Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 381: Brothers Part Ways

"Yes." Hui Cheng responded respectfully.

Chang En did not agree but said, "Master, I really don’t want to leave you."

The old man leapt from the tree and jumped into the clouds behind, with only a distant voice left, "Go, I have already prepared everything for you, go down the mountain."

"Master..." Chang En wanted to chase after him, but the old man’s figure had already disappeared.

"Brother, you should know that once Master makes a decision, he will not change it." Hui Cheng came to Chang En’s side, patting his shoulder.

"But I can’t bear to leave Master." Chang En said sorrowfully, still with tears in his eyes.

"Can we come back to visit Master in the future? Master just told us to go down the mountain, not that we couldn’t come back. Maybe after we make a name for ourselves down below, we can bring Master down to enjoy the good life." Hui Cheng said.

Under the comfort of his junior brother Hui Cheng, Chang En reluctantly accepted this fact and headed to the wooden hut. Sure enough, there were two packed bundles placed on each of their wooden beds.

Both were startled; Hui Cheng immediately opened his bundle and found a brocade bag among the clothes.

Without a second thought, Hui Cheng opened the brocade bag again. Inside was a letter. He opened it to read, but soon his eyes turned red.

"Hui Cheng, recently I have sensed my end is near. When you read this letter, your master may no longer be here. A hundred years of life passes in the blink of an eye. I know your cultivation is not as diligent as Chang En’s. You’ve used quick methods, and right now you seem to have the edge over Chang En. But once you step into the Upper Three Grades, you’ll find your foundation is weak.

I hope you continue to hone your foundational skills in the Daoist Temple. Do not rush to enter the Upper Three Grades..."

The letter was long, with many instructions, but Hui Cheng started to tear up even before finishing it.

"Brother, Master... Master..." Hui Cheng choked on his words.

Chang En hurriedly took the letter and read, soon shedding tears himself. Then he anxiously opened his bundle and found another brocade bag. The contents of both letters were similar, only the instructions differed.

Realizing their master’s end was near, the two immediately searched the mountain for the old man’s traces.

But after three days of searching, they nearly turned Dragon Return Mountain upside down, yet found no trace of the old man.

They finally understood that the old man sent them down the mountain for this reason, not wanting them to witness his departure from this world.

The two stayed on Dragon Return Mountain for another day, but seeing they couldn’t find the old man, they left the mountain.

Upon leaving, Chang En, having lived over twenty years in the mountains, felt a bit lost, unsure of where to go. So he said to his junior brother Hui Cheng, "Junior brother, how about I accompany you to the Daoist Temple?"

"I would never go to a Daoist Temple. Haven’t twenty years in the mountains been boring enough?" Hui Cheng said.

"But didn’t Master say..."

"Master, Master, Brother, all you know is Master. Master’s no longer here, and there’s no one to control us." Hui Cheng replied.

"Junior brother you..." Chang En was taken aback, feeling that his junior suddenly changed after leaving the mountain.

"I’m planning to seek refuge with the senior brother; you should come with me. Isn’t Master also asking you to train in the army?" Hui Cheng said.

"Senior brother..." Hearing this title, Chang En immediately frowned, as this term was almost taboo in the mountains.

Not only had Master taken him and Hui Cheng as disciples, there was an older disciple before them.

Master once said that senior brother had the best talent he’d ever seen.

But senior brother was unruly and eventually rebelled, leaving the sect and reportedly joining the Prime Minister’s side and changing his name.

Though the mountain was quite closed-off from news, some gossip could still reach them.

Dragon Return Mountain had many secluded residents, and daily comings and goings were not few.

"He’s no longer our senior brother. Master does not recognize him as the first disciple. Why should we seek refuge with him?" Chang En frowned.

"Brother, I heard from someone entering the mountains that senior brother is now a Grand General, recently made a Marquis, and is the Prime Minister’s most valued person. We can enjoy wealth and luxury without struggling if we seek him." Hui Cheng did not want to take one step at a time; why not use connections?

"Junior brother, how can you think like this? Have you forgotten Master’s teachings?" Chang En’s expression wasn’t pleasant.

"Brother, stop talking about Master all the time. My head is spinning from it. I just ask one thing, will you come with me or not?" Hui Cheng said.

"No." Chang En decisively refused and said, "Junior brother, you are not allowed to go either."

"Brother, if you don’t go, I will."

"You can’t."

Chang En tried to stop Hui Cheng.

The two thus engaged in a fight.

Chang En was no match for Hui Cheng, and afraid of hurting him, he held back his strength, but Hui Cheng was different.

Soon, Chang En was knocked to the ground by Hui Cheng.

"Brother, remember? You’re no match for me."

After speaking, Hui Cheng let go of Chang En and left without looking back, leaving a parting message, "Senior brother is in Luonan, if you change your mind, you’re welcome to come anytime."

Chang En was unable to persuade his younger brother, and thus the brothers parted ways.

Without knowing the roads, Chang En wandered aimlessly. Having no money for food, despite his skills, he begged his way to Huai State without realizing it.

Qi City, a small county in Huai State.

At this moment, a large group of citizens was gathered in front of a notice.

Someone who could read was reading the notice aloud, roughly saying the Chen Army was recruiting, inviting everyone to join, with detailed post-enlistment benefits. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

After reading the notice, Chang En signed up immediately.

Master had already told him to train in the army, and this notice mentioned lodging, meals, and even a salary, so he decided to go.

...

The recruitment office in Qi City.

"Name."

"Chang En."

"Surname Chang?" The recruiting soldier looked up at Chang En.

"Yes."

"Age? Where are you from?"

"Twenty-nine, Dragon Return Mountain."

"Where is Dragon Return Mountain?"

"I don’t know either. I only know I used to live there."

"Alright, I’ll just list Dragon Return Mountain." After recording, the recruiting soldier asked, "What skills do you have?"

"Skills? I’m very strong, does that count?"

"There’s a three-hundred-pound stone block over there, see if you can lift it." The recruiting soldier said.

Chang En walked over and easily lifted it, surprising the recruiting soldier, who then said, "Very well, you can directly join the Divine Brave Guard."