Unfathomable Savant

When Zhao Qiang found Tian Cai, he was disheveled and staring blankly into air. The bunny was sitting on Tian Cai lap and happily munching on dark leafy vegetables.

Mu Huizhong, Gray and Small Shadows appeared extremely nervous. In addition, several cleanly sliced tree stumps dotted the area.

Zhao Qiang smirked. Super punk was suffering whilst tipping toes about the bunny.

"Nephew, Uncle has come to visit," said Zhao Qiang.

Small Shadow nudged Gray Shadow and whispered, "Maybe Little Brother's mood will lighten with Young Master's visit."

Gray Shadow nodded.

Suddenly, Mu Huizhong said something that ruined the siblings mood.

"You two, its time too work. Earlier, this seat saw no one has been cleaning the Latrine...no wonder it stinks something awful."

Small and Gray Shadows faces blackened.

Mu Huizhong's hands grabbed their shoulders. "This seat will guide you well on how to wash a latrine. First we need tiny brushes..."

Swoosh!

Mu Huizhong dragged them away to their doom.

Tian Cai turned dull eyes onto Zhao Qiang. "Uncle you're here...welcome."

Suddenly, screams echoed in the distance.

Tian Cai jolted. Didn't that sound like his grandfather?

"Is that...?"

Zhao Qiang chuckled with his eyes twitching. "Father made an unforgivable error and Grandmother is giving him a spanking."

"A spanking? What..?"

Interrupting, Zhao Qiang said, "It's best if you ask him directly."

"Uncle, how may nephew help?"

"Just now, Uncle learned of your injury as result of calling out Godkiller and a need to go to Shadow Hell Forest. We'll leave tomorrow."

"So soon?"

"Mhm, Grandmother and Sister are both extremely concerned. Most especially with that one there in your lap."

The bunny's ears twitched.

"However, this will come at price. Most likely upon our return, Uncle will become a wanted man," continued Zhao Qiang.

"How so?"

"The 30 days delay is nearly over for Uncle's legal obligation to accept duels." Zhao Qiang was about to continue, however they were interrupted.

"Chen'er don't you dare run from Mother!" yelled Zhao Jia in the distance.

"Mother it hurts too much!! Son can only run!"

"Someone! Close the gate!" commanded Tian Cai.

Wouldn't he be asking for trouble if he was caught hiding Grandfather?

Tian Cai nodded his head. Indeed, closing his manor gate was for the best.

Sure enough just after closing the gate, banging thumped frantically. "Cai'er it's Grandfather! Quick open the gate!"

"Father! You dare bring nephew into this!" roared Zhao Qiang.

"Hurry and open the damn gate!"

Shaking his head, Tian Cai pulled out his control disc. Pressing a button, he activated the manor's defensive formations and a thick light barrier erupted into life.

"Damn it, you little runt! You dare activate your defensive formations against your own Grandfather!?"

"Grandfather, try next door. Why not try to make amends with Senior Ling Wenyan. Surely, Granny wouldn't search over there."

"Chen'er, Mother knew you would try escaping there first!"

"NOOOOOOOOOO!"

BOOOM!

A body shot up into the sky.

Swoosh!

"Damn it's bad, Grandmother's chasing after him. She so riled, Father's gonna get beat all day long," said Zhao Qiang.

"You really won't say what Grandfather did?" asked Tian Cai with a wince.

"Nephew, its best you find out after things have settled down."

"Uncle, we have some days free still. Maybe three. Can you not duel everyone within that time?"

"Ha! Uncle only needs one complete day to battle them all at the same time. Nephew, by the way Uncle wants to borrow 5 million spirit stones."

"Five million?"

"Er it's to cover the damages to public property during the dueling?"

The bunny squeaked, "Carrot."

Tian Cai rolled his eyes, yelling, "Bring more Carrots!"

Not even a few breaths later, Alchemist Liu pulled over a cart full of carrots.

"Youngest Master, I pulled everything from the garden. However, its the last of our supply," said Alchemist Liu.

"Someone run to the market and buy every damn carrot they have!" roared Tian Cai. Turning back to Zhao Qiang, "How is it, they're challenging you and you're the one paying?"

Zhao Qiang smacked his thigh. "Finally, someone in the family understands! Everyone from Sister, Grandmother to Father has always berated Uncle due to this. It's a scheme I say, a scheme! How is it those guards are always there calculating damages? Huh?"

Grabbing a bunch of carrots, Tian Cai gingerly held them by to the tips and motioned the carrot tops to the bunny.

Chomp!

Like a blur, the bunny practically inhaled the carrots. Purring, the bunny said, "Dada best."

Zhao Qiang's eyes dilated. He was sure if it was him feeding the bunny, he'd no longer have a hand.

"This does sound like scheme. Mayhap Alchemist Gu has some insight. Someone ask Alchemist Gu over!"

Stilling eyeing the bunny, Zhao Qiang asked, "Nephew, its the bunny traveling also?"

Tian Cai shuddered upon hearing the question.

This!

Alchemist Gu hurried over. Cupping his hands, he said, "Young Master, Youngest Master, how can this Alchemist help?"

Tian Cai was still in shock.

However, it was then he heard Shensheng's voice in distance. "Little Junjie, most likely Big Brother will travel with you as well. It will be your duty to protect him your life. Sigh..since your eyes are bad, you cannot rely on the Pig Swooping Down Tactic. Therefore, you may only battle at close range. Thus, your only reliable technique will be the Profound Tusk Skewering Art. Once you master it...Humph, few will match your might. Now, let Progenitor pass it over."

Zhao Qiang looked at Tian Cai and jolted in surprise. His eyes were watery. Was the boy about to cry?

Clearing his throat, Zhao Qiang took over the conversation. "Alchemist Gu, Nephew called you to inquire about the origins of the Savant City's Dueling Laws."

"Ah that...It's an open secret that the laws were created to generate money for the city. Several thousand years ago, Savant City was full of hot-blooded youths. The City Lord of that era was known for being creative about making money. So, if youths wanted to duel, why not have them pay a 200% surcharge for any damages."

Zhao Qiang choked. This whole time, he'd been willingly conned?

Tian Cai shot a look at Zhao Qiang whose face flushed red. Didn't that look mean Fool?

Smacking his lips, Tian Cai asked, "Is that why Savant City has no battle arenas?"

Simultaneously, both Zhao Qiang and Alchemist Gu asked, "Arenas?"

"You two don't know what those are?" asked Tian Cai.

Both shook their heads in negative.

"Is there anything in the law that says, the duels must take place on public property?" asked Tian Cai.

"No, however, established tradition is for all challengers to gather at the recipient's dwelling," said Alchemist Gu.

"Humph, this Young Master calls bull crap! Tradition? That City Lord back then must've created this as away to control the venue."

Alchemist Gu said, "Can this really be true?"

"An arena is essentially the size of 5 fields and is surrounded by seats. It's a place where thousands can purview an event. Typically, to get a seat one needs to buy a seat. Stalls sell food, beverages and souvenirs at higher prices. A battle arena is very similar, except it strictly designed to host fighting events like duels."

"Such places exist? Why duel there?" asked Zhao Qiang.

Suddenly Tian Cai, Alchemist Gu, and even the Bunny shot strange looks at Zhao Qiang.

Clearly there was a reason, he wasn't the Zhao Clan Patriarch.

Alchemist Lieu rolled her eyes and said, "Young Master, this so-called arena is private property. Not only would dueling surcharges not be applied, but the owner could earn monies by various means."

"Alchemist Liu is correct. Why couldn't there be a betting house?"

Chock full of astonishment, Zhao Qiang shot to his feet. "Genius!!"

Alchemist Liu asked, "Youngest Master, are you thinking of building an arena."

"There's no time. Alchemist Gu, can challengers forfeit their right to duel?"

"As long as both parties sign a valid contract and an agreed upon sum is paid," replied Alchemist Gu.

"Then is their a place, outside the city that has only one path in?" asked Tian Cai.

Zhao Qiang responded, "Dragon Claw Cliff! On the north side of Mt. Dragonfall is Dragon Claw Cliff. There's only one trail that leads up to the cliff.

"How many people can fit up there?"

"Less than a hundred persons," replied Zhao Clan.

"Ha! Now we have a plan," chuckled Tian Cai.

Zhao Qiang scratched his head, "How so nephew!"

Both Alchemists rolled their eyes.

It was at this time Tian Cai realized his Uncle was very much like this Grandfather.

"How's this for a plan? We announce in two days time you will battle everyone at once at the top of Dragon Claw Cliff. Those eager challengers will definitely head over. But at the narrowest point, we have a pay toll. Anyone who wants to pass needs to pay money. Say 250,00 spirit stones. Obviously, most people won't be able to pay. However, what if we pay them to sign forfeiting rights contracts...say 20,000 spirit stones? Those who can pay the fee to cross, pay. Those who can't then can still receive remuneration."

Alchemist Liu asked, "Youngest Master, what's to prevent everyone from over running the blockade?

"Humph! What if the one blocking the road is Godkiller? Just yesterday, didn't he kill 5 Empyreans?" asked, Tian Cai. Subconsciously, he patted the Bunny's head.

"Dada"

The Alchemists and Zhao Qiang gasped in amazement.

"Haaaha! My Genius Nephew the pillar of our Zhao Clan," roared Zhao Qiang.

"Youngest Master, to have such an erudite mind at your age...Do you have a unfathomable Savant as your teacher," asked Alchemist Liu.

Unfathomable Savant...Ah that....of course, Big Brother Zhao Ding is not only a top hidden expert but also an unfathomable Savant. Only he could be this Young Master's teacher."

In the distance, Zhu Shensheng snorted. "Sigh, how can this be? Your eyes are so bad you can't even aim your tusks properly. You missed that tree five times already! Fine, Fine, we cannot rely on the Profound Tusk Skewering Art...It's a little early but Progenitor will try teaching you her Silent Killer technique."

Tian Cai's face blackened.

Would he ever be able to reveal to the world, his Teacher was a crazy Divine Pig?

Alchemist Liu trembled.

Master Zhao Ding was an unfathomable Savant as well! Suddenly, her face flushed. Oh my, and she just met such a remarkable master?

Abruptly, the bunny sat up. Ears twitching, he peered off in the direction of the Ling Clan. It had detected the movement of a certain 6 year old girl.

With a squeak, the bunny said, "Mommy."

Tian Cai's eyes popped wide like two moons. The little bugger was calling him Mommy?