Retiring After Success

Retiring After Success

"Whoosh!"

At the sound, Baili Changkong, the seventy- or eighty-year-old grandfather, nearly jumped to his feet.

Baili Ruoxue's numb expression carried a trace of bewilderment.

More than a thousand thrusts already, right?

And just now, what had she heard?

It sounded like the blade piercing the air?

"Baili Qingfeng, did he develop force?"

Her tone was full of doubt.

Fortunately, the sound rang out only once. The next thrust sank back down.

The thrust after that made no sound either.

It seemed that sharp piercing sound had merely been an auditory hallucination.

But by the third thrust, the sound came again.

"Whoosh!"

Then...

The fourth thrust, the fifth, the sixth...

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Baili Qingfeng seemed to have entered some peculiar state. One thrust followed another, the sword blade striking out like flowing clouds and running water, utterly free and exhilarating. Each thrust was faster than the last. By the end, the sound of his blade piercing the air had nearly merged into one, while his thrusting speed climbed from one thrust every three seconds to one per second—every strike breaking the air!

"He... he really developed force?"

Baili Ruoxue, who had carried a hint of superiority moments ago, was instantly stunned. "I... it took me three months of sword practice just to steady my sword, and a full year of thrusting to reach this level. Grandfather even praised me for having talent in swordsmanship..."

But Baili Qingfeng...

This was only his second day of martial arts practice!

"It worked, it really worked!"

Baili Changkong had been suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, afraid that one lapse of composure would frighten Baili Qingfeng out of his state. But after confirming that his grandson had truly developed force, he could no longer restrain his ecstatic shout. "Force in two days—this is the bearing of an unparalleled genius! Good! Good! Good! Wonderful! Truly wonderful! Heaven blesses the Baili Family! The martial lineage of the Baili Family has a successor! Hahaha... urgh..."

As Baili Changkong threw back his head in laughter, his Qi and Blood suddenly surged upward. The world spun before his eyes, his vision flipped upside down, and in the next moment, his wild laughter came to an abrupt halt as he fell stiffly backward...

"Grandfather!"

Baili Ruoshui rushed out in panic and took one look. "Ah, no! Grandfather's Cerebral Infarction is acting up! Quick, call emergency services..."

For a moment, Baili Qingfeng could no longer care about practicing his sword. He rushed out at once to find a telephone booth.

Before long...

A string of "We're done for, we're done for" cries drew nearer and nearer.

After the ambulance remained in the courtyard for a while, it carried Baili Changkong away. Baili Huang and his wife, who lived in Sanshun Town and were Baili Ruoshui and Baili Ruoxue's parents, went with him.

Baili Qingfeng followed them to the hospital. Before long, Baili Hong and the children from Second Grandfather's side arrived as well. The situation was urgent, so surgery was performed immediately.

After ten that night, Baili Huang asked Baili Qingfeng to take Baili Ruoxue and Baili Ruoshui home.

When Baili Qingfeng returned to the hospital, Baili Hong stopped him at the entrance. "Your Second Grandfather just underwent a procedure to clear the blockage. The surgery was successful, but the next three months of recovery are crucial. He must avoid extreme joy and sorrow. Ruo Shui told me what caused his sudden Cerebral Infarction. So, for your grandfather's recovery, you should visit him less for the time being. It won't be too late once his condition has stabilized."

"I understand."

Baili Qingfeng nodded.

Though they had not spent much time together, he sincerely hoped Baili Changkong would recover soon.

Over the following days, Baili Qingfeng did not return to Second Grandfather's courtyard. Instead, he practiced swordsmanship and the Rushing Thunder Thirty-Six Forms in his own Small Courtyard.

His family's Small Courtyard was not particularly spacious, but it was enough for simple thrusting practice.

Relying on his astonishingly powerful recovery, he made rapid progress in the Rushing Thunder Thirty-Six Forms. In addition, he was young and vigorous, had kept up with exercise over the past year, and possessed a solid foundation. In four days, he had brought the Rushing Thunder Thirty-Six Forms down to within ten minutes. Combined with the force he had mastered, he had truly completed the transformation from an ordinary person into a warrior.

While practicing the Rushing Thunder Thirty-Six Forms, he did not abandon the Thunder Sovereign Visualization Method either.

He spent three days cultivating this seemingly knockoff Visualization Method to the third level, External Awareness. His senses had indeed become far sharper.

Once he realized it was somewhat useful, he immediately began cultivating the Fourth Stage True Self.

At this stage, a cultivator could not only use Internal Reflection upon themselves, but also use their spirit to communicate with Essence, Qi, and Spirit, gaining more precise control over them and the circulation of Qi and Blood.

It was somewhat similar to the martial realm of Subtlety.

The Rushing Thunder Thirty-Six Forms, Thunder Breath, and the Thunder Sovereign Spirit Refinement Visualization Method.

Taking advantage of summer vacation, Baili Qingfeng cultivated patiently. In his spare time, he did not forget to study diligently.

He was determined not to disappoint others again. He wanted to develop morally, intellectually, and physically, to become an outstanding student of both character and learning. Naturally, he had to devote himself to his books as well.

Time passed amid such cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, a month and a half had gone by.

"Qi Refining Blood Renewal... so I'm a Level 2 Warrior? Strange. Ruoxue said that even with a Master personally guiding you and a superior inheritance, ordinary people generally needed one to three years to develop force and become true warriors. As for nurturing Essence, Qi, and Spirit and beginning Qi Refining Blood Renewal, one had to practice without fail through wind and rain for three to ten years. Yet I did it in a month and a half? It didn't feel difficult at all..."

As he spoke, Baili Qingfeng looked toward the mirror before him.

After a month and a half of grueling practice in the Rushing Thunder Thirty-Six Forms, his height had grown a full four centimeters, from one meter seventy-six to one meter eighty. His Essence, Qi, and Spirit had changed immensely compared to a month and a half ago, and a handsome, masculine aura rushed toward anyone who saw him.

Though his features had not changed at all, he appeared clean and sunny. Combined with the steady temperament gained from his previous life's experiences, he naturally inspired goodwill at first glance.

"I keep feeling like I cultivated some bargain-basement stuff... especially the Thunder Sovereign Spirit Refinement Visualization Method."

Over the past month and a half, Baili Qingfeng had already cultivated this Visualization Method to the fifth level.

Not the Fourth Stage True Self, but the Fifth Stage Manifestation.

From this stage onward, a cultivator's spirit had become strong enough to interfere with the senses of the weak-willed, granting it genuine combat ability. Depending on the Visualization Method, one might hypnotize people, construct illusions and drag opponents into an illusory world, or gain an added charm that left others utterly infatuated.

The Thunder Sovereign Spirit Refinement Method, however, followed a fierce and tyrannical path. It visualized the Ancient Thunder Beast, and when one's spirit erupted, it was like Nine Heavens Thundering, able to strike terror into the heart and soul. It was especially effective against those harboring treacherous intentions.

Because this stage could display all manner of inconceivable methods, it was called Manifestation.

"Shutting oneself away to build a cart is a great taboo in martial arts. Martial arts are fought out; swordsmanship is killed out. Wang Gang and Jiang Ziheng were both ruthless people. They showed no mercy even when killing a passerby like me who was merely making up the numbers. That shows wills of steel and hearts cold as iron! Only by finding someone to fight can I know whether I truly count as a Level 2 Warrior, and whether my path of spirit refinement has really reached the Fifth Stage Manifestation."

Baili Qingfeng said this.

As for sparring with Baili Changkong's disciples?

It was not that he looked down on any one of them, but... those disciples were not even as good as Baili Ruoxue, that little girl who only knew how to act proud and spoiled.

"Qingfeng, Qingfeng."

Just as Baili Qingfeng examined the sunny, handsome young man in the mirror, Baili Die's impatient voice came from outside. "Qingfeng, someone bought it! Someone bought your song!"

"A song?"

Baili Qingfeng looked at Baili Die, who hurried in, and quickly recalled something. "Long Time No See?"

"Yes, that song! A singer wants to buy the copyright to it. One thousand! He offered one thousand! That's equivalent to two months of my salary!"

"That song..."

Baili Qingfeng had a habit of listening to music. He had developed it because of her in his previous life, and he could not change it now. Nor did he want to.

However, the music industry in the Xia Kingdom was not very developed. So far, he had not heard a single song that truly moved people's hearts.

If this song could really be sold...

Then at least he would not have to hum it himself whenever he wanted to listen to it in the future.

"The song can be sold. A thousand is fine, but I want to meet the singer."

"Meet the singer?"

Baili Die paused, then seemed to think of something and smiled. "You want an autograph? I'll help you contact him."

With that, she quickly went out to make a call.

A few minutes later, Baili Die returned with a smile on her face. "He agreed. He wants to meet you too, but he's been in Sumen City for the past half month and doesn't have time to come over. If you want to see him, you'll have to go there yourself."

After saying that, Baili Die added excitedly, "I already agreed. I'll take leave and go with you. Sumen City isn't far from our Wuhe City—we can make a round trip in one day. An Yixun is also one of the male singers I like. I want to see him in person too."

"Sumen City..."

The moment Baili Qingfeng heard that name, he quickly thought of something.

The scene from a month and a half ago flashed through his mind once more.

"Sumen City... Jiang Ziheng."

Was this fate?