owlsbooks Chapter 34 I Want to Embrace the Galaxy
Chapter 34 I Want to Embrace the Galaxy
"I'm sending you to the outer sect to make you the senior disciple."
Shen Qing continued, "From now on, the outer disciples of Qingyun Sect will focus on martial arts. You have the highest talent in martial arts and are progressing the fastest. You will become their senior brother and guide their training. As for Uncle Zhou, he is getting old and his energy is limited. I want you to take charge of the daily training of the outer disciples."
Wang Shouzhou's lips moved, and the paleness on his face gradually faded, replaced by an expression of disbelief.
"Sect Master... am I capable?"
"If you can't do it, who can?"
Shen Qing countered, "Among the outer disciples, who is more diligent than you? Who is more loyal than you? Who is more convincing than you? If I say you're capable, then you're capable."
Wang Shouzhou felt a lump in his throat, and this dignified seven-foot-tall man actually showed signs of being teary-eyed.
"But Sect Master, martial arts... martial arts are ultimately a mortal thing. I've heard that even if you cultivate martial arts to the highest level, you'll only be a mortal master, and you'll never be as good as an immortal cultivator..." His voice lowered.
Shen Qing shook her head.
"Who told you that martial arts are inferior to immortality? The 'True Explanation of Mortal Martial Arts' that you are practicing is divided into three realms: Body Refinement, Meridian Opening, and Divine Connection."
"Those who have mastered Body Refinement have skin as tough as cowhide and bones as hard as iron. Those who have mastered Meridian Opening have all their meridians connected, their internal energy flows freely, and their combat power is comparable to the late stage of Qi Refinement. Those who have mastered Divine Connection have condensed their martial will, released their internal energy, and can kill immortals with mortal power; their combat power is comparable to Foundation Establishment."
Wang Shouzhou's eyes widened. Could a mortal kill an immortal? His combat power was comparable to that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator? The martial art he cultivated actually had such a powerful background?
"My decision to have you focus on martial arts is not an abandonment of you, but rather an offering to guide you down another path."
Shen Qing's voice became solemn, "Qingyun Sect will not be confined to this small hill in the future. I will lead Qingyun Sect outwards, out of Qingyun Mountain, out of Qinghe County, and out of Fenglin Prefecture."
"By then, Qingyun Sect will not only be a sect on the mountain, but also the ruler of the mortal world. And I need someone to tread that path."
He stared into Wang Shouzhuo's eyes.
"Shouzhuo, do you know why I chose you?"
Wang Shouzhou shook his head.
"Because you are the most hardworking of all. Because you have been trampled underfoot and know what it's like to be at the bottom. Because you have spent so many years at the docks and know how to deal with all sorts of people."
"These skills are not available to Shoucheng, Shouwei, or the Huang brothers."
Wang Shouzhou was shocked upon hearing this.
Shen Qing lowered her voice, so low that only the two of them could hear it.
"Shouzhuo, I have something to tell you. My lifespan is indeed running out; at most five or six years, at least two or three years."
"The Huang family has coveted Qingyun Mountain for 130 years and will not give up easily. Although I have dealt with County Magistrate Zhao Yuanlang for the time being, he will come to his senses sooner or later. Qingyun Sect may seem calm now, but it is actually fraught with danger."
Wang Shouzhou's face turned pale again, but this time it wasn't from fear, but from anger.
"Sect Master, this disciple is not afraid! If the Huang family wants to touch Qingyun Mountain, they'll have to step over this disciple's dead body first!"
He spoke through gritted teeth, his eyes red-rimmed.
Looking at him, Shen Qing suddenly felt an emotion she had never felt before.
He had always treated Wang Shouzhou as a tool, but at this moment, he suddenly realized that this peasant he had used as a tool was truly willing to die for him.
"I don't want you to die."
Shen Qing shook his head and said, "I want you to live so that you can pave a way for the Qingyun Sect."
Wang Shouzhou raised his head, his eyes filled with confusion.
Shen Qing took a deep breath and, for the first time, spoke to another person about the plan that had been lingering in his mind for so long.
"The future of Qingyun Sect lies not only on the mountain, but also at the foot of the mountain."
"I want you to lead the outer disciples down the mountain after you have achieved some success in martial arts, and slowly infiltrate all walks of life in Qinghe County. Docks, shops, carriage companies, teahouses, escort agencies—you need to make sure that there are people from the Qingyun Sect in every corner of Qinghe."
"You don't need to reveal your identities or use the Qingyun Sect's name. You just need to establish yourself there, make friends, build connections, and slowly create a network."
"A vast network covering the entire Qinghe County."
"Once this network is established, no movement in Qinghe County will escape the notice of the Qingyun Sect. I want to be fully aware of every move the Huang family and the county government make. At that time, if anyone tries to harm the Qingyun Sect, I will be able to strike first."
Wang Shouzhou was stunned.
He was just a rough man who worked as a dockworker; he would never have thought about such things.
But he wasn't stupid; he understood what the sect leader was saying. The sect leader wanted him to be a spy, a secret agent, a nail planted by the Qingyun Sect in Qinghe County.
The sect leader wasn't lying to him, nor was he trying to belittle him; he was entrusting him with the most important path for the future of the Qingyun Sect.
Shen Qing's voice became very soft, "Shouzhuo, among the Qingyun Sect members now, only you are capable of undertaking this task. Are you willing?"
Wang Shouzhou knelt down, his forehead slamming heavily into the soil.
"This disciple is willing. This disciple's life was given to me by the sect leader, and whatever the sect leader commands, this disciple will do."
Shen Qing helped him up. Wang Shouzhou raised his head, and the moonlight shone on his face, making the tear stains clearly visible.
"it is good."
Shen Qing patted his shoulder, "Starting tomorrow, I will personally guide your martial arts cultivation. Once you successfully open your meridians, you will lead the first batch of outer disciples down the mountain. Cultivate diligently and do not disappoint my expectations."
"This disciple will never let down the sect leader!"
Wang Shouzhou's voice echoed through the valley, startling several birds roosting in the woods.
Shen Qing watched his figure disappear into the twilight, her gaze lingering for a long time.
"Master, could you bring all my brothers from the docks with you?"
At that time, Shen Qing only felt that this person was really useful and a ready-made "shill".
Shen Qing now feels that Wang Shouzhou is not only useful, but he may also be the true foundation of the Qingyun Sect.
Shen Qing raised her head and looked up at the night sky. The moonlight was bright and clear, and the stars twinkled.
Shen Qing stretched out her hands and noticed that the sky seemed to have lowered even further.
"I wish to embrace the Milky Way, and dare to ride the clouds with the wind and moon. Though there may be a thousand dreams in the mortal world, I will alone ascend to the Azure Clouds and step onto the Immortal Terrace."
When Wang Shouzhou returned from the back mountain, it was already completely dark.
Shen Qing's words today had a tremendous impact on him.
As an inner disciple, he could have stayed in a private room with two other people, but he preferred to squeeze into a large dormitory with his former brothers from the docks.
Back in his room, the dozen or so brothers he had dragged up the mountain all turned to look at him.
Everyone wanted to ask Wang Shouzhou why Shen Qing was looking for him, but they saw that Wang Shouzhou's eyes were red, as if he had been crying, but there was a smile on his lips.
The combination of these two emotions seems quite strange.
"Er Gou, what does the sect leader want with you?"
Although Wang Shouzhou was given a name by the sect leader Shen Qing, his old brothers were more used to calling him by his original name.
In their words, "Now that you've made something of yourself, we won't call you Er Gou anymore, or the brothers will forget your roots."
Wang Shouzhou was actually quite happy that his former brothers called him "Ergou" (Second Dog), as he was afraid of creating a rift between them.
Wang Shouzhou ignored them, walked to his bunk, plopped down, and remained silent for a long while.
Upon seeing this, everyone in the room immediately fell silent, all staring at him.
"The sect leader transferred me to the outer sect."