Chapter 79

"Then, Grandpa Sutuka, we're leaving!"

Ling'er stood on the sand dune, waving to Sutuka and the people behind him, her smile beautiful, but with a lingering trace of worry in her eyes.

Ling'er had privately sought out Sutuka, asking him to go to her hometown, as his Inner Qi Realm strength was enough to suppress the area. However, Sutuka directly refused.

"Child, you need to understand one thing: violence is not omnipotent. Although it can eliminate your enemies, it often cannot solve your problems. Your problem isn't about who is in power or who becomes the head of the Lan family. Your problem is that you are unwilling to change..."

"Indeed, activating the Azure will bring a series of dire consequences, but this is the Lan family's decision. As the guardian family of the Blue Sea, your grandfather previously declined the position of the Ninth Martial King. So, the current situation is almost inevitable. But this is change, and it cannot be stopped by human effort. Unless you accept this change and take on what you should bear, even if I defeat your uncle, your cousin, or even your father, there will always be someone who wants to change. Unless you can make changes that satisfy them, violence cannot solve your problems..."

"Ling'er, your courage, I saw it in the ruins. But what I want to say is... sacrificing your life is not the highest form of courage. Death means everything is gone, so it is almost the most important thing for all life. But sometimes, living requires even more courage. Many times... living is the greatest courage. Ling'er, you need to be brave. If you can change, you don't need me to fight for you. The people around you can solve everything for you, as long as you have the courage."

(Courage... huh...)

Ling'er sat on the one-humped beast, deep in thought. As she thought, she suddenly found herself in the embrace of Sushiyan, who seemed to be below her one-humped beast.

"Are you still not feeling well? You actually fell asleep on the one-humped beast." Sushiyan looked at Ling'er with concern.

Ling'er stuck out her tongue and, with Sushiyan's help, sat back on the one-humped beast. "Don't worry, Sushiyan, I'm fine now. I was just thinking about something. It was so profound that I fell asleep... I'll be more careful next time." As she spoke, Ling'er's face turned red, feeling like a fool for falling asleep while thinking.

Sushiyan didn't show much reaction. She looked at Ling'er with concern, then sat back on her own mount, pulling it closer to Ling'er to prevent her from falling again.

Ling'er looked at Sushiyan with gratitude and then fell into a daze again.

(What Grandpa Sutuka meant by courage... I don't know. I am willing to sacrifice my life for the family, but the courage Grandpa Sutuka is talking about is definitely not that. The courage he speaks of, change, and... Could it be that Grandpa Sutuka is referring to...?)

Ling'er seemed to have an idea. Her expression gradually turned pale, and the more she thought, the paler she became. But gradually, her eyes showed determination, a kind of sacrifice...

(I understand. Only this way can my family remain unchanged. Only this way can it be... But if I do this, I will never see the books I love again. It's... such a pity.)

Ling'er smiled. It was a smile of understanding and clarity, but also one filled with regret...

On the other side of the group, Hao Qi and Zhang Heng's mounts were close together. Hao Qi, eating fruit, said to Zhang Heng, "You're smiling so broadly. Did you fall for someone in the Sutuka tribe? I know very well that Uncle Sutuka arranged a servant for each of us. Did you leave the ranks of mages last night?"

"Mage? What's that?" Zhang Heng asked, puzzled.

Hao Qi laughed and threw away the fruit core. "Don't worry about the details. I've said it countless times. Come on, what good news has you smiling so disgustingly?"

Zhang Heng smiled shyly, scratched his head, and looked around for a long time before whispering to Hao Qi, "Didn't Uncle Sutuka give everyone a reward? He gave me a reward too. You mustn't tell anyone... Uncle Sutuka used his Inner Qi to guide the free-floating energy of heaven and earth for me. Last night, I felt Inner Qi!"

"What!? You've reached the Inner Qi Realm!?" Hao Qi immediately shouted, causing the entire group to stop and stare at Zhang Heng in shock.

Zhang Heng's face turned red, and he frantically waved his hands. "No, no, no, I haven't reached the Inner Qi Realm. I was just asking Hao Qi how to reach it. Don't listen to him!"

The several Inner Qi Realm members of the Su family frowned and silently sensed, finding no sign of Inner Qi in Zhang Heng. They turned away and no longer paid attention.

Zhang Heng smiled as they turned away, then looked at Hao Qi with a murderous expression. "What were you thinking? I told you not to shout so loudly, and you still yelled it out."

Hao Qi laughed and finally asked in a low voice, "What do you mean? Didn't you feel Inner Qi?"

Zhang Heng shook his head. "Not exactly. To be precise, I felt the free-floating energy of heaven and earth. But Uncle Sutuka said that although my body has reached the quasi-Inner Qi Realm, it's mainly due to the effects of rare herbs. In reality, my martial arts foundation is quite weak. It's just that because of my body, I can sense it earlier. Hehe, I have a trump card now."

"Side effects?" Hao Qi, completely ignoring the issue, took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and asked Zhang Heng nonchalantly.

"What do you mean? I haven't even told you what my trump card is." Zhang Heng immediately replied, puzzled.

"What else could it be? With a quasi-Inner Qi Realm body and the ability to sense free-floating energy, what else could it be? You can probably use Inner Qi Realm strength for a short time, perhaps with something Uncle Sutuka left in your body. The mysteries of the Inner Qi Realm are endless. When Inner Qi transforms into Inner Qi, it carries a spirit, becoming a thinking or programmed energy body, allowing you to use Inner Qi Realm strength for a short time. What are the side effects? Tell me."

Zhang Heng scratched his head, somewhat reluctantly, and said, "Yes, I can burst into Inner Qi Realm strength for a short time, but the burden on my body is very high. If I stop after a short time, I'll probably be bedridden for about half a month. The longer I use it, the greater the burden. If I use it continuously until I'm exhausted, I might never have Inner Qi again, as my energy circulation system will be prematurely destroyed, or I might die on the spot."

At first, Zhang Heng spoke reluctantly, but as he continued, he became more open, recounting everything Sutuka had told him. Hao Qi remained silent, neither blaming Zhang Heng nor continuing to speak. They both fell into silence for a long time. Finally, Hao Qi said, "I don't want to say too much because you definitely have your own thoughts and plans. But remember... sometimes, living requires even more courage. Death means everything is gone. Only by living do you have a future, dreams, and hope. You should know your limits. Of course, at certain times and for certain things, one cannot retreat. Then, you will understand."

Zhang Heng recalled that moment in the ruins, nodded, and silently touched the longbow on his back, his eyes becoming even more determined...