Fleeting Time

Li Jing sat down on a cushion and descended into a contemplative silence as he speculated his current dilemma, "The pain from bone refining is too much. No wonder elders won't allow children to practice it without their presence. If something went wrong while refining ones bone, they would be crippled; worst they would die."

"However, I have two problems to deal with - to avoid fainting while refining my bones and how to dispose impurities that will be expelled from my body after the process is completed. If something like today happens again, my reputation will hit rock bottom. Argh!"

Thinking about the morning's incident, Li Jing clutched his head in irritation. He knew very well that this small incident will even haunt him in the future, though, only in this life.

"Xiao Jing! Come out now, okay. See, no one tease you anymore. I even scolded everyone in the house.", while he was contemplating on his next course of action, his mother's melodious voice sounded from outside the room.

"No!", he declined to oblique with his mother's request.

"Really? What a pity! I made Hot pot. Guess, I will have to eat it all alone.", Su Xiaoyue especially emphasized on 'hot pot', trying to tempt her son.

However, no response came from the other side of the door.

Shhhhk!

Soon, the door of the room slid open and a small head peeked outside. The big icy blue eyes gazed upon the beautiful woman standing in front and asked, "Did you really make Hot Pot?"

The woman smiled sweetly as she responded, "Yes, dear."

"Wonton Soup too?"

"Don't try to take a yard after getting an inch, son.", his mother said with a sharp gaze.

"Fine.", unknowingly Li Jing had started to behave like a three years old, maybe it was because of his still developing mind which resulted in such change. However, his initial personality and memory were still there.

...

The news of Li Family's first Young Master's embarrassing incident continued to spread like wildfire, to the point that even the palace maids and eunuchs of the Imperial Palace have caught the wind of it.

And how could the activities going on within the palace go unnoticed under the gaze of the ruler of the Maple Sky Kingdom, King Yan Chen.

Within a grand hall supported by majestic pillars engraved with coiling golden dragons. 

King Yan was sitting on the throne. His red hairs were like a lavafall that stretched down to his waist. He had a chiseled face with piercing red eyes and wore a four-clawed golden dragon robe.

A Eunuch was standing in front of him with his gazed lowered.

"Haha. The Little Genius of Li's? Well, this is a first. What an irony though, in the family of warriors a fragile being has been born.", King Yan chuckled lightly when he read the news about Li Jing popping in the bed. He looked at the eunuch standing standing in front of him and asked, "Don't you think Eunuch Gao?"

Hearing King Yan question, Eunuch Gao immediately responded, "Your majesty is wise. Indeed, this is the case. Even Divine Physician Yan said that the grandson of Great Commander Li has inferior talent in Martial Path."

[A/N: Yan as in flame.]

The Royal Yan family and the Li family weren't exactly against each other or didn't have a good relationship. However, because the Li family had a majority control over the military forces, the Yan Royal family had always kept them in check.

The Li family, apart from military, were also involved in various businesses but they were nothing when compared to the Yan Royal family's control over salt and inland water transport trade and commerce. 

Due to the presence of the Southern Sea in the southeast region, the waterways transportation was highly developed, making Maple Sky Kingdom the wealthiest vassal kingdom of the Sunset Empire.

However, due to this reason they also had to pay a larger amount of tax to the empire every year, maintaining the balance between the ten vassal kingdoms and preventing any sort of rebellion.

Li Jing possessing low talent in Martial Path also gave them a relief, since they were worried that the Li family would give birth to another talent on par with Li Wei Feng.

King Yan and Eunuch Gao continued to discuss various matters regarding the court and kingdom.

....

Seasons changed and so did people. Four years have passed in a blink of an eyes.

During the initial few days after Li Jing had started to practice the Martial Technique, the Blue Sea Tidal Body Art [Golden Page ver.], he would always cultivate moderately which was enough for him to faint.

He had also asked his mother to have a separate bath constructed for him attached to his room so that he could deal with the impurities. His mother didn't give it much thought and presumed that her son wanted to act like adults do, finding it amusing.

Thus, solving both his dilemma's easily.

In the first year after he started cultivating, Li Jing would at most cultivate for around ten to fifteen minutes, which might seem a short time but felt like hours of torture due to the pricking pain all over his body.

The time of cultivation kept increasing by seconds every few days and by the end of the first year, he was able to refine his bones for around twenty five minutes.

During the second, he finally broke through to the Tendon Strengthening realm of the Body Tempering Realm. Becoming the youngest mid-stage Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist in the history, something unprecedented.

If this fact was revealed to the people outside, only heaven and earth could tell what sort of storm it would cause, bringing catastrophe to not only him but the entire Li family.

However, because of his extremely young body, the changes brought by this breakthrough weren't very visible and even if they were, it would probably be associated with his growing child body.

The other children in the academy had also broken through to the Tendon Strengthening phase. His cousin Li Xun even broke through to the mid-stage which could be considered a genius according to Teacher Li Hao.

At the age of 6, Li Jing finally broke through to the mid-stage of the Tendon Strengthening phase of the Body Tempering Realm after months of relentless meditation and training.

And this year, at the mere age of 7, he had reached the peak of Tendon Strengthening and on the cusp of breaking into the 'Muscle and Skin Cleansing phase' on par with his cousin Li Xun.

...

Today was the day that Li Jing would officially start practicing the Martial Technique along with other children his age. So, he was relocated to another class which had children his age.

The instructor of his new class was someone called Li Yuan, who, like most of the Li Family members had navy blue hair and icy blue eyes.

As Li Jing sat on his mat, Li Yuan entered the courtyard. Every student, including Li Jing, stood up and greeted, "Good morning, teacher."

"Sit down.", he said as he gaze landed on Li Jing. He said slowly, "There seems to be some new faces. Why don't you introduce yourselves child?"

Li Jing, without thinking much stood up and said, "Greetings everyone. My name is Li Jing and starting today I will be joining you. Please take care of me."

Hearing his introduction, the other children started to whisper among themselves.

"Li Jing? The First Young Master?"

"Ah! So, we are going to be classmates with First Young Master. How lucky!"

"I heard from my parents that he is a genius and can memorize ancient history and poems like they were nothing."

"Really? Wow. Young master is really talented!"

"Not necessarily. I heard he born weak and has a low talent in Martial Path."

"What a pity! But still he is our First Young Master. Its still an honor to be his classmate."

Li Yuan, who heard the whispers of the children, chuckled lightly and said, his gaze and tone full of disdain, "Indeed. Welcome Young Master Pooper! Please sit down."

He, then, muttered under his breathe, "Piece of shit! Why do I have to teach a trash like him!? Ah! What a bad luck to have Pantzpooper in my class!"

However, his muttering was not low, everyone in the courtyard heard it and burst into laughter.

"Hahaha!"

"I-I remember my parents talking about Young Master pooping in his bed and how everyone called him Pantz pooper or Young Master Pooper."

"Haha. Right, I remember now. My parents were talking about it too."

Li Jing expression sunk the moment he heard Li Yuan's word but didn't take it to his heart, thinking that maybe he was joking. However, his next words and the way he said them made him the eternal enemy of Li Jing.

He was now sure that, Li Yuan had intentionally jeopardised his reputation, lowering his position in other children's heart. Li Yuan also attempted to demoralize him with his next few words.

Unfortunately for him, Li Jing wasn't a normal 7 years old brat. Had that been the case, Li Yuan would have succeeded but now he had only gained a vicious enemy for himself.