Chương 38: Talking with Zhangye

"Haha, good, good," Ren Ming laughed happily and patted Shu Yang's back, "And good wine, too." Shu Yang had just told his father-in-law that he and Qianyue were having another child. It was quite a different reaction from when he was told about Qianyue's first pregnancy. But there was nothing strange about that. Shu Yang was now an Innate warrior, and his Shu family was well-known as the most powerful in the whole Chunsi Town and the surrounding villages.

Now, there was nothing for Ren Ming to worry about anymore; both the Shu and Ren families were on the rise, and another child was just another family member who could share the joy.

"Congratulations," Li Xia's parents echoed from beside Ren Ming. They had gathered to try Shu Yang's wine along with the Ren family and Zhangye.

"Thank you, everyone," Qianyue said with a slightly embarrassed smile. She had complained to Shu Yang several times that people were sure to talk behind her back. She felt it was unseemly to keep having children as a grandmother. Shu Yang, of course, thought that was nonsense. If anyone talked badly about his children, he would let the children handle it themselves. But if he found someone who dared talk about his wife, Shu Yang would show them what an Innate warrior was capable of.

The night proceeded in a joyful atmosphere. Trying out the wine wasn't as important as getting together with everyone. Shu Yang had grown quite distant from the other villagers lately, not that he was ever very close, but since he advanced to the Innate stage, a shift had occurred. Not even people he used to be fairly close to, like Chu Ping, treated him the same; there was always a sense of awe and admiration in their eyes. Shu Yang had already gotten tired of it.

Even if the people he had over today also changed slightly in how they behaved around him, they were all family in the end. So there wasn't really that sense of distance. The exception was his friend Zhangye, who had barely shown any surprise when he heard Shu Yang had advanced to the Innate stage, and went on to treat him like usual. Thinking about it, Shu Yang realized it was only Zhangye and Qianyue who never seemed surprised at Shu Yang's success.

'I guess they must have felt something was different about me since we were kids. That's at least what Qianyue always tells me.'

"What do you think of the new wine?" Shu Yang asked his old friend, taking a seat beside him.

"I like the one Tianren introduced, it has a nice heat to it," Zhangye said.

"What do you know?" Shu Yang said, rolling his eyes.

"Why invite me if you don't take my opinion seriously?" Zhangye asked.

"I just pity you," Shu Yang said with a shrug, "I can't bear to enjoy myself when I think of you sitting in your home all alone."

"So you dare to mock me now that you're stronger than me, right?"

"I've been stronger than you for a long time," Shu Yang said.

"I don't believe I couldn't beat you when you were a 1st-grade martial warrior," Zhangye said.

"You're delusional," Shu Yang said with a sigh, "Hearing that you've been thinking that, I only pity you more." Zhangye finally couldn't hold back a smile. Shaking his head, he said, "To think a great Innate warrior still acts like this. If people find out, they'll be disappointed. Do you know that we have a few kids from the Li family in the Tiger Claw Hall? They go around bragging every day that they are in-laws with the Shu family."

"The Li family gave us a great daughter-in-law; it's only natural that their family members get to bask in our glory," Shu Yang said. Zhangye rolled his eyes and took another gulp of Tianren's fiery wine.

"So, another child? Just how many are you planning on having?" Zhangye asked.

"This will probably be the last one," Shu Yang answered, "But is seven really that many? There are plenty of people in the village with over ten children." This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"I guess that's true," Zhangye said, "I'm just comparing to myself. I had thought I'd never have the chance to see our children grow up together. But if I hurry up to find a wife, there seems to still be a chance. What do you say we engage the children if we have a boy and a girl? We could become family in the future."

"I'm not making any decision like that for my children," Shu Yang said, shaking his head, "But it would be nice if things developed that way. It's always reassuring to know the person beforehand. But are you really planning on finally having kids of your own?"

"I don't have much of a choice left, do I?" Zhangye said with a sigh, "I'm getting old, and my parents are constantly nagging at me. It's not that I'm against it, I just haven't found anyone I like yet. I can't just have children with any random woman, can I?"

"I think you're avoiding it," Shu Yang said, "There is always someone out there if you're actually looking. You just want to remain free."

"I don't know. I feel like that freedom hasn't given me much. I'm starting to feel like I'm at a crossroads. Either I settle down with someone now, and focus on nurturing the next generation. Or I leave and go see the world before it's too late."

"Is it really impossible to do both?" Shu Yang asked, "You can always travel once the kids have grown up. Or travel for a while and come back to settle down once you've done all you feel you need to do."

"I feel like I can't keep hesitating," Zhangye said, "If both things come true, great. But I want to choose one thing and actually have the guts to do it all the way. What do you think? Are you still dreaming of seeing the world one day?"

"Of course," Shu Yang said, "Now that we're having another child, it might be a little later, but one day I'll definitely see all there is to see."

"You're an Innate warrior, so it's different, I guess. You'll still be at your peak in another 20 years," Zhangye said.

"You're still a 1st-grade martial artist. If you're bedridden at 60, you're doing something wrong," Shu Yang said. He hadn't forgotten his friend when he made money, and had given Zhangye quite a lot of resources over the years, making his advancement to the 1st-grade stage a lot easier. Of course, Zanggye had more than made up for it by taking care of his children and finding them sparring partners.

"I guess it's not impossible. It just feels like I've been putting it off my entire life. If I put it off again, I might never leave," Zhanye said, "Ever since you told me about those faraway places, I've dreamt of going there, seeing what no one in the Yan Kingdom has seen, and coming back and telling the stories of my adventures." Shu Yang smiled slightly and leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of wine.

"Where no one has gone? So where do you want to go? The Far West? The Far East? Or perhaps the Northern Mountains?" Shu Yang had gotten his hands on a lot of knowledge over the years, mostly from his conversations with Lady Jiangxi. And he would share these things with Zhangye whenever the topic came up, as they both shared an interest in exploring the world. The area that was formerly the Shen Empire was now split into seven Kingdoms and two so-called Empires.

This area was mapped out in great detail, as travel was easy between the nations thanks to the roads left behind from the Shen Empire's time. But there were areas further away that very little was known about. According to Lady Jiangxi, to the south of the Qing Empire lay the Southern Waste, where vegetation was sparse, and no people lived. If you went far enough south, there wasn't even the slightest sign of life.

To the north of the Lishen Empire lay the Northern Mountains, a huge mountain chain stretching further than anyone had ever explored. The mountains reached so high that it was basically impossible for anyone but a Saint to traverse that terrain.

"I'll probably end up dying if I try going to those places," Zhangye said with a shake of his head, "At least I don't dare try crossing The Dust after what you've told me."

"That does seem like a challenge," Shu Yang said, nodding, "But it might be interesting to go have a look at least." The Dust was the name of the stretch of land separating the area Shu Yang was in from the Far West and Far East. No matter if you tried heading east or west from the Lishen Empire in the north, or the Qing Empire in the south, you would have to cross The Dust.

From what Shu Yang had heard from Lady Jiangxi, it was a vast expanse of sand, but so finely crushed that it more resembled a land of snow than a desert. Walking on it was actually a little like walking on snow, but without a solid ground beneath it to hold you up. This made it practically impossible to walk across. Only in areas where The Dust was very narrow might you have a chance to cross. But Lady Jiangxi didn't know where these areas were, nor the methods used to traverse them.

"But you should be more interested in going to the Northern Mountains, right? I might be willing to go give that a try," Zhangye said.

'One day, I'll definitely try to cross them.' Shu Yang thought to himself. The Northern Mountains were the only clue he had gotten so far as to where there might be people cultivating Immortality. Of course, this clue was only the stories he had heard about 'The Land Beyond the Mountains.' And he thought that the Northern Mountains were the only place in the real world that the stories could be referring to.

"Have you managed to hear anything more about any Immortals?" Zhangye asked curiously.

"Only stories," Shu Yang said, shaking his head and taking a sip of wine.

"You always say there is truth in stories," Zhangye reminded.

"I hope for a little more factual truth in this case," Shu Yang said with a wry smile.

'Even if there aren't Immortals beyond the Northern Mountains, my Bloodline Tree surely has a more mysterious source than what could be explained by the power Saints possess. I'm sure I'll get a peek at something grander as the tree grows.'