Chapter 484 - 327: Parting, A New Beginning (Part 2)

Chapter 484: Chapter 327: Parting, A New Beginning (Part 2)

The order of their sworn brotherhood was quite interesting. They didn’t arrange it by age like ordinary people. In Gongsun Sword’s words: "Respect is earned through ability!"

Lie Que strongly agreed. This philosophy, that strength reigns supreme, was something the two of them embodied completely.

Little did anyone know, both were incredibly cunning. They had long since figured out that Ling Xiao was surely the youngest of the three. If they were to rank themselves by age, how could they easily bring themselves to ask Ling Xiao for guidance or try to gain small advantages in the future? But if they honored Ling Xiao as their elder brother, he would surely look after them, and there would be many other benefits. The path of a Martial Artist’s Cultivation is long and arduous. After a hundred years, everyone would be a venerable elder. At that point, who could tell who was the older brother and who was the younger?

And so, the three became sworn brothers. Ling Xiao was the eldest, Gongsun Sword the second, and Lie Que the youngest. That scoundrel was actually smugly pleased with himself. It was clear that when he vied for the position of Patriarch in the future, he would have two powerful allies!

Gongsun Sword had advanced to the Sword Emperor Realm and wanted to return to his clan for a period of seclusion. The Gongsun Clan also had secret techniques passed down only within the family, and upon reaching the Sword Emperor Realm or higher, one could take new Elixirs. So, the young man was eager to rush back.

As it happened, the women of the Ling Mansion were heading to Nia Academy, so the escort mission fell to him.

In truth, the women weren’t going to Nia Academy solely to learn Martial Arts Techniques, even though it was said that the lowest-level Heart Methods at Nia Academy were Earth-rank. Getting in wasn’t easy, either; the academy didn’t just accept anyone.

However, it wouldn’t be difficult for this group of girls to get in. If all else failed, they had Gongsun Sword, a man with considerable local influence. The dean of Nia Academy would have to show the Gongsun Family some deference.

Chunlan and Qiuyue felt the gap between themselves and the other beauties around Ling Xiao was too great. As his personal maids, Chunlan and Qiuyue were originally exceptional in everything from the four arts to embroidery. They were skilled enough to be chosen as maids for any great house; even if the Ling Family wasn’t picky, their skills were certainly not a source of shame.

But the other girls around Ling Xiao were all simply too outstanding, whether in terms of looks or martial ability. Even Ye Zi, who had been practically illiterate since childhood, was second to none in intelligence and insight. She managed the entire Lord’s Mansion flawlessly, to the point that even Song Mingyue, herself a well-bred lady from a prominent family, had to admit her admiration.

Therefore, Chunlan and Qiuyue resolved to spend a few years enriching themselves and were determined to improve their martial arts! As long as they were by Ling Xiao’s side, their sense of duty would compel them to act as his maids. They would feel uneasy if anyone else took over their duties.

Feng Ling, for her part, actually wanted more to return to her family or go to the Southern Misty Forest Kingdom to look for them. ’But on second thought, even if I went, I might not be able to find them. If those Ancient Ruins were so easy to find, Father and the others wouldn’t have moved the entire sect there.’

So, Feng Ling decided to leave a letter for her family, then use the next few years to improve her martial skills as quickly as possible. At Nia Academy, she could also shore up her knowledge in other areas she had previously neglected.

Truthfully, a sense of rivalry was at work. ’Since they’re all going,’ she thought, ’I can’t fall behind.’

As for Ye Zi, it went without saying. She wanted to improve her strength in every possible way! Furthermore, among all the women, Ye Zi was the only Cultivator!

Ye Zi was already at the Heartbeat Stage. According to Ling Xiao’s calculations, five years would be enough for Ye Zi to at least attain a level of strength on par with his own.

This prospect made Ye Zi’s heart race. ’If that’s true, won’t I finally be able to stand by Ling Xiao’s side as a true partner?’ Coupled with her perceived lack of knowledge in other areas, Ye Zi often felt inadequate. Thus, she was greatly looking forward to the trip to Nia Academy.

Although she couldn’t bear to leave Ling Xiao, she knew this separation was for the sake of a better reunion. She believed the moment they met again would be thrilling! By then, she would present a completely new version of herself to him!

As for Yisha and Ling Yun’Er, the two young women had always longed to attend an academy. They had only left their previous one due to special circumstances. Now that they had the chance to enter Nia Academy, hailed as the best on the continent, they certainly weren’t going to miss it.

In the end, with the six girls having made their decision, Song Mingyue hesitated for a moment, then decided to join them. The reason was simple: when all seven of them were together, the power of their Jade Maiden Sword Array was astonishingly great!

Although Song Mingyue was incredibly well-read, she lacked worldly experience. Seeing a chance for such an adventure, she didn’t want to be left out. ’In truth,’ she thought, ’I have another reason. I’m different from Shangguan Yutong. It’s only right and proper for Shangguan Yutong to stay behind; she’s tasked with helping Ling Xiao establish his sect and recruit disciples.’

’And I am Ling Xiao’s woman. If I want to get along with my sisters in the future, I can’t always be clinging to Ling Xiao. Otherwise, the others who have been together for so long might gang up and isolate me...’

One had to admit, her reasoning was sound.

In short, after the carnival, in the first month of the year 1456 of the Lanyue Imperial Calendar, the seven girls tearfully bid farewell to Ling Xiao and quietly departed under the escort of Gongsun Sword, Tiger, and clown.

The women of the Ling Family in the Inner City rarely went out to begin with. Add to that their secret departure from the city via a hidden passage, and it was no wonder that no one realized seven women were missing from the Ling Mansion.

Ling Xiao didn’t see them off from the city. For there is no greater sorrow than parting. He just stood on the city walls, gazing at the few carriages on the small road under the still-dark sky, and let out a soft sigh.

Lie Que chuckled beside him. "Elder Brother, don’t be so sentimental. In the end, all beauty is but a pile of bones! Oh, right... about little sister Yun’Er, she..."

Ling Xiao shot Lie Que a glare and snorted, "Don’t even think about it!"

Watching Ling Xiao’s retreating back, Lie Que shouted as he chased after him, "Eldest Brother, wait up! I am, after all, the future Patriarch of the Lie Family..."

At that moment, the surroundings were empty and utterly silent. Lie Que’s nonsensical shouting carried far into the distance. Luckily, the two had scouted the area before coming. Moreover, the place was flanked on all sides by the Lightning Legion’s barracks, so ordinary people couldn’t get near.

Lie Que didn’t end up staying long either. He had too much to do—for example, he had to go back to his clan and explain their failure in the Imperial Capital...

The Wulan Family and Emperor Li Wu Zhi had been completely silent ever since suffering a major humiliation. Just like the Zhe Family, which Ling Xiao had crushed, they all seemed to be lying low. But who knew if they were merely brewing the next storm.

Huangpu Yue had been living quite comfortably lately, still staying in the Imperial Capital to manage Ling Xiao’s businesses. She was just a bit bummed that Yisha and the others had all left Lanyue, leaving her all alone and feeling rather lonely.

The Huangpu Clan’s huge gamble had paid off! The Wulan Family and the Royal Family had hastily found a minister’s daughter to serve as a substitute bride that day in a clumsy attempt at a cover-up, but the truth of the matter had already spread throughout the Imperial Capital.

The Wulan Family became a total laughingstock, while the Huangpu Family’s prestige soared to new heights. Countless people looked on with envy as the Huangpu Family, a clan of merchants, had confronted an old, established noble family of the Empire and... actually won!

The Huangpu Clan’s fame was momentarily unrivaled, and as a rising tide lifts all boats, their business naturally flourished!

At the same time, Huangpu Cangran selected more than thirty talented children from the clan, all between the ages of three and eight, and sent them south.

The Shushan Sword Sect opened its doors quietly, yet its presence threw several neighboring kingdoms into an uproar. Countless families who had heard of Ling Xiao’s prowess, including many reclusive clans, were now scrambling over one another to send their children there.

One day, after finishing teaching the children, Shangguan Yutong sat with the High Priest. The High Priest let out a long breath, looked at Shangguan Yutong, and smiled. "That scamp, Ling Xiao, dumping this huge operation on us while he runs off to cultivate alone. It’s us, General Ling, and the others who have to do all the hard work. If I’d known teaching kids was such a pain, I’d have run off to cultivate myself!"

Shangguan Yutong smiled wryly and let out a soft sigh. "Yes... It’s been half a year already. I wonder when he’ll come back."