TheLazyDreamer
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7. Parting Ways With Li Fang
🕑 Added 2025-03-26 20:50:00 +0000 UTC
Today, Su Kang would depart for the Qingyun Sect. After discussing everything with Fate last night, he was ready to take the first step toward materialising the plan.
He had decided to address the spirit as Fate. Speaking without a name had felt too awkward — as if talking to an invisible wall. Fortunately, Fate had no objections.
After taking a bath, Su Kang changed into a white robe adorned with delicate blue patterns. He swapped his earrings for a pair that subtly enhanced his good looks.
Men from the barren lands often wore earrings, a tradition passed down from ancient times.
Even after settling in Jiang State for centuries, the Su family had never abandoned this small habit.
A silent reminder of their humble origins amidst the rise to prosperity.
Through sheer hard work, the Su family had come this far. Now, Su Kang intended to push it even further with Fate's help.
With his preparations complete, Su Kang left without informing his parents. They were likely still immersed in discussions about the secret realm.
If the family obtained the Elixir Formation Pill, his mother and uncle would have a chance to break through to the Pill Formation Realm, ushering the Su family into a new era.
The Qingyun Sect was located amidst towering mountain ranges. Peaks pierced through the clouds, while rolling green hills served as the disciples' quarters.
The disciple quarters were quiet. After notifying the elders of his arrival, he returned to his simple wooden room.
He sat cross-legged on the bed, hands resting on his knees.
"Fate, can you sense it?"
The presence lurking within his spiritual consciousness stirred faintly—cold, indifferent.
"Yes, there is a 'child of destiny' here."
Su Kang leaned back, letting his eyes fall half-closed.
"The protagonist... It's really him."
...
By the time the summons arrived, the sun hung high overhead.
Su Kang followed the familiar path to the main hall—the highest peak of Qingyun Sect.
The marble steps stretched endlessly into the clouds, each step etched with the weight of countless generations.
The sect master's seat loomed at the far end of the grand hall, surrounded by elders from the Five Peaks and the Inner Pavilion. The atmosphere was solemn, yet the anticipation in the air was palpable.
Rows of young men and women filled the hall, their eyes shining with youthful ambition.
On the opposite side, Li Fang sat at the forefront.
His robes were plain, yet his presence seemed to draw the light toward him.
When their gazes met, Li Fang's carefree smile stretched across his face—a smile that could dispel worries with a single glance.
Su Kang returned the gesture calmly, but inwardly... he felt an inexplicable pressure.
It was their first meeting in two months.
"This guy... even his presence feels heavier than before."
Soon, everyone else took their seats.
Li Fang stood up.
"I have thought deeply during these two months... and I've made my decision."
His words carried a youthful confidence—bold, unwavering.
"Sect master, elders, and fellow brothers... I have made up my mind. I plan to leave the Jiang State to seek greater opportunities in the Central Plains."
"After all, with our cultivation talent and current realm, we will be only limiting ourselves if we stay in the Jiang state."
"I, Li Fang, am planning to go to the central plains for cultivation. Everyone, I don't know if you are willing to go with me on this journey and become famous in the entire Southern continent."
His speech ignited the hall.
Excitement surged through the younger disciples.
The speech was carefully crafted—his eyes shining with longing, his tone filled with boundless dreams. It was a story every youth in the hall yearned to believe.
A lone figure rising from obscurity to carve his legend into the heavens.
Even the old sect master Chu—his old, cloudy eyes—seemed to shimmer with pride at the sight of this young dragon about to soar.
All the young people were feeling their blood running and their heart beating wildly.
One after another, voices erupted, each filled with fervor.
"Brother Li, Shang Yu'er is willing to follow you!"
"Young Master Li, Heng Tian is willing to follow too!"
"Big Brother Li, Ling'er will go with you!"
"Hahaha, Senior Brother Li! This little brother naturally won't be left behind!"
...
In the main hall a group of younger people were enthusiastic and hopeful about this journey.
"As expected, they're marching toward their deaths. Li Fang fears nothing, shielded by destiny, but these naive followers will eagerly entrust their dreams to him," Su Kang thought.
Li Fang would survive countless calamities, shouldering the dreams of these fallen brothers and sisters — their lives mere fuel for his legend.
The entire world would celebrate Li Fang's rise, yet no one would remember the countless lives sacrificed along the way.
It wasn't until the last voice faded that Li Fang turned toward him.
"Brother Su, you're... silent."
Li Fang's voice suddenly broke the atmosphere.
All eyes turned toward Su Kang.
For a brief moment, the hall fell into complete silence.
In the past, Su Kang had always been the first to pledge his support.
But today... he was the last.
Su Kang's fingers clenched beneath his sleeve.
This was the turning point.
"Brother Li, I definitely support your decision. After all, with the resources of Jiang state, it is difficult to go further in cultivation."
"But... I cannot accompany you this time."
The hall stirred.
"Why?" Li Fang frowned.
Li Fang was reluctant to leave behind his number one horse. After all, in terms of cultivation resources, background, talent, and even in terms of cultivation level, Su Kang was top-notch.
He respects Su Kang quite a bit.
"Brother Li, I have my reasons to stay,"
"As the young master of the Su family, I have responsibilities to fulfill. I cannot abandon them on a whim."
Su Kang's voice remained steady, but the unspoken meaning hung heavy in the air.
He believed everyone would think that he was talking crap after hearing this.
Duties of a young master? He was just making excuses for face-saving.
Su Kang let the doubt linger.
Then, as if casually, he added—
"Brother Li, I will participate in the recruitment of the Heavenly Sword Sect two years later. Then we can meet again in there."
The subtle shift in their expressions did not escape him.
With those words, he had planted a seed.
He would leave the Jiang state, but he was staying now for some personal or family reasons.
Li Fang's brows furrowed, disappointment flickering in his eyes.
Su Kang didn't stop there.
"As long as I am staying here, I can also take care of the Li family."
Li Fang's eyes trembled.
Su Kang's heart clenched. A guilt rising in his heart but he suppressed it.
"When I go to the central plains two years later, I can also take them with me. In this way, when you are stable in the future, I can deliver them back to you safely," Su Kang said meaningfully.
The Li family was reduced to just a small group of people now. In the rise of Li Fang, the Li family had faced massacre many times.
Now that Li Fang was leaving for war. He couldn't take them with him. He could only leave them in the care of the Qingyun sect.
But he had offended a lot of people from inside the sect as well.
Breaking the legs of a pill-formation elder's grandson to slapping the inner pavilion elder's face, he has done all kinds of deeds that a protagonist is supposed to do.
Su Kang was aware of that—as long as he mentioned the safety of Li Fang's family, the latter would be more inclined to entrust them to Su Kang rather than the Qingyun Sect.
