Chapter 13 - The Primordial Chaos Mountain Range
Mom and dad met up with 'Cousin Jiang' at the main gate of our clan, which looked decently grandiose. It wasn't gaudy, but rather, it looked rustic and sturdy, made out of what looks to be black steel framing the double gate, and beautiful, red coloured fragrant wood within the frame. 2 guards were standing guard by the side of the gate, looking sharp and tidy. They wore light leather armour that protected their forearms and shins, as well as their chest and back. One held a spear while the other wore a sword on his belt.
"Finally, you're here, Cousin Bai. I'm so excited to bring my son on the First Hunt! If only my wife had the talent for cultivation, she could barely get initiated in sensing Qi... She could've been the one to bring him on his First Hunt." 'Cousin Jiang' unceasingly bantered, with his emotions fluctuating up and down while wearing a similar baby armour as mom's, and had a sword on his waist.
Well, in my case, I should be calling him Uncle Jiang instead. I faintly recall that the Chinese language had a proper separate term for uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and the like for both from the paternal and maternal side. Seems very complicated. I guess I'll just call them without indicating which side of my parents they are related to. I suppose I could get away with just calling them uncle and aunty instead of paternal uncle if I start from when I'm small. They're all my uncles and aunts anyway.
"Cousin Jiang, Uncle Lin." An Xin and Wei Bai both greeted while cupping their fists.
Uncle Lin, or rather, Granduncle Lin, who was standing behind Uncle Jiang, nodded back at the 2 who greeted, while Uncle Jiang impatiently hurried my parents.
"Come on! Onwards to The Primordial Chaos Mountain Range!" Uncle Jiang dramatically pointed towards a direction.
" Cousin, it's the other way, North." An Xin helpfully reminded.
"Oh! Hehe, my mistake." Uncle Jiang sheepishly changed the direction his right finger was pointing while scratching his head with the other hand.
"If you don't start calming down and keep on being impatient, you'll end up with an accident you don't want happening. Also, we're going to the edge only, where only beasts and savage beasts roam. More precisely, River Edge Mountain." Granduncle Lin warned.
"Yes, Uncle Lin." Uncle Jiang put down his hands and apologetically replied.
"Good. You all know what to do, yes? Remember, do not go overboard and take risks. A single tier 1 savage beast is enough as it is. The baptism is only for exposing the children to early bloodshed, so they would be more used to it, especially hunting. Let's hope they grow up strong and well enough to prove themselves for their Second Hunt. It would be good enough if they could do it by 12 years old. Understood?" Granduncle Lin reminded.
"Understood!" All three of the participants vigorously replied.
"Let us set off then. The carriage has been prepared outside. Nephew Bai, take the reins will you?"
"Sure, Uncle Lin." Wei Bai answered.
As they talked with each other while walking towards the outside, the 2 guards opened the main gate for us to pass. The main gate creaked out loudly as the guards moved it.
It sounds heavy. Maybe it's made out of the black steel, and the wood is for decoration? Or maybe the hinges need some oiling.
The 4 adults entered the carriage while the 2 coachmen, who were wearing leather armour and weapons themselves, started moving the carriage. A coachman handled the reins while the other keep a lookout for the surroundings.
*
*
*
*
*
*
On the way to the mountains, the 4 adults ate dried meat with bread and some water, in order to save time.
"Yan Yan, are you hungry?" An Xin gently asked.
"Uohm uhm." I negatively denied.
"Your daughter seems very smart, she seems to be able to understand what you're saying. What about you? Can you understand what she's trying to say??" Uncle Jiang curiously asked.
"My daughter IS very smart. Well, she can't actually understand my words, per se, but she can understand the intention behind the words I'm saying. As for me, I managed to understand what she's saying after a few days, after all, she only had 3 responses so far :
When she agrees, she happily cries out.
When she disagrees, she unhappily denies, like just now.
And when she soiled her diapers, she whines, like she wants to cry.
Other than that, Yan Yan has been very obedient, never woke us up in the middle of the night, and has always been understanding of us. The only thing is that she has been asking for milk 2 times a day since a week ago. Though she has always asked for it when I was awake. Maybe she had asked for it in the middle of the night, and I didn't notice it at all... But compared to the experiences of the other mothers I've heard from them, I truly feel blessed for having Yan Yan." An Xin proudly explained.
"...If my wife heard this she would be super jealous. My wife and I had a lot of problems taking care of our son when we just started out. My wife took a few nourishing medicinal pills from the alchemist at the clan, so she managed to cope with confinement. But we had to check everything whenever he cries out loud. And man he has a mean cry. We didn't know how to tell whether he was hungry, or he soiled his diapers, or if he was even sick... We had quite a few sleepless nights. I'm fine, but my wife is barely better than a mortal, she can't handle this kind of stress just after birth. So I end of taking care of our son while meditating, making sure to keep an eye on him." Uncle Jiang despondently replied.
"Fufufu~ My daughter is the best!" An Xin happily boasted.
"Aouuuuuh~!" I agreed.
"Alright, we're almost there. We will set up camp, then head on out on the First Hunt. Remember, a tier 1 savage beast, is more than enough of a prey as it is. River Edge Mountain may be the borders of the mountain range, but ancient woods are still ancient. Things that are, out at the normal outside world, rare occurrences, can be uncommon at the edge of these ancient woods, but very much possible. Take heed, and be careful. Got it?" Granduncle Lin gravely reminded with an eyebrow raised.
"Yes, Uncle Lin." All three responded.
"Good. Nephew Bai, be vigilant. I trust that you will be careful, and will take good care of your wife."
"Of course." Wei Bai assured.
*
*
*
After arriving at a clearing near the main road, the First Hunt expedition set up camp with horses tied loosely at the nearby trees to graze. An Xin picked up her sturdy, elegant silver metal bow and her arrows that she prepared earlier, and Wei Bai wore his cool looking red metal gauntlets.
Oooooh~ That looks bloody kewl~! I wanna pair! And the bow, it looks great too! And the best of all, they look very practical! I wanna bow too!
"Ready, Yan Yan?"
"Aouh!"
"Okay then. See you later~ Cousin Jiang. May the best hunter find what they seek~!" An Xin cheekily waved her fingers at Uncle Jiang with a smug smile on her face, and disappeared into the forest with 2 quivers strapped onto her thighs, bow in hand.
"Godspeed, Cousin Jiang. Wait up!" Wei Bai salute with his gauntlets cupped, and chased after An Xin, disappearing into the forest as well.
"....They're so fast. Are we even at the same cultivation stage?" Cousin Jiang speechlessly(?) muttered.
"They've always been the most talented of their generation. Nephew Bai is as expected, since he's at the 1st stage of Foundation Establishment. But Niece Xin is still at the peak of Qi Cultivation. And yet she's almost 3/4 as fast as Nephew Bai.." Uncle Jiang observingly commented.
"B-but... the baby... Does that mean she's holding back?!" Cousin Jiang trailed off, shell shocked.
"Who knows? Maybe she is, maybe she isn't. If she is, that means she very well can be as fast as Nephew Bai, if she goes all out. Even if Nephew Bai is more focused on strength and agility of his body rather then speed, the fundamental difference between Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment is still not easy to cross. If she isn't, then either her control is very good, or that baby of hers is weird. The pair are oddly skilled for their generation, but that could be chalked up to their wealth of experiences. Her daughter... it's already amazing how she could somehow understand her mother, but if she can handle the pressure of moving at that speed as a baby, she might really be gifted by the Heavens." Uncle Lin contemplated.
"Haaa. I'm a swordsman who emphasizes in speed and agility of my swordsmanship, and also at the peak of Qi Cultivation. What's the difference that separates me so far from Cousin Xin?" Cousin Jiang depressedly murmured as he heaved a sigh.
"I would tell you if I knew, even I myself would like to know. But perhaps only Ancestor may be able to discern the difference. He's in closed doors, trying to break through the peak of Core Formation, but it's been 10 years... since he came back as the representative of our clan in the decennial war last decade. Who knows when will he come out. Haiz." Uncle Lin lamented as he sighed as well.