Chapter 730 - 309: A Ten-Li Farewell (Guo Wei’s Final - )

Chapter 730: Chapter 309: A Ten-Li Farewell (Guo Wei’s Final Chapter)

Chu Lingguang remarked with a sigh.

He knew that Yan Zhen and Andenuk were sworn rivals.

The two had been fighting for many years.

’With Yan Zhen taken away by the Profound Celestial Sect, Andenuk must be the one who misses him most, aside from the Yan Family. He’s also probably the most afraid of something happening to them overseas.’

"He’s definitely no match for you," Du Juan said excitedly.

...

"Master Guo!"

Mr. Du and Guo Wei sat together.

The two were of a similar age. One had spent his life in a high-ranking position, while the other had witnessed the fickleness of human relationships. Both had come to a deep and renewed understanding of life, and they found a great deal of common ground.

The two old friends had a heart-to-heart talk, starting with the situation in Great Yuan and slowly drifting into reminiscences of the past.

When Mr. Du left, his eyes were filled with tears.

He already knew Guo Wei didn’t have much time left.

But the battle at Yunchuan City was tense, and the clashes between Cultivators at the national border were constant. He couldn’t linger in Baiyang County for too long; staying for one night was already the limit.

In the days that followed, many friends, relatives, and even people Chu Lingguang had never met came to visit Guo Wei, but Guo Wei did not receive them all.

「Five days later.」

Guo Wei stopped receiving visitors.

He saved his remaining time for his family, playing with Guo Fang’s son in the courtyard or teaching Yang Xiaoning the Spear Technique.

Chu Lingguang, Yang Shaorong, and the other four disciples all remained at the Martial Arts Hall.

「That day.」

The afternoon sun shone into the courtyard of the Martial Arts Hall.

Guo Wei was lying on a recliner, watching Yang Shaorong lead his five junior brothers. They performed the Iron Mountain Fist on the sandy ground, and after finishing the fist technique, they moved on to the Saber Technique, and then the Spear Technique.

Finally, they all performed the Flying Leaf Lotus Spear together.

The spear techniques of the six martial brothers thundered, their movements perfectly synchronized—a spectacular sight.

Guo Wei closed his eyes, completely satisfied.

"Master!"

...

Chu Lingguang was the first to notice that Guo Wei’s breathing had stopped. But with an unspoken understanding, the martial brothers finished their Flying Leaf Lotus Spear routine before kneeling together before him.

And with that, Guo Wei, the Martial Arts Grandmaster of Baiyang County, had completed his life’s journey.

His passing moved even the Great Yuan imperial family to send representatives to offer condolences.

Currently, Yang Shaorong was an Inner Sect Disciple of Yuanchu Mountain, while Wu Feihong, Li Murong, Wang Chao, and Hei Hu all held high-ranking positions. Although Chu Lingguang had long since left the Court, the imperial family had never stopped inquiring about his strength and never dared to underestimate him.

Coupled with the fact that Guo Wei was a genuine Martial Arts Grandmaster, even if the imperial court had seen a change in personnel, none of the Yun Family dared to ignore Guo Wei’s existence at this time.

「Five days later.」

Guo Xiaotian, as the eldest son, Yang Shaorong, as the senior disciple, and Lin Yuanfu, as the son-in-law who had married into the family, took the lead in arranging Guo Wei’s funeral.

Chu Lingguang and the other five disciples wore sackcloth and mourning clothes.

They held a vigil for Guo Wei together.

As news of Guo Wei’s death spread, people from all over came to pay their respects in endless waves.

Those who knew Guo Wei, those who knew his legendary story, and those who had dealings with his disciples all came to Baiyang County one after another.

Chu Lingguang saw Zhang Tao, the Governor of Qiling Prefecture.

With the help of the Tree Vine Demon, he too had broken through to the True Martial Realm and become a Qi Refining Realm Cultivator. He was now continuing to serve as the Governor of Qiling Prefecture.

On the day of the funeral procession, he led an Imperial Grandson from the Yun Family to offer condolences to Guo Wei.

The Court bestowed upon Guo Wei the title of Duke Dingguo.

"Lord Liu!"

Chu Lingguang saw the Governor of Qingzhou Prefecture, Liu Ziyun.

Back when he was guarding Black Bear Island, he had been Liu Ziyun’s subordinate.

"Chu, my condolences."

As a Governor, Liu Ziyun had also received Spiritual Power aid and cultivated the Qi Refining and Qi Condensation Techniques. He was now also a Qi Refining Realm Cultivator, possessing the strength of the third layer of Qi Refining, not much different from Mr. Du.

"Chu Lingguang!"

Just then, a familiar voice called out.

"Xuanyuan!"

Chu Lingguang saw it was Xuanyuan Jinkang.

Back when the reincarnation cycle began, Xuanyuan Jinkang and Yang Shaorong were already disciples of Yuanchu Mountain.

Yang Shaorong was exceptionally talented and, through years of hard work, had become an Inner Sect Disciple of Yuanchu Mountain. Xuanyuan Jinkang, spurred on by his past shame, had also been cultivating diligently and had now established a firm foothold in the Outer Sect.

When Chu Lingguang saw Yang Shaorong, he had asked about Xuanyuan Jinkang’s recent situation and learned he was in seclusion for a breakthrough. He originally thought he wouldn’t see him this time, but unexpectedly, Xuanyuan Jinkang still came for Guo Wei’s funeral.

"I’m sorry. My deepest condolences."

Xuanyuan Jinkang had experienced the pain of losing a master. Back on Black Bear Island, Eunuch Liu had died in his arms, and because of that, he had held a grudge against Chu Lingguang.

Although they had since buried the hatchet, upon hearing of Guo Wei’s death and recalling the master-disciple bond between Guo Wei and Chu Lingguang, he knew that Chu Lingguang must be in even more pain than he himself had been back then.

However, to his surprise, Chu Lingguang, Yang Shaorong, and the others were diligently receiving every person who came to bid Guo Wei farewell. Although their expressions were solemn, they weren’t crying their eyes out.

Only then did Xuanyuan Jinkang realize that Guo Wei had more than one disciple. With Yang Shaorong there, Chu Lingguang and the others had a pillar of support and knew what to do and when.

’Crying and wailing at a time like this would only tarnish Master Guo’s reputation.’

"My master was smiling when he passed. He had no regrets," Chu Lingguang explained.

He had brought Guo Wei back from Great Qin, allowing him to see Guo Fang and the others one last time and to live a while longer in the Martial Arts Hall, settling many affairs. When Guo Wei passed, it was very peaceful.

’For a Martial Artist, it could be considered a good death.’

’The only regret is that Guo Wei had already reached the Qi Refining Realm and could have lived much longer. I never expected him to fall to the vile hands of the Cyan Cloud Sect.’

’I will get revenge for this.’

’This is also the reason I will definitely return to Great Qin.’

’To me, Guo Wei was like a father. A teacher for a day is a father for life. The feud for a father’s murder is irreconcilable. If I don’t settle this score, I am not Chu Lingguang.’

"Master Guo was a man of both virtue and talent. With so many people here to send him off, he is truly worthy of the title ’Martial Arts Grandmaster,’" Xuanyuan Jinkang remarked with emotion.

He had come from Yuanchu Mountain via Sword Flight. After entering Baiyang County, he had intended to ride a horse to the funeral to show respect, but the main road was packed with people coming and going. Listening closely, he realized they were Martial Artists and common folk from all over, all rushing to pay their respects to Guo Wei.

Although he couldn’t get an exact count, from his bird’s-eye view in the air, he roughly estimated that the number of people entering Baiyang County from all over to mourn Guo Wei was as high as two or three hundred thousand.

People had come from all the Government Offices in Qiling Prefecture to offer condolences.

The massive, dark crowd of people seemed to stretch on without end.

He knew that Guo Wei had departed with honor.

Likewise, Chu Lingguang, Yang Shaorong, and the others also understood this. As Guo Wei’s disciples, on the day of the funeral procession, all six of them carried themselves with great dignity, afraid of causing the slightest scene that might tarnish their master’s reputation.

Guo Wei’s burial site was chosen to be on Cyan Cloud Mountain.

He had picked it himself.

He felt that Cyan Cloud Mountain was an auspicious place. From there, one could see the Martial Arts Hall, Wine Street, and even half of Baiyang County’s territory. To be buried on Cyan Cloud Mountain was as if he were part of Baiyang County itself, as if he had never left.

Chu Lingguang and the other five disciples fulfilled Guo Wei’s wish.

They personally built his tomb.

Li Qiushui accompanied them the entire time. During these days, she came to realize that a mere secular Martial Artist could command such immense prestige.

Although the mourners who came to pay their respects were mostly unknown figures, people who were of no account in the eyes of Cultivators, the reverence everyone showed for Guo Wei, and the earnest manner in which Chu Lingguang and the other five handled the funeral, filled her with deep respect for him as well.

As the stone coffin was lowered into the grave, Li Qiushui, in her capacity as an elite disciple of the Profound Celestial Sect, bowed deeply to Guo Wei. ’Rest well, Master Guo,’ she murmured in her heart.

「That day.」

Baiyang County was overflowing with people.

Several nearby County Yamens had to dispatch men to help maintain order.

The funeral procession stretched uninterrupted from the Martial Arts Hall, through Wine Street, all the way to the foot of Cyan Cloud Mountain. Countless common folk, upon seeing Guo Wei’s stone coffin pass, voluntarily knelt and kowtowed.

Their reverence was not for the power of Guo Wei’s six disciples, but because they knew Guo Wei was Baiyang County’s first Martial Arts Grandmaster. His disciples had rendered great service to the Court, bringing supreme glory to Baiyang County.

By the same token, it was because of the existence of Guo Wei, Chu Lingguang, and the others that the common people were not exploited by the Government Office. Their respect for Guo Wei was entirely genuine.