As soon as his words fell, the pressure in the air around them decreased. Sharply.
Li Xinyuan raised his eyes and looked into her directly. This was disrespectful and downright discourteous, yet he was doing so because this was what his aunt wanted to see.
Li Jinhua, the Divine Phoenix, wanted to test his courage. His willingness to fight against unfavourable conditions.
The pressure on his body increased. The veins in his hands popped up as he gripped the armrest of the chair and resisted her power.
He couldn't help but draw in a ragged breath. Sure enough, this was the difference between a supporting character and a minorest of the minor characters
Moments seemed to drag on for ours, cold sweat trickling down his back as Li Xinyuan continued to resist his aunt without saying a word or making a single sound.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Li Jinhua relented. As soon as the pressure was lifted off his body, Li Xinyuan coughed into his fist, taking a deep breath as he looked at his aunt.
"Have you tested me enough, Auntie?" He couldn't help but ask, voice turning hoarse. Li Jinhua frowned at him before her frown changed into a singular raised eyebrow.
"Yes… what a surprise, Xinyuan. You resisted the force large enough to bring any peak-level First-class Warrior to their knees."
Li Xinyuan breathed out a sigh of relief as he wiped the sweat on his brows.
"However," Li Jinhua continued, staring down at him critically. "It doesn't mean that you are any better than them. In fact, in terms of martial arts alone — excluding your Qi — even a Second-rate warrior can beat you up."
Immediately, Li Xinyuan choked, unable to say a word of protest. "..."
His aunt was correct in some — if not all — senses. She was right in saying that his martial arts was basically shit right now. His physical strength might be good overall, but it didn't mean that his martial arts were better.
"Thus, I've decided…" Li Jinhua drawled, leaning forward as she propped her chin on her fist. Li Xinyuan closed his eyes, thinking of various ways to convince his aunt. "... You will be training with Hu Lijing until my departure. If, till then you are unable to reach at least the peak of First-rate warriors in terms of martial arts, then I shall not allow you to set foot in Jianghu. Am I clear, nephew?"
Li Xinyuan's eyes widened at her words as his lowered head snapped up, elation took over his heart as he nodded, aggressively. "Yes, Auntie. This disciple is eternally grateful for your generosity, master!" He cupped his hands in front of him and saluted her.
Li Jinhua looked up at him, amusement swam in her eyes as she grumbled, half-heartedly. "Sure enough, this brat… Only calling me master when I do something for you. Now roll!"
Obediently, Li Xinyuan rolled out, metaphorically, of course.
His robes fluttered gracefully as he followed the wind to return to his room with a blissfully unaware and breathtaking smile on his face.
Alas, poor man. He knew nothing of what hell awaited him for the next month.
Well, even if he did know, what would he do? He had no choice or say whatsoever.
After confirming that her nephew had gone away completely, Li Jinhua fixed her expression and took on a cold look as she opened her mouth.
"Hu Lijing."
Instantly, the man who had been called appeared seemingly out of thin air.
"Yes, Divine Phoenix?" He said, back straight and having none of the servile attitude a servant would have towards his master. His eyelids drooped as he stared down at her.
"I'm aware that you heard my conversation with Xinyuan. Hence, I trust that you know what I expect of you," Li Jinhua squinted at him, unperturbed. Her hand went under her desk as she pulled open a drawer and a pouch from it. "I also trust you to make good use of this stone with Xinyuan. Use it the best way possible, Hu Lijing. It is, after all, a treasure of my clan."
Hu Lijing received the pouch and stared at him, his gaze seemed to be condescending as he turned on his heels and left with a careless hum. "Very well, for the sake of my oath. I shall do what I must."
As the man reached the door, Li Jinhua called out from behind her desk, her voice was neither too loud nor too soft.
"Oh, and make sure to show no mercy whatsoever, I expect the best from Xinyuan and you."
Hu Lijing's indifferent features melted slightly as his lips curved upwards into a smile. "I do not show mercy unless I have to, Divine Phoenix. You know it well."
"..."
Meanwhile, a shiver crawled down Li Xinyuan's spine who was meditating in his room. An uncontrollable sneeze followed.
"Bless me," he muttered, rubbing his nose. "Who's talking shit about me behind my back?"
'I can't help but feel like something bad is going to happen to me.' He thought, silently as he drifted deeper into the sea of his consciousness while meditating.
…
Something bad did happen. In fact, it was something worse.
For the next months, every waking hour of Li Xinyuan's life was spent repeating the same course of action.
Wake up, train, eat, train, hospital, treat patients, train, train, train until you collapse. And repeat.
Easy as that. Figuratively at least.
As the surgeon walked up the ragged paths of the mountain, shoulders weighed down by immense weight as he carried it up and downhill, sweat trickling down his naked torso as he gritted his teeth.
"Hu Lijing and Auntie," he gasped, running uphill with all his might. "Monsters, the both of you!"
"Is that an insult, Master?" Hu Lijing asked as he followed the surgeon leisurely using his Qingong. Li Xinyuan's head snapped in the direction of his voice.
"Shut up!"
Hu Lijing chuckled, palm facing the sky as his amber eyes gleamed menacingly. "Dodge, Master."
An ominous tingle went down his spine as Li Xinyuan gripped the weight on his shoulder and jumped, leaping away just in time to evade a burning ball of Qi that sent the surrounding tree up in flames.
"You've gotten faster, Master," the man smiled sweetly. "Now, after this, we shall fight. If you can hold your ground and win against me in a best of three, then you are officially at the peak of First-rate warriors."
Li Xinyuan rolled his eyes and bit back a sneer as he used his Qingong and leapt through the thicket mountain with Qi powering his steps.
"I freaking abhor you."
"Oh no, you don't, Master."