Aimless Ascension

Xiaolin showed him around the land while also providing titbits of details about the valley and farming. Half an hour passed already, and Gale had enough of surveying.

He hadn't provided Xiaolin with any confirmation, but looking at the hope kindling in her eyes, he realised it wasn't the right time to decide yet. He couldn't really choose to build a home here out of pity. Thus, he needed to think everything through when his mind wasn't clouded by sympathy.

On the way, he found a few peach trees full of colourful fruits. Getting approval from the landowner, Gale plucked a couple of fruits from the tree. Wiping them clean on his cloth, he bit into the sweet peach, tossing the other one to Xiaolin.

"Alright, let's head back."

They hadn't moved for five minutes, as the protruding farm came into vision. After a little while, Gale frowned, peering straight at the house as if he could see from this far away. Actually, he could. After each metamorphosis, the practitioner's body changes.

Gale went through the process four times. Even though his Qi was suppressed, much of his bodily function remained, which included a gold ranker's vision and senses.

"Is something wrong?" Xiaolin asked.

"Someone is making trouble," he told her. "Let's go see."

Xiaolin bit her lips and followed, probably thinking if that entitled Young Lord got the news of their visit already.

"Don't worry," Gale assured her, finding her in dismay. "If anything, I can deal with it."

Gale hadn't augmented his speed with Qi, but raised it a little, nevertheless, with his height and long strides, Xiaolin had trouble following. She wheezed after only a couple of minutes. That seemed terrible for someone who practised breathing exercises every day. Probably has something to do with her weak constitution.

The problem that Gale detected was another practitioner, who noticed them too. He had already dealt with Uncle Feng—the wagoner, and now waiting to deal with them as well.

Gale's eyes turned vigilant, finding it was an iron ranker. He gestured to Xiaolin to stand back after reaching there.

"Who are you people?" said the rogue practitioner at that very moment. Of course, after checking out the threat level. Finding it was merely a copper ranker and a mortal, he didn't tone down his arrogance. "If you know better, then fuck off from this daddy's property at this very moment."

He was a young man of Xiaolin's age with sharp features. A traditional robe held his body as a sword hung loosely on his back. To reach iron rank at such a young age, he must be a gem in this urban region. An unjaded, uncut gem, to be sure.

Gale couldn't help but show disappointment, finding that the youth couldn't manage to overcome the folly of youth yet. Well, that happens when you get superpowers before your brain develops.

"Hey, are you deaf?" the youth snarled at Gale. His eyes lingered on Xiaolin shortly before coming back to Gale again, as he could only detect signs of spirit art from him.

"Kid, learn to respect your elders," Gale said and crept to the Oldman, passed out near the gate of the house. A second inspection told him Uncle Feng wasn't unconscious, nor were there any visible injuries on his body. The youth probably tried to scare him off with spirit suppression, but went a bit far. Well, it's nothing serious. The Oldman would be well in an hour or so.

"This old fool acted all impudent in front of this daddy," the young practitioner provided a loose excuse. "I barely used a speck of my power to show him his place."

"So you acted on an unarmed, innocent mortal?" Gale locked gazes with the youth.

Gale brought a flask of water out of his void lock and held it to the old man's mouth. "Drink."

The youth was startled at first, but sneered shortly to show his superiority. "It is this lord's kindness that I let him off easily," he said, puffing his chest high. "Impudent people like him don't survive long in this world." He paused for a second to give Xiaolin a look and came back to Gale again. "Do you want to be impudent, too?"

"Gosh, I was told I'm anti-climatic at trash-talking." Gale shook his head and stepped forward. "Kid, stop the act and call daddy. I don't have time to teach everyone a lesson."

"The gall!" the practitioner snarled as wild Qi snared in the surrounding area. It locked Xiaolin in her post as sweat dripped down from her face. Her legs started shaking as low whimpers escaped from her mouth.

Gale, however, stood straight. He breathed out, and the pressure disappeared, though wild Qi still snared around the youth. Xiaolin panted. Her legs gave way when the pressure disappeared from on top of her. She skidded away a dozen metres on instinct, knowing she had no place in the contest between practitioners.

"Your aura is in disarray," Gale told the kid. "You should've prepared better for the advancement."

"What do you know about iron advancement, copper?" the youth snorted. "I only need to use a quarter of my strength to put you down."

Gale raised an eyebrow and then smiled. "Truly intimidating," he said in a mocking tone. Then he looked behind the youth. "But how'll you deal with him?"

Before the youth could react, a huge furry hound pouched on him from behind, tossing him out of the way. Well, Gale knew his buddy hadn't used all his strength—or better, most of his strength—but it was still a little more than just a toss. The impudent practitioner was flung away dozens of metres as his body disappeared deep into the undergrowth.

Xiaolin's eyes widened at the cute-looking dog that lost all its savagery and started rubbing its body against Gale's legs as if asking for a reward for the deed.

"Yes, yes, you're the best," Gale told him, caressing his head.

"Was he . . ." Xiaolin's voice trailed off, as her eyes lingered on the undergrowth of crops.

"Dead?" Gale shook his head. "Advancement to iron changes the body for good. It may not be as tough as iron, but a crash like that hardly puts anything other than a few bruises." He paused, eyeing the bush where the silhouette of the youth stood up, seeping with rage. "And it can hurt one's ego pretty badly sometimes."