A/N: Hey there! Welcome to chapter 6 and part 2 of Jìng Courage. We'll be getting some more drama and fight scenes this time around!
I hope you all have been enjoying the story, so let's see how this situation will be for Owen!
Spoiler: it becomes a headache for him at the end.
Key:
'Thoughts'
"Whisper"
[Skills, Menu, Magic]
"Speech"
Sounds*
Chapter 6 "Jìng's Courage, Part 2"
Owen watched Wei Yue's mouth go up and down like a fish before seeing him get off his horse and approach Jìng angrily before yelling at her.
"What is the meaning of this Jìng? Haven't I told you that this is too much for you?!?"
Jìng simply stared at her brother before glaring as she spoke to him, "You have but I am more than ready to help Owen on his job today. After all, I won't live my life as a simple shrine maiden, so back off Wei Yue."
Owen watched with curiosity as Wei Yue took a step back after seeing Jìng's glare. The Xinya Heir would've continued but Owen stepped in before another endless argument could form. He would place both hands on both of the siblings shoulders.
"Alright, that's enough you two," Owen said before turning to Wei, "bravery is a pretty good thing to have for a companion of the Shaolin Hero, don't you think? And I think she's pretty brave if she's going out of her way to help me out with the Jiangshi and Zhenniao ahead in the peaks. That has to account for something right?"
"B-but…" Wei Yue would stumble on his words before nodding his head. He would then take a step back and spoke again to Jìng, "fine. I do admit that you going against father's orders to help the Shaolin Hero is admirable…but if you can't handle yourself against our enemies then that will only show Sir Jenkins that I am better suited to be his companion."
'Now if only Wei was a good sibling, I would've honestly wanted him in my party. But we couldn't have that…'
Owen thought before letting go of the siblings and climbing on his horse. He would turn to Jìng with a smile as he sent her a party invite, it didn't take long for her to accept.
"Okay, let's get a move on everyone," Owen stated as he made his horse begin walking towards the peaks.
…
…
…
The peaks were an interesting view compared to the rest of Pan Bo's flatlands. The terrain was mountainous and barren landscape, filled with winding dirt paths. Barely any vegetation was in the area except for the occasional dry shrub.
It honestly looked like something out of a cowboy movie. The party would be riding on their own separate horses, with Wei Yue in the lead to 'protect' Owen, and with Jìng in the back to watch for anything suspicious behind the party.
While Owen would've been annoyed at the amount of 'caretaking' that the Xinya Heir was giving him, he didn't want to be ambushed first by a bunch of dangerous higher level creatures.
'I wonder what other type of creatures live here except for Zhenniao and Jiangshi, since it sounds like those two moved onto the area.'
Owen then wiped his forehead with his hand as it started to become more hot. Thankfully Jìng rode up to him and handed him a clay container full of water.
"Here you go Owen," Jìng said with a smile. Owen took a sip and thanked her before having his horse walk alongside hers, after making sure Wei Yue was ahead of the pair.
Then Owen whispered in Jìng's ear, "You think your brother will do anything to you?"
Jìng shook her head as she then whispered back, "No, I don't think so. Even though he acts like a jerk to me, he still cares about my safety…"
Well, Owen still considered him a jerk but perhaps one day that could change. Though he made sure to keep an eye on Wei Yue, just to be safe.
Suddenly Wei Yue spoke up, scaring Owen a bit since he might've actually been listening but thankfully it didn't seem like he did.
"Your Holiness, and Jìng…we're arriving at the Najin Copper Mines."
Riding ahead, Owen and Jìng caught up to the Heir as they stared at the upcoming mines. The entrance was embedded in a wall of rock, and held gigantic doors and mine tracks that led into them.
The mineshaft itself was closed and the structure looked kinda old, which made Owen nervous as he continued to stare.
'Uh…yeah hopefully our fighting doesn't make the mine shaft collapse into us…'
Shaking his fear away, Owen instead asked Wei Yue when the mine was first made and when the Jiangshi began to infest the mines.
Apparently the mineshaft was founded when Chang Pu's father was born, which was probably over 60 years ago? The fact that it was still standing relieved/caused some stress for the current Shaolin Hero. Though as for the Jiangshi infestation…
"We got reports of them appearing in the mines a few days after the Waves of Calamity hit Jìngyi…I say…maybe two weeks ago? Luckily no one had died when we evacuated the mineshaft," Wei Yue informed as the group now reached the outskirts of the mineshaft.
Owen nodded at the information as the party now stopped in their tracks and began getting off their horses. Next, Jìng led Owen and her brother to leash their horses at a nearby post fence.
"Alright, see you later Horsy, I'll be back" Owen said to his horse who seemed to snort at that name. Even Jìng shook her head when Owen declared that was the horse's name.
Wei Yue on the other hand, went to the satchels on the back of his horse and grabbed a set of unlit torches. He would then began to chant a magic spell with the tattoo on his left hand:
[As an individual born with the element of Fire, unleash the power of my tattoo and mana to light these torches! Disciple Huô Light!]
Instantly a small set of flames shot out of Wei Yue's fingers and lit the torches on fire. Owen and Jìng would both receive their own torch, however the Shaolin Hero quickly absorbed his torch and received a new weapon form.
[Torch Bo Staff] Tier 0
Equip Bonus: Skill: Glow
Equipping the form, his weapon turned into a simple wooden Bo Staff with an unlit bundle of cloth wrapped around the top. It essentially was a longer torch, though Owen would stop looking at it as Jìng approached him with a curious look.
"A new weapon form Owen?" She said, tilting her head.
"Yeah, it has a skill I can use but it's gonna take a bit until I unlock the bonus," Owen responded as Wei Yue admired the holy weapon.
"Amazing how it can transform into the things it can absorb…perhaps you should absorb the copper in the mineshaft, your holiness?"
That was definitely something Owen wanted to do but right now they needed to go inside the mines. So checking everyone's levels, he saw that Wei Yue was still level 30, Owen himself was still level 14, and Jìng was Level 22.
"Yeah it is," Owen answered Wei Yue before letting him lead the way.
The group began making their way into the mineshaft, almost immediately they began to smell something disgusting.
Owen's face scrunched before darkness overtook his vision leaving only the areas that Jìng's and Wei Yue's torches brightened up. The party continued to walk as they passed by abandoned pickaxes and empty minecarts.
Soon after what felt like half an hour, Owen received a notification regarding his newest skill.
'Alright time to test it out…'
"[Glow]"
The top of the Bo Staff began to glow a bright orange, it brightened even more of the mine compared to the other torches.
'Constant drain of SP, I shouldn't use it too much or else I won't be able to cast my other skills.'
Noting that Owen wasn't hearing anything other than his party breathing, he turned to Wei Yue's and Jìng's direction and whispered to them, "have you managed to hear anything you two?"
They both shook their heads and they continued walking until reaching a brightly lit cave with numerous reddish lights on the side of numerous pieces of stone. Owen looked around knowing what these lights probably were.
"Magic Copper…" Owen whispered.
"Yes…it provides good resistance against corrosive attacks, it had saved my grandfather once when he fought against a monster that was able to use curses," Jìng stated as she watched her brother ahead pick up a piece of rock and stood ahead of two different entrances.
"Enough talking Jìng," Wei said, gaining a hidden bothered look from Owen.
"I hear some shifting within both of these tunnels. They probably have the Jiangshi we're looking for…" he informed.
'Right…now I want to gain some experience and not get carried by Wei…I'll probably have him go into one of the tunnels while me and Jìng handle the other one.'
Owen looked at Jìng who nodded at him. With her ready, Owen spoke to the heir, "Alright. I want you to go into one of those tunnels while Jìng and I will draw out the undead in the other tunnel into this room."
Wei Yue shot a glance at Jìng then bowed towards Owen before running into one of the tunnels, a few seconds later the remaining party heard the sounds of fighting as Owen himself began to get small bits of XP.
"Okay let's do this Jìng! Help me out if you think I'm in danger alright?" Owen told Jìng before walking into the tunnel with his [Glow] skill active.
"Right behind you Owen!" Jìng yelled as she followed behind him.
The stench of the dead was made only worse the further they went down before coming across the faint outlines of stumbling people.
'Got a horde…what level are they?'
He would squint his eyes as he read the name and level of the creatures in front of him and Jìng.
[Jiangshi]
Lvl 16
[Jiangshi]
Lvl 18
Many of the undead held those levels as they slowly saw the Bo Staff now lighting up the tunnel they were residing in. There were at least over 10 of them…
Owen watched as the horde turned to him and Jìng before screeching and sprinting towards the pair, causing Owen to stumble back and immediately turn around yelling at Jìng.
"Shit! Come on Jìng! Back to the copper room!"
Owen would hear the footsteps of Jìng following behind him as the horde sprinted for the pair. Once at the copper junction, Owen switched over to the [Hardwood Bark Monk Spade] and turned away just in time as a Jiangshi leapt for him with its sharp nails.
'Holy!'
He quickly slammed the Monk Spade on the downed undead's back before using the top of the weapon to block and push back another Jiangshi.
"Jìng! Handle the level 18 undead!" Owen ordered as he jumped over a minecart to dodge two undead trying to pin him down.
He then faced the two Jiangshi climbing over the minecart before yelling out another skill of his, "[Power Swing]!"
Owen felt his arms pick up with speed and strength as he sliced through the two zombies with the sharp flat wood on top of his staff. He quickly saw Jìng fighting off a pair of undead in front of her with her katana. However three more were sprinting from behind.
Assisting her, Owen switched over to his [Fire Mogwai Gun Staff] and yelled out, "Jìng! Duck! [Inferno Disc]!"
He watched as the disc of fire quickly ignited three zombies approaching behind Jìng, who quickly sliced the two zombies in front of her before running towards Owen to regroup.
The two would help each other out as they had wiped out close to half of the horde they saw in the tunnel.
Owen checked his current amount of skill points to see that he had enough for only one more skill before he would begin to slow down with his attacks. Seeing that there were six undead sprinting towards him, Owen decided on what skill he would use.
"JÌNG! SLICE THEM APART ONCE THEY'RE DOWN! [ROOT CAPTURE]!"
A huge net of tree roots shot out from Owen's Gun Staffs as they quickly flew across the room and wrapped around the group of zombies. This resulted in them falling down, trapped, but not for long if Jìng didn't finish them off.
The heavy use of his skill points caused Owen to quickly fall to the ground with tiredness as Jìng rushed forward and sliced off the heads of each remaining zombie.
Seeing that there was no more, Owen turned onto his back and looked up at the ceiling of the cavern.
'God damn…I thought they were going to be slow zombies! How the hell did no one die to them?!?'
Owen breathed deeply as Jìng picked him up in her arms and sat him against a minecart in the center of the room.
Jìng looked up at Owen with awe, "that was amazing! That magic was completely unlike any tattoo magic I'd ever seen! There was like little chanting required!"
Owen brought his left hand up towards Jìng whose eyes quickly widened as she gave her clay container of water to him.
"Sorry, here you go Owen."
Owen took a wide gulp before choking and pounding his chest.
"Ah…that was a good…fight Jìng. Good job…" Owen breathed out as he continued to lay against the metal on his back.
Jìng seemed to be happy at the praise before she looked to her left as Wei Yue ran back into the room with panic at seeing Owen's state.
"Sister! What have you done! You had one job-!"
"Shut up…she did fine, Wei Yue…" Owen yelled before slowly getting up from the ground and leaning on his now normal Bo Staff.
Wei Yue did just that before seeing the mess around the pair. He breathed deeply before speaking to his sister, "I guess you did a good job Jìng…"
Jìng didn't push him any further as she wrapped Owen's arms around her neck and helped him up. They would attempt to leave but Owen stopped them.
"Wait…I need to absorb the copper and Jiangshi in here."
Wei Yue nodded as he turned back into one of the tunnels. Jìng on the other hand began to bring the undead corpses to Owen who quickly absorbed the bodies into his weapon.
When Wei Yue returned with a container of copper, he absorbed most of them before storing the rest in his inventory. He then checked on the two new weapon forms he received as the party made their way out of the mineshaft.
[Jiangshi Bo Staff] Tier 0
[Abilities Locked] Equip Bonus: Magic Attack 3, Magic Defense 4
[Copper Bo Staff] Tier 0
[Abilities Locked] Equip Bonus: Defense 4, Skill: Body Lock
Equip Effect: Defense 10, Corrosion Resistance (Small)
The undead one wasn't too important for Owen but he did appreciate the magic based bonuses once he unlocked the equip bonus. While the Copper Bo Staff seemed great thanks to the new potential of the skill [Body Lock]...
It reminded him of a familiar sounding power from a sci-fi game with super soldiers…
Shaking his head, Owen watched as the party finally made it back outside! And back to the glaring sun.
"My eyes…" Owen mumbled out as Jìng helped walked him to his soon to be unleashed horse, Horsy.
"I miss you, Horsy!" Owen hugged the neck of his horse who snorted once again.
Jìng and Wei Yue shook their heads as Owen got up on his horse before beginning to walk away from the mineshaft entrance. As that happened, Jìng healed any injury the party received from the fight with the undead.
After a good distance away, Wei Yue spoke to Owen, "now that the mineshaft is cleared out, we can begin sending miners into it. Though we gotta find the Zhenniao in the peaks as well."
The Shaolin Hero could only groan silently as he now had to deal with poisonous and spellcasting birds…
…
…
…
A nice thing that Owen has found out was that he was now Level 16 and very close to reaching Level 17. Well, it was mostly thanks to the huge amounts of xp he had gotten from the entire party as a result.
That didn't really bother him, instead he thought back to his Jìng and Owen worked as a team down in the mines. Now it could use some work as he was the one looking out for Jìng, but at the same he had fewer enemies to deal with compared to her.
'I did tell her to go after the Level 18 Jiangshi so I shouldn't blame her for being distracted with them.'
Nevertheless, the party continued to ride on horseback as they now went towards a different road. One that led to an old camp used by the workers of the mineshaft apparently according to Wei Yue.
The Xinya Heir believed that the nearby waterfall next to the camp would be where their Zhenniao was hiding as they liked to clean themselves for reasons to be explained.
"Wait, Wei Yue. Why would they shower if that will leave them unable to fly effectively?" Owen asked while continuing to ride beside Jìng.
"Ah, they usually don't unless there are no predators nearby. Which thanks to this terrain, leaves little prey and predators, since Zhenniao typically tend to try to find a secure space to raise their young. To answer your initial question, their poison can be as thick as oil when not washed which makes it harder for them to fly regardless."
"Which, if we can catch it while it's cleaning itself, the water will give us an advantage," Jìng also explained, which made sense. But something else that Owen thought about it, was that Jìng was ignoring more of her brother's glare.
'Good for her, he acts tough but he's not doing anything about it.'
Owen thought before nodding his head in understanding the siblings' logic with the Zhenniao.
The party would eventually reach upon a decently sized cliff that held the abandoned miner's camp. Though there weren't a lot of defenses thanks to the environment's lack of predators, the group simply rode on in.
The camp itself was mostly made up of tents, a shed, and a much bigger tent that seemed to serve as a cafeteria. In the far back of the tent, there was another path that led to the waterfall Wei Yue had mentioned before.
Getting off Horsy, Owen equipped his Hardwood Monk Spade weapon form and began looking at the nearby cliffs for any bird-like creature. There was nothing yet as the party traveled throughout the empty tents.
'Thank god everyone evacuated. I don't think I'm ready to see dead bodies littering this place, those undead were terrifying enough, ugh.'
Owen shuddered as his mind went back to the mines before hearing a voice call out to him.
"Owen! Over here!" Jìng said as Owen and Wei Yue quickly went over to the Najin girl. Jìng pointed at the nearby waterfall as a black ominous looking goop traveled down the water.
"Up there?" Wei Yue asked to which his sister nodded.
After waiting a bit, the group found a nearby dirt path that led up to the top of the waterfall. Making sure not to make too much noise, they reached the top and into a forest.
They continued to walk slowly until Wei Yue pointed at the distance and towards the river, where Owen could see the Zhenniao.
It was a pretty big bird in his opinion, one that would reach as tall as your waist or lower torso depending on your height. Though not as big as an ostrich or anything back on Earth. It kinda looks like a very big crowd with a purplish glint to its dark black feathers.
It currently was sitting on the river with its wings spread out in the water, allowing the poisonous liquid to pour out of its feathers.
Owen checked the level of the bird before telling his party he was ready.
[Zhenniao]
Lvl 23
He then switched his weapon form to his Root Jo Staff so he could use [Detection] which then began to make Owen concerned.
Jìng noticed and whispered to him, "What's wrong?"
"Do Zhenniao travel in flocks? I'm detecting another monster near us in a tree across the river…" Owen whispered back.
"Shoot…that's probably it's mate, the Zhenniao are likely in their mating season this time of year. I'll go tell Wei Yue to handle that one."
Owen watched as Jìng crouched and went to her brother before seeing him nod in understanding. His party members watched as Owen approached the edge of the river behind a bush as he got himself ready for another round of fighting.
'You can do this. Just don't let its talon claw you good so it can spread its poison on your wounds…'
Taking a deep breath he shouted out the useful skill, "[Root Capture]!"
The familiar net of roots flew into the direction of the Zhenniao who had immediately noticed Owen's yelling and attempted to fly, only for its legs to get wrapped abruptly causing it crashing onto the dirt.
Owen leapt out of the bush with Jìng next to him. He watched as another smaller Zhenniao flew out of the treeline and towards him, however it would be kicked away by Wei Yue who began to fight it in the river.
Though the trapped Zhenniao was now free and leapt towards Owen with its claws.
RAAAHHH!*
"Oh crap-!" Owen swapped over to his Monk Spade to cover his face as his vambraces defended his arms from the bird's talons. He also quickly closed his eyes and mouth in case any poison flew out of the birds flapping feathers.
Jìng stepped in and quickly slashed her katana against the poison bird's back as Owen used his staff to push the creature off him.
"[Power Swing]!" He yelled out as he slammed his weapon against the bird, causing it to only stumble slightly before getting kicked by Owen.
The bird tumbled against the ground before getting quickly stabbed in the chest by Jìng, ending the fight. Thanks to some good teamwork.
"Phew, that was much quicker than I expected. Nice work Jìng," Owen complimented before patting Jìng's shoulder.
The two party members turned to see Wei Yue already done with his as Owen level raised up once again. The two Zhenniao bodies would be absorbed but their weapon forms would be locked so Owen couldn't see what they could do., a shame but likely blocked behind some level gap.
Job was finally done. The party now began to make their way back to the Xinya Family Shrine at Najin Village, where some drama will ensue…
After a two hour horde ride back to Najin Village, the party had reached the gate to the family shrine.
Owen got off his horse as he watched Wei Yue bow before walking away without saying anything. This resulted in him sighing and rubbing his forehead at what's about to come.
'Likely telling his dad about Jìng joining my party today…'
He turned to face Jìng who was silent once again, probably scared about her father coming to see the two. Owen simply grabbed her hand and helped her off the horse as he rubbed her back to calm her down.
"You're gonna be fine, after all you're my party member now."
Jìng turned to face Owen with a look of disbelief, "R-really? You weren't just saying that to raise my confidence?"
She seemed to beg for the truth with that sad look on her face.
"Yeah, I was serious. I don't think I can handle having a guy like your brother in your party, even if he is strong in a fight-. Crap, not that you weren't strong or anything!" Owen quickly corrected himself.
Jìng only shook her head before grasping his hand for comfort as she thanked him, "I understand what you mean Owen. Thank you for helping me face my father. I too will do my best to help you from here on out."
'She's a good friend to have in this world. But now it's time to see what her dad has to say…'
In the distance, Owen could see multiple wooden carts being pushed towards the gate, with Xinya Chang Pu walking alongside them.
Inside the rows were the materials Owen had requested as Chang Pu looked at both him and his daughter.
"Wei Yue has told me about your 'help' during Sir Jenkins' trip to the Najin Peaks today," he paused before continuing, "perhaps we can continue your training when we begin to teach you how to become a shrine maiden-"
He was cut off as Owen interrupted him.
"No, she'll be coming with me as my party member sir," Owen stated as he began to absorb the numerous amounts of Hardwood into his weapon before continuing, "She had proven to be a good teammate in combat as we worked effectively to wipe out a Zhenniao with little effort."
"It's as he says father, I know I can become stronger in his party," Jìng added as she stood next to Owen.
The Xinya Patriarch watched the two of them as he rubbed his chin in thought before speaking, "I see ... .then how about taking Wei Yue as well then? I'm sure you know how capable he is too?"
While he was capable, Owen didn't want Wei Yue's behavior to become an issue if Jìng caused an accident during an adventure or quest.
Shaking his head, Owen would surprise the family Patriarch, "you and your son's behavior towards Jìng is something that I do not like. It honestly reminds me of my parents, who I don't have the greatest memories with. Because of that, I would rather have Wei Yue assist Jingyi when the next wave hits than have him in my party."
Owen let his words hang in the air before seeing Chang Pu bow before him and Jìng as he spoke, "It shames me that I had failed to follow the principles of the Shaolin Tool's when I should've disciplined myself into being a better caring father than shrine leader…"
'Took you this long huh?'
Owen thought angrily before speaking coldly, "You should honestly say that to your daughter, Chang Pu."
Jìng looked silently at her father before letting her true feelings known out loud, "I-I won't accept your apologies Father…perhaps one day I will but…"
She stayed quiet as she let her emotions run through her as Owen saw how she looked angry before coming to a face of sadness while Chang Pu watched with a shame.
"For now, I won't forgive you. Until Owen believes you have turned for the better…than I will give you a chance to speak your case," She turned to face Owen with a sad smile before walking to Horsy and rubbing it's neck.
Owen glanced at the Xinya Patriarch with a mixed expression.
'Im mad at him. Even though he isn't my actual parents, I kinda let my anger out on him…and right now? It's too pathetic to lash out at him again…'
He sighed as he pinched his nose before talking to Chang Pu, "it's like she says sir. If you truly are ashamed for your treatment of her, then when the next wave comes at Jingyi, I better see a change of heart. Do you understand?"
The father only nodded his head as Owen gave him an order, "Then go get me and Jìng some outdoor equipment, I'm going to use the cart with the materials you gave me, to hold my party's stuff in it. Then at Sunset, me and Jìng will leave town, tell your son the news that I rejected him from being in my party."
He watched as the Xinya Patriarch and the numerous shrine takers leave causing him and Jìng alone outside the gates.
Turning around Owen saw Jìng sitting on the ground.
'A lot. Has happened today…is this how it would've felt with my parents if I talked to them about their behavior with me?'
He ignored the thought about his parents as he crouched besides Jìng before noticing the tears rolling down her cheek. Owen simply gave her a hug and told her to wait for him near the entrance of Najin so that way she didn't have to deal with her brother and father.
"O-okay…" Jìng got up and began to head towards the village entrance as Owen went back to Horsy and attached the cart to its saddle.
"Sorry about this drama Horsy but you won't be able to run fast for a while," Owen then rubbed his hand on its neck before checking his weapon forms and noticing that he could cultivate his hardwood weapons.
He used Tier Cultivation on the [Hardwood Bark Monk Spade] and [Copper Bo Staff] before using Skill Cultivation to enhance the now unlocked skill: Body Lock.
That resulted in a slightly better length of time he was in that defensive form.
He was then able to get the Hardwood Monk Spade to Tier 2 but when he went for Tier 3 it went back down to zero. Causing Owen to curse at himself for being greedy.
'Ugh…damn it man. I should've kept it at Tier 2. Well at least the Copper Bo Staff is Tier 1…'
It didn't take too long for shrine maidens to place what appeared to be two sleeping rolls, bundles of wood, numerous other supplies like food, and a tarp over the cart. Though one of the caretaker took out a Youxia Card and stamped the Xinya Family Crest onto it before handing over to Owen, who placed it in his jean pocket.
Thanking the shrine maidens Owen noticed how they stared at him with amazed looks.
"What?"
One of the shrine maiden blushed before sputtering out what she believed was the true reasons of the Shaolin Hero's words.
"A-are you doing this be-because…you're in love with Lady Lìng!?!"
'Huh.'
…
…
…
'HUH! I ONLY JUST MET HER YESTERDAY!?!?'
His reaction seemed to only make the situation worse as they began to squeal, even the male guards at the gates were doing that too!
"N-no, you got it all wrong! I just hate seeing that type of behavior from a father!" Owen protested before sighing immensely as that didn't seem to process through their heads.
'What a crappy family but weirder staff…'
Owen began to ignore the caretakers as he got on Horsy and rode off to go pick up Jìng. Continuing to shake his head at those weirdos.
While that tidbit was happening, meanwhile…
Jìng stood at the entrance of her village waiting as her mind ran back on what just happened with her father and the beginning of the day.
'...Will father truly be sorry? Should I forgive him if Owen thinks he changed?'
Those thoughts echoed inside her head as she proceeded to look at the blade in her hands. She had gotten as a present when she and Wei Yue had begun sword fighting when they reached the age of 18. While they had a decent scoreboard, it now didn't really felt like a weapon she wanted to use.
Maybe it had to do with its connection to her family?
"What would my mother have done if she was there not acting as a commander to Jingyi's City Guards? Would she have been kinder than father? Or harsher…" she spoke to herself as she sat on the grass.
To think that one day she was helping a young merchant go halfway across Pan Bo, to meeting the Shaolin Tool's Hero, and finally having him completely change her relationship with her father and brother in one day?
A part of her wanted to be mad at how quick it all was! But if it wasn't for meeting him, then she would've likely done what Owen had apparently did back on his world.
...
"I ignored it and only made myself more miserable not doing anything about it."
…
Perhaps it was for the best she reacted the way she did, it certainly helped let out her feelings of frustration and angry at her family…
But it still hurt.
Like really hurt. Moreso than any physical wound she got from fighting monsters…
However a familiar voice called out to Jìng with concern, "You're going to be okay? If you're not feeling okay, which I understand if you are, than we can go find an inn to stay at. Let me count how much money I still got…"
She turned up to see Sir Owen counting the numerous Mon-Fif's he had in his bundle of money. All the while, a cart was attached to 'Horsy' full of equipment for adventuring across the land.
A small smile formed across her face, perhaps she was able to do what she wanted to do and help fight against the Waves of Calamity with this Era's Shaolin Hero, her friend.
Getting up and patting off the dirt and grass of her leggings and armor, Jìng walked up to Owen and climbed aboard behind him. He stopped counting and glanced back with a curious look in his brown eyes, probably due to her shift in behavior.
She shook her head at this and told him that she was okay and was ready to go leave Najin.
Owen nodded as he gave a smile as he turned to face the road before announcing their next destination, "Next stop! The Fortified Capital of Jingyi! Hyah! Onwards Horsy!"
Yeah, perhaps she can find a better duty in life after all…
[Otherworld Index]
The Land of Pan Bo:
The region's true name used to be called the "Tai-Jia Fields" after the Jia Royal Kingdom sent out numerous colonist to settle in the once hostile region full of dangerous monsters. Because of the extermination of most of the dangerous predators in the region, many weaker ones begin to thrive compared elsewhere in the Shaolin Tool's World.
However the ownership of this land soon changed when the previous Shaolin Hero was choosen to govern the territory under the Royal Kingdom. Some scholars think that the previous Shaolin Hero allowed the Jia Royal Family to die in the Waves in order to seize control of the Tai-Jia Fields to create a dynasty of his own.
While others believed he had taken over the land to provide a stable refugee spot for numerous Jian citizen's to flee to. Well the reasons are lost to time but the region soon began to change under the control of the newly created Pan Bo Dynasty.
200 years later, the land is simply called "Pan Bo Plains" after the nation it is ruled by. It is one of the best regions for crops which had provided numerous advantages in dealings with other nations.
However, the current land occupied is but of a much once bigger territory…
A/N: Phew! Okay Xinya Family drama is finally over! Rip Jìng though, entire life changed in one day thanks to our boi lol.
Well let's hope she finds better joy out in the world than with her rude family. For me when I was writing the drama, I think it's interesting how some characters can forgive people right away but I think it's much more realistic for someone to not forgive just because the person doing the wrong realized what they did in a moment of confrontation.
So except a few words to be talked between Owen and Jìng about her family in future chapters and maybe one day some forgiveness can be made, who knows?
Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I want to say thanks for taking the time to read my story. It means a lot!
What you guys think of the history of Pan Bo? Definitely a lot of stuff happened in this region 200 years ago. Can't wait to learn more about the past in future chapters, hope you guys are too!
The next chapter will be a bit of a filler chapter with no fight scenes in it (sorry) but chapter 8 will have some! Don't you worry! We will also be seeing Owen get some better equipment and meet some old friends, well two really but you get the point!
This was a interesting chapter to write but until then, see ya next time!