Chapter 76 Paths of Destiny
Long Tian departed from the forested area, having secured a valuable haul, which included the Crescent Blade and the coveted Ethereal Clone ability.
As he strolled along, his gaze fixated on the Crescent Blade. During his encounter with the bandit leader, he couldn't help but notice the red hue gracing its surface.
He knew that it was a Heartblade, but red was a very rare. It symbolized bloodshed, warfare, and malevolence.
A Heartblade bearing this striking red hue indicated a fall into the clutches of demons and the dark side. Typically, it resulted from profound disappointments, deep sorrows, the loss of a loved one, or unrelenting despair.
Long Tian himself had not yet awakened his own Heartblade, and its existence remained unexplained within the original plot. His curiosity was undeniable; he yearned to witness it firsthand.
Unfortunately, it required a special device, which meant he had to enter Xuantian Academy first.
****************
Long Tian arrived at Fuanshi Village, the nearest settlement to Tianzhou Forest. This spot served as a haven for rest, luncheon, and car parking. He had also left his car here.
However, he didn't rush to retrieve his vehicle. Instead, he decided to venture into a restaurant. The profound exploration of the forest had left him quite fatigued, and he needed a moment to rest.
Approaching the ordering counter, he politely stated, "I'd like a Siberian tiger steak and a glass of vintage wine."
"Coming right up, sir," the waiter nodded in acknowledgment.
With his order placed, Long Tian found an available seat. The place buzzed with activity, and many tranquil spots were already occupied.
While scanning his surroundings, he noticed a familiar face. Xia Junsu, his maternal uncle, sat at a nearby table with three other individuals. Long Tian recognized him instantly.
Clad in formal attire, they seemed deeply engrossed in business discussions. However, Xia Junsu's attention was abruptly drawn to Long Tian, and he waved him over, exclaiming, "Hey, Long Tian, come join us."
Long Tian surveyed his surroundings discreetly and then proceeded toward Xia Junsu.
Choosing the nearest available seat, he sat down beside his uncle. The three individuals at the table regarded Long Tian with a mix of curiosity and intrigue.
"Junsu, who is this young man? A friend of yours?" a middle-aged man inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Xia Junsu flashed a welcoming smile. "Allow me to introduce him. He's Long Tian, the young master of the Long family and my nephew," he announced.
The revelation elicited astonishment from the three individuals. Their earlier indifference quickly gave way to surprise, followed by genuine delight.
With broad smiles, the middle-aged man extended his hand toward Long Tian. "Oh, so you're young master Long. It's a pleasure to meet you," he greeted warmly.
Long Tian reciprocated the handshake, offering his courtesy to the other two individuals as well.
"Incidentally, my name is Huo Yang, owner of the Huo Group. If you ever wish to visit any of our company's properties or entertainment venues, simply present this card," Huo Yang offered graciously, presenting a black card.
"Thanks," Long Tian accepted the card with a smile.
The other two men subtly observed Huo Yang, recognizing his intention to establish a favorable rapport with Long Tian. They were keen not to miss out.
"Cough, young master Long, I am Yu Gian, the owner of Gianjia Corp. Should you require the creation or acquisition of weapons, just show this card, and your every desire shall be fulfilled," another man articulated, proffering a black card with a wide grin.
"With pleasure," Long Tian replied, accepting the card, his smile reciprocated.
"Young master Long, my name is Fang Wu, owner of Hanfood. Use this card, and you shall receive the best facilities at all our restaurants," another friendly individual chimed in, presenting yet another black card.
Long Tian felt somewhat overwhelmed by their generosity. These three individuals had bestowed upon him the highest-tier cards, offering an array of privileges.
He gratefully accepted the cards, stating, "I'll make sure to visit Hanfood restaurants often from now on."
Fang Wu laughed warmly. "Hahaha, I'll be delighted with that, young master Long."
Long Tian was content with the encounter. He understood that these three individuals sought to maintain a positive connection with him, perhaps harboring intentions of capitalizing on it.
Unfortunately, he was well-versed in such dynamics. Nevertheless, he relished these privileges, a testament to his birth into a super-affluent and renowned family.
Meanwhile, Xia Junsu sported a satisfied smile. Although he hadn't anticipated this rendezvous with Long Tian, his plans were proceeding smoothly.
He viewed it as a small reward following Long Tian's awakening of dual martial spirits.
"Anyway, how has your schooling been, Long Tian?" he initiated the conversation.
"Everything has proceeded smoothly, Uncle..."
The five of them engaged in pleasant conversation and shared lunch. Long Tian, with his elevated status, commanded the utmost respect from everyone present.
**************
The day passed quickly, and evening descended upon them. Long Tian bid farewell to Xia Junsu and his friends.
Today had yielded a substantial harvest. In addition to his enhanced strength, he had secured three black cards, clearly imbued with significant utility.
"Now, where's my next destination? Ah, yes, a party in the Long family residence. I need to pick up Liu Qian tonight," he recalled.
With that, he proceeded toward his parked car, which was not far from his current location.
Upon entering the vehicle, he ignited the engine and departed from Fuanshi Village.
**************
Meanwhile, in another locale, Qin Chen and Wang Lin reveled in the festivities at Tianjia Pavilion.
Wang Lin clutched a bottle of liquor, enjoying the company of a young lady, thoroughly immersed in the moment.
In contrast, Qin Chen furrowed his brows. Wang Lin had alluded to the presence of strength-testing trials at Tianjia Pavilion, events designed to evaluate one's power.
This morsel of information had ignited Qin Chen's excitement, as it potentially held an opportunity for him. Regrettably, he had yet to discover the precise location of these trials.
He lightly tapped the shoulder of a fellow young man, roughly his age, and inquired, "Excuse me, I'm seeking the strength-testing trials; do you happen to know their location?"
"You must be new here. The Strength-Testing Trials were canceled as someone won them just yesterday," the young man responded.
This revelation left Qin Chen disheartened. It appeared that Wang Lin's information was outdated.
His enthusiasm had been prematurely kindled, only to be extinguished; another had already emerged victorious in the trials.
"Will the trials be reinstated?" he inquired.
"I don't know. You could try asking the official staff," the young man suggested.
"Very well, thank you," Qin Chen acknowledged.
The young man nodded and proceeded to depart from Qin Chen's vicinity.
Qin Chen stood there, pondering his next course of action, uncertain of how to proceed. He had never ventured into entertainment venues like this before.
As he observed Wang Lin, who reveled in his festivities, Qin Chen sighed. It seemed that he was ill-suited to a life of luxury.
Seeking respite from the opulence of Tianjia Pavilion, he ventured outside, yearning for the fresh evening air.
Once outdoors, he felt a profound sense of peace, especially within the tranquil ambiance of the evening sunset.
He walked along the sidewalk, relishing the serenity of the sunset atmosphere.
"Please help me; I'm hungry."
Suddenly, a feeble voice reached his ears from nearby. Scanning the surroundings, he spotted a homeless elderly man with white hair, seated beneath a tree, begging.
Deep sympathy welled up within Qin Chen's heart. The elderly man must have experienced unimaginable hardships to end up in such dire circumstances.
He silently pledged never to let his life veer off course to the point of homelessness.
Driven by compassion, Qin Chen approached the elderly man. Retrieving his wallet, he handed the homeless man 1000 Yuan, saying, "Here, it's not much, but it's my weekly earnings from work," accompanied by a warm smile.
The homeless man's surprise was palpable as he quickly accepted the money. Grateful, he exclaimed, "Thank you! Thank you, kind soul! After so long, I can finally enjoy a decent meal!"
Qin Chen smiled, realizing that forgoing 1000 Yuan meant he wouldn't be dining at the school cafeteria. However, the feeling of helping someone in need was invaluable.
As he prepared to leave, the homeless man suddenly called out, "Wait a moment, young man. Though I'm a beggar, I understand the importance of gratitude," he declared, producing three scrolls. "Take these; they may appear as ordinary pieces of paper, but they might prove useful to you."
Qin Chen graciously accepted the three scrolls. Although their handles were soiled and emitted a faint odor, he took them with appreciation, stating, "I'll keep them; thank you," accompanied by a warm smile.
The homeless man returned the smile and nodded. Today marked the first time he had encountered a truly kind-hearted person. Many affluent individuals had passed by him without sparing a second glance, but this young man was like a diamond among the rubble.
"May God bless you," the homeless man uttered sincerely.
Qin Chen nodded in response before departing from the area, scrolls in hand.
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