Chapter 12: Liao Yangsu's Apprenticeship Journey

Today seemed like any ordinary day for most people, but for Liao Yangsu, it held extraordinary significance. His meeting with Tang Tianlu was scheduled for today, and whether he would successfully become his apprentice depended on this encounter.

Gazing at himself in the mirror, Liao Yangsu smacked his forehead; realizing that his interview suit might not be suitable, he hastily changed into a set of athletic wear instead.

After Tang Tianlu left that day, Liao Yangsu immediately requested a half-month break from work. Over these past three days, he oscillated between excitement and anxiety at home. After fussing around for half an hour, despite being in his thirties, Liao Yangsu nervously stepped out, feeling as jittery as a young teenager.

At Southwest East Station, one of An City’s largest transportation hubs, crowds of people bustled about.

Blending seamlessly into the throng, Liao Yangsu went unnoticed except for the tension etched on his face, occasionally revealing hints of frustration.

Tang Tianlu had only mentioned meeting at Southwest East Station without specifying a location. What if, amidst all these people, his elderly master couldn’t find him, grew upset, and decided to give up? It would be such a heartbreaking turn of events.

As Liao Yangsu scanned his surroundings nervously, someone suddenly tapped him on the shoulder.

“Who is it?” Twisting around, Liao Yangsu saw a young man standing beside him, dressed in a t-shirt with a black jacket over it. Startled, Liao Yangsu took two steps backward immediately.

The reason for his shock was the intense gaze of this young man, filled with a reckless ferocity.

Upon closer inspection, the individual appeared to be quite young, but his skin had a rough, sallow tone, as if he had recently recovered from a serious illness. However, despite being nearly 1.9 meters tall and having a robust build, there was no hint of frailty post-recovery visible. With short-cropped hair, the hood of his black jacket partially obscured his face, somewhat dampening the menacing aura of his prominent eyebrows.

“You’re…” Liao Yangsu retreated a few more steps.

“It’s Master Tang who sent me.” Assuming Xia Wenwu’s appearance, Duan Wenxuan’s voice deepened slightly, carrying a hint of ruggedness.

“You… Where’s my master?” Liao Yangsu’s eyes widened with surprise and anticipation.

Duan Wenxuan, head lowered, started walking away. “Follow me, and don’t call out carelessly. Master Tang hasn’t officially taken you as his disciple yet.”

Liao Yangsu didn’t mind the blunt tone from this younger individual; instead, he continued to smile and follow closely. “I’ll definitely strive hard for Master Tang to accept me as his disciple. Even if he doesn’t officially take me on, I’ll always consider him my master in spirit, given that he saved my life. By the way, my name is Liao Yangsu. May I ask where you’re from, little brother? What’s your name?”

“Shut up!” Impatience flashed across Duan Wenxuan’s face, and he quickened his pace again. However, upon exiting the station, they spotted a newsstand outside that not only sold newspapers but also offered various snacks—a crucial detail.

The enticing aroma of hot pot dishes and grilled sausages wafted over, mingling in the air.

Gurgle…

Duan Wenxuan’s stomach growled audibly.

Liao Yangsu’s grin widened, and he promptly called out, “Have you had breakfast yet, young man? Why don’t we grab something to eat first?”

Duan Wenxuan turned, frustration evident on his rugged-looking face, but he stubbornly insisted, “I’m not hungry, let’s keep moving.”

“But I am hungry, I haven’t eaten breakfast yet. Come on, let’s buy some food.” Liao Yangsu didn’t dare pull Duan Wenxuan along, but he swiftly approached the vendor himself. He immediately purchased six grilled sausages, two roasted corns, and selected a large box filled with assorted hot pot ingredients.

“Have some, it’s really delicious.” Liao Yangsu took one sausage for himself and handed the rest, wrapped in a plastic bag, to Duan Wenxuan.

Gurgle… His stomach rumbled again.

Duan Wenxuan didn’t refuse this time but silently grabbed a sausage and popped it into his mouth. Although these actions were meant to portray Xia Wenwu’s character, the sausages truly tasted great.

Duan Wenxuan noticed that people like Xia Wenwu, who had experienced hunger, exhibited an exaggerated craving for food. After devouring all the grilled sausages and finishing a large bowl of hot pot dishes, he still felt inclined to eat more.

“Hey, if you’re not in a rush, shall we try something else? I know a breakfast place where they have amazing golden cakes, steamed buns, fried dough twists, crystal shrimp dumplings, and more—all handmade by their pastry chef. Want to go?”

”…No, let’s save it for next time. We don’t have enough time now,” Duan Wenxuan ultimately declined, instead gathering the trash and tossing it into the bin.

“All right, make sure to give it a try next time; the food is truly delicious.”

Duan Wenxuan walked silently for quite some distance before suddenly speaking up, “My name is Xia Wenwu, just an ordinary martial artist from the Duan family.”

Liao Yangsu promptly memorized the name ‘Xia Wenwu’, feeling somewhat pleased with himself. Despite Master Tang’s aloof demeanor, when it came to conversational skills, how could he match up against modern people like Liao Yangsu?

Xia Wenwu appeared formidable and intimidating, but unexpectedly, his weakness was food. This made things easier; Hanming Country boasted a wide variety of culinary delights. By treating him to diverse cuisines, Liao Yangsu was confident that he could win over this young man.

“Ah, Xia Wenwu, what a good name,” Liao Yangsu praised with a smile. “Master Tang mentioned the Duan family too. In your world…are they very powerful?”

Xia Wenwu responded with slight impatience, “Don’t pry too much. Just remember, for someone like you, the Duan family is indeed very influential.”

As they continued chatting, Xia Wenwu was taken aback when Liao Yangsu led him onto a public bus!

However, as Xia Wenwu boarded the bus, he simply bypassed the payment area without any intention of paying. Fortunately, Liao Yangsu noticed quickly. Seeing the driver about to stand up and call out, Liao Yangsu hastily offered to cover the fare.

The bus wasn’t crowded, leaving plenty of space inside.

“Is this your first time on a bus?”

Xia Wenwu looked at Liao Yangsu as if he were speaking to a fool. “No, before the decline of mysticism worldwide, many… chose to retreat and remain hidden. However, the Duan family originated from martial arts, focused on protection, and leaned towards secular power. Although they also avoided worldly affairs, most members of the Duan family are aware of the modern world’s advancements.”

“Then why haven’t you paid?” Liao Yangsu pointed at the payment device near the bus driver.

“I didn’t bring any money,” Xia Wenwu replied confidently.

Liao Yangsu stared at Xia Wenwu, astonished - not having money meant no need to pay?

“The present world is nothing to fear; these people cannot harm me, especially after the resurgence of mysticism.” With that, Duan Wenxuan closed his eyes, showing no intention of speaking further.

Liao Yangsu felt torn between anger and disbelief, yet a hint of concern crept in.

From Tang Tianlu’s earlier conversation, it seemed the Duan family wasn’t a major force within the mystical realm. Yet even their ordinary martial artists showed no apprehension towards modern technology. How could Liao Yangsu feel reassured?

Contemplating future events, Liao Yangsu silently urged himself to seize this opportunity at all costs.

The bus route was lengthy, taking over three hours to complete its journey. As they left An City, more greenery became visible along the road. Hesitantly, Liao Yangsu asked, “Young man, are we heading to Xiaofeng Mountain?”

On Xuanlan Star, there were three highest mountain peaks, one of which was Dawn Peak Mountain. While not the tallest, Dawn Peak Mountain boasted the most extensive range globally, stretching continuously.

Xiaofeng Mountain got its name when An City’s leaders, aiming for tourism, intentionally associated it with Dawn Peak Mountain. They promoted it as a pristine wilderness similar to Dawn Peak, a sanctuary for holidays and vacations. Consequently, An City indeed became renowned for Xiaofeng Mountain as a popular tourist destination, drawing massive crowds during holidays each year.

The protection of Xiaofeng Mountain was taken seriously by An City’s leadership.

It was largely preserved in its natural state. Across the vast expanse of the mountain, apart from cable car installations on the lower slopes, only small footpaths had been developed.

Every year, some adventurous hikers in An City would deviate from the designated paths and climb the mountain on their own, ultimately requiring rescue teams to search for them. While Xiaofeng Mountain’s name might have been borrowed, its commitment to preserving its natural environment was genuine. Not only did it harbor wolf packs, but there were also reports of wild tigers, with nests spotted by photographers.

Currently, it wasn’t peak tourist season, so Xiaofeng Mountain had few visitors. At the base, one could find a developed forest park and vacation resorts, mostly staffed by elderly vendors selling beverages and water.

On the bus earlier, Duan Wenxuan hadn’t responded to Liao Yangsu’s question, but now he spoke up, “If you can climb Xiaofeng Mountain, you’ll pass the assessment.”

“What?” Liao Yangsu pointed incredulously at herself, “Like this? I haven’t brought anything. Normally, even experienced hikers with proper gear take around a week to reach the summit without any mishaps.”

“Just like this,” Duan Wenxuan glanced at Liao Yangsu, “The mountain is abundant with resources; you won’t starve within a week.”

“But I have no experience! With bad luck, I could easily consume something poisonous.”

“Luck is part of one’s strength!” Duan Wenxuan turned to look at Liao Yangsu. “Do you think becoming Master Tang’s apprentice guarantees your safety? If you want to stay with the Duan family, it won’t be as comfortable as you imagine. Master Tang is a renowned expert in hidden martial techniques; many aspire to be his disciple. If you’re not willing, leave now - no one will stop you.”

Liao Yangsu could sense the envy and subtle encouragement in Duan Wenxuan’s words.

After a long moment of silence, Liao Yangsu took out his phone and called his parents. They chatted briefly, during which he noticed the battery level still showed eighty-one percent remaining.

Then, Liao Yangsu powered off the phone.

With only a week’s time available, he couldn’t afford to waste any more battery life.

“Let’s go.” Duan Wenxuan raised his estimation of Liao Yangsu slightly. Even without a verbal response, the situation made clear what Liao Yangsu’s decision would be.

Two days later, early morning.

An Yueyu was panting heavily, her back drenched in sweat. She truly regretted her impulsive decision. In an attempt to lose weight, she had spontaneously decided to climb Xiaofeng Mountain.

She used the cable car for the lower half, which was swift enough. After getting off, she planned to hike for two hours before slowly making her way back. However, she felt incredibly exhausted; each step now caused her legs to tremble.

The narrow path was steep, with several sections requiring the use of iron chains embedded in the mountainside for support. It proved to be incredibly demanding physically. Moreover, with few people around at this time, every slight rustle or breeze made An Yueyu feel uneasy.

“I can’t do it anymore, let’s go back.”

After climbing for one and a half hours, An Yueyu decided to give up. However, before leaving, she leaned against a rock and pulled out her phone to take a selfie as a keepsake.

Opening the camera app and glancing at the scenery behind her, An Yueyu suddenly froze.

Someone was there!

She hastily turned, pointing the camera towards the nearby area, and continuously zoomed in. Faintly, she spotted a person emerging from within the woods, walking cautiously. The path over there wasn’t far from the constructed trail she had been following, which is why the forest wasn’t too dense; otherwise, she wouldn’t have noticed them earlier.