After both Shen Hongbing and Shi Changfeng each gave their lectures to the masses, the fifty youths who were admitted into Pingxi Prefecture's martial arts academy stamped their fingerprints on the admission register. That would serve as a proof of identity once they report to the academy two months later. After completing all the subsequent formalities, everyone finally left the martial arts academy with the youths who had come to participate in the Martial Arts County Trial Examination together. They each respectively returned to their own homes.
As the main doors to the martial arts academy flung open, the youths flowed out at the same time. They either went home or met up with their friends and family who were waiting outside. Some of them were in high spirits while the others were silent and disappointed. The sorrow and the happiness they felt among them could only be experienced by themselves.
It was different from when he had arrived in the morning. During that time, Yan Liqiang had come alone, a stranger amongst the others. Apart from a couple of the youths in Liuhe Town, almost everyone didn't know who he was. Yet now, even when he walked amongst the crowd, Yan Liqiang could feel many gazes from the youths who had participated in the examination from all around as their gazes were silently fixated on him. This was the treatment he would receive for taking first place in the examination.
After bustling about for a day without drinking even one drop of water, everyone was already exhausted and starving by now. Yan Liqiang felt that his own tummy had been growling in protest for a long time. He didn't feel it at all when he was in the martial arts academy but now that he was done, he felt it was time for him to have a good meal.
Although his tummy was still growling in protest, Shi Changfeng's words were still constantly replaying in Yan Liqiang's mind. Based on Yan Liqiang's experience and judgement from living two lives, he couldn't help but feel that Shi Changfeng's words had some kind of profound meaning to them. The words he had said were also the best form of motivation and encouragement to everyone that was present. To Yan Liqiang at least, Shi Changfeng's words once again made him felt anxious and precarious. The exhilaration and the excitement he felt for seizing first place in the martial arts examination was then washed away.
Becoming a Martial Warrior only served as a starting point in this world, not to mention the fact that he had yet to become a Martial Warrior. 'So, fight harder, youth…'
...
Footsteps sounded from behind him but Yan Liqiang did not turn around. He thought it should be Shi Dafeng from the sound of the footsteps alone.
Ever since he trained in Marrow Cleansing, Yan Liqiang discovered that his perception was becoming more and more acute.
As expected, a hand patted on shoulder from behind and out came Shi Dafeng. He walked along Yan Liqiang's side. "Are you planning to head home now?"
"Yes, of course!"
"Do you have any plans for the next two months?"
"Plans? What do you mean?" Yan Liqiang gave Shi Dafeng a suspicious look.
"What I meant was, if you don't have anything to do for the next two months, why don't we travel outside together for a while to broaden our knowledge and experience? We could try our luck at Mount Azure Dragon within the borders of Lan Province and come back at the end of the eighth lunar month. Then we can head to Pingxi Prefecture's martial arts academy to report ourselves since it's boring to stay at home for two months anyway!" Shi Dafeng's eyes were gleaming with eagerness. "I went to ask Shen Teng just now but he said his eldest uncle, who is the headmaster, told him to enter secluded training and train hard for two months. He's not allowed to go out. Such a shame. I originally wanted all three of us to go so it would be more fun that way. I heard that there are a lot of secret dwellings where the senior experts enter secluded training atop Mount Azure Dragon. There are also experts who cultivate in secret up there all year round. If we were to meet one or two of the experts in the mountain, we can maybe revere the expert's demeanor. If we get extremely lucky enough to find a dwelling left behind by the senior experts and stumble upon a couple of secret manuals above the tenth layer in the process, won't we be super rich..."
Shi Dafeng was a man with a cheerful and outspoken personality. He was very carefree and didn't mind in the slightest when he had lost to him and Shen Teng. He was over it in the blink of an eye. A man like this was a person who was worthy to be friends with in Yan Liqiang's eyes.
Yan Liqiang smiled, "You go ahead. I still have things to attend to back home in these two months so I can't leave!"
"What is it that requires you to stay at home? Don't tell me that your family is arranging a blind date for you?" Shi Dafeng stared at Yan Liqiang dubiously.
"It's not a blind date. It's just that there won't be anyone to look after my father once I go to Pingxi Prefecture two months later. I am worried about him. So, I'm going to make some arrangements during these two months to lessen my worries afterward!"
"You don't have any brothers and sisters at home?"
"Nope. I'm the only child!"
"Then nevermind!" sighed Shi Dafeng. "I'll go alone then..."
"Yeah. Then I'll see you again at Pingxi Prefecture Martial Arts Academy!" As he said that, Yan Liqiang had already departed from the main gates of the Qinghe County Martial Arts Academy. He caught sight of the Lu Clan's guard who was waiting at an area not far from the entrance, leading two rhinodrake steeds.
"Yan Liqiang has come out..."
"That fourteen to fifteen year old youth wearing blue clothes is ranked the first amongst the top three in this martial arts examination! Yan Liqiang from Liuhe Town!"
"I never expected him to be this young…"
"I'm sure he's not betrothed yet…"
Before Yan Liqiang reached the guard from Lu Clan, gasps of amazement erupted in an instant. Taking a glimpse, he saw countless people still waiting outside the entrance, each and every single one of them were eyeing him with curiosity. The moment he came out, many of them looked like they were about to surround him. Amongst the crowd, a couple of them even seemed to be matchmakers. Such spectacle was no different than the scene in his previous life when the common folk would stand in a circle to gaze at the bright stars in the street.
Fortunately, the Lu Clan's guard managed to lead the rhinodrake steed to him in the nick of the time. Yan Liqiang didn't say anything further and immediately took over the reins. He nimbly mounted the steed before cupping his fists at his surroundings. Without saying anything more, he quickly left the martial arts academy together with the Lu Clan's guard, making their return to Liuhe Town.
Although the guard from the Lu Clan did not utter anything throughout the journey home, Yan Liqiang could still tell from the guard's eyes that his respect for Yan Liqiang had gone up another notch.
Upon returning to Liuhe Town, once he arrived on his rhinodrake steed, Yan Liqiang realized that the surrounding pathway area was abruptly bustling with liveliness. Numerous households on both sides of the path had come out of their homes to look at him as they cheered with noise and excitement. Wherever he looked, there were smiles plastered on their faces and what he heard from around him were gasps of amazement. A group of children were chasing after his rhinodrake steed while shouting, "The first place winner in the top three has returned! The first place winner in the top three has returned..."
Before he could even reach his home, Yan Liqiang had already caught sight of his own father. Yan Dechang and Zhou Tiezhu emerged from their courtyard and waited for him on the road outside.
Yan Liqiang dismounted the steed as fast as he could, leading it toward Yan Dechang. He smiled, "Father, I have returned..."
Yan Dechang's eyes instantly reddened in a flash, looking a bit moist. He deeply sucked in a breath of air and wiped the corner of his eyes with his sleeves. A smile emerged on his countenance as he said, "It's good you're back. It's good to see you home. Go and pray to your mother's tablet. Then we'll eat together. We've been waiting for you to come home... "
He naturally savored every bite of the meal he had at home. Even Yan Dechang, who never seemed to take in a drop of wine, was also slightly drunk from drinking too much that night.
Once they finished their meal, the night had completely closed in. Yan Liqiang personally supported the drunk Yan Dechang back to his room to rest. After he tucked Yan Dechang in bed, he went to fetch warm water and personally helped wash Yan Dechang's hands, face, and feet.
Lying atop the bed, Yan Dechang's face was flushed red; his eyes were shut and he appeared to be slightly intoxicated. His mouth was still raving on nonsensically about something.
"Xuelian… did you see? Our son...ranked first amongst the top three… I promised you before...to nurture Liqiang…waiting for the day for him to have the ability...to...avenge you…Then I...can finally put my mind at ease and join you…. Wait for me…"
As he wiped Yan Dechang's feet, when he heard the last of his words, Yan Liqiang abruptly froze mid-motion as though he was shocked by electricity.
Within moments, Yan Dechang finally dazedly drifted off to sleep, losing the capability to say anything anymore. After being stunned for a while, Yan Liqiang slowly shifted his gaze from Yan Dechang's face. Once he was done wiping Yan Dechang's feet, he carried the basin and left the room...