Chapter 15: Heart Of A Cultivator [XI]
Chapter 15: Heart Of A Cultivator [XI]
Zhang Xiu Ying shook her head in surprise as she glanced at her son who seemed to be enjoying his time at the market. It appeared to her the look-around was already making her son happy despite him not buying anything. Truthfully, the stalls were filled with different amazing items, but their prices were a massive obstacle.
Nonetheless, the market place was at its busiest. The liveliest she had ever seen the place in a long time. So, she wouldn't blame her son if he was having a great time.
After several minutes of walking around, the two of them decided they had seen enough and called it a day. With her divine sight, Zhang Xiu Ying quickly located her parents who were talking to the village chieftain, Huan Yu an elderly man of the peak-stage silver core.
Out of the five clans vying for the post, Huan Yu was appointed as the head of the village by the council of elders after advancing to the peak stage of the silver core. However, as with the proceedings under the imperial decree, all villages' chieftains were under the indirect supervision of the lords of the cities.
Yet, despite being under the indirect command of the dangerous lord Bao Wang of the city of Fengjian, Huan Yu had been maintaining his nature as a good leader. His adorable personality was the main reason why he was much loved by the villagers.
When Huan Yu saw Zhang Xiu Ying came up beside him along with her son, he smilingly gave her a slight nod. She was one of the few people he held in high esteem.
"Lady Zhang."
"Lord Huan."
Zhang Xiu Ying replied with a smile of her own, giving a slight bow in return.
Huan Yu nodded in satisfactory acknowledgment, happy with Zhang Xiu Ying's regard of him. Although he had never witnessed Zhang Xiu Ying's true power before, he was well aware of her nature as an Asura. Despite being at the same stage of the silver core, albeit a level higher than her, he knew she had a demigod heritage at the least. So much power at such a young age, yet so modest.
Huan Yu slowly shifted his glance to the left side of Zhang Xiu Ying and regarded her son.
"Young master Ju Feng."
"Lord Huan."
Ju Feng replied with a bow.
"Hm. I guess you're having a good day?"
"I'm trying to, Lord Huan."
Ju Feng replied, beaming with a bright smile.
"That's good enough for me, young man."
Huan Yu nodded with an easy smile on his face before turning towards Zhang Xiu Ying.
"Lady Zhang, I was just now telling your parents about the upcoming Lunar festival."
The lunar festival. Celebration of the lunar alignment in the cosmic pattern which occurred every thousand years. The nine neighbouring villages surrounding the lunar mountain would send their lunaries participants to climb the lunar mountain in order to get lunar stones for their respective villages. The festival was to continually promote unity and harmony among the nine villages.
"Next month, it will be a thousand years from the last festival. And as you must have heard, our village is under the compulsion of tradition to participate in it. As it is with the ways of tradition, our village will be needing your presence as a silver core at the lunar plain when the time comes. If that's alright with you."
"I don't think that'll be a problem, lord Huan Yu. Kindly let me know when it's time."
"I'll do that, lady Zhang."
After saying their goodbyes, they left the marketplace and returned to their cave in good moods. They all had a great day sightseeing and also purchasing a few items. Reaching home in great moods, they began going through their bought items. As Ju Feng was thinking he got nothing, his grandparents brought out the item they bought for him as planned with his mother. A robe.
"The Dragon-Shield robe."
As Ju Feng heard the name of the robe, he remembered the lowgrade Dragon-Shield talisman the old merchant gave him and quickly brought it out.
"The old man gave me this at the market. He called it the Dragon-Shield talisman. I just remembered now."
"What old man? Let me see it."
"He was one of the Wandering-Merchants you told me about."
"The Wandering-Merchants?"
Zhang Xiu Ying collected the seal and inspected it with her divine sight. As a lowgrade artifact, her sight could easily examined it. Satisfied with the genuinety and safety of the item, she let out a soft breath as she returned it to her son. Ju Feng was only at the stage of Chi gathering, it was impossible for him to identify a deadly item that could easily tear his soul apart.
Yes, how could she forget one of the things that almost cost her the precious life she was holding dear if not for the timely intervention of her parents. Although she wasn't her son, it was better to learn from the past.
"Is it a real Dragon-Shield talisman, Ma?"
"Yes, and it's safe. You can keep it."
"Thank you, Ma."
Ju Feng said and received an acknowledging nod from her mother.
"Your mother is Just being careful over you."
Zhang Li Qiang quipped in as he remembered the events of the past, back in their home city of Shanyin. That was a long time ago, but he knew the actions of his daughter was justified.
"You never know with the hearts of humans."
"Mhm."
Zhang Wang Jing nodded in agreement before quickly lightening up the atmosphere.
"But the Wandering-Merchants are trustworthy people. The very best. I wish I received a free gift like you, Ju Feng."
With that, excitement filled the air again and lasted for several long minutes before putting away their items happily. Later, after normalcy had returned to the cave, Ju Feng looked at his smiling mother and asked.
"Ma, what do you think about me joining a sect?"
Zhang Xiu Ying stared compassionately at her son before slowly replying.
"No."