My Cultivation Techniques Upgrade Automatically

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: How Pleasing to the Ear

"Young Master Wu, look at this middle path."

Liu Linshan pointed to the road in the center.

It was an official road, about ten feet wide, cutting straight through the distant mountains and fields. Ten or so *li* ahead, smaller paths branched off, and in the haze, a few homes could be seen.

Wisps of smoke rose from crooked thatched huts, and the faint sound of sporadic barking drifted over.

It had been a long time since he had experienced such a peaceful, worldly scene. Wu Chen couldn’t help but take a few deep, contented breaths.

Liu Linshan continued:

"Follow this road for eighty or ninety *li*, and you’ll reach a small city called Fenglin County. That’s where my daughter and I are headed."

"Although Fenglin County is just a small city, not nearly as prosperous as Cangwu City further on, it benefits from Cangwu City’s influence. Roads connect it north and south, and trade routes run east and west, so it’s a decent place."

"The major families in the city are all in the business of gathering herbs and hunting in the mountains, or running merchant and escort caravans. It’s a good destination."

"I have a distant relative there, so my daughter and I will have a place to stay in the city."

Wu Chen nodded. Liu Linshan was a Hunter with decades of experience, and his daughter had medical skills. Even without a relative, they probably wouldn’t have much trouble putting down roots in a small city.

"Young Master Wu, this road on the left goes to a place called Mountain Mist City."

Having finished describing the official road in the middle, Liu Linshan pointed to the dirt path on the left, which was heavily rutted by wagon wheels:

"The journey to Mountain Mist City is a bit farther than to Fenglin County. It’s nestled in the mountains, so the people there also live off the land."

"But because there are several famous righteous sects in the mountains, Mountain Mist City has very few bandits. It’s a good place to be."

"This is also where Zhou Yuntao and his companions are heading."

"Between these two roads, where does Young Master Wu plan to go?"

With that, Liu Linshan finished and looked at Wu Chen, waiting to see if their paths would align.

’If they were traveling together, once they reached Fenglin County, he would swallow his pride and beg his relative to find a stable job for Wu Chen.’

’After all, a life of fighting and killing is no proper way to live. A peaceful, stable existence—that’s what life is about.’

"Hmm? Is that all?"

Wu Chen scratched his head, wondering if he had missed something.

"What about this road?"

He pointed to the right, looking at Liu Linshan with a puzzled expression.

"Ah! That road, Young Master Wu, you can’t take that road! And you absolutely can’t go where it leads! You can’t!"

Liu Linshan waved his hands frantically, pleading earnestly, but still explained the reason:

"This road leads to a city called Black Stone City. It’s remote, and the land is barren and dangerous."

"What’s more, the city is overrun with gangs. A normal person wouldn’t survive there. Even if you were made of iron, you’d get scraped down to the bone..."

Liu Linshan’s voice grew softer and softer until he fell silent.

’The person standing next to me is no ordinary man.’

’He slays hundreds of demons and eliminates fiends. Where in this world can’t he go!’

’Let alone a mere Black Stone City!’

But the more Wu Chen listened, the brighter his eyes became.

’Why can’t I go to Black Stone City?’

’This Black Stone City sounds amazing!’

He finally understood why the path to the right looked so deserted. Not only were there no signs of life, but even refugees avoided it at all costs. Few people ever set foot on it.

It turned out to be a den of vipers.

Wu Chen nodded repeatedly in admiration. As Liu Linshan continued his description, he grew more and more satisfied with the situation in Black Stone City.

’Gang wars, gang leaders dying violent deaths, Martial Arts ripe for the taking.’

’How pleasant it all sounds!’

"Young Master Wu, think twice!"

Out of good intentions, Liu Linshan hurriedly tried to dissuade him. "Just the other day, you said that fighting those fiends terrified you."

"Why would you willingly go to Black Stone City and wade into those muddy waters?"

"Why not come with me to Fenglin County? This old man can find you a stable job, and you can live a peaceful life. Wouldn’t that be better?"

Wu Chen just shook his head, rejecting Liu Linshan’s kind offer.

’Fenglin County is definitely not an option.’

’According to Liu Linshan, the powerful families have monopolized all the resources both inside and outside the city, forming an unbreakable circle.’

’If I went, I’d have to start from the bottom, doing all the dirty, exhausting work.’

’He wasn’t afraid of being a workhorse. What he feared was that it would take an eternity to get his hands on a single Martial Arts manual.’

’He didn’t have that kind of patience.’

’Even if he became a retainer for a prominent family, he’d probably be ostracized and waste his energy on pointless squabbles.’

’As for being afraid... it’s precisely because he was afraid that he had to frantically increase his own strength.’

’Should he cower like a turtle in its shell and hide just because he’s afraid?’

’In the end, wouldn’t he still face the blade regardless?’

"Is Young Master Wu worried that the escaped fiend will come looking for you? Is that why you’re unwilling to go to Fenglin County, to avoid harming the innocent?"

Zhou Yuntao stepped forward, pointed to the path on the left, and invited him:

"In that case, why not come with us brothers to Mountain Mist City?"

"We have some connections, so we can find work as handymen for the sects in the mountains. No matter how brazen that fiend is, he wouldn’t dare come kill people in a renowned, righteous sect!"

Wu Chen shook his head at Zhou Yuntao’s invitation as well.

’Going to a sect seemed like a good idea, but starting as a handyman and waiting for a chance to stand out...’

’...he had no idea how many beatings he’d have to endure or how many years he’d have to wait.’

’He couldn’t wait that long either.’

"Thank you all for your kind intentions."

Wu Chen clasped his fist in his palm and looked at the people who had traveled with him:

"My mind is set on Black Stone City. There’s no need to persuade me any further."

Seeing how determined he was, the others knew they couldn’t say anything more.

"Since I’ve escorted you all into Cangzhou territory, my task is complete."

Wu Chen took off the bundle on his back, divided the dozen or so taels of silver he’d taken from the fiend into three parts, giving one to Liu Linshan and his daughter, and another to Zhou Yuntao and his group.

Everyone felt the scene was a bit strange.

’We were the ones being protected the entire journey. He gave us Martial Arts and guidance...’

’...and now, at the end, he’s the one giving us money?!’

Wu Chen paid them no mind. After distributing the silver, his figure shot off like an arrow from a bow, rushing down the desolate, empty path to the right. He looked impatient to get to Black Stone City.

"Everyone, the roads of the martial world are long. We’ll meet again someday."

His words drifted back to their ears.

In less than a moment, Wu Chen’s figure had become a blur.

For some reason, as they watched Wu Chen’s receding figure, they felt an inexplicable emptiness in their hearts.

The journey with him had been like a dream, one that still moved them long after they had awoken.

Especially Zhang Qing.

Watching the back disappear into the distance, his small eyes suddenly widened, and he cried out in alarm:

"Damn it! He still hasn’t returned my family heirloom, *The Legend of the Golden Vase*!"

Everyone: "..."

This left everyone speechless. After a long while, watching Wu Chen’s figure shrink to the size of a sesame seed, Liu Linshan sighed softly and said:

"With Young Master Wu heading to Black Stone City, I’m afraid those gang members and villains..."

"...are in for a world of hurt."

The others nodded in vehement agreement, like chicks pecking at grain.

Only when his figure finally disappeared, swallowed by the overgrown weeds, did they snap out of it and look away.

"My young brothers, then let’s use Young Master Wu’s words..."

On the official road, Liu Linshan’s sturdy frame stood straight as he faced the young men beside him and clasped his fist in his palm:

"The roads of the martial world are long. We’ll meet again someday."

"Master Liu, we’ll meet again!"

And with that, they parted ways.

Liu Linshan’s injuries had completely healed by now, and they had plenty of dry rations. Protecting his daughter for the rest of the journey would naturally be no problem.

He just noticed his daughter frequently glancing back in the direction of Black Stone City.

How could he not understand his daughter’s thoughts? He could only sigh helplessly:

"Daughter, this Young Master Wu is no fish in a pond. One day, becoming a king who can shatter the earth will be a simple matter for him. We... sigh..."

He couldn’t continue. No matter what his daughter’s feelings were, it could only be described as a foolish fantasy.

Liu Wei’s face showed little emotion. She just shook her head and said:

"Father, I’m not having any unrealistic fantasies."

"I wouldn’t dare presume I’m worthy of a hero like Young Master Wu."

"I only regret that I was not born a man."

"Otherwise, I would practice my saber every day, and I could definitely be like Young Master Wu, roaming the world with a sword, slaying demons and fiends."

She spoke with such conviction that Liu Linshan was left speechless and could only remain silent.

’He didn’t believe a word she said about being a man.’

’It was bullshit.’

’He only knew that after seeing a man like Wu Chen, it would be difficult for any other man to ever catch his daughter’s eye.’

’Forget his daughter; even he, Liu Linshan, would probably see other so-called geniuses in the future and think to himself:’

’’Compared to Young Master Wu, they’re still lacking.’’

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