Old General Mu smiled, relieved. “Your Flying Snow Sword improved a lot. If your sword energy was distributed more evenly, the osmanthus would fall into the four maidservants’ arms and not one would land on the ground. But in just half a year to get to this state, your martial arts had already surpassed your grandmother’s that year. In time, it would be above me and your uncle. By the way, you didn’t use psychic powers, right?”
Zi You shook her head. “I remembered grandfather’s words. I wouldn’t rashly use my psychic powers.”
Old General Mu said approvingly, “That’s right. Using too much psychic power would unconsciously suppress your internal force and you will feel tired.”
Zi You quickly nodded, “Granddaughter will remember, grandfather.”
Zi You sent her grandfather away, returned back to the house, and slept.
For those who practice martial arts, morning exercise was very important.
Every morning, Zi You, her grandfather and her uncle would climb to the top of the capital’s Qixia Mountain, to absorb the essence of Heaven and Earth.
Today’s morning exercise group was bigger. Forty-nine slaves and Mu YingYi’s two sons were added.
Qixia Mountain was very high. There were two paths leading to the top. One was relatively flat. Those without martial arts would climb this road to pick wild herbs or mushrooms.
The other path was very steep. In order to climb it without martial arts, one could only use ropes and daggers inserted into rock crevices.
It would be impossible for those new to martial arts to use this path. So, Uncle Jiang and his wife Aunt Lan, originally Dier’s female bodyguard, took the slaves on the flat path.
Zi You, her grandfather, Mu YingYi, and the two rascals took the steep mountain path, to practice Qinggong.
More than half a year passed and Zi You was able to quickly fly up and down this path. Today, she had a task: to carry Mu YingYi’s youngest son, four-year-old Mu QingYuan up the mountain.
Little QingYuan, on his jiejie’s back, saw his jiejie moving like light clouds. He couldn’t stop clapping his hands and shouting excitedly, “Jiejie, jiejie, I want to fly up the mountain like you too. Can you teach me?”
Zi You felt a small and soft body squirming on her back. She said dotingly, “I can, but practicing martial arts is very tough. Can you persist?”
“I can, I can,” the little rascal quickly answered, afraid if he answered late his jiejie would not teach him.
Zi You gently smiled, “Okay, after we arrive on the mountain, practice horse stance with jiejie. You cannot complain of tiredness and stick to it or you’re a little dog who speaks words he doesn’t mean.”
Little QingYuan hurriedly replied, “I’m not a small dog, I can persist.”
Zi You nodded and praised, “Yuan’er is worthy of being Great General Mu’s grandson and General Mu’s son. Very ambitious!”
QingYuan slapped Zi You’s back. “I have ambition. I have ambition. I want to have ambition.”
Zi You listened to her little brother’s childish voice and was infected by his passion. She shouted and quickly flew towards the top of the mountain. Old General Mu was excited, heart pumping. He was like an old eagle that saw his young eagle fly up in the air. Gratified, proud, and even arrogant.
Even Mu YingYi was infected by Zi You’s enthusiasm. He shouted and also quickly flew up the mountain. The five practiced martial arts while waiting for Uncle Jiang and Aunt Lan to lead the forty-nine people up.
Comments