Chapter 125: Relocation, Transformation, and the Act of Becoming a Disciple

“Lu Qing brother, you’re back?”

When Lu Qing returned to the Big Market, Ma Gu greeted him with a beaming face, relief washing over his features.

For a good half an hour, he had been holding his breath. To say he wasn’t worried would be a lie.

Now, at last, he was safe.

“Hmm.”

Lu Qing nodded. “Is The Lady of the Wei Family alright?”

“She’s fine—just shaken up. Lu Qing brother, that white-robed youth…” Ma Gu hesitated. “What happened to him?”

“Dealt with.”

Lu Qing’s tone was calm, almost indifferent.

But Ma Gu’s heart jolted.

Though he’d expected it, hearing it confirmed from Lu Qing’s own lips sent a wave of shock through him.

That man had been a Nei Fu Jing cultivator. Now, with this white-robed youth’s death, two Nei Fu Jing masters had fallen at Lu Qing’s hands.

Sure, the mysterious spirit had played a part—but clearly, it was under Lu Qing’s command. One might as well say the feat was his own.

“By the way, Ma Ye,” Lu Qing continued, “this place is no longer safe. We’ll have to move The Lady of the Wei Family and the young master again.”

The Black Wolf Gang had come here without hiding their presence.

Once the county officials discovered their disappearance, they’d send people to investigate. And inevitably, they’d trace the trail back to the Big Market.

“Where could we possibly move them to?” Ma Gu sighed, troubled.

He knew as well as anyone that keeping them in a house was now too dangerous.

But where else could they go?

Lu Qing was stumped too.

The Lady of the Wei Family and her son were now two hot potatoes—anywhere they were hidden, the people there would be at risk.

Unless someone willing to take them in was fearless of a Xian Tian Jing powerhouse like Wang Cangyi.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Qing said:

“It seems the only option now is to hide them deep in the mountains.”

Da Shan was vast and wild. Hiding someone there would be easy.

With The Lady of the Wei Family fully recovered, and proper preparations made, they could stay concealed for a while.

“Then we’ll have to go with that plan,” Ma Gu agreed. “Let’s go ask The Lady of the Wei Family’s opinion.”

The two entered the Hidden Room.

“Lu Xiao Langjun!”

The Lady of the Wei Family and her son looked up in surprise.

Earlier, Ma Gu had told them Lu Qing had gone after the enemy. They’d been frightened—and worried.

Now, seeing him return unharmed, their relief was palpable.

“The Lady of the Wei Family, Young Master,” Lu Qing bowed slightly. “The threat outside has been eliminated for now. But staying here is no longer safe… I believe we must move you to a new location.”

He explained his plan.

After a pause, The Lady of the Wei Family nodded slowly.

If their location was compromised, remaining here would only bring danger to themselves—and to the people around them.

Relocation was the wisest course.

With her agreement, the rest was simple.

They quickly packed essential supplies, bundling them into backpacks carried by Lu Qing and Ma Gu.

Then, with The Lady of the Wei Family and Wei Xiao Gongzi in tow, they slipped out through the tunnel beneath the Hidden Room.

Before leaving, Ma Gu issued orders to Xiao Tian and the others: temporarily close the Big Market, and scatter to hide until the storm passed.

Emerging from the tunnel, they found themselves deep within a mountain behind the Big Market.

Lu Qing handed the pack to Wei Xiao Gongzi, then lifted The Lady of the Wei Family onto his back.

The four set off into the Deep Mountains.

After a thorough search, Lu Qing discovered a hidden cave nestled high on a cliff face, over ten meters up, tucked into a narrow valley.

After clearing it of debris, they made it their temporary refuge.

Then, Lu Qing scattered a small pouch of Potion Powder around the cave’s entrance.

“The Lady of the Wei Family, I’m afraid you’ll have to endure a little discomfort for now,” he said. “This powder repels insects and wild beasts. With it, most creatures won’t dare enter.”

With everything arranged, he stepped back.

“Such hardship is no hardship at all,” The Lady of the Wei Family replied quickly. “To have even a place to rest, after everything we’ve been through—it’s more than we deserve. We’re deeply grateful.”

“I’ll bring supplies every few days. If you need anything, just let me know.”

Once the arrangements were complete, Lu Qing prepared to leave.

He wouldn’t stay in the valley, but Ma Gu would remain behind to assist them.

Without him, the two—completely inexperienced in wilderness survival—wouldn’t last more than a few days.

“Lu Qing brother, let me walk you out,” Ma Gu suddenly said.

“Sure,” Lu Qing replied without hesitation.

They reached the cave’s entrance, then leapt down to the valley floor.

Though a rope ladder made of old vines hung from the cliff above, neither of them needed it—such agility was second nature to them.

“Ma Ye,” Lu Qing observed as they landed, “I notice your movements are firm and springy—your tendons and bones are clearly strengthening. You’re close to breaking through to Jin Gu Jing Xiao Cheng, aren’t you?”

Ma Gu chuckled. “You caught me. After that fight with the Leather Armor Youth, I had a sudden insight. I finally grasped the principles of Jin Gu Jing Xiao Cheng.”

He still felt lucky.

Earlier, fleeing for his life, he’d pushed himself beyond his limits.

Now, surviving that ordeal had unlocked a hidden potential—his body was nearing the threshold of Jin Gu Jing Xiao Cheng.

But his shoulder injury had kept him from focusing on cultivation lately. He hadn’t yet fully stepped across the boundary.

“That’s excellent news,” Lu Qing said. “I don’t have much to offer, but here—take this pill as a token of celebration.”

He pulled out a small white porcelain bottle and tossed it to Ma Gu.

Ma Gu caught it awkwardly, surprised.

“Lu Qing brother… what kind of pill is this?”

“Bone-Strengthening Pill,” Lu Qing said. “One of the few I received from Wei Da Zong Guan as a gift. It’s extremely beneficial for Jin Gu Jing cultivators.”

Indeed, this was the very same Bone-Strengthening Pill the Wei Family had given him as thanks—three pills in total.

“Bone-Strengthening Pill?” Ma Gu’s eyes widened.

He knew that name well. Such pills were rare, capable of enhancing a cultivator’s bone and tendon development.

They were beyond the reach of most small clans—only great families and sects could craft them.

“This is too precious,” Ma Gu insisted. “I can’t accept this.”

“It’s useless to me now,” Lu Qing said. “I’ve already consumed Dipulse Spiritual Fluid and absorbed Qi White Mist from master-level breakthroughs. My potential has hit its peak. These pills won’t help me anymore. It’d be a waste to keep them. You’re better off with them.”

For Ma Gu, Lu Qing was already someone to admire.

A loyal friend, someone whose path he’d be proud to help.

So giving this gift wasn’t a burden—it was a pleasure.

“Lu Qing brother… then I’ll accept it,” Ma Gu said, clutching the bottle with trembling hands.

He felt overwhelmed.

Even his own family, the Ma clan, didn’t possess such a pill.

Ordinary clans could only afford them through exorbitant prices.

As a non-main branch member, he’d never been allowed to spend such a fortune on personal cultivation resources.

And now, Lu Qing handed it to him without hesitation.

How could he not be moved?

“Alright,” Lu Qing said. “Since we’re friends, no need for thanks. But remember—only take this pill after you’ve firmly established Jin Gu Jing Xiao Cheng. Otherwise, the potency could overwhelm your body and cause serious harm.”

“I’ll remember,” Ma Gu replied, surprised. He hadn’t known such a restriction existed.

“Then I’ll be off. I’ll return in a few days. Rest easy in the meantime.”

With that, Lu Qing moved with a fluid leap, vanishing into the forest in a series of quick bounds.

Watching his figure fade into the trees, Ma Gu stood still for a long moment—then climbed back up the vine ladder to the cave.

“Ma Gu,” Wei Xiao Gongzi asked, “did Lu Xiao Langjun leave?”

“Yes,” Ma Gu replied. “He said he’d come back in a few days.”

“What’s that in your hand?” Wei Xiao Gongzi asked, eyes on the bottle.

“This?” Ma Gu said plainly. “Lu Qing brother gave it to me. It’s one of the Bone-Strengthening Pills your family once gave him.”

“Bone-Strengthening Pill?” The Lady of the Wei Family gasped. “He didn’t take it himself?”

She remembered personally selecting those pills from the family’s apothecary.

And yet, Lu Qing had refused to use them.

“He said they’re useless to him now,” Ma Gu explained. “He called it a waste to keep them. So he gave them to me.”

The Lady of the Wei Family fell silent.

Earlier, in the Hidden Room, she’d heard Ma Gu say Lu Qing might already be at the Jin Gu Jing Da Cheng level.

At the time, she’d been stunned—and wondered if those pills had helped him so much.

Now, knowing he hadn’t even taken them… the debt her family owed him had grown even heavier.

Beside her, Wei Xiao Gongzi looked troubled.

After a pause, he finally spoke:

“Ma Gu… can you teach me to fight?”

“…What?” Ma Gu blinked, unsure he’d heard right.

“I said—can you teach me to fight?”

Wei Xiao Gongzi’s voice was steady now, no longer hesitant.

“Master, you’re joking,” Ma Gu said, shaking his head. “Your family has countless martial masters. Any one of them could beat me in an instant. Why would you learn from me?”

The Wei Family was a great house.

Even a single Yin Yue Wei guard was stronger than he was.

Teaching the young master? That would be irresponsible.

“But my guards aren’t here,” Wei Xiao Gongzi insisted. “And if tomorrow, bandits find us and take me and my mother… what then?

Should I just stand there, helpless, watching you fight alone—like a useless shadow?”

He looked up, eyes burning.

“I don’t want to be like that anymore. I want strength. I want to protect my mother with my own hands.”

He turned to Ma Gu, voice firm:

“Please, teach me. I promise—no matter how hard, how tiring, I’ll endure it. I’ll keep going.”

Ma Gu stared at him, stunned.

The Lady of the Wei Family, too, was speechless—her eyes wide with disbelief.

She couldn’t believe her son had said such words.

Back in the manor, An Er had always loathed training.

A little effort, and he’d complain.

He’d skip drills, sneak away, never take cultivation seriously.

Even with the family’s resources, he’d barely reached Qi Xue Jing—mastering only flashy, useless techniques.

He didn’t know how to fight.

Now, hearing this from him—so determined, so changed—was overwhelming.

Looking at his face, now rough with stubble, hardened by days of hardship, she realized:

He was no longer the spoiled boy she’d known.

His expression was resolute. His spirit, transformed.

Moved, she stood and bowed deeply to Ma Gu.

“Ma Zhuangshi,” she said, “if An'er has this will, then as his mother, I beg you—accept his request. I’ll have him perform the Master’s Ceremony.”

“Impossible!” Ma Gu nearly jumped. “I can’t accept such a thing!”

The Master’s Ceremony wasn’t just a ritual.

It was a binding vow—only for genuine master-disciple relationships.

To be asked to become the master of the Wei Family’s Young Master?

Even with ten lives, he wouldn’t dare.

“But why not?” The Lady of the Wei Family insisted. “You’re a man of true courage. You’ve risked your life for us time and again. Such righteousness is rare. For An Er to have you as his master is his fortune.”

“Please, don’t flatter me,” Ma Gu laughed nervously. “I know my own worth.”

“But if Young Master An truly wishes to learn,” he added, “then I’ll teach him—on one condition. As long as you two don’t mind my crude skills.”

“An Er,” The Lady of the Wei Family said gently, “thank Master.”

“Thank you, Master!”

Wei Xiao Gongzi didn’t hesitate.

He dropped to his knees and slammed his forehead into the ground, three times—loud and clear.

“Th-This…?”

Ma Gu was dazed.

He hadn’t even had time to stop him.

By the time he realized, the boy had already finished the ritual.

Stunned, he stood frozen.

How had he—so suddenly—become a master?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end