Chapter 694: Decision

“What? Knocked to his knees?”

Xun Heihu opened his mouth wide, nearly dropping the meat bun inside: “Really?”

In his heart, he was speechless: ‘How did I not know I was this powerful?’

“Hehe… my martial talent is average, but I’m good at observing!”

Ye Fengchun smiled warmly: “Yesterday evening, Master Yu just returned, looking grim… and the kitchen has started boiling healing herbs again—those contain a hundred-year ginseng. You’re not even qualified to drink them; only the two instructors might.”

“Brother Ye, you’re truly a talent…”

Xun Heihu sighed in admiration, feeling Ye Fengchun was wasted as a martial artist.

If he mixed among the common folk as a gossipmonger, he’d still have a meal.

“Cough!”

At that moment, a cough sounded.

Xun Heihu turned to see Master Yu and Master Xiong had arrived, followed by Yu Chigang and others.

Ye Fengchun froze in shock.

“Xun Heihu… how is your injury?”

Master Yu gave Ye Fengchun a cold glance, saying nothing.

As a superior, no matter how angry, one could never retaliate openly.

Anyone with even a shred of cunning would pretend magnanimity; even without lifting a finger, loyal sycophants would act on their own once they sensed the mood.

“Thank you for your concern, Instructor. I’m fine—just injured, and I’d like to request leave to return home and recuperate for a while.”

Xun Heihu replied respectfully.

To make the act convincing, he’d actually struck his own chest last night.

With his ‘Water Bear Body’ ability, this minor injury would heal instantly with a thought—no impact at all.

“Hmm. You completed your mission, though you targeted the wrong person. Still, your displayed strength is commendable.”

Master Xiong nodded: “And you’re injured… you truly need rest. I’m granting you half a month’s leave—go home to visit your family. With your talent and diligence, you still have a real chance to join the Five Beasts Gate. Don’t slack off.”

At these words, even Ye Fengchun forgot his humiliation, staring at his best friend.

He knew common martial artists had too few paths to rise.

And Xun Heihu, through his talent and hard work, had actually broken through the Five Beasts Gate’s threshold…

From today on, perhaps they were already in two different worlds.

“Congratulations, brother.”

Yu Chigang smiled warmly: “We’ve been classmates for three years. I should visit your parents, but I’m occupied with urgent matters—I’ll come later with proper gifts…”

As a noble scion, Yu Chigang and Sima Yanyan had always looked down on these classmates.

But a sixth-rank internal force martial artist who might join the Five Beasts Gate? That was different.

The aristocratic family's inherited manners caused them to instantly adopt their most refined demeanor.

“No need for formalities.”

Xun Heihu hurriedly said.

‘How’s that? Feeling floaty?’

‘The compliments from classmates, the shift in status…’

‘Once you truly take that step and join the Five Beasts Gate… the adoration will be tenfold, a hundredfold!’

Inside Xun Heihu’s mind, Fang Xing’s mocking voice echoed.

‘So… Senior, you’re telling me to stay humble, never forget my roots?’

Xun Heihu asked seriously: ‘I will, of course. From now on, I’ll work even harder…’

‘No. What I mean is: youth without recklessness is no youth… If you don’t boast and show off now, when you’re old, you’ll find your life dull, missing all the fun of showing off…’

Fang Xing replied solemnly: ‘Doing what’s appropriate for your age—that’s also a kind of childlike heart.’

Xun Heihu could only smile bitterly inside.

Poor children grow up fast—childlike heart? He’d probably never know it…

Poor children grow up fast; he probably will never know the innocence of a child’s heart…

Still that Jiangnan water village.

The roadsides were caked in mud, not a single stone slab in sight.

Even between the fields, the fresh stench of chicken droppings and pig manure lingered.

Xun Heihu walked through it, yet felt unusually comfortable.

True countryside was never any pastoral paradise—but he inexplicably felt at ease.

If Fang Xing were to comment, he’d surely say: ‘No gold or silver nest compares to a dog’s den.’

“Big Luo Uncle… I’m back.”

“Cuihua, you’re married now?”

Xun Heihu greeted everyone along the way, then reached his home.

“Is that Hu’er?”

His mother saw him, eyes instantly welling up; she rushed back to the kitchen and returned with a cleaver.

Xun Heihu saw it and smiled—he knew the family’s egg-laying hen was doomed.

When Xun Heihu saw it, he smiled, knowing the family’s egg-laying hen was in for trouble.

On the wooden table burned a large candle, usually too precious to light; beside it sat a full bowl of chicken soup.

Besides the soup, there were two dishes of vegetables and a plate of stir-fried chicken innards.

At the table, only Black Tiger’s mother urged him to eat more.

Xun Heihu and Xun Lao Liu exchanged glances, silently shoveling rice.

Martial artists ate heavily; soon, the entire table was cleared.

“I’ll wash the dishes…”

Black Tiger’s mother sensed the awkwardness, sighed, and went to the kitchen.

“Let’s take a walk.”

Xun Lao Liu stood up and spoke.

Though he didn’t know Xun Heihu was the one who saved him, from his earlier deliberate appearance, the son must have guessed he was Xiaotianquan Gou San.

Although he didn’t know Xun Heihu was the one who saved him, from the earlier deliberate appearance, this son must have guessed he was the Xie Tianquan, Xun San.

Xun Heihu replied, falling silent as he followed.

Xun Lao Liu walked ahead, his pace quickening until his figure nearly blurred into a shadow.

Xun Heihu poured internal force into his legs, keeping pace effortlessly, even with room to spare.

Xun Heihu infused his legs with internal strength, keeping pace with Xun Liusix without effort, even appearing relaxed.

After leaving the village and stopping in a desolate wasteland, Xun Lao Liu praised: “Sending you to Bai Lu Academy was right—you’ve already surpassed me in agility…”

They left the village and stopped in a desolate wasteland; Xun Liusix sighed in admiration: “Sending you to Bai Lu Academy was truly right—your lightness skill already surpasses mine…”

Could Xun Heihu say he’d already broken through to internal force?

Even without breaking through, a normal seventh-rank martial artist would be no match for his ancient martial arts!

“With your talent, you’ll surely shatter the barriers and reach the middle ranks… then join the Five Beasts Gate, bringing glory to our family.”

Xun Lao Liu grinned broadly.

“If you want me to join the Five Beasts Gate, why dig up the graves of its masters?”

“If you want me to join the Five Beasts Gate, why dig up the graves of their masters?”

“Ah… I didn’t want to either. But that grave was my wife’s family’s—how would I dare dig up the real masters’ graves of the Five Beasts Gate?”

Xun Lao Liu groaned: “I was careless before—I didn’t check properly. Don’t worry, from now on, Xiaotianquan is dead in the martial world. I’ll stay home and live quietly with your mother…”

Xun Heihu exhaled a long breath, touched—his father had sacrificed much for him: “Father…”

“Ha! Don’t act like a child! My son will surely make the New Wind List!”

Xun Lao Liu laughed, then pulled out a booklet from his robe and shoved it into Xun Heihu’s hands: “I’ve got nothing else to give you—just this ‘Fishing Toad Force.’ I spent countless efforts to get it—a middle-rank manual. Too bad… I tried to break through and failed. Looks like I wasn’t destined for it…”

Xun Liusix laughed heartily, then pulled out a booklet from his robe and shoved it into Xun Heihu’s hands: “Your old man has nothing to his name except this book, The Toad-Stealing Qi. I spent countless efforts to get it—it’s a mid-third-rank technique. Too bad… I tried to break through but failed. Looks like I just wasn’t destined for it…”

Such a manual, if suited to the right person, could continuously produce middle-rank experts.

It was the very foundation of small clans and sects!

“I took this scripture from a Daoist’s tomb—it might be linked to Tianyang Sect…”

Xun Lao Liu said sheepishly: “So don’t practice it—just use it for reference. I’ve written down many martial world experiences and insights on it. Flip through it often. True martial arts? You’ll learn them best by joining the Five Beasts Gate.”

Xun Liusix said a little shyly: “So don’t practice it—just use it for reference. I’ve also written down many experiences and insights from my travels. Flip through it often when you have time. True martial arts? You’re still better off joining the Five Beasts Gate.”

Xun Heihu suddenly spoke.

“What?” Xun Lao Liu gasped, then asked: “Because of… me?”

“No wall is soundproof. Besides… even if I could hide it forever, my conscience wouldn’t let me.”

Xun Heihu lowered his voice: “Father, take Mother and leave Chuzhou. I’m leaving too. The Nine Great Sects—besides Five Beasts Gate, there are eight others.”

Xun Heihu lowered his voice: “Father, take Mother and leave Chuzhou… I’m preparing to leave Chuzhou too. Of the Nine Great Sects, besides the Five Beasts Gate, there are still eight others to choose from.”

Xun Lao Liu gritted his teeth: “Fine. We leave Chuzhou—then we fear nothing.”

Xiaotianquan’s territory was only Chuzhou.

Leaving Chuzhou meant almost no chance of encountering the victims.

Leaving Chuzhou, the likelihood of encountering the aggrieved party becomes extremely low.

After all, this is an era of sect warlordism; even if you kill someone and are wanted by your sect, just flee to the territory of that sect’s enemy, and everything is forgotten…

“Hmm, then you’d better move immediately… and find another excuse.”

Xun Heihu nodded, then muttered to himself: ‘Actually… the one thing I fear most failing is my martial heart.’

The Five Animals Gate has no real connection to him now; even the White Deer Courtyard was merely a transaction—pay money, receive martial instruction, and that’s the end of it.

But joining a sect requires extreme caution, and one must swear an oath.

His father’s actions made Xun Heihu feel inherently guilty toward the Five Animals Gate; to swear an oath of loyalty and join would feel like deceit.

Some might not care, but he does!

‘Elder… do you think my choice is right or wrong?’

Xun Heihu asked inwardly.

‘In this world, how many things are truly right or wrong?’

‘Since you’ve made your choice, then so be it… just remember, once the stone is placed, there’s no taking it back.’

Fang Xing scoffed and replied.

‘Stay true to your heart, and never regret your move.’

Xun Heihu chuckled: ‘I only dare say this because I have the True Martial Talisman… even if I can’t join a great sect, I’ll roam the world as a wandering young hero.’

‘Wandering young hero? You’re dreaming…’

Fang Xing asked casually: ‘Where do young heroes get their elegant robes, fine swords, and steeds? How do they pay for food and lodging along the way? Even… how do they wash their undergarments at night? No matter how grand the wandering hero’s dream, it always comes down to rice, oil, salt, and firewood… without a faction’s backing, those so-called wandering heroes turn into filthy, unkempt beggars within a month.’