"Do you feel better?" Taken Myah back into the house, Mu Suyin asked as she lay him to rest on the bed.
Despite the morning sunlight, it was still cold outside, especially when the wind blew; it would get even colder.
The exercise had Myah's body soaked with sweat, and staying out for too long would make it easy for him to get sick as he was not yet a cultivator.
"Grandma, I'm fine...ha...only a little tire."
"Long ago... I could run a lot. This little practice is nothing to me." Lying on the bed, Myah relaxed his body and tried to stabilize his disordered breathing.
"After a while, I will get better, and we can continue again."
Observing Myah's weak smile, Mu Suyin nodded her head in approval. While it's a good sign that he wants to work hard. However, she still refused and told him to stay put.
"No, your body training is done for today. It's not a good thing to overexert yourself." Wiping the sweat on Myah's face, Mu Suyin then takes out a low-grade Spirit Stone and places it into his hand. "Rest well. When you recover, take this Spirit Stone and cultivate."
"Do you know how to meditate and absorb the Spirit Stone's spiritual energy?" she asked.
"I do! Mama also gave me a Spirit Stone before." While holding onto the low-grade Spirit Stone and feeling the familiar sensation running through his body, Myah responded with delight.
"It shines with beautiful color..."
Then, while caressing the Spirit Stone in his hand, the last moment spent with his mother, Hannah, played inside little Myah's mind.
With a broken voice, he asked her in a faint whisper. "Grandma, Myah can't see...Can you tell me if this Spirit Stone is also as beautiful?"
"..."
"Grandma doesn't know... Everyone's views are different even when they look at the same thing, but you could try to imagine what it looks like." Pinching Myah's cheek, Mu Suyin smiled.
After putting a blanket over Myah's body, she stands up and prepares to leave the room. "Well, it's almost noon already; grandma will go and make congee. It will be done in a bit."
"Rainbow Fish Congee?"
"Of course."
__
In another part of the village,
Old Fei was wearing his usual brown fur coat and is sat on Blackie's back as it took a nap in front of the house.
For exercise purposes, the old chief has already told the children to clear all the snow in his front yard away so they could have a spot to train.
At the moment, dozens of children were gathered together and are currently practicing their village's martial art.
Facing the sunlight, everyone was moving their body tirelessly with a determined expression.
Hmph and ha noises resounded throughout the area.
It's a widespread belief that in the early morning, just before the crack of dawn, the world's energy would be more abundant and lively—an ideal time to practice.
Since it's almost midday, the children could go back and have lunch and do whatever they want.
As Old Fei's bright eyes scan over the group of children and the large pile of snow in the distance, he laughs in satisfaction. 'What a sensible bunch, my old bones wouldn't even have to work in the future.'
After taking a deep breath, Old Fei roared out loudly. "Alright, children! Can you smell it? The smell of food is in the air! Are you hungry?!"
"Yes, we are hungry!" Drenched in sweat, the group of children loudly replied.
"If you are hungry, then practice for five more reps, and our morning practice is over!"
The group of children responds with their actions. The hmph and ha sound becomes louder and more powerful.
After giving out the instructions to the kids, Old Fei switched his gaze to the sleeping Blackie. It was snoring very rudely. With the wooden cane, he knocked its head.
Nock!
"Big guy, wake up!"
"..."
"Hey!"
But, seeing that it remains steady like a rock, the old chief's eyebrows jerk slightly. He knocked Blackie's head again, though this time, it was a little harder than before.
NOCK!
"..."
Just before he could give it a third knock, Blackie snored and rolled to the side of its body, making Old Fei fall to the ground with a dull thud. It was as if something had broken inside him.
The group of children paused; they looked over and were trying very hard to hold back their laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"Grandpa chief, you gave Blackie so little food now it doesn't even have the strength to get up anymore."
"Yeah, now Blackie needs to sleep. You shouldn't disturb its rest."
"What are you little monkeys doing? Shut up and continue to train!" Fuming, Old Fei gets up angrily while rubbing his back.
"Tsk! Sleep all you want; there will be no extra dried fish for you later. Don't come begging when you are hungry." Not bothered with Blackie anymore, Old Fei walked away.
However, after a few steps, he turned back and looked at the group of laughing children one more time. "If I caught any of you slack off, there would be no lunch for today!"
And immediately, as if struck by lightning, the children stopped their laughing session and began training diligently like never before.
"Ha, that's what I thought!" He smirked.
__
Old Fei arrived at the village's entrance and asked, "Cal, did you prepare everything?"
Sitting on a bullock cart, Cal replied casually, "Yes, chief. I already prepared everything needed for the trip."
"That's good." Old Fei nodded before taking out a gold coins pouch from his fur coat and tossing it over. "Take this; there are ten gold coins inside. When you arrive at Yellow Town, trade for some food, salts, and candies for the children, it has been a long time since they have had some."
"And most importantly, don't forget to report to the Adventure Association about the matter regarding the Demon Beast." Stroking his unkempt beard, Old Fei sighed. "As it's winter, some people could be desperate... Be careful on your way to the town."
This time, the matter about the Demon Beast is crucial to their survival. Although Old Jack wanted to go to the town himself, he couldn't afford to leave the village at this moment.
Blackie, his War Soul, was the strongest force guarding their village.
If he leaves now and the Demon Beasts come to attack later, the consequence would be dreadful.
As for Cal, he was the most suitable candidate for this mission since his War Soul was a Rank 1 Single Horned Oxen of the fire attribute. With its robust body and minor flame release from its hoof. The snow on the road would be melted away, making the town trip much easier and faster.
Waving his hand, Old Fei spoke. "Alright, I'm not going to nag on you anymore. Go, you should make it before nightfall."
"Don't worry, Old Chief; we will be back in a few days." After reassuring the old man, Cal lifted his son Pickle onto the back of the bullock cart.
It's not every day that they get to go to the town; he wants his son to see a few new things.
"Father, we going now?" Pickle, the chubby boy, asked.
"Yeah, sit tight." After finishing his words, Cal signaled to his War Soul to move.
The two-meter tall, Late-stage, Rank 1 Single Horned Oxen began to march away. Its huge greyish body was full of stone-like muscle while also radiating with brute strength and heat.
"Moooo!"
While standing at the village's entrance, Old Fei watched their silhouette slowly disappear to the horizon. Then, after taking a sip of wine, he turned back and left.
"Damn, my back is still hurt."