Chapter 5: The True Martial Spirit of Xue Sha

The village chief, along with the other villagers, waited outside the Awakening Hall. Ma Xiu Nuo's exit caused a murmur among the crowd, eager for news. Before they could overwhelm him with questions, the village chief raised his hand to ask for silence and addressed Ma Xiu Nuo with a direct question.

"How many have awakened innate soul power?" he asked with a firm voice, looking at Ma Xiu Nuo expectantly.

Ma Xiu Nuo, still recovering from the earlier surprise, replied: "There are about 8 who have awakened with half a level of innate soul power, two with 1 level, one with level 2, another with level 3, and finally, another with level 10."

The mention of an innate soul power level 10 caused an immediate stir among the villagers. "Who is the one who has awakened with innate soul power level 10?" several asked in unison, with a mix of awe and envy.

Ma Xiu Nuo, who seemed a bit agitated, took a deep breath and calmed down before answering. "It's Xue Sha," he said.

The reaction of the villagers was varied. Everyone, except the village chief, who showed a satisfied smile, and a few more who discreetly sketched a small smile, seemed to have mixed emotions. Some showed unhappy faces, others angry, and some even seemed scared.

The village chief, observing the reactions of his people, decided to take control of the situation. "This is a blessing for our village," he proclaimed with a powerful voice, trying to instill a sense of pride among those present. "Xue Sha has awakened unprecedented innate soul power, and that is cause for celebration, not discontent."

The murmurs continued, but the firmness of the village chief made many reconsider their stance. Although some still felt envy or fear for the uncertain future that such a big change would bring, the majority could not help but feel intrigued by the possibilities that such a talented individual would bring to their community.

Ma Xiu Nuo, seeing that the situation was under control, bowed to the village chief and prepared to leave the place, thinking about his own plans and how Xue Sha's emergence could influence his future ambitions.

The door of the Spiritual Awakening Hall slowly opened, and Su Yuntao emerged at the head of a group of children. The faces of the young ones showed a mix of emotions: some were radiant with joy, while others could not hide their disappointment. As they came out, most of the children ran towards their parents, some crying for not having awakened innate soul power. Among them, some smiled through their tears, revealing that they had been fortunate in awakening their power.

The parents welcomed their children, consoling the afflicted and proudly congratulating those who had succeeded. The air was charged with a mix of comfort and celebration.

Meanwhile, Su Yuntao approached the village chief with a serious expression. "Where has Ma Xiu Nuo gone?" he asked, looking around for the master.

The village chief, still observing the scene with the children and their families, responded with a vague gesture. "Over there," he said, pointing in the direction Ma Xiu Nuo had disappeared.

Su Yuntao nodded, handed a copy of the papers he had given to the children to the village chief, and without wasting time, said goodbye and went to look for Ma Xiu Nuo.

The village chief, with the papers in hand, turned to Xue Sha, who had been behind Su Yuntao all the time. With a mix of amazement and emotion, almost on the verge of tears, he asked: "Is it true that you have awakened level 10 innate soul power?"

Xue Sha, with a calmness that contrasted with the chief's effusiveness, simply nodded and said: "Yes."

Hearing the confirmation, the village chief could not contain his joy. With arms outstretched, he drew Xue Sha to him for a warm and emotional hug. "This is extraordinary!" he exclaimed, his voice resonating with pride and happiness.

After a moment, the village chief separated from Xue Sha and, with a hand on his shoulder, said: "Let's go home." He bid farewell to the other villagers with a friendly gesture and walked towards his home, with Xue Sha by his side, leaving behind a community that murmured with amazement and speculation about the future that awaited their village with such a prodigious talent among them.

Once inside the house, the village chief closed the door behind them, ensuring that privacy enveloped them. He turned to Xue Sha, his gaze intense and penetrating. "We are alone now, Xiao Xue. Tell me, what martial spirit have you awakened? I doubt it's something as simple as a mist."

Xue Sha, with a serenity that seemed to emanate from his being, replied with a firm voice, "It seems to be the Heart. I can feel the emotions of others and, to some extent, manipulate them."

The village chief nodded slowly, his expression inscrutable. "Well, not bad," he said in a tone that lacked the excitement Xue Sha expected.

Surprised by the lack of enthusiasm, but not wanting to inquire further, Xue Sha changed the subject. "Old man, I felt Ma Xiu Nuo's murderous intent for a moment."

The village chief frowned, one eyebrow raised in a sign of doubt. "Hmm, why? What have you done to make him want to kill you?"

"I did nothing in particular," Xue Sha explained. "When I awakened my martial spirit and it was confirmed that I had level 10 innate soul power, Ma Xiu Nuo, with red eyes, approached and asked me if I would be interested in joining the Hall of Spirits. I said no."

The village chief nodded in understanding, setting aside the matter of Ma Xiu Nuo. "Well, let's leave that for now. Go change your clothes while I prepare something to eat," he said in a tone that indicated the matter was closed for the moment.

Xue Sha nodded and headed for the stairs. He climbed with light steps, his mind still fluttering with the day's events. Upon reaching his room, he opened the door and took off the ceremonial clothes he had worn for the Awakening. He approached the closet and selected something more casual, a mix between Chinese and Western styles. He chose a light-colored cotton shirt, soft to the touch and with subtle embroidery that gave it a traditional touch. He combined it with dark linen trousers, comfortable and loose, perfect for the warm climate and the simplicity of everyday life. To complete the outfit, he put on a pair of fabric shoes, easy to slip on and practical for any task.

Once dressed, he went downstairs and headed for the kitchen, where the sounds of food preparation filled the air. The crackling of hot oil and the steady rhythm of the knife against the cutting board were a familiar melody that brought him a sense of home.

"How much longer?" Xue Sha asked, his voice briefly interrupting the symphony of culinary sounds.

The village chief, without stopping his movement between the stoves and the countertop, replied without looking: "Now, 5 minutes."

Xue Sha sat in a chair next to the kitchen table, waiting patiently as the aroma of the food became increasingly tempting. He watched the village chief move with skill, a dance of efficiency and love for cooking.

Five minutes later, as promised, the village chief began to bring the food to the table. In several trips, he brought dishes, chopsticks, and glasses, followed by the main courses and side dishes. There was a plate of stir-fried vegetables that crunched with every movement, a bowl of white and fluffy rice, and a skillet with pieces of golden and crispy tofu. There was also a clear soup with herbs floating on the surface, releasing a fragrant steam that filled the room.

With each trip from the kitchen to the table, the presentation became more complete, until finally, everything was ready. The village chief sat across from Xue Sha, smiled at him, and said: "Let's eat." And so, in the simplicity of their home, they shared a meal that was much more than sustenance; it was a moment of calm and connection after a day full of revelations and changes.