Chapter 58: Chapter 57: The Gap of the Guardian, Second Brother!
Chang Qing arrived at the temple entrance and looked up.
By the bonfire sat two individuals, a youth in dark attire and a middle-aged man in armor.
This stance clearly showed they weren’t easy to approach, but there was no choice as this was the only place to rest within a dozen miles.
Chang Qing took a step forward, cupped his hand apologetically and said, "The road is long and the night dark, please pardon my intrusion."
"It’s fine, a meeting is as good as becoming friends, have a seat."
The youth initially wore a warm smile, but upon seeing the dried crimson bloodstain on Chang Qing’s shoulder, his expression turned slightly colder.
"Young master, take it slow."
At this moment, Uncle Fu smiled as he silently stepped in front of Chang Qing.
His gaze swept past the two people beside the bonfire, revealing a hint of gravity in his eyes.
The youth was dismissible, though his cultivation was not trivial, with Uncle Fu around, nothing unexpected would happen.
However, the situation differed for the middle-aged man!
"Great Saint!"
Uncle Fu’s eyes slightly narrowed, as if a cold light flashed.
In this desolate place, surprisingly encountering a Great Saint in a dilapidated temple.
If this were called coincidence, it would be too far-fetched.
Daring not to take any chances, Uncle Fu locked all his aura onto the two before him.
If anything went awry, he would strike instantly!
And the two youths immediately sensed the aura lock from the Great Saint, and they looked at Uncle Fu with some curiosity.
"Where did this old man come from?"
"Not sure, you’d better ask your dad."
"Why is his aura locking onto us?"
"Is it possible that he doesn’t recognize you as the second son of the Su family and fears you might harm your younger brother?"
The youth’s mouth twitched slightly as he cast a peculiar glance at Uncle Fu.
That’s right, the two individuals inside the temple were precisely Su Zian and his Guardian, awaiting Chang Qing.
After departing from the academy, Su Zian led the Su family members to intercept and kill a group of Buddhist monks.
Although a few got away, Su Zian had no desire to pursue them.
For him, nothing was more important than Chang Qing’s departure from the mountain.
"Go and talk to him, we’re all our own people, no need to be so tense."
Su Zian spoke through a transmission.
"You go yourself."
Chu Feng glanced at Su Zian and transmitted, "I’m here to guard, not to do odd jobs."
Su Zian’s forehead showed three black lines as he glared at Chu Feng, then helplessly shook his head.
Guardians are like this, his Guardian is like this, and his elder brother’s too.
Except for guarding, they don’t care about anything else.
"Meeting is fate, Uncle Fu, there are some snacks in the bag, share them with everyone."
Seeing the atmosphere turn silent, the newcomer Chang Qing chuckled and spoke.
"Yes, young master."
Uncle Fu responded with a smile and then took out some rice cakes from the bag, distributing them to the people in the temple.
But when he passed by Chu Feng, his eyes carried a warning and vigilance.
Xuanqing Zi accepted with a smile, not feeling surprised.
Yet Su Zian was taken aback by the scene, looked at the rice cake in his hand, and glanced at the diligent Uncle Fu.
Finally, he looked at Chu Feng beside him and transmitted, "I have some wine and meat in my space ring, take it out and share it with everyone."
"Why should I share anything?"
Chu Feng’s unrelenting refusal caused Su Zian to pause in silence.
That’s right.
Guardians should indeed have such bad tempers, shouldn’t they?
Great Saints, already at their peak among a group of people, are numbered merely three or four even in the Su family.
Having such a person as a Guardian costs human favor, is invited.
Don’t even mention their bad attitude, you have to take it even if they berate you.
But what’s going on now?
One word from the young man, and the Great Saint Guardian actually willingly distributes cakes himself?
"Why is the gap so large between Guardians?"
Su Zian glanced at Chu Feng beside him, speaking with a slightly resentful tone.
"Two possibilities exist."
Chu Feng glanced at Uncle Fu and transmitted:
"First, your father has a great debt to this person, so significant that it cannot be repaid even via guardianship, hence the blessing falls upon your younger brother."
"Second, the Great Saint is moved by your younger brother and willingly performs tasks outside of guardianship."
Su Zian was slightly curious upon hearing this, "When did Su Nan owe such a great favor to a Great Saint?"
Despite the two possibilities, Su Zian never thought in that direction.
This was Chang Qing’s first day out of the mountain and the Guardian’s first day on duty.
Within such a short time, where would the mortal Chang Qing possess the means to move a Great Saint?
Su Zian shook his head, choosing not to think more, but looked at Chang Qing and smiled as he asked:
"Brother, I see your body covered in bloodstains, was the journey difficult?"
Su Zian had held back for a while, without expecting that even within a mere fifty miles from Cyan Mountain Village, an incident took place.
"Encountered a few bandits, but fortunately it was thrilling yet safe, they’re already dealt with."
Chang Qing replied simply and then curiously looked at the youth, asking:
"Brother, where are you heading? This road has no villages ahead."
"The nearest place is Cyan Mountain Village fifty miles away, are you going there?"
Chang Qing didn’t know why, despite it being his first meeting with the youth, he felt a familiar closeness with him.
Su Zian shook his head and smiled, "I’m waiting for someone."
"In this desolate wilderness with few people around, you might wait for a longer period." Chang Qing smiled.
"No, I’ve already met the one I awaited."
Su Zian smiled, raised his hand lightly, and Chang Qing’s Jade Pendant at his waist automatically fell into his palm.
This was his personal Jade Pendant, never given to anyone apart from Chang Qing.
"This..."
Chang Qing was stunned and then joyfully exclaimed, "The person my elder brother mentioned is you?"
Initially, he felt somewhat cautious about these two, but upon realizing this was the person his elder brother spoke of, his vigilance immediately dissipated.
"You are about to enter the sect for cultivation, naturally I should gift you a present."
Seeing Chang Qing’s joyful expression, Su Zian also revealed a smile.
At this moment, Uncle Fu showed a doubtful look and was about to speak, but Chu Feng’s transmission echoed in his ears.
"A Su family member? Chang Qing’s second brother?"
Uncle Fu’s heart, which had been on edge, instantaneously relaxed, glared gaping at Chu Feng.
He had been apprehensive, fearing the two might suddenly strike, only to find they were their own people?
Realizing this point, Uncle Fu shook his head with a mixture of laughter and tears, casually sitting to one side.
As for Chang Qing, after his joy subsided, he hesitated to speak and said:
"The teacher always said, ’No gain, no gift.’ We have not met before, so why do you offer me this opportunity without reason?"
Su Zian laughed and stood up, patting Chang Qing’s shoulder, "I give you something, just accept it."
"If you must have a reason, it’s that I have some connection with your father, so you may call me second brother."
Chang Qing suddenly realized upon hearing this.
He just wondered where his honest father found such connections to allow him entry into the sect for cultivation.
In hindsight, it must have been his father’s trip for family reunion, seeing the far relative’s child succeed.
Using that relationship, he secured a place for him.
Thinking of this, all doubts in Chang Qing’s heart disappeared; he bowed to Su Zian and beamed:
"Chang Qing, greets second brother."
When he heard the ’second brother’ that he’d waited twenty years for, Su Zian’s smile couldn’t be suppressed, and he laughed heartily:
"My gift will surely satisfy you!"