"Eh? Old Master, how come you're still alive?"
"What kind of question is that? If I were dead, would I still be standing here talking to you?"
"That's not what I meant. I meant, how come you look so healthy?"
"I eat well, drink well, of course I look healthy! What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying that Kei visited the three martial arts grandmasters, and now the Living Bodhidharma and the Dao Ancestor have both passed. So how come you're still alive?"
The Old Master looked at the confused expression on the Immortal Master's face, then turned and picked up a ruler from the shelf.
"Come here and let me whack you! I'm perfectly fine, and you're out here cursing me to death?! I'll beat you senseless!"
"I didn't mean it like that! I'm just saying that maybe it's a little weird for you to still be alive, like you're going against the grain!"
The Immortal Master turned and ran while yelling.
"Get lost! You damn brat, scram! If I see you again, I'll cripple you!"
The Old Master angrily kicked him out the door.
"I was just asking a question. Did he really have to get so mad?"
"Wouldn't you be mad too? Our Old Master still had a few years left, but after getting so worked up, he might've just shaved off half his lifespan."
"Mr. Zhangsun, come on, don't joke. Actually, I wanted to ask about the time Kei and the Old Master sparred."
"Could you tell me about it?"
The Immortal Master looked at the dignified man before him, his eyes calm and sharp. He smiled and nodded.
"There's nothing secret about it."
"Back then, Scholar Kei was turned away by both the Living Bodhidharma and the Dao Ancestor. When our Old Master heard, he got curious."
"When Kei visited, the Old Master welcomed him right in. The three of them talked for three days and nights. I won't go into the specifics."
"In the end, the Old Master couldn't hold back and decided to spar with Kei, to see who was right."
"The outcome? Kei defeated the Old Master with a single move—not just physically, but spiritually."
Zhangsun recalled the scene back then, eyes filled with awe. Kei was the strongest person he'd ever seen!
And it wasn't just his strength—it was his will and mindset. Kei was unshackled, a man who bent the world around him!
Wherever he stood, it was as if he were the master of all. Even the laws of heaven and earth bowed to his presence.
He had been so moved by Kei's aura that he wanted to follow him, to learn from him, to absorb that overwhelming spirit.
"Though the Old Master lost, he broke free from his constraints. His life was like compass and square, every step planned."
"He had always lived within boundaries. But after fighting Kei, he realized rules weren't absolute."
"They could be changed according to the heart. Just as Confucius said—do as you wish without overstepping the lines."
"And that's what I admire most about Kei. He never cared about victory or defeat—only mutual improvement. That's the spirit of a true grandmaster!"
Zhangsun's eyes gleamed as he spoke, clearly full of admiration for Kei, borderline fanboy behavior.
"Then why did you guys still lock your doors and not welcome Kei?"
The Immortal Master was confused. He thought everyone had something against Kei, which was why no one welcomed him. But judging by what they were saying, all three great schools held him in high regard.
"Just look at me."
Zhangsun explained, "Even I, a great scholar, lost control after meeting him. How could those young students possibly handle it?"
"If they saw him, they'd immediately stray from the path."
"Kei's way is undeniably captivating, but it's also unconventional. He has incredible willpower to resist its pull."
"But we don't. If we imitate him without the same willpower, we'll end up falling into the abyss."
"That's why we closed the doors—not to block Kei out, but to protect the students."
Even now, Zhangsun sighed. If not for the Old Master's warning, he wouldn't have realized it. But after reflecting on it, Kei's 'My Will is the Will of Heaven' mindset was terrifying!
Kei had the strength to wield such will responsibly. Even with his overwhelming aura, he remained kind and fair. You help him, he helps you. He treated everyone as fellow seekers.
But someone without that strength of mind would become a tyrant.
"I am Heaven. If you defy me—you die."
The scariest part? Even knowing the danger, Zhangsun couldn't help but be awed by Kei's aura.
The Immortal Master nodded. Even a seasoned veteran like him couldn't resist the urge to challenge Kei, risking his life just to fight him.
Young people without any experience wouldn't stand a chance.
[Three years after the Immortal Master's visit, the Old Master passed away. He died smiling, surrounded by his countless disciples.]
[He never had a wife or children, but he nurtured countless students—those were his children.]
[With this, the three grandmasters of Huaxia martial arts faded into history. Martial arts in Yanhuang entered a period of decline. Elders and sect leaders retired one after another.]
[The younger generation no longer had any interest in training.]
[A decade later, many sect leaders and elders passed away due to lingering injuries from their youth.]
[Martial arts fell into further obscurity.]
[Two decades later, nearly all of the older generation had died. Only the Immortal Master remained among the legendary fighters.]
[The era of martial arts in Yanhuang was over.]
[No more martial sects. All that remained were livestream channels, wellness centers, and fitness dojos.]
[The once-proud Xingyi Sect had become a small dojo with only a few children—the sons and daughters of a few disciples.]
[The eldest, Ye Wutian, had taken over the sect after Ye Wumian retired. Out in the world, he worked as a coach for a fitness chain promoting "lying flat and relaxing."]
[Countless overworked office workers came to him to learn the Tao of lying flat.]
[The second brother, Ye Wuxia, had opened a branch abroad. Officially, it was a security firm. In reality, it was a mercenary company.]
[He mainly provided protection for international elites but never took domestic jobs.]
[The third, Ye Wushuang, was the most successful in business. After leaving, he became interested in commerce.]
[With hard work and help from his master's connections, he built a business empire over the decades.]
[Now, he was the boss of thousands of corporate wage slaves.]
[The fourth brother, Xiao Tu—the chubby, timid one—had become a top-tier national special forces butcher, stationed at the border year-round fighting invaders.]
[He once killed over ten thousand enemies alone at the frontier, earning the title "Ten-Thousand Butcher."]
[But at home, he was a doting dad, always wearing the pink sweater his daughter gave him for his birthday.]
[Today was Ye Wumian's ninety-ninth birthday. All the disciples returned—even the long-vanished Kei.]
"Little junior brother, where have you been all these years? We never heard a word from you."
"I was traveling abroad. They focus a lot more on superpowers there. The development's impressive, but they lack proper cultivation systems."
"Yeah, I get that. Those guys overseas are all about brute strength and energy blasts. They don't dare fight up close."
"Of course not. They're not stupid. Yanhuang martial arts are famous for precision—using a single ounce of strength to deliver a tenfold effect."
"When I fought them at the border, all they did was launch huge energy blasts from a distance, never letting us close."
The group sat together discussing. From American tech to ancient legends, the conversation eventually shifted to the Gate of Hell.
"I did some research. Rumor has it that the Human Emperor Xuanyuan led a charge into the Gate of Hell to crush a rebellion, and then came out victorious."
"Many descendants of Yanhuang went in seeking breakthroughs, but there's barely any records—just oral tales."
"I dug deep and finally found a bit of info."
Kei had been studying the Gate of Hell for years. There was nothing new for him to learn on Earth anymore. To surpass himself, he had to go through the gate.
Inside were powerhouses from across the universe, with all kinds of cultivation systems. He'd gain a lot.
"I remember something like that. When we were kids, master used to tell stories about Emperor Xuanyuan wielding the Human Emperor Sword to repel alien invaders."
Ye Wutian suddenly remembered similar tales.
"I asked him about it—he said his master told him, and his grandmaster's master told him…"
Kei had already asked around. The stories were passed down, but no one knew when they started.
While they were talking, a little girl stumbled over. She looked up, arms stretched out, asking to be held. Then she tripped and bumped into Kei's leg.
"There, there, don't cry. Have some candy."
Kei picked her up and handed her a sweet. Tears welled in her eyes, but the candy instantly dried them up.
"My daughter, isn't she cute?"
Ye Wushuang took his daughter from Kei and grinned. "Cute, right, little junior brother?"
"Very cute."
"She's not just cute. We cuddle, play games, go to amusement parks—raising a daughter is amazing!"
"Oh, oh, oh."
Kei found it strange how his senior brothers suddenly started showing off their kids. What's the big deal?
He had his charcoal buddy—it was way more beloved than their brats!
The reunion ended joyfully, but partings were inevitable.
Xiao Tu had to return to the border to finish things. The second brother had to rush back overseas. The third had to leave for business.
Only the eldest and Kei remained.
"My kid's sleepy. I'll take her home first—you stay and keep Master company."
Ye Wutian found an excuse to leave. In the end, only Kei and Ye Wumian stood face to face in the dojo.
"When you were a kid, I used to watch you like this. Even back then, I knew you weren't normal!"
"Even in shallow waters, your dragon's might never waned."
Ye Wumian had grown old. His energy had declined. Even with Kei's help, he couldn't return to his prime.
He now stood a full head shorter than Kei.
"Yeah, back then you were still a muscle-bound brute, always shouting 'I'm the boss!' And now—"
——
"You've really become an old man."
Kei looked at Ye Wumian's white hair and aging face, full of emotion. Life fades, people age—no one stays young forever.
"Don't give me that look. My life's been worth it—especially meeting you. That alone gives me bragging rights."
"When people ask me who my disciple is?"
"I tell them—it's the disaster-bringer Kei, who's unmatched in all of Yanhuang, even the Three Founding Sages can't beat him!"
Ye Wumian laughed loudly. "Disaster-bringer really suits you. You sure caused me trouble back in the day."
"The day you left, the dojo got hit by a car. I had to live in a motel for six months while it was rebuilt."
"That had nothing to do with me. You guys were just unlucky."
"If I were the problem, how come I'm always fine while you all keep running into bad luck?"
Kei really didn't think it was his fault. In fact, he felt like their misfortune rubbed off on him.
"Alright, alright, I won't argue with you."
"When people get old, they get chatty. But one last thing—if you get the chance, give me a call once in a while."
"Phones these days can connect us across thousands of miles. Back in our day, we couldn't even dream of that."
Ye Wumian started pouring tea. He knew Kei wouldn't stay long. The guy just couldn't sit still.
"I'll come back in a few years—with the Elixir of Immortality. I'll make you live a few more centuries."
"Haha! I'll be waiting! Then I'll brag to Old Wu and Old Niu—my little disciple gave me the Elixir of Immortality! They'll be so jealous!"
Ye Wumian didn't care about immortality. He was a bold, carefree man with no regrets.
He'd fought every battle with his life on the line. Lived the same way. His life may not reach a hundred years, but he'd done everything he ever wanted.
His disciples were successful, his grandkids surrounded him. Living longer or shorter made no difference.
Kei said nothing more. He waved goodbye and left to find a way into the Gate of Hell.
Aside from getting stronger, he now had a new goal—finding the fruit of longevity.
[Some time later, a zombie crisis broke out in Yanhuang's H City. Within a short period, the whole city fell.]
[Researchers named the virus the "Corpse Brother Virus," and the infected were called Corpse Brothers.]
[These Corpse Brothers had incredible strength and evolved terrifying powers through feeding!]
[Special forces were deployed to rescue civilians, and the military began sweeping the city from outside in.]
[However, due to foreign interference and local cult sabotage, the crisis couldn't be quickly resolved.]
[The biggest issue? A bottled water company used tap water to cut costs—and the water happened to be the source of the infection!]
[Worse, that brand was a national best-seller. Within days, the entire nation was thrown into chaos!]
"Corpse Brother Crisis?! Are you and Mom okay?"
Xiao Tu, stationed at the border, got a call from home. The moment he heard it, his heart jumped to his throat.
"We're fine. Uncle Wutian found us right away and brought us to Grandpa."
"Good, good! If your Uncle Wutian is with you, everything's fine!"
The Butcher breathed a sigh of relief. He knew his senior brother's strength. Even without much fighting in recent years, he was still Heavenly Tier.
Their master might be old, but he was peak Heavenly Tier—someone who could unleash divine arts without burning his lifespan!
That meant a god-tier powerhouse was guarding them. His wife and daughter would be safe.
"Daddy, don't worry about us."
His daughter knew how dangerous her father's job was. So she immediately called to assure him they were safe.
"I'm sorry... I can't come back to protect you."
The Butcher was silent for a long time before speaking. He was defending the border and couldn't leave. Even before the outbreak, the enemies had been ready to strike.
Now that trouble had started, they definitely wouldn't let this opportunity slip. He was needed here more than ever.
"It's okay. Mommy and I will wait for you to come back and eat together."
Uncle Tu looked at the infiltrating ninja from the East and muttered under his breath...
(End of Chapter)
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