Martial Cultivator

”Whether things succeed or not depends on human effort. As for freedom or the lack of it, that’s hard to say.”

A voice suddenly rang out beside Chen Wannian’s ear.

A young man had somehow already entered the bamboo building without him noticing.

Chen Wannian snapped back to his senses, qi surging forth, and immediately threw a punch. A terrifying burst of fist force exploded, shaking the entire bamboo building violently.

That single moment alone was enough to show that the Nepenthe Realm of this pure martial artist standing here was not mere flashiness without substance.

In that punch, Chen Wannian had used seventy to eighty percent of his strength. Anyone below the Nepenthe would likely be severely injured from it.

However, he had still held back and not used his full strength. Otherwise, if the full force of that punch landed, anyone below Nepenthe would have died on the spot!

As the punch was unleashed, terrifying fist force howled outward. Only halfway through the motion did Chen Lian, who had been sitting in meditation, finally realize what was happening. This alone showed just how fast Chen Wannian’s punch had been.

But as the punch reached halfway, Chen Wannian saw the face of the person in front of him and began to regret it. It was a young man he had seen once before, at the foot of the mountain. Although they had not spoken, he had recognized him as a young martial artist.

A young martial artist like this, how high could his cultivation realm possibly be? Under this punch of his, the young man likely did not stand a chance and would die a bitter death here. But the punch was already sent out, the fist momentum could not be reversed. He could only hope the young man had some precious treasure on him to block the strike.

But in the next instant, Chen Wannian frowned slightly as he witnessed something unbelievable.

The young man not only did not pull out any treasure to defend himself, instead, he actually began to throw a punch of his own in an overestimation of his own ability.

There was a clear order to punches, his strike had already gained unstoppable momentum, and the young man striking now had clearly fallen behind in timing. With such a gap in both timing and cultivation realm, the outcome would surely be disastrous.

Just as Chen Wannian was momentarily distracted, the fists of the two already collided in midair. A surge of overwhelming qi burst forth between their fists, as if a giant bell in heaven and earth had been struck at that moment.

When the fists met, Chen Wannian’s clothes fluttered, ripples spreading across them as if a layer of waves was being sent out. This was the qi flowing, finally dispersing into the world.

What he found most unbelievable was that the young man opposite him remained completely still after taking his punch head-on, not falling back in the slightest.

After that one punch, the young man did not speak, he just smiled calmly, then sidestepped behind the screen.

At the same time, a series of footsteps sounded out, and someone arrived outside the bamboo building, calling out loudly, ”Mr Chen, what happened?”

Chen Wannian glanced behind the screen, then gave his son a look, signaling him not to speak. Only then, did he walk to the window and say calmly, “This Chen suddenly comprehended something and caused a bit of disturbance while cultivating. My apologies.”

The cultivator outside the bamboo building did not think too much when he heard the explanation. After a few casual remarks, he quickly left.

Once those cultivators were gone, Chen Wannian turned around and said softly, “Sir, you may come out now.”

As the words fell, the young man stepped out from behind the screen and said with a smile, “Mr Chen is indeed a good person.”

Chen Wannian frowned slightly and shook his head. “If Sir cannot explain your identity and purpose, this Chen will still inform the mountain.”

The young man walked over to the table on his own, sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and then smiled and asked, “That punch just now, Mr. Chen, did you hold back on purpose?”

Chen Wannian thought for a moment but said nothing.

That had been an instinctive action.

“Which proves that Mr. Chen is indeed a decent man. At the very least, you don’t have the intent to kill indiscriminately. In that case, this risk I took to show up here wasn’t in vain.”

The young man looked at Chen Wannian with a beaming smile, and his next sentence left Chen Wannian utterly shocked.

“Mr Chen, are you aware that you’re already not far from death?”

Chen Lian furrowed his brows, showing a trace of anger. He was just about to speak when his father waved a hand to interrupt him. Chen Wannian thought for a moment, then slowly walked to the table and sat down. “Sir, what do you mean by that?”

The young man asked, “I assume Mr Chen has already guessed my identity?”

Chen Wannian was silent for a long time before slowly nodding and saying softly, “From the very first meeting, I felt Sir was no ordinary person. That attire already made it quite clear. Though nowadays many dress like that, for someone dressed like that to also be able to receive a punch from me, there’s probably only one person, Lord Warden Commander Chen.”

Chen Wannian casually revealed Chen Chao’s identity, but over on the other side, Chen Lian’s eyes widened. He could not believe that the black-robed young man before him was actually that young Lord Warden Commander whose name was now renowned across the land.

Chen Chao nodded directly and smiled. “Mr Chen truly is as they said, meticulous and sharp-minded.”

Chen Wannian keenly noticed the word “they” in his sentence but did not say anything, only continued looking at the young man before him.

This newly appointed Lord Warden Commander of the Great Liang Dynasty had been appearing in the foreign lands much more frequently than his predecessor.

Chen Chao did not beat around the bush and got straight to the point. “After Mr Chen went up the mountain, another group from Windspirit Mountain also went up. They’re staying in a small courtyard somewhere on this mountain, not for anything else, but to eliminate Mr Chen here.”

Then, Chen Chao told Chen Wannian everything he had heard.

Chen Wannian’s expression did not change; he simply listened quietly. Chen Lian, on the other hand, had a complicated look on his face. It was unknown what he was thinking.

After he had finished speaking, Chen Chao smiled and asked, “Does Mr Chen trust this official?”

Though he asked, Chen Chao also knew that with just his one-sided words, it would likely be difficult to convince this Mr Chen.

Sure enough, Chen Wannian then asked, “Then why did Lord Warden Commander specially come to inform me?And why did you follow them up the mountain at that time? Could it be just because we both bear the surname Chen, and five hundred years ago we were one family?”

Chen Chao asked with curiosity, “Mr Chen is kindhearted, is this official not allowed to be kindhearted as well?”

Chen Wannian shook his head. “In today’s world, I’m afraid that no one would think Lord Warden Commander is a kindhearted person.”

Long ago, Chen Chao’s reputation in the foreign lands was already not very good. Back then, people still saw him as a young man, but as his cultivation realm grew higher and he did more and more, and killed more and more, the words ‘young man’ had long since been discarded from him.

By now, what remained on him was likely just the words ’fearsome reputation.’

Chen Chao sighed. “The world has misunderstood this official far too much.”

Hearing this, even someone as even-tempered as Chen Wannian could not help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Having come back to his senses, Chen Lian felt that this young Lord Warden Commander was rather interesting.

Some things, when seen by different people, from different perspectives, would always turn out differently.

Chen Wannian was waiting for Chen Chao’s explanation.

Chen Chao looked at Yu Xiyi.

Chen Chao did not hide anything and smiled as he said, “It’s quite a fated thing. Back during the trip to the desolate north, in order not to reveal my identity, I made up a background on the spot, and it just so happened to involve Mr Chen.” ”Though Mr Chen was unaware at the time, it still counts as you having helped this official once. This time, this official is simply returning the favor.”

Chen Wannian frowned slightly. He did know about that matter. Back then, after the events in the desolate north, there had been rumors that one of his relatives had saved many people there. He had been confused about it at the time, but now that Chen Chao had explained, all the mysteries were resolved.

“Does Mr Chen still not believe what this official says?”

Chen Chao spoke and looked at Chen Wannian with a smile.

Chen Wannian gave an answer that surprised him a little. “What Lord Warden Commander said, this Chen believes ninety percent.”

Chen Chao was stunned.

Chen Wannian gave a bitter smile. “It has nothing to do with anything else. It’s simply that this Chen knows my own situation on Windspirit Mountain. As for the remaining ten percent, if those people from Lonely Moon Peak really show up on the mountain, then I’ll have it.”

Chen Chao nodded. “Mr Chen is not muddleheaded.”

At this point, Chen Lian, who had been holding back from speaking, suddenly opened his mouth. “My father was never a fool. There are just some things that, even if you know them, you can only pretend not to.”

“Lian’er!”

Chen Wannian spoke in a low voice.

Chen Lian said nothing more.

Chen Chao understood. “No wonder Mr Chen said earlier that you weren’t free.”

Chen Wannian’s old face reddened slightly. That earlier sigh had clearly been overheard by Chen Chao. Thinking back on it now, he still felt a bit embarrassed.

Chen Wannian had long been prepared for Lonely Moon Peak plotting against him, but he had not expected them to go so far as to leave no room for retreat, aiming to kill him outright. That chilled his heart.

“Many thanks, Lord Warden Commander. This Chen will remember this and repay it another day.”

Once Chen Wannian was certain, he immediately stood and bowed. Behind him, Chen Lian also cupped his fists. As a martial artist, he had already admired this young Lord Warden Commander. Now that the man had helped his father, he held even greater respect for him.

Chen Chao waved his hand and asked seriously, “Since Mr Chen is trapped here, have you ever thought of changing allegiances?”

AA Nepenthe martial artist, since they met and there was also a chance to rope him in, there was no way Chen Chao would turn a blind eye.

There were countless martial artists in this world, but even within the Great Liang Dynasty, there were only a few martial artists who had reached the Nepenthe Realm.

And Chen Wannian was no ordinary Nepenthe martial artist, he ranked among the top three in all of foreign lands.

How could someone like that not be considered a treasure by Chen Chao?

Chen Lian was just about to speak when Chen Wannian interjected, shaking his head. “This Chen was raised on Windspirit Mountain since childhood. Windspirit Mountain may have treated this Chen without kindness, but this Chen cannot repay it with betrayal.”

Chen Chao said with vicissitudes of emotion. “Those words don’t come from the heart, Mr Chen.”

Chen Wannian said nothing.

Chen Chao glanced at Chen Lian, then smiled. “You may avoid disaster this time, but what about the next time? On Windspirit Mountain, Mr Chen is living every day on edge. As they say, overt attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden ones are not. One day, you might die without even a grave.”

Chen Wannian still did not speak.

Chen Chao continued, “Even if Mr Chen won’t consider it for yourself, shouldn’t you think of this Fellow Daoist Chen? He’s still so young. Are you really willing to watch him end up the same as you, Mr Chen?”

Hearing this, Chen Wannian looked up at Chen Chao.