Fully Loaded; Goodbye! . . .
The hawk acknowledged Cha Eun Xiao with a nod and flapped its wings enthusiastically. Holding the book in its beak, it presented it to Cha Eun Xiao as if completing a formidable mission. Its exuberant cries seemed to echo across the sky.
As Cha Eun Xiao opened the book, he saw four words emblazoned on its pages: "Sword Art of Stars." However, before he could delve deeper into its contents, the book transformed into a stream of light, infiltrating his mind. Suddenly, Cha Eun Xiao found himself immersed in a spiritual realm, witnessing a man wielding a sword. The blade, illuminated with a brilliant blue radiance, was the Stars Sword.
The man held the sword aloft, staring at its tip. He calmly explained, "I created the Sword Art of Stars. I envision this technique as stars in the night sky—each sword strike bringing tranquility to the world, stunning demons, and altering the very fabric of space."
He demonstrated the first technique with slow, deliberate movements, revealing its intricacies. Mesmerized, Cha Eun Xiao stood transfixed.
After a prolonged period, the initial move concluded, and Cha Eun Xiao awoke, his face throbbing with pain. The sensation of being slapped was his wake-up call.
His initial fury subsided as he gazed into the eyes of his faithful companion, Erhuo, who sat before him, determinedly using its adorable paws to continue the rapid series of slaps. Despite the initial annoyance, Cha Eun Xiao couldn't stay angry for long. Instead, he erupted into laughter.
"Slapping me? You little rascal, are you trying to get me killed?" He grabbed Erhuo and playfully chastised it. Their bond transcended the roles of master and pet. They were inseparable partners.
However, Erhuo's frustration was palpable as it let out a series of indignant meows, gesturing to explain its actions. Cha Eun Xiao finally understood. He had been lost in the spiritual mind for three whole days, captivated by the Stars Sword's mystical display, and Erhuo's attempts to rouse him had gone unnoticed.
Cha Eun Xiao recognized the purity of Erhuo's intentions. Despite their slight altercation, they shared a heartfelt moment, and Cha Eun Xiao gently consoled his dear feline friend.
In the end, Erhuo was a peerless spiritual beast of unparalleled stature. A moment of weakness wouldn't diminish its greatness.
"I understand," Cha Eun Xiao assured Erhuo. "You were concerned about me, and I appreciate it. However, next time, try something gentler than slapping me."
Erhuo stared at Cha Eun Xiao, seemingly at a loss for words.
As their bond was restored, the hawk approached, and its scornful gaze fell upon Erhuo. It scoffed, indicating that it had been correct about Cha Eun Xiao all along.
However, Erhuo wasn't ready to let go of its pride. It sprang into action, pouncing on the hawk with astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, it landed on the hawk's head and unleashed a barrage of tiny punches.
The hawk cried out, begging for mercy. Cha Eun Xiao intervened to prevent a full-blown brawl, but the intense stares of the two animals lingered, their mutual fury unrelenting.
"When you feel that confident, give me a try in the sky," the hawk challenged.
"Remember this," Erhuo shot back, "I'll beat you so thoroughly that you'll be begging for mercy, or I'll call you my ancestor!"
Their fierce rivalry settled into an uneasy silence, each creature unwilling to concede defeat. The hawk, a formidable presence in Qing-Yun Realm, hesitated to engage further. In the end, they parted ways with an unresolved tension between them.
...
Cha Eun Xiao had spent a full week on the mysterious mountain.
As the day of his departure neared, the hawk displayed a reluctance to see him go. It accompanied Cha Eun Xiao to the foot of the mountain but remained steadfast in its desire for him to stay.
With a gentle touch to its head, Cha Eun Xiao expressed, "If you're finding it hard to say goodbye, why don't you come with me to the martial world?"
This act of affection had become a daily ritual between them. The hawk had grown accustomed to Cha Eun Xiao's tenderness, a gesture it now enjoyed. On the other hand, Erhuo, who was observing this exchange, couldn't help but feel slighted. "He used to touch only me with such care and love. Now, he's doing it to that silly hawk too. This is outrageous!"
In response, the hawk cooed mournfully. It shook its massive head and extended three feathers from its wing to create a waving motion.
Cha Eun Xiao was puzzled by this gesture. "What does it mean? Is it talking about time? Three days? Three months? Three years? Perhaps thirty years? But it can't be three hundred years..." He ventured a guess, albeit without much certainty.
Erhuo, growing impatient with the hawk's vague communication, acted as the intermediary between them. With a series of meows, it attempted to convey the hawk's message.
After deciphering the exchange, Cha Eun Xiao finally grasped the hawk's intentions. The golden hawks of old had left behind various legacies for their descendant. Despite its current strength, it had yet to master all of these gifts. In truth, it was still in its developmental stage and required an additional three years to reach full maturity.
Until then, it couldn't leave its home. Even though it possessed great power, it was unable to summon lightning strikes beyond the boundaries of its current territory. This skill was pivotal to its future, making it essential to master before venturing elsewhere.