2 days after Soul Spirit bonding
Du Qianyao stepped back into the familiar hallway of Maple Orphanage, his body glowing slightly and a ethereal form of mini ape appear.
"Good morning, Shān Yuán" Qianyao said, looking at the small monkey on his shoulder.
Shan Yuan nodded and gesture. 'Food, Hungry'
"Yeah, yeah, we're going for breakfast later but not here." Qianyao tilts his head, crack his neck and walk to the backyard.
The morning sun filtered through maple leaves onto Maple Orphanage's courtyard, where Du Qianyao sat, his heart thumping in anticipation. He'd barely rested after the talk with Grandma Qing, but today was special because today he'd meet his senior brother from the Body Sect, introduced by Master Mu Ye.
Yesterday Master Mu Ye send words with Soul Device to him about dragging his Senior Brother to come and meet him instead, he said it was a good idea to take that poor brother outside one in a while to meet people.
A sharp rustle of wind reach his ears signals their arrival. Qianyao spun around to see Mu Ye approaching, tall and muscular but his face bore a scowl. Beside him walked a shorter youth with a a large and sturdy build. His presence like a tall mountain compared to Qianyao—and an aura of quiet wall and introvert without a doubt.
Mu Ye turn to him, smiled and waved. "Qianyao, thank you for waiting for us." He nods before introducing the young man. "Ruheng, this is Du Qianyao, my new disciple and your junior brother."
Qianyao eyes wander at Ah Ruheng from Head to Toes and bow in greeting as he welcomed them. "An honor to meet you, Master and Senior Brother. I am eager to meet you since Master told me about you"
Ah Ruheng bowed stiffly. "Greeting."
Qianyao inclined his head once—brief and polite, his tone was quiet. "You look very young Senior Brother, may i ask how old are you now?."
Ah Ruheng eyebrow raise a bit and he quietly mutter an answer, "11" but that quiet word sound like a drums in Qianyao ears.
Du Qianyao body shakes and his face was lock in a smile but a bead of sweat rolls down his forehead.
'Ah was I thinking too hard before? I thought i was here before the story begin, if comparing the age, Tang Wulin was 26 when he enter Federal Star Dou Battle Network Challenge, and Ah Ruheng was already more than 30, compared the age Ah Ruheng was atleast 4 years older than Wulin but how old is he now?'
Qianyao shook his head and say, "Senior Brother, you looks very strong, how long have you been training with Master?"
Ah Ruheng answer, "Age 6 for 5 years"
Mu Ye add, "Ruheng was taken in by me to train in the Body Sect' Body Forging Hall, a secret place you'd soon enter too, i've been training and tempers his body since his martial soul awakened."
Body Sect' Body Forging Hall was where
Ah Ruheng lived and trained, preparing for cultivating the Sect's Ultimate Techniques.
From his introverted persona emerged because of his secluded days in Body Forging Hall with nothing but old guys and a lot of restless training. A hidden room enclave with many treasure to pull in energy of Heaven and Earth, devoted solely for the Innate Secret Technique practitioners. There, practitioners endured brutal Body Forging—a four-stage method involving Body Penetration, Marrow Cleansing, Remolding, and ultimately Golden Body Arhat.
Ah Ruheng had experienced through the most agonizing first stage—his body already tore apart and putting back together, with emrrgy of heaven and earth, countless elixir and method only known to the Sect Master, endured with extreme willpower. But not yet perfected, he was still a kid, preparing for the more throughly Body Penetration when he was older.
Du Qianyao look at Mu Ye in confusion and say, "But Master I will soon enter Eastsea Academy Junior Division, skipping class since the first day, won't that get me in bad record?"
Mu Ye look at the scaredy kid in front of him and laughs "HA HA HA you kid started being all role model and goodie-two-shoes brat huh?, good, I won't have to worry about you refuse hellish training sessions with Ruheng then. No matter, I'll take care of it. But first, Qianyao introduce yourself to your Senior Brother in traditional soul master way."
Qianyao nods and start," Hello, I am Du Qianyao, 1-ring, 12 rank Soul Master, I am Twin Spirit Soul Master, of Body and Spear."
Mu Ye nods and look at Ah Ruheng, "Ruheng, your turn."
Ah Ruheng nods and say the longest thing he'd probably say in many months, " Ah Ruheng, 2-ring, 26 rank Soul Grandmaster, Martial Soul is Body."
Qianyao look at him in interests, 'So this is Ah Ruheng strength at a young age, he's quite gifted.'
Mu Ye smiled and say, "Alright boys, let's go grab a bite in some sea food restaurant and talk a lot more."
Mu Ye led them into a small sea food restaurant, Whistled Sea Restaurant. A quite well-know place among the local.
They walked together into the dining hall, filled with the aroma of fish stew and seasoned dish. With Mu Ye's subtle encouragement, Ah Ruheng slid into a seat beside Qianyao.
After a short while, they order a full table banquet and began eating. Mu Ye started picking a lot of things up and taste them before criticize them only few dish are good enough to receive praise from the Master Chef.
Mu Ye announced with a proud smile, "Ruheng has been entrusted by all Sect elders to cultivate our Innate Secret Technique, he has the most promising aptutude for it, the first in four hundred years. He'll be a guiding senior for you."
A Ruheng's voice was low: "Heard you contracted with Titan Giant Ape. Good start."
Qianyao smile and thanks. "Thank you, Senior Brother. How about meeting him then? Shan Yuan come out and meet my Master and Senior Brother."
An ethereal form of Shan Yuan appear above Qianyao head and sat on it, he gesture in greeting, 'hello'
Mu Ye observe him closely, "This is interesting, Titan Giant Ape is a violent specie, they behave aggressive to almost everything and prefer brute force but Shan Yuan is very quiet and good natured, is it because he was too young?"
Qianyao hold his chin, "I did ask him about it, but he say he was just bored in there and decided to bond with me to have some fun outside. There isn't anything wrong with him either."
Ah Ruheng nods, "peculiar"
Mu Ye thinks of something and mused, "If that old Ape found out about this he'd be pretty jealous, the best they have is 10,000 years Titan Giant Ape, and it didn't have the best behavior."
Ah Ruheng gaze flicked briefly to Shan Yuan on Qianyao, curiosity in his eyes. But he remained silent.
Mu Ye think of something and couldn't resist stirring things up a bit. "You two should train together as soon as possible. Ruheng—Qianyao is eager to learn. How about a spar tomorrow?"
A Ruheng declined, he say quietly. "Not yet, wait, grows first."
Qianyao almost choke on his cup when Mu Ye said to let Ah Ruheng spar with him and quickly say, "No way you want me to spar with Senior Brother." Ruheng's decline was life-saving. Honestly, he can't quite make up his mind for the future painful life yet much less being pound by a someone stronger than him.
Mu Ye sigh and say, "Qianyao oh Qianyao, I know you're still young but when will you grows if we don't train your body and mind as soon as possible? Well don't worry I'll personally guide your combat lesson and cultivation until you can achieve Body Penetration."
Ah Ruheng look at Qianyao seriously and warn, "Body Forging is no pushover, prepare throughly."
Qianyao look him serious Senior Brother and reassure, "Okay Senior Brother I'll listen and learn everything from Master before cultivate the secret techniques."
Ah Ruheng nods and continue eating his blood shrimp friend rich.
After the meal Mu Ye took Ah Ruheng and preparing departs and promised to come take Qianyao to train when the school start.
After a curt farewell from Mu Ye and a nod from Ah Ruheng, Mu Ye and Ah Ruheng departed on a huge red mecha.