The Card Cultivation System
CCS-153

Xika turned to look at the origin of the voice that was on her right. He found a middle-aged man who was more or less the same age as his father. But the previously friendly man's face suddenly changed drastically when he saw Xika and the other newcomers.

THE SNACK!

He picked up the spear tied to his back and directly aimed it at Xika. The man did not say anything but his gaze was full of vigilance and a little......fear?

"Bao Fang, where's Taiyang?"

Several other middle-aged men came from the same direction. They stared at the man called Bao Fang for a moment before realizing that it was not Taiyang who had come and their reaction was more or less the same as Bao Fang's. And they prepared their weapons and installed a standby position.

Normally, Xika would come closer and try to speak well with them, but at the moment she was not in a 'ordinary' state'. He was not in a suitable mood to serve the horde of middle-aged men who pointed their weapons at him with wary gazes mixed in shock.

Huo Bing and Heiliao were also confused about how to react because it was usually Xika who handled this kind of situation. They stared at Xika asking for clues but all the boy did was pull out his card and float it around his body preparing to fight.

The man standing at the very front gasped when he saw Xika take out the card but the others did not pay much attention to it. They ran over when they saw Xika ready to fight. Huo Bing and Heiliao did not remain silent to see the incoming attack.

Bao Fang first advanced. He intended to smash his spear into Xika's stomach, but before he could succeed, a claw had carried him high into space and then blew him away for a while. Bao Fang spun a few times before his feet reached the ground, but he managed to make a deep hole with his feet.

Shortly after he landed, a blunt object successfully hit his stomach and made him bounce. Xika immediately looked for a new target without seeing the successful man he hit it. Several other men advanced but Xika managed to avoid it well.

So look, right now Xika is stressed and needs something to vent it. Coincidentally, the men just came and offered to be her impingement. So he hit them all at will.

Huo Bing and Heiliao were not much different. They were still engulfed in confusion when these people came and attacked without giving any reason. But they don't kill. Not before the situation becomes clear. For a while they made those people faint. If it turns out they have to kill, then it is fine to do so later.

Xika managed to fight the four middle-aged men in balance. Neither side had the upper hand, but it surprised the four men. Maybe because Xika has developed a lot, or because she is stressed or because of both. But surely the four men could not defeat him.

Not before the fifth man came and gave an attack on the gap that Xika showed. The man was aiming for the part where the normal person's dantian was located and Xika was not in a position that allowed to dodge or fend off.

A SHOCK!

TRANGS!

The sword aiming for Xika's dantian failed to hit its target because of a knife. Not from Huo Bing or Heiliao, but from the man who previously stood at the very front. The same man who was shocked upon seeing him took out a card and used it as a weapon.

"Zheng Wei, what are you doing?"

The actions of the man called Zheng Wei successfully stopped the fight. Now all eyes are looking at him including Xika with her eyes. Not that he stopped crying, but he cried until he could no longer shed tears.

Zheng Wei sheathed his knife then smiled politely at Xika and the two creatures behind him.

"I'm sorry, can you back off for a second?"

Xika followed the man's request. Then Zheng Wei turned around and looked at his friends. He invites them to gather away from Xika even though most refuse.

"Fucking Zheng Wei! I almost hit it. Why are you covering for her?"

"It's precisely because of that I have to protect her. Didn't you notice it at all? Any of you? Didn't you see his face? Body posture? How does he stand? The card he used? Don't you feel like that kid looks like someone?"

And all of them only realized after hearing Zheng Wei's words. They watched the child they were about to kill a moment ago and realized that what Zheng Wei said made sense. The boy looks like someone. Someone very important in their life.

"Then? There's no guarantee the boy has a relationship with her even though they're very similar. What are we gonna do to him?"

Zheng Wei turned his head back to look at Xika. He was wondering what to do before moving closer to Xika.

"I'm sorry about that. Can you tell me what your purpose is here?"

Xika's face did not improve even though the man had apologized. He was still not satisfied to vent his feelings. And this is not a good time to talk about goals. He shifted his eyes.

"Sorry, can you leave us for a while? We're not gonna do anything. We need some alone time."

Zheng Wei obviously did not expect the answer Xika gave. He thought for a moment about Xika's request before nodding. He walked away and talked to the others. They did not agree to Xika's strange request. But Zheng Wei convinced them with great difficulty before everyone agreed.

"What's? You're asking us to let the boy stay here? Are you out of your mind?"

"Zheng Wei's. I'm sure you never forget what happened a few years ago. Are you really sure?"

"I'm sure." said Zheng Wei trying to put a smile on his face, but both of his hands trembled violently just like the other men.

Actually they still disagreed, but seeing Zheng Wei who was trying hard to hide his fear, they accepted it. Zheng Wei came back closer to Xika.

"Take your time. I'll be not far from here. Call me if you want to talk."

After saying that, Zheng Wei left along with the other middle-aged men leaving Xika with Huo Bing and Heiliao. They didn't talk for a long time. They need time to digest what just happened. Especially Xika.

Seeing the various colors in the field reminded Xika of her mother's explanation. Hydrangeas. Magic plants that can have a variety of colors depending on the acidity level of the soil. The leaves have poison but the roots are often used in medicine. His mother used his roots several times, but that was not the main reason he planted the flowers in his yard.

Each color has a different meaning even though it is similar. His mother planted a variety of colors, but he always discussed the blue ones. His father always blushed in shame whenever his mother discussed the flower, then shifted the topic or pretended not to hear.

Remembering that made his heart calmer. He lay down beside the field for fear of ruining the beautiful flowers that had various meanings. The sun is getting higher but it is not changing position. In this place, he felt the warmth that his mother used to give him. And he wants to enjoy it as long as possible.

A day passed and Xika had already calmed herself down. He had a discussion with Huo Bing and Heiliao decided on the move they were going to take. But honestly, they don't know their purpose here. They just follow Xika. So you could say their decision is up to Xika.

Xika thought for a while then told them she wanted to go to this place. From the moment he was in Simulocus with Kong Yan and felt the call from this place to the front of the forest and something calling out to him led him to a path that was not covered with fog.

Heiliao was as confused as Huo Bing hearing Xika's story. They could not guess at all what was calling Xika and they again handed the decision to Xika. Finally, Xika chose to talk to Zheng Wei first.

He walked closer to the man. Several other men volunteered to accompany her but were rejected by her. Maybe because Xika did not bring Heiliao and Huo Bing so she did not bring any friends. By the way, Huo Bing had already shown himself in the fight yesterday so there was no point in hiding himself anymore.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"What's wrong. Can you tell me your purpose now?"

"Yes. I sensed something was calling me and it came from this place."

Zheng Wei frowned. An unexpected answer came back out of Xika's mouth and she did not know how to respond.

"Eh, are you sure that something came from this place?"

"Very sure. It was that which led me into the bamboo forest and through all that fog. Those two things are traps to keep people from getting into your village, right?"

The corner of Zheng Wei's eyes twitched yet he still replied.

"Yes........Then how did you make it here?"

Xika was silent for a moment before replying.

"Watch it...I know the secret method." while giving a mysterious smile.

The smile that made Zheng Wei venture into the years when Xing Taiyang came. Back then Xing Taiyang paid a visit to their village, but as usual, he did not stay for a long time.

"Taiyang? What are you doing?" zheng Wei asked Xing Taiyang who was walking around the bamboo forest of his own homemade trap.

"Zheng Wei? You came in time. Comeoverhere. I need your help to make sure of a few things."

Zheng Wei approached despite not understanding what Taiyang was doing. When he was three steps away from Taiyang, the man instantly slashed his sword and left Zheng Wei shocked to death. But he avoided the attack. 

"Taiyang? What are you doing?"

After that, Taiyang continuously attacked Zheng Wei regardless of the protests he was facing. Taiyang stopped after giving several hundred scratches on Zheng Wei's body. Zheng Wei inhaled as much breath as possible before lecturing Taiyang. 

But he had not yet opened his mouth, Taiyang again attacked him. This time without his sword, just use his hands and feet. But it made Zheng Wei even more overwhelmed as Taiyang's fighting style suddenly changed. 

Finally after Zheng Wei was battered by Taiyang, he stopped. Then another Taiyang descended from the tree and stood in front of Zheng Wei so that there were now two Taiyang. Zheng Wei looked at the two in turn before clucking in annoyance.

"So from now on what I've been fighting is........." Zheng Wei didn't know what to call Taiyang.

"Yep. Hows it? Great right? The figure of a forest guard who has various fighting styles?"

"Yes, yeah. It would be even better if he had unlimited stamina" said Zheng Wei.

But Taiyang actually got the idea because of Zheng Wei. 

"yes too. The figure of a forest guard who has a variety of fighting styles plus unlimited stamina? That would be the perfect combination."

"But wait. Won't no one get in then?"

Taiyang paused for a moment to think making Zheng Wei flustered. 

"Ah, yes! I'll add a secret method!"

"Confidential method? What methods?"

"Secret, of course," Taiyang said with a mysterious smile.

And their smiles are very similar.