Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 112 - 101: Time Flies

One carriage after another departed from the Lu Mansion, heading east.

People who used to be close were now nowhere to be seen.

Leaving Black Mountain Prefecture meant leaving the local center of power— to many, everyone from Lu Mansion had lost their value.

"You two really aren’t leaving with us?"

Lu Chang’sheng looked at the two men before him.

Wang Heihou and Niu Dazhuang.

After all these years, both had reached middle age, appearing much more composed.

"No. This time, I want to fight for it!" Wang Heihou said earnestly.

"Just like when you led us into the fray back then."

The four of them suddenly remembered those old days, their eyes growing gentler.

"You might die," Lu Chang’sheng said.

Anything could happen on the battlefield. Even Martial Artists like Wang Heihou and Niu Dazhuang, with their Pile Skill at Great Success, or even Hong Yuan himself, couldn’t guarantee returning unharmed.

The battlefield had types of equipment designed specifically for Martial Artists— enough to make any true fighter tremble.

Some large contraptions, if unleashed, could threaten even Hong Yuan.

"Fortune favors the bold!" Wang Heihou declared.

"Well then— take care of yourselves. I’ll handle your families."

Both men had taken wives and had children in these past years. Unlike the others, they trusted Lu Chang’sheng absolutely. So when Lu Chang’sheng said he was leaving, they asked him to take their families with him.

The other Martial Artist Council core members, however, were wary that Lu Chang’sheng might use their families as leverage.

It’s only natural.

After the convoy moved on, the two men stood in the street for a long time, unwilling to leave.

"When they come back, maybe we’ll be strong enough to shield them from wind and rain!" Wang Heihou suddenly said with a smile.

Niu Dazhuang nodded, his expression grown solemn.

That same night, through Wei Feng and Zhao Hu’s connections, both men entered the army— just as rank-and-file soldiers at first. Yet, with their Great Success in Pile Skill, they quickly caught their supervisors’ eyes, and soon commanded a small squad of a dozen men.

Times of war called for unusual measures. Just as Lu Chang’sheng had said: war was approaching, and few realized how close it had come.

Because the checkpoints everywhere blocked the news, many hadn’t received the important updates in time— not until the rebel army was at their gates did they panic, suddenly realizing how near war had crept.

······

By then, Lu Chang’sheng had settled in Fufeng Town, a thousand miles away.

He spent some silver coins in Fufeng Town and bought a five-mu estate.

Master Mo led the Protector Institute to tidy up, and soon, everyone moved in.

Fufeng County was remote; the official road, neglected for years, had fallen into disrepair— meaning it hadn’t suffered from rebel attacks.

Moreover, it was in the northeast near Gao Shan Prefecture, the land barren, ranking dead last among the Great Yuan’s Thirty-Six Mansions. Plus, the area’s routes were treacherous; unless rebels wanted to settle and rule, they probably wouldn’t linger here.

If they did stop, they’d head for the Prefecture City— not a miserable, backwater place like Fufeng Town.

The only real concern was the roving mountain bandits— but to Lu Chang’sheng, they were no threat at all.

Between two True Qi Martial Artists and six or seven Protector Institute guards, they could handle almost any bandit gang.

In the days that followed, Lu Chang’sheng focused on cultivation—and studying the wolf cub Fu.

Time slipped by swiftly.

Occasionally, some bandits would come through, thinking they’d get a meal, but not one survived. Soon, the locals realized some big shot from the city had set up in Fufeng Town.

Master Mo and the Protector Institute were healthy and strong— clearly, not ordinary folk.

It wasn’t worth hiding that much.

To calm the townsfolk, Li Nangua and Master Mo gathered the most prominent figures and explained their intentions.

Once those people learned the newcomers were fleeing the war, they breathed a sigh of relief.

They’d worried the Lu Mansion people had another agenda; as long as they weren’t troublemakers, they actually wanted more of them. More protection meant the townsfolk were safer.

Before long, Lu Chang’sheng achieved Great Success with the Immovable Stake, and even shortened the time to Minor Achievement in Five Treasures True Skill by several dozen days.

"Just one ordinary Pile Skill can save me this much time— if I master a few more, trigger some variables, I could reach Minor Achievement in True Qi Realm even sooner."

Thinking of this, he picked up another Pile Skill to practice.

With his current talent and Root Bone, ordinary Pile Skills took barely a month to reach Great Success.

Meanwhile, his research on Fu was making initial progress.

After a month, the wolf cub Fu grew restless— thrashing about for hours. After that, Lu Chang’sheng let him go.

The wolf cub darted into the night, heading straight for Great King Mountain. Lu Chang’sheng considered following, but Fu wandered deeper into wild forests. It was too dark and dangerous, so Lu Chang’sheng— reluctantly— gave up the chase.

He assumed Fu was lost for good, but the next night, as Lu Chang’sheng rested, he sensed movement outside. Opening the door, he saw Fu standing there.

As Lu Chang’sheng watched, Fu scratched out a few words— "Immortal Music Spring."

"So, he’s trying to tell me the full Immortal Worship Formula?" A flicker of strangeness—and unease—crossed Lu Chang’sheng’s eyes.

Just as he’d guessed, if this was all bait, then when the trap finally snapped shut, it would mean death.

"Martial Dao blood and spirit can resist the influence of outside powers. If True Qi Realm isn’t enough, I’ll hit Innate Realm. Four more years, and my Root Bone talent will reach a new level."

Lu Chang’sheng mused silently.

At the same time, the Martial Artist Council kept sending him news.

Last month, Black Mountain Prefecture City had erupted in chaos. Lord Xu Yuan’s daughter, Xu Zhuqing, led her forces to the Gao Family— slaughtering every last one.

On the way, the Gao Family’s True Qi Realm tributor struck back, killing many Xu Mansion elites— until, at the crucial moment, a woman stepped in and settled it all.

Exactly who she was, the Council didn’t know; events like this were top secret, and getting word of it at all meant the Council had clout.

Still, Lu Chang’sheng had his own suspicions. With power like that— only Daoist Nun Ruyi fit the bill.

"Gao Family’s roots ran deep in Black Mountain Prefecture. Lord Xu Yuan took action only after hearing the right rumors."

War was close.

The only thing making Lu Chang’sheng uneasy was Daoist Nun Ruyi’s intervention. His own master wouldn’t be able to stay out of it for long— he’d probably be dragged in soon too.

Lu Chang’sheng even thought Gao Family’s destruction had his master holding the line.

Another month passed.

Bad news came from Liyang Prefecture— the rebels had beaten the Prefecture Soldiers, and under Liyang Gao Family’s welcome, officially took control of the prefecture.

The region was shaken.

Fights everywhere moved from the shadows into the open. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

The Great Yuan was teetering on the edge.

Compared to that, Jinghua Prefecture remained calm— whatever was happening under the new emperor and court, no one really knew what it was like.

"What a shame the Martial Artist Council is still too weak. If it weren’t, perhaps Jinghua Prefecture could be infiltrated too."

Lu Chang’sheng sighed and kept cultivating, preparing medicinal meals whenever he could.

In a flash, four years had gone by.

······

Chill autumn winds swirled; Lu Chang’sheng opened the door and stepped into the courtyard. At once, he saw a small child, two or three years old, face round and rosy, running about as a woman chased after him.

"Father!"

Seeing Lu Chang’sheng step in, the little boy’s eyes lit up. He scampered over, grinning.

Lu Chang’sheng laughed heartily, stooping down to lift him up and place him on his shoulders.

The sound of his delighted giggles filled the air.

The boy was named Lu Chang’an, the son of Lu Chang’sheng and Li Nangua. He was clever and lively, loved by everyone in Lu Mansion.

After playing with Lu Chang’an for a while, Lu Chang’sheng sat down off to the side, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Is it because of Master?"

Lu Chang’sheng nodded.