I Am Free and Unfettered

"Tian'er, stay with me for the next few days. Your mental cultivation is about to break through, and there may be some kind of change when it does." That day, Lingyun called Ling Tian over and spoke with a grave expression.

"Oh? Father, what kind of change?" Ling Tian was puzzled. He had read Introduction to Cultivation, too, and it hadn't mentioned anything about such a change.

"I don't know if there'll be one. Hopefully not, but it's better to be prepared, isn't it? Besides, there are some things I want to tell you then." Seeing Ling Tian's confusion, Lingyun didn't want to add to his worries, so he put on a casual air.

"Mm, got it. I'm already tired of 'bullying' the little animals in the mountains, anyway. I was hoping for a change." Ling Tian smiled faintly.

After catching the Swift Shadow Rabbit, Ling Tian had spent another month catching other animals on Qingyou Peak. By now, there was hardly anything on the peak he couldn't catch. Without a challenge, he naturally lacked enthusiasm.

"Heh, you've got the same temperament as your mother." Lingyun smiled faintly.

"Then when do we start?" Ling Tian asked.

"Tomorrow. Get ready today, then come find me."

"All right, Father. I'll be off." Ling Tian bowed to his father, then went to prepare.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Ling Tian got up. He went to the courtyard where his father lived and saw both Lingyun and his wife there. After bowing, he asked with some anticipation, "Father, where are we going to cultivate?"

"To Qingming Peak. There's a somewhat unusual sea of mist there, perfect for your cultivation." Lingyun pondered for a moment, then smiled faintly, as though recalling what made the mist sea on Qingming Peak special.

"A sea of mist? Oh, then let's go, Father." Ling Tian was a little perplexed, but didn't ask any more.

As soon as Ling Tian finished speaking, Lingyun headed out, and Ling Tian could only follow. After a while, Ling Tian grew puzzled and couldn't help asking, "Father, why aren't we flying on a magic artifact?"

"You haven't seen the other peaks yet, so we'll walk. We'll go to Qingyun Peak first, then make our way over to Qingming Peak. We can take a look at your cultivation along the way, too. Those iron-chain bridges leading to the other peaks aren't easy to cross, you know. Heh." Lingyun spoke nonchalantly as he teased Humei, perched on his shoulder.

"Oh, I see. Then I'll go on ahead, Father. If I have any shortcomings, you'll have to point them out." Ling Tian finished speaking, then launched into a swift dash toward the iron-chain bridge. He moved like the wind and wasn't worried that his father couldn't keep up.

Lingyun only smiled faintly. Without any obvious movement, he caught up to Ling Tian in a few flickers. No matter how hard Ling Tian tried, he couldn't shake him. Lingyun said nothing, simply keeping pace with unhurried ease. He was clearly nowhere near his limits.

Before long, the two of them and a fox reached the iron-chain bridge. It had only three iron chains. Calling it a bridge was generous: there was nothing on the bare chains, just three parallel links stretching away until they vanished into the hazy sea of clouds. No one had crossed in years, and mist shrouded the area; the air was so damp it seemed water might drip from it. The chains were rusted and covered in moss. One careless step could send someone plunging down a sheer cliff, to be smashed to pieces.

Ling Tian didn't hesitate. He sprang onto one of the chains. Each was about as thick as a bowl, so there was enough room to step. With a light tap of his foot, Ling Tian leaped away like a swallow darting through the clouds. His movements were nimble and graceful, and soon he disappeared into the sea of clouds.

The chains stretched for who knew how many miles. After he had run some distance, even the light-footed Ling Tian made them begin to sway. He wasn't worried, though; he simply followed his instincts, not even needing to look at his feet. From how easily he moved, he had already achieved some skill in movement techniques.

About a quarter of an hour later, Ling Tian finally glimpsed the elegant towers and jade halls of Qingyun Peak through the vast sea of clouds. He sprang lightly forward and landed at the end of the bridge. Looking back, he saw his father already behind him, silent as a shadow. Ling Tian smiled ruefully. He wondered when he would ever be able to move as silently as his father.

Not far from the iron-chain bridge, several Qingyun Sect disciples were on duty. In truth, they were gathered together chatting. When they saw someone drift down from the bridge, they couldn't help being surprised. No one had crossed the iron chains between Qingyun Peak and Qingyou Peak for many years. Now two people had crossed at once—though they didn't count Humei, thinking she was the man's pet.

"This junior pays his respects to Senior Lingyun!" A tall, thin disciple with a sharp look brightened as though he had remembered something, then hurriedly bowed.

Lingyun ignored them and walked straight past. These snobbish fools had often called him trash behind his back in the past, and he had no desire to acknowledge them.

Once Lingyun and the others had gone some distance, a slightly chubby disciple said in surprise, "Could he be the 'trash' Peak Master of Qingyou Peak? But why were you so respectful to him? He hasn't even reached the Golden Core Realm."

"Shh, shut your mouth!" The disciple who had bowed to Lingyun hurriedly grabbed him and glanced furtively at the retreating figure. His expression was full of awe. Only after seeing that Lingyun hadn't turned around did he cautiously say, "If you want to die, don't drag me down with you! Don't you know Peak Master Lingyun is an eminent senior?"

"What do you mean?" Seeing how deferentially he treated Lingyun left the others baffled.

"Looks like you haven't heard. More than ten years ago..." The disciple drew them close and whispered in their ears, embellishing the story of how Lingyun had once struck the five sect masters of the Five Elements Domain from the sky with a single melody, leaving them drenched in blood.

"What? How—how could that be?" The chubby disciple who had just called Lingyun trash was instantly drenched in sweat, his voice trembling.

"I didn't believe it at first, either. But then a favored disciple of Peak Master Huang Se told a friend of mine, and my friend told me. There've been rumors about it on the other peaks, too. The peak masters have even warned their disciples never to offend Peak Master Lingyun of Qingyou Peak." The tall, thin disciple spoke quietly, clearly still shaken.

"Then I'm as good as dead, aren't I?" The chubby disciple went pale. He couldn't believe he'd survive after offending someone even the Sect Master of Qingyun Sect couldn't afford to offend.

"Just pray for the best!" the other disciples murmured. Their expressions, however, were somewhat gleeful; they clearly disliked the chubby disciple's "loose tongue." His mouth had gotten them all dragged into this mess.

"Ahem, well, it's hard to say. Eminent seniors have the pride of eminent seniors; why would they stoop to arguing with nobodies like us?" The tall, thin disciple cleared his throat, paused, then added, "Besides, so many people used to badmouth Peak Master Lingyun behind his back, and he never took it to heart."

"Ah, I hope Peak Master Lingyun will be magnanimous and forgive a lesser man. If I get away with this, I'll keep this foul mouth of mine in check from now on." The chubby disciple swore fervently as he slapped his own mouth several times.

"But I heard his adopted son, Ling Tian, has a congenital meridian blockage. Looks like the title of 'trash' will fall to him. Qingyou Peak just can't shake its reputation for producing trash." Once Lingyun and his son had vanished from sight, the tall, thin disciple grew smug again.

"What do you mean?" The others immediately grew curious again, soon forgetting their earlier fear. Even the chubby disciple couldn't help wondering.

"Apparently..." They huddled together and whispered.

Leaving the disciples to whisper among themselves, let's return to Lingyun and his son:

"Father, why didn't you..." Once they were some distance from the iron chains, Ling Tian looked at Lingyun with a troubled expression, worry in his eyes.

"It's nothing. Why care about the words of those snobbish fools? There are so many people like them. Are you going to kill them all?" Lingyun was utterly unconcerned, as though he hadn't been the one they'd just called trash.

"I know, but..." Ling Tian still looked angry. Anyone would be furious to hear people badmouth their father behind his back.

"There's no 'but.' Remember, you're destined to rise above the countless ordinary people. Don't let petty fools distract you. Besides, growing stronger is the best way to strike back at them." Lingyun spoke leisurely, his expression still unruffled, but his words carried deep meaning.

Ling Tian took a deep breath, steadied himself, and said after a moment, "Father, I've learned my lesson."

"Haha, that's my son! I am free and unfettered, pursuing the great freedom in my heart. Why should I fear the world's judgment?" Lingyun laughed loudly, suddenly exuding an air of disdain for all beneath the heavens.

"I am free and unfettered, pursuing the great freedom..." Ling Tian murmured, lost in thought.

"Heh, let's go." Lingyun smiled and set off first.

"Greetings, benefactor. May I ask what brings you here?" A figure in blue flashed over and bowed slightly before Lingyun. It was none other than Green Cloud Master.

"I'm just taking Tian'er around. You go about your business; there's no need to follow us." Lingyun spoke coolly, flicking his long sleeve with a hint of impatience.

"Then I'll take my leave. Please make yourself at home, benefactor." With that, Green Cloud Master vanished in a flash.

Ling Tian and his father continued on their way.

In a certain great hall, Green Cloud Master was beside himself with rage. His fists clenched, his face suffused with killing intent, he roared, "Hmph, one day I'll..."

His voice was low and venomous, nothing like Green Cloud Master's usual immortal bearing.

"Father..." Seeing how coldly his father had treated Green Cloud Master, Ling Tian looked puzzled and confused.

"Let's leave that matter aside for now. Focus on cultivating your mental cultivation first." Lingyun waved his sleeve, clearly unwilling to discuss Green Cloud Master.

Ling Tian nodded and said nothing, continuing to walk with his father.