https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-52-Tianwu-Blocks-the-Path-The-Martial-Ancestor-s-Legacy-/12831192/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-54-The-Guardian-the-Bandits-and-the-Killings/12831194/
Chapter 53: A Young Man's Dream of the Jianghu, Departure
Chapter 53: A Young Man's Dream of the Jianghu, Departure
Southern Region, Green Mountain Village
Another morning dawned, and today, Su Changqing and Er Niu were up especially early.
Ling Si and Master Wei had stayed in the village for a few days and were now ready to leave.
"Next time we meet, we’ll have another contest!"
At the village entrance, Ling Si looked at Su Changqing, her face full of determination.
Though their first meeting was awkward, they were the same age and from the same background, so they had become good friends.
"That’s fair, but next time I won’t be lending you poems anymore," Su Changqing teased.
"Hmph."
Ling Si, far from being embarrassed, lifted her chin proudly.
"I’m your senior, so while I can’t borrow from you, if I lose to others, I won’t hesitate to ask."
Su Changqing nodded with a smile, "That’s only natural."
"Qingqiu, you’re leaving without even a word to me."
Beside them, Er Niu looked at the two chatting happily, his face filled with resentment.
"My junior sister is a scholar, and you can’t even read. What would you have to talk about?"
Shu Han raised an eyebrow and smirked, "If you call me senior brother, I’ll make Ling Si talk to you. How about that?"
By now, Shu Han knew about Er Niu and Ling Si’s relationship, so it was fitting for Er Niu to call him senior brother.
"Get lost!"
Er Niu looked annoyed and didn’t want to deal with this new senior brother.
Ling Si’s face turned red, and she felt even more uncomfortable talking to Er Niu.
She looked at Su Changqing and, after a moment’s hesitation, asked, "Junior brother, are you really not going to the literary gathering in two years?"
"No."
Su Changqing shook his head firmly, his eyes gazing into the distance with a hopeful expression.
"A few days ago, my mother told me that my father is out making connections for me. There’s a good chance I’ll be entering a small sect."
"I’m going to cultivate!"
No one knew just how excited Su Changqing was.
Cultivation!
A dream he had cherished for two years, finally about to come true!
He might not be good at reading, but he was certain he could succeed in cultivation!
Seeing Su Changqing’s excited face, Shu Han, Ling Si, and Er Niu, even Master Wei and Li Qingchen standing in front of them, all had their lips twitching.
A young master from a prestigious imperial family, excited about cultivation—this was probably unique in the world.
As for Su Nan’s connections,
it was clear that the "small sect" was likely no less formidable than the terrifying Green Mountain Village.
At that moment, Er Niu suddenly noticed a small bundle on Su Changqing’s back and exclaimed,
"Changqing, are you leaving today?"
He knew Changqing would be leaving soon, but not this quickly.
"Coincidentally, I’m leaving on the same day as Senior Sister Ling Si."
Su Changqing tightened his bundle and looked at Green Mountain Village.
"I’ve already said my goodbyes to everyone in the village. I didn’t tell them when I was leaving to avoid the sadness of parting."
Though he was heading to the sect he had longed for, leaving the village where he had lived for twenty years still made him feel a bit reluctant.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Su Changqing looked at Er Niu and said earnestly,
"Er Niu, why don’t you come with me?"
"What if we both have the talent for cultivation?"
"Even if we don’t, we can become menial disciples. At least we’ll get to experience cultivation."
This time, Su Changqing was determined. Even if he had no talent for cultivation, he would pursue it to the end!
"Menial disciples?"
Shu Han couldn’t help but laugh at the suggestion.
For Er Niu, a Fourth Realm Sword Cultivator, to become a menial disciple would be worse than getting beaten up.
"I won’t go."
Er Niu said with a mix of amusement and frustration, then looked into the distance with a determined expression,
"Since you’re leaving, I’ll go to Sword God Mountain and see if those so-called genius sword cultivators can match my sword."
With Changqing gone, Green Mountain Village would be nothing more than a name, and staying here had no meaning. So, he decided to go out and explore.
And his first destination would be Sword God Mountain, the holy land of sword cultivators!
Shu Han and Ling Si weren’t surprised. After all, no sword cultivator could resist the allure of Sword God Mountain.
But Su Changqing hesitated and advised, "Erniu, maybe it’s better to give it up."
"You’re not even as good with those sword techniques as I am, a mere scholar."
This wasn’t an exaggeration. After more than a year, Erniu still hadn’t managed to condense his Starlight Sword Technique into a life-bound secret skill.
Erniu’s confident demeanor faltered, and he looked at Su Changqing with a bitter smile.
"We’re different. Other scholars can’t climb the Sword Deity Mountain, but you can."
Su Changqing raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Are all the people who climb the Sword Deity Mountain that weak?"
He had only learned two sword techniques, and they were incomplete at that. If he could climb the Sword Deity Mountain with just these, it didn’t seem like a very high-level place.
Ling Si, Shuhan, and Erniu all fell silent at his words.
Su Changqing indeed knew only a few sword techniques, just two.
But they were both Heaven-tier sword techniques, and he had already condensed them into life-bound secret skills!
It wasn’t that the people on the Sword Deity Mountain were weak; it was that Su Changqing was too strong.
"Once you’ve made some progress in cultivation, remember to visit the Sword Deity Mountain."
Erniu patted Su Changqing’s shoulder, not wanting to be discouraged again. He then turned to Shuhan, raising an eyebrow.
"Bookworm, what do you plan to do in the future? Keep reading and writing every day?"
Although he and Shuhan often fought, over a year, they had developed a deep friendship.
This farewell in Greenhill Village might be the last time they saw each other for a long while.
"I don’t have grand ambitions like you two. I’ll just help the teacher manage his estate."
Shuhan smiled and said, "When you’ve made progress in cultivation, I’ll take you to see the teacher’s estate!"
"Haha, that sounds great!"
Su Changqing looked at the others and said with a confident smile, "Erniu will climb the Sword Deity Mountain, Ling Si will participate in the Literary Congress, Shuhan will expand the family business, and I will cultivate!"
"We all have to make something of ourselves!"
The blood of youth surged in their veins.
Erniu, sharp as a sword, laughed heartily. "I’ll make a name for myself on the Sword Deity Mountain!"
Ling Si’s face was filled with determination. "I’ll secure a spot in the top three at the Literary Congress!"
Shuhan smiled lightly, his eyes gleaming with resolve. "Then I’ll make sure the teacher’s estate is unreplaceable!"
Hearing his friends’ lofty aspirations, Su Changqing clenched his fists, his face set with determination.
"I will strive to become an outer disciple!"
At his words, the confident young men’s spirits wavered for a moment, then their laughter echoed through Greenhill Village.
In the distance, Li Qingchen and Wei Cang watched the scene with smiles, their eyes reflecting memories.
After a while, Li Qingchen chuckled and shook his head.
"Who doesn’t dream of the martial world in their youth?"
Neigh! At that moment, a distant figure appeared on the horizon, an old man leading a dilapidated cart, slowly approaching.
Li Qingchen signaled to Su Changqing with a smile. "Come."
Su Changqing took a few steps forward, standing before Li Qingchen, his expression complex as he looked at his first teacher.
Before leaving, he had come to say goodbye to his teacher first.
Although his teacher wasn’t particularly skilled, just a failed scholar, the two years of dedicated teaching would be remembered for a lifetime!
Li Qingchen didn’t speak, only carefully straightened Su Changqing’s disheveled clothes.
After a moment, he patted Su Changqing’s shoulder and smiled lightly.
"Go. Once you leave the village, you’ll be a grown man."
Su Changqing took a deep breath, said nothing, and bowed deeply.
When he stood up again, he bowed to Erniu and the others, saying loudly, "Farewell, everyone!"
With that, Su Changqing turned and walked away.
But he didn’t see that in the sky above, all sixty-seven people of Greenhill Village were silently watching.
As they saw Su Changqing climb into the cart and depart, they all shouted in unison, "May the Young Master’s martial path be prosperous!"
(End of Chapter)
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