A month in Changping City passed without any incident.
Zhang Yao's arrival did not alarm a few people. Only a few nearby neighbors were curious, but they just thought it was a distant relative of the Zhao family who had a higher seniority.
Decades have passed: the martial arts, aristocratic families, and chambers of commerce of those days have long since disintegrated, gone and gone.
The Chen family, the only surviving family, has long lost its former glory and has become a second-rate family in the city. Most likely, Zhang Yao's reputation has never been heard of.
"Uncle, do you really want to leave?"
Zhao Ling's eyes were slightly red, and he was quite reluctant to give up.
"Yes, I should go."
Zhang Yao smiled, patted his shoulder and said:
"In the past month, you have mastered my improved "Golden Cauldron Technique" and "Great Vajra Fist"."
"Continuing to train hard for ten years, it is not difficult to become a perfect martial artist, and it can also revive the reputation of Jinding Martial Arts School."
"Although it is difficult for you to become an extremely strong person in this life, with the inner martial arts that I left behind, if there are talented people in the future, they will be able to practice both internally and externally, and reach a higher level. If they keep my experience in mind, it may not be possible. You can’t aspire to be the Grand Master.”
"But be careful not to talk to outsiders!"
"Um."
Zhao Ling nodded vigorously and said solemnly: "Uncle, my kindness is as great as a mountain. Please rest assured, uncle. I will follow your teachings and will never let you down."
"That's good."
Zhang Yao nodded happily, took a sheathed sword and handed it to him:
"This is a sword that I collected in my early years. It's called Chixiao. It's not only a magic weapon that can cut iron like clay, but also a murderous weapon without blood."
"This sword has been with me for decades, and now I pass it on to you."
"But don't use it lightly unless it's absolutely necessary. Otherwise, once it's exposed to the light, I'm afraid many people will come to snatch it."
"this……"
Hearing this, Zhao Ling hesitated for a moment and said:
"Uncle, since it is such a magical weapon, you should take it with you yourself."
"You have to do things at such an old age and don't have any helpers. You need the help of this divine sword."
Deep down in his heart, he actually wanted Zhang Yao to stay.
In his opinion, Zhang Yao has been wandering all his life, has no children, and is still alone in his seventies. It is better to stay and he can support Zhang Yao in his old age.
Unfortunately, during this month of getting along, he tested Zhang Yao's tone several times, but Zhang Yao's attitude was very firm, and he could not dissuade him.
"No need."
Zhang Yao smiled and shook his head, refusing:
"I'm afraid I won't come back again. This sword is a burden to me. It's best to pass it on to you."
"Besides, with my martial arts skills, this sword is useless. You should keep it as a thought."
After Zhao Ling heard this, he finally put the sword away without any further objection.
Mother and son sent Zhang Yao all the way out of Changping City. They watched his figure disappearing on horseback before wiping away tears and turning around to go home.
…………
Late at night, Cuiping Mountain.
"ah……"
An old Taoist priest suddenly woke up from his sleep, sweating profusely.
He came back to his senses, sat on the bed and was silent for a while, then put on his clothes and got up. He left the bedroom under the moonlight without lighting a lamp.
The old Taoist priest left Shangqing Pavilion, walked out of Qingping Palace, and came to the back mountain.
On the slope of the back mountain, there is a stone tablet about one foot high, engraved with more than fifty names, all of whom were victims of the tragedy that year.
That year, after the Qingping Palace was recovered, because the bodies of the victims could not be recovered, a monument was erected on the back mountain to commemorate the deceased.
"Um?"
As soon as the old Taoist priest arrived at the back hillside, his expression suddenly changed.
In front of the giant monument, which was one foot high, a figure stood alone. There were three sticks of incense stuck on the copper stove in front of the monument.
"who?"
He shouted coldly, his expression showing caution.
The figure in front of the giant monument slowly turned around, revealing a face in his forties, which actually gave him a faint sense of familiarity.
"you……"
The old Taoist priest was stunned for a moment, seeming to recall something. After hesitating for a while, he asked tentatively:
"Senior Brother Zhang, is that you?"
"it's me."
Zhang Yao's voice came with a hint of surprise:
"Junior brother Qingzhuo, I really didn't expect you to recognize me at a glance."
The old Taoist priest Qingzhuo breathed a sigh of relief, walked quickly towards the giant monument, and said:
"Compared with back then, senior brother's appearance has really not changed much."
"Besides, didn't Senior Brother recognize me at a glance?"
During the seven years in Changping City, Zhang Yao also visited Qingping Palace many times, all to pay homage to Master Guanlu and some of his fallen brothers.
Qingzhuo had seen his appearance when he was young, and had a particularly deep memory of him, so he recognized his identity even after not seeing him for many years.
"Senior Brother Zhang..."
The old Taoist priest Qingzhuo walked up to him, looked at him carefully, and couldn't help but said:
"You look so young, you should be a master, right?"
"Um."
Zhang Yao nodded slightly and said:
“I stepped into this state decades ago.”
"really……"
Qingzhuo sighed in his heart, not too surprised.
Fifty years ago, Zhang Yao was already a top master, a famous figure whose strength far exceeded him.
And relying on his own talent, he finally reached this point at the age of forty. After that, he wasted many years and still had no hope of becoming a master.
When the two met again, they were both over seventy years old, but one was already very old, while the other looked like he was still in his prime.
"After senior brother left Changping, Qingping Palace has gone through decades of ups and downs, and has indeed undergone considerable changes..."
Qingzhuo seemed to have met an old friend, standing in front of the giant monument and talking nonchalantly.
Zhang Yao also listened patiently without interrupting him.
Decades have passed, and after Qingzhuo reached the level of a top master, Qingping Palace has grown from strength to strength, even surpassing its peak period back then.
Today's Qingping Palace has been expanded several times. There are many real people under the sect. The total number of Taoist priests and Taoist boys in each palace is nearly 200. It is prosperous and is the leading Taoist temple within a hundred miles.
The tragedy of that year has become an ancient story and has almost been forgotten by the world because it has been so long.
The only two survivors are standing under the memorial monument, remembering each other.
Zhang Yao raised his head and looked at the familiar names on the inscription, looking slightly dazed as the past swept over him like a tide.
"Senior brother."
After Qingzhuo finished speaking a lot, he was silent for a moment and then said:
"You are over seventy. If you have no descendants, why not stay in Qingping Palace?"
"No."
Zhang Yao shook his head and said:
"I'm going south to Yunzhou to do something. I'm afraid I won't come back."
"……I see."
The old Taoist priest Qingzhuo sighed and finally said no more.
"I was planning to come quietly and leave quietly."
Zhang Yao smiled and said:
"I didn't expect that I just bumped into you. Maybe it was fate."
As he spoke, he took out a newly bound classic from his arms and handed it over:
"This is the pinnacle of my lifelong martial arts. Before I left, I originally wanted to find someone to pass it on to, but unfortunately I have no descendants. I don't know who to pass it on to."
"My senior brother in the martial arts school does have a descendant, but his qualifications are not good enough and he cannot practice the things inside. What's more, I don't want the martial arts passed down by my master to be changed by me."
"So I thought, why not stay in Qingping Palace, so that I can have something to think about in the future."
"good."
Qingzhuo nodded and took the book without even looking at it.
At this time, he had no idea what the book he picked up casually represented.
