Challenge Letter

Challenge Letter

This was a village neither too large nor too small, home to over a hundred households. The villagers relied on the nearby Blackwater River, living a life of rising with the sun and resting at sunset.

Ye Yun walked into the village entrance. Looking at the uneven houses scattered throughout the village, he felt a deep sense of familiarity.

It was already evening. Wisps of cooking smoke rose from the roofs of every household. Ye Yun headed toward the eastern end of the village, toward his home.

Along the way, he met villagers returning from work in the fields. They all greeted Ye Yun warmly, and he returned each greeting in turn.

"Xiaoyun, you're back."

"You came back to see your grandpa, Xiaoyun?"

Before long, he arrived at the eastern end of the village and saw the small courtyard in the distance. A century-old tree stood in the yard, beneath it a stone table. An old man reclined in a lounge chair beside it, enjoying the cool air. He still held a palm-leaf fan in his hand, swaying it back and forth.

At the sight, Ye Yun's heartbeat quickened slightly. He softly called out.

"Grandpa."

Hearing his voice, the old man looked over. When he saw Ye Yun standing outside the gate, he excitedly rose to his feet and walked toward him. "Xiaoyun, why have you come back? Have you been well lately?"

"Grandpa, I just returned from training in the Blackwater Mountains. I came back to see you while I was passing by." Ye Yun stepped forward to support the old man.

"Ah, were you hurt? Why did you go out training so soon? You should have waited until your cultivation was higher before going." Upon hearing Ye Yun's words, the old man complained reproachfully.

Ye Yun smiled. "Grandpa, I'm already at High-Stage Body Tempering. This time in the Blackwater Mountains, I obtained an Essence Fruit, and my cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds. Before long, I'll be able to break through to the Qi Refining Realm."

"Really? Good, good, good! Our Xiaoyun has truly made something of himself." The old man cried out in delight.

Ye Yun helped the old man back to the lounge chair and asked with concern, "Grandpa, how have you been lately? Is your health still good?"

"Grandpa is fine. I can eat and sleep, and when there's nothing to do, I can even go fishing. Don't mention how leisurely it is." The old man was overjoyed to see Ye Yun back, and even his spirits seemed to brighten considerably.

Then the old man looked at Ye Yun and said, "Xiaoyun, you haven't eaten yet, have you? How about Grandpa makes you a bowl of your favorite noodles?"

"No need, Grandpa. I ate some dry rations on the way back. I'm not hungry now." Ye Yun shook his head.

"Dry rations? How could that do? Wait here. Grandpa will make you noodles." With that, the old man got up and headed inside.

Ye Yun could not outargue the old man, so he could only stand quietly in the courtyard, watching the old man bustle about inside.

At that moment, his heart was filled with happiness. Even the exhaustion from a full day of travel seemed to fade somewhat.

"The noodles are here! Child, hurry and eat while they're hot."

Before long, the old man carried out a steaming bowl of noodles, placed it before Ye Yun, and urged him to eat quickly.

Looking at the steaming bowl of noodles before him, Ye Yun was deeply moved. He picked it up and began eating in great mouthfuls. Even if someone offered him an Essence Fruit in exchange for this bowl of noodles, he would not trade it.

After finishing the noodles, Ye Yun sat in the courtyard with the old man, chatting about family matters for nearly half an hour.

Before leaving, the old man cautioned Ye Yun, "Child, you've grown up now. There are many things Grandpa no longer needs to remind you about, but Grandpa still has to say one more thing. Outside, people's hearts are treacherous. Never trust anyone too easily, and be careful in all things."

"Grandpa, I understand. I'll keep your words in my heart. Take good care of yourself. I'll come back to see you next time." Looking into the old man's worried eyes, Ye Yun spoke reluctantly.

After saying that, Ye Yun did not look at the old man again. He turned and headed toward the village entrance.

Once outside the village, Ye Yun quickened his pace. His figure moved like a ghost, and within a few breaths, he had appeared several hundred meters away.

In less than twenty minutes, Ye Yun arrived before the mountain gate of the Purple Extreme Sect.

Upon arriving, Ye Yun slowed down, greeted the senior brother guarding the mountain gate, and entered. He then headed straight for Sunrise Peak.

The moment he returned to the courtyard, he saw Wang Chen practicing his fists. As his figure flashed about, his fist wind whistled loudly. From afar, he looked like a wild bull charging recklessly through everything in its path.

The martial art Wang Chen cultivated was called the Wild Bull Fist. From the look of it, he was close to reaching the realm of mastery. It had been about a year and a half since he had started, which was already quite good. Moreover, his compatibility with the Wild Bull Fist was probably around sixty percent.

Ye Yun did not interrupt him. He stood quietly at the entrance and watched Wang Chen practice. A few minutes later, Wang Chen completed the entire set of fist techniques from beginning to end.

"Congratulations. It won't be long before your fist technique reaches mastery, will it?" Ye Yun congratulated him once he had finished.

Hearing the voice, Wang Chen turned his head and saw Ye Yun standing at the entrance. Surprised, he said, "Ye Yun, you're back from training?"

"Yes. I've been gone for nearly two months, so it was time to return. How has the sect been lately? Has anything happened?" Ye Yun replied.

"Nothing much. But a lot of people have been wondering why Iron Mountain hasn't come looking for trouble with you."

Wang Chen told Ye Yun everything that had happened in the sect during this period, holding nothing back.

"Who cares? Soldiers come, generals block; water comes, earth dams. Keep cultivating. I've traveled all day and I'm a little tired, so I'll rest first." Ye Yun spoke indifferently after hearing him out.

Then he turned and walked into the room. When he opened the door, he found that after two months without anyone living there, everything inside was covered in a layer of dust.

Left with no choice, Ye Yun cleaned the room first. Half an hour later, it looked completely renewed. It was much more comfortable to look at. After washing up, Ye Yun lay on the bed and gradually fell asleep.

After returning to the sect, Ye Yun resumed his days of bitter cultivation, striving to break through to the Qi Refining Realm as soon as possible.

More than half a month passed in the blink of an eye. That day, Ye Yun went to the dining hall as usual to eat.

Just as he sat down, he heard the disciples around him pointing at him and discussing something. Ye Yun found it a little strange. Could there be something on his face?

After listening carefully for a while, Ye Yun finally understood the reason. Iron Mountain, who had never come looking for trouble with Ye Yun, had returned from training outside. It seemed he had encountered some opportunity and had already broken through to the Qi Refining Realm. The moment he returned today, he had applied for the inner sect disciple assessment.

The surrounding disciples were discussing how Iron Mountain would deal with Ye Yun. Once Ye Yun understood, he stopped paying attention and continued eating.

Before he had even taken a few bites, speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrived. Iron Mountain sat down across from Ye Yun, with Ironwood following behind him. Before Iron Mountain could speak, Ironwood impatiently opened his mouth. "Brat, my brother went out a few months ago. That let you enjoy a few extra carefree days, but now your good days are over. I'll give you a chance. As long as you kneel and apologize to me right now, then break one of your own arms, I'll have my brother spare your life."

Hearing Ironwood's arrogant words, Ye Yun frowned. He ignored Ironwood and instead looked at Iron Mountain. "Is this also what Senior Brother Iron Mountain means?"

"My brother's meaning is my meaning. Of course, if Junior Brother Ye is unwilling, I won't force you." Iron Mountain said calmly.

"Is that so? Then I'm unwilling," Ye Yun said.

"Since that is the case, then don't blame this senior brother for bullying the weak with strength. Three days from now, I'll wait for Junior Brother Ye on the Life-and-Death Platform." With that, Iron Mountain left with Ironwood.

End of Chapter