Left Behind

''Hmm?, you have great luck young friend, to actually see me twice.'' He said as he put his hand in a bag hanging from his shoulder.

Shen Jian was still a bit apprehensive concerning this old man, because when they first met Shen Jian tried to steal the bag hanging from his shoulder, but when he locked gazes with the old man he couldn't move his body anymore. He still clearly remembered the feeling, it was like his mind told him something like 'one step and we're dead.' Although they sorted things out and Shen Jian knew this old man was shameless, the old man was still an expert.

The old man brought a brown manual before Shen Jian. On its cover was written 'Armoured Beast'. ''That will cost you five gold coins'' the old man said.

''F-ff, five gold coins!. Hey old man, I bought the first half for only ninety silver coins, why is this one worth five gold coins?" Shen Jian nearly bit his tongue.

''Hehe, that's because I practically forced you to buy the last one, as for this one, its on high demand." The old man smiled shamelessly.

''Tch, I only have two gold coins for now, I'll give you the other one later''. Shen Jian said as he collected the book and began walking away.

The old man continued on his way with a nod. Suddenly he stumbled, 'hmm? Other one?'. ''Hey, kid!, you owe me three more not one!!". He yelled as he looked back at Shen Jian.

''Be happy that I even gave you two, shameless old man. If i was stronger than you I would just directly snatch it''. Shen Jian said with a smile. Obviously he didn't plan on paying any more than two gold coins.

Most cultivators did not cultivate their bodies because it was a hard process of putting oneself through torturous training. It mostly involved the use of herbs and special resources to boost the toughness of ones body. It also used many precious materials, with the aid of some extreme exercises to circulate the essence of the materials. Buying such resources was costly which also discouraged body cultivation.

Shen Jian had regained his resolve, and like this he immersed himself in bitter arduous cultivation and once in a while he also tried to gather qi to his dantian. It was slow and difficult, other cultivators, even when in the body tempering stage could gather qi and use it to temper their dantian, meridians and bones. But whenever Shen Jian tried, it felt like there was a hole in his dantian from which most of the qi would leak out and only a little would be left, which he used to aid his body cultivation. Because he was a body cultivator he wouldn't need to also go through body tempering, he could use the qi to circulate the essence of herbs instead of going through those extreme exercises. It was more efficient. Shen Jian continued his cultivation routine like this for the next two years. Over these two years all five of them had grown even more distant. Shen Jian had originally thought that the others only acted coldly towards him but he later noticed that they even fought over cultivation resources.

Over these two years the cultivation speed of the other five had increased. They were now at the late stages of qi condensation realm. Xiao Yingwei, the most talented of the four had reached the early ninth stage. Ao Qing and Pei Yutian had reached the eight stage. Even Lan Fei had reached the seventh stage. Shen Jian's cultivation had always been fast because even though body cultivation was fast it was also very stable.

He had also told Mrs Ao about 'the hole in his dantian' but she investigated and yet could not find the place which the qi leaked to.

Shen Jian was now ten years old. He was at the seventh level of the second stage of his cultivation which was equivalent to the sixth or seventh layer of the qi condensation realm.

Even though they all lived in the same house they barely spoke to each other, apart from Mrs Ao of course. She was after all their mother and guardian.

It was evening, and they were having dinner together when the door opened and Mr Ao came in. He was a tall bulky man with an easygoing look. The children stood up, greeted him and left.

Mr Ao and his wife hugged each other and expressed their love for each other, then they began talking about serious matters. ''I wouldn't be back this early but I have news'' Mr Ao said as he put on a serious look. ''Dark Fang will be regrouping in a month's time. We are expected to depart in two days time.'' He said.

''Finally we can once again step into the light.'' Mrs Ao said. ''I'll buy some supplies then the five of us will depart''.

''Five of us? I'm here so that should make us six.'' Mr Ao said with a smile.

''We're leaving Shen Jian behind. He's practically a cripple cause his dantian is injured. Even if he can still increase his body cultivation, it won't be by much because he needs a strong dantian to store vital force which is produced when body cultivators break into the martial mortal realm. He will be a nuisance and a burden to us and Dark Fang.'' She said offhandedly.

The next two days went by just as usual. Shen Jian was cultivating diligently these two days so he did not find time to go make a few coins. Shattered banner city had been lively lately with many travellers stopping by to buy and sell goods and treasure.

Right now it was night of the second day, Shen Jian was absorbing qi into his dantian. 'Hmm? Is it just me or has the aura that my martial spirit is releasing become more powerful.' Shen Jian thought to himself as he felt a strong aura from his dantian. 'I'll ask Mrs Ao tomorrow '. He was so tired that he didn't give it much thought and immediately fell asleep.

When Shen Jian woke up in the morning he immediately got up and began his day. 'I feel very refreshed, must have had a good rest' he thought as he made his way to the bathroom.

'Hmm? I didn't see Xiao Yingwei and the others this morning. Maybe they woke up early and went out for a walk or something.' He easily brushed it off.

While Shen Jian put on a set of clean clothes, he heard some voices talking loudly and shouting at their house frontdoor.

'Since they are back its time to go out for some business.'

Meanwhile at the front of the door of the Ao's house three boys were standing as they spoke loudly to each other.

''Humph!, I came all the way from home to challenge Shen Jian one last time, who knew that they already left. With my cultivation having reached the sixth layer of the qi condensation realm I should be able to defeat him and regain my honour, alas 'sigh'.'' One of the boys said with folded arms.

''Hehe, Li Shan i'm pretty sure you already knew they were gone before you came here to spit a few bold words, right?'' He Wentang said with a mocking smile.

''Hey! You think I'm afraid of either him or you, if you don't believe me I'll knock out a few of your teeth for you'' Li Shan said fiercely

''The two of you, always bickering about this and that. Who even wants to see that cripples face. I came because I thought I could catch one last glimpse of Qing'er'' the last boy said.

''You call her Qing'er like you were so close. But she was indeed a beauty.'' He Wentang complimented.

''You both are so young yet you're already looking at beauties'' Li Shan said.

''Better stop talking like you're older than us'' the other boy replied.

''I'm pretty sure his brain has taken some damage after being beaten by Shen Jian, that he can't even recognise a good thing when he sees one'' He Wentang said.

Li Shan was incensed ''You...

Right then they heard as someone came out the front door.

''Huh? I thought it was Pei Yutian and the others. If they aren't here then where are they?'' Shen Jian asked no one in particular.

The three boys standing a few meters from Shen Jian were stunned at seeing someone walk out of a supposedly empty house.

''Li Shan what are you three doing here?'' Shen Jian asked. He had fought these three a few times to a point that whenever he took the highway they would rather take the shady shortcuts than share the same path with this cripple freak. Obviously they only called him a cripple in his absence.

'That is the question we're supposed to be asking you'. He Wentang thought to himself.

''Why is he here? Didn't they already leave.'' The last boy asked Li Shan in a low voice. ''Or are they all still around''.

''Why are you whispering and who said we were leaving?'' Shen Jian asked with a puzzled look.

''My mom said that your mom came to buy supplies from us. That the five of you were going on a long journey and may never come back'' He Wentang said.

Li Shan nodded '' but it seems you five haven't gone anywhere yet.''