Bringing advanced martial arts techniques to a low-level martial arts world

Chapter 31 Leaving Peach Blossom Spring

Having settled many trivial matters, Sheng Wansong finally returned to Taoyuan Village.

There are three of us siblings.

"The four siblings eradicated the Great King Village, bringing benefits to the local area, yet no one knew about it."

Upon seeing her eldest brother return, the third sister, Zhang Jiao, said indignantly to him, "We helped the court rid itself of this great scourge; we deserve a reward!"

"Our purpose in coming here is to protect the safety of our fellow villagers, not for fame or fortune."

The second sister, Guan Lin, served her eldest brother hot tea. As she bent over, she gently brushed aside her loose strands of hair, her brows furrowed with a hint of allure. "Third sister, you're too focused on appearances."

After drinking the tea offered by his second sister, Sheng Wansong chuckled and said...

"Those who do good deeds will surely be rewarded, and this time it's on my third sister's side."

"Ha ha!"

Zhang Jiao laughed heartily, beaming with pride: "My brother and I truly admire each other; we share the same views!"

Seeing her so smug, Guan Lin couldn't help but shake her head. "Although you and I have reached the same conclusion, the deeper meaning and realm of thought are different. You, Third Sister, are only concerned with fame and fortune, while I, the eldest brother, am concerned with justice."

"I think you're clearly jealous of me, Second Sister!"

The third sister spoke her mind, causing a fleeting look of displeasure to cross Guan Lin's face.

Sheng Wansong pretended not to see it, took out the mountain king's cleaver and slammed it on the table.

"You two are still inexperienced in cultivation. If you were to say that you killed Gui Jianchou, it would inevitably arouse suspicion."

"Once you have mastered the techniques I taught you to the next level and are strong enough, you can use this sword to collect your reward from the county government."

"This will also allow my second and third sisters to become famous throughout the world."

Just as he took a sip of the clear tea his second sister had brought, An Lan brought him another cup of sweet tea, placing it on the table on tiptoe. Sheng Wansong had no choice but to drink it again. "The reputation of annihilating the Great King's Stronghold is far more significant than my status as a hero of Chu Xiang."

Upon hearing this, Guan Lin quickly declined.

"The credit for this was all given to my eldest brother and younger sister An. How can my sister and I claim all the credit?"

Zhang Jiao echoed, "That's right, that's right."

"If a peach is divided among four people, it will be gone before they even get a taste."

Sheng Wansong gently shook his head, "An'an and I travel the world; if we want to become famous, we'll have plenty of opportunities."

Relying on his elder brother's authority, Sheng Wansong forced the two of them to accept the credit.

Guan Lin felt unworthy of the honor, while Zhang Jiao felt that her second sister was being too nagging.

Regardless of one's thoughts, the matter has been settled.

"The matter at Dawangzhai is settled. Brother, are you about to set off for Suzhou?"

The group looked at Sheng Wansong together.

His second and third sisters' mother were naturally reluctant to let him leave, while An Lan couldn't wait to pack his bags and leave right now.

Katsu Mansatsu took in the expressions of the four people, but he never intended to change his mind because of others.

I'll leave tomorrow.

Upon hearing this, Anlan was overjoyed, while her mother felt somewhat sorrowful.

The second and third sisters were also reluctant to part, but they did not show it outwardly.

We've already wasted almost half a month in Taoyuan Village.

If you want to make it to the Sword Appreciation Competition, there are only two and a half months left.

Suzhou is far from here, near the Yangtze River, and quite far from Chuxiang. If one were to travel at full speed, it would take half a month.

Traveling by horse-drawn carriage would take a month and a half.

If you just want to get there as quickly as possible, Sheng Wansong will use his full speed to ascend to immortality faster than the speed of sound, and he will not be allowed to take the main road. He will climb mountains and traverse forests, and he can arrive in half a day.

But that would be too boring.

In life, one should naturally take time to appreciate natural scenery and savor the myriad aspects of human life.

"Since you're leaving tomorrow, I'll cook a good meal."

The mother got up and went to the kitchen to start working, and wisps of smoke rose from the chimney.

"Brother, how about taking a walk around the village with your sister?"

Sheng Wansong naturally agreed.

The three siblings, along with Anlan, traveled through Peach Blossom Village.

When they were little, Guan Lin and Zhang Jiao were nobody, and it was only Sheng Wansong who took them in. Who would have thought that they would change so much as they grew up? At the age of fourteen, they became so beautiful that people in the village were almost afraid to look at them.

They first went to the blacksmith's shop.

Business was slow in the village, and the craftsman with graying temples sat by the iron felt to cool off.

Seeing the group approaching, he waved from afar.

"Although Uncle Wang is old, his skills are still excellent. The weapons he makes are no less than the best quality in a blacksmith shop. My third sister and I both have our weapons made by him."

Sheng Wansong glanced at the two men's weapons. Although they were of superior quality, they were still just ordinary standard weapons.

It's perfect for ordinary soldiers, but renowned figures in the martial arts world wouldn't consider it.

"When I arrive at the Famous Sword Manor, I will have the best blacksmiths tailor-make divine weapons for you."

"really?!"

"really!"

The third sister's face showed joy, while the second sister's brows clearly held some sorrow.

A blacksmith shop, a general store, and a village inn.

They used to play in these places when they were young, but years later, a thick barrier has clearly separated them.

The four of them walked around the village and finally arrived at the peach grove outside the village, under a large peach tree that was a thousand years old.

Ordinary peach trees rarely live for a hundred years, but this tree is said to have a lifespan of a thousand years, growing as tall as a three- or four-story building, with peach blossoms in full bloom.

The tree is said to have become a spirit, and there is also a legend of immortal peaches.

The villagers revered the tree, so they erected a fence around it and set up a shrine to worship it, burning incense and offerings.

The peach trees there grow thousand-year-old flat peaches, which are regularly purchased by wealthy merchants.

"Three years ago, it was our eldest brother who brought us here, climbed over the fence, and swore brotherhood under the thousand-year-old peach tree. He also taught us martial arts and urged us to practice diligently."

The third sister rolled her eyes. They had grown up together and noticed Guan Lin's worries. "Second sister is so fussy, like a woman."

Although the person in question is indeed a woman.

Despite saying that, Zhang Jiao also had many feelings about it.

"If it weren't for my elder brother teaching me martial arts, we would just be ordinary village girls now, or even be betrothed to someone from who-knows-where."

Looking up at this tree, Sheng Wansong was filled with emotion.

He initially just randomly picked two unpopular children to be his second and third brothers, intending to use them as tools. Who would have thought that they would grow up to be so outstanding after just a few years?

He leaped onto the peach tree branch and picked several large peaches.

"Big brother!"

Guan Lin quickly dissuaded them, saying, "The peaches are the village's common property; you can't pick them without permission."

"Second brother, you said the same thing back then, but you still ate the most heartily."

Sheng Wansong sat on the tree, took a bite first, and then picked a peach.

All of them were martial arts practitioners, so catching a peach was no big deal for them.

After eating the sweet peaches, Guan Lin's sorrow at parting lessened considerably.

Her worry wasn't about being far away, but about how her elder brother had become a stranger after so many years.

But under this peach tree, everything seemed unchanged.

That night, Guan Lin visited Sheng Wansong's bedroom again.

Just as I set off, I heard a faint sound coming from behind me.

"My second sister always meets with my eldest brother in the middle of the night, but she never invites me. She clearly treats me like an outsider."

The next day, Sheng Wansong and An Lan set off lightly and embarked on their journey once again.