Ten Years in the Blink of an Eye

Hoo... hah...

Inside the increasingly dilapidated Dilapidated Temple, the soft sound of a breeze drifted through from time to time.

If one were to sense it carefully, they could feel waves of warmth emanating from the chilly, early-winter wind.

"After the New Year, I will be eighteen in this life."

At this moment.

Beneath a half-collapsed idol.

Chen Guan stood up, his body clad in the Hundred Beast Garment, reaching over two meters in height.

Although his face was somewhat round, his features were bold and open.

Tap, tap.

He walked out of the Dilapidated Temple.

The bright sunlight shone down.

Chen Guan's hair was now far thicker than an ordinary person's, and his ears were positioned higher than normal.

Combined with his facial features and the Hundred Beast Garment, his overall appearance gave off a sense of rugged, primal savagery.

"I've waited ten years, practiced for ten years, yet I haven't found my younger sister, nor can I find any trace of her in the surrounding mountains..."

Seeing no news, Chen Guan prepared to leave today.

He wanted to see if he could resolve the grudges from his previous lives, such as the one with the Bandit Brother.

Because there were only "three years" left until his cheap grandson came seeking revenge.

He had to find the Bandit Brother quickly and settle this karma, lest his grandson's Dao heart be damaged if he couldn't find his target later.

Furthermore, after finding the Bandit Brother, he could try to wait for his grandson.

He wanted to perfectly resolve one of the karmic threads mentioned in the epilogue.

He wanted to see if, aside from the effect of "reducing the reincarnation interval," there would be any other changes or additional rewards.

Chen Guan held expectations for this.

Moreover, now that he possessed the power to protect himself, he could return to the town to search for other secret manuals.

He had already mastered the blade technique manual from Constable Yan.

After ten years of diligent practice.

The proficiency of his Basic Blade Technique had risen to [451/1000].

Bear-Type Strength [751/1000].

Currently, his raw strength, excluding the spiritual energy from ten years of cultivation, was around 1,900 jin.

Of that, Bear-Type Strength provided about 1,750 jin.

But when accounting for the augmentation of his ten years of spiritual energy.

1,900 jin could be amplified to about 4,000 jin!

With his current spiritual energy, it was roughly a two-fold strength amplification.

His powerful physique was currently just enough to bear the "2x augmentation" of his spiritual energy.

As for Refining Essence into Qi, it was a matter of slowly condensing spiritual energy, filling the lower dantian in an orderly fashion before reaching the second minor realm to open the middle dantian.

In the early stages, only "Qi sensation" and "initial entry into Refining Essence into Qi" required insight and state of mind.

The rest, such as opening the dantian, was a natural progression of slow, steady practice.

However, according to the martial artist classifications in the manuals.

In terms of his 4,000 jin of strength alone, he already belonged to the ranks of experts at the Post-Heaven Minor Accomplishment stage, comparable to an expert with a full lower dantian.

In a small place like Little Liuzi Town, there were basically fewer than five such people.

But in reality, his lower dantian was only thirty percent full.

The rest relied entirely on the augmentation of his "Bear-Type physique" to forcibly raise his baseline.

Chen Guan pondered for a moment, then looked toward the southeast, preparing to practice while on the move.

"It's been ten years since I've been home; I wonder how my wet nurse, Auntie Hua, is doing...

After the New Year, she should be forty..."

Today, the thought of returning suddenly stirred within him.

As Chen Guan left the vicinity of the Dilapidated Temple and headed southeast, he felt a touch of the trepidation one feels when nearing home.

Although his growth process was a bit hard to describe, it was, after all, his home in this world.

There was still some affection there.

Ten years had passed in such a rush.

How are they doing now?

As Chen Guan pondered, a sentiment known as "sorrow of parting" suddenly welled up within him.

"It cannot be severed, it remains tangled; it is the sorrow of parting, a unique flavor lingering in the heart..."

Chen Guan suddenly recalled these lines, never expecting that after so many lifetimes, he would still remember a poem he had once memorized.

Nine years of schooling had left an indelible mark on his soul.

Two hours later.

Chen Guan was striding through the forest.

To the southeast.

Little Liuzi Town.

Inside the Zhao family estate, where the plaque above the gate looked somewhat weathered.

In the backyard.

A woman with a slightly hunched back was carrying two baskets of vegetables toward the kitchen.

She was none other than Chen Guan's former wet nurse, Auntie Hua.

She was no longer the young woman she once was.

The long years of exhausting work as a wet nurse had left her aged and frail.

With deep wrinkles on her face and a stooped posture, she looked to be in her fifties.

At the same time.

As Auntie Hua delivered the vegetables to the kitchen, Patriarch Zhao, his temples already slightly gray, happened to emerge and spotted the woman.

"Sister Hua."

A smile appeared on Patriarch Zhao's face when he saw her.

Patriarch Zhao no longer carried the stern authority he once held in the estate; instead, he had gained a sense of kindness and composure.

"You can let the servants handle the shopping and delivery."

"Yes... Master..."

When Auntie Hua smiled, the dimple on her left cheek was obscured by her aged, wrinkled skin.

She no longer had milk, nor the energy to care for the Master's grandchildren.

Fortunately, Patriarch Zhao and the young masters still remembered her past service, allowing Auntie Hua to stay in the Zhao estate and help out with small tasks.

In reality, this was little different from retirement.

But Auntie Hua believed she could still work and did not want to be a burden, so she continued to do what she could.

Beyond that.

No one in the estate mentioned the "Fifth Young Master" anymore.

Or rather, nine and a half years ago, after Patriarch Zhao had spent a fortune and failed to find him, he had given up.

There was no point in pouring more wealth and manpower into a lost cause.

Furthermore, ten years had nearly passed without his return.

Everyone in the Zhao household assumed the Fifth Young Master had either been kidnapped or had died elsewhere.

Nowadays, only Auntie Hua and Patriarch Zhao still thought of him.

Auntie Hua felt pity for the Fifth Young Master; her heart ached for him.

Patriarch Zhao felt annoyed by the lack of return on his investment, mixed with a sliver of the guilt and helplessness a father should feel.

"That brat..."

Also on this morning.

Patriarch Zhao, having left the kitchen, passed by the small courtyard where Chen Guan used to live.

Although he did not linger for a few moments as he had years ago, he could not help but think of his fifth son, who had such an odd appearance.

"Father..."

"Grandfather!"

Just then, Second Young Master approached with his son to discuss the boy's schooling with Patriarch Zhao.

As Second Young Master and his son passed by the small courtyard, their hearts remained unmoved.

But Second Young Master, being a shrewd man, feigned a sigh and said:

"Are you thinking of Fifth Brother again?"

"I have already spoken with Mr. Li; you will go to the academy tomorrow." Patriarch Zhao did not pick up on the topic, leaving as soon as he finished speaking about the private school.

"Father..." Seeing that his grandfather was clearly unhappy, the Second Young Master's son asked his father with curiosity, "What is wrong with Grandfather?"

"Oh." The Second Young Master gestured vaguely toward the house, "This is the residence of your Fifth Uncle, and your grandfather is fretting over him again."

Indeed, the most disobedient and troublesome child in the family is the one who stays on everyone's mind.

At least, that is how it is with your grandfather.

"Fifth Uncle?" The child did not understand these things, but asked curiously, "Who is Fifth Uncle?"

"He is..." The Second Young Master intended to explain, but his impression of Chen Guan had already blurred, leaving him with only one sentence:

"A strange man who never comes out of his room.

Your father has even forgotten what your Fifth Uncle looks like, only remembering that his ears were a bit large..."

"Congratulations to my seventh nephew for starting school tomorrow!"

"Come, cheers!"

"Seventh nephew, you must study hard under the teacher..."

Night fell.

The Zhao family was filled with laughter and joy as the family gathered for dinner, everything as usual.

But at the main table, an inconspicuous empty seat was left.

It was between the Fourth Young Master and the Sixth Young Master.

Because according to age, one comes of age at sixteen in this dynasty.

Chen Guan was already an adult and was entitled to sit at the main table.

The Zhao family placed importance on superficial etiquette and upbringing, as well as their bloodline.

Therefore, regardless of whether Chen Guan was dead or alive, and no matter how few people in the family still cared about him, as a member of the Zhao family, a seat had to be reserved for him.

This would continue until Patriarch Zhao stepped down or the other young masters started their own families.

Then, that custom would no longer apply.

However, as long as Patriarch Zhao was present, rules were rules.

While the Zhao family was gathered in celebration, several men of varying ages were passing by the perimeter of the Zhao Mansion.

They appeared to be ordinary pedestrians, but their eyes frequently scanned the Zhao estate.

For the past half-month, they had circled the perimeter of the Zhao family at different times of the day.

From time to time, they would act like eavesdroppers, holding a simple listening device against the walls.

Or, in the dead of night, they would cautiously climb into the courtyard, hoping to overhear matters from within the mansion.

After finishing their rounds and listening for the day, they returned to a cluster of civilian houses in the north of the town and released a pigeon, which flew toward the outskirts.

As the night grew darker, in a forest outside the town, a dozen bandits were sharpening their blades, looking toward the front.

"Coo-coo~"

Accompanied by the sound of the pigeon, the bird that had flown from the town landed on the hand of a sturdy-looking bandit.

"The brothers in town have sent word again."

The pigeon flew in every day, delivering news about the Zhao family from within the town.

As the bandit opened the letter, he read the gist of the message.

"It is consistent with the news from the previous days.

In another month, by the middle of next month, the Zhao family will be sending out a shipment of goods and will be bringing back a large payment."

The bandit recounted the information in the letter, and after finishing, he looked at the men to his left.

"In these next few days, you go to that county and scout the location."

After giving his orders to those men, the bandit looked at the others, "The rest of you come with me; during this time, we will scout the route and find a good place to strike."

"Understood, Big Brother!"

"Don't worry!"

The group responded with excited smiles, as if they could already see the gleaming silver of the Zhao family.

But the next second.

Thud!

The sound of a head colliding with stone suddenly rang out.

Before the crowd could even react, they saw blood and brain matter explode; half of a brother's head was gone.

"Ho..."

"You..."

They were stunned in that moment.

But in a flash, a burly man squeezed out from the woods ahead!

He wore the Hundred Beast Garment and possessed an incredibly bizarre appearance; illuminated by the campfire, he looked like a demon from the forest.

Furthermore, he was dragging one of their companions in his hand.

This was because Chen Guan had encountered this robbing bandit on his way back, and subsequently learned that there was a gang of bandits nearby.

Their target was his family's delivery caravan.

So, he might as well take care of them while he was at it.

"It's a monster!"

"Run!"

"Kill him!"

The moment they saw Chen Guan's appearance, they mistook him for a demon, and most prepared to turn tail and run.

Only a small portion thought he might be a savage, or perhaps a rival coming to loot.

But before they could consider this, and before they could even take a step to flee.

As Chen Guan emerged, he brought with him a rock the size of half a head.

Thud!

Another sound, and a bandit's chest caved in, killing him instantly.

The next moment.

Following the thrown rock, Chen Guan moved with immense force in his fists and feet, swinging the corpse in his hand like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, striking with fists, feet, or bludgeoning blows.

With wide, sweeping movements, in just a few seconds, accompanied by the sound of shattering bones, several more men had their tendons snapped and bones broken.

The corpse in his hand was also smashed to pieces.

Swish—

Once he no longer had a weapon in hand.

He easily snapped another man's neck with a single punch.

Chen Guan followed through with a downward chop, dodging the sharp saber in the man's hand, then took several steps to cut down three people fleeing in front of him.

Chen Guan killed those running first; they had no heart to fight back, making the kills clean and swift.

"Not a monster! It's a martial arts expert!"

"Surround and kill him!"

At this point, the bandits finally reacted, realizing that Chen Guan was human.

But after the initial terror and the cowardly inability to fight back, only six of them remained.

Yet, they were all considered skilled in the martial world, and since they made their living by killing, their martial arts were naturally not poor, and they had many tricks up their sleeves.

At this moment, as the bandits stood in a standoff with Chen Guan.

One bandit circled to a distance behind Chen Guan, preparing to sprint forward and launch a sneak attack.

Crack—

As Chen Guan killed another bandit, he heard the footsteps and suddenly turned around, his empty hand forming a strange seal with his fingers.

In an instant, the seal stirred the spiritual energy in his body and the surrounding air.

The crowd watched as Chen Guan pointed strangely at the attacker, and the man's body suddenly erupted into violent flames!

"This..."

"He, he, he..."

Seeing this, the bandit leader and the others stopped their advance.

For a time, the area fell into silence.

Except for the screams of the man burning.

After a few seconds of shock, the bandit leader and the others tremblingly dropped their sabers and knelt straight down on the ground.

"Spare us, Grandmaster Cultivator!"

"Senior! Senior! Please let me go..."

"Divine Grandfather above..."

The group knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.

However, when the bandit among them saw this cultivator approaching with a blade in hand, seemingly unwilling to let them go, he realized he would not survive. Summoning his courage, he questioned:

"Senior! We... we admit... we admit we have not provoked you...

For you... to bully juniors in such a way... is this... is this the behavior of an expert?"

The bandit was now merely resorting to rhetoric, hoping this cultivator grandfather might value his own status and let them go.

Chen Guan looked at their tear-streaked faces, glanced at the message delivered by the carrier pigeon, and finally cast his gaze toward the southeast.

"Come with me. Drag the people of your town out as well.

Because the Zhao Family and I.

Have quite a history."