??Chapter 43: 043 Tiger and Monkey_1
Chapter 43: 043 Tiger and Monkey_1
Behind the mountain, on the gentle slope situated halfway up.
It was overgrown with weeds and crawling thorns. Tangled branches that resembled the claws of a skeleton were wrapped in vibrant green vines, trembling slightly under the gentle breeze. The only open area was a small, low tombstone that only reached up to soone’s waist.
The tombstone was gray and rough to the touch due to its stone structure. Li Chu’s na was crudely etched onto it, the carving done by 13-year-old Li Wei using a sharp stone.
Four years had passed, and the carving had beco indistinct, barely visible anymore. The tombstone itself was now crowded with creeping vines and moss, scattered with patches of green.
Casio stood in front of the tombstone, silently gazing at it for a while.
He placed a bunch of white flowers in front of the tombstone.
He then collected so stones and began cleaning the moss off the tombstone inch by inch. He ripped away the parasitic plants and cleared all the vegetation within a three-ter radius of the tombstone, discarding them far away.
Soon, the surroundings of the tombstone were empty.
With a sharp stone in hand, Casio squatted before the tombstone and forcefully etched Li Chu’s na as well as the dates on it.
This ti, the character was dignified and neat.
Casio stood again before the tombstone, his right hand pressing down on a spot below his left shoulder, reciting as the priest did, “Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your Na. Your Kingdom co. May Your divine heart bless the earth just like the heavens…”
He did not have faith.
But this was rely a beautiful blessing for the deceased.
After lingering on there for a while, Casio turned away. He suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity with the scene before him and paused montarily.
Slowly raising his fist, he walked away without looking back, “Goodbye…”
********************
Five days later, inside the cluster of buildings where disciples of Wind Elephant Gate reside.
In a small whitestone building at the left edge.
Casio was holding his body in a peculiar, awkward stance. In a semi-crouch like a horse stance, his body slightly slanted forward.
He was on his tiptoes, his head hung slightly towards the ground.
This pose required a good sense of balance and excellent body control. It was also very physically demanding.
The sound of his breathing, inhaling and exhaling following a regular cycle, echoed in the room.
Casio’s chest rose and fell rhythmically. The muggy sll on his body gradually dissipated, replaced by a faint fragrance. The black mbrane covering his body slowly beca transparent, revealing the distinct and robust muscles underneath.
“Phew…” He exhaled heavily and opened his eyes. As he did so, his odd pose resud to standard standing.
“The effects are too poor… I estimate the ointnt’s effectiveness is only a third to a quarter of the potion’s.” Casio clenched his fist, the friction between his fingers was as smooth as that of a catfish.
He compared the ointnt to the effects of the potion based on the progress of his martial arts practice. However, during normal cultivation, you can feel the difference. The potion’s sting on the skin and muscles was far more significant than the ointnt’s, the sensation was at least many tis more potent.
The more painful, the more effective it is; the more dicine used, the faster the progress.
Being used to the Real World where potions are poured liberally, Casio had little patience for the languid process of using the ointnt.
Perhaps it was ti to implent his original plan.
He glanced at the sunlight outside the window and picked up a gray combat suit embroidered with wind and cloud patterns at the sleeve site.
After randomly tidying up the room, he strode out.
That noon was the ti for the Monthly Test. Of course, this was not so grand event for all sects. It was only a monthly martial arts assessnt for Lixia’s three disciples. It was roughly like each of them having one contest.
Even though the forr Li Wei was the eldest among all disciples and skipped the youth training camp with Damo and Sharon, he always ended up last at every Monthly Test. He couldn’t even win against Sharon, who was a girl. His ntal block caused his energy to be restrained, his power had no way of reaching its maximum potential.
The character is too crucial for a martial artist; it practically determines your fighting style. A compliant person would hesitate to send out a strong punch, a cocky one even when in full guard, it feels as if they might suddenly lash out.
In fact, practicing martial arts can help modify a person’s physique and spirit. However, this change has a limited scope.
It varies from person to person, it is not absolute.
Casio could actually feel himself changing. He beca braver, calr more confident. He didn’t resist as much when killing, and even felt a hint of excitent. Although he suspected that these inhumane feelings were induced by the eerie change brought about by the mysterious Shadow Demon.
Ten minutes later, Casio entered a spire building.
He turned right through the long corridor, stopping in front of a door near the end of the road. He paused montarily, then knocked lightly.
“Master, I am here.”
“Co in.”
A familiar raspy voice ca from inside.
“Yes, sir.” Casio pushed the door open.
The room was spacious and quiet, with square greyish-white slabs lining the floor. Sunlight bead through the two windows on the roof, illuminating the entire space and making it bright and clear.
In the middle of the quiet room, Lixia sat cross-legged on the floor, dressed in a light yellow combat suit. About four to five ters away, Sharon and Damo, dressed in gray suits, also sat cross-legged on the floor.
They looked over at the sound of the door opening.
Sharon’s gaze was sowhat complicated and blended with a trace of unfamiliarity as if she didn’t recognize her Senior Disciple Li Wei.
The gleam in Damo’s eyes was a mix of anger and dread– three parts fury, seven parts fear, and his manner was all shrinking and cringing.
On seeing Casio glance over, Damo quickly lowered his head.
He wriggled uncomfortably as though soone was lighting a fire under him. Frankly, he was afraid, fearful of Li Wei who had now beco a stranger to him. His feeling was similar to when a monkey teases a sleeping tiger. As long as the tiger’s asleep, the monkey postures and struts. But the mont the tiger wakes, all hell broke loose for the monkey.
Now, Damo felt like the monkey that got its legs bitten off, hanging by the ends of tree branches while watching a tiger climb up the tree, he was shivering with fear. This was undoubtedly a tornt.
“Close the door, co sit over here,” Lixia suggested.
Casio nodded, turned around and closed the door. He then walked to where Damo and Sharon were, sitting down next to them.
By a twist of fate, the person to his right was Damo and they were rely ten centiters apart. Casio could see that the mont he sat down, Damo instantly beca stiff.
He could see him stealthily glancing his way out of the corner of his eye.
It seed that the two tis he had beaten him to the point of urinating himself had a significant deterring effect. Casio found this to be very gratifying.
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