Chapter 33: Encounter on the Road
After chatting for a few more minutes, Xu Ning took his leave, explaining that he needed to return to the inn to collect his official ranking certificate and pack for the journey ahead.
Meng Yangming and Meng Lingzhu understood and also said they would be leaving soon, having their own matters to attend to.
Watching Xu Ning's figure disappear into the bustling crowd, Meng Yangming couldn't help but sigh deeply. "Girl, don't think about him anymore. Such a prodigy is not someone you're meant to be with. It's better to let go now than to suffer later."
Meng Lingzhu's gaze was complicated upon hearing this. She bit her lip and said quietly, "But Grandfather, you're a Grandmaster now. That means something, doesn't it?"
Meng Yangming shook his head and sighed again, his voice gentle but firm. "Girl, your grandfather's status as a Grandmaster isn't an advantage for you in this situation. For some people, being a Grandmaster means nothing. They move in different circles entirely. It's my fault for holding you back all these years, consumed by my own problems. If not for me, you would have been married long ago, with a family of your own."
After all, in this era, women typically reached marriageable age at fourteen or fifteen. Meng Lingzhu was already over thirty, far past what society considered ideal.
Upon hearing this, Meng Lingzhu immediately became anxious. "Grandpa, it's not that you held me back! It's that I never met anyone who was... better. I refused to settle for less than what I wanted."
Meng Yangming looked at her sadly. "There's no such thing as a perfect person in this world, child. Most women eventually choose to settle, to compromise, just to find a suitable partner and build a life. Perfection is an illusion."
Meng Lingzhu didn't speak. Her gaze remained fixed on the direction Xu Ning had disappeared in, lost in thought.
Perhaps, she thought, I have already met the perfect person. The problem is that I am the one who is unworthy of him.
---
Meanwhile, Xu Ning had already returned to the inn.
Soon after, the sound of gongs and drums came from outside the inn. It was the official messengers delivering the ranking certificate and celebratory notice.
After successfully receiving the certificate and thanking the messengers, Xu Ning quickly packed his few belongings and prepared to leave.
Next, he was to travel to Mingdu City, the capital of Da Xuan, to participate in this year's imperial examination, which was scheduled to take place in three months.
The imperial examination was held only once every three years. If he missed this window, he would have to wait another three long years.
The journey from here to Mingdu City took more than a month by normal travel. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances or delays along the way, Xu Ning naturally wanted to leave early to give himself ample time.
After packing up, Xu Ning led Tie Dan out of the county town. He mounted Tie Dan, pointed out the general direction, and then immediately began studying the martial arts manuals again, not wanting to waste a single moment.
To avoid attracting unnecessary attention from other travelers, Xu Ning cleverly covered the manuals with an ordinary-looking book cover.
Anyone who didn't know better would simply think that Xu Ning was a dedicated scholar, diligently studying even while traveling. It was the perfect cover.
After traveling for more than ten days, Xu Ning finally thoroughly studied and absorbed all the martial arts techniques given to him by Meng Yangming.
His gains were substantial. The Iron Shirt Technique had successfully upgraded in his understanding to a top-tier technique that could theoretically be cultivated to the ninth level.
While the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art and Snow Shadow Step hadn't formally upgraded to a new numbered level, they now felt extremely profound to Xu Ning, layered with nuance he hadn't perceived before.
Although they hadn't increased in level, his understanding of them had completely surpassed the normal category of top-tier techniques. Hence their newfound profundity.
The improvement of these three techniques also brought Xu Ning's overall martial understanding to a new level. He had now reached the peak of the Acquired Realm.
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He only needed a single trigger, a moment of insight, to break through to the Innate Realm.
However, Xu Ning knew in his heart that he had no idea when that trigger would arrive.
Many cultivators at the peak of the Acquired Realm never broke through, even after decades of effort, or until their death. His own master, Zhao Datou, had once been stuck at this very level for most of his life.
Xu Ning wasn't in a hurry. He didn't need to find any special opportunity or lucky encounter. He just needed to proceed step by step, continuing to improve his three core cultivation techniques through study. He believed he would naturally break through later, when the time was right.
That day, Xu Ning, bored without any new cultivation techniques to study for the first time in weeks, was jolted from his reverie. Suddenly, more than a dozen men leaped out of the forest ahead, wielding long knives and looking fierce and menacing!
Upon seeing Xu Ning, a lone traveler on an ox, the leader's expression turned even more savage. "So you're just a bookworm, eh? Kid, if you know what's good for you, hand over all your money and valuables right now. Do that, and we might consider letting you pass through alive!"
Xu Ning immediately put on a terrified expression, his voice trembling. "You... you can't kill me! I'm a top scholar! The court will investigate!"
The men opposite him were momentarily taken aback.
Let alone a top scholar—even an ordinary scholar would be a cause for concern for bandits like them. If anything happened to such a person, the imperial court would definitely launch an investigation. They would rather kill ten innocents than let one guilty party escape. It would bring disaster upon their entire stronghold.
However, the leader quickly regained his composure and sneered. "What bullshit top scholar? Out here in the wilderness, with no witnesses? As long as the news doesn't leak out, who will ever know it was us from White Wind Stronghold who did the deed?"
Those around him immediately echoed, their voices filled with crude excitement. "Third leader is right! Speaking of which, I've never even seen a top scholar up close, let alone... tasted one! When we catch him, let me have first go, brothers!"
"Hahahaha!" Several of the men burst into raucous laughter.
"Brothers, charge! Take him down alive!" the third leader roared, raising his blade.
Then, the group of men immediately charged towards Xu Ning with bloodthirsty grins.
"Eh! What's going on here!" Xu Ning sighed dramatically, dropping his terrified act. Then, with a casual flick of his hand, several silver needles appeared in his palm. He flung them out with terrifying speed and accuracy.
Pfft pfft—
Several silver streaks flashed through the air, instantly piercing the foreheads of the leading men.
Those men didn't even have time to react. They continued charging forward for a few more steps, driven by momentum, then collapsed heavily to the ground, instantly losing their breath. They were dead before they hit the dirt.
"He... he's a martial arts master!" The remaining men panicked at the sight, their faces twisting with terror. They turned and ran, dropping their weapons in their haste.
The third leader was even more bewildered. How could a seemingly weak scholar, a top scholar no less, actually know martial arts?!
And he was a top scholar in the imperial examinations! These were completely different paths in life! How could they be combined in one person?
Xu Ning, of course, wasn't about to let them escape and spread word of his abilities. He flicked out more silver needles with casual precision, instantly killing the remaining fleeing men.
Then, Xu Ning jumped off Tie Dan and calmly walked over to the bodies. He took out a small porcelain bottle from his robes and carefully dripped a single drop onto each corpse.
Soon, a hissing sound came from the corpses, and acrid white smoke rose into the air.
When the smoke finally dissipated, nothing was left but some metallic objects—belt buckles, coins, and weapons. The flesh and bone were completely gone.
This was a special dissolving agent that Xu Ning had developed after years of studying medicine and experimenting with herbs. It possessed terrifying corrosive properties and could completely dissolve organic matter, leaving only metal behind.
It was a perfect tool for destroying evidence, leaving no trace of the bodies behind.
Xu Ning then took out his kitchen knife and casually waved it over the metal items, letting it devour all the metal to fuel its own growth.
Just as he returned to Tie Dan and was about to continue his journey, a rapid rumble of hooves sounded from behind him on the road.
Soon, a group of armored soldiers rode quickly towards him, their formation disciplined and formidable.
They looked like an official escort, so Xu Ning quickly guided Tie Dan to the side of the road to let them pass.
The soldiers thundered past Xu Ning in a cloud of dust, followed by a luxurious four-horse carriage, clearly belonging to someone of high status.
As it passed Xu Ning, the carriage curtain was lifted slightly, revealing a stunningly beautiful face for just a moment. Eyes met his briefly.
The curtain was then lowered, and the carriage continued on its way.
However, after only a few dozen paces, the entire convoy suddenly came to a halt.
Then, to Xu Ning's surprise, the beautiful woman stepped out of the carriage and walked back towards him. She smiled gracefully and said, "Are you the top scholar from Guanshan Township? Xu Ning?"
She actually knows me? Xu Ning was surprised but kept his composure.
Xu Ning nodded immediately, putting on a respectful scholar's demeanor. "That's me, young miss."
The woman's smile widened, her eyes appraising him. "My brother invites you for a conversation. Would you be willing to meet him in the carriage?"
Xu Ning pondered for a moment, then nodded.
It wasn't that he particularly wanted to go, but he knew that with his current status as a top scholar but still a commoner, he couldn't easily refuse an invitation from nobility. It would be impolite and potentially dangerous.
Xu Ning jumped off Tie Dan and patted its flank, indicating it should follow behind the carriage.
Then he walked over to the luxurious vehicle.
Inside, a young man in magnificent, expensive attire sat waiting. He had an air of command about him.
Seeing Xu Ning enter, the young man gestured gracefully to a cushioned seat. "Scholar, please, sit and be at ease."
Xu Ning didn't sit immediately. Instead, he bowed respectfully, following proper protocol. "You flatter me, sir. Please, just call me Xu Ning. I am unworthy of such formality."
The young man smiled slightly, appreciating the proper manners. "Then I'll accept your offer. Brother Xu Ning, my name is Xia Yun. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Xu Ning was surprised by the casual use of a brotherly title from such an obviously important person. "Sir, you are...?"