Chapter 303: Chapter 129: Purchasing a House in the Inner City, Master’s Identity, The Five Sects of Jintai
Sure enough, Sun Yong fell silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "You know that Sun’s Martial Arts Hall has been open in Yuhe County for thirty years. Do you know where I was before that?"
Yang Jing was startled. He had never heard his master speak of his past and could only shake his head. "I don’t know."
Sun Yong didn’t seem to expect an answer and continued, speaking as if to himself, "I was once part of the Xuanzhen Sect. To be precise, I was an Inner Sect Disciple."
"What?!" Yang Jing’s head snapped up, his eyes filled with shock.
The Xuanzhen Sect!
’That was a top-tier major sect in Jintai Prefecture, on par with the Yunxiao Sect! Its reputation was immense. To think Master actually came from there!’
A trace of reminiscence flashed in Sun Yong’s eyes, and his tone grew wistful. "But later... I failed in my attempt to break through to the Qi Eating Realm. Afterward, I was gravely injured in a battle against the Demon Sect, completely losing any chance of ever reaching that realm. Disheartened, I left the sect and eventually drifted to Yuhe County. I opened this Martial Arts Hall, and just like that, thirty years have passed."
Yang Jing’s mind reeled as he listened. He had never imagined that his master, who on any other day seemed like an ordinary old man, possessed such an illustrious past.
Sun Yong’s gaze returned to Yang Jing, his tone growing solemn. "You have now achieved a transformative level of martial skill. In a place like Yuhe County, that makes you a top-tier expert. But this is ultimately a small pond. If you want to scale new heights and witness the vaster world of the Martial Dao, you must venture out."
Yang Jing’s heart skipped a beat. He vaguely guessed his master’s intentions, and his breathing grew hurried.
Sun Yong continued, "Moreover, there’s been no word of your father from the Caozhou front, and I can see your family is sick with worry. Even with your transformative skill, you are still insignificant when measured against an entire prefecture. Trying to find one person would be like searching for a needle in a haystack."
His master’s words hit home. Yang Jing clenched his fists, a flicker of helplessness in his eyes.
"However," Sun Yong’s tone shifted as he took a sheet of paper and an inkstone from a drawer, "I may have left the Xuanzhen Sect many years ago, but I still have some connections from my time there. I’ll write you a letter of recommendation. You can take it to the Xuanzhen Sect and see what happens."
As he ground the ink, he explained, "The Xuanzhen Sect is immensely powerful and filled with countless masters. If you can join the sect, you’ll not only receive guidance from renowned teachers to advance your Martial Dao, but you’ll also have more resources to find out what happened to your father. But this letter is only meant to open the door for you. Whether you can truly enter the sect will depend on your own fortune."
"Master..." Yang Jing was so excited his voice trembled, and his heart began to pound wildly. THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.
’Just a few days ago, he’d been lamenting that he couldn’t speak further with the Yunxiao Sect’s Steward. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, his own master would recommend him to a great sect like the Xuanzhen Sect!’
’This was an opportunity that had fallen right out of the sky!’
Seeing his disciple’s excitement, a faint smile touched Sun Yong’s eyes. Without another word, he lifted his brush and began writing swiftly on the paper.
The brush met the paper with a soft, rustling sound. To Yang Jing, however, it felt as if each stroke landed on his very heart, filling him with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.
A moment later, Sun Yong set down his brush. He carefully blew the ink dry, folded the letter neatly, and slipped it into a plain envelope before handing it to Yang Jing.
Yang Jing quickly accepted it with both hands. The moment his fingertips brushed the envelope, it felt as heavy as a mountain.
He clutched the envelope tightly and gave Sun Yong a deep bow. "Thank you for making this possible, Master! I will never forget the debt I owe you for your guidance!"
Sun Yong smiled and waved his hand dismissively. "There’s no need for such formalities. With your talent, as long as you’re willing to put in the hard work, there’s no reason you can’t make a name for yourself in the Xuanzhen Sect. If you can gain a firm foothold there, and maybe even come across a fortuitous opportunity, using the sect’s influence to find your father will be far easier than trying to do it all by yourself."
Yang Jing nodded firmly, his eyes glinting with resolve. "I understand, Master. I won’t let you down."
Sun Yong watched him, a hint of emotion in his eyes and a self-deprecating edge to his voice. "I don’t have any great abilities myself. A few of my former peers are doing well in the Xuanzhen Sect, but thirty years is a long time. Our situations are worlds apart now, and I don’t have the standing to ask them to take special care of you. This letter can only open the door to the sect for you; the rest is entirely on your own shoulders. As for your father... I’m even more powerless to help."
"You’re being too harsh on yourself, Master!" Yang Jing said quickly, his voice tinged with emotion. "Just the chance to be recommended to the Xuanzhen Sect is more than I could ask for. These past years, you’ve taught me martial arts, protected my family, and treated me like your own flesh and blood. I’ll never forget any of it!"
A hint of warmth appeared in Sun Yong’s eyes. He nodded and said, "Alright, enough of that. Get yourself packed over the next few days. In three days, you and Ning Xiang will head to the Xuanzhen Sect together."
"Senior Sister is going too?" Yang Jing froze, looking up in surprise.
"Yes." Sun Yong nodded, a touch of melancholy in his voice. "Your Senior Sister’s innate talent isn’t the best. If she remains in a small place like Yuhe County, I’m afraid she’ll never achieve a transformative level of skill in her entire life. The Xuanzhen Sect is rich in resources—Cultivation Techniques, Elixirs, renowned masters, it has everything. Letting her go along to try her luck might give her the opportunity for a breakthrough."
He looked at Yang Jing, his gaze turning serious. "The journey will be long, and life within the sect isn’t always peaceful. You must protect your Senior Sister."
A sense of gravity settled over Yang Jing. He immediately gave a solemn nod, his voice resolute. "Rest assured, Master! I will do everything in my power to keep Senior Sister safe!"
Just then, the study door was gently pushed open, and Sun Ningxiang walked in carrying a tea tray. On the tray were two bowls of freshly brewed hot tea.
She had just reached the doorway when she overheard their conversation. The moment she heard Yang Jing promise to keep her safe, her cheeks flushed bright pink, and even the tips of her ears blushed crimson.
