Li Qing woke almost exactly on time, slipping back into the original world before the sky had even begun to lighten.
He had slept deeply and woke refreshed, feeling all the fatigue leave his body. The exhaustion from stance training and smithing over the past few days had vanished.
As usual, Li Qing took two food bowls to the Kitchen Hall to collect breakfast, then delivered it to Master Gu.
But the moment he pushed aside the tent flap, he sensed that something was wrong inside.
Silence!
It was far too silent!
"Master!" Li Qing's hand trembled, and he nearly dropped both food bowls onto the ground.
He hurried to the bedside. Looking at Master Gu, whose eyes had already closed, Li Qing's own eyes could not help but redden slightly.
Master Gu was dead.
The news spread throughout the entire Border Army at once, drawing no small amount of sorrow and sighing.
Master Gu had held considerable prestige in the Wu Li Army. The weapons of many Centurions and even Centurion Yuan had been personally forged by him, and every weapon made by his own hand was exceptionally refined and durable.
Military funerals were generally handled as simply as possible, without too many cumbersome rites and rituals.
Still, the basic etiquette remained. Some of the military higher-ups who had once benefited from Master Gu all came to pay their condolences.
The first to arrive at Master Gu's camp tent was Centurion Chen Meng. This burly, rough-looking man with a face full of flesh took a look at Master Gu's deceased visage with a solemn expression.
"Ah!" Chen Meng sighed. He said nothing more, merely patting Li Qing, who was keeping watch beside him.
The second person to come offer condolences was Centurion Qian Hong, whom he had met just yesterday! This somewhat surprised Li Qing.
This female Centurion was still as valiant and heroic as ever. She merely swept her gaze across Master Gu's body before withdrawing it.
She had served in the army for many years, so Qian Hong naturally would not become overly sentimental over someone's natural passing.
"Master Gu said you had learned seventy or eighty percent of his craft. Is that true?" Qian Hong looked directly at Li Qing. This time, however, her manner was not forceful, and her tone was comparatively mild.
Li Qing repeatedly shook his head at her words. "Master was giving me too much credit. I studied under him for less than two years. How could I possibly have learned that much?"
"That is true enough. Master Gu really chose a fine time to die." Qian Hong shook her head regretfully, said nothing more, and turned to leave the camp tent.
Several more Centurions entered one after another. They were all big, brawny men, and as soon as they arrived, they fussed over Li Qing with concern, spoke quite a few words to him, then departed.
The second Centurion 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 thoroughly decent old fellow.
If not for Master Gu's warning, Li Qing might have thought so too.
Yet anyone capable of reaching the position of Centurion in the army could naturally not be some gentle and kindhearted person.
Li Qing's first impression of him immediately worsened. In his heart, he instantly branded him a hypocrite.
"Heh heh heh, little brother, you are Master Gu's disciple, aren't you? Old Gu made no small contribution to the army over these years. If you run into any trouble in the army in the future, feel free to come find me," Yuan Xiao said warmly, his eyes narrowed.
A bad first impression was one thing, but he could not leave any part of the act unplayed. Li Qing immediately showed an expression of overwhelming gratitude and replied, "Centurion Yuan, thank you!"
"All right, little brother. When a person dies, it is like a lamp going out. Do not be too heartbroken," Yuan Xiao said with considerate concern.
After saying that, Centurion Yuan Xiao departed as well. Once he walked out of the camp tent, his eyes flashed faintly, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
As the other man left, Li Qing swallowed, unable to stop himself from sighing inwardly.
What deep schemes! Just as Master Gu said, I truly must be extremely careful.
It is best to avoid contact with this person as much as possible in the future.
The Wu Li Army stationed at the Border Fortress had three Centurions in total. Li Qing waited for a long time, yet the third Centurion never came to offer condolences, which left him somewhat puzzled.
"Could it be that this third Centurion had no connection with Master Gu?"
Perhaps that really was the case. Otherwise, why had Master Gu only told him to watch out for the other two Centurions before his death, without mentioning the remaining one even once?
That very day, Master Gu was encoffined, with all rites kept simple.
They found a small mound outside the fortress and buried Master Gu there. Li Qing accompanied him from beginning to end. After the men who dug the grave had left, Li Qing alone waited quietly before the grave.
Should I slip away right now?
The thought had only just surfaced when Li Qing suppressed it. Running away at this time was not a wise choice.
Wait!
Wait until his strength was a little greater, until he possessed some ability to protect himself. Wait until the situation grew more chaotic, chaotic enough that no one would notice a mere blacksmith's apprentice like him!
The wild winds beyond the frontier seemed as though they would never cease. At this moment, they swept up yellow sand that blotted out the sky and covered the earth.
Li Qing stroked the tombstone for a while and sighed inwardly again.
Master Gu had gone too suddenly, yet it had not come as too great a surprise.
Thinking about it, during his time in the army, he had received quite a lot of care from the other man. Though Master Gu had been strict, it had all been for Li Qing's own good.
All at once, Master Gu's voice, face, and smile from the past echoed through Li Qing's heart.
Ah!
As one who would live forever, he would likely experience many such things in the future. Perhaps he would even have to send off many younger generations.
No wonder the longer people lived, the more heartless they became.
"Ah, time to practice!"
At once, Li Qing cast all his chaotic thoughts from his mind and assumed his stance before Master Gu's grave.
Even gale-force winds could not shake his body. His stance was as steady as a pine tree, firm and unwavering.
He did not know how long it continued. Just as Li Qing maintained his stance, an aged voice suddenly rang out.
"Ancient Profound Hammer Technique. Looks like Old Gu really did hand over all his family treasures to you!"
Upon Hearing this sudden voice, Li Qing abruptly opened his eyes. He had not even noticed the slightest movement from the newcomer!
"Who?!"
Li Qing looked around and immediately saw an old rogue standing beside the grave mound, holding a wine gourd with flushed red cheeks.
Drip, drip!
The old man, who looked like a drunkard, poured some wine from the gourd and scattered it before Master Gu's grave.
"Heh, this old man's surname is Guo."
At These Words, Li Qing's heart jolted slightly, and he immediately remembered someone.
The third Centurion of the Wu Li Army at the Border Fortress, Guo Zhentong!
He was actually an old man! And he looked like a drunkard too.
"This subordinate greets Centurion!" Li Qing came back to himself and immediately moved to pay his respects.
Guo Zhentong said with a smile, "Get up. Continue your Stance Training and pay no mind to me. This old man merely came to see Old Gu one last time."
As the wine spilled out, the air around them filled with a strong fragrance of alcohol. Merely smelling it brought a sense of intoxication.