Chapter 3 A Glowing Body...

Xiao Tian was swept away by the strong currents of a great river. His small body was dragged into the dark depths, tossed around helplessly. His face was pale, his eyes shut tightly, and his breathing was barely perceptible. Unconscious, he drifted along with the rushing river, unaware of where the current would take him.

Around the vast and fast-flowing river, various ferocious beasts began to approach. Their eyes gleamed sharply, filled with the lust to hunt. Some crept along the riverbank, waiting for the right moment to strike, while others swam swiftly beneath the water, patiently circling Xiao Tian's body. The river, which had once been calm, turned menacing with the presence of these predators.

A few meters away from Xiao Tian's body, one of the beasts advanced. It was a massive reptilian creature with jet-black scales. Opening its jaws, lined with razor-sharp teeth, it prepared to swallow the seemingly helpless child whole. But just as the beasts were about to pounce, something unexpected happened.

Suddenly, Xiao Tian's body began to glow.

The light appeared abruptly, bursting from within him with an overwhelming intensity. A golden-white radiance enveloped his body, spreading in all directions in an instant. Like a miniature sun igniting beneath the water, the brilliance was so blinding that it forced the beasts to shut their eyes in panic.

Roars and screeches filled the air. The aquatic creatures that had been circling Xiao Tian frantically swam away, their tails creating massive ripples on the river's surface. The beasts on land, already poised to attack, hurriedly retreated, their bodies trembling with fear. Some even collapsed, their legs shaking as if they had just witnessed something beyond comprehension.

The scene was utterly shocking.

The ferocious beasts inhabiting this river were not ordinary creatures. They were feared by humans-monsters possessing terrifying power. Even the weakest among them were classified as second-tier beasts, equivalent to a third-rank martial artist in the human world. Meanwhile, the strongest among them was a beast king, an existence on par with an Earth King warrior, capable of shaking an entire region with its mere presence.

And yet, now, all of them trembled in fear. Not a single one dared to approach. They could only watch the glowing child with wary eyes before ultimately choosing to flee as far as possible.

That light, radiating from the body of a seemingly dying child, had been powerful enough to drive away all these fearsome creatures.

How could this be possible?

A human child, unconscious and barely clinging to life, had caused such terror among the beasts? What exactly was happening inside Xiao Tian's body? What was hidden within him that enabled him to emit such a powerful light?

However, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the light gradually faded. The once-blinding glow diminished over time, vanishing without a trace.

Now, all that remained was Xiao Tian's small body, still drifting along the rushing river, once again appearing fragile and powerless.

***

By the calm riverbank, two figures were seen practicing together. The first figure was a little girl, around eight years old, her hair tied in a ponytail, swaying with the gentle breeze. The second figure was an old man, his body still sturdy despite his advanced age. His eyes were sharp and filled with wisdom. He sat on a rock, carefully observing the girl's every movement.

The little girl was practicing a sword technique. Although the sword in her hands was merely made of wood, every swing felt alive, rhythmic, and unpredictable. The wind seemed to follow the movement of her sword, creating a mesmerizing harmony.

"Ziyan Rouxi, it's time for us to go home. You've been practicing since morning until the sun is nearly setting. I ended up wasting so much time just to accompany you," the old man grumbled lazily.

The little girl named Ziyan Rouxi stopped her training and pouted. "Grandfather, you rarely have time to accompany me in training, yet you're already complaining so much. It seems it's true-you don't care about me at all!"

Her small face looked even cuter when she pouted, but before the old man could respond, his gaze was drawn to something in the river. His eyes narrowed, and his expression turned serious.

"Wait here!" he suddenly shouted, startling Ziyan Rouxi.

"Where are you going, Grandpa? Don't-" Her words trailed off as she followed his line of sight. Not far from them, the body of a small child was floating along the current. The river was strong, and not far ahead, a towering waterfall awaited. If the child continued drifting, he would plunge into the endless abyss of the falls.

Without hesitation, the old man stepped onto the water, running at an incredible speed. In an instant, he reached the child's body and lifted him before he could be carried further. Returning to land, he placed the boy on the ground and checked his condition.

"He's still breathing..." he muttered.

He immediately channeled his internal energy into the boy's body. It didn't take long before the boy suddenly coughed violently, spewing out a large amount of water from his mouth.

Ziyan Rouxi crouched down, her face close to his, staring at the boy with curiosity. Her round eyes observed the boy's pale face, which was slowly regaining color.

Then, the boy fully opened his eyes, staring directly into Ziyan Rouxi's eyes, which were so close to his.

"Are you the angel of death? Why doesn't your face look scary?" he asked weakly.

Smack!

Ziyan Rouxi immediately slapped his face.

"Ow... Why did you hit me?" The boy held his cheek, his eyes filled with confusion.

"What did you just say? Angel of death? Do you really want me to kill you?" Ziyan Rouxi crossed her arms, her face full of anger.

The boy tried to get up, but his body felt crushed. Pain spread from his head to his feet, making him groan softly.

The old man continued channeling internal energy into his body. "Don't move too much! Your body has suffered quite a bit of damage. Let me heal you first."

The boy felt warmth enveloping his body. The sharp pain gradually faded, replaced by a comforting sensation. However, the old man frowned. He was astonished. The boy's injuries should have been more severe, yet his body had extraordinary healing abilities. Even without help, he might have survived. But if he had continued drifting, his body could have been torn apart by the ferocious river.

After a while, the boy could finally move. He slowly sat up and clasped his hands together respectfully.

"Senior, thank you for saving me."

The old man did not respond immediately. He was still in shock. Something was strange about this boy. He couldn't see his bone structure or body composition as he normally would. It was as if some force was concealing his true nature.

Finally, the old man spoke. "Boy, how did you end up in this river? Where are you from? Let me take you home."

The boy shook his head slowly.

"Do you not remember what happened?"

The boy shook his head again, but this time, he answered, "No, I haven't forgotten. But I no longer have a home to return to."

The old man furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"

The boy took a deep breath. His voice trembled as he answered, "My village was attacked by bandits. They didn't just steal; they slaughtered all the villagers and burned our homes. My parents were killed... I jumped into this river to escape. Now, I don't know where to go."

His expression showed deep sorrow. His innocent eyes reflected a pain that was hard to conceal. He wasn't lying, but he also wasn't telling the whole truth. There was a part of his story he hid, afraid that this old man might have ties to the Wang Kingdom.

The old man let out a long sigh. He could feel the sincerity in the boy's words. A child this young couldn't possibly fabricate such a heartbreaking story with such a genuine expression.

After thinking for a moment, the old man finally said, "If you have no home, come with me. I am the leader of a sect not far from here."

The boy looked at the old man, his eyes briefly shining before he lowered his head respectfully. "If Senior allows it, I will not refuse."

The old man laughed. "Hahaha! Good! But from now on, don't call me Senior. Call me Grandpa Fa Wa. From now on, I will consider you my grandson. After all, you no longer have a family, so there's no harm in me becoming your family. Now, tell me your name."

The boy hesitated. He didn't want to reveal his clan's name. If his identity was discovered by people from the royal family, his life would be in danger again. Finally, he answered simply, "Thank you, Grandpa. My name is Tian."

"Hahaha! Good, good! How old are you, Tian?"

"I just turned six years old."

Fa Wa was surprised. This child was only six? His body was larger than other children his age. His muscles were also stronger. If he hadn't been told, Fa Wa would have guessed the boy was already ten years old.

Fa Wa then turned to his granddaughter and said, "This little girl here is my granddaughter. Her name is Ziyan Rouxi. You can call her Big Sister. She is older than you."

Xiao Tian looked at Ziyan Rouxi, who was still staring at him with an annoyed expression. He remembered the slap from earlier and decided to remain silent.

Fa Wa chuckled at their expressions. "Hahaha! Now, wait here for a moment. Grandpa will go catch some fish for us to eat. Tian must be hungry."

With light steps, Fa Wa walked toward the riverbank, leaving the two children staring at each other in silence.