Chapter 2, The Spirit of Youth

Before the age of ten, I would often feel extremely drowsy while sharpening knives, to the point where I could not resist the sleepiness and would frequently doze off mid-task. Moreover, I was generally always sleepy... not the anxious kind of drowsiness, but rather a warm and comfortable sense of fatigue. However, after turning ten, things changed; I no longer felt sleepy and developed a habit where my mind would calm down as soon as I began sharpening a knife, free from distractions.

From beginning to end, apart from a single phrase "You have caused trouble" and a leap, it is Su Jing's profound thoughts and youthful spirit!

Although the man spoke slowly, he flew remarkably fast. In the time it took to say a single sentence, a red arc of light caught up, not rushing to take action but instead keeping pace with Su Jing. The newcomer was a middle-aged Taoist priest, who appeared quite upright, though his prominent front teeth protruded slightly when he smiled, giving him a somewhat peculiar look

After finishing her words, She Yangzi suddenly saw the boy, whose face was full of drowsiness and whose eyes were half-closed, break into a smile that was clear and bright, creating a stark contrast to his previous weary expression

Su Jing saw through the other party's guilty conscience, but he himself knew nothing about the path of cultivation. Speaking boastfully to intimidate the thief would likely reveal his own shortcomings with just a few words, and continuing to flee would only gradually bolster the thief's confidence. Given this, he decided to forgo those futile attempts at probing and directly jumped down from the great eagle.

Su Jing responded with a sound, and after retrieving his bag, he noticed that the figure in the black robe had vanished. Just as he was puzzled, a loud and clear cry suddenly rang out above him. Looking up, he saw a gigantic black eagle, larger than the house, staring down at him.

Su Jing smiled, and the drowsiness in his eyes vanished in an instant. His gaze became clear, and as a result, his smile was exceptionally pure, radiating a sense of brightness and sincerity

The great eagle flapped its wings at him, and Su Jing felt dizzy and disoriented. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself inexplicably on the back of the majestic eagle, which then spread its wings and soared swiftly towards the west

She Yangzi laughed heartily, and Su Jing felt a chill in his heart. Even if he did not understand the art of magic, he could at least discern the situation and see that this thieving Taoist had them completely at his mercy. Indeed, there is always someone better; the black-robed benefactor had frightened off numerous sword immortals with just a wooden bell, undoubtedly a remarkable figure in the realm of cultivation. However, today, facing this She Yangzi, there was not even a chance to escape.

Previously, the figure in the black robe intended to take Su Jing away, vanishing alongside the old man. The black eagle leaped out of thin air; if the old man is not a spirit, then what is he? To discover that his benefactor is actually a transformed monster was quite surprising for Su Jing, but it was merely surprise. Regardless of demons or monsters, he is still his benefactor

Speaking of which, Su Jing always appears somewhat drowsy, a habit formed during childhood while sharpening knives, which has now become a "habit." Although he is no longer sleepy, the drowsiness still lingers in his eyes

Su Jing sighed inwardly and turned back to look at She Yangzi

Su Jing could not help but be astonished. The other party smiled politely, yet their words clearly indicated an intention to seize by force. If the black-robed elder, who had transformed into a black eagle, were to be subdued by them, Su Jing feared that his own life would be in jeopardy.

After flying for about three or four hours, a slow voice suddenly came from behind Su Jing: "Young friend ahead, please hold on."

Regarding Su Jing's response, the black robe seemed somewhat satisfied and nodded: "Your grandfather must have told you about the events from back then."

Seeing Su Jing unwilling to stop, the man leisurely laughed again: "The little friend ahead, that black eagle is probably yours, isn't it? This beast is quite majestic; how about giving it to me? I have an old friend whose 800th birthday is approaching, and I am worried that I have no gift. If I refine this beast and present it to him as a mount, it would certainly add some prestige."

Su Jing ignored it, while the black giant eagle seemed to recognize the opponent's prowess and dared not engage in close combat with She Yangzi. It flapped its wings vigorously and flew forward, simultaneously twisting and turning in the air, seemingly attempting to shake off its pursuer. However, the enemy's swordsmanship was exceptionally high, resembling a flash of lightning, and the black eagle could not escape. After half a day of pursuit, the sword light remained closely attached to its side.

Su Jing. The young man paused for a moment after seeing his name in the newspaper, then laughed again: "Because I have been sharpening my knife all day, making a clanging sound, the townsfolk have given me a nickname, calling me Su Clang-Clang."

What does it feel like to sharpen a knife? The figure in the black robe asked again, without any particular tone.

Su Jing still cannot figure out the relationship between the Black Robe and the Black Eagle, but no matter how confused he is, he understands that the crisis has been averted and he is safe. He lets out a sigh of relief and responds calmly: "In any case, it can be done a bit faster. Moreover, that thieving Taoist should pursue me first. You... no, it’s the Black Eagle; the Black Eagle will have a chance to escape."

Upon seeing the old man in black again, She Yangzi's expression had completely changed, shifting from astonishment to overwhelming fear. He stared blankly at the old man for a moment, then suddenly turned over and knelt down, prostrating himself repeatedly like pounding garlic: "I did not know that the ancestral law was present here, nor did I realize that it was the little ancestor playing with the eagle. Please forgive me, esteemed ancestor, spare my life."

This time, Su Jing shook his head, looking bewildered: "When my grandfather was here, he only instructed me to sharpen the knife well; when he left, he told me to crush the bell, and that a celestial being would come to take me. He did not mention anything else, and for the matters in between, I seek guidance from the celestial being."

Su Jing replied: "I started at the age of four, and whenever I have time, I carefully sharpen the knife"

Did not die after all

In the small courtyard behind the delicatessen, as the old man in the black robe recounted the past, Su Jing bowed deeply and earnestly said: "I humbly thank the immortal for saving my life, and I thank the immortal again for avenging me..."

Su Jing turned around and saw, about ten miles behind him, a red arc of light flickering, chasing after the great eagle's tail. At this moment, it was the black eagle carrying Su Jing at high speed; it was not Su Jing who was controlling the mount, and whether to stop or not was not up to him. Moreover, the great eagle showed no intention of slowing down; on the contrary, it flew even faster.

More than a decade ago, an old man in a black robe passed through a small northern town, coinciding with a raid by bandits who entered the town to burn and kill. The old man was a master of the Dao, and to him, such human slaughter was not much different from two colonies of ants fighting; he had no intention of intervening. However, soon, one person caught his attention: an elderly man in his sixties, carrying a blood-soaked young man on his back and holding a baby in his arms, was desperately trying to escape with all his strength.

The old man in the black robe did not even glance at She Yangzi, but directly asked Su Jing: "Do you think that with your weight of around one hundred pounds, you can affect the speed of the black eagle's flight? Do you think that if you jump down, it will be able to shake off its pursuers?"

A man in his fifties or sixties, unable to walk quickly himself, yet carrying a young adult on his back and holding a child in his arms, his hardships are evident. The bond of life and death shared among family members is even more touching. The black-robed immortal, feeling a twinge of compassion, dispelled his magic and descended to the ground to approach the old man

Su Jing spoke frankly: "Previously, I lied to verify my identity and to be cautious, but after confirming the identity of the Immortal, I can no longer lie under any circumstances. The Immortal saved the lives of my ancestors and me, avenged my entire family; the grace is as great as the heavens. Even if you blame me, I cannot deceive any longer."

The old man in distress saw the figure in the black robe soaring through the sky and realized that the other party possessed formidable magical powers. He immediately knelt on the ground, weeping and pleading, asking the immortal to lend a hand and save his grandson, who was barely hanging on to life. He was willing to serve as a beast of burden, no matter the cost.

It was a family of three generations, with the old man carrying his son on his back and holding his grandson in his arms, while his old wife and daughter-in-law had both perished in the turmoil of war

Su Jing did not expect that as soon as he jumped down, a soft force rose beneath his feet, gently supporting his body, causing the sensation of falling to vanish.

The old man in the black robe looked Su Jing up and down and asked, "Over the years, have you been sharpening your skills seriously?"

Su Jing blurted out, "Why don't you escape... uh?" Before he could finish his sentence, he realized something was amiss: the eagle was still hovering nearby

The old man in the black robe spoke in a calm tone, interrupting: "Your grandfather has already expressed his gratitude for the life-saving favor back then, so there is no need to mention it again; as for revenge, there is no need for thanks. It is a matter of tit for tat; I am not avenging you for free. It was agreed from the beginning that you would do something for me in return."

The Black Hawk ignored Su Jing, flying swiftly without pause. Su Jing attempted to ask a few more questions but received no response, so he closed his mouth and refrained from further seeking amusement.

Upon opening his eyes, he found himself suspended in mid-air by a beam of azure light. The old man in the black robe, who had previously transformed into a black eagle, reappeared in human form, maintaining his usual stern demeanor. However, there was now a hint of amusement and curiosity in his gaze as he observed him.

The last time Su Jing saw the old man in the black robe, he was still an infant. Su Jing had no impression of him at all. He crushed the bell to summon someone, unsure if it was the benefactor from back then. Thus, he pretended to know nothing, waiting for the other party to bring up past events for verification. If it was indeed the benefactor, he would have nothing to say in return for the kindness shown to his grandfather and father. However, if an unrelated person appeared, Su Jing would not foolishly follow them.

At this moment, Su Jing responded with a sound: "Grandfather once said that the immortal master did not specify what exactly to do, but merely bestowed a knife and a piece of whetstone, instructing me to diligently sharpen the knife. The immortal master arranged it this way, indicating that it will surely be of use in the future. From childhood to adulthood, I have never dared to be the slightest bit negligent while sharpening the knife"

The man in the black robe did not mention the reasons for exterminating the bandits, but it is not difficult to see that he is someone who distinguishes clearly between right and wrong. When he saved people, he did not think of any reward, believing that "saving them was in vain." Later, when he recalled that he had a matter that could be resolved through the rescued individuals, he intended to "recalculate the price," completely disregarding his previous life-saving grace towards them. He took action to eliminate all the bandits, avenging the two elders, and used this new favor to offset the reward for asking them to assist in the matter.

Soaring through the nine heavens and surveying the world below, any ordinary person experiencing such a miraculous event would be thrilled. How much more so for Su Jing, who was just over fifteen years old and still possessed the heart of a youth. Sitting on the back of the majestic eagle, he was beaming with joy, unable to contain his laughter, and amidst his happiness, he did not forget to say to the giant eagle: "Immortal, it turns out that the divine and majestic heavenly eagle has attained enlightenment, transforming into a celestial being from the nine heavens!"

The thief priest believed that Su Jing had an extraordinary background, and naturally did not think that the young man jumping off the eagle was an act of suicide. Moreover, Su Jing's remark, "You have caused trouble," further convinced the thief priest that the young man intended to escape and summon a master for revenge

The old man naturally nodded with more force.

The old man in the black robe appeared displeased, clearly blaming the old man Su for not saying anything to the child. Now he had to go on and recount past events. However, despite his impatience, he still bore with it and roughly explained the circumstances of the matter.

The old man in the black robe did not find the nickname "Su Qiangqiang" amusing at all; he maintained a stoic expression and, with a flick of his large sleeves, said: "Take your things and follow me."

Robbers have always struck swiftly, taking what they want and leaving. However, this She Yangzi has been chasing us and toying with us for quite some time. Is he really that idle and bored? A moment's thought reveals the truth: he harbors ill intentions and has his own reservations.

With white hair and wrinkled skin, standing upright, although he is an old man, he does not exude the slightest bit of kindness; instead, he emanates an air of sternness.

Su Jing laughed and said four words: "You have caused trouble!" Before the words had left his mouth, he exerted force with his legs and leaped up, unexpectedly jumping straight off the back of the Great Black Eagle

The Taoist, wielding a crimson flying sword beneath his feet, smiled and nodded at Su Jing, saying: "I am She Yangzi from Chilian Peak. May I ask how you are addressed and which sect you belong to?"

To put it bluntly, Su Jing knew that he could hardly escape the fate of being silenced. It was better for him to take the initiative, allowing him to seize the upper hand and intimidate his enemies once more. By acting preemptively, he not only forced the thief Taoist to take action but also provided what he believed to be his benefactor, the Black Eagle, with a slim chance of escape.

The black robe is a black robe, the eagle is an eagle; they are not the same thing after all

If Su Jing does not speak of this matter, the black robe will never know. However, it remains the same reasoning as before; Su Jing does not wish to deceive his benefactor

With a breath of effort, the figure in the black robe slaughtered hundreds of bandits without a trace, then turned back to the old man, using spells and elixirs to save the child's life. Only then did he say: "Saving you was merely a matter of raising my hand. I never intended for you to repay me, but since you brought it up, I do have a matter here that you could assist with"

Unfortunately, the young man had a faint breath left when the old man carried him on his back, but at this moment, he had already breathed his last. The little child in the old man's arms, too, was struck by an arrow that flew in from somewhere, wounding him under the ribs, and he was on the verge of death, barely clinging to life.

The situation had reached that point, and he certainly could not allow Su Jing to escape. Although the black eagle was majestic, it remained silent; the young man, however, had a mouth, and if he escaped, there would be a lot of trouble afterward. Faced with the choice between silencing him permanently and forcibly seizing the black eagle, the thief chose the former.

Why not play the fool to the end? Are you not afraid that I will hold you accountable for exposing the lie halfway through?

How could a truly secular youth soar through the skies on the back of a divine eagle? She Yangzi was indeed uncertain about Su Jing's background, which is why she pursued him relentlessly, trying to discern what kind of background he had before deciding whether to actually proceed with the robbery.

Regarding this matter, the old man in the black robe neither smiled nor showed anger, merely nodding slightly. However, Su Jing did not finish his words: "There is one more thing that I must inform you, my benefactor." Su Jing was referring to the matter of Luo Yuan's celestial fate, how he had impersonated the owner of the wooden bell to convey messages, causing the Sword Immortal of Qing Mang Mountain to cease accepting disciples, and he laid everything bare.

Su Jingying stepped forward and bowed respectfully to the old man in the black robe, saying, "I have come to pay my respects, senior."

"You haven't done anything wrong; this is just a trivial matter. In the future, try not to bother me with such nonsense," said the figure in the black robe coldly, showing no signs of annoyance. Then, he asked, "By the way, what is your name?"

Su Jing was absolutely right, and the old man in the black robe glared at him. Su Jing smiled somewhat awkwardly... He was fully aware of what happened afterward; naturally, he had long understood the earlier events of saving people and seeking revenge, as his grandfather had told him everything.

The figure in the black robe raised an eyebrow, appearing quite intrigued: "Do elaborate."

... ...

There is no need to ask; the grandfather and grandson are Su Laohan and Su Jing. As for the black-robed immortal, he didn't even bother to change his clothes.

She Yangzi smiled: "So, little friend, are you finally willing to speak up?"

The drowsy youth said that death comes just like that

The black-robed immortal leaped down from the clouds, initially intending to save the person. However, after hearing the old man's pleas and examining the child's body, his thoughts shifted slightly. He first cast a spell to protect the child's injuries, then soared into the air with his flying sword, letting out a long, fierce howl as he charged towards the bandits in the city.