Capital City Winds and Clouds Chapter 18: Emerging from Seclusion

I was extremely happy at that moment. As soon as I walked out of the secret chamber's passage, I was surprised to find a group of people waiting outside. It was Brother Wang, Sister Yu, First Wife, Uncle Zhang, my two disciples, and Ah Yu, among others.

Seeing me emerge, they all appeared very pleased, their faces beaming with bright smiles.

Brother Wang let out a sigh of relief upon seeing me. His usual smile returned to his face, and he said to me respectfully, "Young Master, everyone here only came because they heard your laughter. Young Master, do you know how scared you made us? You were in that secret chamber for a full two weeks, and we thought something had happened to you. Moreover, the door to your chamber wouldn't open. We were going crazy with worry!" Sister Yu and the others around me were smiling as they looked at me. Seeing that I was fine, they all showed expressions of relief.

I was truly touched, a warmth spreading through my heart. I felt like I was about to cry, but I just smiled at them, and the tears that hadn't yet fallen were already dried by my internal energy. I also felt a bit embarrassed. I hadn't explained things clearly to them. For cultivators, being in seclusion for a few weeks is considered short; a few years or decades is normal. How could they, as ordinary people, understand matters concerning cultivators?

"Brother Wang, I didn't explain it clearly to you. When one reaches my current realm, being in seclusion for a few weeks is short; a few years or decades is normal. It will be the same for you all once you finish cultivating the Taiji Yin Yang Art and other secret manuals. Don't worry about it anymore. After a while, once I finish my studies at the National Martial Academy, I'll need to find some materials and then go into seclusion. That will likely take several years."

As soon as I said this, their eyes widened in disbelief. It was too incredible to fathom. Practicing cultivation for several years? How could they handle that? How many years does a person have in their lifetime?

I looked at their confused expressions and knew what they were thinking. "Once you all break through to the ninth layer, you'll be able to cultivate even more powerful techniques. And after breaking through the ninth layer, you'll also achieve immortality. Why worry about a few years or decades affecting you then?"

When I said this, everyone broke into smiles, their concerns dispelled.

"Master, you said you'll go into seclusion for several years after finishing school? Won't you have become an adult by the time you come out?" Li Da remembered what I had just said and still found it hard to believe, feeling it was a bit strange. The child who entered the secret chamber would emerge as an adult. Anyone encountering this situation would find it very unsettling.

I smiled. This kid was really thinking ahead. It was all my fault for cultivating too quickly. There aren't many Golden Core stage experts as young as me in the Cultivation World! By the time they reach the Golden Core stage, they are already adults, so there's no significant difference before and after seclusion. But I had to go into seclusion because I needed to cultivate my flying swords and Spirit Battle Armor. These are essential items for my dual cultivation of life and martial arts.

Wait, I've already cultivated the Demon Subduing Vajra Art, so my body doesn't need protection from Spirit Battle Armor anymore. As my realm gets higher, my Demon Subduing Vajra Art will become even more powerful. I might not necessarily need to cultivate these flying swords and such things now! Oh well, I've already told them I'm going into seclusion. If I go back on my word now, it would be too embarrassing. Besides, an extra layer of protection means an extra layer of safety!

"Everyone, stop talking. I'm hungry. Let's go eat!"

Only then did everyone remember that I, this abnormal person, hadn't eaten for two weeks and felt nothing. Now I finally say I'm hungry. It's truly beyond normal to be so abnormal.

Seeing that no one was moving and they were all looking at me with a gaze that made me... I had no choice but to hurry. If they kept looking at me like that, I wouldn't need to eat anymore.

"It's already noon. Why hasn't Brother Lang Feng returned yet? If he doesn't come back, won't we all have to starve with him?" The group of us sat in the main hall. The lunch dishes were already laid out on the table, but Brother Lang Feng hadn't returned, so we had to wait.

"Li Da, look at your Master. He hasn't eaten for two weeks, and he's not as impatient as you are, crying out that he's hungry. You should learn from your Master! You're young, what's wrong with missing one meal?" Sister Yu walked over to Li Da, patted his shoulder, and spoke in the tone of an elder lecturing a junior.

Li Da's eyes widened as he looked at Sister Yu, but he couldn't say anything. Although Sister Yu was only a few years older than him, she was still his Master Li Da's elder sister. He, Li Da, was a generation younger than her. Moreover, the true manager of the entire estate was Sister Yu's husband.

Seeing Li Da's expression, we couldn't help but burst into laughter...

"Second Brother, you're finally out! You had me so worried. Your three newly accepted precious disciples have been coming here every day, saying they were worried about their Master. I suspect they just wanted to come for a meal. These two guys are currently at our estate. I'm running fast! Otherwise..."

I turned my head, and my Brother Lang Feng was standing in front of me, spewing saliva as he spoke.

"Lang Feng, you scoundrel, stop right there!" With a loud shout, three triplet brothers, full of anger, rushed in. Weren't these my three newly accepted disciples?

"What's wrong with you three? Why are you making such a racket as soon as you arrive?" Seeing my disciples, I deliberately put on a master's demeanor. I knew a master must have the dignity of a master, otherwise, the consequences would be severe. I had experienced it in my previous life, and I didn't want to repeat the same mistake in this life.

Chiyou and his two brothers only then noticed that their Master, whom they hadn't seen for many days, was sitting in a chair. They immediately adopted respectful postures and said to me courteously:

"Master, please enlighten us. Uncle Lang... he did something to us three brothers earlier... it's nothing, we were just playing." Chiyi was about to speak when he saw his elder brother Chiyou wink at him and cover his own mouth with his hand. Only then did he realize: could this matter be told to Master? Wouldn't it be asking for trouble? Brother Lang Feng is Master's elder brother, what can Master do to him? In the end, it would be us three brothers who suffer.

As soon as Chiyi figured it out, he immediately shut his mouth and gave me a simple, honest smile.

Looking at Brother Lang Feng and my three disciples, I clearly sensed something was wrong. But since neither side was saying anything, what could I do?

"You three, come and eat with us. Don't use 'visiting me' as an excuse anymore. Come whenever you want, understand?"

The three of them, Chiyou, were immediately overjoyed and shouted excitedly, "Thank you, Master!" These three fellows lived independently. They ate at restaurants and eateries themselves. Now they could save money, so why wouldn't they be happy? As they thought about living independently, they cursed their father, who had said, "You must first learn to manage yourselves before I can entrust things to you."

This meal was eaten very happily. Everyone was smiling, especially my three new disciples. Thinking that they wouldn't have to worry about their meals anymore, they couldn't help but laugh.

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"Listen to me, you three. Today, I will teach you martial arts. I tell you, the martial arts I am teaching you now is a very profound martial art, divided into nine layers. Upon reaching the ninth layer, you will reach the realm of a first-rank master. After finishing this manual, I will teach you even more powerful techniques, and by then, you will achieve immortality." I looked at my three stunned disciples with great pride. My martial arts are not comparable to the secret manuals of you mortals!

"Master, is this true? We can also achieve immortality and become immortals?" Chiyou, as the eldest brother, was better than the other two. He quickly recovered from his shock.

I looked at them and smiled.

"Immortals are not something just anyone can achieve. I dare not guarantee you will become immortals, but since you are my disciples, I guarantee you will definitely reach the realm of immortality." I said this with absolute certainty. Hah, with their aptitude, if they can't even cross the threshold of cultivation, there wouldn't be so many people in the Cultivation World.

Chiyi also came to his senses. Upon hearing my words, he didn't even have time to wipe the snot that had dripped out while he was stunned before he immediately shouted, "Master, that's enough! Immortality is good enough. We don't need to become immortals."

I looked at the three of them and took out the Mysterious Yang Art from my embrace.

"Listen up, you three. Practice this secret manual well. And another thing, you are not allowed to pass it on to anyone else, understand? Otherwise, you'll be punished according to the sect rules."

The three of them couldn't listen anymore. They took the secret manual I gave them and started reading it, nodding continuously at my words.

I arrived at the National Martial Academy.

Looking at the National Martial Academy before me, I couldn't help but find it a bit amusing. I had only come once since the semester started. I hadn't been here for so long. Wasn't the fifty thousand taels of silver I paid wasted? So, I came today.

But was I really here because I didn't want to waste money? I asked myself. I involuntarily stood at the academy's main gate, and the scene from the first day of school, the first time I saw her, flashed through my mind again. Her face, her voice, her... I couldn't help but immerse myself in those warm memories, and a hint of a blissful smile unconsciously appeared on my lips.

"Zhang Xingfeng, is that you?"

A voice I had longed for resounded in my ears. My entire body trembled inexplicably. I quickly turned my head to look, afraid she would disappear. The person before my eyes was standing by the sedan chair, looking at me and smiling. A gentle breeze blew, scattering her beautiful hair, letting it flutter by her ears. I was momentarily captivated.