Chapter 3

When they reached the gate of the village, Mingyun let go of the cart and stretched her limbs.

The two hurriedly squatted and vomited their empty insides, too dizzy from the journey.

The uncle and the horse took several minutes to rest before welcoming Mingyun to the village.

At the door to Uncle's house, Mingyun sniffed the tantalizing aroma in the air and began to look forward to today's lunch.

"Honey, I'm home!" The uncle shouted and knocked on the wooden door."

A middle-aged woman wearing a grey Manchu-style shirt, black trousers, and a white apron came out to open the door. Her hair was gathered in a bun, supported by a wooden hairpin. The corner of her eyes had crow's-foot wrinkles. She smiled at Uncle and at Mingyun afterwards. "This is?"

Mingyun gave a slight bow and introduced herself: "My name is Fei Mingyun, the first disciple of Abbot Cheng at the top of the mountain." She pointed to the mountain ranges in the distance where the temple is located.

The auntie looked at Uncle silently, gesturing to him to explain.

The Uncle couldn't help but laugh. "Everything she said is the truth. Just now the horse wasn't able to continue the journey and this girl helped me to get home. Honey, don't underestimate her strength! She lifted our Red mane with a single hand and pulled the cart like a fast train."

The auntie obviously didn't believe his words but still didn't speak her thoughts as she looked at Mingyun, nodding at the uncle's words. "Alright, you two must be hungry. Wash your hands in the well at the back and come inside."

After the two washed their hands, Mingyun placed her things on the side of the door and sat at the table. She swallowed her saliva while watching the dishes being served. The auntie led the prayer, and the three began eating.

"So where are your parents, Mingyun?" The auntie asked after finishing her meal.

Mingyun stopped picking the pickled cabbages and replied, "Master said they'll pick me up when I'm 18 years old."

The uncle choked on his rice and carefully asked, "You don't live with them?"

Mingyun shook her head. "I've been with my master since I was five years old."

The aunt and uncle looked at each other and tacitly avoided the topic. They both picked up the food from the dishes and placed it in Mingyun's bowl. Both have pity in their eyes.

Mingyun was very happy with their actions and continued to gobble up the food until the plates and bowls were clean.

Auntie Zhang felt good seeing her enjoy her cooking and asked her to stay overnight. Mingyun wanted to refuse, but Uncle Liu insisted and said that he would personally send her to the main road tomorrow. Mingyun agreed eventually.

She helped Aunt Zhang with chores, which made the latter fond of her. The time flew by fast, and the night came. The three had a hearty dinner. Mingyun happily ate the meat dishes and helped wash the dishes after.

"Why are you going to the capital?" Aunt Zhang asked, folding the recently washed Shaolin monk uniforms and placing them on her temporary bed.

Mingyun wore Aunt Zhang's old clothes, which were too big for her. The couple had no children, so the aunt could only provide her clothes. She was very worried about Mingyun going to the big city.

"Master asked me to find someone," Mingyun replied.

"You're a little girl. How could your master let you go alone? Are there any older men to do his bidding?" Aunt Zhang frowned.

"Aunt Zhang, I'm the strongest disciple under Master's tutelage. He always entrusts me with big tasks, and the elders can't leave the temple," Mingyun answered.

Aunt Zhang pursed her lips and didn't ask anymore. However, she still patted her head and said goodnight.

The candle soon dimmed, and Mingyun closed her eyes, falling into dreamland.

When the dawn came, Mingyun's ears moved as she heard animalistic sounds and stomping hooves from a mile away, quickly getting near the village. She got up and quickly changed her attire. Mingyun sneaked out the window and blended into the darkness. She ran noiselessly and leaped on trees. Her figure was so fast that only an afterimage was seen. It didn't take long for her to arrive at the place and meet a group of boars. They also stopped in their tracks when they saw her.

Both parties eyed each other warily. The leader of the boars grunted, and the rest bared their tusks and began their rampage with the intention of killing Mingyun.

Mingyun fisted both her hands and met them head-on. She punched their temple with huge force, sending them injured a few meters away. Some boars crushed the trees and broke the trunk; it immediately knocked them out cold. Mingyun leaped and kicked the others in the buttocks, making them eat the soil on the ground. Their sharp tusks were buried for several feet. She continued dominating the fight until only the leader was left.

The leader of the boar was a meter larger than the rest. It was very unusual for boars to grow this much. Mingyun was concerned for the couple and the villages. If Master didn't let her go out, she's afraid the consequences would be disastrous.

The leader raised his tusk and rushed towards Mingyun; his eyes were seething in anger, wanting to tear her flesh and bones to avenge his fallen subordinates.

Mingyun stepped her right foot back and pulled her right elbow outward. She took a deep breath, consolidated her force, and closed her eyes.

The boar saw it and thought she was frightened, but it was delighted. It increased the strength in his limbs. Dust blurred its burly body.

Mingyun's ponytail flapped; she could feel the deadly force coming from affront and remained calm.

Just as it was about to close in, she punched with great strength, crushing the boar's skull and throwing its huge body in a straight line, dragging broken trees along the way leaving a bloody trail.

Mingyun let out a breath and did a few stretches. She quickly tried to sense any more danger nearby and was glad that none was threatening.

She observed the carcasses and the traces left after the battle and began to think of a way to persuade the village to change places. She was very afraid that something might happen if she was not here.

After a few minutes, she dragged the boars' carcasses near the forest's entrance to let hunters see them and warned the other villagers.

It was around four a.m. when she finished; she took off her monk uniform and went to bed again.

She slept peacefully, but the beasts deep in the mountains became anxious after sensing the defeat of the boars.