The Fleeting Idea of Freedom

The Mountain-splitting Saber Technique was not too hard to master.

At least, this was what Shen Ling felt based on the notifications he was getting from the Perseverance and Hard Work 3.0 system.

From what he could see, the moves of the Mountain-splitting Saber Technique were very simple, easy to implement, and convenient to learn.

After the first twenty people mastered it, Shen Ling began to train the second group of young and strong sharecroppers.

One group after another, Shen Ling taught them all very seriously. During his lesson, he would point out what the young and strong sharecroppers did and didn't do right without any hesitation.

Shen Ling was very strict with his lessons. He wanted to make sure these sharecroppers knew how to wield the saber correctly. He didn't expect them to master the technique overnight.

But at least, they should get the posture right.

"Not too bad."

Seeing the young sharecroppers work so hard, Shen Ling smiled with satisfaction.

After one morning, all one hundred young and strong sharecroppers had learned the basic movements of the Mountain-splitting Saber Technique.

At lunchtime, Shen Ling released them so that could eat and take a break. They were to come back in the afternoon.

In the afternoon.

Shen Ling explained the basic mindset for the cultivation method of the Mountain-splitting Saber Technique to the young and strong sharecroppers little by little.

In simple terms, this was a type of cultivation method that required you to regulate one's breathing.

Shen Ling's students got the hang of it in no time at all.

Now they had acquired both the Mountain-splitting Saber Technique and the mental cultivation method.

Shen Ling looked at the group of sharecroppers standing before him and nodded his head in satisfaction. "From this day forward, everyone will continue practicing in this way."

The young men also nodded their heads in agreement.

With weapons and saber techniques intact, their motivation was no less than when Shen Ling would go about training himself.

Shen Ling was motivated because he was always seeing new improvements in his cultivation, while these young men were moved to continue working hard because they wanted to protect themselves and their village.

These two modes of motivation were different, but the effects were pretty much the same.

Another seven days passed like this.

The enthusiasm of these hundred young and strong sharecroppers continued to increase by day. Each of them saw a great improvement compared to the very start of their training.

"Elder Young Master!"

On this very day, the servants of the Shen family arrived once again in the village.

"I know."

While looking at the group of young and strong sharecroppers before him, Shen Ling nodded in a helpless manner at the servants standing behind him.

From the very first day, Old Master Shen did not want Shen Ling to stay in the village even temporarily. No matter what message Shen Ling had the servants send, there was nothing they could do to change Master Shen's mind.

Shen Ling knew that Old Master Shen was currently thinking of letting him take complete control of all matters of the Shen family. However, for Shen Ling, he actually did not want to take on that responsibility.

Shen Ling had never thought about being the head of the family…

However, he was left with no other choice.

Looking at the young sharecroppers standing in front of him, Shen Ling gave them a smile. "I'm leaving now. Continue practicing. I'll try to come and visit often."

One of the young sharecroppers said in a loud voice, "Young Master Shen, don't worry about it. None of us will slack off. Also, we'll teach whoever slacks off a valuable lesson if they fail to keep up with us."

Shen Ling smiled, feeling very pleased with his students.

The atmosphere in the village was very good, and during the training, everyone became one united front.

So, the lesson they were actually talking about was basically a joke.

Shen Ling did not bother to say anything else. He made his way into the carriage, and the carriage took him in the direction of Qi Hua City.

"Young Master Shen is gone."

All the young sharecroppers turned their eyes to the carriage and watched as it disappeared out of their sight.

"I'm going to practice my saber right now."

One of the young sharecroppers took the initiative to turn around and walk in the direction of the open space in the center of the village.

"I'll join you too."

Another young sharecropper followed behind his companion.

One by one, the one hundred young sharecroppers all choose to be diligent in their training and not slack off.

The old village chief standing at the village entrance had a very gratified look on his face.

He had been the village chief for half of his life, and this was the first tinges of hope he had felt in a long time.

"Hmph."

When Shen Ling got home, Old Master Shen snorted unhappily.

He had been sending out different people to call Shen Ling back for the past week, but in the end, it was futile. Shen Ling always used some excuse to reject his demands.

Shen Ling turned to look at Old Master Shen and sat himself down on a chair at the side. He poured himself some tea. "Are you tired of holding up such a stern face all the time?"

"No, I'm not tired at all."

Old Master Shen leaned heavily on his walking stick and responded.

With a smile on his face, Shen Ling said, "Even if you're not tired, I'm tired. Come now, drink some tea to calm yourself down."

Old Master Shen looked over at Shen Ling and did not turn down the cup of tea that Shen Ling had poured him.

"How's your cultivation of the Longevity Technique?"

Seeing Old Master Shen take a sip of the tea, Shen Ling also drank from his cup and then asked.

"It's going okay."

Old Master Shen did not have much to say in regards to his cultivation.

Shen Ling nodded his head. "That's good then. That means that you're making progress…"

Old Master Shen gave Shen Ling a puzzled look. Then, he could hear Shen Ling say, "There's nothing wrong with you. If you cultivate this Longevity Technique in a proper manner, you'll be able to prolong your life for at least a few more years."

"I know that."

Old Master Shen nodded his head, but he still looked puzzled.

Shen Ling went on to say, "Then, since your life is extended, it means you can continue to be head of the Shen family for a long time, right?"

Old Master Shen nodded his head again.

Still smiling, Shen Ling said, "That means there's no hurry for you to groom me to be the next leader. Once Shen Ping grows up in the future, he might turn out to be a more suitable successor of the Shen family than me."

Old Master Shen's expression suddenly became even more serious. "No matter what you say, I still want you to be the head of the family."

Right away, Shen Ling pulled his face.

Being the head of the Shen family was a powerful position, where he could control a vast amount of wealth and even decide the fate of many people, but the problem was that it was a very tiring job.

One should know that most emperors had short lives? Why was this?

Because they were all overworked!

Shen Ling nodded bleakly, his once bright eyes slightly dulled.

Seeing him so downcast, Old Master Shen said in a slow voice, "This is a very coveted spot. So many countless people out there can't wait to be head of the Shen family. Why do you refuse this position time and time again?"

While smiling Shen Ling said, "How should I put it? Maybe because if I take on this position, I won't be a free man."

Old Master Shen said, "Then what is your idea of freedom?"

Shen Ling thought this over for a moment.

After some time had passed, he lifted his head and said, "I can eat whatever my heart desires, drink whatever I want, go out and play whenever I feel like it, do whatever I want to do, and act according to my own will."

Old Master Shen said in a slow voice, "Do you know who fits your description perfectly?"

Shen Ling shook his head back and forth.

Old Master Shen said in a deep and rumbling voice, "In all of the Great Qian Empire, the only person who fits your description of freedom is the current emperor of the Great Qian Empire."

Shen Ling lifted his eyebrows slightly.

Master Shen went on to say, "You can rest easy that I won't hand over all matters of the Shen family to you right away. However, you know my body is not very well, so it is my hope that you can gradually take on some of the more important matters. I'll see to the rest."

Shen Ling nodded his head. "Okay."

Looking at Master Shen, who was obviously only in his forties but already appeared like an old man in his sixties, Shen Ling had a moment of hesitation but, in the end, did not turn him down again.

Even if he believed with all his heart the Longevity Technique could indeed length one's lifespan, in Old Master Shen's eyes, this might not be the case.

After a long time had passed, Shen Ling went back to his room and sat in a cross-legged position on his bed.

He closed his eyes and began cultivating.

The Longevity Technique!

'You have complete one full circulation of the Longevity Technique, proficiency +5.'

'You have complete one full circulation of the Longevity Technique, proficiency +5.'

Shen Ling looked at his status report.

'Cultivation Method: Longevity Technique [rank-nine low-grade cultivation method, level 3, proficiency 29940/30000].'

His proficiency points were about to reach the max level.

The Longevity Technique was about to witness a huge quantitative leap.

Arriving at the fourth level.