NOVEL WEB Chapter 11: First Glimpse of Awakening
In the northeastern part of Douluo Continent lies the Duchy of Shuimu, which was early adorned with a layer of pure white snow.
For several days, thick snowflakes fell continuously, prompting ninety-nine percent of the populace to stay comfortably indoors, savoring the rare peace and leisure this time of year offers.
Yet, on this particular morning, the Ling and Zhang families spanning three generations woke up early, gathering at Zhang Dahe's home, silently waiting for something.
As time ticked away, the wind howled outside, the sky remained overcast, and snow continued to fall in flurries.
During this wait, Grandfather Ling Changqing and Grandfather Zhang Qiang each smoked their dry tobacco pipes, taking puffs intermittently, while Grandmother Yan Hong and Grandmother Lu Yun focused on sewing shoe soles with needle and thread.
Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaoyu and Ling He busied themselves in the kitchen, preparing the midday meal.
In the inner room, Ling Shan and Zhang Xin were still sound asleep under the warm covers.
By the bedside, Ling Yi sat on a low stool, his elbows resting on the edge of the bed, his fists formed with four fingers each, thumbs pressing against his temples, and index fingers gently massaging around his eyes, following a circular motion.
He traced above from the brow's center to its end, and below from the inner to the outer corner of the eyes, going clockwise.
At the foot of the bed, Zhang Lei mirrored Ling Yi’s posture and movements.
Just as they were about to finish their eye exercises, Ling Yi paused for a moment, a brief hesitation before resuming as normal, completing the first round of eye acupoint massage of the day together with the oblivious Zhang Lei.
Moments later, the gate of the Zhang family courtyard was pushed open from the outside, admitting a snow-draped figure.
In the vast whiteness of the landscape, Ling Xiaoshan’s slightly tanned face stood out quite markedly. The roughness of his skin, once a comforting sign of resilience, now seemed inadequate against the biting cold that numbed his senses, sending a faint pain from his brow to the depths of his mind.
Disregarding these discomforts, Ling Xiaoshan had no intention of retreating indoors. Standing in the courtyard, he called out to the interior, "Lei! Hurry up and follow me! Lord Soul Master is nearing the village!"
Hearing Ling Xiaoshan’s urgent words, the four elders inside could no longer remain seated. Their pipes, sewing needles, and half-finished shoe soles were all placed onto the wooden table as they stood and turned their gaze to the fabric door of the inner room.
In the next moment, before Zhang Qiang could speak, the door curtain was flung aside as Zhang Lei hurried out.
Hot on his heels, Ling Yi followed step by step out the door.
At this moment, apart from the sleeping and unresponsive Ling Shan and Zhang Xin, everyone in the household, from the elder Ling Changqing and Zhang Qiang to the younger Ling Yi and Zhang Lei, felt a stir of excitement.
Wasting no time, they bundled themselves up into ball-like shapes and pushed open the house door. Braving the wind and snow, they walked together with Ling Xiaoshan towards the yard’s exit.
Behind them, eyes filled with hopeful expectation followed the backs of the two adults and the child as they gradually faded beyond the gate.
Seeming to sense these hopeful gazes, Ling Xiaoshan found that the snowstorm felt less daunting.
Turning to look at the two young children beside him, particularly at the mix of excitement and nervousness on Zhang Lei’s face, Ling Xiaoshan could not help but inwardly sigh, ‘Just like myself all those years ago...’
"What a pity—"
Two barely audible words slipped from Ling Xiaoshan's mouth, instantly swallowed by the ever-present cold wind, disappearing without a trace.
The village of Shanhai wasn't large, so it didn't take long for the trio to reach the center of the village, standing before a relatively grand and solemn stone house.
At this moment, six or seven figures of varying sizes were already braving the biting wind and snow, standing there with eyes filled with eager anticipation despite the involuntary shivers of their bodies.
"Xiaoshan~"
Zhang Dahe stepped forward to greet the three, nodding to Ling Xiaoshan before turning his gaze to his son, Zhang Lei. He opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing, simply placing his cold-stiffened large hand gently atop Zhang Lei's hare-fur hat, rubbing it with a firm yet gentle hand.
Feeling the familiar gesture from his father, Zhang Lei's previously anxious heart seemed to calm down, suddenly feeling less tense.
Indeed, if Ling Yi chose to harness his mental energy, accompanied by verbal and gestural cues, he could alleviate Zhang Lei's nervousness. However, Ling Yi chose not to intervene in such a manner.
Sometimes, personally experiencing events and feeling the ebb and flow of emotions is a necessary part of growth.
A consistently calm demeanor, especially when achieved through external means, is not beneficial for someone just over six years old like Zhang Lei!
The clouds in the sky grew increasingly heavy, and the north wind howled incessantly, forcing everyone to bow in submission to nature's power.
Fortunately, Ling Yi and the rest were not kept waiting long.
A burly figure emerged through the swirling snow, each step imprinted in the thick blanket of white that barely reached his ankles. His pace was far from fast, yet undeniably steady.
Upon seeing this figure, everyone's spirits lifted, a gleam of hope brightening their eyes.
As he drew nearer, the blurring effect of the falling snow abated, allowing everyone to clearly discern his appearance.
A tall and robust man, his rugged visage accentuated by a thick, bushy beard, exuded a raw wildness amidst the storm. No matter how fiercely the blizzard raged, it couldn't shake his imposing presence.
His powerful physique was framed by a white form-fitting garb, with a black fur-lined cloak draped over his shoulders, warding off the biting cold. At the center of his chest was a fist-sized character, “Soul,” marking him as an official of the "Spirit Hall."
On his left breast was a badge depicting three swords, a symbol of his rank as a formidable Soul Master within the aggressive combat division.
With tiger-like eyes scanning the surroundings, he spoke with a voice that rumbled like thunder, "Enough time wasted! Everyone, enter the hall immediately and let's begin—!"
The villagers of Shanhai had no objections, the authoritative voice overpowering even the howling wind. They silently followed the leading stature of the great man, marching into the stone structure that was Shanhai Village's Spirit Hall.
Ling Yi subtly observed the man's demeanor from the corner of his eye, while holding Ling Xiaoshan's hand, step by step following along.
Inside the hall, the outside chill was blocked, offering a reprieve for all, and bringing warmth to bodies that had started to stiffen in the cold.
"My name is Lu Yi~"
The burly man, his expression indifferent, spoke with a voice as cold and hard as the ice and snow outside the house: "Level twenty-nine Grand Soul Master."
"You four, line up~"
Lu Yi's gaze swept over the four children, including Ling Yi and Zhang Lei. As he spoke, his fan-sized hand retrieved a blue crystal ball, the size of a child's head, from the pouch at his waist and casually placed it on the sole desk in the stone house.
"Um... Soul... Soul Master, sir..."
Just as Lu Yi was reaching into his pouch again, Ling Xiaoshan instinctively pulled Ling Yi closer to him, warily watching Lu Yi's expression as he stammered:
"This little one of ours is only three and a half, not yet six... he... he..."
Ling Xiaoshan was feeling a bit panicked. Had he known, he wouldn't have brought Ling Yi inside. If somehow they offended the Soul Master before them, not only could the father and son be in danger, but the entire Shanhai Village could be in big trouble!
Originally, Ling Xiaoshan planned to wait outside the house with Zhang Dahe and other villagers while Zhang Lei and three other children of the right age followed the Soul Master inside to continue the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony.
But who would've thought...
The Soul Master actually allowed them all to come in!
(End of Chapter)
