Retirement begins with summoning Yuan Tiangang

The night was so deep it was as if someone had spilled a bowl of thick ink, soaking the entire town of Hexi.

The stars were unusually bright, each one fixed on the black velvet, coldly watching the sleeping land below.

The lights in the Lin family courtyard had long been turned off, with only a tiny sliver of light still reflecting off the window paper in the east room, swaying gently as if someone were pacing around with an oil lamp in hand.

It was indeed Lin Tian.

He didn't light an oil lamp; instead, he held a luminous pearl he had redeemed from the system—the size of a pigeon egg, emitting a soft, milky-white glow that wasn't glaring and just enough to illuminate a small area in front of the table.

On the table lay something resembling an account book, with a pale blue light screen floating in the void, densely filled with entries.

[Host: Lin Tian]

[Current lying flat position: 30900]

[Monthly free summon attempts: 1]

[Items in the Shop: ...]

Lin Tian rested his chin on his hand, and tapped the table gently with the fingers of his other hand, tap, tap, tap, slowly and steadily, like a monk in a temple striking a wooden fish.

The light from the luminous pearl shone on his face, creating a half-light, half-shadow effect. The faint, ambiguous smile at the corner of his mouth appeared somewhat unpredictable in the interplay of light and shadow.

"Thirty thousand nine hundred..."

He muttered to himself, his gaze lingering on the Summoning Scroll section of the summoning menu.

"That's enough to splurge a bit."

Suddenly, there was a rustling sound outside, as if something had slid down from the roof.

Then came Ao Xiaohei's low-pitched curse: "Damn it, this broken tile... ouch, it's going to kill me..."

Then Shi Yao gently reminded him with a smile, "Xiao Hei, keep your voice down, the master is inside."

"I know, I know..."

The sounds gradually subsided, and the courtyard returned to silence.

Lin Tian smiled, withdrew his gaze, and a thought flashed through his mind.

The numbers on the pale blue screen began to jump.

[Consume 5000 Lie Down Points to purchase 10 Intermediate Summoning Scrolls]

[Remaining lying-down points: 25900]

Ten palm-sized scroll phantoms, gleaming with a bronze luster, appeared one after another in the system space, lined up in a row, emitting faint energy fluctuations.

Intermediate Summoning Scroll, 500 points each, can summon characters or items of gold to black gold level, making it the most cost-effective – this is the conclusion Lin Tian reached after ten years of research.

"Ten consecutive pulls..."

He rubbed his hands together, a childlike excitement flashing in his eyes, like the anticipation he felt before opening red envelopes during Chinese New Year as a child.

"System, ten intermediate-level cards, used them all."

[Command confirmed. Use 10 Intermediate Summoning Scrolls...]

On the light screen, the phantom images of ten scrolls lit up simultaneously, their bronze light flowing and growing stronger until it finally transformed into ten streams of light of different colors, rushing into a rotating vortex.

The vortex seemed bottomless; the light flowed into it without even a ripple.

Lin Tian held his breath.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

It was so quiet that you could hear the last chirps of autumn insects outside the window, each one softer than the last, as if they were about to fall asleep.

Then--

[Summoning complete. Rewards received... have been stored in system space.]

Lin Tian was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled: "Well, still the same old story."

He shook his head and opened the system space.

There are ten more icons, arranged neatly.

His gaze swept over them one by one, his eyebrows first raised, then slowly relaxed, and finally the smile at the corner of his mouth gradually widened until it became a laugh he couldn't hold back, his eyes even narrowing.

"Interesting..." he muttered to himself.

"It really is true... you get exactly what you need."

He didn't look closely, but simply picked out three icons and placed them in the most conspicuous position.

I glanced at the remaining monthly free summon attempts and used them as well.

This time it's even simpler; with a flash of light, a gray book icon appears in the space.

[Received: Two rolls of tissues (Silver level)]

Lin Tian's eye twitched, and he pushed it into a corner, out of sight, out of mind.

After doing all that, he leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh of relief.

The soft light of the luminous pearl enveloped him, the smile on his face still lingering, but his eyes deepened, like an autumn pool, calm on the surface, yet containing something unseen beneath.

He stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open a crack.

The night breeze immediately rushed in, cool and damp with dew.

In the courtyard, only the dark outline of the grape trellis remained. Under the trellis, Ao Xiaohei transformed back into human form, sprawled out on the bamboo chair, fast asleep, snoring loudly.

The lights in Shi Yao's room were off, and it was very quiet.

Further away, the entire town of Hexi was immersed in a dream.

Only the ancient tree in the center of the town, like a silent giant in the night, guards the old well at its foot, whose depth is unknown.

Lin Tian stared at it for a long time before gently closing the window.

"Everything that needs to be prepared is ready."

He was talking to himself, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.

"The rest depends on which path we take."

He blew out the luminous pearl, plunging the room into darkness.

Only starlight shone in from outside the window, casting blurry windowpane shadows on the floor.

He groped his way to the bedside and lay down fully clothed.

With his hands behind his head and his eyes open, he stared at the blurry outline of the roof beams in the darkness.

I don't know how much time passed before I slowly closed my eyes.

The slight smile remained on his lips.

As if they had gotten a great deal.

-

The next day was cloudy.

The clouds hung low, a hazy gray, completely obscuring the sun.

The wind wasn't strong; it skimmed the ground, swirling up a few withered yellow leaves, making them spin listlessly.

The school was more lively than usual.

Not only the children came, but many parents also came, gathering outside the yard, talking in twos and threes, with different expressions on their faces.

Some were expectant, some were worried, some were envious, and some were indifferent.

Master Lin was still wearing that faded blue robe, standing at the school gate, holding a roster in his hand, gently speaking to the parents who had gathered around.

"...Qingyang Academy has replied. Out of consideration for our past relationship, the headmaster has agreed to admit five people."

Master Lin's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Bailu Academy is far away, and the examination is rigorous. Students must go to the prefectural city to take the entrance exam. As for which one they can go to in the end, it depends on the children's own fate and the wishes of the parents."

"Master, what about the tuition fee..." a parent asked quietly.

"Qingyang Academy costs twenty taels a year, including room and board. Bailu Academy is more expensive, depending on the assessment results, but the minimum will not be less than fifty taels."

Master Lin replied.

A collective gasp filled the courtyard.

Twenty taels, fifty taels!

This is an amount that most families in Hexi Town would never dare to dream of.

Zhang the hunter squatted in the corner, silently smoking his pipe, his brows furrowed in worry.

Widow Liu clutched the hem of her clothes, her face pale. Her lips moved, but she ultimately couldn't utter a word.

Master Li, on the other hand, remained calm and even seemed somewhat eager to try—fifty taels was nothing to his family.

Zhao Dechang also arrived, dressed in a respectable silk robe. He stood outside the crowd with his hands behind his back, his expression calm, but occasionally his gaze swept over Zhao Mingxuan in the school, and a hint of barely perceptible expectation flashed in his eyes.

Lin Feng, Zhang Kai, and Liu Xiaohu huddled together, and the three of them looked a little listless.

When I brought it up when I got home last night, Zhang the hunter neither nodded nor shook his head, only saying that he would think about it some more.

Widow Liu burst into tears, saying that she and her son were the only ones at home, and what would she do if Xiao Hu left?

The Lin family was quite agreeable; Lin Tian smiled and said that if he wanted to go, he could. But Lin Feng himself felt like he had a tangled mess in his heart.

"My mother...my mother said no."

Liu Xiaohu lowered his head and kicked at the pebbles at his feet.

She said I was leaving, and she was scared to be alone.

Zhang Kai said in a muffled voice, "My dad didn't say it was impossible, but I know we don't have any money at home."

Lin Feng looked at this and that, and suddenly felt that he, who could go wherever he wanted, seemed a little... immature.

"Raymond Lam".

Master Lin called out his name.

Lin Feng quickly went over.

"Your father came to see me yesterday."

Master Lin looked at him with gentle eyes.

He said he respects your choice. If you want to go, you don't need to worry about the tuition.

A few low, envious gasps rose from the surrounding crowd.

The Lin family seems unassuming, but I didn't expect them to be so generous.

Lin Feng's face flushed slightly, and he nodded, "Thank you, Master. I... I'll think about it some more."

"No rush." ​​Master Lin smiled and continued calling roll.

In the end, only five people were confirmed to be interested and whose families could barely afford it: Lin Feng, Zhang Kai (Zhang the hunter finally gritted his teeth and nodded), Li Qianqian (Master Li strongly supported her), Zhao Mingxuan (Zhao Dechang had already prepared the money), and... Chen Jing'an.

Lin Fuzi personally went to the Chen family to speak with Chen Jing'an.

Mr. and Mrs. Chen were initially very reluctant, but after Mr. Lin said something, the old couple finally nodded with tears in their eyes.

At this moment, Chen Jing'an stood quietly in the corner, still looking blank, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.

"Now that the person has been chosen, let's set off as soon as possible."

Master Lin closed the register.

"Qingyang Academy is about to open, and the journey will take some time. We will meet at the school gate at 7:00 AM two days from now, and one of my junior brothers will lead the way."

"Two days later?"

The children were all stunned.

"So urgent?"

Some parents also asked.

"The journey will take more than ten days, and we will need to settle in the county town upon arrival. Time is not plentiful."

Master Lin explained,

"The sooner the better."

He also gave some instructions on what to bring, to be careful on the road, and to follow the rules at the academy.

The parents listened attentively, some taking notes diligently, others distracted, each with their own thoughts.

After school, the children went home. Their steps were heavier than usual.

Lin Feng slowly walked back, his mind still on the words "two days later".

Two days, just two days?

He hadn't said goodbye to the crooked tree on the back hill yet, he hadn't...

"Brother Feng!" Liu Xiaohu caught up from behind, his eyes red.

"I...I can't go. My mother..."

Lin Feng stopped and patted him on the shoulder: "It's okay, Xiao Hu. Stay home and keep your mother company, help with the chores. When we get back, we'll tell you stories about the outside world."

"Um!"

Liu Xiaohu nodded vigorously, but tears streamed down his face.

"You...you must come back!"

"I'll definitely come back."

Lin Feng said with a smile, but suddenly felt a little sore inside.

Zhang Kai also walked over and stood silently to the side.

His father eventually took out his hidden savings, saying that a man shouldn't stay cooped up in the mountains forever.

But Zhang Kai knew that it was almost all of the family's savings.

The three friends stood under the locust tree at the entrance of town for a long time, talking a lot, yet it seemed like they said nothing at all.

When we finally parted, the sun had already struggled out of the clouds a little, casting a few thin rays of light onto the bluestone road, creating a play of light and shadow.

When Lin Feng returned home, a peculiar medicinal fragrance wafted from the courtyard. It was not strong, but faint, and it invigorated the senses.

Shi Yao was busy in the kitchen, the sound of the spatula turning the pot crisp and clear.

Surprisingly, Ao Xiaohei wasn't lying dead. He was squatting by the well, washing a pile of what looked like grass roots and tree bark, muttering complaints: "...This wormwood is too old, the roots are all hardened... Back in Dragon Valley, I ate only a hundred-year-old kind..."

"Stop nagging and hurry up and wash."

Shi Yao said without turning her head.

Lin Tian was still lying in the rocking chair, his eyes closed, as if he were asleep.

But as Lin Feng approached, he suddenly spoke up: "You're back?"

"Hmm." Lin Feng sat down on the stool next to his father and looked at him.

"Father, the Master said... he'll be leaving in two days."

"Okay." Lin Tian opened his eyes, turned his head to look at him.

"What, you can't bear to part with it?"

Lin Feng nodded honestly: "A little."

"normal."

Lin Tian smiled.

"It's always like this the first time you travel far from home. Back then, your dad... well, anyway, it's good to go out and see the world. Once you've seen the world, you realize how good home is."

He sat up, took something out of his pocket, and handed it to Lin Feng: "Here, take this."

It is a jade pendant.

The jade pendant was small, slightly larger than a copper coin. It was entirely white, warm and smooth, and shimmered with a soft luster in the thin autumn light.

The design is simple, just like a safety buckle with a round hole in the middle and a plain red string through it.

Lin Feng took it; it was slightly warm to the touch and felt wonderful.

He looked at it over and over, but couldn't see anything special about it; he just thought it was pretty.

"Wear it close to your body, don't take it off, wear it while showering and sleeping."

Lin Tian instructed,

"This is a family heirloom; it'll bring you peace. Remember this: as long as the jade lives, the jade lives too; if the jade is gone, your legs will be broken."

He said the last sentence in a fierce tone, but there was a smile in his eyes.

Lin Feng quickly put the red string around his neck, and the jade pendant pressed against his chest, feeling warm and comfortable.

"I understand, Father."

"And this too."

Lin Tian then took out a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve, about the size of a thumb, with a red cloth stopper.

"Take this. If you get hungry or tired on the way, eat one."

Lin Feng took it, uncorked it, and inside were several round, pale golden pills, each about the size of a soybean, emitting a sweet fragrance, somewhat like osmanthus candy.

"Candy?" he asked.

"Yes, candy."

Lin Tian remained expressionless.

"Your Aunt Yao made this especially for you, to satisfy your cravings on the road. Eat it sparingly, there are only a few left."

Lin Feng, unsuspecting, carefully sealed the bottle and tucked it into his pocket.

"Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Aunt Yao."

"No need to thank me."

Lin Tian waved his hand and pulled out a thin, yellowed booklet from under the rocking chair. The cover had three words written crookedly on it: "Breaking the Void Fist".

"Take this one too."

He handed the booklet to Lin Feng.

"It's also a family heirloom, a style of boxing passed down from your great-grandfather's generation. Take a look at it whenever you have time on the road, practice it, and it'll help you stay healthy. Don't lose it, it's very precious."

Lin Feng took the booklet, flipped through it, and saw simple human figures and text descriptions inside; it did indeed resemble basic boxing techniques. He nodded solemnly, "I will definitely keep it safe and practice it diligently!"

"Alright, go help your Aunt Yao start the fire."

Lin Tian lay back down and closed his eyes.

"I'll be busy tomorrow too."

Lin Feng sighed and got up to walk towards the kitchen.

As I walked to the door, I looked back one last time.

My father lay in the rocking chair, his face peaceful, as if he had fallen asleep again.

The autumn sunlight filtered through the gaps in the grape trellis, casting dappled shadows on him.

Lin Feng suddenly felt that his father seemed... a little different from usual.

But he couldn't quite put his finger on what was different.

He shook his head, lifted the curtain, and went into the kitchen.

In the courtyard, Lin Tian opened his eyes and watched his son's figure disappear through the kitchen doorway. The smile on his lips slowly faded.

He raised his hand and looked at his palm.

There, there was a very faint, almost invisible white mark that vanished in a flash.

"Three times..." he muttered to himself, as if speaking to himself.

"That should be enough."

The sound was very soft and quickly dissipated in the autumn wind.