33. The Cursed Son Of Zhang!

…

Taking a step to the right, Shin evaded the tortoise's head and with a vertical swing down, he beheaded the tortoise.

"What a hard shell? One hundred and thirty two slashes and you still survived. If you didn't make a foolish decision in the end, I doubt I could have killed you," Shin sighs. "With a shell as hard as that, you definitely were just one step away from the fourth level. Luckily, Tanji had a level four weapon,"

He turns around. "How's your body? Can you still hold on?"

"Ack! Ack! Yeah, make it snappy, we are almost out of time,"

Shin nods and turns to a certain direction. "Clear Sky Sword Technique, Shooting Star!" With a kick to ground, Shin vroomed away at a lightning fast speed. In no time, he greeted the white colored beast with a slash of the sword.

Shin stood beside the now dead beast and looks at the sword in his hand. "I promised I wouldn't use it, sorry brother," he said while looking at the sky.

"Next time let me know before you use a technique as strong as that," Tanji's voice sounded.

"You really think there's a next time," Shin turns to Tanji, who was lying on the ground, heaving. "You survived the backlash without taking a pill. That's pretty impressive,"

"Until I wake up do not fall asleep," Tanji instructed as his consciousness faded away.

…

"What? Hiro's leaving today? Why?" Akane yells. She had stopped by to see Hiro, but was greeted with the sudden news. "We just got to know each other and you are leaving,"

"Sorry," Hiro smiled wryly. After the picnic he had returned to get his pills before leaving only to meet Akane.

Elta looked at Akane and then at Hiro, who didn't know what to do. "Alright, grandfather is waiting for him. We shouldn't keep him waiting,"

"That's true," Hiro said while looking at Akane, watching how she responds.

"Ah!" Akane sighs. "See you whenever Hiro, make sure you remain cute,"

"Huh?" Hiro frowns at Akane who strolls away unhappy and leaves the courtyard.

"Let's go Hiro, grandfather is waiting,"

Hiro nods at Elta and the duo made their way out the courtyard to the old ancestor's courtyard. There, Enji, Ming Lu and the old ancestor were seated waiting for them.

"You've gotten all you need?" Ming Lu stands and walks up to Hiro.

"Yeah, I have,"

"Grandfather, I still feel Hiro should have a maid," Elta says. "He doesn't know how to do the little things like washing his clothes,"

"Are you ready to go Hiro?" the old ancestor asks ignoring Elta.

"I am,"

"Bye son, we'll see you in a month," Ming Lu hugs Hiro.

"In a month?"

"Your father and I are heading over to the capital in a month's time. We'll stop by to see you,"

"Oh, I see,"

"Alright, let's go, say your goodbyes," the old ancestor stood up.

"Father!"

"If I let you be, Hiro will stay here till tomorrow,"

"Hmph, I am going to let him go," Ming Lu turned and threw him a pout but Elta and Hiro didn't see.

"Yeah, yeah, let's go,"

"Bye dad, bye mom, bye elder sister," Hiro flashed his white teeth at them, giving them a bright smile.

"Bye son," Enji nods.

"Bye little brother. I want to see you at the core formation realm when next I see you," Elta says and pats his head.

"Take care of yourself, okay? I want to see you complete next time we see,"

Hiro nods as he felt an invisible force wrap his body. The old ancestor exhales and said. "Hope you don't puke this time, I'll be going faster than last time,"

As soon as he said it, he shot into the sky, with Hiro flying right behind him. Hiro could see his short life flash before his eyes. Feeling like he was going to die, was an understatement right now.

"I change my mind grandfather, I'll go by carriage! Ack!"

…

The sun returned to its resting place and the moon rose to begin its journey around the earth. In a cave, somewhere in a valley was Shin who sat at the cave entrance. Beside him was the sleeping beauty, Tanji, who had fainted after their battle with the tortoise beast.

He wanted to carry Tanji and return to the school grounds, but he didn't know where Tanji lived. Instead off going about searching, he found a cave, made sure it was safe and dropped Tanji in it. After which he returned to where they had fought the beasts and gathered the spoils.

Almost every part of the beasts were valuable, so he cut them in parts and kept them in his pouch bag. When he was finished, he went to the cave. Tanji was still sleeping so he sat down beside him and stared out the cave.

He had be sitting for a long time, still Tanji was yet to wake up.

"Should I wake him up? He told me not to sleep but, I can feel the tiredness growing," Shin sighs and placed his head on the cave wall. "Hey princess, I'll soon fall asleep, you better wake up soon!"

"You don't have to be so loud," Tanji's voice sounded.

"Huh? You are awake? For how long now?"

"Not long, I was too tired to speak," Tanji replies and struggles to a seated position.

"Hmm? I don't feel sleepy anymore,"

"Because, I'm awake. If you had slept, I might not have woken up,"

"For real?"

"Yeah," Tanji said and thought. "Just kidding,"

"And you did that with a stranger?"

"I told you, we aren't strangers anymore,"

"You are crazy! What makes you think I'll tag with you as buddies?"

"Just because,"

"Sorry to disappoint, but that won't be happening,"

"Then I'll use one favor,"

"Huh?"

"I'll use one favor. I still have three favors, if I'm not mistaken you are Shin Tu, from the Tu family. They are known for keeping their word,"

"You really are crazy. You don't have to use your favor, I was kidding. By the way, who are you? Are you an old man pretending to be a boy?"

"Huh?"

"That battle formation is not something a foundation realm would know about. The pill you gave isn't something a third grade alchemist can make,"

"What if I'm an old man pretending to be a boy? What would you do?"

"Nothing really, I just want to know,"

"Pfft, well, I'm not. We can ask any mid or high rank alchemist and they'll tell you my bones aren't old. I learnt that battle technique from my family library,"

"What family are you from?"

"The Zhang family,"

"Haha, you are kidding, right?" Shin laughs. "All the men in that family are muscular and are known for their raw physical strength, and big build,"

Tanji stared at him as he continues. "You look nothing like them, even your face looks like a girl,"

"Yeah, well, I was banished. Exiled will be much more correct, as I have the chance to go back if by chance one day the god of luck smiles on me and helps me out,"

"You… no way! The cursed son of Zhang, that's you?"

"Seems I'm a bit famous hehe,"

"Is this why you never showed yourself to the public? Because you looked like a girl?"

"Yes, the Zhang family is embarrassed to have me. And come on, I don't really look like a girl, I'm just too fine for a boy,"

"You look like a girl, leave it at that,"

"Haha!"

"Okay I understand the battle formation, but what about the pill? Don't tell me you learnt it, I wouldn't believe that,"

"Hmm, it wouldn't hurt to tell you. Well, promise me this stays between us, for life!"

"Huh?"

"I'll use a favor,"

"Hmm! If that's the case, I rather not know,"

"Uh?"

"That's two favors now, two remaining,"

"Noted,"

"By the way, here you go," Shin tossed a pouch bag at Tanji.

"What's this?"

"The body parts of the beasts I killed,"

"Oh, why are you giving me?"

"I kill a third level beast for you, and you cured my body, that was the deal,"

"I never said anything about taking the spoils, beside that peak third petal wasn't involved,"

"You can have them. I receive support from my family so I don't need money,"

"That's why you are giving me?" Shin didn't reply. "I don't need your pity but thanks. In exchange, I'll teach you a method that would allow you convert monster Qi to Yuan Qi,"

"Huh? That's not possible, even the elders say that,"