The Story

After Qu Yong left, only Old Qin and Zhou Yi remained in the room.

Only then did Zhou Yi voice the question in his heart.

"Old Qin, why did Master seem somewhat disappointed when I broke through to the Vitality Realm?"

Old Qin smiled at Zhou Yi. "Would you like to hear a story?"

Zhou Yi nodded, then sat down in the chair beside Old Qin.

Old Qin lifted the tea from the table and took a sip. Then he slowly began, "When your master and I were young, we also went out into the world to seek our fortunes. Although your master's talent was not as great as yours, he was still considered a genius in our area."

"At nineteen, he had already reached the peak of the Strength Channeling Realm. To break through to the Vitality Realm, the two of us went to another city, one even more prosperous than Luoshi City. Only after arriving in that great city did your master discover that his talent was not worth mentioning before the children of those great Lineages. Even so, he did not give up. After all, he was only inferior compared to those Lineage children. Among ordinary people, he was already far better than most.

"Though there were quite a few techniques capable of breaking through to the Vitality Realm, obtaining them was no easy matter. The good techniques were all held by the imperial court and those great Lineages. After discussing it, your master and I decided to join the army. Since I had no talent for martial arts, I turned instead to studying the Dao of Talismans. My talent for talismans was ordinary as well, but the benefit of studying talismans was that I did not need to face the strange directly—unless I was sent to investigate newly appeared strange phenomena."

"After joining the army, your master performed outstandingly. In only three years, he obtained a technique that could advance to the Vitality Realm. He was beside himself with joy after receiving it and could not wait to cultivate it. But he also knew that if he did not temper his body to a certain degree, it would be extremely detrimental to his future progress. So he suppressed his urge to cultivate and merely memorized the technique in silence."

"Afterward, your master set his sights on Body Refining Techniques. They might seem to have a low threshold—anyone could cultivate them with enough slow grinding effort—but to cultivate one to perfection, even twenty years would not be enough for someone without talent. Fortunately, your master's talent in body refinement was fairly good. He cultivated his first Body Refining Technique to perfection in five years."

Hearing that his master had spent five years on just one Body Refining Technique, and that this was considered having good talent, Zhou Yi could not help clicking his tongue. At the same time, he felt fortunate to have the modifier.

Old Qin paused slightly before continuing, "Just as your master began cultivating his second Body Refining Technique, the two of us and several other brothers received an investigation mission."

As Old Qin spoke, his eyes began to gleam, but he continued nonetheless. "At first, we all thought it was merely an ordinary investigation mission. That time, a Vitality Realm martial artist led the team, along with more than ten Strength Channeling Realm martial artists and three talisman masters. Your master and I were among them. But unexpectedly, although that strange phenomenon was only Crimson Grade, its abilities were exceedingly bizarre. Before we could react, three Strength Channeling Realm brothers died at once.

"The Vitality Realm martial artist also realized that matters had gone beyond control. He covered our retreat from behind. That strange thing knew a Vitality Realm martial artist would not be easy prey, so it began targeting the Strength Channeling Realm martial artists. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, another five brothers died before our very eyes. That Vitality Realm martial artist began using forbidden arts and finally forced the strange thing out."

At this point, Old Qin turned to Zhou Yi. "The strange things you usually see mostly have physical forms, right?"

Zhou Yi nodded at Old Qin.

Old Qin continued, "The strange thing we encountered that time was a rule-type strange phenomenon. It was also the only rule-type strange phenomenon we had ever encountered. Even now, I cannot remember what it truly looked like."

"After that rule-type strange phenomenon was forced out, it attacked the Vitality Realm martial artist one blow after another. At first, he could still hold on, but the consequences of using forbidden arts soon began to show. Gradually, he ran out of strength and died at the hands of that strange thing."

"The Vitality Realm martial artist bought us a great deal of time. Of the five people remaining, there were your master and me, another Strength Channeling Realm martial artist, and two talisman masters. Just when we thought we were about to escape, that strange thing caught up to us. Seeing this, your master knew that if he did not break through to the Vitality Realm, we would all be left there."

"Your master had no choice but to force a breakthrough on the spot, even though his body had not been tempered to its utmost limit. Fortunately, he succeeded. He charged at that strange thing and told us to leave first, buying us time. Yet your master, newly advanced to the Vitality Realm as he was, actually held that strange thing back. Though he lay in bed for a month afterward, we ultimately escaped."

"After returning to the army, we reported the matter and received a large amount of military merit. But your master's path forward was gone. I had wanted to comfort him, yet he instead told me that at least the two of us had kept our lives."

"Because his body had not been tempered to its utmost limit, every step in the Vitality Realm became difficult as moving an inch. Your master and I exchanged our military merit for the right to guard Qingzhu Village. And because we had discovered a rule-type strange phenomenon, the army rewarded Qingzhu Village with a precious artifact."

"Your master and I settled down as well. In the blink of an eye, many years passed. As for why your master felt disappointed, it was because of your master's wife."

"Master's wife?" Zhou Yi looked at Old Qin in confusion. Why had he never heard his master mention her?

Old Qin continued, "Yes, because of your master's wife. She died in childbirth, along with your master's unborn son. They are buried on Gualin Mountain."

"Your master had hoped that after he was gone, you could take his place and continue guarding this village. But your talent is too high—so high that you are like those Lineage children he once saw. He sees you as his own son. He could never make you continue guarding this village. Your talent will ultimately bring you a different kind of scenery!"

Having said that, Old Qin seemed to mutter to himself, "Qingzhu Village is too small..."

After hearing everything, Zhou Yi sat quietly in his chair. He did not know what he should say to Old Qin now, much less what he should say to his master in the future.

Old Qin suddenly turned to Zhou Yi. "Qingzhu Village is still too small for you. You must go out into the world. Just don't forget to come back and visit us in the future."

Zhou Yi looked at Old Qin with firm eyes. "I will."

"Alright, go back and rest early. Tomorrow, we still need to discuss how to deal with those Red and White Fiends!"

"Alright!" After saying that, Zhou Yi bade Old Qin farewell.

On the way home, Zhou Yi felt that his mind was in turmoil, and so was his heart.

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