The Moons Blessing

Slowly waking up from his slumber, Xie Xie noticed the smell of herbs and medicine. Looking over he saw Mu Xi in bed with him, knowing she had once again cling to him. He tried getting up to only feel a stinging pain in his shoulders down to his arm. It was very obvious that he had over exerted his body and injured himself recklessly.

Normally he should be in the hospital from all the pain he felt and how far he pushed his body. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to saw he could of crippled his arm but he had noticed something when he saw examining his body. He felt something coming from his body, something that was tied to his soul.

He saw himself in a fetal position and around his body he saw two things circling his body

"This..is my soul?"

Looking more closely at the two things he saw a Moon and an Egg? Still confused about what was happening he soon felt a force pull him out, just before he was forced out he saw the Moon enter his forehead as he felt an intense pain hit him, it had felt like someone drilling into his forehead.

Waking up, he tapped his forehead but felt nothing. No, there couldn't be nothing, that pain was real and what he saw couldn't have been a dream as it was too vivid to be one.

That's when it hit him. That stupid ring that had plague him his entire life had come again to haunt him once more. Yet he didn't see the ring but he felt it somehow merged with him. Frustrated and panicked Xie Xie thought about his current life. It was one he was happy with, yes happy...it was something foreign to him but he knew this could be considered happiness.

He was worried that if this ring was the same as the one in his past life it would lead to his ruin and hurt those around him and he was frustrated because he had no way to stop it.

Xie Xie, in his strange state of mind clenched his fists and pulled onto the closest thing to him. Unintentionally he had pressed Mu Xi's body onto his.

"...uhm..Xie Xie...what what are you doing?"

Brought back to reality he had noticed what he had done and the awkward situation he had put himself into. On his lap was a red faced Mu Xi that was being held tightly by Xie Xie.

"Ah... Mu Xi, I'm sorry I was lost in my thoughts"

"..mmm..you can let go now"

Looking at the quiet Mu Xi who is usually so loud and energetic Xie Xie smiled as the dark thoughts faded away. So what if that darn ring had come with him. This time he won't allow a ring to decide his fate, he will protect those close to him and slaughter those who get in his way.

Now that he had cleared his mind, his mood turned for the better and decided to tease Mu Xi. Xie Xie lowered his head and whispered into her ear

"What if I don't want to let go? You always cling onto me when you sleep, it's only fair if I can cling onto you too right?

Mu Xi caught off guard by Xie Xie's comment was now flustered and blushing

"I..no...XieXie, it isn't like that..I just"

"Hehe,I'm just kidding"

"Go back to sleep, I'll be back in a bit" chuckles Xie Xie as he let of Mu Xi and got up from bed. He stretched his body and walked towards the mirror to see any changes. There was no change in his appearance, until he felt the moonlight hit him as knowledge he didn't know before appeared inside his mind.

[Moon Art]

[Seal 1: Moons Blessing]

[Seal 2]

[Seal 3]

[Seal 4]

[Seal 5]

He turned towards the moon and close his eyes, he focused his mind as he willed the unknown energy to come towards him. Feeling an unknown energy being absorbed through his forehead he felt a cooling sensation and slightly felt his body strengthening.

Opening his eyes he saw that a glowing crescent moon appeared on his forehead as he felt his body's changes. His skin felt more soft and supple and his hair looked more shiny and soft like silk. His eyes became more brighter as if tiny stars were lighting them up and the flexibility of his body was motivate enhanced yet his strength barely increased.

His lips twitched, he had thought Lady Luck had finally shined upon him but it seems he might haven received something more suitable for women. However he was always someone who valued practicality more than looks, if this Moon Art allowed him to become stronger he would continue to cultivate it.

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6 Months Later:

In the courtyard a boy be seen laying down besides a tree enjoying the moonlight. The sound of grass rustling grass and tree branches shaking along with the soft sound of breathing pervaded the air. If one looked closely enough small lights floated towards the boy and his body emitted a light glow.

*Crunch* *Crunch* *Crunch*

The sound of footsteps and leaves broke the calm and quiet atmosphere. As the sounds continue to disrupt the peaceful focus of the boy, his eyebrows wrinkled. The sound became evidently louder and faster, soon it no longer sounded like leaves being crunched but something more horrendous. The footsteps inches closer and the strength in each step seemed like it grew in power.

*Crunch* *Crunch* *Crunch*

"Xie Xie!"

Sighing, Xie Xie opened his eyes to hear Mu Xi's angry voice call out to him once more

"Let's have another competition!"

His lips twitching,

"Mu Xi, You still want to compete?"

Where did he go wrong? His relationship with Mu Xi had taken a turn in a strange way after he had won a smithing competition between them. It seemed that having someone alongside her that was also talented in smithing only made her work harder.

Both Xie Xie and Mu Xi were being trained by Mu Chen, Mu Xi already had smithing experience and jumped to becoming a 1 Star rank blacksmith right away and was working towards becoming a 2 star rank blacksmith. Xie Xie on the other hand had to learn everything from the basics, yet he had the mind of an adult and the precision and skillfulness from his past life which made him progress rapidly.

Both grew at an exhilarating speed under Mu Chen's tutelage and their bond became tighter as time flew by until Mu Xi wanted to compete with Xie Xie. The competition was to make a medium component for Mechas and Xie Xie had won through his precision and speed. If it was creating something more complex Xie Xie would have lost due to his lack of experience but unfortunately for Mu Xi she had under estimated Xie Xie.

"You! You think you will win this time?! Don't forget you lost to me last time!"

Xie Xie shook his head, he couldn't win against her.

"Alright let's head to the smithy then"

The score was currently 49/13 with Xie Xie winning 49 rounds already. He had never gone easy on Mu Xi, and he wouldn't consider that an option, he wasn't the type of person to go easy on anyone and even if she would cry afterwards he would continue to win. Lately however, Mu Xi had started to win more often as her skills continued to improve rapidly under such pressure.

Xie Xie also continued to cultivate Moon Arts as he felt stronger albeit slowly. The crescent moon on his forehead became brighter as he progressed and he had learned to hide the mark. He had also learned the technique of the first Seal.

[Gentle Moon Fist]

He found the fist technique to be intriguing, it was a move that allowed him to strike someone softly but use moon essence to create a rippling internal force. He was only able to create a small force that couldn't hurt anyone now but he saw potential for it to be deadly.

———————————————————————

1 Year:

Under the moonlight Xie Xie was sitting down with his eyes closed, he was absorbing the moon essence and the small lights landed onto him as his crescent moon mark flowed intensely. He felt it was full and could no longer absorb anymore essence for the day. He was reluctant since he felt he felt the chains to the second seal shake. It was the first time the second seal had any reaction, but he knew haste made waste so he stopped.

Looking down he gently pat Mu Xi's head, this had become a strange routine over the year. They would practice smithing together and every once in a while Mu Xi would force Xie Xie to a smithing competition. He simply went along with her due to his fondness of her, but he never went easy. He crushed her whenever possible and it only made her work harder. Yet, at the end of the day while Xie Xie would be cultivating Mu Xi would sneak into his room and use his laps as a pillow.

Luckily they were already on the bed and he only had to move her position slightly and never woke her up. Sighing, he just her do as she pleased since eventually he would leave.

Their smithing progressed rapidly over the year, Mu Xi was an already known 1 Star blacksmith in the circle and she was already skilled enough to be a 2 star blacksmith but Mu Chen didn't want her to become overconfident and wanted her to wait a while before taking the promotion test.

Xie Xie had also become a 1 Star blacksmith as he became known throughout the blacksmith association along with Mu Xi. They were known as the 2 rising stars, the Sun & Moon. It was an name that they acquired due to Mu Xi's martial spirt being a Sun and the Crescent Moon on his forehead. It was only after he heard the title that he learned a way to hide the mark, but it was too late as it had become a name that already circulated around the blacksmith association.

Mu Xi also grew more pretty as time passed, children in this world grew much faster compared to his past life. He saw a budding beauty grow before his eyes and at first he worried if her beauty would be ruined by smithing but his worries were unfounded. There was someone else that was even more worried than him.

——————————————————————

Mu Chen was currently in a predicament, he had recently took his daughter and Xie Xie under his tutelage. He was happy a first, but after a week on intense training he had seen calluses on his precious daughters hands.

Dishearten he looked over to his wife

"Honey, I need to change Mu Xi's mind about being a blacksmith.. I won't allow her to turn into a gorilla!!"

*Slap*

"What did you call my daughter?!"

"Honey..honey..she's my daughter too.."

"Humph, she will hate you if you try and stop her she will hate you"

"NOOOO anything but that" Mu Chen in agony just imagining his daughter ignoring him

"Dear, just buy some herbs for her to maintain her figure"

"That's it!!" Mu Chen quickly got up and started to prepare to head out. His mind entirely preoccupied with his daughter he had ignored his wife. Until he heard a quiet yet angry voice.

"Mu Chen"

Gulp...he turned towards his wife

"Yes dear..?"

"Ara, it's nice of you to be so worried about our daughter. Make sure to buy some extra herbs for me too. My skin has been feeling a little dry lately"

Sweating Mu Chen could only nod as he quickly exited the house. He had forgotten how his wife was towards cosmetics an skin care.

Sighing while looking at his wallet, it seemed he wouldn't be able to buy the new forge he wanted.