Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Settling the Past
 

Cao Xiu and Wang Chen came from the same humble origins.

Therefore, he didn’t carry the arrogant and luxurious air of a noble clan’s disciple and was willing to have heartfelt conversations with Wang Chen.

Although Wang Chen didn’t completely agree with his cultivation philosophy,

he felt the same gratitude for the other’s guidance.

After all, sharing deep thoughts when the friendship was still shallow was already quite difficult!

After the meal, both sides parted happily.

In the afternoon, Wang Chen returned home and called for Han Dashi, who was eagerly waiting next door.

Together they went to the Defense Area to process the subleasing paperwork.

Beforehand, Wang Chen had cleaned his home spotlessly.

Especially the three-level underground fortress he had put so much effort into creating, he had either destroyed or filled them all in.

To avoid exposing the secret of his mastery of the advanced Mudstone Technique!

The paperwork was processed very smoothly.

Under normal circumstances, it would have been very difficult for Wang Chen to transfer his house and Spirit Fields to Han Dashi,

since the latter already had rented land and a house.

But once the Jade Token of an Inner Sect disciple was presented, any difficulties and obstacles instantly vanished.

Whether it was the Village Chief or the Guard Chief, they were all more than happy to accommodate Wang Chen.

After finishing the paperwork, an overwhelmed-with-gratitude Han Dashi stuffed three envelopes of Spirit Stones into Wang Chen’s hands, “Senior Brother Wang, thank you for your troubles!”

Although he was much older than Wang Chen, with a first son nearly the age of the latter,

Wang Chen was an Inner Sect disciple now, and his status was incomparable to what it had been before.

Han Dashi’s attitude towards Wang Chen had naturally changed dramatically.

And his gratitude was truly from the heart!

Han Dashi had two sons and one daughter.

His second son and youngest daughter both had middle to low Root Bone, possessing the potential to reach up to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation.

His eldest son’s Root Bone was much worse, barely reaching the third level of Qi Cultivation.

Han Dashi had made up his mind.

Once his eldest son reached sixteen, he would divide Wang Chen’s current house and Spirit Fields among him.

Then, he would look for a marriage within the Defense Area, start a family, and have children.

In this way, Han Dashi would have fulfilled his duty as a father, and then he could focus all resources on cultivating his second son and youngest daughter.

Wang Chen could be said to have solved a big problem for him!

“You’re too courteous, uncle,” said Wang Chen.

He accepted the three Low Spirits that Han Dashi had scrimped and saved.

And he had no psychological burden doing so.

As the saying goes, small kindnesses bring deep gratitude, while small grudges bring resentments.

If Wang Chen refused to accept them, it might actually cause great psychological pressure for the other party.

Now it was a fair transaction with mutual consent, leaving everybody happy and satisfied!

After saying goodbye to Han Dashi, Wang Chen felt he had finally closed the chapter on his life as an Outer Sect disciple.

He followed the path toward the Chi Path.

Getting ready to take a ride to Cloud Mountain City.

He had only gone halfway when a group of people approached him, their cries of mourning reaching Wang Chen’s ears at the same time.

The woman leading the group wore plain clothes, her belly prominently round.

In her hands, she cradled an urn of ashes.

Her round face streamed with crystal-clear tears.

Wang Chen momentarily paused.

He recognized the woman in mourning clothes.

Huang Cuihua!

Wang Chen remembered that Huang Cuihua had married Zhang Xiaoshan at the beginning of the year—that in her hands…

And then he saw behind her a Zhang Ada, who seemed to have aged decades in just a moment.

He quietly stepped aside.

Huang Cuihua’s gaze was hollow.

She didn’t even notice Wang Chen’s presence.

Only after the procession had passed did Wang Chen overhear the discussion from the people nearby.

“Isn’t that the Zhang family’s daughter-in-law? What happened?”

“Haven’t you heard? Something happened to the young Zhang lad; he’s gone at such a young age!”

“That kid, Zhang Xiaoshan, was quite clever. Such a pity.”

“Alas, another widow has been added to the Defense Area.”

“Who told him to act tough and join the Three Halls Reserve Camp? If he had just stayed at home and farmed his land peacefully, none of this would have happened.”

“Exactly, exactly.”

Although the remnant soul of the original owner had completely merged with Wang Chen,

hearing these idle gossips

still made him feel an inexplicable sorrow.

“I not only want to become a Third Hall disciple but also want to slay the Grey Eye Thieves and accumulate enough merit to be promoted to the Inner Sect. By then, you and I will be in completely different worlds!”

“I have more good news for you, my father has already proposed to the Huang Family, and Cuihua is going to marry me!”

These were the words Zhang Xiaoshan said to Wang Chen last year.

They still felt fresh in his memory.

In fact, when the Zhang Family was having a wedding at the beginning of the year, Zhang Xiaoshan had someone send an invitation to him.

But Wang Chen did not attend the wedding.

He thought it was pointless.

Ironically, that turned out to be their last encounter.

Shaking his head, Wang Chen continued on his way and soon left the countryside behind him.

The journey was long.

And he had only just begun.

He simply had no time to wallow in grief or sorrow!

…

The next morning, Wang Chen once again stood in front of the Cloud Sun stele.

This was the only official path to the Inner Mountain Gate.

Even though he now possessed the Identity Plaque of an Inner Sect disciple, he could not recklessly trespass on the Mountain Gate grounds.

He had to take the proper route.

The thousand-year-old Mysterious Turtle was still asleep.

However, when Wang Chen placed a large basket of Spirit Peaches in front of it,

the Mysterious Turtle suddenly opened its eyes, “Hmm… it’s you again!”

Wang Chen gave a bow and said, “Senior Mysterious Turtle, we meet again.”

With a snort!

The Mysterious Turtle exhaled from its nostrils and its throat rumbled, “What is it now? You already took away the things of Wang Shaoyuan, I don’t have anything else here.”

“Today, I am here to re-establish my status in the Immortal Register,” Wang Chen explained. “Thank you for helping me keep my father’s legacy safe before. A basket of Spirit Peaches can hardly express my gratitude, but please accept it with a smile!”

He speculated that the Old Turtle had taken bribes from Wang Shaoyuan to help.

But a gift wouldn’t offend even a turtle.

A basket of Spirit Peaches wasn’t worth much in terms of Spirit Stones, so he considered it making a good connection, which might come in handy if he ever needed the turtle’s help.

“Hmm~”

The Mysterious Turtle was surprised, “It’s rare to see a polite child like you these days, there are really too few.”

It had been lying in front of the Mountain Gate for more than a thousand years.

In the beginning, everyone was very respectful towards it, the auspicious beast enlightened by the Sect Leader.

They often offered it Spirit Peaches and Spirit Fruits, and it lived joyfully.

But as time went by, especially after the Ancestor of Cloud Sun ascended, people started to ignore its existence.

To the point where now, mischievous children would often run over and throw stones at it.

Singing this taunting rhyme: “Old Turtle, four legs, a tail, and a mouth, with a splash, it jumps into the water, turtle, turtle, turtle!”

Listen to this song! What is this nonsense?

It’s polluting my ears.

With such comparisons, the Mysterious Turtle found Wang Chen particularly pleasing to the eye, “Remember to bring an extra basket next time; I have a big appetite.”

Wang Chen could only respond with a mix of laughter and tears, “Please take your time, Senior.”

He walked past the stele and, at the same time, channeled mana into the Jade Token he was holding.

The Identity Plaque, which represented the status of an Inner Sect Disciple, suddenly radiated a faint light.

The very next moment, a gust of wind whirled around him and a plump child, with a powdered face, red lips, and wearing a Crimson Bellyband, suddenly appeared before him.

His round, shiny eyes examined Wang Chen and, with his nostrils pointed skyward, he haughtily inquired,

“Who goes there?”

———

The third update is here.