Dreaming for 10,000 years

Chapter 397 Trouble
“That’s right!” Yu Tian said, “It can strengthen the body and also help defend against powerful enemies; it can be called martial arts.”

With a flick of his wrist, the vortex of energy suddenly transformed into a sharp blade, cleanly severing a withered branch three zhang away. Then, it turned into a gentle breeze, lifting a falling leaf.

"Martial arts..." Little Bell murmured to herself.

Yu Tian said, "We are bullied because we are powerless. If we had power, who would still bully us?"

"We are not only referring to Yu Tian and Xiao Lingdang, but also to those who are bullied just like them."

The sun had fully risen, and golden rays bathed the dilapidated temple. Little Bell suddenly noticed that Yu Tian's eyes shimmered with a faint golden hue in the sunlight, like a cat's eyes.

She didn't know that this was a strange phenomenon after her internal energy breakthrough; she only thought it was a mark of the gods, and boundless piety welled up in her heart.

"How do I acquire martial arts skills?" she asked eagerly. "Do I have to kowtow? Do I have to make offerings? What kind of offerings does the Cat God like?"

She also wanted to become strong, no longer a burden to Yu Tian.

“No… Cat God is unconventional. As long as you have good intentions, that is the best offering.” Yu Tian said, thinking of Shi Fei’s easygoing manner. “As for martial arts, you need to persevere.”

"persist in?"

"Persistence is a power." Yu Tian nodded: "With the blessing of the Cat God, only by constantly honing one's body and mind can one become stronger in martial arts!"

"you listen to me……"

For the next few hours, the boy's clear and melodious voice echoed through the dilapidated temple.

Little Bell sometimes frowned in deep thought, and sometimes suddenly realized something. When talking about "qi sinking to the dantian", she couldn't help but lift the hem of her tattered clothes and curiously press her thin belly; when talking about "circulation of qi", she drew circles in the air with her finger.

"I don't understand this." She timidly pointed to a section of the meridian, "Does the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian go this way?"

Yu Tian simply took off his straw sandals, rolled up his trousers, and demonstrated the flow of internal energy to her. Sunlight streamed through the cracks in the broken roof, casting dappled patterns of light on the two of them, resembling an ancient diagram of energy transmission.

When the cicadas began to chirp at noon, Little Bell had already managed to complete her first breathing cycle. A blush rose on her pale cheeks, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, but she couldn't hide the joy in her eyes.

And so, Little Bell became the first follower of the Cat God, and also a martial artist.

While they were diligently practicing their skills, several crabs and turtles had already discovered Yu Tian's whereabouts.

"Several" is a measure word, while "crab and turtle" is not an adjective but a noun.

A calf-sized hairy crab nimbly climbed the rock face, its eight legs moving alternately, making a soft "clicking" sound.

It occasionally raises its huge pincers, the downy hairs on the jaws trembling gently in the morning breeze, capturing the lingering scents in the air.

"Found him!" The blue crab suddenly lowered its voice, pointing its pincers at the distant valley. "That kid is just three miles ahead. We almost let him get away!"

Beside it, a turtle spirit the size of a carriage stretched its neck, its nostrils flaring: "The stench of humans is mixed with a strange aura." Its thick carapace was smooth and robust, clearly indicating that it had been cultivating for hundreds of years.

“Cunning human brat.” Another golden crab waved its pincers, making a metallic clanging sound. “But he probably never imagined that Lord Chushan is such a close friend of our Lord River God!” They were both capable generals under the River God, usually guarding the depths of the great river.

Several days ago, after Li Xianfeng returned to the Water Palace and reported that the sacrificial ceremony had been disturbed, the River God was furious! Not only because his own sacrifice had been disrupted and he had lost face, but also because of the name "Cat God".

That was a name that many gods feared.

So the River God issued a token made of millennia-old giant clam shell, the "River God's Decree," calling on the demons in the great river to find the daring young man.

All the aquatic creatures in the entire river were in an uproar, demanding to see the person alive or dead!

They searched along the riverbank for many days, but could not find the boy. Finally, they discovered that the cunning boy had been walking slowly along the path between the mountains and rivers, and had accidentally avoided their first search.

However, they also found Yu Tian's trail. It's just that Yu Tian's pace was rather slow. In addition, they had come to Chu Shan Jun's territory, and the Prime Minister Tuo had consulted with the River God and met with Chu Shan Jun before they were allowed to enter and search the mountain.

"Lord Chushan has already sent mountain spirits to assist us," the blue crab said in a low voice, unconsciously shrinking back. "That lord is following us in the shadows."

Most of the people in the River God's palace are aquatic spirits, and very few can go ashore. However, Lord Chu Shan has promised the River God that he will send mountain spirits to assist them in capturing the boy!
Deep in the dense forest, a pair of eerie green eyes peered through the gaps in the branches and leaves at three aquatic creatures.

It was a mountain spirit, entirely black, with only one thick leg, yet it could move among the rocks as if they were flat ground. Its hairy arms hung down to its knees, its fingertips sharp as hooks.

Mountain spirits are a type of spirit found in the mountains, distinct from mountain goblins. Male mountain spirits have only one leg, a human face, long arms, a black body covered in hair, and immense strength, capable of tearing apart tigers and leopards with their bare hands!
Female mountain spirits are different; they wear ivy and vines, ride red leopards and blue foxes, and have delicate, girlish faces and bright, spring-like eyes.

Accompanying them was a male mountain spirit. He was hidden in the mountains, constantly scrutinizing the two large crabs.

Besides eating people, the mountain spirit also liked to eat crabs from the mountains and salt from the rocks. This was the first time he had ever seen such a large crab.

He was thinking how delicious it would be if the crabs were salted and preserved.

The blue crab shuddered uncomfortably, a few water droplets flying out from its fuzzy fur, and said to the yellow crab, "Second brother, why do I feel something hairy on my back? Could it be that the boy has discovered us?"

Yellow Crab cautiously looked around, its pincers clicking: "Who knows... that kid claims to be a messenger of the Cat God, he might really be like a wildcat, lurking in the shadows watching us."

Just then, a mountain breeze suddenly swirled past, scattering fallen leaves everywhere. The three aquatic spirits tensed up in unison.

The wind carried a familiar scent—the very target they had been tracking for days!

The mountain spirit narrowed its single eye, its long arm silently plunging into a crevice in the rock. It sensed the entire mountain's contours, and the human boy hidden in the valley was as conspicuous as a firefly in the night.
They slowly approached the dilapidated temple, careful not to attract the attention of those inside. Then, they surrounded the temple from several directions, just as they were about to launch a sneak attack on the two boys, when they heard someone inside the temple say something.

"Great God of Dreams, please bless us and let us grow up safely!"

Dream God?

Why isn't it Cat God?

The few turtles and crabs exchanged glances, wondering if they had mistaken each other for someone else.

(End of this chapter)