."
Ling Ming's brow knitted with lines. "This smell is the lingering effect of an attack from the foul beast. Are you saying my Ling Clan will smell like this as well?"
Zhao Chen raising his giant spear, he said, "Humph! This Old Man will kill that Nether Hell Beast first!"
Chief Li stepped into the main hall with Tang Xifeng. "Patriarch, Vice Chief Guard Tang and I have mobilized all the guards. How should we proceed? Aiya! What's that smell?"
The pair stumbled back in horrid shock. Quickly, they pulled out cloths and covered their noses and mouths.
"This is from the remnant effect of that beast's attack. Pass my order, all Ling Clan guards shall protect themselves with masks," commanded Ling Ming.
Zhao Chen looked down at Tian Cai. "Grandson, doesn't the smell bother you?"
"It not that it doesn't. Actually, grandson has smelled worse." Unconsciously, he glanced down at his feet.
Everybody looked at Tian Cai in stupefaction.
He's actually smelled something worse.
Ling Ming's regained focus first as he recalled something important first.
"Fan'er!! Chief Li, where's my daughter!?"
This!
"Let's Go!!! Fan'er father will protect you!!!" screamed Ling Ming running out.
Follow!
Go!
After him!
Zhao Chen was still staring at Tian Cai, surrounded by the Five Shadows. "Cai'er the smell doesn't really bother you?"
"At most my nose tingles."
Zhao Chen patted Tian Cai's head. "You truly are a filial grandson."
"Mhm...but more importantly, didn't we come here to kill a beast?" curiously asked Tian Cai.
Zhao Chen jolted to reality. Raising his spear, he roared, "GOOO! Foul Beast, today you diieeeeeeee!!"
As the Ling and Zhao groups rushed out into the main courtyard, a guard came running out.
"Lord! Young Miss, she's been found at the training grounds."
"Training Grounds? Fan'er!! Father will save you!!!"
"Grandfather, Patriarch Ling has a daughter?" asked Tian Cai.
"Perhaps?" He turned to Fat Shadow. "Do you know?"
Fat Shadow coughed, "Grand Uncle, her name is Ling Fan and she should be 6 this year."
"What, how come this Old Man didn't know? He must have kept her hidden."
Fat Shadow caught Tian Cai looking at him. He shook his in negative and Tian Cai nodded in understanding.
"Hurry, they'll leave us behind," commanded Zhao Chen.
Soon everyone reached the training grounds and witnessed a strange sight.
Wearing her makeshift nose mask, a dainty 6 year old Ling Fan was waving a cane sword and chasing a pig. As Shensheng squealed and snorted wildly with wide bugging eyes, Ling Fan furiously yelled, "I'll cut you!!!"
With a swipe, the girl the barely missed slicing the tip of Shensheng's tail.
This?
"Chief Li, I know my Fan'er likes sweets but...Has she ever liked pork this much?" asked Ling Ming.
At the other end of training grounds Wang Chunhua and Wang Chuntao appeared. "You two!! Don't let her slip pass you!!
"Yes Young Miss!!" responded both Wang sisters.
"Grandfather what exactly are we seeing?" asked Tian Cai.
Zhao Chen was scratching his head as he attempted to analyze the situation.
Not hearing a response, Tian Cai turned to Fat Shadow who shrugged his shoulders. Signaling with his nose, he nudged towards Ling Ming.
Clearing his throat, Tian Cai asked, "Patriarch Ling, is this your daughter? May I ask what she's doing?"
This?
Nervously he chuckled, "Ah yes, that is Ling Fan my daughter. Daughter! Daughter! You can stop your training now."
Tian Cai's eyebrows inverted.
That's training?
"When I catch you, I'll eat me some pig feet," yelled Ling Fan.
"As you can she-she has a taste for pork. Vice Chief Tang, can you ask her to take a break."
Cupping her fists, Tang Yifeng said, "Yes Lord!". She ran out and appeared to be gliding across the field.
Zhao Chen's eyes narrowed. "Martial Master? Junior, I thought Chief Li was your Ling Clan's only Martial Master?"
"Old Disas...ahem Senior Chen. Due to the recent strange events, our Ling Clan has recruited more people."
"Strange events?" asked Tian Cai.
"Firstly is the recent theft of our Thousand Flowers Wine. Secondly, is that strange beast."
"Someone stole from you?"
"Somehow, someone or some persons was able to steal several jars of our Ling Clan's coveted wine. Damn. When my father hears about this, I'm sure hell return immediately."
"Ling Wenyan returning, what-what's this have to do with the wine theft?" asked Zhao Chen.
"My Father can only drink our Thousand Flower Wine in order to sleep. Now we have no more to send him due to promised orders."
"He can't sleep without drinking the Thousand Flower Wine, when-when will he return?"
"Calculating when I sent him his last supply, I suspect within the next few days,"
Zhao Chen's face blackened.
Did he cause the end of his own peaceful days?
"Young Miss!"
"Sister Tang, your here! Good! Help us catch this little monster."
"Young Miss, Patriarch Ling asks you take a break. He's here with guests."
"Guests??"
Suddenly, Ling Fan skidded to a halt. A she looked up, the cane sword spun in her hand. Sharply, she pulled it behind her and angled the blade to the sky.
Tian Cai stood in shock. This was a 6 year old girl? Wasn't she more like a future assassin? Unknowingly, Ling Fan had crouched to one knee balanced by a small dainty fist. Face half covered by a thick black cloth...indeed she looked like a miniature killer.
This?
Ling Ming started clapping, his eyes red with tears streaming down his cheek. "Chief Li, you see that? Doesn't my Fan'er look just like her mother. Wife, our daughter has grown up so well."
Chief Li nodded vigorously. "Indeed Lord, Young Miss is the spitting image of her mother."
Everyone looked strangely at Ling Ming.
Waving his hand, Ming Ling said, "Daughter, hurry here and meet our guests."
Ling Fan glared at Shensheng.
"You!"
"Since there's no more time to flower up, you'll just have to make do," said Shensheng.
"You!"
Shensheng snorted. "Everyone's waiting for you."
"Afterwards, you better be prepared to run," said Ling Fan.
"This Queen never runs. Smile a lot and charm him well."
Ling Fan's forehead knitted.
"What if I killed him. Then I'll be the only one you can accept as a disciple."
"Humph! Go ahead if you wanna break your promise to Ling Fan. The whole Ling Clan will die. Two years ago, someone angered his great grandmother by hitting him. With a flick of a finger, she lit that person up like a tree."
"Like a tree..Impossible?"
"Here, this Queen will pass a memory to you."
In Ling Fan's mind, a scene unfolded. In the shadowy night, a man was kneeling and sobbing miserably on the ground. Ling Fan saw Zhao Chen and an elderly lady. She hobbled forward.
"Son is this person the one that pushed our Tian Cai on the street."
"Yes Mother."
"Where's is Wen'er?"
"Daughter? Ah, she-she just went to wipe out his nine generations."
In the distance, an explosion lit the sky.
"Ah! I think that's her Heavenly Sun Slicer."
"Junior, now that we let you live long enough to witness the annihilation of your clan. Humph! Now you know, no one hurts our Tian Cai," said the elderly lady. Flicking her finger, he screamed horribly as his body erupted in a pillar of flames."
Another explosion erupted in the distant night sky.
"Chen'er?"
"Someone else must've joined the battle."
"Humph! Kill them all," said the old woman.
The memory faded away. Ling Fan's face blanched white.
"One question, who is this Wen'er, the one with the Heavenly Sun Slicer?"
"That's Zhao Wen, the Sun Sword Goddess Empyrean. She's Tian Cai's mother."
"His-His Mother?"
"Mhm."
"Was that the power of an Empyrean?" said Ling Fan.
Shensheng grunted, "Both she and that granny are peak Empyreans."
"Either one could crush my dad without blinking. What about my grandfather?"
"Ling Wenyan? He might last one breath."
"Power, I need more power."
"We're here. Compose yourself well," said Shensheng, as the two arrived in front of the group. Behind Ling Fan appeared the Wang sisters and Tang Zifeng.
"Everyone this is Ling Fan, our Ling Clan's little genius," proudly introduced Ling Ming.
"Little Genius? Are you comparing her to our Tian Cai." asked Zhao Chen.
Ling Fan stood facing Tian Cai.
She's smiled sheepishly.
Isn't he just an adorable little boy? Look at his pudgy face. How come his eyes are multi-colored? What about him says genius?
Tian Cai looked at Ling Fan with a shiver. Everything about her said future little killer. Black mask covering her mouth and nose. Fierce eyes with her mouth forming a maniacal laughing shape through that same mask. Yep, this was a little psycho he needed to avoid in the future.
"That's it girl. Keep smiling...charm him a few more moments then you propose to him," said Shensheng.
Ling Fan cracked her knuckles, glaring down at the Divine Pig.
Tian Cai gasped.
Evil Eye!!! It's the ojo. She has the evil eye! Oh my f*cking god. I will have to kill her in the future.*1
Ling Ming patted Ling Fan's head, causing her to scrunch her eyes. "Senior Chen, you should know, my Fan'er just broke through to Martial Adept," proudly said Ling Ming.
"Eh!! Fat Shadow, didn't you just say she was six years old?" asked Zhao Chen.
"Yes Uncle," replied Fat Shadow.
"How about your Tian Cai, has his cultivation been tested yet," inquired Ling Ming to Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen sheepishly scratched his head. "This?"
"Patriarch Ling, this one is barely a marital initiate. I just started cultivating recently," said Tian Cai.
"Funny that you say that Child. Not only is Ling Fan a Martial Adept, but she has successfully inherited our family's great legacy. And...and she just started cultivating two days ago."
"He just a martial initiate and just recently started cultivating. You want this genius as your disciple," asked Ling Fan to Shensheng.
"He not so simple child. It'll be the death of the Ling Clan if you provoke him. The likes of you can't determine his fate."
"Genius this..Genius that. Where I come from, only one person determines your fate. Yourself. I crawled out of the gutter on my own two knees. I climbed my way to become The Cutter, my gang was the largest and most dangerous in the area. I was my own f*cking Queen."
"Humph! Didn't you die?"
"Grandfather, Patriarch Ling, what are we all doing here. What about that foul beast?" asked Tian Cai.
"Foul Beast," roared Zhao Chen, furiously glaring up in to the sky.
"Ah that beast! Fan'er did you encounter that beast. Senior Chen here, in fact, earlier we all sensed the demon beast's aura here."
Wang Chunhua, stepped forward cupping her hands. "Patriarch, Senior Chen. In fact, we Wang sisters felt that demon's killing intent in Young Miss's residence."
"Fan'er is this true?" asked Ling Ming.
Gritting her teeth, she nodded an affirmative while glaring at Shensheng.
"Daughter, you and Small Disas..ahem.. Young Zhao stay here. Father and Senior Chen will ferret out this foul beast. Go Go Go!"
Everyone rushed away leaving behind the pair. Small and Gray Shadows stood behind Tian Cai. While Wang Chunhua and Chuntao stood behind Ling Fan. Between the two groups, was Shensheng.
Tian Cai jumbled his fingers.
Why did he have to be left alone with the Evil Eyed Little Killer.
Ling Fan scrutinized the little 5 year old boy closely.
What kind of f*cking genius are you?
Wang Chuntao whispered into Ling Fan's ear. "Young Miss, perhaps we can invite him to main hall for tea and-and snacks?"
Wang Chunhua elbowed her younger sister. "You'll be able to eat later."
"But earlier we didn't even get to finish our meal."
Small Shadow whispered into Tian Cai's ear, "Younger Brother, are you sure Old Master will be fine by himself?"
Gray Shadow pinched Small Shadows side. "Fool. Isn't our father with the Old Master. Wouldn't Old and Young Matriarchs wipe him to the floor if he let something happen to the Old Master. Just focus on protecting the Youngest Master. Otherwise, the ones on the floor will be us."
Ling Fan was about to invite Tian Cai to tea when Shensheng said, "I need you to provide a distraction."
"Distraction?"
"This Queen will finally test this genius."
"Test?"
"Distract now!!!"
Ling Fan pointed in sky, "In the clouds! It's that that foul beast!"
The shadows surrounded Tian Cai as the Wang sisters surrounded Ling Fan.
Weng! Weng! Weapons were immediately drawn out and gleaming metal flashed in the sunlight. While everyone scanned the sky searching, Shensheng made her move.
Tian Cai heard a snorting and felt a thumping on his thigh. Frowning he looked down and..and his eyes popped open in shock.
Oh my F*cking…don't tell me this pig is humping my leg? What the F*ck!