Chapter 005: An Old Immortal Falls from the Sky
There is nothing to be concerned about; you just stay at home and leave the rest to me. Zhang Fang interrupted Zhang Cheng, who seemed to want to say more, with a wave of his hand, speaking in a tone that brooked no argument.
Therefore, in his view, there is little difference between remaining within the family and being exiled from it
Since Zhang Cheng observed this, he began to view the world from the perspective of a third party, examining everything that occurs in this world with the eyes of an observer
He shook his head, casting aside distracting thoughts. After resting for a while, he got back up from the ground and walked to the bedside to look at the elderly man lying there, barely alive.
However, Zhang Fang does not see it this way; nonetheless, this is no longer a matter for him to consider
Father, I know you have done your best, so there is no need for you to feel so guilty. Moreover, you, along with my sister and elder brother, have all treated me so well, and I am already very content.
This matter was established by the ancestors of the Zhang family to urge the family members to diligently cultivate their skills, and no one is allowed to violate it, not even Zhang Fang, the current head of the Zhang family
Hmm! After being poked a few times by Zhang Cheng, the old man let out a faint sound
Hmm, I really need to think this through. Upon hearing Zhang Cheng's words, Zhang Fang couldn't help but furrow his brows; he truly had not considered these matters.
The sound immediately startled Zhang Cheng, who was in a half-asleep state, causing him to sit up in bed as if he were a corpse.
Previously, under Zhang Fang's insistence, Zhang Cheng sought out renowned doctors throughout the Huaxia Kingdom, but everyone was at a loss regarding his condition, with some even stating that they would not live past the age of ten
In the evening, he was awakened by Zhang Xin, had dinner, and then returned to his room to continue sleeping
Elder brother has now reached the peak of the fifth rank. With his talent, it should not be a problem for him to break through to the sixth rank within a month. If elder brother truly becomes an immortal, then our Zhang family will have an immortal. At that time, the Wang family and the Li family will no longer have the courage to confront us
Bang
After stopping, Zhang Cheng reflected on the events that had transpired earlier, feeling a sense of lingering fear. What if he had exerted himself too much and fainted again? In that case, it would not just be his own life at stake.
"Alas, it is all due to my father's incompetence. So much time has passed, yet no solution has been found to heal your body. I truly feel ashamed before your mother," Zhang Fang said with a pained expression.
At the same time, he was also so exhausted that he was gasping for breath, sitting to the side and breathing heavily.
Oh, then I shall take my leave, Father. Zhang Cheng nodded, then turned and walked towards the training ground exit. Just as he was about to leave the training ground, he turned his head and saw Zhang Fang still standing in place, lost in thought.
However ... ...
However, upon seeing the old immortal in a half-dead state, he feared that he had suffered severe injuries, and then he intended to go out to find his father to see how to provide treatment
Well then! Zhang Cheng knew that once his father made a decision, it was futile for anyone to speak, so he could only nod in agreement
If this sound were during the day, it would surely be drowned out by the cacophony of noise. However, at this moment, it is deep night, and thus this faint sound has been amplified countless times, successfully capturing Zhang Cheng's attention
In fact, this is merely a form of exile; in a world that values martial prowess, being deprived of the qualification to practice martial arts is no different from being exiled
"What nonsense are you talking about? As long as I am in the family, I will never allow you to leave the family," Zhang Fang said firmly
"Alright, you are tired as well, go back and rest!" Zhang Fang said
Just thinking about having saved an immortal, Zhang Cheng felt an indescribable excitement in his heart; this was an immortal, a being of legendary status
An elderly man, dressed in a Taoist robe and wearing a golden crown, was currently lying in the courtyard in front of his door, with a pool of fresh red blood beneath him
What happened here!" Zhang Cheng muttered to himself, then looked around to see no one was present. He slowly walked over to the old man and gently poked the old man's body with his thin fingers, which were as slender as chopsticks.
Sigh, what is the point of this?" Zhang Cheng shook his head, sighed helplessly, and then walked out of the training ground
Shaking his head, Zhang Cheng cast aside his distractions and lay back down on the bed, ready to continue sleeping
Therefore, in order not to hurt those who love him and the ones he loves, he has always refrained from being too conspicuous, accustomed to hiding himself in a corner, avoiding everyone's gaze while observing the various happenings in this world.
After returning to his room, Zhang Cheng lay down on the bed to sleep, for now, apart from sleeping, he had nothing else to do, or rather, there was nothing else he could do
Therefore, in order to avoid putting his father in a difficult position, Zhang Cheng took the initiative to bring it up himself
Thus, Zhang Cheng could no longer contain his curiosity, and then he got out of bed and opened the door.
Indeed, however, both the Wang family and the Li family have also sent people to Tianfeng Gate. If they are able to successfully break through to the sixth rank, our situation will not change significantly; it will only be slightly better than it is now. At this point, Zhang Fang glanced at Zhang Cheng, his expression darkening as he said: "Cheng'er, in fact, your talent is even higher than your brother's, but unfortunately, your body... If it were not for this, our Zhang family would be able to produce two immortals this time. At that time, no one in Shaoyang City would dare to challenge us."
After an indeterminate amount of time, Zhang Cheng felt a discomfort in his eyes, which had become dry and heavy, causing his eyelids to droop weakly.
Because this is the only point of similarity between this world and the Earth, he often gazes at the moon in his spare time, while reminiscing about his childhood companions
But just at that moment, a faint sound, as light as a picture book, came from outside the door
Sometimes, he even feels that he is merely a fleeting passerby in this world. Just like a meteor, although brilliant, it vanishes in an instant
"Father, this is fate, and it cannot be forced." Zhang Cheng had a very open-minded view on this matter; after all, the time he was living now was merely borrowed. As long as he could live the remaining time happily, that would be sufficient
However, the moment he opened the door, he was startled by the scene before him
At this time, there is still nearly a month until the clan's grand competition, and it is likely that your elder brother will not be able to return. Previously, he wrote that he would soon enter seclusion to strive for the sixth rank. If he can successfully reach the sixth rank within a month, he will be qualified to join the Huatian Peak Sect, and in the future, he may have the hope of becoming an immortal.
Good child!" Zhang Fang gently patted Zhang Cheng's head and said softly
Just as he was about to fall asleep, yet not truly asleep, in a state of half-sleep and half-wakefulness, a muffled sound came from outside the room, as if a heavy object had fallen from the sky and struck the ground.
Father, after this year's major examination, according to the clan rules, I will have to leave the family. May I ask you for one thing?
I listened carefully, but there was no sound there; I couldn't help but feel puzzled: "Could it be that I was dreaming?"
In that instant, Zhang Cheng speculated that he might be the legendary immortal.
Sometimes, he would even consciously distance himself from his family through books. To put it simply, what he was doing was actually preparing for his own death; he did not want his father, brother, and sister to grieve for him after he was gone
By the way, Father, will Eldest Brother be able to return for the clan competition this time?
At that time, he felt that what they said was incorrect, so he secretly vowed to live to the age of 11 to prove them wrong
Upon seeing this, Zhang Cheng's face lit up with joy, and he thought to himself: "Not dead yet."
According to the Zhang family regulations, any individual who reaches the age of 10 but has not attained the rank of a second-tier martial artist will be sent to manage the family business, thereby losing the opportunity to practice martial arts for life
Zhang Cheng discovered that the old man was clad in a Daoist robe, wearing a golden hair crown, with a light golden hairpin inserted horizontally through his hair bun, presenting an appearance of ethereal grace and Daoist demeanor
However, he has already slept for a day, and at this moment, he is completely free of drowsiness. With his hands clasped behind his back, he gazes out the window, where a full moon hangs in the sky
However, given the current rate of deterioration of his health, it is truly difficult for him to live past the age of ten
However, just as he was about to leave, he suddenly felt someone grab his right hand
However, the more understanding Zhang Cheng became, the more uncomfortable Zhang Fang felt. If given a choice, he would rather be the one afflicted with such an illness.
Then, without a second thought, he stepped forward, intending to help the old man up. He was unaware of where he found the strength, but he managed to pull the old man into his room and laid him on the bed