Chapter 7: Descending the Mountain

After handing over that set of Alchemy Technique to Lin Jing, Steward Li bid farewell to Han Jing directly.

"Senior Han, I take my leave."

Having said that, Steward Li left with Yuan Luo, and this time Han Jing did not stop them.

After the two had left, Han Jing looked at Lin Jing with a strange look in his eyes.

"I had heard from your father that you were an honest man, but it seems your father must have misunderstood you."

Lin Jing felt embarrassed immediately. He had gotten a bit carried away just now and hadn't looked like an honest man at all, so he quickly explained:

"Senior Han, since my father passed away suddenly, I had no choice but to do this for a living."

Han Jing nodded and did not harbor any suspicions.

"I was worried you were too honest and would be bullied after leaving the mountain, but now it seems I was overly concerned."

"Senior Han, you knew my father, why have I never heard him mention you?"

"Of course, it was because of you."

"Forget it, it's getting late now. You should rest early. I'll tell you more when you come down the mountain tomorrow."

Having said half of this, the sudden turn in the conversation left Lin Jing momentarily unable to react.

"Uh... okay then."

Seeing that Han Jing had no intention of continuing, Lin Jing had no choice but to let it go.

"You should rest early."

After finishing, Han Jing left the thatched cottage and flew away on his Flying Sword.

Lin Jing remained at the spot, enviously watching him fly away on his Flying Sword.

"Just wait. Once I've learned to fly with a sword, I'll definitely outfly him for three days and three nights."

......

Early the next day, Lin Jing woke up early.

Since he began cultivating, he needed much less sleep. Despite having many things happen last night and sleeping late, he was still sprightly.

After washing up, he picked up the already packed bundle and walked out of the cottage. Perhaps the consciousness of the original body still lingered, and on leaving, Lin Jing felt a sense of reluctance.

After glancing back at the interior of the house one last time, Lin Jing closed the door, turned around, and walked away briskly.

"One must always look forward."

This saying was perhaps meant for himself, or perhaps for the original self.

......

Arriving in the village, Han Jing was already waiting there.

"Let's go."

Han Jing called out and then turned and walked ahead, with Lin Jing following closely behind.

The Qingyuan Sword Sect was located on Qingyuan Mountain, and several surrounding peaks were also under the jurisdiction of the Qingyuan Sword Sect.

The place where Lin Jing had been staying was on the south side of Qingyuan Mountain, at Qingtian Peak. Descending from Qingtian Peak, and heading about two hundred li south, was Lin Jing's current destination—Nanshan Market.

However, the mountains were teeming with wild animals, and occasionally Demonic Beasts appeared, making the journey not so easy.

Only big forces like the Qingyuan Sword Sect were unafraid of these Demonic Beasts. Lin Jing had been on Qingtian Peak for so long and had not heard of any instances of attacks by wild animals or Demonic Beasts.

This was because the Qingyuan Sword Sect had long set up Formations around Qingtian Peak, and also had Disciples patrolling the area.

Unlike other small sects and Cultivator Families, they lacked such luxury, and encounters with wild animal attacks were common,

And occasionally even Demonic Beast attacks, which usually resulted in heavy losses for them.

After leaving Qingtian Peak and entering the woods, Han Jing handed Lin Jing a Godspeed Talisman, saying:

"My Flying Sword cannot carry two people at the same time, and we need to get out of these woods. You're slower, so use this to keep up with me."

"Okay."

Lin Jing didn't say more, took the Godspeed Talisman, activated it, and stuck it to his leg.

By then, Han Jing had already moved quite a distance away.

After sticking on the Godspeed Talisman, Lin Jing quickly caught up. Han Jing was indeed fast and with the Godspeed Talisman, Lin Jing could barely keep up.

"Your father, he actually entered the Qingyuan Sword Sect quite early, and even held a little fame among the Outer Sect Disciples."

As Han Jing walked, he started talking about the former Lin Jing's father.

Lin Jing followed closely behind Han Jing, listening intently.

"But later, a sect mission severely injured him and caused his cultivation to fall."

"It was during that mission that he acquired a Foundation Building Elixir."

Han Jing paid no mind to Lin Jing and continued speaking:

"He knew he had no hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, so he gave the Foundation Building Elixir to me and entrusted me to look after you," Han Jing said.

"So, you don't owe me anything."

Lin Jing frowned, unaware of all this. In his previous memories, his father was just a Spirit Farmer and had a good relationship with the former steward.

"But why did father hide this from me?" Lin Jing asked.

Han Jing turned to look at Lin Jing and said,

"Because you have a Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root."

"With a Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root, your path in cultivation was destined not to go far, not even qualifying to be an Outer Sect Disciple."

"Since you couldn't cultivate, it was better to hide it from you from the start and let you be a Spirit Farmer, living a stable life."

"Moreover, your father had many enemies when he was young. He did this to protect you."

After saying this, Han Jing sighed.

"Unfortunately, even so, some people wouldn't let you be."

"Your expulsion from the sect was because one of your father's old enemies secretly informed Steward Li that your father possessed a Foundation Building Elixir."

"The sect does not allow internecine strife among its members."

"Thus, Steward Li sought a way to expel you from the sect."

"He couldn't make his move within the sect."

"Your father's enemy harbored a strong revengeful heart, clearly unwilling to let you go, and being an Inner Sect Disciple, there's not much I could do against him."

"Therefore, I just went with the flow, letting you break free from the Qingyuan Sword Sect, although life may be tough, at least your life would be spared."

"So that's how it was, thank you, Senior Han, for your help."

From then on, Lin Jing finally understood that there were still people in the Qingyuan Sword Sect who wanted his life.

If it weren't for Senior Han's help, even if he avoided this time, he might not escape the next.

And according to what Senior Han had just said, the adversary was also an Inner Sect Disciple, at least at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Being targeted by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was frightening, and leaving the Qingyuan Sword Sect was indeed the best choice.

"I told you, you don't owe me anything, no need to thank me."

"Without your father's Foundation Building Elixir, I might have risked advancing to the Foundation Establishment Stage, likely resulting in my demise from an exploded body," Han Jing reminisced, still visibly frightened by the memory of that nearly failed attempt, fortunately stabilized by the elixir.

"Also, the Alchemy Technique given to you by Steward Li is incomplete. Refining First Rank Elixir Medicine should be no problem, but from Second Rank onwards, the failure rate increases significantly."

"Of course, this is what I've heard. As to the actual case, you'd have to verify it yourself. If it really won't work, just throw it away."

"If it really doesn't work, consider joining a small sect and becoming a Spirit Farmer."

"Ah… incomplete?"

Lin Jing was stunned.

"Why else do you think he would sell it?"

"If you luckily succeed in cultivation, you should still seek other Alchemy Techniques later."

"If it doesn't work out, give up sooner and look for other paths."

"Senior Han, I understand," Lin Jing nodded.

Actually, Han Jing had more to say; he didn't really believe Lin Jing could become a Second Rank Pill Master, even First Rank was a stretch.

Still, without any skills down the mountains, survival would be tough, so letting him try was harmless.

"However, the Controlling Fire Technique is valuable; you should diligently cultivate it."

"Hmm, rest assured, Senior Han."

Afterward, the two journeyed in silence, each deep in their own thoughts.

It was only in the afternoon when they emerged from the forest and reached the main road.

Han Jing bid farewell to Lin Jing.

"Alright, I'll leave you here. Just follow this road, and you will soon see Nanshan Market."

He then handed Lin Jing a Storage Bag.

"Inside, there are some Spirit Stones, enough for you for a while. If you run out of Spirit Stones inside and haven't reached the rank of a First Rank Pill Master, it means you don't have the talent for alchemy, and you should give up then."

"Take care."

After speaking, Han Jing flew back towards Qingyuan Mountain on his Flying Sword.

"Senior Han, take care."