Map of Mountains and Rivers (Seeking Recommendation Votes)

A month later.

Spring was at its finest, the sunlight pleasantly warm.

Two reclining chairs, one man, and one turtle even more dazzling than the sunlight.

They lounged contentedly before the Book Repository, eyes half-closed as they basked in the warmth.

Comfortable.

Sure enough.

This was the life a big shot ought to have.

A true big shot did not spend his days fighting and killing.

He lived happily and comfortably.

Yet just then, someone approached the Book Repository from afar.

It was an Old Man.

His beard and hair were snow-white, and the marks of time covered his face.

He walked slowly and unsteadily, trembling slightly, like a man on the verge of death.

From the corner of his half-closed eyes, Chu He glanced at him.

This Old Man's cultivation was passable enough.

The reason he appeared like an ordinary elderly man—

was not because he was pretending.

His condition truly was terrible. His entire body was like a funnel.

Thus, he had used a special method to seal himself, preventing his True Qi from leaking out.

And he had sealed it thoroughly. He did not even use True Qi to sustain his body's injuries, relying only on medicine to preserve himself. This caused his injuries to worsen further, his lifespan draining away at a rapid pace.

Like a rotten piece of wood severely eaten away by decay.

Actually, if he did not seal his True Qi and instead used it all to sustain himself, while he still could not heal his injuries, he could have lived several more decades.

But the price would be that, as his True Qi leaked away, his strength would rapidly plummet.

Therefore.

The Old Man had given up several decades of his lifespan to ensure that, at a critical moment, he could unleash one full-force strike.

That was right.

In his current state, he could only make one move.

Once the seal was lifted and his True Qi returned to his body, his crippled frame would no longer be able to bear it.

When facing an enemy, after striking once, regardless of victory or defeat, he would not be able to hold on for long. Soon after, he would explode.

There would be no chance of survival.

He was using his life as the price to preserve his own deterrent power.

At the same time, to prevent unnecessary trouble from forcing him to lift the seal ahead of time.

Chu He could sense that, in the shadow of a wall corner not far away, another person of no lesser strength was secretly following and protecting him at all times.

"Young friend, you're living quite leisurely!"

The Old Man walked up before the Book Repository, cast a deep glance inside, then lowered his head and greeted Chu He with great kindness.

"Not bad. Old man, would you like to join me?"

Chu He opened his eyes and casually tossed the turtle from the other chair aside, gesturing for the Old Man to take the seat.

"Respect the old and cherish the young—it has to start when you're little. Not clever at all."

Chu He glared at Little Turtle, who had climbed up from the ground, shaking his head as he looked at the Old Man in dissatisfaction.

"Young friend, you're a good person."

Smiling, the Old Man did not stand on ceremony and sat directly in the chair.

The two began to chat.

From all corners of the world to astronomy and geography, there was nothing they did not discuss.

In the end.

"Young friend, you are truly learned and talented."

The Old Man cupped his fists toward Chu He, looking deeply impressed.

"Old man, you are truly a great sage of this age."

Chu He returned the salute!

He let out a long breath.

It had been so long since he had bragged so freely with someone!

He had to maintain his image in front of the two little girls. He always had to watch what he said and could not let his mouth run off the rails.

At the same time, he was certain that this Old Man had come to find him over something.

Otherwise, why would the other party keep feeding him lines and praising him while he spouted such nonsense? There was no reason for it!

"Young friend, are you Lin Xueling's senior brother?"

After building rapport with Chu He for so long, the Old Man finally steered the subject onto the right track.

Senior brother?

A flicker passed through Chu He's eyes.

It seemed he had been mistaken. The other party probably had not learned his true identity from Xueling.

That girl kept her mouth tightly shut!

He had not even told her to do so, yet she had taken the initiative to keep his secret.

Just as the Lin Family suspected.

They believed there was an expert in the Book Repository.

Who had taken three disciples.

He was the eldest, Lin Xueling was the second, and Zhao Yuling was the third.

"I'm her Little Chu Brother."

Chu He neither denied nor admitted it, answering ambiguously.

"Is your master here, young friend?"

Expectation filled the Old Man's expression.

Chu He shook his head!

He had no master.

He had relied entirely on his talent to cultivate by himself.

The Old Man sighed. Disappointment appeared on his face, and he seemed to age several more years.

"Young friend, do you know where your master is? Could you pass along a message for me?"

Still unwilling to give up, the Old Man spoke.

"What is it?"

A flicker passed through Chu He's eyes.

"I wish to make a deal with him."

The Old Man spoke solemnly.

"Let me hear it!"

Chu He said.

The Old Man's expression changed.

He looked at Chu He, his face turning unpleasant.

"You misunderstand!"

Chu He's expression shifted.

He realized that the Old Man thought he had overstepped!

After all, the Old Man wished to make a deal with his nonexistent master.

In the other party's eyes, he was merely a disciple.

Yet now he was brazenly demanding to know the details of the deal.

There was no way that sounded appropriate.

"Old man, I only want to know what you wish to trade before deciding whether to agree."

Chu He explained.

The Old Man's face relaxed, and understanding appeared on it. He thought Chu He was worried that his so-called deal was some trivial matter that would disturb his master and bring punishment upon himself.

After thinking it over, there was nothing that needed to be concealed about this deal.

With a movement of his palm.

A majestic ink-wash painting carrying an ancient, savage aura slowly unfurled before Chu He.

Ink-wash mountains and rivers, a tide of people flowing like a spring, the smoke and flame of the mortal world—all leaped from the page.

"This is a precious map beyond the King Realm, a supreme treasure passed down by the Xia Clan."

The Old Man spoke with pride.

"I wish to use this map to make a deal with your master."

"Three hundred years. Guard the Xia Clan for three hundred years, and this map will be his!"

The Old Man's voice carried deep reluctance, but his words were exceptionally resolute.

Chu He swept his gaze over the Map of Mountains and Rivers.

What it depicted was vivid and carried a certain artistic conception.

The water flowed, the people moved, and cooking smoke curled upward.

Framed and hung on a wall, it would indeed have a touch of style.

But trading it for three hundred years as a babysitter was not worth it!

After all, to him, this painting was merely pleasant to look at.

As for its use.

Sorry.

It simply did not match his current level.

Besides, he possessed countless treasures. He even had quite a few of a higher grade than this map.

Seeing Chu He shake his head again and again.

The Old Man frowned.

He looked down on it?

No, impossible.

It had to be that this boy could not see how formidable the Map of Mountains and Rivers was.

He did not know what a treasure beyond the King Realm represented!

The Old Man cleared his throat, feeling it necessary to explain.