Kingdom of Heaven's

The next day, the cool air stirred, rousing Zhao Lun from his dreams.
Looking back at the spot they had occupied the day before, the ghostly figure was long gone. Yesterday's events felt as if they had been part of a dream.
But it was real—this farewell was final, never to happen again.
"Maria, get up. Let's exercise together."
After waking, Zhao Lun didn't head to the beach to fish. Instead, he placed food in the pot and called Maria to join him in practicing the martial arts he remembered.
Since drinking the two mystical waters of the Divine Kingdom, his body and spirit had noticeably strengthened overnight. Memories from his childhood became sharper, and scenes of his father teaching him martial arts resurfaced, guiding him to rediscover the path of cultivation.
The foundation of martial arts lay in the Three-Body Stance, which, according to his recollection, symbolized Heaven, Earth, and Man, dividing the human body into three parts: head, hands, and feet.
When practicing the Three-Body Stance, beginners must follow the key movements from preparation to completion to execute it correctly.
"Maria, follow my lead."
With guidance from his memory, Maria easily followed along, using the practice as a warm-up, regardless of immediate success.
Posture: Stand in a 70/30 stance, with 70% of your weight on the back leg. The front foot points slightly inward, aligned with the heel of the back foot. The front hand is shoulder-height, fingers partially flexed like a tiger's claw, while the rear hand mirrors the front at the level of the navel. Maintain a slight bend in the front arm, with the back elbow close to the body. Press the tongue against the roof of the mouth, keep lips gently closed, chin slightly tucked, and head subtly raised.
Breathing: Breathe naturally without straining. If you find yourself gasping, take a break before resuming.
Focus: Use mental concentration to relax and tense muscles, experiencing the unified power of Xing Yi Quan. Imagine elastic bands connecting the front and back hands, knees, and feet, tightening and relaxing with your intent. Engage in subtle or minimal movement while maintaining the posture.
Practice each side for at least two minutes, switching between left and right.
Zhao Lun's serious demeanor made Maria obediently follow his lead. The effects of the mystical waters manifested in her too; she remembered the movements after just one demonstration. Zhao Lun paused, letting her perform alone, and corrected her based on his memories before resuming their practice together.
The waters were more potent than Zhao Lun had anticipated, swiftly attuning them to the exercise.
Despite the chilly morning, the warmth generated by their practice made them feel comfortable and invigorated.
Deeply engrossed in their training, they only stopped when breakfast was ready. Their appetite had notably improved, finishing the soup and adding two more fish to their meal.
By the time they reached the beach, it was nearly half-past ten, and the temperature had risen slightly. At the trap they had set, there was nothing—fish had grown scarce in the colder waters.
"Brother," Maria muttered, nibbling her finger, disheartened by the lack of food.
"Don't worry. I have money; we can buy food."
Unfazed, Zhao Lun dismissed the setback. With the Divine Kingdom's support, such hardships were trivial, and he already had some money.
"Money? How do you have money?" Maria asked, surprised.
"Did you forget last night's Haos?" Zhao Lun replied.
"He gave us money?" Maria asked, puzzled.
"You'll see soon enough." Zhao Lun didn't elaborate, taking Maria's hand and leaving their tools behind.
"Brother?" Maria hesitated, distressed at abandoning their painstakingly prepared equipment.
"We won't need them anymore," Zhao Lun assured her.
"Really?"
"Yes, we're going back to live in a big house, where you'll have cheese, desserts, drinks—whatever you want. I'll buy you beautiful clothes."
Their current attire was barely better than rags, clean but insufficient against the cold. To live healthily, they needed more substantial clothing.
"Really? But what about the bad people?"
"Bad people? I'll chase them away!" Zhao Lun's eyes gleamed with cold light, remembering the older kids and their enablers. These people had nearly killed him, causing their dire straits. Their survival had been a testament to their resilience, something other children might not have managed.

Returning now, with the power of the Divine Kingdom, Zhao Lun was no longer helpless. The waters had enhanced his strength and seemed to have unlocked the ability to manipulate air. With this combined power, ordinary bullies posed no threat. Even against adults, Zhao Lun felt confident.

"Where are we going, Brother?" Maria asked.

"To our home."

"Our home? In the village?"

"Yes."

Their village was a small, backward place with only a few dozen households, each with its courtyard. Stone houses with blue bricks, some two stories high, gave the village a quaint charm. The dirt roads were littered with fallen leaves, untended. Trees with withered leaves lined the path, painting a picture of late autumn's chill.

This was a typical 1980s British countryside village.

At the village entrance, a group of children played. Spotting Zhao Lun and Maria, they immediately took notice.

"Look! Who's that?"

"Isn't that Maria and Alan?"

"Didn't they say Alan was dying?"

"Shh! Keep it down. Don't let him hear."

"His life is hard to snuff out."

"Didn't Green claim he crushed him?"

"Tsk, tsk…"

The children whispered among themselves, watching Zhao Lun with a malicious glee. The villagers called him Alan, the common scapegoat for their frustrations, often subjected to verbal and physical abuse.

Their laughter was filled with malice, openly gloating.

Yesterday, Green had boasted about finishing Alan. Now, seeing him alive was a slap in the face, sure to incite Green's wrath and possibly provoke another attack.

"Brother…" Maria's anger mingled with worry.

"Shh, just watch. I'll teach them a lesson."

Though the children's whispers were meant to be out of earshot, Zhao Lun and Maria heard them clearly, a testament to the heightened senses granted by the mystical waters.

Feigning ignorance, Zhao Lun led Maria toward their old home on the village's east side. The house, a three-story stone building, was the finest in the village, with a one-and-a-half-meter high brick wall encircling the courtyard, resembling a luxurious villa now fallen into disrepair.

Dust-covered and vandalized, with shattered windows and damaged furniture, the house bore the scars of human malice, inflicted by the village youths.

"Such wicked people!"

"Villains!"

"Scoundrels!"

Maria repeatedly cursed those who had wrecked their home, her vocabulary limited but heartfelt.

Their house, the best in the village, had always been a target of envy. Zhao Lun's father, an outsider, was never welcome. His martial prowess had kept the villagers at bay, but with his and his wife's disappearance, the villagers' hostility knew no bounds, escalating from mere vandalism to outright expulsion, even attempting to kill the children.

"Brother, this place is dangerous. What if they come back?" Maria asked, fear in her voice.

"Let them try. I'll protect us," Zhao Lun declared, his confidence bolstered by the powers he now wielded.

With the mystical waters enhancing his strength and granting him new abilities, Zhao Lun was ready to reclaim their home and their dignity.

This village, this house—they were theirs, and no one would take that away again