C11 The Overcast Arboretum

Although I promised with great fighting spirit, I could not muster up my spirits when I was practicing the spear. Under Big Sis Marvin's control, I was not able to make twenty moves. As for my cousin Ma Dai, he was willing to put in the effort in martial arts because he was physically and mentally injured and no one doted on him.

Even though he usually spends most of his time playing with me, but during the six hours of spear training in the morning and evening, he would be seriously practicing his spear skills in the training grounds. When he was eight years old and had just started learning his spear skills, the two of us were evenly matched, but when he was nine years old, it was difficult for him to win against me in a hundred moves.

As I grew older, the only things I gained in stature were horsemanship and archery — all thanks to the birds and goats outside the city.

Therefore, from the bottom of my heart, I am grateful to those birds and beasts that have died tragically under my arrows. Without you all, I might have been a complete trash …

Ten years old.

There were only ten years left until the war between the Ma and Han Clans.

Only ten years?

His chest suddenly felt numb, as if there was a mouse scratching its head. This feeling had frequently appeared these past few days.

I usually don't believe in premonitions, but now I have no choice but to be suspicious …

Could there be something?

From afar, the horizon seemed to have some dark clouds, slowly spreading out, suppressing my lungs, making me feel breathless.

Subconsciously, I raised the horsewhip and used it on the breech. The West Cold horse whinnied, and its four steel hooves spread out as it galloped towards the city. There was a loud noise in the air.

Ma Dai and Zhao Cheng's lackeys also turned their horses around and followed me back.

Within the Martial Aunt City.

General Ma's residence.

Inner court.

I rushed straight in, jumped down from the saddle, and pushed open the half-closed door. Mother was still embroidering in the yard, while happily watching her two little brothers frolicking around the pillar.

I heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly paid my respects to my mother. However, the oppressive feeling in my heart didn't disappear.

"Chao Er, what's wrong with you? Your face is so ugly? " When my mother saw me come in, she hurriedly put down her sewing and got up to look at me. Xiao Qing, the personal maid at the side, hurriedly bowed to me.

Looking at my mother's young and beautiful face, I couldn't help but feel a pang in my heart. I tightly hugged my mother's waist and buried my head in her embrace. Only by being in her warm embrace could I feel temporarily at peace.

"Chao Er, what's wrong with you? Your father scolded you again? " When Mother was suddenly hugged by me and felt my body tremble uncontrollably, she was also shocked. She thought that I had suffered some grievance and hurriedly comforted me.

I didn't say anything, just held my mother tighter.

I was afraid that if I opened my mouth, I wouldn't be able to bite my teeth, and I wouldn't be able to control the tears that were rolling in my eyes.

I know: I'm afraid of losing my mother!

After the time it took to make a cup of tea, the unease in his heart gradually disappeared, and his entire body gradually recovered. I reluctantly let go of my hands, twitched my nose, and raised my head to look at my mother.

Mother's eyes were filled with tender affection. She reached out her right hand to caress my still tender face and gently wiped away the tears at the corner of my eyes. She gently said, "My Chao Er, you're going to be ten next month. You're a big child already. Why are you still crying?"

My nose stung again, and I gritted my teeth and shook my head.

My mother took my hand and led me to the seat. She picked up the embroidery, which was made of silk. Although it wasn't finished yet, it had already taken shape. "Chao Er, come and try it on." Mom took the needle out of her hat, tied it gently at the end of her long fingertip and placed it on my head.

I raised my head to look at my mother. My mother's eyes were filled with love and gratification. My own son was gradually about to grow into a man. Even though he was usually arrogant and domineering, he was still a part of his effort.

"It's very suitable, Xiao Qing. Bring me the lion head." Mother said. The personal servant girl behind him took out a shiny silver item from the room. When she got closer, she saw that it was a half-iron half-copper lion head.

Mother put the mask on her head and gestured to my head. "Chao Er, you're not young anymore. You should have your own helmet. Since you've been hunting since young, Mother will make you a lion head helmet. What do you think?"

How could I still speak? I could only nod my head.

"Mother, I will go practice my spear arts first. I will accompany you in a while." I bowed my head and quickly left the Inner court. The instant I closed the door behind me, my eyes became moist again.

I bit my lip, jumped on my horse, and went to the training field to practice my gun alone.

Mother, from today onwards, I, Ma Chao, will use the pride of the Ma Family's inherited spear arts to protect you from now on, so that no one will be able to touch a single hair on you!

-

During this half a month, I worked especially hard while practicing my spear skills. When elder sister and cousin used their techniques against me, they said that they felt some killing intent that I had never felt before.

I have to say that there is a talent for martial arts hidden in my body. The moment I focus on it, this talent will begin to show its effects.

Although Ma Dai is working even harder, he could only maintain a stalemate with me for over a hundred moves. Every time Dad sees me desperately stabbing the spear on the training field, his mouth would reveal a trace of gratification.

In the past few days, the number of times Pang Yi came to look for Dad clearly increased. I saw them several times shouting in the side hall with an anxious expression, while the time Pang De and his brother Pang Rou spent training with me greatly increased.

I've never heard of Pang Rou before, but this person seems to have inherited his father's scholarly knowledge. He reads a bunch of books all day and has never practiced martial arts. I really don't understand what Pang Yi is thinking.

— — Later I learned from Pang De that his brother, Pang Rou, had a serious illness when he was three years old and had a weak physique. He was not suitable for martial arts, and even if he forced himself to do so, he would only grow up to be slightly stronger than an ordinary person. Therefore, Pang Rou was encouraged to read the classics and follow the path of a civil servant.

-

My tenth birthday passed in joy, and the throbbing in my heart faded.

After lunch on July 14th, I practiced spear arts for two hours with my elder sister, cousin, and my younger brother Ma Xiu who had just turned eight. I couldn't help but think of the scenery outside the city, and went to Inner court to report it to my mother.

Mother took out the Lion Helmet from the pavilion, and my eyes immediately lit up. Twenty days ago, I was wearing a cloth inner layer, but it was just a warm and comfortable feeling.

I happily took the fluffy Lion Helmet with me and galloped out of the city.

Ma Dai and I led Zhao Cheng and a few of his entourage back and forth through the woods outside the city.

Without realizing it, six hours had already passed. The winter sky was short and the horizon was already dim, so Zhao Cheng and a few of my followers kept urging me to go back to eat. Ma Dai also said that I should practice the spear art again after dinner, so I told them to pack up their prey, turn their horses and head back to Zang City.

There was less than a mile to go until he could clearly see the city gate and the smoke rising in the air. Zhao Cheng suddenly cried out, "Young Master! There seems to be a fire in the city! "

We looked up: fuck! Half of the city seemed to have been dyed a gorgeous red. How could such a big fire be smoke!

Ma Dai called out anxiously: "Brother, let's go back quickly!"

There was no need for him to remind me. I smacked the horse hard on its butt and sent its four hooves flying as fast as I could to rush back to the city. All I wanted to do was to jump right back home.

As I got closer and closer to the city gate, I could faintly hear the sound of weapons clashing against each other. My heart suddenly turned cold: Could it be that Han Sui had fallen out so quickly? God, don't play with me! This is how I seriously learned the spear arts for half a month!

I whipped the breech even more desperately, and finally rushed into Martial Aunt Zang City. The city was already a mess, many houses were still smoking, the streets were littered with the corpses of my Aunt Zang's guards, there was indeed a fierce battle!

"Big brother! Look here! " Ma Dai's voice suddenly became sad and indignant. He jumped down from the horse's back and pulled up a tattered banner from the corner of the wall, letting the banner spread open in the wind. On the banner, there was clearly the word "Han"!

Zhao Cheng rushed forward to help me. I reached out to push him away, forcefully took a deep breath, and then pulled out the breech once again. I spurred the horse towards home, and a hoarse voice from the bottom of my heart shouted:

Mother! Don't let anything happen to you!