The Family Tournament (1/4)

Hours passed after the grand opening of Papa's Pizzeria and many customers came. Both the first floor and second floor were filled. Shen Yue now had a steady income of demon spirit coins, he didn't need to relay on the Shen Family (sacred family) to give him money, from now on he could make money everday and in quantities of thousands.

But this slightly felt like cheating, he originally wanted to work as a forger and sell weapons and inscriptions for a living. He wanted to have a fun way of earning money, putting all his own effort to maintain his pathetic little life.

Shen Yue noticed the fools that were bullying Niu Wang before heading inside the store, Shen Yue went to the counter to talk to Niu Wang.

"Little fatty, when they try to bully you just tell the security to throw them away, okay" said Shen Yue as he walked away. Before going away, Sen Yue stayed to watch the scene unfold before him.

"Little fat King, I didn't know your royal ass was working as a clerk in such a sweet store. How about this, you give us free food and we'll not beat you up how about it?" said the leader.

Niu Wang was conflicted, he was bullied by these kids most of his life and never disobeyed him because he was afraid of the pain he received. But now that he had a powerful person behind him to protect him he felt like he actually was a king. He gained a boost to his confidence and self esteem and was courageous to respond with passion.

"I'm sorry brother but I cannot. You will have to pay to eat the pizza." said Niu Wang

"Wha-!! Rhh! Damn, okay! I'll pay for the pizza ignore what I said, at least you grew some balls little fat king. But don't be so smugg and laugh at me, I hate that pathetic face of yours..." said the leading kid, the two boys by his side had hands on his side.

"I want to ask you something? Why do you act tough? What use is acting tough if you hurt innocent people, don't you feel sorry for your victims that you bully?" asked Niu Wang with a slight depressed tone, the leader Li Chum and Niu Wang were separated by the counter.

"Why you ask?...Because the strong can survive, the weak get trampled upon, no one will ever consider saving you. People only want to benefit at the cost of someone else's suffering. Just like my dad! He lost a foot whilst fighting a three star gold rank demon beast because his teammate used him as bait to kill the beast. This world sucks, I hate it, I hate you!" said Li Chum coldly showing his hate for the world.

What looked like a little bastard scum that would be cannon fodder for heroes turned so deep, how could a little kid say something so deep and real. This made Shen Yue realise something, the novels never show the perspective of the scum, they never tell you why just that they do bad things because the sake of it. Bullshit! Every soul was born pure and innocent yet this world taints and corrupts their little minds, why would you want to hurt someone just for nothing? why commit injustice? There is a reason for everything but simply put it, the authors were too lazy to say the reason why.

The people in the first story also heard what he said and kept quiet trying to remember their tragic memories and experiences of other people close to them.

'WOW! My mind is blown! I wonder...what was the previous Shen Yue's reason for being a scumbag. He wouldn't do it for the sake of it, his family was smart so he had to be too.'

Shen Yue decided to walk up to Li Chum, who saw him few feet away as Shen Yue started walking towards him, he felt slightly anxious as this was the guy that kicked his ass. His body stiffened slightly, he was preparing to fight any second now.

"Although, I partially agree with you. I also disagree with you, not all people are heartless! There will always be someone to help you out, I can help you, if you are willing to change your ways then I can turn you from a sad pigeon into a vigorous phoenix. Want to be my friend." said Shen Yue as he reached his hand out to see if Li Chum was willing to accept.

"Really, Can you change the world?! Can you return my fathers foot?!" shouted Li Chum.

"I believe nothing is impossible. Through hard work and dedication anything can be achieved in this world full of bright beautiful colours. You should feel lucky magic exists. As long as you follow me, then you will achieve anything." smiled Shen Yue as he spoke calmly.

Li Chum was moved by this and shook Shen Yue's hand. The two boys and Niu Wang smiled as they laughed with faint tears in corners of their eye.

The first background boy walked up and said, "Hello, I'm Zan! I'm brother Chum's best friend since we were toddlers. I also got my ass kicked by you."

The second background boy also came up to greet himself, "I'm Mi Lan. Brother Chum's number one friend and also had my ass kicked by you."

Shen Yue nodded and bowed his head slightly in respect and greeting. But after Mi Lan said 'number one friend' Zan started arguing with him. They thought of Li Chum as their brother, they regarded him as family.

Six Months Later...

Shen Yue was teaching the boys how to box and at the same time was telling them philosophies, he even told them stories that were actually anime, pretending they were legends told from heaven and that he was the prophet 'I have the power of god and anime at my side!'

Shen Yue was finally heading to the family training grounds where most younger generations would train and practice, that's where the tournament is going to be held

During those six months, Shen Yue was increasing the intensity of his training e.g. changing 100 push ups into 1000 push ups everyday; he also had a new training regime added to his catalogue, he had to go further from the hill, in a massive lake called Sly Lake, it was said that there where water foxes that would eat children that swam there in the lake but Shen Yue never found any. He would start swimming with weights attached to his body parts and would have to swim at constant speed.

Also he would start sparring with Master Kang who was a beast in martial arts. Master Kang was ruthless with every action being effective and quick; he was trying to make Shen Yue's body soak up that knowledge of how to use his body effectively when fighting as quick as he could, it all depended on Shen Yue how quick he caught up on things. It's not like you could be a master level martial artist in a couple of months, so he didn't expect great things from him but he at least expected him to be on a level where he could destroy snot-nosed brats like swatting flies, that was the minimum requirement he wanted.

Three months ago Master Kang also taught Shen Yue how to nurture his flame, teaching him how to eat fire so that his flame could absorb fire attacks and turn it into nutrition. He also taught Shen Yue a move that he could only use as a trump card at his current level, Palm of Infero, sending a small fire ball from his palm as a small projectile and exploding it into a small bomb.

Shen Yue could still remember the time he ate his first fire

[Flashback 3 months ago]

"Are you sure it is safe to eat?" said a nervous Shen Yue

"Yes it is, just channel spirit force into your tounge and let the flame devour it for you"

As he said that Shen Yue, who was holding a small torch, was slowly putting the tourch into his mouth whilst using spirit force to coat his tongue.

The flame touched his tongue and it didn't burn, he was surprised and then he suddenly felt a suctioning torrential force in his throat sucking the fire in like a vacuum cleaner. His consciousness entered his soul realm and found his flame circling the other fire like a tornado before the other flame disappeared and his flame grew slightly bigger.

'WOW! Thought Shen Yue.

[End of Flashback]

"Hey look it's the patriarch's son Shen Yue. I heard this is his first time and that he never trained. He's such a let down, so much talent yet he's chasing skirts. Pathetic!" whispered a Shen Family branch member, as every Shen Family were standing ceremonially as they waited for all the participants to enter the stage before the tournament begins.

"Yeah! I heard that he only started training a year ago, a friend of my caught him training on a hill in the morning. But I'm not sure he's going to reach the top 100 as some of them trained at the age of four or five. He doesn't stand a chance."

Shen Yue was walking on to the arena platform and still managed to hear it. 'Why must you look down on me. Why must you be cliche bastards that always judge before seeing the spectacle.'

Shen Hong came onto the stage and said his speech, "Welcome Everyone! To the annual Shen Family Tournament! Where each year we test the strength and progress of our youger generations, not only that be we reward those that reach the top ten. Last year's winner, my son, Shen Fei will also be participating. Thank You All! Let the Tournament begin!" Shouted Shen Hong the last sentence as a gong sounded throughout the family training grounds as every participant cleared themselves respectfully from the stage.

Shen Yue was waiting in the waiting room that they have prepared for him with juice and some fruit as refreshments.

"Young Master Shen Yue. It's your first match. You are up against Shen Kai, a kid from the family branch."