Chapter 499: Martial Arts Practice in the Prefectural City

Outside the Mountain God Temple.

Wang Lin said to Zhang Chengyong, who was beside them clearing a path through the crowded crowd: "Chengyong, go back; I and my young aunt can walk back ourselves, we don't need you to see us off. There are still many things for you to do inside the Mountain God Temple!"

He was among the first to offer incense; at this moment, anyone from Zhang Family Village or other villagers who came to participate in De Ben's god‑ascension ceremony, regardless of their thoughts, anyone who had received the divine rain baptism must offer a stick of incense to De Ben.

The Mountain God Temple was almost packed with people wanting to offer incense, let alone later when they return and briefly show off De Ben's deeds.

It's likely that the villagers of the surrounding settlements of Shizi Ling, as long as they can move, might rush over to offer a stick of incense to De Ben.

Don't think that besides the Zhang family members, there are many Zhang Family Village villagers voluntarily helping inside the Mountain God Temple; yet some guests still need to be received by direct descendants like Zhang Chengyong.

"Young uncle, look at what you're saying—what could possibly be happening in the Mountain God Temple? Just trivial little matters; with my mother and the others there, there's no need for me to stir up trouble inside."

Zhang Chengyong laughed; he had just led Wang Lin's group out of the crowded throng inside and outside the Mountain God Temple, clearly knowing that if he stayed in the temple he could be of great help, and he said solemnly:

"But young uncle, you're different—your Hutou Gou is eighty‑thousand li away from our Shizi Ling, and the road isn't very peaceful."

Bandits are inevitable to encounter, and even if you don't meet bandits, you'll run into predatory beasts foraging for food.

My elder brother brought you safely to our home, so I naturally must see you safely to Shizi Ling.

Otherwise, if even a slight mishap occurred on the road—say, losing a single hair—not only would my elder brother not forgive me, my father would be the first to not let me off.

Who doesn't know that my father cares most about your family, young uncle? He would rather see this god‑ascension ceremony fail than have any mishap befall your household.

Nowadays we can call it an age of peace and prosperity; although bandits inevitably exist, for various reasons they take to the mountains and plunder merchants from all directions.

Your family, young uncle, looks destitute at a glance; unless those bandits have their heads caught in a door, they would hardly think of robbing you.

As for predatory beasts seeking food, there is a major road from Shizi Ling to Hutou Gou, with merchants constantly traveling on it; unless the beasts are starving to the point of dizziness and have nowhere else to go, they would never go onto the road to forage.

But as the old saying goes: 'Don't fear ten thousand, fear the one chance.' In all matters, be as careful as possible; after all, being careful never hurts.

"Chengyong, you're full of twisted reasoning; if they let you study..."

Wang Lin laughed and scolded, but before he finished speaking he suddenly realized, swallowed the words on his lips, and changed the subject:

"Chengyong, you're no longer young; it's time to talk about marriage, but seeing you like this, you seem to have your own ideas—why not tell your young uncle what you plan to do, so you're not in a rush to wed?"

"Young uncle, to be frank, I intend to spend some time in the prefectural city."

Zhang Chengyong seemed to have thought of something, he hehed with a smug smile, and said:

"My master has a sect in the prefectural city, an academy; he says I'm a seedling for martial arts, staying in Qingyang County would waste my talent, and he plans to recommend me to his sect in the prefectural city."

"That's a good thing!"

Wang Lin knew that Zhang Chengyong was a martial‑arts fanatic; since childhood, upon seeing a martial practitioner, he had easily hunted a beast in Shizi Ling and begged his father to send him to the Qingyang County martial hall to study martial arts—for over ten years, unwavering, to the point of delaying his own marriage, he said:

"When was this? Why didn't you tell me?" "Young uncle, this was long ago; back then my father lay bedridden, unable to move, I couldn't make up my mind—I feared that if I left, I wouldn't see him one last time."

Saying this, Zhang Chengyong's voice trailed off, his face full of complex emotions, but soon joy replaced them as he laughed:

"I never expected that my father, after a lifetime of hardship, would in his old age be favored by the Yama King, who appointed him as the Mountain God of Shizi Ling; with my father as the Shizi Ling Mountain God, I needn't worry about my mother and elder brother, and can go to the prefectural city to practice martial arts with peace of mind."

"Indeed, your father has suffered plenty, and your young aunt has often shed tears before me, saying how he cared for her from childhood; even if I married your young aunt, your father would still help us from time to time—how could he not suffer?"

Although he spoke lightly, Wang Lin's face was full of gratitude; he could never forget how, during his family's most difficult days, De Ben helped them without regard for consequences—though he was his brother‑in‑law, such help might not even be matched by blood brothers, he said:

"Just, have you told your family about this?"

"I have—after my father became the Mountain God of Shizi Ling, I told them!"

Zhang Chengyong's face showed unrestrained excitement as he said: "They all approve of my going to the prefectural city to continue my training, and now my elder brother's wife is pregnant, so I have no worries at home."

"But one shouldn't say it like that..."

Wang Lin was about to advise Zhang Chengyong—loving martial arts is fine, but there's no need to resist marriage and children—when he had not finished speaking, he suddenly felt a chill run through his body, as if being stared at by a flood‑borne savage beast, his whole self plunged into a thousand‑year ice cellar; instinctively he looked up and saw a white‑haired lion step out from a patch of grass.

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"Young uncle, hide behind me!"

Not to mention Wang Lin, even Zhang Chengyong was startled by the sudden appearance of the white lion; with a 'cling!' he drew his long blade and placed it before everyone.

Knowing that his young uncle's family would return today, his family had entrusted him with the task of safely escorting them home; worried about mishaps on the road, he took up the weapon his master had given him.

"This is merely the outskirts of Shizi Ling; we haven't gone deep inside—how could there be a lion..."

Zhang Chengyong blurted out, "Shizi Ling is named after lions, so of course there are lions," but this kind of white lion is rare; before he finished speaking, the white lion ignored his sword‑bearing stance and walked over slowly, step by step, and he exclaimed in astonishment:

"Is it faint from hunger, losing its mind?"

"Chengyong, do you think it's possible that this lion came not to harm us?"

Liu Dongzhu interjected.

"Dongzhu sister, what joke are you making?"

Before Zhang Chengyong finished speaking, he saw the approaching white lion half‑kneel on the ground, bewildered, and asked: "What is this situation?"

(End of chapter)