High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Xu Wuyi understood his parents’ feelings. For ordinary people, war was an interlude; life was the main story.

Now that the war was over, it was only natural to want to return to a familiar place and continue living a familiar life.

"Alright," he said. "I’ll go back with you."

"No, don’t." Mrs. Xu quickly waved her hand. "You should focus on your own business. You’re a Martial Artist now, and a high-ranking one at that; you must have plenty to deal with. The two of us can go back by ourselves. We don’t have much to pack anyway."

Just as she spoke, the doorbell rang.

Xu Wuyi got up to open the door.

Standing outside was Qiao An, the Qiao Family’s Steward in Linjiang. He wasn’t wearing a suit today, but a simple, dark casual outfit. He carried two exquisite gift boxes in his hands.

"Mr. Xu, good morning." Qiao An smiled and nodded. "I hope I’m not disturbing you."

"Not at all. Please, come in."

Qiao An walked into the living room, first greeting Father Xu and Mrs. Xu before setting down the gift boxes. "Miss Qiao asked me to deliver some nutritional supplements. She said they’re special products from the Star Realm, freshly transported from the front lines, and are good for recuperating."

Mrs. Xu was a little embarrassed. "Oh, we couldn’t possibly accept this. We’re always troubling you..."

"Please, don’t say that." Qiao An waved his hand. "Mr. Xu is an honored guest of the Qiao Family, and more importantly, a core member of the Dongjiang Battle Group. This is all part of our duty."

He paused, then looked at Xu Wuyi. "Also, Miss Qiao wanted me to pass on a message. You and your parents shouldn’t be in a hurry to return to Red River for the time being."

Father Xu and Mrs. Xu exchanged a glance.

"Why?" Xu Wuyi asked.

"Because of the award ceremony." Qiao An took out a tablet from his coat and pulled up a screenshot from the military’s internal system.

"Although the official notice hasn’t been sent out yet, the news is already spreading. After the war, the Federation plans to commend a group of soldiers and officers with outstanding merits. Mr. Xu, your name is on the proposed list for ’Federal Hero’."

Xu Wuyi’s eyes shifted slightly.

Mrs. Xu was stunned for a moment. "A Federal Hero?"

"It’s the highest level of honorary commendation in the Federation," Qiao An explained. "There are fewer than two hundred living recipients of this title. For this war, it’s said that only twenty-four people were selected."

He looked at Xu Wuyi, his tone solemn. "Mr. Xu, your accomplishments in the Tianshui Star Realm are all on detailed record with the high command of the Federation Military Department. Merits like these are more than enough to qualify."

Father Xu and Mrs. Xu stared blankly at their son.

They knew Xu Wuyi had earned merits on the battlefield, but he had never gone into detail. Now, however, hearing about the Federation’s highest honorary commendation, they could feel its weight.

"The award ceremony is scheduled for November fifteenth, at Central Plaza in Xingjing City," Qiao An continued. "As is customary, the immediate family of ’Federal Hero’ recipients are also invited to attend the ceremony."

"Therefore, Miss Qiao suggests that your parents might as well stay in Linjiang for a few more days. Once the official notice arrives, you can all go to Xingjing together."

Mrs. Xu opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn’t know what to say.

She was just an ordinary middle-aged woman who had spent her entire life in a small city like Red River.

To her, Xingjing was the Capital, a place that only appeared on the news. And now, she actually had the chance to go there and attend the Federation’s most prestigious award ceremony?

"Is it... is it appropriate for us to go?" she asked, a little apprehensive.

"Of course, it is," Qiao An smiled. "You are the mother of a hero."

Father Xu squeezed his wife’s hand and nodded firmly.

...

「Three days later, November eighth.」

The official notice arrived on Xu Wuyi’s personal terminal via a military encrypted channel.

[Federal Military Department·Honorary Award Committee: To Martial Artist Xu Wuyi. Upon review and approval by the Federation Parliament, you have been awarded the honorary title of "Federal Hero" in recognition of your outstanding contributions in the war against the Feathered People Civilization. The award ceremony will be held on November fifteenth at 10:00 AM in Xingjing City’s Central Plaza. You and your immediate family are requested to attend on time.]

The attachment also included a detailed itinerary, accommodation arrangements, ceremony etiquette guidelines, and a family information form that needed to be filled out in advance.

Mrs. Xu held the printed notice, reading it over and over again, her eyes growing a little red.

"My son... is a hero," she said softly.

Father Xu patted her on the back and looked at Xu Wuyi, his eyes filled with pride. "Good lad. You’ve made your old man proud."

Xu Wuyi smiled, but his heart was filled with complicated feelings.

’Hero. The word feels so heavy.’

"Mom, Dad, we need to get ready," Xu Wuyi said, collecting his thoughts. "The climate in Xingjing is colder than in Linjiang, so we’ll need to pack more warm clothes. The ceremony requires formal attire. I’ll go with you to buy some."

For the next few days, the Xu Family was immersed in busy and joyful preparations.

Mrs. Xu rummaged through all their chests and closets, trying on all her best clothes, but always felt they weren’t dignified enough.

In the end, under Qiao An’s arrangement, she had two formal outfits custom-made at Linjiang’s most high-end tailor shop. Meanwhile, Father Xu had Xu Wuyi go over the procedures with him every day, afraid of making a mistake at the ceremony.

Xu Wuyi, on the other hand, was very calm.

He continued his daily routine of Cultivation, eating, and sleeping, occasionally accompanying his parents on shopping trips or visiting the Linjiang command headquarters.

Although the war was over, the Martial Artist management system in Dongjiang Province was still in operation. Many comrades-in-arms returning from the front lines were also coming home one after another, and they would gather to chat about their recent lives and future plans.

On November twelfth, Qiao Zhiyao returned from Yuntai City.

She came straight to Yunhai Prefecture.

"Senior Brother! Congratulations!" Qiao Zhiyao’s eyes sparkled. "I knew you’d get the ’Federal Hero’ title! The news is all over Star Martial University!"

Xu Wuyi said with a helpless tone, "The ceremony hasn’t even happened yet. How did the news spread so fast? It wasn’t you, was it?"

"Hee hee, what’s wrong with spreading it around a bit..." Qiao Zhiyao giggled, then turned to greet Father Xu and Mrs. Xu.

She had changed out of her combat uniform and was wearing a canary-yellow sweater and jeans. She looked like a cheerful girl-next-door, giving no hint that she was a young Genius already approaching the peak of the Martial Artist ranks.

"Uncle, Auntie, are your travel plans for Xingjing all set?" she asked with concern. "My father said the Qiao Family has a dedicated reception office in Xingjing. Accommodations, transportation, and meals will all be taken care of. You don’t have to worry about a thing."

Mrs. Xu took her hand and said gratefully, "We’d be imposing too much on you."

"It’s no trouble at all, no trouble at all," Qiao Zhiyao said, waving her hand. "Senior Brother taught me so much. This is the least I can do."

As she spoke, she took an exquisite wooden box from her bag and handed it to Xu Wuyi. "Here, a small gift for the award ceremony."

Xu Wuyi opened the box.

Inside was a dark gold brooch of a simple design: a bird with its wings spread. A tiny red Crystal Stone was embedded in its beak.

"This is a ’Crimson-Feathered Bird.’ Legend says it brings good luck to the wearer," Qiao Zhiyao said earnestly. "Senior Brother, you still have a long road ahead of you. You have to take care of yourself."

Xu Wuyi looked at the brooch, then back at Qiao Zhiyao. This junior martial sister, once so reckless and impulsive, had finally grown up after being tempered by the battlefield.

"Thanks," he said, accepting it solemnly.

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