Chapter 418 - 189: The Once-Humble Path; A Glorious Return and Anning County’s ’Realm Gate

Chapter 418: Chapter 189: The Once-Humble Path; A Glorious Return and Anning County’s ’Realm Gate

But that was for ordinary people.

He, Ji Xiu, would never stop!

He exchanged a few pleasantries with Lu Yu and the others, then watched them take their leave. Even from behind, they looked a measure more relaxed, a sentiment Ji Xiu could understand.

Then, he turned to Xu Longxiang at his side, gestured with his hand, and said with a smile,

"Master, please."

Ji Xiu openly invited Xu Longxiang to the Ji Residence, a place he hadn’t returned to in a long while.

Along the way, they saw Old Mud Lane, the Medicine Hall, the West Street Fire Kiln, and passed by the County Central Hall...

Ji Xiu made no effort to hide his humble origins. Instead, he recounted his past experiences one by one as if they were precious heirlooms, revealing everything.

His beginnings as a Horse Slave, serving Duan Chenzhou, joining the Fire Kiln, becoming the Medicine Hall Master, then a local Boss, and finally establishing his own enterprise, earning the title of Boss Ji and wielding great influence...

Listening to all this, Xu Longxiang couldn’t help but look at him with renewed appreciation. His understanding of his student grew even clearer.

Whether in his youth or after he founded the Dragon Elephant True Sect, the most remote place Xu Longxiang had ever stayed was Jiangyin Prefecture.

And in Jiangyin Prefecture, Martial Arts was a path for advancement. In such a Land of Order, even if you practiced martial arts, you couldn’t make any waves.

But in Anning County, if you wanted to practice Martial Arts, you only had so many options!

Either you threw yourself into a trade, entered one of the great halls, or risked life and limb in the mountains!

Resources were scarce, leaving few choices.

So, as he watched Ji Xiu calmly recount a life lived hand-to-mouth, where even getting three square meals a day was a struggle, Xu Longxiang had no choice but to once again take the true measure of his student.

It was no accident that he had come this far.

’Even without me...’

’...he still would have achieved great things.’

This continued until the two of them reached the threshold of the Ji Residence.

There,

Xu Longxiang saw a bustling crowd of figures.

Ji Xiu looked toward the commotion.

And saw—

People from the Three Great Halls of the Inner Street, like Mr. Liao from the Whale-Slaying Saber Hall, who had once tried to snatch him from under Duan Chenzhou’s nose to take him as a disciple; Instructor Wang from the Overlord Spear Hall...

People from the three major trades: Manor Master Lu of the Fire Kiln, Master Xuu of the Chai Market, Butcher Wei of the Cattle and Sheep Market...

One by one, familiar faces that had been hidden deep in his memory resurfaced.

"The Whale-Slaying Saber Hall presents three liang and three qian of Cave Limestone to congratulate Boss Ji! We wish Boss Ji a happy return and great success on the Martial Dao!"

"The Fire Kiln Lu Family presents half a jin of Hundred-Forged Red Iron Gold to congratulate Boss Ji..."

"The Niu Yangwei Family..."

Inside the Ji Residence, Old Yao—who had once been a fellow Horse Slave steward alongside him—flashed a grin of yellowed teeth. Dressed in brocade, his face was alight with excitement. He had been waiting by the residence for a long time, accompanied by Yao Shi, who had grown quite a bit taller.

When he saw Ji Xiu approaching in the distance, his eyes lit up and he broke into a grin that stretched from ear to ear, rushing forward to greet him.

He had only intended to return for a brief stay, like tossing a pebble into a lake, not expecting to make any waves, but his return had sent a tremor through the entire county.

So there was never any such thing as ’wearing brocade only at night’.

It has always been about returning to one’s hometown in glory after achieving wealth and status.

And this was no different.

CRACKLE! POP!

BANG! SIZZLE!

The lit firecrackers and fireworks exploded in succession, creating a lively scene.

A faint smile touched Xu Longxiang’s lips as he watched. He made no move to steal his student’s thunder—no ’shudder of his mighty frame’ or release of his Martial Saint’s might to awe the townsfolk.

He just sat there quietly, watching his student skillfully navigate the social niceties and exchange pleasantries all around, not abandoning the path that had brought him here just because his cultivation was now profound.

At the same time, Ji Xiu remained clear-headed, not growing arrogant just because the entire crowd was singing his praises. Seeing this, Xu Longxiang couldn’t help but nod to himself in approval.

’How many great figures have been ruined by a smooth path.’

’But this student of mine came up from a rocky path. In the beginning, he had no shortage of cold stares and ridicule. That’s why, when faced with all this praise and adulation, he is best able to take it all in stride.’

However...

When Xu Longxiang raised his head and looked in the direction of the Earth Dragon Cave,

his brow furrowed slightly without him realizing.

’This hometown of my disciple...’

’...it doesn’t seem as remote and peaceful as he described.’

His Martial Saint True Intent stirred on its own.

Xu Longxiang looked at the faint Illusory Gate floating in the void, invisible to the mortal eye. It was slowly opening and had already begun to solidify. He couldn’t help but straighten his posture, his gaze growing profound.