Chapter 25 (1/2)

Chapter 25 - Water And Fire Mutual Restrain.

The new year was a joyous occasion for the majority of the people. At least for the He family manor and the surrounding neighbors, this was a rare day to relax.

At the same time, for the He family’s third generation, this was a day to exhibit their entire year’s achievements.

On new year’s third day, all the members of the third generation gathered together, and the wives of He Quanxin and his two brothers could attend as well.

For the sake of the third generation’s early independence and future achievements in cultivation, all the children left their parents and lived alone in their own courtyards after the age of five. This method was somewhat cruel, but quite effective. Among the three influential families in the Tai Cang county, the young generation of the He family was, without a doubt, the most outstanding.

At this moment, the training ground in the backyard had been decorated. He Quanxin and his wife, the couple, had also closed the shop in the city and returned. The entire household was sitting together, discussing trivial matters. A warm and joyous atmosphere permeated the entire courtyard.

Seated on the middle seat, He Wude was extremely content as he watched the smiling appearances of his descendants. However, as his vision gazed distantly following a certain direction, his eyes revealed a strange, complex expression; as if he couldn’t untie a knot in his heart. It seemed as though he couldn’t let go of a melancholic feeling even on such a joyous occasion.

He Quanxin sighed inwardly. Being the first son, he obviously knew his father’s thoughts. But he was, in fact, completely helpless regarding the problem. His vision jumped towards He Yitian and He Yiming as he thought whether they could make the Lord Father’s wishes come true.

He Quanxin lightly coughed and said:

“Father, it’s about time. Should we begin?”

He Wude moderated his slightly wandering thoughts before he said with a smile:

“All right, begin.”

He Quanxin stood up and walked up to the center of the stage before speaking in a clear voice:

“Yi Zhang and the rest of you, come.”

Yi Zhang and the rest four, who were still stuck at the fifth layer or below, promptly ran to the stage.

The five of them stood in a line. With another wave of a hand from He Quanxin, hundreds of servants came running at a lightning fast speed. They always trained in normal times, and at this moment, they further displayed their skill to the peak as they arranged themselves behind He Yizhang and the rest in a short while.

Hundreds of individuals simultaneously bowed towards He Wude before exhibiting the elementary fist techniques.

This was not a battle skill but were fist techniques which strengthened one’s body and the children of the third generation who’d not attained the sixth layer practised every day.

As for the servants behind He Yizhang and the rest, they were robust men who cultivated Internal Energy, but, at most, were somewhere along merely the second or third layer.

Although their cultivation was shallow, dealing with ordinary people was not an issue for them. Therefore, this technique, which strengthened one’s body, had been imparted to them as well.

Watching synchronised movements of hundreds of individuals, looking like a single ent.i.ty, indeed had a pleasing feel to it.

As He Yiming watched this spectacle, his mind involuntarily drifted off. Before a year, he was a member of this group and could only practise this body strengthening fist technique that did not rely on Internal Energy at all. However, today, seated in his seat, he was watching them perform. The difference of one step, the fifth and sixth layer, was indeed akin to the heavens and earth.

Hundreds of people’s fist training exhibition although seemed impressive, everybody knew that this was just a demo. Today’s main attraction, which people genuinely looked forward, was the upcoming skill compet.i.tion among the members of the third generation who’d attained the sixth layer.

After a short while, the performance of fist technique concluded and everybody returned to their respective seats. He Wude’s big figure rose up before he said a few lines of praise and rewarded silver taels on the spot, to the delight of the crowd.

Subsequently, He Quanxin’s clear voice sounded:

“Yi Hai and Yi Xuan.”

He Yihai and He Xuan sounded their agreements before they left the side of their respective parents and arrived at the centre of the stage in neither swift nor slow steps.

He Quanxin faintly nodded and said:

“Yihai, Yixuan, another year has pa.s.sed; how is your cultivation?”

He Yihai and He Yixuan glanced at each other. Their relations.h.i.+p was extremely good, but at this moment, both were br.i.m.m.i.n.g with battle intent. The two eyes, which were br.i.m.m.i.n.g with dominance and unruliness, when confronted their counterparts, the atmosphere immediately tensed up.