Condolence

Li Qing woke up almost exactly on time, rushing back to his original world just before the sky began to lighten.

This sleep left him feeling refreshed, as if all the exhaustion had completely faded away, the fatigue from days of standing post and hammering iron finally gone.

As usual, Li Qing took two bowls to the Kitchen Hall to get food, then brought them to Master Gu.

But as soon as he pushed through the tent flap, he sensed something off inside the camp tent.

Quiet!

Too quiet!

"Master!" Li Qing's hand trembled, nearly dropping both bowls to the ground.

He hurried to the edge of the bed, looking at Master Gu, whose eyes were already closed, and couldn't stop his own eyes from reddening.

Master Gu was dead.

This news spread throughout the entire Border Army in no time, stirring many sighs and lamentations.

In the Wu Li Army, Master Gu's reputation was quite high. Many Centurions and even Chiliarchs had weapons personally forged by him, and every piece he crafted was exceptionally fine and durable.

When the army handled funerals, they kept things simple, without too many formalities.

Still, basic etiquette was observed. Several high-ranking officers who had once benefited from Master Gu's kindness all came to offer their condolences.

The first to arrive at Master Gu's tent was Centurion Chen Meng. This burly man, with a face full of rough flesh, took a solemn look at the deceased's visage.

"Sigh!" Chen Meng let out a sigh, said nothing more, and just patted Li Qing, who was waiting nearby.

The second to offer condolences was Chiliarch Qian Hong, whom Li Qing had met just yesterday. This caught him off guard.

This female Chiliarch was as spirited and sharp as ever. She merely glanced at Master Gu's remains before looking away.

Having served in the army for many years, Qian Hong wasn't one to grow sentimental over a natural death.

"Master Gu said you've learned about seventy or eighty percent of his craft. Is that true?" Qian Hong's gaze fixed on Li Qing, but this time her tone was softer, less forceful.

Li Qing shook his head repeatedly. "That was my master being generous. I've only studied under him for less than two years—how is it possible I've reached that level?"

"Fair enough. Master Gu certainly picked a good time to die." Qian Hong shook her head with some regret, said nothing more, and turned to leave the tent.

Then several Centurions came in, all big, rough men. They immediately fussed over Li Qing, said a few words, and left.

The second Chiliarch to arrive was named Yuan Xiao. His eyes were narrowed, and a gentle smile often hung at the corners of his mouth, making him look like a kindly old man.

If not for Master Gu's warnings, Li Qing might have thought so too.

But in the army, anyone who reached the rank of Chiliarch could hardly be a gentle, kind-hearted person.

This immediately soured Li Qing's first impression of him, and he silently labeled him as a hypocrite.

"Heh heh, young brother, so you're Master Gu's apprentice. Old Gu made no small contributions in the army over the years. If you ever run into trouble here, feel free to come to me." Yuan Xiao said warmly, his eyes squinting.

Bad first impression or not, the act had to be played. Li Qing put on a grateful, tearful expression and replied, "Chiliarch Yuan, thank you!"

"Alright, young brother. A man's death is like a lamp going out—don't be too sad." Yuan Xiao offered considerately.

With that, Chiliarch Yuan Xiao left. After stepping out of the tent, his eyes flickered briefly, his thoughts hard to guess.

Once he was gone, Li Qing swallowed and couldn't help sighing inwardly.

Such deep cunning! Just as Master Gu said, he had to be extremely careful.

This person—better to avoid contact as much as possible.

The Wu Li Army had three Chiliarchs stationed at the border fort. Li Qing waited a long time, but the third Chiliarch never came to offer condolences, which puzzled him.

"Did this third Chiliarch have no connection with Master Gu?"

Maybe that was it. Otherwise, why would Master Gu only warn him about the other two Chiliarchs before dying, without mentioning the last one at all?

That day, Master Gu was encoffined, with all rites kept simple.

They found a small mound outside the border fort to bury him. Li Qing stayed from start to finish. After the diggers left, he stood alone quietly by the grave.

Should he slip away right now?

The thought had barely surfaced before Li Qing pressed it down. Running now wasn't a wise choice.

Wait!

Wait until his strength was a bit higher, until he had some ability to protect himself. Wait until the situation grew more chaotic—chaotic enough that no one would notice a mere blacksmith's apprentice!

The wind outside the border never seemed to stop, and now it whipped up a sky full of yellow sand.

Li Qing stroked the tombstone for a while, sighing inwardly again.

Master Gu's departure was too sudden, yet not entirely unexpected.

Thinking back, during his time in the army, he had received a lot of care from the old man. Though strict, it was all for his own good.

For a moment, Master Gu's voice and face from the past echoed in Li Qing's heart.

Sigh!

As a Long-Lived One, he would likely experience many such things in the future, perhaps even seeing off many younger generations.

No wonder the longer people lived, the more heartless they became.

"Sigh, time to train!"

With that, Li Qing cast aside the tangled thoughts in his mind and began his stance training before Master Gu's grave.

Even a gale-force wind could not shake his form; his stance was as steady as a pine tree, firm and unwavering.

No one knew how long it lasted. Just as Li Qing maintained his stance, a weathered voice suddenly rang out.

"Ancient Profound Hammer Technique—it seems Old Gu really handed over everything he had to you!"

Hearing this sudden voice, Li Qing snapped his eyes open. He hadn't even sensed the slightest movement from the newcomer!

"Who goes there?!"

Li Qing swept his gaze around and immediately spotted an old rogue with a flushed face, holding a wine gourd, standing beside the grave mound.

Drip, drip!

The drunkard-like elder poured some of the liquor from his gourd, letting it spill over Master Gu's grave.

"Heh, this old man's surname is Guo."

Upon hearing these words, Li Qing's heart stirred slightly, and a name instantly came to mind.

The third centurion of the Wu Li Army at the Border Fortress—Guo Zhentong!

And he turned out to be an old man. A drunkard, at that.

"This subordinate greets the Centurion!" Li Qing snapped back to reality and immediately moved to pay his respects.

Guo Zhentong said with a smile, "Stand up. Keep practicing your stance training. Don't mind me. This old man just came to take one last look at Old Gu."

As the wine splashed out, the air around them filled with a thick, intoxicating aroma—just smelling it was enough to make one feel drunk.