Down the hillside, several teenagers hurriedly ran up.
"Rubbish, it's this piece of rubbish that caused me to faint and miss the opportunity to participate in the Magic Enlightenment," the child who had previously insulted Yun Sheng at the Magic Temple said furiously, pointing at Yun Sheng.
"You're that little good-for-nothing Yun Sheng, the daughter of that fake Mage? The village chief kindly allowed you to stay in Banana Leaf Village, yet you dared to bully my brother. Kneel down, apologize to him by kowtowing, and hand over a silver coin. Then, I'll spare you," said an arrogant looking young boy, with several other boys of the same age standing behind him.
Unlike the ordinary children of Banana Leaf Village, the speaking youth was dressed in a brown training outfit, indicating that he was a Martial Artist from the town level Martial Arts Hall.
Magic Temples and Martial Arts Halls are among the most fundamental institutions on the Wuji Continent, with each nation having its Magic Temples and Martial Arts sub-halls from villages to capitals, where children of both genders are eligible to enroll for Magic Enlightenment in Magic Temples and physical tests in Martial Arts Halls from the age of three.
Those who pass these tests receive a living subsidy from the government, similar to being sponsored students in modern terms, but neither institution had any relation with Yun Sheng.
Because Yun Sheng is a failure, inherently unable to practice martial arts, having failed the Magic Enlightenment three times—a double loser, and for this, she has often been ridiculed by other children in the village.
Those who mocked her would always inexplicably faint and feel unwell, hence nobody dared to bully her outright.
The elder brother of the boy who provoked Yun Sheng in the Magic Temple is named Lei Hu, one of the few boys in the village who had gone to study martial arts at the Town Martial Arts Hall, and was considered the leader among the village children.
He left home last year to study martial arts outside and had just returned home a few days ago.
This morning, upon learning that his younger brother had missed this year's Magic Enlightenment opportunity because of Yun Sheng, he became furious and brought several close friends to confront Yun Sheng.
The Martial Artists trained in the town level Martial Arts Hall know Martial Arts; this young girl has only practiced the basic Absorption and Exhalation Technique and can't defend herself, so she is likely at a disadvantage.
Under the tree, the handsome lips of the young man pursed slightly; lazily lifting his hand, several green leaves fell into his hand.
Yun Sheng lowered her eyelids, covering the sparkle in her eyes with her lashes, and between her cherry-red lips, she burst out a word: "Scram!"
As she spoke, she exerted force under her feet, her petite body springing forward like a tightened spring, and firmly punched Lei Hu right in the face.
Lei Hu had not expected her to strike as soon as she spoke, nor had he anticipated that a so-called good-for-nothing unable to train in martial arts could have such agility. Caught off guard, he was sent flying, with a bloody tasting liquid swirling in his mouth.
A Martial Artist is still a Martial Artist, having undergone specialized combat training. Although caught off guard, Lei Hu quickly recovered. He roared furiously, and a brownish-yellow Battle Energy surged throughout his body. His spine arched dramatically, and his eyes shimmered with green light, transforming into a starved dog.
His sturdy limbs gathered strength in midair, forcefully stopping his fall, and his movement technique accelerated several times, like a hungry rabid dog, with the force of shattered stones charging at Yun Sheng.
"Hmm? He's a Martial Artist who has learned basic Martial Arts, his Qi Power strong enough to break stones. She might be at a disadvantage," the young man's hands infused a piece of Gang Qi into a few green leaves, tensing them like flying knives.
Just as he was about to launch them, his ears twitched slightly, and he paused his movement.
Up the hillside, Yun Sheng also noticed the change in Lei Hu, her pupils constricted, emanating a faint glimmer of golden light.
While Lei Hu moved as fast as lightning, in her eyes, his movements broke down into slow-motion scenes like in a slow-motion film.
With a slight thought, Yun Sheng's fingertips now held a Beast Bone Needle, for her patience had limits too.
Just as Yun Sheng and Lei Hu were about to collide, a surprising sound of water erupted.
Down the hillside in the small river, two streams of water like Spiritual Snakes rose into the air, the vapors solidifying into droplets, quickly forming two water balls. The water balls, like cannonballs, crashed into Yun Sheng and Lei Hu, soaking them both completely.
"You two, stop fighting now!" As the water balls hit the ground, an old man with a wide-mouthed lion face holding a Magic Wand appeared on the hillside and, like an eagle snatching chickens, grabbed the collars of Yun Sheng and Lei Hu, separating the two.
The moment the old man appeared, the children on the hillside scattered like birds and beasts.
"Village Chief Grandfather," Lei Hu lost his earlier prestige as soon as he saw the old man and resignedly let go of his fists.
The village chief of Banana Leaf Village was an elderly man over sixty years old. Everyone in the village respected him greatly, not only because he was the village chief, but also because he was one of the few people in Banana Leaf Village who mastered Magic in two elements; he was a Magician.
In Wuji Continent, those who know how to use Magic Elements are granted various Mage titles.
Those who have received Magic Enlightenment and can perceive at least one type of Magic Element are called Magic Apprentices.
Above the Magic Apprentices are the Magicians.
Magicians can store at least one type of Magic Element within their bodies and use Beginner Magic Attack or Magic Defense.
In Wuji Continent, about one percent of people can perceive Magic Elements.
As for Magicians, the ratio is even less, only about one in a thousand.
Most Magicians can only sense one type of Magic Element. Those who understand two types of Magic Elements are rare, not even one in ten thousand.
The village chief of Banana Leaf Village was a water and wind Magician in the army in his earlier years.
After he retired, he returned to his hometown and took on the position of village chief.
"Lei Hu, you, as a registered Martial Artist, bullying a younger girl who doesn't know Martial Arts—it's embarrassing to even mention," the village chief had just come to find Yun Sheng because he had watched Yun Sheng grow up and knew that at this time every day, the little girl would definitely be on the hill slope for her "nap".
But as soon as he approached, he heard the sounds of a fight.
"I didn't bully her, Village Chief Grandfather, she, she is very powerful," Lei Hu had to admit that Yun Sheng's reactions were stronger than any peer opponent he had faced in the Martial Arts Hall.
Lei Hu was unwilling to accept this, he pointed at Yun Sheng, but as soon as he clearly saw Yun Sheng's expression, he was stunned.
"Village Chief Grandfather," the little girl who was glaring fiercely at him just a moment ago, was now teary-eyed, pouting her lips, and looking pitifully "severely bullied".
Not only Lei Hu but even the strange boy under the banyan tree couldn't help but twitch his mouth when he heard Yun Sheng's "complaint".
"Lei Hu, still making excuses," the village chief, headache-ridden, grabbed Lei Hu's hand which held a Magic Bone Staff, and with a flick, a pale green Wind Element turned into a rope that wrapped around Lei Hu.
Lei Hu felt a lightness below and was thrown down from the hillside, "You only come home once every three months. If you don't want to be confined as a punishment, go home immediately. If I see you bullying Yun Sheng again, you will forfeit a month's allowance."
Lei Hu dared not say more, only leaving resentfully.
"Yun Sheng, if anyone bullies you again, come tell Village Chief Grandfather," the village chief lovingly put down Yun Sheng and stroked her head.
As the village chief, he shouldn't overly favor any child in the village, but Yun Sheng, who was about the same age as his own granddaughter, was much more well-behaved and sensible than other children in the village.
At three years old she learned to do household chores, and at four she could read and write. The Yun Family's few acres of Medicine Field were all managed by her alone.
Her father was ridiculed as a counterfeit Mage, and though the village children repeatedly harassed and bullied her, she was never seen to cry or make a fuss.
Such a child, to unfortunately have such a father, pity displayed itself on the stern face of the village chief.
"Village Chief Grandfather, did you need something?" Yun Sheng shrank her little head, not quite used to the Village Chief Grandfather's overly affectionate gesture.