Chapter 25: Qian Lao Passes Down the Technique

Feng Zi followed in Qian Lao's footsteps, arriving at a corner beside the main gate.

If not for someone pointing the way, coupled with careful observation, he truly would have overlooked that spot placed in the shadows!

"Junior, what is your name?" Qian Lao sat behind the desk, picked up a brush, brought the lamp in his hand close to the paper, and asked with a smile.

"Feng Zi, 'Feng' as in 'seal', 'Zi' as in 'catalpa tree'." Feng Zi naturally knew his name was prone to causing misunderstandings, so he explained it a step ahead.

Upon hearing this, the old man recorded his name in the register while murmuring with emotion: "Feng Zi, 'madman'... hmm, it is a good name."

As he spoke, Qian Lao wrote down several characters shaped like bird seals—a script that was no longer in use today.

Looking at the characters Qian Lao wrote, Feng Zi only felt the doubts in his heart growing more numerous:

He had originally thought the "bird seals" (let's call them that for now) on the warehouse bookshelves were handwriting left behind by predecessors.

But seeing Qian Lao so familiar and practiced with them, Feng Zi felt a bit indecisive in his heart.

Just as he was letting his imagination run wild in his mind, Qian Lao had already finished the registration.

The old man raised his head and said earnestly: "Martial cultivation is about forging ahead; it allows for no hesitation or retreat.

"Little Feng, I hope you are just like your name, a madman who never looks back, and charge to the very end of the Martial Dao!"

Qian Lao's voice was very calm, even making Feng Zi detect a hint of "entrusting one's final words"—

Alright, I am letting my imagination run wild again...

He suppressed these thoughts in the bottom of his heart, cupped his hands, and said: "The path of the Martial Dao is inherently fraught with dangers; this junior will certainly not fail Qian Lao's entrustment!"

To this, Qian Lao only nodded slightly and waved his hand, saying:

"You have thirty days to comprehend and study this technique; once the time is up, you must return this cultivation method. That is the rule."

"I have noted it. Farewell, Senior." Upon hearing this, Feng Zi cupped his hands again, bowed in salute, and only then turned around, preparing to leave.

But just as he was about to push open the heavy warehouse door, Qian Lao's voice drifted over from his side: "Wait."

Feng Zi dared not be negligent, hurriedly turned around, and said respectfully: "Qian Lao, is there something that was left out?"

The old man did not speak, but casually tossed an object over, as nonchalantly as if he were throwing a common item.

Though Feng Zi did not know the truth, his body instinctively reached out his hand and caught it.

Looking closely, he discovered it was a book, with three characters in bird seal script on it: "Chongming Sword".

He understood immediately what a precious gift this was, and hurriedly walked to Qian Lao and said: "Qian Lao, this is too valuable; this junior cannot accept it!"

"I gave it to you, so just accept it with peace of mind," the old man said while lying on his chair.

Before Feng Zi could push it away again, the other party continued: "I imagine you have guessed it; this 'Chongming Sword' is a summary of this old thing's life work.

"This book is not in the warehouse records, so you do not need to return it to me. As for how to learn it... that will depend on your own ability.

"I have only one requirement: only you alone may practice this technique; do not let others know of this matter—I do not want to be sought out by trouble."

Qian Lao had already spoken to this extent; Feng Zi naturally understood that pushing it away further would only seem deliberate and affected.

He tucked the two cultivation methods into his robes and kept them close to his body with great care, then bowed deeply to the old man: "Many thanks to Qian Lao for passing on the technique!"

How precious was the martial experience of a Martial Artist whose strength was far more formidable than his own and whose life experience far surpassed his own!

But Qian Lao's attitude was very indifferent; he only waved his hand and said: "Do not speak such nonsense. If you truly make a name for yourself, that would be the greatest thanks to me."

"Yes, this junior takes his leave." Feng Zi performed one more salute, then turned and left.

Not until the heavy cast-copper door closed again did the old man sit up straight.

Those turbid eyes stared at the dim lamp flame, and after a long while, Qian Lao sighed faintly:

"The limit of a Martial Artist is merely a Grandmaster—in the eyes of those high and mighty big shots, without forming a Golden Core, one is ultimately an ant.

"Yet the barrier between the Martial Dao and the Immortal Dao is so despairing. Little Feng, it depends on whether you can live up to your name and cross the natural chasm like a madman."

By the standards of a Martial Artist, Qian Lao's age was already very great, great enough to have forgotten his specific years.

Naturally, the other party had also seen many geniuses.

But why would Qian Lao pass his mantle to Feng Zi? Perhaps he himself could not say:

For an existence of this level, pure talent was not enough to move his heart; the most important thing was to "find someone pleasing to the eye."

And Feng Zi just happened to catch Qian Lao's eye.

As for Feng Zi? He did not think that much, because the problem before him was enough to keep him busy.

What's more, there were not many people left who used the bird seal script Qian Lao wrote; if he wanted to read and understand that "Chongming Sword", he feared he would have to pay attention to learning bird seal script.

While lost in thought, under the guidance of a Constable, Feng Zi returned to the main hall of the County Government Office, passed through the hall where cases were handled, and arrived at the office where the clerks worked.

After a search that was not too difficult, Feng Zi found the Registrar who handled Martial School qualifications.

Following his knock, that Registrar, who had been buried in documents, looked up and saw Feng Zi, then hurriedly stood up to welcome him: "Martial Master Feng Zi, have you come to register for Martial School qualifications?"

The other party's attitude was so polite that Feng Zi did not put on airs, and answered with a smile: "Exactly. Have I disturbed the Registrar in handling official business?"

"Not at all, it is no trouble, no trouble," the Registrar also said politely.

As he spoke, the other party pulled a register from the documents, turned it to a certain page, and handed it to Feng Zi:

"I have already registered Martial Master Feng Zi's information in the book beforehand. Please check it and see if the information is accurate, and if there is anything that needs to be added or modified?"

Feng Zi had thought he would still need to spend some time registering his Martial School qualification, but he did not expect the other party to have already handled it properly.

This was naturally a good thing; he casually offered a word of thanks, took the register, and checked it word for word.

The information on it was naturally without error; even some details that Feng Zi had already forgotten or did not care about were recorded in the document.

One could catch a glimpse of the County Government Office's efficiency, as well as the Registrar's ability to respond and handle matters!

After checking it properly, Feng Zi returned the register to the Registrar and praised: "The Registrar's records are very meticulous; there are no errors or omissions."

The Registrar was also very satisfied with this answer, placed the register back in its original spot, and explained:

"Martial Master Feng Zi, please rest assured. In half a month, this official will go to the Baishan Jun seat on behalf of the County Magistrate to report on duties, and at that time, I will bring these registers along and handle them properly."

As he spoke, the other party turned and went to a cabinet, searched out a jade pendant, and handed it to Feng Zi: "This is the proof of identity for obtaining Martial School qualifications. Please keep it safe, Martial Master Feng Zi."

He took the jade pendant and saw the characters "Baishan" carved on it in a flying dragon and dancing phoenix style, and smiled: "The Registrar is thoughtful; thank you for your trouble."

Afterwards, Feng Zi and the Registrar exchanged a few more casual pleasantries before he left the County Government Office.

He still had to go to Lu Fu in the evening to attend Hanwen's banquet—but before that, he had to return home first to properly store these two cultivation manuals in a safe place.