Burial

Burial

Lu Zhaojin

Bone Age: Sixteen

Aptitude: Average

Realm: Mid Seventh Rank

Heart Methods: Flowing Water Art (Perfected), Jade Purity Heart Method (50/100)

Techniques: Brute Ox Stance (Extreme), Gale Sword Art (Extreme), Golden Body Technique (25/100), Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Art (Perfected)

Experience: 4818

Backpack: Seal

After killing Zhao Huaishui last night, Lu Zhaojin returned to the inn and raised the Brute Ox Stance to the Extreme Realm.

Perhaps because the Golden Body Technique had allowed his fleshly body to reach such strength after its initial mastery, the Brute Ox Stance reaching the Extreme Realm did not bring any tremendous improvement. It merely strengthened his body a little further.

Yet his body seemed to have been cleansed once more, impurities hidden in every corner refined away. He now felt as though he possessed an immaculate body, utterly relaxed and light enough to float.

After the two techniques obtained from that Cave Mansion had been recorded on his character panel, he had also spent experience points to improve them one after another.

The Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Art had consumed twenty thousand experience points before reaching perfection. Breaking through to the Extreme Realm would require another twenty thousand experience points, so he set it aside for now.

The Jade Purity Heart Method was of an even higher grade than the Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Art. Reaching perfection required twenty-five thousand experience points.

After improving the Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Art, he no longer had enough experience points, so he could only raise the Jade Purity Heart Method to minor mastery.

His martial realm also broke through to the mid Seventh Rank in the process.

Abundant true qi now filled most of the acupoints in his body, making Lu Zhaojin's command of true qi even more consummate. He could now step upon water without sinking as well.

After such a tremendous improvement, Lu Zhaojin felt that all he lacked now was a good sword.

As the saying went, a fine horse needed a fine saddle.

A swordsman naturally needed a good sword to display his true killing power.

He had held that Hundred Refined Sword for less than two days before it had acquired numerous chips during his duel with Uncle Chen.

It was not that the blacksmith's craftsmanship was poor, but rather that the materials used for Uncle Chen's long spear were truly extraordinary. Ordinary steel could not compare.

Knock, knock.

The youth sitting cross-legged on the bed slowly opened his eyes. A sharp glint flashed in their depths, like the rising sun illuminating darkness, brimming with life and vigorous vitality.

Lu Jinlin's voice came from outside. "Zhaojin, are you awake?"

Lu Zhaojin exhaled a breath of turbid air, climbed down from the bed, pulled back the door bolt, and opened the door. He then saw the middle-aged face that had regained some color.

Lu Zhaojin invited him inside to sit for a while, poured him a cup of water from the kettle on the table, and handed it over. "What are Father's plans for today?"

After taking the cup, Lu Jinlin sipped the tea and slowly said, "I'm preparing to go back and take a look."

"Shiqiao Town?" Lu Zhaojin asked.

Lu Jinlin nodded. Setting down the teacup, he said in a deep voice, "I'll go back to see the Sihai Escort Agency. The brothers who once traveled north and south with me all died there. I want to gather their remains and find a good place to bury them."

Lu Zhaojin nodded. That was indeed what should be done. "I'll go with you."

After eating breakfast at the inn, the two bought offerings at the morning market in Qishan County. Once everything had been packed into a large chest, they hired a carriage to carry the items to Shiqiao Town.

Shiqiao Town.

Lu Zhaojin followed Lu Jinlin down the main street. Looking at those familiar yet unfamiliar sights, he felt somewhat dazed.

Everything he knew about Shiqiao Town came from fragments of the original owner's memories. Now that he had personally arrived in Shiqiao Town, he could not help but feel deeply moved.

After all, this was where the original owner had lived for more than a decade.

The original owner's memories lingered in every street and alley.

But once today's burial was complete, Lu Zhaojin would bury those memories of the original owner alongside the grave belonging to the Sihai Escort Agency.

Lu Jinlin stopped ahead of him. "We're here."

Lu Zhaojin halted as well and looked forward. The wall built from stone bricks had been scorched pitch-black by the fire, and one could only imagine the state of what lay within.

Yet the Sihai Escort Agency's escort banner still hung at the entrance, fluttering in the breeze and revealing the four characters: Sihai Escort Agency.

Lu Jinlin looked at it for a long while before finally stepping forward.

Lu Zhaojin followed close behind.

Before them stood a screen wall, carved with a scene of galloping horses.

The original owner remembered that every time Lu Jinlin returned from an escort job, he would gaze at it for some time. He must have hoped the Sihai Escort Agency could be like that image, running farther and farther.

Unfortunately, things had not gone as he wished.

The Sihai Escort Agency no longer existed.

Most of the buildings had been burned into ruins, and rebuilding them would be exceedingly difficult.

However, Lu Zhaojin had searched Chen Kang and the others and obtained quite a few Silver Notes. "These should be enough."

Lu Jinlin looked at the Silver Notes Lu Zhaojin held out. Some dried bloodstains still marked them, but he did not accept them. He raised his head to look at Lu Zhaojin. "Keep them yourself. I have my own way."

Lu Zhaojin did not stand on ceremony and tucked the Silver Notes back into the hidden pocket inside his robe. In truth, he put them into the System Backpack. That was safer.

The two did not find any remains within the escort agency. They had likely all been burned to ashes.

Thus, they decided to build a cenotaph.

Taking advantage of Lu Jinlin's inattention, Lu Zhaojin quietly placed some of the original owner's belongings inside as well.

Outside the town, Lu Jinlin found an open patch of land and dug a small pit. He buried everything inside, then had Lu Zhaojin bring over the items from the carriage and burn them all together.

The two watched the raging flames and the gravestone carved with names, falling into silence.

At last, Lu Jinlin broke the quiet. "When do you plan to leave?"

Lu Zhaojin thought for a moment. "Today."

Lu Jinlin fell silent again.

A youth setting out to travel afar, with the strength to do so—it was a good thing.

But as his father, he could not help feeling reluctant to part.

Looking at Lu Zhaojin, he seemed to see that innocent childhood face again, those pure and guileless eyes looking at him and asking what the martial world was like, whether escort work was fun, saying that once he grew up, he wanted to become an escort master just like his father...

Now, the fledgling had finally grown into an eagle. He no longer needed Lu Jinlin to spread his wings and shield him from wind and rain; he could soar through the vault of heaven on his own.

Lu Jinlin's heart was filled with a tumult of emotions. He could only nod and ask, "Have you packed everything?"

Lu Zhaojin replied, "There's nothing left that I need to bring."

Lu Jinlin watched the flames die out. Thick smoke still rose from the pile of ashes and drifted through the sky. "All right... the martial world is full of deceit and scheming. Be extra careful."

Lu Zhaojin nodded and said he would remember.

Lu Jinlin did not intend to accompany Lu Zhaojin to Luoshui Commandery. He planned to rebuild the Sihai Escort Agency on Mount Qi, then go in grand fashion to the Li Family in Luoshui Commandery to bring someone back.

Lu Jinlin had much to do and needed to prepare in advance. Before leaving, he asked Lu Zhaojin whether he wanted to leave together. They could have lunch before departing; there was no rush.

Lu Zhaojin did not agree. He wanted to stay here a little longer.

Lu Jinlin let him be and returned first to Shiqiao Town to discuss rebuilding the escort agency with a carpenter.

Lu Zhaojin stared at the gravestone for a long time. Then he stepped forward, formed a sword-finger with his hand, and carved a name into an inconspicuous corner.

Lu Zhaojin.

Naturally, it was carved for the original owner.

Perhaps it was also carved for his future self.

The future could not be predicted or foreseen. Even someone who had cultivated the art of divination for a hundred years would not dare claim to know what another person's future would be.

For life presented many choices, and every choice brought a different result.