Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Forbidden Summit (2)

After an exchange, the contest should have ended with a gentle touch. Yet no one called for a halt, and neither of them stopped. Little Green’s attacks were fierce and relentless, forcing Gu Zhiheng to retreat step by step, but not once did he waver in his resolve. He knew he could not back down; if he wanted to grow strong, he had to withstand every impossibility.

Everyone watching Gu Zhiheng, who was barely holding on, understood perfectly well—his strength was not what it once was. If, at such a moment, someone in the group harbored ill intentions and rebelled, could he still hold the line single-handedly as before? By the looks of things, Gu Zhiheng was far inferior to Ye Zheng now. Should an accident occur, any outcome was possible.

“Gu boy, you’ve improved! Keep going!” Little Green was a true battle maniac; as long as Gu Zhiheng persisted, she could spar with him until the end of time.

“Hey, look at the time! That’s enough, take a breather!” Winged Tiger, too, was itching for action, eager to jump in and test his skills against Gu Zhiheng.

“That’s enough for today. We’ll continue tomorrow,” said the white-furred ape, who also found it sufficient, urging everyone to head back and rest early. During the day, they all needed their rest and would not be found in the forest.

Gu Zhiheng, utterly exhausted, felt confident he could finally sleep tonight. When the crowd had dispersed, he too made his way down the mountain, sneaking alone back to his room in the bamboo courtyard. On the way, he stopped by a pool to bathe—the sweat clinging to him was unbearable.

Strangely, this place felt so familiar to him; wherever his heart wished to go, he could find his way there with ease. By the time he returned, Chu Xingran and the others were already asleep, none the wiser to his midnight escapade to the mountain’s forbidden summit. It was nothing like they described—not only was it not dangerous, but it also housed a group of fascinating old eccentrics.

As the night deepened, Gu Zhiheng drifted into sleep, mind still mulling over the day’s events. Everything in this bamboo courtyard seemed inexplicably warm and familiar. Lying down on the bamboo bed brought him a comfort beyond words, along with a mysterious sense of peace.

Summer would last two more months. In that time, who could say how much Gu Zhiheng might advance in cultivation? He would battle the Red-Tailed Fox, the Deep-Ground Octopus, the Swamp Serpent-Fish, and myriad other spirits and monsters.

At that time, what chance of victory would Gu Zhiheng have? Everything seemed uncertain, yet somehow destined. Ultimately, it all depended on how much effort Gu Zhiheng was willing to put forth.

“Sir? Sir?” came a tiny, childish voice, calling out to Gu Zhiheng. “Wake up, I’m here to bring you something, sir?” Good heavens, how could he sleep so soundly, impossible to rouse?

A little one reached out and poked Gu Zhiheng’s cheek. Annoyed, thinking it a mosquito bite, Gu Zhiheng slapped the hand away.

“Wah, sir is so fierce, he actually hit a child.” If he’d known the adult was so scary, he wouldn’t have come as Grandfather asked.

“Who… who are you?” Heavens, what a fright.

He’d been sleeping peacefully—when did this little sprout get in here? And the three next door hadn’t noticed either. How had the little sprout slipped in?

“Sir, I am Orchid Sprite, five years old this year.” Yet, as he claimed to be five, he held up only four fingers. Did this little one not know how to count?

“What do you want with me? Who sent you? Why are you here?” Gu Zhiheng feigned sternness.

“Please don’t hit me, sir. Grandfather sent me. He drank with you tonight, wore blue clothes.” Sure enough, the powerful are always fierce.

If not for Grandfather’s insistence on coming to ask for apprenticeship, he would never have chosen such a stern master.

“Then hurry up and say why you’ve come. Stop dawdling!” Suddenly, Gu Zhiheng understood why Chu Xingran was so fond of cute children.

“Grandfather says you’re very powerful and wants me to become your disciple and cultivate under you.” Would the adult agree? Would he think me too stupid? I even counted wrong just now—he must think I’m a fool. If only I were braver, this wouldn’t have happened.

“Apprenticeship? Don’t be ridiculous, I’m still working hard at my own cultivation!” Accept a disciple? What a joke. He’d be better off finding someone to apprentice himself—how could he have the ability to teach others? Wishful thinking.

“Sir, please, Grandfather said if you don’t take me, he won’t want me anymore.” Ah, parenting these days is so hard.

He was still a child; how could he bear such burdens at his age?

Ah, what a cruel fate! In the next life, he wouldn’t bother being born at all—life was too much trouble.

“All right, all right, go back to sleep now, I have things to do in the morning.” Little brat, disturbing my dreams. That old Orchid Sprite, always scheming.

“I don’t care, I want you to be my master, I’m not leaving tonight.” With nowhere to go, may as well be stubborn. Besides, as a child, the adult wouldn’t really throw him out.

Gu Zhiheng looked at the persistent little sprout, then cast a helpless glance toward the forbidden summit. Truly, like parent, like child—no wonder.

“All right, just tell me your name. You can stay here tonight; in the morning, I’ll take you back.” With a sigh, Gu Zhiheng relented, pulling the child up onto the bed.

“I don’t have a name—they all just call me Little Shorty.” Everyone else had a name but me. No wonder no one wanted to play with me.

“How pitiful. From now on, your name is Jinghua. Tell everyone your name—don’t let them call you Little Shorty again!” These old monsters, so careless with children. How could they not even give him a name? Utterly lazy.

“I have a name now? Thank you, sir, you’re so nice!” He’d complained too soon—now he had to take it all back!

Jinghua rolled around the bed in excitement, thrilled to have a new name. Gu Zhiheng couldn’t fathom the pure delight of a child—he’d never experienced such feelings. He didn’t understand Jinghua’s actions, but he could see the child was happy.

And happiness was the most important thing—children should always be joyful.

“Sir, now that you’ve named me, will you take me as your disciple?” Surely, he would agree now!

“Jinghua, I have important things to do right now. If you truly wish to be my disciple, you’ll have to wait.” Gu Zhiheng patted Jinghua’s little head, motioning for him to rest.

When his journey to the northwest was over, when he could return unscathed, then he would truly consider taking on a disciple. For now, he was still too weak—even unable to protect himself. How could he hope to protect a disciple?