56: Chapter 56 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (Part 4)

A woman dressed in plain robes walked in quickly, a trace of panic still lingering at her temples; it was Chu Shi's mother, Madam Liu.

As soon as she entered, her gaze locked tightly onto Chu Shi, and her eyes turned red in an instant.

She hurried over to Chu Shi, looking him up and down, her hands trembling slightly as she touched his arm and stroked his face, her voice choked with emotion:

"Shi'er, my child, are you alright? I heard that you measured a Top-grade Root Bone, and some kind of innate constitution, and my heart has been hanging in the air, terrified that something might happen to you."

At this moment, she had eyes only for her son.

She held Chu Shi's hands, examining them over and over, afraid that he might be missing even a single hair.

"Mother, I'm fine, I'm doing very well." Chu Shi looked at his mother's reddened eyes, and his heart warmed.

He grasped her hand in return, his tone softer than ever before, "I've made you worry."

"It's good that you're fine, it's good that you're fine."

Madam Liu's tears finally fell. As she wiped them away, she chattered on with instructions, "Once you go to the Holy Land, it won't be like being at home; no one will be there to protect you. You must endure things, do not be overeager to stand out, and do not get into conflicts with others. Don't push yourself too hard in your cultivation either; your health is the most important thing. Being safe and sound is better than anything else."

"Mother has already packed everything for you. I've made you a few sets of clothes to change into, and the pastries you like to eat are all packed in the storage bag. There's also medicine for injuries and antidotes; they are all prepared. Take them with you, just in case."

Patriarch Chu Hongyuan sat to the side, watching the mother and son, and gave a light cough, "Alright, Shi'er just got back, don't nag him until he's annoyed. Shi'er is now an Inner Sect Disciple of the Great Sun Holy Land, with a boundless future; there's no need for you to worry so much."

"What do you know!" Madam Liu turned back and glared at him, her tone carrying a hint of anger, "He is my son; if I don't worry about him, who will? Boundless future or not, I just want my son to be safe and sound!"

Patriarch Chu Hongyuan was rebuked by her, but he didn't get angry, only smiling helplessly.

If it were in the past, he would never have tolerated a concubine speaking to him like this, but now, Madam Liu was Chu Shi's mother, so he naturally had to give her enough face.

Chu Shi watched the scene before him, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips.

In this life, he would not only ascend to the pinnacle of the martial path, but also protect his mother, never letting her suffer even the slightest grievance again.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Chu Shi had already packed everything.

As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he saw that the carriage was already prepared in front of the mansion gate.

It was a carriage crafted entirely from black sandalwood, with the Chu family crest and defensive spiritual patterns carved into the body. Jade bells that calmed the spirit hung from the four corners, tinkling melodiously as it moved.

Pulling the carriage were four Snow-Stepping Colts, pure white with not a single stray hair. They could travel a thousand miles a day and had a gentle temperament; they were spirit steeds that only top-tier aristocratic families could afford to use.

In front of and behind the carriage followed twenty Chu family guards, each at the peak of the Iron Skin Realm, with long sabers at their waists and solemn expressions, guarding the carriage tightly.

This was the ceremonial procession reserved for the legitimate sons of the Chu family; now, it was used in its entirety for him, the third young master.

The steward stood bowing beside the carriage. Seeing Chu Shi approach, he quickly stepped forward, "Third Young Master, the carriage is ready; we can depart at any time."

Chu Shi nodded slightly. Just as he was about to board the carriage, his gaze paused, and he looked toward the corner of the street.

He saw Li Hao standing there, dressed in a martial outfit with a long sword at his waist, his hem dampened by the morning dew, clearly having been waiting for quite some time.

Seeing Chu Shi look over, Li Hao scratched his head and walked over quickly.

His face carried a hint of guilt and embarrassment, as well as a trace of relief.

He cupped his hands toward Chu Shi, his tone sincere, "Chu Shi, I apologize for what happened before. I was blinded by obsession, tricked by that woman Yun Mengyao, and I fought against you at every turn, causing you trouble."

He had thought about it all night yesterday and finally understood everything completely.

All the fighting he had done with Chu Shi in the past was solely because of Yun Mengyao's instigation.

In the end, he was just a fool used as a weapon by others.

Chu Shi looked at the genuine apology in his eyes, smiled slightly, and patted his shoulder noncommittally, "It's fine, it's all in the past."

Li Hao continued, "I have decided not to go to the Holy Land, but to join the Lingxiao Sword Sect. The Lingxiao Sword Sect is also a top-tier sect in our Canglan State, and it is perfectly suited to my Innate Sword Bone. Furthermore, the mountain gate is at Lingyun Peak just west of the city, so I don't need to go to the airport. I will enter the sect to cultivate today."

Chu Shi was somewhat surprised by his choice, but after thinking about it, it seemed correct, so he gave his affirmation, "Not bad. Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. The Lingxiao Sword Sect is indeed more suitable for you."

"However, don't get too smug!" He suddenly raised his head, looking at Chu Shi with burning eyes, his gaze instantly igniting with the sharpness and determination of a youth.

He gripped the sword at his waist and spoke word by word, "Although my aptitude is not as good as yours, and the sect I am joining is not as good as yours, I will never give up. One day, I will definitely surpass you! When that time comes, we will have a fair and square duel!"

Chu Shi laughed, watching his high-spirited appearance, and casually offered a piece of advice, "Remember, with no woman in your heart, your sword cultivation will naturally become divine."

Li Hao was stunned for a moment, then, as if enlightened, nodded heavily, firmly engraving these two sentences in his heart.

He cupped his hands to Chu Shi again, his tone solemn, "Thank you for the advice. We part ways here; let us meet again in the future!"

"Alright." Chu Shi nodded slightly.

The two parted ways there.

Chu Shi boarded the carriage, the curtain fell, and the Snow-Stepping Colts moved forward slowly, heading toward the airport in the east of the city.

The carriage traveled along the main street of Canglan State; the morning streets were already bustling.

The commoners by the roadside saw the Chu family's carriage, stopped to watch, and pointed at the carriage, their discussions drifting in through the gaps in the curtain.

"Is this the carriage of the Chu family's Third Young Master? It's that genius who measured a Top-grade Root Bone and was taken by the Great Sun Holy Land!"

"Tsk tsk, everyone used to say that Third Young Master Chu had mediocre aptitude; who would have thought he was hiding his talent. This time, he has truly soared into the sky!"

"In the future, the Chu family will probably rely on this Third Young Master to reach even greater heights."

Chu Shi sat in the carriage, listening to the discussions outside, his expression calm, without a ripple.

These empty titles were nothing more than passing clouds to him. What he wanted was never these things.

Half an hour later, the carriage arrived at the airport in the east of Canglan State.

Chu Shi stepped off the carriage and looked up. He saw a massive spiritual-patterned flying ship hovering in mid-air, its hull a full hundred zhang long.

The flying ship was crafted entirely from black gold, with a huge Golden Crow totem carved on the hull, spiritual patterns flowing, blocking out the sky and sun.

A mighty pressure radiated from the flying ship, making the surrounding air become stagnant.

This was the flying ship of the Great Sun Holy Land.

There were many other small flying ships from other sects around, but in front of the Great Sun Holy Land's flying ship, they all appeared insignificant.

Elder Zhang had long been standing at the entrance of the airport waiting for him. Seeing him approach, he immediately smiled and welcomed him, "Nephew Chu, you've arrived. We were just waiting for you. Quick, come on board with me!"