Luoshui County.
"Back again!"
Standing outside the county town, Jiang Ning looked at the familiar city walls ahead and smiled.
Canglang Martial Arts Hall.
"Master, Master!" A tall, ponytailed girl ran towards the backyard.
Pushing open the backyard door, she saw an elderly man resting with his eyes closed under the shade of a tree.
The old man had a palm fan covering his face, his posture relaxed.
At this moment, hearing the girlâs voice, he immediately sat up, took away the fan from his face.
"Qingqing, youâre not young anymore, yet youâre still so reckless. Canât you learn a bit from your sister?"
On hearing this, the girl stuck out her tongue and then said, "Master, thereâs someone named Jiang Ning asking to see you outside the martial arts hall!"
"Jiang Ning?" Wang Jin was taken aback and immediately stood up.
"Thatâs your Brother Jiang! The renowned figure of Dongling County, hurry up and invite him in." Wang Jin said.
"Is it really him?" The girlâs eyes widened in disbelief.
Then she seemed to realize something and quickly turned around to run out of the courtyard.
"Master, Iâll go invite Brother Jiang in and apologize to him!"
Hearing the girlâs words, Wang Jin seemed to understand and couldnât help but smile.
After just a moment.
Wang Jin heard the voice of his female disciple coming closer.
"Brother Jiang, Brother Jiang, I really didnât expect it to be you! I didnât recognize greatness when I saw it!!"
Meanwhile.
Jiang Ning looked at the girl nodding and bowing beside him, speechless.
He waved his hand and grabbed the head blocking his path to push it aside.
"I didnât take it to heart."
As the words fell.
Jiang Ning lifted his leg over the threshold of the martial arts hallâs backyard.
"Master!"
Seeing Wang Jin cooling under the tree in the backyard, Jiang Ning clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.
"Why do you have time to visit me today?" Wang Jin said with a broad smile.
"I was heading to Yang Lake, so I came by Luoshui County to see you, Master!" Jiang Ning replied.
"Yang Lake?" Wang Jin looked puzzled, "Whatâs at Yang Lake? I also saw some foreign Martial Artists in town regularly mentioning Yang Lake."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning promptly explained briefly what he knew to Wang Jin.
"Pocket World Secret Realm!!" Wang Jinâs eyes widened after Jiang Ningâs account.
"Yes!" Jiang Ning nodded and then said, "So, Master, these days, try to avoid conflicts with foreign Martial Artists if you encounter them in town."
"You donât need to remind me. Iâve long passed the age of youthful aggression!" Wang Jin said with a cheerful smile.
"By the way, Master!" Jiang Ning asked, "Why didnât I see any other disciples at the martial arts hall today?"
"I dismissed them all!" Wang Jin waved his hand, gesturing for Jiang Ning to sit down as well.
Once they sat down, he continued, "Thereâs no need for me to accept so many disciples anymore. Just choose a few who are pleasing to the eye and focus on teaching three to five at most! After all, as a teacher, I donât need my disciples to enhance my reputation or to care for me in my old age anymore!"
Hearing these words, Jiang Ning immediately showed a pleased expression.
"Master, youâve had a breakthrough?"
Wang Jin smiled and nodded, looking quite composed: "Iâve reached the Sixth Rank, training both internally and externally, and maintaining peak physical condition for another twenty or thirty years shouldnât be a problem!"
"Congratulations, Master!" Jiang Ning cupped his hands in congratulations.
He understood why Wang Jin had made this choice.
Previously, Wang Jin was stuck at the Seventh Grade, unable to progress, and his physical abilities were declining year by year.
As he aged, he had to consider the matter of old age and funeral arrangements, hence he recruited many disciples.
Moreover, recruiting many disciples meant increasing his influence.
This way, he wouldnât fear enemies coming to seek revenge.
According to what he knew, the young Wang Jin wasnât as composed as he is now and attracted numerous enemies.
If it werenât for my sudden rise, with Wang Jinâs style of doing things in his youth, after a few more years, when heâs old and his Qi-Blood declines, someone would definitely come looking for him.
But with my rise, those hidden threats have long been silently eliminated.
No one would dare to seek revenge against Wang Jin in the current situation.
Anyone who couldnât endure it already came forward years ago.
Afterward, Jiang Ning and Wang Jin had a few drinks together before leaving the martial arts hall.
He then went to visit Ye Qiu and Hong Minghu at the Inspection Office.
After several months, the two still had not received promotions.
For Jiang Ningâs visit, the two were honored and flattered.
As high-ranking members of Luoshui Countyâs Inspection Office, they were well aware of Jiang Ningâs current status in Dongling County.
He was someone they needed to look up to.
...
The sunset painted the sky.
Creekââ
Jiang Ning pushed open the small courtyardâs door outside the city.
Entering the house, his nose was filled with the scent of abandonment, mold mixed with dust wafted in.
He paced back and forth in the small room.
After nearly a year of no residency, he sensed that the already dilapidated house had decayed even more.
Without the warmth of human presence, buildings tend to decay especially quickly.
Especially in Luoshui County, which is near the water.
Moments later.
Jiang Ning closed the courtyard gate once more and locked it again.
This was his first home in this world.
Though it was Jiang Liâs home, it was his home too.
"Mr. Jiang! Do you need me to send someone to clean the house regularly?" Standing behind Jiang Ning was Feng Tou, whom Jiang Ning had met before.
"No need!" Jiang Ning shook his head, continued, "Just make sure no one messes with this house!"
"Understood!" Feng Tou responded respectfully.
Afterward, he watched Jiang Ningâs slowly receding figure, feeling indescribable emotions.
For a long time.
Until Jiang Ningâs figure disappeared completely from his sight.
"Sighââ"