Starting Cultivation During a Trip

"Uncle Shangqing, is that person a master of the Wuwei Sect?" Qiu Wanmian couldn’t help but speculate.

"Under the Enlightenment Profound Sect, where a lifetime slips by with the sound of a finger flick. For a hundred years, I haven’t seen the Immortal Elder, the dragon and snake on the wall fly and move..."

Qiu Shangqing sang softly, his gaze empty, as if looking out at the vast sky.

"Today, looking around blankly, wanting to slay dragons and snakes against the wind. Don’t say everything turns to emptiness in hindsight, for in foresight, all is a dream."

"Life is like dragons and snakes climbing ashore, looking over in the blink of an eye; it’s but a big dream, hence the cultivator must possess the great courage to abandon everything, with one move clearing the dust, slaying the dragons and snakes."

"Whatever emotions, whatever thoughts, whatever past kindness and righteousness, all should be severed."

With a sigh, Qiu Shangqing turned to look at Qiu Buyi.

"This technique ’Dragon and Snake Slayer’ is the secret not passed down by the Dragon Tiger Mountain Zhang Family."

"Dragon Tiger Mountain Zhang Family!?"

At these words, Qiu Buyi, Qiu Wanmian, and Ge Changfeng all changed their expressions suddenly.

Eighty years, the incense at Dragon Tiger Mountain has been extinguished for eighty years; if there’s still an inheritor of the Zhang family in this world, it’s only...

"Northern Zhang Lineage!?"

"Is that master from the Northern Zhang?" Qiu Wanmian showed a doubtful look.

"It’s nothing strange, Northern Zhang has planted many masters in this small town, guarding for twenty to thirty years," Qiu Shangqing said nonchalantly.

"What? Northern Zhang has been guarding this small town for twenty to thirty years? Why?" Qiu Buyi wondered.

"Do you know why Chen Dragon is here, what special place this small town holds?" Qiu Shangqing replied with a question.

At these words, everyone looked at each other.

"Eighty years ago, the Daoist Sect faced a great tribulation, since then Dragon Tiger Mountain Zhang Family split into North and South."

"South Zhang predominantly gathered in Jiangnan, with about five to six places for cultivation and sustenance to continue the incense; Qin Ancient Town is one of them," Qiu Shangqing’s voice turned icy cold.

"Back then, after South Zhang was annihilated, to prevent any remnants or revival, Northern Zhang dispatched masters, stationed at these places, guarding for over thirty years."

"Guarded for over thirty years?" Ge Changfeng couldn’t help but interject.

Just such a small place, yet deploying masters to guard it for over thirty years?

"Northern Zhang people are ruthless!"

"Their plan is to guard for a hundred years, rotating family masters every five years," Qiu Shangqing said flatly.

"Guard for a hundred years? That’s too cautious," Qiu Wanmian couldn’t help but say.

She knew this small town was involved in the Zhang family’s North and South dispute, but even though the South Zhang people are long gone, Northern Zhang is still so cautious, sending masters, guarding for a full hundred years—is it guarding against people or ghosts?

"The struggle over the Dao is not a mere clash of egos," Qiu Shangqing said solemnly. "Especially concerning the Dragon Tiger Zhang Family!"

"Moreover, South Zhang’s lineage still has some remnants outside, even ashes can rekindle, let alone the incense of Dragon Tiger Mountain!"

"Great Spirit Sect King!"

A name arose simultaneously in the minds of Qiu Buyi, Qiu Wanmian, and Ge Changfeng.

As disciples of the Pure Yang Family, they naturally had heard of this ferociously vicious figure.

"So, I met Northern Zhang’s master today during the day," Qiu Buyi said with some uncertainty.

"I’m somewhat impressed with Northern Zhang now, in such a small place, knowing that the guard is for nothing, yet continuing," Qiu Wanmian couldn’t help but say.

"Enduring solitude leads to longevity, which is also cultivation, more so..." Qiu Shangqing said indifferently.

"It’s not entirely in vain."

"Hmm!?"

Everyone showed a perplexed expression upon hearing this.

"Twenty-four years ago, South Zhang’s remnants came back," Qiu Shangqing looked up at the sky, murmuring softly.

"That’s a long time ago."

That year, that day.

Twenty-four years ago, on the ninth of September, he was also in Qin Ancient Town.

...

Deep night.

Qin Ancient Town, Nanchang Street.

This is an old street, its buildings dating back to the Song and Yuan Period, now protected units, without renovation or sale.

Occasionally, travelers and sightseers come to feel the charm and atmosphere of the old town along the street.

"Zhang Fan, is half of this street owned by your family?"

"You are ’Zhang Banjie’ then."

In the hazy night, Zhang Fan and Ge Shuangxiu appeared at the end of the street, heading inward.

During the day, Zhang Fan finally learned of their old family place from the fish-selling aunt.

Previously, half of the street belonged to their Zhang family, dating back to his grandfather’s generation.

"What Zhang Banjie? These old buildings can’t be sold anyway, and besides, the house prices in the town are so low, they are worth anything?" Zhang Fan rolled his eyes.

The cheapest price per square meter in Yujing City is over thirty thousand, but here, even the best location is only over four thousand per square meter.

Even if all the property on this half street is sold, it probably wouldn’t be enough for a house in Yujing City.

"Looks quite new." Ge Shuangxiu glanced over.

The introduction at the street’s entrance mentioned the Song and Yuan period architecture, but now it looked quite new.

"Didn’t you hear what the aunt said during the day?" Zhang Fan muttered softly as he walked down the cold, clear street.

"Oh, she said this street had a big fire twenty-four years ago, the houses were all burned down." Ge Shuangxiu remembered.

"That day was..."

"The ninth of September, the day I was born." Zhang Fan said solemnly.

During the day, the fish-selling aunt’s words weighed heavily on Zhang Fan’s mind.

The aunt said, Zhang Fan’s brother died in that fire, so much so his funeral was handled by neighbors, the body was laid at home for three days, then dragged to the crematorium for cremation.

Poor little fellow, only a little over six years old at the time.

"My brother died!?" Zhang Fan furrowed his brows.

In his sparse memories, there indeed was a brother, but later, their time together was scarce, especially since he was sent to Sanqi Orphanage for a year, upon returning, he saw him no more.

"Zhang Fan, you have a brother? How come you’ve never mentioned it?" Ge Shuangxiu couldn’t help but ask.

"I only remember, my parents didn’t let me casually mention my brother outside when I was little, at that time, he didn’t need to go to school..." Zhang Fan was lost in thought.

His impression of his brother was not profound, but now in hindsight, indeed many things didn’t add up.

"Are you sure you’re even part of your family?"

Ge Shuangxiu looked at Zhang Fan with a strange expression, couldn’t help but say: "Why does your family seem to be hiding things from you?"

"You aren’t adopted, are you."

"Nonsense... How can... It should be impossible." Zhang Fan said with firm conviction.

Thoughts surged, wild thoughts proliferated, many strange ideas rose in Zhang Fan’s mind at that moment.

"What are you thinking? There’s nothing good to look at on this street."

Ge Shuangxiu nudged Zhang Fan, pulling back his thoughts.

The old house was long burned down over two decades ago, now rebuilt on its original site, uncertain why Chen Dragon traveled far here, what he aimed for.

"The two old houses in the back street were not burned, they are in their original form." Zhang Fan had already found out, thus came during the quiet night to explore without being seen.

"Let’s go have a look."

Zhang Fan beckoned, quickened his pace, heading towards the back street.

He had a feeling that Chen Dragon’s visit involved those two old houses.

"Two little friends, wait a moment."

Just then, a cold voice came from behind.

Zhang Fan stopped abruptly, his hair standing on end, instinctively alert, he turned around; under the dim moonlight, a middle-aged man approached slowly, wearing an old street administrator’s armband, a blue hat, and had fingernails that glistened with a faint sheen.

"Little friends, you can’t wander at night here, come back during the day," the administrator uncle said softly.

"Alright, we’ll come back during the day."

Zhang Fan nodded, pulled Ge Shuangxiu to leave.

"Let Zhang Lingzong’s son stay."

Just then, the administrator’s voice rang out again, but it was three degrees colder.

"The remnants of South Zhang have indeed returned."