Chapter 173: Chapter 168: Dire Tidings (Part 1)
Xingyun Sect, Wuxiang Institute.
Zhao Lin sat under the eaves, holding a letter a servant had delivered early that morning.
The letter was from Ying Province, penned by his master, Zhu Huaishan.
In the letter, Zhu Huaishan said he was in good health and told Zhao Lin not to worry or spend money on medicinal herbs for him.
Upon learning that Zhao Lin had reached the Second Layer of the Qi Realm and had even taken first place in the Autumn Harvest, Zhu Huaishan was extremely pleased and praised him profusely.
After rambling on about some trivial matters, he finally mentioned that he was in the process of transferring the affairs of the Liuhe Sect, as well as its related Cultivation Techniques, to Senior Brother Gao Yuan. If all went well, he could return to Yan Province as early as next year, which he considered a form of returning to his roots...
Zhao Lin read the letter twice over before getting up, going back to his room to store it safely in a cabinet, and then walking over to the bronze mirror in the living room to straighten his clothes.
He had promised Xiang Bao that he would visit his home after returning from the "Creation Cultivation." Now that he had been back for two days, it was time to fulfill that promise.
The disciples of the Wuxiang Institute mostly maintained a gentlemanly rapport. They trained together but rarely associated with one another in private.
Xiang Bao’s invitation for Zhao Lin to visit his home was a clear sign that he wished to deepen their friendship.
Once he had straightened himself up, Zhao Lin left his quarters and went to the training grounds in the center of the Wuxiang Institute.
"Why are you wearing so little?"
Xiang Bao said, sizing Zhao Lin up.
The weather had not yet warmed up. Although martial artists were not afraid of the severe cold, most still preferred to dress in layers to avoid having to endure it with their bodies alone.
"This time of year, the weather’s all over the place. I don’t mind the cold."
Zhao Lin replied with a smile.
In truth, he was wearing loose-fitting clothes to leave space in front and behind him. If he ran into an emergency, he would need to rely on jetting vital energy from his acupoints to escape.
If he were bundled up in thick, padded cotton clothes, those acupoints would be blocked.
"You guys from the Water Mirror Department went to Huilong Bay. How was it?"
On the way down the mountain, Xiang Bao asked Zhao Lin for his thoughts on the recent "Creation Cultivation."
Zhao Lin shook his head slightly. "It was majestic and deeply moving, but I still can’t channel my vital energy into the Ren and Du meridians."
"That just means the time isn’t right. No need to rush."
Xiang Bao said half-jokingly, "You’re already this formidable at the Second Layer of the Qi Realm. What’ll happen when you reach the Third Layer? I almost hope you slow down."
Zhao Lin knew he couldn’t rush it either, so he changed the subject. "I heard you guys from the Fire Jade Department went to Beiqiong Lake to find an Earth Fire Dragon. How did that go?"
Beiqiong Lake was west of the Yanxing Mountain range. It had thirteen volcanic craters, and eruptions had blocked a river, forming a barrier lake.
The volcanoes in the area were quite active, erupting every few years.
Xiang Bao also shook his head. "The Earth Fire Dragon didn’t show, but on the way back, we saw a patch of ’earth-fire’."
"’Earth-fire’?"
"It’s a deep pit, with a huge fire that’s always burning..."
After listening for a while, Zhao Lin gradually understood.
What Xiang Bao and the others had seen was likely a natural gas deposit that had been ignited by a wildfire or a lightning strike, creating a massive blaze.
’Natural gas...’
Zhao Lin furrowed his brow and pondered for a long time but couldn’t think of any use for such a thing in the world of martial arts. In the end, he gave a self-deprecating smile.
’Forget it. Just focusing on my training is better than anything else.’
In this world, even if you could build a pistol, you’d still be dead if you went up against a Primordial Realm martial artist.
The two chatted as they walked, and when they reached the foot of the mountain, a horse-drawn carriage was already waiting for them.
"Young Master."
The driver waiting in front of the carriage said with the utmost respect.
"Let’s go!"
Xiang Bao boarded the carriage, gestured for Zhao Lin to join him, and urged the driver on.
Zhao Lin had assumed the Xiang Mansion was in Yongning City, probably in the bustling inner city, but he realized the carriage was heading in the opposite direction.
Upon asking, he learned that the Xiang Mansion was located right at the foot of Xingyun Mountain.
The carriage traveled for over an hour before stopping in front of a sprawling estate with gray roof tiles and white walls on the southern foot of Xingyun Mountain.
Xiang Bao led Zhao Lin through several courtyards and covered walkways, winding their way to the main hall to meet his father, Xiang Qingtang.
Xiang Qingtang was a man of about forty or fifty, with a short mustache and a slightly plump build. He was sitting in a chair, sipping tea.
"Father."
Xiang Bao bowed respectfully and stepped aside to introduce him. "This is my good friend from the Wuxiang Institute, Zhao Lin."
Zhao Lin followed with a clasped-fist salute. "Greetings, Uncle Xiang."
Xiang Qingtang smiled warmly. "Xiang Bao often speaks of you. You are indeed a man of remarkable talent!"
"You praise me too much, Uncle Xiang."
Zhao Lin replied humbly, though he was somewhat surprised.
’I thought Xiang Bao’s father would surely be a Primordial Realm martial artist. But sensing his Qi and Blood now, while it is abundant and powerful, it lacks the detached, ethereal quality of the elders. He’s most likely only at the Blood Realm.’
’But on second thought, it seems quite reasonable.’
’The path of martial arts is fraught with hardship. Every major and minor realm is a threshold that stops countless people. Very few ever manage to cultivate to the Primordial Realm.’
At the Wuxiang Institute, Zhao Lin saw the five elders so often that he’d grown accustomed to it, thinking Primordial Realm martial artists were not that uncommon. In reality, this was a form of survivorship bias.
Xiang Qingtang chuckled. "Since this is our first meeting, as an elder, I must naturally present you with a gift."
"Our mansion has some medicinal pills suitable for Qi Realm martial artists, but you were the top performer in the Autumn Harvest. You’ve even used Marrow-Cleansing Soup and Five-Six Pills. My pills would be an embarrassment to offer..."
Zhao Lin quickly said, "You’re too kind, Uncle Xiang. I came empty-handed myself. How could I possibly accept a gift from you?"
Xiang Qingtang waved his hand and continued, "I heard your family lives in the city, so I took the liberty of having someone make some inquiries. I learned that your parents are getting on in years and are not in good health, and that your sister-in-law is also with child. So, I’ve prepared some common medicinal herbs. I hope you won’t find them lacking."
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a servant walked over, holding a box.
Zhao Lin turned to look at Xiang Bao, who nodded slightly and gave him a look.
"Thank you, Uncle Xiang." Zhao Lin accepted the medicine box.
After a few more pleasantries, Xiang Qingtang picked up his teacup.
Taking the hint, Xiang Bao and Zhao Lin excused themselves and went to a nearby pavilion to talk.
"Aren’t you going to open it and see?" Xiang Bao said boisterously. His demeanor was much more free-spirited than it was back at the sect.
Zhao Lin opened the box. Inside were ginseng, Nine-headed Crow, glossy privet fruit, morinda root...
Although these herbs were not as precious as those used for martial cultivation, their age and quality were all top-notch.
"Thank you, Brother Xiang!"
Zhao Lin said, his gratitude sincere.
"It’s nothing."
Xiang Bao said dismissively, then glanced at Zhao Lin. "The Spring Competition is in a few days. What are your plans?"
Zhao Lin was taken aback. "What do you mean, ’what are my plans’?"
He had been at the Wuxiang Institute for less than a year. The Spring Competition had no ranking requirements, and its rewards weren’t as generous as the Autumn Harvest’s, so he hadn’t given it much thought.
Xiang Bao asked in a probing tone, "Are you going to use Ice Fist during the matches?"
Zhao Lin understood immediately and asked in return, "What if I do, and what if I don’t?"
"If you use Ice Fist, I’ll just concede if I run into you. If you don’t, then we could have a proper fight."
"I won’t use it!"
...
On the first day of the third month, as Zhao Lin was preparing to leave early in the morning, he suddenly saw a servant in blue robes arrive at his front door.
"Excuse me, are you Zhao Lin?"
Zhao Lin nodded. "I am. What is it?"
"Well, two days ago, the sect’s post station received a letter addressed to you, but it didn’t specify which institute. I’ve spent the last two days asking around and only just found you today."
As the servant spoke, he took out a wax-sealed letter from his robes.
Zhao Lin glanced at the sender’s name, and his heart skipped a beat.
