Red Tiger Battle Art

Jiang Ting and Zhao Song kept walking past the shelves filled with books as Zhao Song introduced the library to Jiang Ting.

"These books were all collected by generations of villagers in Fudi. They are on sorts of subjects, ranging from the sciences to literature, to painting to music, to craftsmanship such as woodwork and sculpting. Everything except martial arts can be found here."

"As for martial arts, we have the martial arts section further up ahead. It is comprised of 5 rooms. Every room has martial arts and treatises of the corresponding grade. Treatises are knowledge, experiences and insights from cultivating martial arts that various seniors have left behind. Reading through these can be helpful to our own cultivation, even helping us get the inspiration to breakthrough the limits of our current realm."

Zhao Song's face was filled with respect as he talked of these seniors. He then continued, "Of course, as far as the martial arts themselves are concerned, they are of three types- offensive martial arts, defensive martial arts, and agility based martial arts. It is best to learn one of all three types, but focus on one to hone it to the extreme."

Jiang Ting nodded as he heard Zhao Song say this. It was indeed best to focus on one technique and master it while having a basic grasp of the other two to increase versatility. After all, the martial path was extremely long, and one did not have the luxury to spend his time mastering everything.

At this point, they reached the five rooms of the martial arts section. Zhao Song spoke up, "Here we are. The rooms are marked from one to five. The numbers marked on the rooms correspond to the grades of the martial arts stored in them. Usually, students have to earn merit by completing missions or by gaining the approval of the core elders so as to prove their worth and to gain enough trust from the village to be allowed access to such precious techniques. As a disciple of the headmaster, you are naturally allowed free entry."

"Students generally start with low level techniques, accumulating merit before getting high level techniques. Cases like yours are rare, such as children of core elders, where the grab grade 5 techniques right away. It usually makes it more difficult for them to start with such high-grade techniques since they generally are more difficult to learn. Core elders thus ask their children to start with some low-level techniques before working their way up. You should go take a look around the 5 rooms first."

"Yes, senior brother." Jiang Ting replied as he stepped directly into the 5th room, heading straight to where the Red Tiger Battle Art was placed. Grabbing a hold of the book, he brought it to the table in the middle of the room, sitting down to study it.

Jiang Ting's mastery in his previous life had been in the Red Tiger Battle Art, cultivating it beyond even his master's level. Eventually he obtained higher level arts before abandoning his practice of the Red Tiger Battle Art. As such, he didn't really need to study it thoroughly, as a basic review of the book would suffice. Yet he had to put on a show to ensure nobody doubted his uncanny knowledge of the book.

Therefore, Jiang Ting sat there for hours, reading the Red Tiger Battle Art. Meanwhile, Zhao Song grabbed a chair beside Jiang Ting, proceeding to study the Overlord Body for the next few hours with Jiang Ting. Being the number one student of the academy, this fellow wasn't the least bit lacking in studiousness. Only by combining his great talents with extreme hard work could he reach his current status.

As the two brothers kept studying, night slowly fell. As martial artists, maintaining a rich source of nutrition was extremely important. As Jiang Ting bid adieu to Zhao Song, they went back to their respective homes. Jiang Ting went to his house, knocking on the door. As the door opened, a warm looking face revealed itself.

"Ting, come in fast, dinner is ready." Jiang Junjie rushed him in, as the two took their seats at the dinner table, ready to dig into the reach feast of spiritual herbs and meat.

Suddenly, Jiang Ting noticed that the feast tonight looked extremely luxurious. As a matter of fact, even his grandfather, who usually ate little, was partaking heavily. So, he asked,

"Grandpa, is it a special occasion today?"

"Indeed it is, enjoy your dinner for now, I will tell you about it later."

Jiang Ting put his head down and continued eating. 'Whatever. It was rare for grandpa to be in such a celebratory mood. Let's just enjoy then.'

After having a hearty meal, Jiang Junjie took Jiang Ting to his spiritual herb garden.

"Ting. These herbs are enough to last you a few years. You must use them cautiously, but don't hesitate to go all out when the time comes."

Jiang Ting grew slightly confused. "What are you talking about, grandpa, aren't you the one who usually handles these things?"

"You were sent here by the Jiang Clan as part of its hidden forces, to grow using techniques that are hidden from everyone except the core elders, and forbidden for the main clan to practice. The Dragon Body technique, though rare, has been around enough that it can be explained away as fortune. The Whispering Blade, however, is a legacy of the Jiang Clan ancestor that has been allotted solely to you."

Jiang Junjie's face grew somber for a while before looking at Jiang Ting with a sad smile. "Ting, I wanted to be with you longer, protect you longer, and love you longer, but the time has come for me to leave." Jiang Ting's face fell at these words, as traumatic memories repressed long back came rushing to the fore. 'No, no, no, no, no. Even after so long, even in another life, must grandpa still leave the mountain?'

"Why?"

"It is quite a long tale, and one that I will tell you when next we meet. Promise me, Ting, you will grow strong enough to come find me. I believe in you." Jiang Junjie's eyes grew watery as he said this, his figure slowly turning into the wind, disappearing on the spot.

Tears started streaming down Jiang Ting's eyes. 'Why? Why again?' "GRANDPA!!!" he screamed, his voice echoing into the night.