Chapter 5 - Astounding For His Age
5 years have passed since Ryu was born. Since then he has grown into an intelligent little boy. Behind his bright golden eyes is a hidden sharpness. His eyes seem to see everything, not allowing a single moment to be missed. And his memory is perfect. From the moment he gained consciousness at around 3 months old he has yet to forget a single event. When asked to recall something that happened on his 1st birthday he remembers it clearly. In the world of cultivation, good memory is nothing new, however he has yet to even undergo his awakening. And gaining Perfect Memory is near impossible, even for Dao Lords.
Little Ryu has also grown quite tall, standing at around 4'6". In the Cultivation world, children tend to grow faster due to the energy dense air that saturates all things. However, he is still considered to be quite taller than those of his age. And his body is very powerful, much to powerful for his age. He already has a strength of 100 lbs. To measure strength a punching bag like dummy is used, once you punch the dummy a number will appear. That number is what your body strength is in pounds. For children his age, that should only be around 30-60 pounds of strength. Truly a scary little boy.
Walking through the palace halls Ryu's short silky white hair fluttered wildly due to the wind. He was walking towards the court yard entrance, it should be noted that he had a very serious expression on his face. Almost as if he was going to meet his mortal enemy. Entering the large court yard of pure white marble, all that could be seen was a vast emptiness, and in this empty court yard another child stood. He stands just slightly shorter than Ryu at about 4'4". With long black hair, sharp red eyes, and a sharp face, he could be described as a seasoned warrior if not for his age. He was quite handsome, just overly serious, though it was not his fault. It seemed the Heavens chose to make his features exude the aura of war.
"Ok Ryu, today will be the day I make sure you never return to this court yard!" The little boy laughed deviously.
"Xander, if I didn't go easy on you, do you think you could still be standing here?" Ryu said plainly, a hidden pride of massive proportions leaking into his voice.
"OH! LETS SEE IF I DONT KNOCK YOU OUT COLD TODAY PRETTY BOY!"
That's right, Ryu could be considered a pretty boy. His looks were the very definition of perfection, as if he was sculpted to be a god, not a human. Others could only sigh as they watched him grow, because when he reaches maturity...all women will swoon for him. And though he was called a pretty boy, it's not like he couldn't exude his own fierceness.
SMACK!
Xander rolled backwards about 3 feet, Ryu standing a little ways away with his hand outstretched. Clearly having just back handed Xander.
"Too weak...why challenge me if you haven't grown since the last time?" Ryu said plainly while looking down at the furious Xander
"YOU SILK PANTS! I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS!"
"What a foul mouth for a 5 year old to have, how crude. You are nothing but a barbarian. Maybe I should send you off to an outpost somewhere. I'm sure you'll fit right in." Ryu snickered.
Xander's red eyes seemed to be flaming as he ran at Ryu. Clearly he has some martial arts training as his steps seemed practiced, as did his fist that Ryu cleanly smacked to the side. Thus began an exchange of Xander swinging at Ryu, and Ryu deflecting the punches with the backs of his hands.
"How boring, it's like I'm reading a book. Your moves are too easy to see through."
TAP!
Ryu's middle finger found it's way through Xander's guard and now rested on his forehead. A red bump forming below his finger
Xander looked down, slightly dejected. "How do you always manage to make it through my guard? It doesn't make sense. Even my older cousins cant beat me without using their body strength gained through cultivation. But you, you clearly don't even use half my force."
Ryu looked at Xander with a thoughtful look in his eyes. Thinking weather he should help this barbarian or make fun, he ultimately decided to not make fun, as Xander very rarely asks questions. Especially after losing so quickly.
"I already told you, your moves are too easy to see through. It is as if I'm reading your family's martial art, not sparring against a person." Ryu replied with a star shape forming in his right eye as he waited for Xander's reaction.
"You mean I'm following it too well?" He asked confusedly.
Ryu's eyes lit up happily, "Yes, you are a person, not a robot, you are fighting a person not a robot."
"What's a robot?"
"Never mind that, do you understand what I mean?" Ryu laughed inwardly, 'what is a robot?'
Xander's eyes lit up, "I think so, you pretty much mean I need to account for the person I'm fighting, and also account for my own style."
"Yes. Once you can do that, you'll grow exponentially as a warrior. At least when it comes to hand to hand combat with martial arts."
With their little scuffle over they looked up at their fathers who watched the entire exchange from the air.
"You are both growing very fast. You should be proud." Takashi praised the boys.
Next to Takashi stood a man that future Xander seemed to be copy pasted from. It was no wonder Xander had such sharp features. This man seemed to have the sharpness of swords ingrained into his face. Long black hair, thick sword like eyebrows, sharp red eyes, massive muscle filled body, yep, he was definitely a warrior. His name is Engar, Xander's father
"I agree with the Patriarch, you have both grown wonderfully in just these last few weeks. Though, Xander, you need to rein in your temper. Do not let it overwhelm you." Engar's powerful voice reverberated through the court yard.
"Yes father." Xander said while looking down.
Meanwhile Ryu just nodded to the pair of fathers, wondering what he should do next. He was quite bored. Maybe he'll go bother his mother. She was always fun to bother, for some reason Ryu learned this fairly quickly. And it seemed Lysa never really could get angry at anything Ryu did.
"Father, where is Mom right now?" Ryu asked while looking up to his dad.
"She should be in her cultivation tower, wait why do you ask?" Takashi responded without thinking, and before he could get Ryu's answer, he was already gone leaving only his faint scent behind.
'Damn kid, he is gonna ask to go explore that one zone again. How many times are we gonna be able to say no before he just leaves?' Takashi sighed while disappearing into the distance.
Xander looked up at his father and decided to bite the bullet. "Father, will you teach me what Ryu was talking about?"
Engar suppressed his urge to smile, "Of course my son. It is quite the advanced idea, but I believe you can learn it."
And so, no one was left in the court yard any longer. A calm silence overtaking it.
And within a tower in the central area of Shooting Star City Ryu clung to his Mother's arm with a devious grin on his handsome little face.
"Soooo motherrrr, will you allow me to go to that pond today? It is a-"
"Safe zone protected by the big clans for the younger generation to have fun and wash away any impurities? Yes I know, you told me hundreds of times already." Lysa smiled while rubbing his head affectionately.
"Sooooooo can I go now? No one will even know who I am, and I wont be out of place because anyone can go as long as you are under 13. AND, barely anyone from the big clans go because they have no reason to."
Lysa's smile seemed to get softer as she listened to her son's spiel for what seemed like the hundredth time this month. "Wait until you are 8, then I will let you go. How about that?"
Ryu jumped into his mom's arms giving her a tight hug. "YAY! And when I go, it's up to you to tell Dad you gave me permission."
"Of course, of course" Lysa laughed while snuggling her little boy into her large bosom.
Ryu of course didn't say anything, he was too happy to even realize it was getting hard for him to breath. His mission was finally accomplished, he had a set date for when he could go explore.