Side Story 4: The Boy Grows Up

Side Story 4: The Boy Grows Up

Time flies, and two years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Pei Niannian is thirteen years old.

The girl's figure was like a willow branch sprouting, gradually shedding her childishness and growing into a graceful, beautiful, and charming young woman.

That face, so similar to Tang Li's, had a touch of Pei Yun Jing's sharpness and heroic spirit in its brows and eyes.

However, the direction in which it "emerged" seems a bit wild.

"drink!"

In the training ground in the back garden.

Pei Niannian, dressed in a fiery red outfit, wielded a long whip that lashed out like a serpent, creating a series of loud cracking sounds in the air.

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

Wherever the whip passed, several rows of wooden dummy dummies in the distance were instantly shattered into pieces, with wood chips flying everywhere.

"Big White! Go!"

With her command.

The white-browed tiger next to it, whose size had grown even larger (the second generation of White Tiger, the original White Tiger was now retired), roared and pounced on another row of iron man statues.

"Bang!"

The iron lump, weighing several hundred pounds, was sent flying by its claw.

Nowadays, no one dares to mess with Pei Niannian in the elite circles of the capital.

After all, nobody wants to reason with a "female demon" who can lift a stone lock with one hand and command a tiger to bite people.

Meanwhile, Pei An was also eleven years old.

Unlike his sister, he wasn't keen on fighting and killing; he preferred quiet.

At this moment, he was sitting cross-legged in front of the chessboard in the garden, playing chess alone, with both hands on opposite sides.

He still held the small wooden sword in his arms (now a longer one), and his handsome face, which increasingly resembled Pei Yunjing's, remained indifferent and undisturbed.

"Smack."

He placed a piece, and instantly the black pieces on the chessboard were surrounded and wiped out.

"We won again."

Pei An expressionlessly put away the chess pieces, a hint of... boredom flashing in his eyes.

Over the years, under Pei Yunjing's personal tutelage, he has mastered the use of his auditory "superpower".

He can hear the wind's trajectory, the subtle vibrations when a chess piece is placed on the board, and even predict his opponent's next move by listening to their heartbeat and breathing.

In this capital city, he can no longer find an opponent, whether in chess or swordsmanship.

For him, everything was like having a cheat code; all the variables were under his control.

"well……"

Pei Niannian put away her whip, wiped her sweat, plopped down next to her younger brother, and let out a long sigh.

"What's wrong?" Pei An rarely took the initiative to speak.

"How boring!"

Pei Niannian grabbed a handful of pebbles and threw them into the pond, splashing water everywhere.

"Look at this capital city, what's so fun about it?"

“Those princes and noblemen all act like mice before a cat when they see me; not one of them dares to fight me.”

"And those young ladies from noble families, all they do all day is recite poetry, embroider, and play the zither. They have to beat around the bush when they speak. Aren't they tired?"

Pei Niannian rested her chin on her hands, gazing at the distant, rolling green mountains, her eyes filled with longing.

"I still think the martial arts world depicted in storybooks is interesting."

"Eat meat with gusto, drink wine from large bowls, help those in need on the road, and even rob the rich to help the poor—how carefree!"

Pei An didn't say anything, but he felt that his sister was right.

The capital city was too small and too comfortable for them.

Because their father is Pei Yunjing and their mother is Tang Li, they stood at the pinnacle of power from birth.

Everyone fawned over them and flattered them; no one dared to tell them the truth, and no one dared to be their enemy.

This kind of life is stable, but it also feels like a magnificent cage.

"An'an".

Pei Niannian suddenly leaned closer and said mysteriously:

"How about... we run away?"

Pei An was taken aback: "Run?"

"yes!"

Pei Niannian's eyes sparkled like two stars: "Run away from home! Go and explore the world!"

"Anyway, Father has conquered the world, and there are no more battles to fight. We'll just be rotting away here."

"Why don't we go out and see this beautiful land, and see what those chivalrous heroes and villains described in the stories actually look like!"

Once this thought arises, it can no longer be suppressed. It is a young person's primal yearning for the unknown world.

“But…” Pei An hesitated, “Father and Mother will worry.”

"What's there to be afraid of!"

Pei Niannian patted her chest, her voice filled with heroic spirit:

"With me being so powerful, you being so smart, and with Big White and the others following us, who can bully us?"

"Besides, we're going to uphold justice, not do bad things. When we make a name for ourselves in the martial arts world, our parents might even praise us!"

Seeing his sister's eager expression, Pei An's mature-beyond-his-years heart couldn't help but stir with excitement.

Jianghu (江湖, a term referring to the martial arts world)...

What kind of place would that be?

Is there a swordsman stronger than my father?

Is there a "femme fatale" who is even more troublesome than her sister?

"good."

Pei An stood up and hugged the small wooden sword back to his arms: "When are you leaving?"

"Tonight!"

Pei Niannian slapped her thigh excitedly:

"Let's slip away while Mom and Dad are asleep! I've already planned the route!"

As night deepened, two reckless teenagers, filled with boundless longing for the martial arts world, began a long-planned "prison break."

They were unaware that, just when they thought they were getting away with it, something was going on.

On the roof of the master bedroom, Pei Yunjing was holding Tang Li, looking down at the two sneaky little figures below, and shook his head helplessly.

"These two kids... they're such a handful." Tang Li sighed, but her eyes were full of smiles.

Let them be.

Pei Yunjing's tone was full of indulgence: "When the fledgling eagle grows up, it will eventually have to fly."

"but……"

He changed the subject, a glint of cunning flashing in his eyes: "They should also know that the martial world... isn't as wonderful as it's written in novels."

"Han Zheng," he whispered to the air.

"Your subordinate is here."

"Keep up."

"Oh, and remember to find some fun for them along the way."

"yes."