94: Chapter 94 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (Forty-Two)

The girl walking in front was about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in the green robes of an Outer Sect Disciple, with a slender figure and delicate features.

She carried a tea tray in her hands, walking with light and gentle steps. She kept her eyes lowered, not daring to look at Chu Shi too much, her earlobes slightly flushed, revealing a touch of maidenly shyness.

Following her was a little girl of seven or eight years old, wearing her hair in double buns and dressed in a small pink ru-skirt.

She was also holding a fruit platter, her large, dark, glistening eyes staring curiously at Chu Shi. She showed no shyness at all, and there were even a few pastry crumbs on the corner of her mouth, making her look adorable and innocent.

"Nephew Shi, this is your older cousin Qingyuan. She is sixteen this year and is also an Outer Sect Disciple."

Deacon Chu Feng smiled and pointed at the older girl, then ruffled the little girl's hair as he introduced them:

"This is your younger cousin, Nuonuo. She is just seven years old this year and hasn't been given a formal name yet. She is the naughtiest one."

"Qingyuan greets you, Cousin."

Chu Qingyuan hurriedly placed the teacup on the table in front of Chu Shi and curtsied.

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, and after speaking, she quickly retreated behind Aunt Cang, only daring to steal glances at Chu Shi from the corner of her eye.

She had long heard her parents speak countless times of this cousin's achievements.

Testing for a Top-grade Root Bone in Canglan State and entering the Great Sun Holy Land had made him the talk of the town for a time.

During the entrance trial, he had overwhelmed all his peers and was directly accepted as a personal disciple by Peak Master Lieyang.

Now, in just a short three months, he had broken through to the Iron Skin Realm, completing a life-leap that countless Outer Sect Disciples could not achieve even after spending years.

In her eyes, this cousin who was only three years younger than her was a figure like a genius from the clouds, so it was inevitable that she felt reserved.

"Hello, Big Brother! Nuonuo wants to play with you!"

Chu Nuonuo, however, was not shy at all; she pushed the fruit platter toward Chu Shi and spoke in a crisp voice.

"Mother says you are amazing! Even more amazing than my Daddy!"

This sentence made everyone in the room laugh, and the smile on Chu Shi's face became a bit more genuine.

He crouched down to be level with the little girl, accepted a grape she handed him, and said softly:

"Thank you, Nuonuo. Nuonuo is also very cute."

Having reincarnated many times, he was accustomed to mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and schemes and calculations.

Such pure innocence instead caused his tense heartstrings to loosen.

Aunt smiled and pulled Nuonuo to her side, chiding:

"You have no manners. Stop pestering your cousin."

She then looked at Chu Ming and Chu Qingyuan, "Ming'er, Qing'er, come to the kitchen with Mother and see if the stew is ready."

The siblings understood that their parents wanted to discuss serious matters with Chu Shi, so they quickly agreed.

Following Aunt, they left the main room, leaving only Deacon Chu Feng and Chu Shi, the uncle and nephew, in the room.

Charcoal burned quietly in the copper stove, and the room was filled with warmth.

Deacon Chu Feng first chatted with Chu Shi about his daily cultivation routine after joining the sect and asked about his life at Lieyang Peak, his words filled with the concern of an elder.

Chu Shi responded calmly to each question, handling the conversation with perfect propriety.

After a few rounds of small talk, Chu Shi took the initiative to bring up the serious matter:

"Uncle, I came this time, firstly to pay respects to you and the other elders, and secondly, there is something I would like to trouble you with."

"My worthy nephew, feel free to speak. We are family; there is no need for such formalities." Deacon Chu Feng straightened his posture and said solemnly.

Chu Shi's tone was calm, yet extremely earnest as he said:

"Thanks to the favor of Master Lieyang, in one month, he intends to hold an initiation ceremony for me."

"At that time, I would like to invite you and the other elders to attend and witness the ceremony."

"That is only natural!" Deacon Chu Feng immediately slapped his thigh and agreed loudly, his face full of joyful pride.

"This is a huge happy event for our Chu family. Never mind inviting us; even if you didn't ask, we would have to be there!"

He continued, adding: "Besides me, our Chu family has several other elders in the Holy Land who are above the Copper Bone Realm, all serving in the Outer Sect and the Miscellaneous Affairs Peak.

I will host a dinner tonight and call them all over.

Firstly, to let you get to know them, and secondly, to let everyone celebrate. Our Chu family has finally produced a genius who can hold up our reputation!"

"I will leave it entirely to your arrangements, Uncle." Chu Shi smiled and nodded in agreement.

Deacon Chu Feng immediately stood up, saying he would go to invite them personally. After calling out a sentence toward the inner room, he hurried out of the courtyard gate.

The main room suddenly became quiet.

Chu Qingyuan came in carrying freshly cut fruit. Seeing only Chu Shi, her footsteps paused, her earlobes turned red again, and after setting down the fruit platter, she turned to leave.

"Cousin Qingyuan, wait a moment." Chu Shi spoke up to stop her.

Chu Qingyuan stopped, turned around, lowered her eyes, and asked softly: "Cousin, do you have any other instructions?"

"No instructions." Chu Shi smiled, his tone gentle.

"I just heard Uncle say that you are also cultivating in the Outer Sect. May I ask which branch of cultivation technique you primarily practice?"

"It is, it is the basic cultivation technique of Luoxia Peak, the 'Liuxia Art'."

Chu Qingyuan gripped the corner of her clothes and replied softly, "My aptitude is mediocre. I have been cultivating for over three years and have only just reached the late stage of the Stone Skin Realm. I am far behind you, Cousin."

"In the path of cultivation, persistence is key; speed does not matter." Chu Shi comforted her gently.

He could see that his cousin had a quiet and introverted personality, not the competitive type, which was actually suitable for a steady and solid approach.

As the two were talking, a small figure rushed in; it was Chu Nuonuo.

She was holding a small wooden tiger and ran up to Chu Shi.

She held it up as if presenting a treasure: "Big Brother, look! I carved this! Isn't it amazing?"

Chu Shi crouched down again, took the crookedly carved little tiger, looked at it seriously, and nodded:

"Very amazing. The tiger's head is carved with great spirit; Nuonuo is very talented."

Upon receiving praise, Chu Nuonuo's eyes shone like stars, and she opened the floodgates of conversation.

Pulling on Chu Shi's sleeve, she chattered away, asking about this and that.

She asked him if Lieyang Peak was made entirely of gold, if he could smash a big rock with one punch, and if he could fly.

Chu Shi was not annoyed; he just crouched on the ground, patiently answering the little girl's questions one by one.

Occasionally, he would follow up on her words and ask a couple of questions about her daily studies, making the little girl giggle.

Until Aunt walked over and smiled, pulling Nuonuo away: "You child, you never rest. Stop pestering your cousin; he still has serious business."

Only then did Chu Shi sit back on the stool in the room.

Not long after, Chu Ming also walked over, holding a Go set, and said with a smile: "Cousin, since we are idle, why not play a game?"

"Alright." Chu Shi smiled and agreed.

The two sat down at the table, with Chu Ming taking the black stones to move first and Chu Shi taking the white stones to respond.

As twilight deepened, the horizon was stained with orange-red sunset clouds, which fell upon the chessboard, making the black and white stones clearly distinct.

Chu Ming's playing style was fierce, carrying the impulsiveness of a youth, with every move aiming directly at the center.

However, Chu Shi's white stones remained unhurried, seemingly placing stones gently, but every step was well-calculated.

Unknowingly, he had woven a large net, dissolving all of the black stones' offensive, and even faintly counter-encircling them.

Chu Ming became more and more alarmed as he played. He had learned chess since childhood and rarely had opponents among his peers.

But in front of Chu Shi, he was constrained everywhere; every calculation seemed to be seen through by the other party in advance.

He couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Cousin, your chess skill is too amazing; I am completely no match for you."

"It is just luck." Chu Shi smiled, placed a stone, and deliberately yielded half the board.

"Cousin, thank you for letting me win."