Early the next morning.
Only then did Su Bei learn what an endless stream of visitors truly meant. Quite a few people who had gotten the news came knocking. This was normal enough; although Su Bei had already confirmed his enlistment in the military, there was no longer any chance of poaching him.
But this was precisely the time to add flowers to brocade. It would be good to forge a favorable connection.
Besides, joining the military meant a bright future, didn't it?
Thus, none of the visitors were particularly important figures. Most were more like errand runners, bringing gifts and expressing their goodwill.
This was something every martial artist went through. It seemed to have become an unspoken rule, especially among locals. It was a form of cohesion.
No matter what, people were social creatures, and martial artists had their own circles. Sending gifts meant that you were qualified to enter that circle.
It was a signal of goodwill.
Still, it left Father Su and Mother Su rather overwhelmed. The smiles on their faces had nearly frozen in place.
Today's Daily Mission had also refreshed.
Your strength has begun to show, and you have gained a small reputation among the outer disciples of the Seeking Immortals Sect. As the saying goes, one's bearing changes with one's surroundings, and one's body changes with one's upbringing. Looking at this thatched hut tucked away in a corner, you feel that it is time to move into a new cave residence.
Mission: Move House
Difficulty: ★
The mission reward will adapt according to the concentration of spiritual energy in the new environment.
Su Bei froze.
This mission was another free reward, but this spiritual energy...
As far as he knew, none of the cultivation instructors had ever proposed a hypothesis regarding an energy called "spiritual energy."
Instead, the prevailing theory was a more diverse kind of "source energy." For instance, the Solar Energy required by the Gene Method Su Bei cultivated was, in fact, solar source energy.
Another type was Cosmic Energy. This energy was actually fairly ordinary for humans. Its power was not gentle and could easily damage the meridians. Its conversion rate was not particularly strong, yet it could greatly accelerate the growth of mutant beasts.
"I wonder whether it's just called something different. Of course, it could also be that the world's rules are different."
Su Bei considered it for a moment before tossing the matter aside.
They had been planning to move anyway. Moving today or tomorrow made no difference, and at the very least, he could get a free Intelligence Enhancement Pill.
Why not?
Su Bei gathered his family and announced his decision. "Dad, Mom, let's move today!"
"So soon?" Mother Su hesitated.
They had lived here for so many years, and there really was a lot of stuff in the house. She had originally planned to sort through it properly first.
Besides, she had not yet shared the changes brought about by being a martial artist's mother with her sisters. She had been busy receiving visitors all morning.
"We have to move," Su Bei said. "Sky Lake is only so big. People can just ask around and find out where we live. It's too inconvenient."
Even if the records were encrypted, they could not encrypt everyone's memories. A little asking around would reveal everything.
Father Su nodded. He saw through Mother Su's hesitation at once. "Once we move into the new house, can't you invite all your sisters over when you have time?"
Mother Su's eyes lit up. Why hadn't I thought of that? "That's true!"
A hint of suspicion appeared on Mother Su's face. "You didn't plan this all along, did you?"
"Ahem..." Father Su looked embarrassed at being caught. "Do you think I'm as hopeless as you?"
Both of his parents had always loved showing off. Back when Su Bei was still in school, they would constantly bring him up around others.
As a result, over the years, few kids in the neighborhood his age had been willing to play with him. Even relatives and cousins back in their hometown knew about Su Bei.
Still, there were pros and cons. It saved Su Bei quite a bit of trouble. He did not have the time to play with children anyway.
"Bro, can we really live in that military family housing compound?!" Su He was much more normal. His excitement needed no act; it was practically overflowing.
"Of course." Su Bei said, "You should study hard too. Even after we transfer you to another class, you can't fall behind in your studies."
"Got it, bro."
Su He had no objection to the matter. He had a few friends, but he was only changing classes, not transferring schools.
Nor did he feel that his life was being arranged for him. Anyone who had lived in hardship knew that if someone suddenly stepped forward and said they would arrange everything for you, solve all your difficulties, and give you the best choices in everything... that person would practically be a second parent.
Anyone who talked about not wanting a life arranged by others was simply being pretentious!
Last night, Su He had spent the whole night listening through the crack in his bedroom door. He had heard all the changes in the family and had been so excited that he barely slept half the night—though his parents had been the same.
But good news lifted the spirit. Even after two straight days of poor sleep, the family remained glowing and more energetic than ever.
Now that they had made their decision, things became much simpler. They had no relatives in this city anyway.
After informing Liu Shan, they secured a house in the military family housing compound in advance. Then, with a phone call, two moving trucks arrived before long.
The men who got out were all strong fellows. In no time at all, they had moved nearly the entire house.
They could carry items weighing several hundred pounds by themselves. Their efficiency far surpassed that of Su Bei's previous life, and by the time they finished, none of them had even broken a sweat.
"Don't take this one either, or that one... They've been around for over ten years."
"They have everything over there. Wouldn't bringing all this stuff just take up space?"
His parents had always been hardworking and frugal, so they were reluctant to throw anything away. Su Bei had to speak up. "We're not giving up this place. Leave some signs of life behind. If we want to come back, we can still stay here for a night."
Only then did the two of them let it go.
"Sister Luo, are you moving?" a nearby neighbor came over and asked.
"Yes." Mother Su smiled. "It's all because of my son. He got good results in his martial assessment and insisted on changing houses. Sigh, I really can't bear to leave this little home. We've lived here so long that I'm already used to it."
"The child has grown up, and we can't argue with him. As parents, we can't break his heart, can we?"
The middle-aged neighbor woman forced a smile. "Congratulations, congratulations... I've watched Xiao Bei grow up. He's going to become a martial artist now, huh? Your family is really going to prosper."
"Where are you moving to?"
Mother Su said in a completely unconcerned tone, "The military family housing compound. It's free, too. I don't even know whether the environment is any good. I'm worried we won't be comfortable there."
The neighbor woman's expression stiffened further. "That's good... The family housing compound is good. Um, I've got food stewing on the stove. You carry on moving; I'll go back and check on it."
"Alright." Mother Su waved goodbye. "Auntie Zhang, once we're settled in, remember to come visit us!"
After turning around, Mother Su made a girlish fist-pumping gesture.
Father Su said helplessly, "You really are something..."
"She was always coming over and saying that our Xiao Bei would definitely amount to nothing after practicing martial arts, that if he failed, he could only become a laborer!" Mother Su looked as though she had finally vented a long-held grievance.
"Fine, say whatever you want, but she was always gossiping behind our backs. Isn't that just hurting others without benefiting herself?"
Su Bei remained silent.
Over the years, the family had indeed spent a great deal supporting Su Bei's martial arts training. They had lived frugally, and his parents had suffered plenty of grievances. It was perfectly normal for people to gossip behind their backs.
In an era where individual strength reigned supreme, martial arts training truly was the best path forward. But the cost was indeed too high. So many people who did not take this path would gossip about those of their own class who did, while secretly hoping they would all fail and waste their lives.
Yet if you lived too poorly, they would feel pity for you and might even offer help. But once you truly succeeded, they would curse you, sometimes even to the point of wishing disaster upon you.
That was human nature for some people.
Meanwhile, from the moment they decided to move, Su He had been calling classmates and friends nonstop. The conversations went like this:
"Hello? How did you know I'm moving into the military family housing compound?"
"I only just decided to move, and you already know I'm moving into the military family housing compound?"
"If you come to play with me later, remember to find me at the military family housing compound."
"..."
There was no telling what expressions the people on the other end wore.
Father Su, on the other hand, was very composed. He only took a few pictures from time to time. Even after getting into the car, he kept turning around to take more, his expression carrying an indescribable loneliness.
It was as though he wanted to preserve the old house forever through photographs.
Su Bei wanted to say something, but in the end, he kept quiet.
He only felt that his father was probably a sentimental man who treasured the past. They were leaving a place they had lived in for twenty years, so feeling uneasy was only natural.
They soon arrived at the military family housing compound.
Military personnel stood guard at the entrance. Liu Shan had already arrived, and they quickly completed the residence and access permits.
The vehicles drove directly inside. Though it was called a family housing compound, the place covered an enormous area. There were almost no high-rises; the tallest buildings were only five stories, and everything consisted of garden apartments and small villas.
The surroundings were beautiful, with excellent landscaping. Lush green trees stood everywhere, and water from Sky Lake had even been diverted inside, winding through the compound. Occasionally, they could see anglers sitting along the banks with fishing rods.
Logistics staff patrolled the roads from time to time, making the place look quite orderly.
Overall, it did not excessively pursue luxury. It focused more on the comfort of daily life.
"Many brothers in the military return from missions for leave," Liu Shan explained softly. "An environment like this helps ease their emotions."
Su Bei's family could not have been more satisfied.
The small villa Liu Shan had chosen for Su Bei stood a little over a hundred meters from the flowing water inside the compound, with its own yard outside.
Including the basement, it had three floors, along with a small attic.
A training room, reception hall, gym, home theater, garage... it had everything. Many features were designed with martial artists in mind, and all the furniture was already in place. They could move in with nothing but their bags.
"Son, come take a picture of me and your mother!"
Su He took pictures of the couple, then immediately raised his phone again and started making video calls with people.
There was no telling whether his friends could take it.
"Xiao Bei, your mother and I will go inside and take a look first!"
Seeing his father's mood completely transformed, Su Bei felt a bad premonition rise in his heart.
He took a deep breath and opened his old man's Moments feed.
First post of the day:
1. Sigh, moving house.
Moving.jpg
Second post:
2. We've already left. Goodbye, my home.
Front door.jpg
3. We've left the neighborhood. Suddenly, I'm a little reluctant to go.
4. We've arrived at the entrance of the new neighborhood. Thank you, friends, for your concern.
Military family housing compound entrance.jpg
5. Security here is very strict. We just finished getting our residence permits and access passes.
6. The environment is alright, I suppose. It's not that exaggerated.
7. A unified reply: we've arrived at the new house.
The attached picture was the one they had just taken.
Su Bei: ...
His old man had been livestreaming the entire move through his Moments feed, making a post at every stage and attaching a photo to each one.
So that was why he had been taking pictures all the way here!
Su Bei even saw that quite a few relatives and friends had already begun leaving question marks beneath the posts.
Su Bei said helplessly to Liu Shan, "Brother Liu, sorry you had to see that."
"That's normal. I was the same when I moved here." Liu Shan was not surprised in the slightest. "I live nearby, though I don't stay there often. If anything comes up over the next couple of days, just come find me."
"No one lives in this house, and someone comes to clean it regularly, so it should be quite clean. Just settle in without worries."
After that, the two discussed the arrangements for the days ahead, and Liu Shan left first.
Su Bei turned around and looked at the house, feeling something indescribable in his heart as well.
A home seemed to be a kind of security carved into the genes of Chinese people from his previous life. Even he was no exception.
That night.
Father Su and Mother Su went out and bought quite a lot of things. Their circumstances had improved, but their spending habits could not change overnight. Still, when it came to food, the couple tacitly chose the expensive and high-quality options.
When moving into a new home in Su Bei's hometown, there was a custom called "thanking the earth." The ritual was complicated and generally involved inviting monks to chant scriptures, expressing gratitude to the land and spirits in hopes of smooth days ahead. But people were not so particular about it now.
Cooking a good meal counted as "warming the stove." It was really just cooking a nice meal, but there was no need to abandon this custom.
Su Bei invited Liu Shan over as well. He was not from Sky Lake either and had no relatives nearby. After graduating from military academy, he had been assigned to the garrison, and though he was already in his thirties, he was still unmarried.
However, people here were more tolerant about such matters. Every breakthrough in a martial artist's rank represented another layer of genetic evolution. Generally speaking, their lifespans were much longer than ordinary people's.
As a Third-order Martial Artist, Liu Shan was not considered old in his thirties.
"Cheers!"
The family of four raised their glasses with Liu Shan in celebration. The atmosphere was lively.
After dinner: two people, a balcony, recliners, tea.
With the gentle evening breeze against his face, Su Bei said sincerely, "Brother Liu, thank you for taking care of me these past two days."
"You should thank yourself instead of me. If you don't have the ability, no one can help you." Liu Shan smiled.
He truly admired Su Bei and believed that Su Bei would certainly surpass him in the future. After all, that spear technique and fist technique had nearly shattered Liu Shan's confidence that afternoon.
It was basically shattered already. Whenever he had nothing to do these past two days, he kept pondering his saber technique, hoping to take it a step further. Soldiers were competitive by nature. A Third-order Martial Artist in his thirties had once been a small genius himself. How could he give up so easily?
If Su Bei had been incapable, Liu Shan would never have cared this much. At most, he would have gone through the motions. He certainly would not have had any intention of befriending him.
"Once your mission ends, you'll have to return to the army," Liu Shan said. "Although your situation is special, you won't miss the military training you're supposed to receive."
"You need to adapt to your identity as soon as possible. Even if you go to university later, you can't relax because of it."
Su Bei nodded to show that he understood.
Joining the military was not child's play. In fact, if not for the Shattered Battlefield mission, after these few days, he should have already gone to the military camp for training.
He might even have been able to go out on missions.
"Do your best. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Liu Shan spoke meaningfully. "Maybe by the time you come back, we'll be the same rank."
Su Bei waved a hand. How could he possibly believe that?
Liu Shan asked curiously, "By the way, haven't you chosen a martial skill yet?"
Su Bei said, "I'm planning to choose a fist technique to strengthen my close-combat ability."
"That makes sense. With your talent in fist techniques, you'll probably reach the Greater Achievement Realm very soon. By then, the power of your fists might not be any weaker than your spear technique!" Liu Shan said enviously.
He was truly envious of Su Bei's talent in fist techniques.
"Not necessarily."
Su Bei smiled bitterly. "I only broke through to perfection in my fist technique because of some fortunate coincidences."
"If we're talking about talent, I'm more gifted with the spear."
Su Bei wasn't being modest. He wasn't lying.
After his boxing technique reached perfection, he had continued practicing diligently, yet he still made no progress at all. He could not grasp even the slightest hint of the realm beyond.
Like a headless fly trapped in the gap between two panes of glass.
"Really?"
Seeing that Su Bei did not seem to be faking it, Liu Shan inexplicably felt relieved.
"That's fine too. At the very least, it can give you a few more tricks."
After the meal.
The panel finally confirmed it.
3.33 Task: Moving (Completed) The Eternal Great Emperor truly lived up to his name. Your eye was astonishingly sharp. The energy here is... Error. The energy is abundant, but it is not spiritual energy. Reward: Intermediate Treasure Chest ×1
"So I couldn't exploit a bug after all." Su Bei shook his head regretfully and opened the Intermediate Treasure Chest.
Intermediate Enlightenment Pill ×1
Intermediate Enlightenment Pill: Refined by the Heavenly Mechanism Sect during the recent ancient era. When taken for a short period, it can enlighten the mind and enhance comprehension. It is mostly used to increase the effectiveness of divination.
"This should be an upgraded version of the Intelligence Enhancement Pill?"
Su Bei took a look. It was still medicine from a major sect of the recent ancient era, but judging from the description, it should have received a boost.
As for how much stronger it was, he would have to test it later.
Su Bei put the matter aside and opened the link sent by the association staff, preparing to choose a martial technique and a Gene Method.
Various trivial matters such as moving had piled up throughout the day, and he had never found the time. He would treat today as a day of rest.
Tomorrow, he would be busy again.
Abruptly.
As Su Bei was thinking.
The panel changed again, and words began to emerge.
1.6 Side Mission (Long-Term Mission) After moving, you discovered that the energy around you was unusual. It was completely different from spiritual energy. Though it lacked spiritual energy's gentle warmth and was not as easy to absorb, its attributes were ever-changing, like a hundred flowers blooming at once. At the same time, it contained an aura like that of the vast cosmos, captivating the mind. Mission: Mystery of Energy Difficulty: Six Stars Reward: Emperor Sun Aura ×1
Su Bei froze.
Another six-star mission?
Thanks to reader Huo Dao Meng Li for the donation. Today's chapter is still a large one. While I'm at it, do you prefer longer chapters, or would it be better to split them into two?
Before you continue