Chapter 10: Learning Martial Arts |
"What's wrong, Xiangwu?"
The man asked upon hearing Su Hao’s voice.
"..." Su Hao didn’t answer.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to respond—he simply didn’t understand what the man was saying. He could only sense that this man was his father in this life.
This was one of Su Hao's biggest frustrations. Each time he reincarnated, besides in his past life, he had to relearn the language and characters of these different worlds.
Fortunately, although the original body was only two years old, it already had a basic grasp of the language. Su Hao knew that after some time, he would be able to absorb the little boy's remnant memories, and understanding others wouldn't be a problem.
Seeing Su Hao remain silent, the man didn’t ask further questions. He focused on the road, moving forward cautiously while remaining vigilant of their surroundings, as if concerned about a sudden attack.
"We’re here!" The man quickened his pace. A small Stronghold appeared ahead. Two armored men peered over the high walls, their eyes filled with caution. But upon seeing the man with a boy riding on his shoulders, they relaxed.
"Yo~ You're back, Third Brother. No harvest today?" The man on the left, his face covered with scars, greeted with a smile.
Just as Su Hao was trying to guess what they were talking about, the man under him suddenly accelerated.
Su Hao instinctively tightened his grip around the man’s head in fear. After a three-step sprint, the man suddenly stomped down on the ground, launching himself into the air, and landed steadily on top of the high wall.
Su Hao’s mouth dropped open in shock.
The wall was at least eight or nine meters high—this was no small feat, even for top martial artists!
"Could it be that my father in this life is a martial arts master?" Su Hao’s eyes lit up with excitement. Could this be the life where he could finally rely on his father?
....
The boy Su Hao had reincarnated into was named Wu Xiangwu. The man carrying him was his father, Wu Yuntian, a high-ranking elite warrior of the human race. His duty was to guard the Chashan Outpost outside Lingyun Town. In other words, Wu Yuntian was a Guardian, and the Chashan Outpost was his home. He had been assigned this task two years ago, with a mission duration of fifteen years. Thus, he brought his wife and child to live at the outpost.
Of course, Wu Yuntian wasn’t the only warrior stationed at Chashan Outpost. There were thirty warriors in total, and those with families brought them along, while the few without families would likely remain single. This small outpost, rather than a military post, was more like a tiny village of thirty households, with a population of 120 people.
Wu Yuntian held a high status at the outpost. His combat ability was ranked third, so everyone was used to calling him "Third Brother" or "Third Uncle." People generally gave him face, meaning his words carried weight.
As for Su Hao’s mother, she had died a year ago in a beast attack. She was killed by a vicious beast while protecting her son, Wu Xiangwu. Wu Yuntian felt deep remorse over this. Sometimes, he even blamed his son, thinking that if it weren't for Wu Xiangwu, his wife would have escaped safely.
Wu Yuntian knew he couldn’t truly blame a child for what had happened, but he couldn’t help thinking that way. He was caught in a web of conflicting emotions, sometimes blaming himself for not being strong enough to protect his wife, and other times blaming his son for being a burden.
Because of this, he never showed any warmth to his son. He only fulfilled his duties as a father: protecting and raising his child, nothing more.
Su Hao, now adapting to his new identity, gradually got used to life without fatherly affection.
....
A year later, Su Hao turned three.
During this year, he had fully mastered the language and had also begun learning the written characters of this world. Through reading, he gained an understanding of this world’s structure.
The people called this part of the world the Yonghe Continent. It wasn’t a world dominated by humans. Outside of human settlements, countless fierce beasts roamed freely, making survival difficult for the human race. Constant beast attacks on human towns were a persistent threat, and the fall of a town wasn’t uncommon.
To protect against beast invasions, numerous outposts were established outside every human settlement. These outposts served as early warning systems and buffers for impending attacks. In most cases, only a few beasts would venture into human territory, which was manageable by the outpost warriors. The danger wasn’t as high as one might imagine, except during large-scale beast attacks, which could result in the annihilation of the entire outpost. If that happened, it could only be chalked up to bad luck.
....
In this world, the martial arts system was divided into several levels: Common warriors, elite warriors, master warriors, grandmaster warriors, and Mystical warriors.
Su Hao didn’t know what kind of combat power each level represented, but he knew his father, Wu Yuntian, was a high-ranking elite warrior, which was already incredibly powerful in Su Hao’s eyes. In terms of wuxia rankings, Wu Yuntian could be considered a top-tier expert. What kind of abilities would master warriors, grandmaster warriors, or Mystical warriors have?
Could they be like human-shaped nuclear bombs?
The question that concerned Su Hao the most was: through training and learning, could he reach such heights?
....
One evening, during dinner, they ate the meat of a vicious yellow-furred rat. The meat was soft, crisp, and flavorful. Coated with some oil and grilled over the fire, it sizzled appetizingly. After cooking, a sprinkle of salt turned it into a delicacy.
Enjoying his roasted skewer, Su Hao boldly said to Wu Yuntian, who sat silently beside him, "Father, I want to learn martial arts. Please teach me!"
Wu Yuntian glanced at Su Hao and replied indifferently, "You're still too young. I’ll teach you when you turn six."
Su Hao’s heart sank. From his past experiences, he knew there was no guarantee he’d even make it to five years old. If he had to wait until six to start learning, he might as well wait a few million years.
He had a very real reason for wanting to learn to protect himself sooner.
He pressed on, "Why do I have to wait until I’m six?"
"I don't know. I started learning at six, and so did everyone else."
"I think that’s unreasonable."
"What’s unreasonable?"
"The right approach should vary from person to person. Different people have different ideal ages to start learning. The age you mentioned, six years old, might be suitable for most, but it might not be the best for me. Maybe my best age to start is three! If I miss this golden age, I’m afraid I won’t be able to reach my full potential."
Wu Yuntian looked at his son as if seeing him for the first time. When had this little boy become so articulate? Thinking back, had he been this sharp at three?
Intrigued, Wu Yuntian said, "That’s twisted logic. How would you know when’s the best time for you to start?"
"How’s that twisted logic? Let me give you an example. If everyone squatted to pee, would I have to squat too?"
Wu Yuntian was momentarily at a loss. He felt like his son’s argument had a flaw, but he couldn’t pinpoint it.
Seeing his father’s expression, Su Hao pressed on, "Want to know when’s the best time for me to start learning martial arts? It’s simple—let’s test it out!"
That was quite reasonable. Wu Yuntian hesitated, considering it.
Su Hao added fuel to the fire, "I know why most people start at six—it’s because children younger than six lack the maturity and understanding. They often end up injuring themselves through improper training!"
He puffed out his chest, thumping it loudly. "But I’m different! Father, don’t you have any faith in your own son?"
After a brief silence, Wu Yuntian nodded, "Alright, let’s give it a try."
Before Su Hao could celebrate, Wu Yuntian added, "But you’re still too small. Grow a bit more, and I’ll start teaching you in six months."
Su Hao gladly accepted this compromise. Six months wasn’t too long—he could wait!
In the meantime, he would continue studying in his Marble Space, strengthening his knowledge of the human body.
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