The Road to Mufu Mountain

The hidden weapons were indeed numerous. There were shoes with retractable daggers in their soles, hairpins that launched flying needles, and mostly throwing darts and crossbow bolts.

Combined, these concealed weapons could turn an ordinary-looking person into a walking arsenal.

Lin Tian casually selected a few items, then purchased a lightweight sword on the first floor.

He knew that none of these hidden weapons could compare to a handgun. Practicing with them extensively would be futile; a few with simple mechanisms would suffice for self-defense.

His current focus was solely on mastering swordplay and movement techniques, alongside improving his physical conditioning.

****

Returning home, he practiced a few sword moves, only to confirm his lack of strength. Even with the light sword, he quickly became breathless.

Feeling his chest was cumbersome, he retrieved a white bandage and wrapped himself tightly. He glanced down, satisfied to see the protrusion had vanished.

****

A month passed. With consistent practice, wielding the sword no longer felt arduous. He could even spar a few rounds with Luo Tao.

Witnessing his diligent training, his family ceased their attempts to dissuade him.

To his surprise, the blacksmith had not only forged handgun components but had also managed to produce bullets!

Refining gunpowder was not difficult for him. Given enough time and materials, he felt he could even construct a nuclear bomb.

His family made a living selling herbs, and his father, doting on his only daughter, often brewed expensive medicinal concoctions for him while he practiced his sword.

His physical condition improved at an astonishing rate. He might not have possessed such strength in his previous life, yet he found himself puzzled: his strength grew, but his muscles did not seem to enlarge.

Time flew by, and another four years elapsed.

The young girl of yesteryear had blossomed into a graceful maiden, the last vestiges of youthful naivety fading from his face.

In his previous life on Earth, he had been a workaholic. Once he decided on a task, he would dedicate himself entirely to it. His training progress surpassed even that of his older brothers.

As he steadily grew stronger, he felt no fatigue. Luo Tao and Luo Bo had ceased to be his opponents two years prior.

This remarkable progress was largely thanks to the medicinal herbs. Fortunately, his family’s finances were robust; others would not have such luxurious conditions. A single bowl of medicinal soup could equal a month’s expenses for an entire family.

One day, Lin Tian changed into practical attire, a handgun and a sword hanging from his waist. He also carried several grenade-like iron blocks.

“Child, be careful! If you can’t endure it, just come back.”

Lin Tian was preparing to leave and become a disciple at Mufu Mountain. His parents and family wore expressions of deep reluctance, as if they had aged several years in an instant.

By then, no one doubted he would pass the test. If his current strength wasn’t enough, then no one could possibly succeed.

“Yingkong, take this flask of Qi-Restoring Powder. It’s effective for both external application and internal consumption,” Luo Bo said, handing him a bottle of medicine.

“Child, here’s a flask of Spirit-Invigorating Pills for you. The effects are quite potent, so use them sparingly…”

A warmth spread through Lin Tian’s heart. This was what it felt like to have a family—a feeling he had never experienced in his solitary previous life.

Luo Tao watched enviously from the side. “Father, Third Brother, where are mine? Where are mine?”

“You little rascal, take it, take it! If you don’t look after your sister well, don’t even think about coming back!”

“Hehe~”

Luo Tao was also heading to Mufu Mountain. Influenced by Lin Tian, his martial arts skills had improved significantly.

“Are you two ready? We’re about to set off!” A middle-aged man’s voice called from outside the gate.

Besides Lin Tian and Luo Tao, their relatives were also among those going to Mufu Mountain this time.

“Hurry now, your Second Uncle and the others are waiting outside.”

A long-distance carriage awaited. Two young men, a few years older than Lin Tian, stood beside it. Seeing the two emerge, Second Uncle said with a smile:

“It’s been years, Luo Tao, you’ve grown quite sturdy. Yingkong is also becoming more beautiful. Get in, it’ll take a week of travel to reach Mufu from here.”

“Roman, Rohan, these are your cousin and younger cousin. Please look after them.”

Lin Tian’s eyelid twitched. ‘What kind of names are these?’ he thought. ‘Fourth Uncle’s name is even stranger; it’s Luo Zhixiang…’

“Father, is he also going to Mufu Mountain?” Roman glanced at Lin Tian with a hint of confusion. Their eyes accidentally met, and he immediately flushed and looked away.

“What? Looking down on your cousin? The two of you combined aren’t even his match.”

At this, they both took another look at Lin Tian.

“Alright, alright, get in the carriage and let’s go.”

The carriage slowly departed the small town. Lin Tian’s heart swelled with excitement. Not only was he heading to Mufu Mountain, but after 16 years in this small town, he was finally leaving.

His physical conditioning, honed through four years of arduous training, was finally about to be put to use. What intrigued him even more were the immortal cultivators. From various descriptions, these cultivators truly existed.

He had also heard that cultivators had extremely long lifespans, which was precisely what he yearned for. If cultivation could extend life, he could conduct countless scientific research projects.

Chewing on dry rations, the group embarked on their long journey. They traversed rugged mountain paths, safely arriving at the foot of Mufu Mountain without incident.

****

“Guests, are you looking for lodging or something to eat?” A busy shop assistant greeted them, helping them unload the carriage and tend to their horses.

“A night’s lodging, two catties of wine, and a few small dishes.”

“Coming right up!”

The shop assistant moved swiftly, shouting a couple of orders to the kitchen. Lin Tian and the others found an empty table and sat down.

“Ah, we’ve finally arrived. I’ll only take you kids this far; tomorrow morning, you’ll ascend the mountain yourselves.”

“Thank you, Second Uncle!” Luo Tao politely expressed his gratitude, a courtesy Lin Tian did not bother with.

“The wine is here!” The shop assistant brought a pot of wine. Second Uncle eagerly poured himself a bowl. The week-long journey had left him craving alcohol daily.

“Take these silver coins for any unforeseen needs. When you join Mufu Mountain, you must support each other. If you don’t pass the selection, come back immediately!”

“Understood,” Luo Tao said with a smile, accepting the silver. After a few days of travel, he had grown quite familiar with Rohan and Roman.

Lin Tian took the silver, noticing the ill-intentioned gazes around them, but he paid them little mind. Over the years, he had been subjected to countless stares, gradually becoming acutely sensitive to all gazes.

Outside, all sorts of people roamed. Few of those coming for the selection were as wealthy as his family. Flaunting wealth could invite deadly peril.

With his current physical condition, self-preservation was not an issue. A full-force sword strike could cleave through a wooden pole as thick as a water bucket, and would undoubtedly be fatal if it landed on a person’s neck.

This was the period when Mufu Mountain recruited disciples, and the small inn was packed with people. Lin Tian could sense that every one of them was a seasoned martial artist.

He had barely eaten a few bites when, with a crash, the inn fell silent! Everyone turned their heads to look.

A wooden table lay overturned on the floor, and a burly man was pointing and yelling at a young man:

“You brat, dare to say that again!”

The young man showed no fear, continuing to provoke him. The shop assistant quickly stepped forward to intervene:

“Gentlemen, please, let’s talk this through. No need for violence…”

“Hah! With his pathetic appearance, he dares to raise a hand? He just barks like a dog when he’s drunk.”

Enraged, the burly man slapped aside the shop assistant who stood between them. The blow carried considerable force, sending the scrawny man flying a good ten feet, landing right at Lin Tian’s feet.

“Are you alright?”

Lin Tian pulled him up with one hand. The shop assistant clutched his chest, unable to speak for a moment, before gasping out a thank you.

The two men continued their shouting match. The surrounding patrons merely glanced over before resuming their meals, as if this scene was commonplace.

Just as they were about to come to blows, a wooden chopstick flew from an unknown direction, piercing the burly man’s calf. Lin Tian was astonished. ‘This wooden chopstick can penetrate skin and muscle; it’s almost like using a gun…’

The burly man howled in pain, instantly sobering up. The young man, realizing a master was present, quickly retreated.

Dragging his leg, the remaining burly man also prepared to leave.

“Sir, you haven’t paid yet!”

The burly man glared fiercely at the shop assistant, making him flinch back a step, but then he tossed out some copper coins before finally departing.

The shop assistant quickly went to collect the copper coins and tidy the table.