MTLNOVEL Chapter 394 - 114 Old Friends
Chapter 394: Chapter 114 Old Friends
Sword Pavilion, by the Sword-Cleansing Pond.
“Master, that Zhou Heng… he might not come after all,” a young boy, looking to be about eleven or twelve, stood by Fang Wen’s side, asking softly with a very worried expression.
His name was Zhao Qingshu. Orphaned at a young age, he roamed around living a hard life until half a year ago when he was discovered by Fang Wen and taken in as a disciple.
Zhao Qingshu was born with a talent for swords, exhibiting exceptional aptitude in the Sword Dao. It wasn’t long before he had brought a Ninth Grade swordsmanship to perfection, only a step away from achieving the Ninth Rank in martial arts once he perfected his stance work.
Fang Wen cultivated him as a successor, and in return, Zhao Qingshu came to regard Fang Wen as a father reborn.
Fang Wen was now heart and soul into re-establishing the Sword Pavilion, and Zhao Qingshu, seeing this, was extremely anxious as well.
Even though the disciple who had gone to Ta Hua Mount to send a message had come back and reported on Zhou Heng’s seclusion, this was, after all, related to the future of the Sword Pavilion and to Fang Wen’s life’s work, so Zhao Qingshu couldn’t help feeling some resentment toward Zhou Heng.
“He won’t,” Fang Wen said with firm conviction, his gaze turning towards Ta Hua Mount, “If he promised to come back, he will definitely come.”
Although he was quite worried at the moment, as the master of the Sword Pavilion, he couldn’t voice his concerns.
“But…” Zhao Qingshu started then hesitated.
“There are no ‘buts’!” Fang Wen turned to look at his disciple, speaking in a deep voice, “He will definitely come!”
“…Yes.” Zhao Qingshu could only nod and step back without saying more.
“You harbor resentment because Zhou Heng has not yet arrived?” Fang Wen, with his wealth of life experience, easily read the thoughts of his disciple.
“…” Zhao Qingshu fell silent for a while upon hearing this, then nodded and said, “Master sees clearly.”
“You must not harbor such thoughts any longer,” Fang Wen said with a grave expression, “Regardless of whether Zhou Heng arrives or not, you should see him as a benefactor who is helping us re-establish the Sword Pavilion and must never harbor resentment against him.”
“Why should I?!” Zhao Qingshu wanted to ask this but did not voice it in the end. Opening his mouth but then closing it, he nodded and said, “Understood, Master. Your disciple understands.”
“Good, you may leave now. Go and receive the guests from Longevity Way,” Fang Wen sighed lightly.
“Yes, Master.” Zhao Qingshu bowed in respect and took his leave.
“This child…” Watching the retreating figure of Zhao Qingshu, Fang Wen’s brow furrowed slightly with worry.
The thoughts and emotions of a teenager like Zhao Qingshu could hardly be concealed from him, but he didn’t find it appropriate to say more.
“I will try my best to guide him in the future,” Fang Wen sighed softly to himself.
Since becoming the master of the Sword Pavilion, his mindset had changed profoundly.
Now, he was no longer a lone swordsman wandering the world but the master of the Sword Pavilion, carrying the legacy and the hopes and expectations of many disciples.
He could no longer do things as whimsically as before.
“Zhou Heng, Brother Zhou, when will you arrive…” Fang Wen sighed again as he looked in the direction of Ta Hua Mount.
He suddenly realized he had grown fonder of sighing.
…
No-Sword Peak.
This was where the Sword Pavilion received its guests. The place was lively at the moment, with Middle Third Rank experts from Longevity Way leading their disciples, among them notable figures from the current people’s rankings.
Cheng Zhi, Li Qingyao, Chu Qingchuan, and others were also staying here.
Underneath the tree.
The three of them were engaged in idle chatter.
“I heard that Fang Wen invited Zhou Heng over, but there has been no reply?” Cheng Zhi lowered his voice and whispered, the monk was quite the gossip, enjoying keeping up with the latest news.
“It seems he’s in seclusion and not intentionally ignoring the message,” Li Qingyao explained, “I’ve heard as much from a disciple of the Sword Pavilion.”
“Since Zhou Heng promised, he should come,” Chu Qingchuan said in a deep voice, “Fang Wen told me it was something they had agreed upon long ago.”
“I heard that Brother Chu once had a match with Zhou Heng?” Li Qingyao asked with interest, “What was Zhou Heng’s strength back then?”
“Unfathomable,” Chu Qingchuan said admiringly, then smiled wryly, “I was the one who challenged him, only to be defeated in one move. Thinking back on it now, I really overestimated myself.
“However, it was a case of ‘no fight, no friendship.’ I originally thought we would become comrades-in-arms on the martial path, but to my surprise, it wasn’t long before he became a figure at the Secret Sixth Rank.”
“Zhou Heng has recently been in seclusion, and I’m afraid he’s about to refine his True Gang,” Li Qingyao also sighed, “When I first met him, he even saved my life. I never expected such a great change in just over a year.”
“True Gang? How long has it been since he refined True Qi?” Cheng Zhi asked, slightly astonished, bringing his hands together, “Amitabha, at the Chaoyang banquet, he was still Seventh Rank, and while we have been idling away the years, he’s already about to refine True Gang…”
“He’s only just turned twenty,” murmured Chu Qingchuan.
The three fell silent at once.
As elites on the list of accomplished young figures, they were among the strongest of the young generation in Da Qi, admired by countless people and viewed as role models by many.
Yet, compared to Zhou Heng, all their achievements seemed insignificant.
The gap was too great.
“Honored guests, I’ve heard Zhou Heng is the reincarnation of a great power. It’s not strange for him to cultivate so rapidly,” Zhao Qingshu joined in at this moment. He had just been entertaining people from the Longevity Way and happened to overhear the three discussing Zhou Heng.
“You are…” Chu Qingchuan looked at the young man, first in surprise, then he recalled, “You’re Fang Wen’s disciple, Zhao Qingshu?”
“Yes,” Zhao Qingshu nodded.
“Then your master must have told you, even for reincarnated great beings, very few can advance as rapidly and overwhelmingly as him,” Chu Qingchuan praised, “Someone like Zhou Heng is even rarer throughout the ages.”
“Is he really that formidable?” Zhao Qingshu was slightly taken aback; after all, he was new to the martial path and had much to learn.
“Yes, if Zhou Heng really manages to refine True Gang after coming out of seclusion, his achievements will reach even greater heights, unparalleled among his contemporaries,” Li Qingyao expressed sincerely. She admired the strong and never skimped on her praise.
“Amitabha, this monk’s understanding is far inferior indeed,” Cheng Zhi sighed softly.
Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted outside, catching the attention of the four people, indicating the arrival of an important guest.
It wasn’t long before a disciple from the Sword Pavilion came running in, shouting as he ran.
“Welcome the honored guest! Grandmaster Zhou Heng from Pure Yang Palace!”
Before the voice died away—
Cheng Zhi, Li Qingyao, and Chu Qingchuan all stood up, their eyes wide with shock as they looked towards the outside, the words of the Sword Pavilion disciple echoing in their minds.
Grandmaster Zhou Heng!
Grandmaster!
Zhou Heng was supposed to be in seclusion cultivating True Gang, so how did he become a Grandmaster already??
A Grandmaster at the age of twenty?
Zhao Qingshu’s mouth gaped open, his eyes filled with shock and his face showing disbelief, his slight resentment towards Zhou Heng instantly dissipating.
The thoughts he had of competing with Zhou Heng once his own cultivation improved were now gone without a trace.