Chapter 6

Li Zhichang returned to Chongyang Palace and saw Yin Zhiping leaning against the door, basking in the sun. He had just finished a fight and was a bit tired. Seeing Yin Zhiping lazily enjoying the sunset, he suddenly found everything about him annoying and said, "Zhiping, are you done with today's tasks?"

Yin Zhiping, fearing that Li Zhichang would cause him trouble, quickly replied, "Master has returned. He said if I see you, I should take you to him."

The two went to the quiet room where Qiu Chuji lived. They saw Qiu Chuji sitting cross-legged on a bed, practicing his martial arts. They stood on either side of the door. After a while, Qiu Chuji finished his practice and said, "You two can come in."

Qiu Chuji appeared stern on the outside but was kind-hearted. He was happy to see his two disciples after a long time, but he didn't show it. Li Zhichang's martial arts were on par with his, and his fellow disciples were well aware of this, which made him very proud. Yin Zhiping's martial arts were slightly weaker, but he was loyal and eager to learn. Li Zhichang had always taught him, never letting him worry, which made Qiu Chuji even more pleased. However, he felt he had neglected his disciples, especially Yin Zhiping. Qiu Chuji had a few secret techniques that even Li Zhichang hadn't learned. This time, he intended to test Yin Zhiping's progress to decide whether to teach him these techniques. As Yin Zhiping and Li Zhichang entered, Qiu Chuji nodded slightly and suddenly reached out, pushing Yin Zhiping's shoulder.

Qiu Chuji had been practicing both internal and external martial arts in recent years, and his skills were profound. This push was perfectly measured. Upon contact, he felt Yin Zhiping's shoulder slightly tilt, and an internal force naturally generated, deflecting a small part of the push. Although Yin Zhiping staggered back a few steps, he didn't fall.

Qiu Chuji was very pleased and said with a smile, "Zhiping, it seems you haven't been lazy lately. Your skills have improved a lot since last year."

If it were usual, Yin Zhiping would have been unable to withstand the push, but Qiu Chuji could have steadied him with his other hand. Besides, Li Zhichang was standing behind Yin Zhiping, so there was no fear of his disciple losing face. Seeing Yin Zhiping's significant improvement, Qiu Chuji was very happy.

He then looked at Li Zhichang, feeling a bit itchy, "Come, come, Zhichang, let's spar."

Qiu Chuji's martial arts were high, and he loved martial arts. His fellow disciples were mostly calm, and the only one he could spar with regularly was his junior brother Wang Chuyi. However, after many times, Wang Chuyi also avoided him. Therefore, he often found it boring to stay at Chongyang Palace and preferred to wander in the world.

In recent years, Li Zhichang's martial arts had progressed rapidly, giving him someone to spar with. Teaching his disciple was also a legitimate reason. However, Li Zhichang was rather indifferent. Despite his excellent skills, he only responded to each of Qiu Chuji's moves, making the practice rather dull. Still, it was better than having no one to spar with.

Qiu Chuji took the initiative, using the opening move of the Quanzhen Sword Technique, "Raising the Sail and Rowing." Li Zhichang, who had just fought a high-level opponent, felt quite helpless. He casually responded with "Carefully Measuring the Big Dipper," pointing at Qiu Chuji's Shenmen acupoint on the wrist. The two were extremely skilled, and they moved back and forth in the small room, dodging and weaving. Yin Zhiping watched, dazzled. They were having a great time, and finally, Qiu Chuji used "Cold Smoke and Withered Grass," and Li Zhichang used "Solitary Light Reflecting Itself" to block Qiu Chuji's move, ending the sparring.

Qiu Chuji said helplessly, "You're just not having fun. Let's stop."

Li Zhichang shrugged, meaning "Whatever." Qiu Chuji took a moment to regulate his breathing and said, "I called you here to send you on a long journey. I haven't examined your junior brother Yang Kang's martial arts for months. This time, go to Dadu to check his progress and teach him more advanced techniques. Make sure he doesn't slack off."

"Then, from Dadu, go to Zhongdu and deliver letters to my old friends in the northern desert. Promoting the Quanzhen Sect in Zhongdu is also part of your mission." Li Zhichang said indifferently, "Okay, I understand. But Master, Yin Zhong has been off the mountain for a long time. How about we go together this time? It would be nice to have a companion."

Yin Zhong immediately wanted to object, thinking that Master shouldn't agree, as it was too scary to be with his senior brother. Li Zhichang glanced at him, and Yin Zhong had to swallow his words, silently praying that Master wouldn't agree.

Qiu Chuji pondered and said, "Alright, but I'll teach Zhong a few techniques in the next few days. You can leave together in three days, and he can practice on the way." Li Zhichang said, "That's fine. I learned a lot from Master's guidance just now. Why don't you start teaching him now, and I'll go back to digest what I learned?"

Qiu Chuji waved his hand irritably, "Go, go, go, little brat."

Li Zhichang then said, "By the way, Master, I accidentally had a fight with the neighbor of the Living Dead Tomb today." Qiu Chuji asked, "Did you hurt him?"

Li Zhichang rolled his eyes and said, "His skills are much higher than yours. If he had used his full strength, I might not have come back in one piece today." Then he recounted the entire incident. Qiu Chuji said, "Since he's fine, that's good. But don't go to the tomb area casually in the future."

Yin Zhong was unhappy despite hearing about new techniques to learn. He had no choice but to comply with his master's order and watched Li Zhichang leave, waiting on the side. Three days later, Li Zhichang and Yin Zhong left the mountain together.

Having been in this world for so long, Li Zhichang had never left the Zhongnan Mountains. This time, if he felt like it, he planned to travel for a year or two. Qiu Chuji also returned his sword, the Wu Chang, to him, thinking it would be good for him to have a weapon on his first journey.

Of course, Li Zhichang wasn't foolish enough to carry a sword on his back. Yin Zhong had to obediently carry the sword for him. Li Zhichang led the horse, and Yin Zhong carried the sword as they descended the mountain and headed northwest. On the road, Li Zhichang felt very light-hearted and suddenly remembered a song from his previous life, singing:

"You carry the burden, I lead the horse,

Welcoming the sunrise, bidding farewell to the sunset,

Turning rugged paths into broad roads,

After overcoming difficulties, we set out again, again.

La... la...

Through the cycles of spring, summer, autumn, and winter,

Through the ups and downs of life,

Where is the road?

The road is under our feet.

Where is the road?

The road is under our feet.

You carry the burden, I lead the horse,

Crossing mountains and rivers, with frost on our shoulders,

Facing the wind, clouds, thunder, and lightning,

We sing our heroic songs to the horizon, to the horizon.

La... la...

Through the cycles of spring, summer, autumn, and winter,

Through the ups and downs of life,

Where is the road?

The road is under our feet.

Where is the road?

The road is under our feet."

"Zhong, do you think this song is nice?" Li Zhichang asked suddenly after finishing the song.

"Uh, nice."

"Nice? Then let me sing it again. If you don't want to listen, I have a new sword technique I've been working on, called 'Deadly Continuous Three Immortal Swords.' It's definitely better than the techniques Master taught you." Li Zhichang said menacingly.

Yin Zhong wiped the cold sweat from his face, "Actually, the song you sang is very nice, and I really like it." He thought, "With such a threat, how could I say it's not nice?"

Li Zhichang said, "You're indeed a well-bred disciple, understanding music! Tell me, what's good about this song?"

Yin Zhong sighed, "Senior brother, the scenery outside is much worse than that of the Zhongnan Mountains."

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