It was neither from her father nor from Liuxian, but from somebody else she had not seen in a long time and actually welcomed.
She opened the chat-window and a name appeared on the top reading 'Tang Tang.' The person's real name was Wie Xiongtang. Luo Si closest and only real friend.
She read the message. 'Hi bestie, I heard what happened, but don't hang the head. How about we go to the mall and crazily shop. But not right now, I still have to help my father at home. I have read that there is gonna be a big sale in 2 weeks. BTW, did you play the new game that came out? What am I tipping? Everybody talks about nothing else. I am in the Zhao village, or that's what it's called at least. Dumb, that we didn't end up in the same cage. I'm still at the beginning though, but I'm training hard. Tang Tang out.'
The message had dispelled the heavy mood. It did not last long and vanished the next second when Luo Si recalled how Xiongtang had died in her previous life. Tang Tang was a kind person. Too kind, as her soul got obliterated when she had been helping another earthling escaping his doom. The man had made use her kindness, making her pay the price.
Sigh* "There is just no place for the kind. Hmm, Zhao village is a bit too far away for now. I should focus on myself. If I really have spare time, I might give her a hand, but it would be best if she herself realizes that kindness is nothing but a tool for others."
She threw away her worries and went to bed.
The next day passed without disruption, just the usual beating.
"En, I should be ready tomorrow." Luo Si said to herself while counting 80 new silver coins in her hands.
The following day, at the martial camp.
" Will she never fall?" Everybody was lying on the ground to rest.
Luo SI could feel her fragile, yet vigorous, body getting a sturated reaction.
It was kind of getting a routine when suddenly a howl came. "Did you do this?" A long shadow, from a boy in his peak puberty and thick eyebrows standing on the gate, was casted.
Luo Si raised an eye brow when she looked at the new face.
He jumped down from the 3 meter tall contruct, creating a light shockwave.
"OMG, is that Min Mei Bing. He came out last in the junior tournament last time and has crazily trained ever since. Maybe he can do it."
"I heard he trained the dragon fire fist set like no tomorrow."
Luo Si did not even get a chance to clear up the confusion as Mei Bing snorted. "Hmph, there is no denial of your wickedness, even if you are a girl. I shall beat it out of you!"
She did not care about the misunderstanding and let the non-verbal follow up speak for itself.
"Take this, wild fire fist."
"En, the strength should be good enough." Luo Si had a smile on her face seeing the punch incoming.
Bang*
Fist against fist collided. Luo Si slid back 2 meters. It was the first time she had been made retreat so far. 'Strong.' This clash was the strongest her body had physically withstood.
"Did you see that?"
"As expected of a madman like Mei Bing. Only he can teach her the place she belongs to."
Luo Si needed to use the healing technique, because not only was her opponents attack strong, it also carried a heating energy with it.
"Even 'that' is not of much help in this situation. It's good though, or else this fight would be over too soon."
"You are pretty strong for a martial learner of the first level, but that was only the first form, Hah!" It was a first for Mei Bing to see the dragon fire fist countered by a foundation technique.
'Furious fire fist.'
Luo Si evaded the fist. The incoming attack emitted a heat way stronger than the previous one. The previous fire fist had already been her limit. Surely, she wanted to grind, but that fist would damage her body and ruin her chance.
She kicked at his chest, but the damage was kept at a minimum since her strength was far below his.
Pa* Pa* Pa*
Fists and kicks were exchanged between the two, wearing both fighters down. With every brush Luo Si felt her cup reaching its limits. Only a paper-thin barrier stopped her from going further beyond.
"Wild fire fist!"
"Chance!"
Luo Si opened her defense and welcomed the heating fist, planting itself right on her abdomen.
"Hah!"
An explosion sent both fighters 4 meters backwards. Mei Bing was shocked when Luo Si suddenly opened her defense and let him pass through. But he was even more surprised that his charge was reflected upon contact.
The others had the same expression on their face when they saw Min Mei Bing on the ground.
Dust settled, revealing Luo Si standing. The center of her shirt was ripped by a big hole, showing a red hand print on her stomach slowly disappearing.
"Mm…" Her upper back was tilted, barely holding in the satisfaction. She felt a second bigger cup forming around the first cup. A deep breath wandered into her body, filling the second cup with qi when the first container was brimming. "Good, the second stage is reached. I can now enter the library."
'Finally. My headaches were nearly killing me.' In addition to the breakthrough, her headaches had lessened greatly too.
Mei Bing looked at his fist in daze, not expecting to be pushed back after hitting Luo Si.
Luo SI had reached the camp's Gate, when her opponent sobered up. "Don't think you have won. I will train harder and await you at the tournament."
Luo Si did not listen to what he said, but looked at a certain hill close by. Fu Hantian was standing on it with a bright smile and excused her. "Come over when you have finished your business."
Wuying was a bit shocked when he saw his uncle looking directly at him afterwards, when tracing his servants look.
A calling resounded in his head. He had a bad feeling about what would happen next.
Kuilei appeared half a minutes later at the martial camp. "Hah, ~Luo Si, meet your maker. Cause I Kuilei have awakened." His expression change when he couldn't find Luo Si, but was greeted by a heated fist. Nearly breaking his jaw as he was bashed away.
"Hmph, if you mean that girl, then get in line. The strong come first." Mei Bing said impatient. Pissed off that his declaration had been taken lightly. Hitting the newcomer in result of a concussion on the head.