At first, Yu Zheng was likewise in awe of the great calligraphy skills of the unknown master who wrote the letter, showering praises to the mysterious writer underneath his breath. Under the light of the incense, Yu Zheng began reading the letter. Yet, mid-way through the letter, his jaw began slightly shaking in disbelief, unable to believe what he was reading. As he continued to read, his expression would sometimes turn confused, amazed or even dark. Yet, once he seemed to almost be finished, he read it once again trying to confirm that he read it correctly.

Then, as he finished reading it for the second time he put his head down in deep thought. After a while, he suddenly began to laugh like a crazed person! Under the light of the incense, he truly looked like an evil villain, causing even Huang Shu to be slightly put off. Once Yu Zheng finally calmed down and regained his demeanour he simply began staring at Yu Zheng with a strange look in his eyes.

A strange feeling manifested in Huang Shu’s heart as he stared at Yu Zheng. It was a feeling that was mixed with excitement, anxiety, fear, and hope. Yu Zheng licked his lips in anticipation before asking the very question he had been waiting to ask since the start, “What did the letter say?”

Yu Zheng gave a low chuckle as he simply kept staring at Huang Shu. Huang Shu didn’t respond this time and merely waited for the madman to talk, knowing his past schemes and similar mannerisms in vivid memory.

After a moment of brief silence, Yu Zheng asked, “Say, what do you know about immortal cultivators?”

At Yu Zheng’s question, he gained a clear premonition to what that letter and medallion truly were. After some deep, inward contemplation Huang Shu replied with a finger on his chin, “Immortal cultivators are celestial beings that are separate existences to us mortals. Even martial artists that possess inner qi can’t even compare. Their techniques are mysterious and boundless. If they wish so, countless kingdoms and empires would immediately crumble under their feet. They can also be considered as being Heaven’s Chosen.

And according to scarce rumours I have heard, only one out of ten thousand people would a person with the ability to cultivate appear. And even then, it’s not guaranteed! Such people are extremely fortunate, have peerless strength and without a doubt hold great wisdom. Such is befitting of Heaven’s chosen.”

Huang Shu’s conclusion of immortal cultivators deeply satisfied Yu Zheng, causing him to nod several times in strong agreement.

“It is indeed as Huang Shu says. Immortal cultivators are peerless beings, already on another plane of existence from even the moment of inception”, Yu Zheng agreed.

Suddenly, Yu Zheng’s face turned solemn and he stop his facade, “Now. I will stop beating around the bush. This letter. This very letter here describes the true purpose and usage of the medallion. Immediately, I can tell you that brat was lying. I must congratulate you on your deduction skills, they never cease to amaze me.”

Huang Shu waved it off, not taking his compliment to mind.

“Continue”, Huang Shu said.

Yu Zheng nodded his head before revealing with wide eyes, “The medallion that boy possesses is essentially a one-way ticket to join an immortal sect. However, if one doesn’t have ‘spiritual roots’, as cultivators call it then this is not possible even with the medallion. This is what I assume sets them apart from the common mortal.

According to the letter, that medallion belongs to the Bloody Path Sect. They are located in the Long Tang mountain range south of Peerless Cliff City. If you join the sect, you will gain a monthly allocation of what they seem to call ‘spiritual stones’, a residence and the status of an Outer Disciple.”

Huang Shu blinked his eyes, processing what he just heard. A moment later, he couldn’t stop himself from smiling as he went into maniacal laughter that could be heard for kilometres.

...

The next morning on the outskirts of the Fith-Step village, a small boy with tanned skin and scruffy hair could be seen tightly hugging an old lady with well-refined features, despite her possessing the clothes of a simple commoner. This was naturally Ip An and Mei Yawen.

Ip An buried his head into her soft stomach, unwilling to let go as tears fell down his cheeks. Mei Yawen stroked his hair as she did the day prior. This scene continued for many minutes until Ip An broke away and bowed respectfully with a genuine voice and tears still in his eyes, “Thank you, Auntie Mei! I will never forget your kindness. I will make sure your money goes to good use throughout my travels to Peerless Cliff City.”

Just before, Mei Yawen had gifted him with a small pouch of coins, causing him to feel guilty yet also very thankful.

He gave a distant stare at the village behind Mei Yawen. This was where he grew up, the place he had called home for his whole life. And now, with the death of his grandfather and just at the age of 10, he was now leaving his small village for something greater. Something even greater than he ever expected. He had not even fully accepted that this was happening. He thought he was dreaming!

Then, Ip An turned to two old men who were standing behind Mei Yawen with plastered smiles on their faces, “Additionally, this young one thanks Uncle Huang and Jin for being there for when my grandfather was on his deathbed. I will naturally not forget your kindness either!”

These two men were Huang Shu and Uncle Jin who were there for Ip An’s dying grandfather. Each gave a smile of satisfaction in response to Ip An’s act of respect and kindness. Both stood with their hands behind their backs.

“You do not need to thank me! I have known your grandfather for quite a while, obviously, I would come to visit. This is just natural”, Uncle Huang gave a deep belly laugh for the umpteenth time as he eyed Ip An with those same strangely affectionate eyes.

Ever since Ip An had arrived, he subtly noticed that Uncle Huang was looking at him caring and gentle eyes and had suddenly found everything he said to be incredibly hilarious! It truly was strange but he did not mind. He was old after all. Ip An just thought he was growing into his eccentric phase. But there was also another part of him that was on guard. A part of him that felt Uncle Huang had evil intentions. It was the same feeling that had appeared yesterday when Uncle Huang had asked to hear the contents of the letter.

Just as Ip An was planning to inquire about his behaviour in an inconspicuous way, Uncle Jin surprisingly took action for him!

“Huang Shu”, he said his name with a familiar tone as he began to ask, “I have discovered that ever since you have arrived, you have held a deeply affectionate attitude and mannerisms towards Nephew Ip. Yesterday, you acted very normal and yet today you are speaking many words, are very animated and find everything that nephew Ip does to be funny! Why is this the case?”

Uncle Jin had felt off-put the whole time due to his change in personality. So he asked in both curiosity and in slight annoyance, wondering why he had become so obnoxious and different. His constant laughing had almost given him a headache!

Huang Shu spoke with the same distant laughter in his voice and teeth-baring smirk, “Sorry, This one must deeply apologise for acting inappropriate! It’s just that this one was feeling sorrowful due to Ip An’s passing and had dug up some saved up wine that I had been saving for a special occasion to use!”

Uncle Jin sucked in a sharp breath of air, “Yi! Is this truly the case? You are quite fortunate. But such is one of the many benefits of old age. One can never expect the kind of things a person can have in possession after a whole lifetime of hardwork and roaming this earth. However, did your esteemed self take into account that we would be wishing Ip An farewell along with Mei Yawen?”

Huang Shu did not break character as he began to apologise, “Hehe, this one is quite sorry. I did not take into consideration that Ip An’s farewell and departure would occur the day after! Yet again, i was intoxicated due to my deep sorrow and cravings for liquor. And due to my old age, it was quite difficult to remember this thing. I hope everyone here, especially Ip An can forgive my actions. ”

Huang Shu turned towards Ip An, and bowed with cupped fists, causing Ip An to give a nod.

Ip An then waved it off with a fake smile, “It is ok Uncle Huang! This nephew can naturally understand Uncle’s feelings. If one day i was feeling sorrowful or in deep sadness, then i would also naturally resort to such measures! ”

Huang Shu gave a thankful smile in response.

However, Ip An felt that Uncle Huang’s attitude toward him today was incredibly creepy and sinister. It was like watching a bug wreath and squirm, trying to crawl onto your face. He was simply upholding a facade the whole time as he tolerated him. And he knew that something was up with him. Something wasn’t right. That reply wasn’t the truth either. His face hadn’t even the slightest shade of red!

And just as he was thinking that, his face almost paled as he managed to seemingly dodge Uncle Huang’s trap.

Luckily, he had immediately formed a very believable lie in that moment with his quick-wriited intelligence. As for his reaction, it was completely genuine, with no need to hide it at all. He was going to become an immortal! A person who could fly in the skies, wield supernatural abilities, and live forever! He just couldn’t believe that him, a person who would’ve been destined to become an orphan or even just a simple farmer was given a chance to mix with heaven’s chosen!

His very destiny. His very existence. It was destined for something greater! He could feel his heart beating like a drum when he thought about that!

Yet, this chance. This once in a lifetime opportunity that seemingly occurred from all the good karma accumulated from his past 100 lives! He would never let this go. Nor would he ever let down his grandfather’s expectations. This gift was something he felt like he could never repay.

At that moment he swore yet again, “Grandfather, I will not let myself, other people or anyone stop me from fulfilling my destiny! I will see all that this world has to offer and not let myself be controlled by others who wish me otherwise.”

Yet, as of now his destiny was not set in stone and was still just a common boy. And he still had to take about a 3-month long journey to the Bloody Path Sect who were the owners of that intimidating medallion! With that in mind, he raised his hand to touch a certain part of the backpack Mei Yawen had also given him where a hard object sat. This was a knife!

While he had been seemingly enamoured by the medallion last night, he was actually in very deep thought. In the morning after Ip An woke up he stole a small knife from Mei Yawen. This was in case he ever encountered any dangers on his journey and because he had a bad premonition that caused him to be on edge. He didn’t want get murdered by bandits or have the medallion or letter identified as priceless treasures and have them stolen from him!

Then, just as Ip An was planning to depart, Uncle Huang warned with a devilish smile on his face, “And don’t forget to keep that medallion and letter well hidden! You will never know when you will encounter someone with malicious intentions. This world is filled with all kinds of people and no one is ever safe. Keep this in mind!”

Ip An’s heart skipped a beat as he thought about the implication of those words.

“Yes”, he bowed with respect. In his heart he was secretly very frightened as his image of Uncle Huang became much worse. He could feel that something bad was going to occur to him soon. He became desperate to escape and quickly bid them goodbye and walked into the distance, down a long dirt road surrounded by forest.

Little did Ip An know, the journey he would embark on would lead him to places and meet people he would never expect. He would fight with immortal celestials, slay mythical creatures from myth and shock the whole world of cultivation with his frightening strength. His future actions would inevitably leave an imprint on this realm for countless millennia to come!