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Chapter 10: Moving
Nangong Ya stared at Yang Xie, her eyes wide in disbelief. She couldn't comprehend what she was seeing.
She knew that Yang Xie's martial soul was a D-level shadow warrior, but what about the sudden appearance of these Hundred Shadow Warriors? How could they materialize so easily after his awakening? Moreover, why were they able to swiftly defeat five alien beast wolves without breaking a sweat?
Wasn't Yang Xie's awakening the same as hers just yesterday? Was this world going mad, or was she?
Her mind raced with confusion as she tried to process everything.
Yang Xie, on the other hand, couldn't have been happier. The shadow soldiers were undeniably powerful, but what shocked him even more was when he activated his talent, Devouring Shadow.
Yang Xie could clearly feel his shadow soldiers growing stronger. The alien beast wolf whose shadow was consumed began to shrink rapidly, eventually reducing to a pile of melted bones. The process also empowered his shadow soldiers. The more shadows they devoured, the stronger they became. This feedback strengthened his Devouring Shadow ability, allowing him to grow even more powerful. It was like opening a door to a new world of possibilities.
Yang Xie wasted no time and ordered his shadow soldiers to devour the remaining four alien wolves' shadows.
Once they were consumed, Yang Xie mentally dismissed the Hundred Shadow Warriors. As his body grew stronger from the shadows he absorbed, the Fu Tu Xuan Gong began to automatically circulate within him. Meanwhile, his shadow soldiers were training in the martial soul space within the Divine Court.
"Yang Xie, are you okay?" Nangong Ya asked, her voice full of concern.
Yang Xie, grinning from ear to ear, quickly reassured her, "I'm fine. Nothing's wrong."
He turned his attention to a tree blocking the road ahead. Ten shadow soldiers sprang into action, clearing the path with ease. He then turned to Nangong Ya.
"Let's head home quickly. I haven't seen alien beasts this close to home before, and I'm worried something might be wrong at my place."
Nangong Ya, sensing his urgency, didn't question him. She stepped on the gas, speeding down the road. Though the road conditions weren't ideal, Nangong Ya drove with impressive skill, and they reached the village in under six minutes.
As they entered the area, the dilapidated buildings and streets stood as a reminder of the village's age. Yang Xie's home was one of these old structures.
Relieved to find that his house remained intact and untouched by the alien beasts, Yang Xie let out a sigh of relief. The danger had not yet reached this area.
After navigating through several streets, they finally arrived at the deepest alley, where Yang Xie's home stood— a simple brick and tile house with one floor. Though it appeared worn and shabby, it was kept neat and tidy. Inside, Yang Xie's grandmother, Yang Po, could be seen moving about.
Yang Xie called out loudly, "Grandma, I'm home! And Xiao Ya is here too!"
Despite the recent encounter with alien beasts, Yang Xie's tone was calm, almost as if nothing unusual had happened. His grandmother's presence had always brought him comfort, and it was easy to return to his carefree demeanor.
Not knowing whether his grandmother had heard him, Nangong Ya shot him a playful look and rolled her eyes. She blushed slightly but didn't protest.
As Nangong Ya unloaded bags of groceries from the car, Yang Xie's grandmother, Yang Po, came out to greet them. She had half-white hair, a thin frame, and wore simple linen clothes. Despite her age, her bright eyes exuded strength and capability. She had always been a reliable and energetic woman.
"You're back, Xiao Xie! And Xiao Ya too! I haven't seen you in so long. It's so good to have you both here," Grandma Yang Po exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy.
"Grandma, Xiao Ya and I brought some supplements for you. You've been unwell, so you need to take better care of yourself," Yang Xie said as he and Nangong Ya placed the supplements inside.
"Xiao Xie, Xiao Ya, you're too kind. It warms my heart to see you both thinking of me. Since you're here, let me cook you a nice meal," Grandma Yang Po said, smiling with affection.
"Perfect. I'm starving," Yang Xie responded. He'd been so caught up in training his shadow soldiers that he had neglected to eat. "I'll go wash the vegetables."
"I bought some exotic pork today. It'll make a great addition to the meal," Nangong Ya said as she pulled out several pounds of exotic meat from the car.
"Exotic beast meat? You're really wasting money on this," Grandma Yang Po remarked, shaking her head.
"It's not a waste, Grandma. The meat from exotic beasts can strengthen the body. It's good for everyone, even if they aren't warriors. It's good for your health too," Nangong Ya insisted. "Besides, Yang Xie and I can both eat a lot of it. If it's not enough, I can buy more."
Grandma Yang Po looked at her with surprise. "Xiao Ya, did you and Xiao Xie both awaken your martial souls?"
"Yes, Grandma. Yang Xie has a D-level martial soul talent. He's incredibly strong now. He'll become a powerful warrior in the future."
Grandma Yang Po's face brightened. "That's wonderful! Xiao Xie has had a tough life. If I hadn't found him when he was abandoned, he might not have made it through. Now that he has awakened his martial soul, all his suffering is behind him. I really want to tell his parents and see how regretful they are."
Yang Xie's heart stirred at the mention of his parents. Though they had abandoned him, his grandmother had always been there for him. He didn't feel any bitterness toward his biological parents.
"No, Grandma. You and I are all the family I need now," Yang Xie said firmly.
Nangong Ya, standing by, looked at Yang Xie with compassion. "Xiao Xie, I'll always be here for you too."
At that moment, Yang Xie was in the kitchen, cooking with his usual fervor. As he prepared the meal, he received a message from Principal Wang on his personal warrior terminal.
"Student Yang Xie, I've arrived at the location you sent. I see the remains of the alien beasts. You did well. I've already informed the Warriors Association to investigate this incident further."
Yang Xie glanced at the message. He didn't want to worry his grandmother, so he quickly typed back: "Sorry, Principal."
Meanwhile, Principal Wang stood by the roadside, staring at the alien beast corpses. His thoughts were troubled.
"Principal, is this the warrior who saved them?" one of his colleagues asked.
"In less than a quarter of an hour since we received the news and arrived, have you seen any other warriors?" Principal Wang replied.
"Then what's going on?"
"There are traces of dark attributes here. It seems like student Yang Xie has awakened a dark attribute technique," Principal Wang pondered aloud.
As Yang Xie worked in the kitchen, he thought about the future. While the alien beasts hadn't arrived in his village yet, the danger was still too close for comfort. He couldn't shake the worry about his grandmother being here alone.
It was clear: his grandmother had to move.
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