Parting and a New Journey

As the sun rose, dispelling the night's chill from Iron Wall City, it gilded the edges of the great black fortress.

A simple farewell was taking place at the city gates.

Old General Li Chongshan, accompanied by a retinue of solemn yet respectful officers, personally saw them off. Liu Meng, his injuries much improved and able to stand on his own, stood before Chen Qing with Yan Yunxi.

"Young Hero Chen, may your journey be long and safe. Please take care!" General Li clasped his fists, his tone sincere. "The border troops of the North will forever remember your kindness. If you ever need anything, just present this token, and we shall obey without question!"

"Young Hero Chen, thank you for your great kindness! If you ever pass through Yan Jing, you must visit the escort agency. I, Old Liu, will treat you as a proper host!" Liu Meng's voice boomed as he clasped his fists with force.

Yan Yunxi looked at Chen Qing, her thousand unspoken words condensing into a clear, resolute gaze: "Brother Chen, have a safe journey." She said no more, but her eyes conveyed everything.

Chen Qing cupped his fists in return, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before settling on General Li. "General, please take care as well. The political turmoil in the court may not have subsided."

Li Chongshan nodded heavily. "I understand."

Chen Qing said no more, turning to the brand-new carriage, a gift from General Li to A Ning.

A Ning was already seated obediently in the carriage. The Wolf King let out a low growl, shaking its increasingly thick and mighty mane. It instinctively positioned itself beside the carriage to guard them.

Chen Qing took the reins and drove the carriage out of the towering city gates, leaving the solemn, imposing, and solitary city behind them.

For the next few days, Chen Qing did not rush his journey. Instead, he found a secluded valley on the outskirts of the Falling Star Mountain Range to temporarily reside in. He needed to process his recent gains and further improve his strength.

He took stock of the items he had obtained from the master of the Shadow Kill Tower.

Chen Qing took out the silk scroll with the secret message. He had spent the past few days trying to decipher it. He discovered that the text was ancient and obscure, not a common contemporary cipher. It seemed more like a long-lost secret script that would require related literature to understand its meaning. However, there was one character Chen Qing recognized: "Immortal!"

At the same time, Chen Qing also sensed something faint and elusive from the south, urging him to pursue it.

His greatest gain from this trip was undoubtedly the box of You Lan Stones. Chen Qing selected several of the best quality, most energy-pure stones. Under the moonlight, he set up a simple star-gathering formation, held a stone in his hand, and circulated the Ancient Star Ruins Scripture with all his might.

The effect far exceeded his expectations! The pure star power contained within the stones flowed like a gentle stream into a river, rapidly absorbed and refined by him, integrating into his limbs and bones, nourishing that single point of innate starlight.

His meridians became tougher and wider with each cleansing. His bones and flesh shimmered with a faint glow, their strength increasing day by day.

Several days later, when he opened his eyes again, starlight blazed within them. His aura was harmonious and contained, yet it held a majestic power.

The first level of the Ancient Star Ruins Scripture, "Starlight Body Tempering," was now completely perfected. His physical strength had reached an incredible level, making him almost impervious to ordinary swords and blades.

He had even touched the threshold of the second level, "Star Vortex Formation." Within his dantian and sea of qi, a faint star power began to spontaneously rotate around the single point of innate starlight, forming a minuscule but tangible nascent vortex. It slowly absorbed the sparse free-roaming star power from the heavens and earth, increasing his refinement efficiency by more than several times!

The Wolf King, benefiting from the rich residual starlight in the area and the aura dispersed by Chen Qing's cultivation, had long since recovered from its injuries. Its physique seemed to have grown even more robust, its fur gleamed brighter, and its intelligence appeared to have increased.

The most peculiar change was in A Ning. After the extreme fear of that night, she seemed to have opened an invisible door. Her eyes were no longer always timid and lost; at times, they would reveal the curiosity and liveliness befitting her age.

She occasionally attempted to speak longer sentences. Though still fragmented, her expressions had become much clearer.

Chen Qing observed all of this silently, feeling joy at her transformation.

With his strength greatly increased, it was time to leave.

On the fifth day after leaving Iron Wall City, Chen Qing's carriage entered a bustling border town on the north-south thoroughfare—Pebble Town.

Although the town was not as militarily fortified as Iron Wall City, it was densely populated with merchants and travelers, exuding the rugged vitality of the frontier.

He left the giant wolf in the mountains outside the town to avoid causing a sensation, and entered the town with only A Ning. The Wolf King, though reluctant, also let out a low growl with its innate understanding and melted into the shadows of the forest.

After a long journey in the wilderness, their provisions were depleted. They also needed to replenish their fresh food and water. Chen Qing drove the carriage and stopped in front of a lively-looking restaurant called the Welcoming Guest Pavilion.

Inside the restaurant, the din of voices filled the air, a convergence of all sorts of people.

Chen Qing found a quiet spot by the window, ordered a few light dishes and a pot of coarse tea, and specifically asked for a bowl of meat broth for A Ning. A Ning ate slowly, her large eyes timidly yet curiously observing the bustling surroundings.

Chen Qing, meanwhile, closed his eyes and focused, appearing to rest, but actually sensing the flow of star power within his body.

As he was contemplating, a commotion arose at the restaurant entrance.

"Get lost! Old fossil! You're blocking my way, you old bastard!" Several burly men in tight-fitting clothes shoved an old farmer who was holding a basket of vegetables and walking unsteadily. The old farmer stumbled and fell to the ground, scattering his vegetables. One of the men kicked the basket away.

"Damn it, what bad luck!" The man who kicked the basket, still not satisfied, stepped forward as if to kick the old farmer again.

Although there were many diners in the restaurant, most lowered their heads or turned their faces away at the sight. These men clearly had some backing; they wore swords at their waists and exuded a fierce aura, indicating they were not to be trifled with.

Just as the man's foot was about to descend, a clear shout rang out from a private room on the second floor:

"Stop!"

The voice was followed by action! A figure in a sapphire blue robe descended from the second floor like a flowing cloud. Their movements were swift and powerful, landing with a "peng" sound, directly in front of the old farmer.

The newcomer was a young man, appearing to be around twenty years old, with sword-like eyebrows, piercing eyes, a high-bridged nose, and healthy tan skin. A natural, somewhat rebellious smile played on his lips.

He was dressed in a blue tunic made of fine Suzhou brocade, with a jade belt around his waist. A beautifully decorated saber hung from it, its scabbard inlaid with several precious gems, clearly indicating its considerable value.

His entire demeanor exuded an exotic charm and nobility, slightly different from the attire of those from the Central Plains.

Most striking was his slightly curly black hair, casually tied back with a golden cord, adding to his dashing and wild appearance.

"In broad daylight, bullying the weak. You big men, have you no shame?" The blue-clad youth crossed his arms, his chin slightly raised, looking down at the men with undisguised contempt.

The leader of the group was taken aback. Seeing that the newcomer was just a young man in fancy clothes, he felt a twinge of apprehension about the other's status. However, being scolded in front of everyone, he lost face and angrily retorted, "Who do you think you are, kid, meddling in other people's business! This old man wasn't watching where he was going and bumped into me. It's good I didn't demand compensation!"

The youth let out a scoff. "Bumped into you? I clearly saw you push him. What, relying on your brute strength, you dare to act like a tyrant in Pebble Town? This is precisely the 'meddling' I'm going to do today!"

"You're asking for death!" The man roared with rage, swinging his palm, as large as a straw fan, towards the youth's face, bringing a gust of foul wind with it.

A flicker of disdain flashed in the youth's eyes. Without drawing his saber, he simply shifted his feet slightly, easily evading the slap. Simultaneously, his right hand darted out like lightning, lightly brushing and pressing at the man's wrist.

"Ouch!" The man felt his entire forearm instantly go numb and weak, as if it no longer belonged to him. He cried out in pain and stumbled back several steps, knocking over a table, sending bowls and plates crashing to the floor.

Seeing this, the other men roared and charged forward together.

The young man laughed heartily, "Excellent!" His body weaved like a butterfly through flowers, moving freely between the attacks of the burly men. He struck here and there, using both fists and palms. With just a few crisp sounds accompanied by cries of pain, the fierce-looking men were all subdued in the blink of an eye. Some had their pressure points struck, others had their joints dislocated, and a few were simply knocked to the ground with a single punch, groaning and unable to get up.

The entire process was clean and efficient. The young man's breathing didn't even falter, showcasing martial arts skills that were quite remarkable, easily at the peak of the second-rate level. Dealing with these thugs who only knew crude techniques was like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken.

A round of cheers erupted from the tavern.

The young man tidied his hands, patted his clothes, and took a small silver ingot from his bosom. He tossed it to the trembling innkeeper, "I'll pay for what I broke." Then he took out a few more pieces of silver and stuffed them into the hands of the stunned old farmer, "Old man, you were startled. Take this to buy something to eat and calm your nerves."

After finishing all this, he acted as if he had completed a trivial matter. His gaze swept across the hall, finally landing on Chen Qing, who was sitting by the window, observing everything with an unusual demeanor.

His eyes lit up, and he strode over. Without ceremony, he sat down opposite Chen Qing, his face beaming with a warm and hearty smile. He casually picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of tea, and drank it down in one gulp.

"Hey, my friend, I can see you're no ordinary person. You've been so calm the entire time; you must be an expert! I'm Lan Tianye, from the Western Regions, Rōran. I'm new to the Central Plains and looking to make my way! I love making friends with heroes and heroes, and when I see injustice, I can't just stand by! May I ask your esteemed name? Shall we be friends?"

He spoke quickly, with a foreign accent, but his eyes were clear and bright, full of confidence and passion for the martial world. His demeanor was almost overwhelming, exuding a "I'm the greatest" kind of energy.

His directness and straightforwardness didn't seem fake, but they carried the exuberance and unpolished innocence of someone new to the martial world.

Chen Qing slowly opened his eyes and calmly looked at the overly familiar, fiery, and enthusiastic young man from afar. The opponent's martial arts style was swift and powerful, with a distinct Western Regions flair. His foundation was quite solid, and as he claimed, he was indeed a standout among second-rate experts, which was rare for someone his age.

"Chen Qing," he uttered two simple words.

"Chen Qing? What a great name!" Lan Tianye slapped his thigh, his smile widening. "We're fated to meet! I see you're heading south too, Brother Chen? Why don't we travel together? We can look out for each other, spar, and chat about the exciting things in the martial world! Let me tell you, the scenery in our Western Regions is..."

He chattered on incessantly, as if he had already decided Chen Qing was his friend.

Chen Qing neither agreed nor immediately refused. He simply listened quietly. The martial world was vast, and people's hearts could change. Chen Qing couldn't just start calling someone "brother" right off the bat.

"A Ning, let's go," Chen Qing said, finishing his last sip of tea and preparing to leave.

A Ning finished her last bite of food and hopped off her stool, following closely behind Chen Qing without delay.

"Hey, Brother Chen!" Lan Tianye looked at the unfinished food on his table and slapped his thigh. "Oh dear!" He then threw a silver ingot on the table and hurried after Chen Qing.

"Wait for me, Brother Chen!"