“You’re awake?”
When Ling Xiao opened his eyes again, he saw his elderly grandfather.
White-haired, frail, and gaunt-faced.
“Sigh, why do you have to be like this? Just give in a little! Here, drink your medicine!”
The old man sighed, bringing over a bowl of bitter-smelling herbal soup.
From his grandfather’s words, Ling Xiao heard concern mixed with helplessness.
“Heh, it’s fine. It’s not the first time. I’m not giving in anyway.”
Ling Xiao chuckled, “Once I break through to the Second Stage of Martial Veins, I’ll settle the score with that Ling Chong!”
“You little rascal.”
The old man sighed again. Though Ling Xiao was a child he’d found, he’d always treated him as his own grandson.
Seeing Ling Xiao injured pained him deeply.
Ling Xiao took the cooled herbal soup and downed it in one gulp, a smile spreading across his face.
His refusal to yield wasn’t just stubbornness—there was another reason.
Ever since he began practicing that tattered manual, his body’s recovery speed had become remarkably fast.
He’d been knocked out like this several times before, but within half an hour, he’d wake up, his body mostly healed. A dose of herbal soup would nearly fully restore him.
“Just now, someone from the Ling Clan came by.”
The old man hesitated as he spoke.
“Grandpa, just say it. What could I not handle at this point?”
Looking at Ling Xiao, the old man sighed again. “They told you to prepare to leave the Ling Clan.”
“Leave the Ling Clan? Why?” Ling Xiao exclaimed in shock.
Only by staying in the Ling Clan could he learn better martial techniques and rise above his circumstances. If he left, he had no idea when his fate might change.
“They said the year-end competition is in half a month. This time, any outer disciple who hasn’t reached the Second Stage won’t be allowed to participate and will be expelled from the Ling Clan.”
The old man sighed once more. “I heard some other clans have taken resources from the Ling Clan, and they can’t afford to support so many people anymore. So they’re tightening the rules and cutting down on disciples.”
“How could this happen?”
Ling Xiao was stunned. With a month, he’d had confidence in breaking through, but half a month was far too rushed.
Yet the blows didn’t stop there.
The old man wasn’t done.
“And even if you break through to the Second Stage within this half month, it only temporarily secures your status as an outer disciple. Before you turn fourteen, if you can’t reach the Third Stage, all outer disciples must become servants of the Ling Clan—or have their martial arts crippled and be expelled.”
“That’s outrageous!”
Ling Xiao understood clearly. He was thirteen now and would turn fourteen after the new year. Reaching the Third Stage was impossible.
If he became a servant, his grandfather would no longer be allowed to live in the Ling Clan. How could he stay here with peace of mind?
This wasn’t just about pride anymore—it was a matter of life and death.
Besides, when he’d been chosen by the Ling Clan, his beggar friends had envied him.
If he left like this, how could he face returning to the beggar gang?
“Yeah, they’re a big clan with their own rules. We’re just outsiders, after all.”
The old man suddenly smiled. “Forget it. If it comes to it, this old man can go back to begging. It’s fine. I can’t let my troubles hold you back.”
“No!”
Ling Xiao shook his head. “Grandpa, even if there’s the slightest chance, I won’t give up. I’ll work harder than ever to reach the Third Stage before fourteen! I’ll make sure you live a good life.”
He gritted his teeth, clenching his fists tightly.
He’d fight for it!
“Child, you’re already pushing yourself too hard. If you keep this up, you might not break through—you’ll ruin your body instead.”
The old man sighed. “We need to face reality. Breaking through to the Second Stage in half a month is nearly impossible. Better to plan ahead.”
Ling Xiao felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on his head.
True, he hadn’t broken through in a year. What made him think he could do it in half a month?
His heart sank deeper. His greatest fear was that no amount of effort would matter.
With a month, he’d have had a thirty to forty percent chance.
But half a month? Though he hated to admit it, barring a miracle, it was impossible.
“Don’t be too upset, child. As long as we’re safe and together, that’s enough for me. I don’t need you to be great—just alive and well, that’s better than anything!”
The old man’s thoughts were simple. He didn’t want Ling Xiao burdened by too much pressure.
“If you’re worried about those beggar brothers laughing at you, don’t be. They’re all hard-luck folks. They won’t mock you. If you succeed, they’ll be happy for you. If you fail, they’ll welcome you back.”
Return to being a nobody beggar?
“No!”
Ling Xiao shook his head firmly. “Grandpa, have you forgotten how we were bullied on the streets?”
“Have you forgotten how Gouzi was beaten to death?”
“Have you forgotten those vicious people who gave us food laced with rat poison?”
“That time, over a hundred of our brothers died!”
“But we couldn’t fight back. That man had a martial artist guarding him. A few of us went after him, and they broke our legs!”
“Do you want us to keep living like pigs and dogs? I, Ling Xiao, refuse! I’m no less than anyone! I believe there’s always a way!”
Ling Xiao didn’t have grand ambitions. He practiced martial arts to live better and to avenge his fallen brothers!
The old man’s eyes welled with tears. He knew Ling Xiao was right.
It was all true. If Ling Xiao couldn’t become a martial artist, the tragedies would continue.
“Sigh, I wasn’t planning to give you the second half of this book. I was afraid you couldn’t handle it. But now, I can’t hold back. You’ve convinced this old man.”
The old man pulled a book—no, a tattered remnant—from inside his clothes.
“Isn’t this the other half of that old manual?” Ling Xiao asked.
“Exactly. When I found it, it was whole. But there’s a warning on it—read it yourself.”
The old man flipped to the page connecting to the first half.
“If you lack the resolve of a rock and the drive of the mighty, do not practice beyond this page, or death is certain!”
The words were written in blood on the page.
“Grandpa, don’t worry. I’ve got resolve and drive. Nothing will happen!”
Ling Xiao eagerly took the second half, returned to his room, pieced it together with the first half, and read it from start to finish.
“What is this!”
With a cry of shock, a golden light shot from the pages, piercing into his body.
He flinched, but nothing seemed wrong. Just as he relaxed, an image suddenly appeared in his mind.
It was a painting.
The painting was intricate, dominated by mountains and rivers, with buildings scattered throughout. It seemed endless at a glance.
Clouds and mist shrouded it, obscuring most details. He could only see a corner—a village with people and animals, serene and peaceful.
