Great Opportunity and Leaving Home

In the blink of an eye, it was already noon.

Lin Yi and Wang Kai packed their things. After eating in Guangling Martial Academy's dining hall, they hurried without pause to the Dean's study and knocked on the door.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Dean, disciples Lin Yi and Wang Kai request an audience."

"Come in!"

As soon as Lin Yi finished speaking, the Dean's kindly voice sounded from within the study.

Hearing this, Lin Yi pushed open the door, then cupped his hands toward Zhao Hai Shan, who was reading an official document at his desk, and asked:

"Dean, did you need us for something?"

"Hehe, there are indeed a few matters—and they are very good matters!"

At the desk, Dean Zhao Hai Shan looked up and smiled at Lin Yi and Wang Kai.

"A very good matter?"

Both Lin Yi and Wang Kai felt their hearts stir.

The Dean was a powerhouse at the Fourth Grade Martial Dao, and it was said that even among Fourth-Rank Martial Artists, he was exceptionally, exceptionally strong.

His strength might not rank first in all of Guangling Prefecture City, but he was at the very least among the top three. If even he called it a great opportunity, just how great could it be?

"Here is the situation."

Seeing the curious looks on Lin Yi and Wang Kai's faces, Zhao Hai Shan did not beat around the bush. He immediately explained with a smile:

"Half a month ago, an elder brother from my clan, who had originally served as a Dharma Transmission Elder at the Tianshan Sect, was assigned by the sect to become Vice Principal of the Prefecture City Martial Academy in our Dongshan Prefecture because of his advanced age."

"Over the past half month, he and I have exchanged letters constantly. Besides keeping in touch, I strongly told him about the outstanding talent of you two little fellows, Lin Yi and Wang Kai, and asked him to lend a hand in training you."

"Finally, three days ago, he agreed to let me bring you to the Prefecture City Martial Academy for an assessment."

"If you pass this assessment, then for the next nearly year, he will let you remain at the Prefecture City Martial Academy and enjoy resources on the same level as Prefecture City Martial Academy disciples."

"If you fail, he will still give me face and wholeheartedly guide you for three days."

"Tell me, isn't this a tremendous opportunity?"

"What!"

"Guidance from a Dharma Transmission Elder of the Tianshan Sect!"

"Enjoying the treatment of Prefecture City Martial Academy disciples?"

"Th-this is a heaven-sent opportunity!"

Upon hearing this, wild joy appeared on Lin Yi and Wang Kai's faces.

A Dharma Transmission Elder of the Tianshan Sect—even the weakest among them was said to generally be an expert at Third-Rank Martial Arts, and they were extremely proficient at guiding and teaching disciples.

If they could receive his guidance, even if it was only for three days, it would be an enormous opportunity for martial artists like Lin Yi and Wang Kai, who had never received instruction from any formidable master.

As for the Prefecture City Martial Academy, it was the finest Martial Arts Academy in all of Dongshan Prefecture. The resources within it utterly crushed those of every other Commandery City Martial Arts Academy. It was even said that it contained treasures used to aid cultivation, bestowed in ancient times by the Martial Emperor upon his subordinates.

It could be said that if the Prefecture City Martial Academy was equivalent to Tsinghua and Peking Universities on Earth in his previous life, then a Commandery City Martial Arts Academy was at most an ordinary 211 university—perhaps not even that.

The gap between them was simply beyond imagining!

"Dean, when are we leaving?"

Thinking of this, Lin Yi and Wang Kai's eyes lit up. They stared fixedly at Dean Zhao Hai Shan.

"Three days!"

Zhao Hai Shan said with a hearty smile:

"My elder brother and I agreed that three days from now, I will bring you two little fellows to the Prefecture City Martial Academy for the assessment."

"Over these three days, you may first say farewell to your families and spend some quality time together."

"Because if you truly pass the assessment, then no one knows how many years it will be before you return again."

"After all, the Prefecture City is far away, and the road is filled with dangers. Without a Fifth Rank peak martial artist holding the fort, you might be killed by bandits and rogues on the road at any time. Once you go there, you will not be able to return easily."

"Besides, if you enter the Tianshan Sect next year, the sect will be even farther from Guangling Commandery. Without the strength of Fourth Rank, do not even think of traveling freely between the two places. Returning then will be even harder."

"Understood, Dean."

Hearing this, Lin Yi and Wang Kai's originally excited moods could not help turning somewhat heavy.

"We will spend these three days with our families and make all the necessary arrangements. If there is nothing else, we will head back first."

"Mm, go back! Cherish the days you have with your families!"

"Yes!"

As they spoke, the two cupped their hands toward Zhao Hai Shan, then respectfully took their leave.

Afterward, they bade each other farewell on the road as well, then returned home with hearts both excited and somewhat oppressed.

When his family learned that Lin Yi was going to the Prefecture City, his mother Ji Xuan firmly expressed her support, yet secretly wept without stop.

As for his father, Lin Haichuan, he hurried over from the County Town overnight without pause, all to see his son one last time.

Thus, over the following three days, Lin Yi used the several hundred taels of silver he had earned that month to take his mother and father around the Commandery City, eating and playing through all the things they had never eaten or experienced before.

Throughout it all, his parents felt pained over the money, yet they could not keep the happiness and pride off their faces.

However, whenever one was with family, time always seemed to pass much faster than usual.

Though it was clearly three days, Lin Yi felt as though they had passed in an instant.

Three days later, outside the east gate of Guangling Prefecture City.

"Dad, Mom! Your son is leaving!"

Lin Yi held his parents' hands and looked at their reluctant faces. Though he had long prepared himself, for some reason his heart still turned sour at that moment.

"Your son does not know how many years it will be before I can return from the Prefecture City. During these years, please take good care of yourselves at home. Spend what should be spent, use what should be used—do not be reluctant to do so."

"When your son enters the Tianshan Sect and becomes a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist, I will return to see you in glory!"

"Hahaha! Yi'er! Go without worry! Your mother and I are already this old—could we possibly fail to take care of ourselves?"

Hearing this, Lin Haichuan's tiger-like eyes reddened, and tears seemed to glimmer in them. Yet he grinned, revealing a mouthful of slightly yellowed teeth.

"A man must go out and make his way in the world! If you do not venture into the vast world outside, how can you ever become someone worthwhile by always cowering at home?"

"Dad believes you will succeed. I will wait at home in peace for the day you become a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist! Hahaha!"

"Yi'er, your mother does not ask for you to be rich and honored. I only ask that you take good care of yourself out there."

On the other side, his mother Ji Xuan held Lin Yi's hand as tears streamed directly from her eyes.

"You child, you have never traveled so far from home since you were little. Yet this time, you are going straight to the Prefecture City with the Dean and the others—and for such a long time too."

"Our family has no relatives over there. We will not even know if anything happens to you. You must write home often when the time comes, so that your mother will not worry, all right?"

"Don't worry, Mom. I will."

Lin Yi forced a faint smile onto his face.

"Once I arrive at the Prefecture City in a few days, I will immediately write home. After that, I will write a letter every month describing my situation in detail. Dad and Mom, you do not need to worry about me."

"Alright, it is about time. If I stay any longer, the Dean's side will probably start urging me. Your son is leaving now."

"Dad! Mom! Take care!"

After saying that, Lin Yi dropped to his knees with a thud and solemnly kowtowed three times to his parents. Then, suppressing the ache in his heart, he quickly walked away from the city gate.

He did not look back along the way, because he feared that the moment he saw his parents' reluctant faces, his heart would soften and he would be unable to bear leaving.

But studying at the Prefecture City was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity for him, a catalyst that could quickly turn him into a powerhouse.

He absolutely could not miss this opportunity!

With determination in his heart, Lin Yi arrived at Guangling Martial Academy's team, mounted a swift horse, and followed the group rapidly away from the Commandery City.

Only after they had galloped more than ten li in one breath did Lin Yi dare look back for the first time.

By then, the city in the distance, which usually appeared as majestic as a gigantic beast, had already turned into a tiny black dot.

Within that black dot, Lin Yi seemed able to see countless carriages, horses, and streams of people moving through its streets.

He seemed able to see countless familiar and unfamiliar street vendors calling out as they sold their wares.

He seemed even able to see the disciples of Guangling Martial Academy striving diligently in their cultivation.

And... his parents standing by the city gate, gazing toward him.

This was his hometown—Guangling Prefecture City of Dongshan Prefecture, the place where he had lived for two whole years, and the place he was about to leave.

But...

A man who sets his will beyond his homeland swears not to return until he has made his name.

Why must one's bones be buried in the soil of home? There are green mountains everywhere beneath the sky.

Today, he had no choice but to leave his hometown in order to grow stronger. Yet one day, he would return.

And he would return once more in an invincible posture. By then, he would never again let his parents worry over him.

Hyah!!!

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