Retirement begins with summoning Yuan Tiangang

When it was completely dark, the smell of medicine finally dissipated.

Shi Yao buried the last bit of medicine residue next to the vegetable garden, carefully tamped the soil down, then straightened up and wiped the fine sweat from her forehead.

The cold moonlight shone on her face, revealing a hint of weariness in her usually gentle eyes.

The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen.

The dinner was exceptionally lavish: a bowl piled high with glistening braised pork, steamed fish sprinkled with vibrant green scallions, stir-fried greens glistening with oil, and a large pot of steaming hot radish and pork rib soup.

Lin Feng helped set the table, then looked at the table full of food and said a little embarrassedly, "Aunt Yao, we made too much. We can't finish it all."

"If we can't finish it, we'll take it with us on the road tomorrow."

Shi Yao took off her apron, wiped her hands on it, and spoke in a gentle voice.

"When you're away from home, things are different from home, so don't skimp on your food."

Lin Tian came out of the house, carrying a small wine jar in his hand, the mouth of which was plugged with red cloth.

"I'm in a good mood today, let's have a drink."

Ao Xiaohei was already seated at the table, his eyes fixed on the braised pork, his Adam's apple bobbing. Hearing "a drink!", he immediately raised his hand: "Fill my glass too!"

"What are you drinking?"

Lin Tian slapped his hand away.

"Have a meal."

The family (plus Ao Xiaohei, an unofficial member) sat down together.

Lin Tian poured himself a small bowl of liquor, a local local brand, strong but potent.

He took a sip, smacked his lips, and put a piece of braised pork into Lin Feng's bowl: "Eat more, because starting tomorrow, you won't be able to eat your Aunt Yao's cooking anymore."

Lin Feng grunted in response and lowered his head to eat his rice.

The meat was stewed until tender and melted in his mouth; it was so fragrant that he almost swallowed his tongue.

But as I ate, my nose started to sting a little.

"father,"

He looked up at Lin Tian.

"I'm leaving. You...you stay home with Aunt Yao and Uncle Xiao Hei and take good care of yourselves."

"What could be wrong with us?"

Lin Tian smiled and picked up another piece of fish for him, "Eat yours."

With his mouth full of meat, Ao Xiaohei mumbled, "Don't...don't worry, with me here, no one dares to bully your father!"

Shi Yao also said gently, "Feng'er, be careful when you're out and about. Wear more clothes if you're cold, eat when you're hungry, and don't try to be tough with others. If you encounter any problems... listen to Zhang Kai and Master's junior brother."

"Understood, Aunt Yao."

Lin Feng nodded emphatically.

This meal took a long time to finish.

Lin Tian and Ao Xiaohei bantered casually, while Shi Yao occasionally served food to Lin Feng and told him about trivial things to be careful about on the road.

The candlelight flickered, casting the family's shadows long and swaying on the wall, as if trying to prolong the moment even further.

After dinner, Shi Yao cleared the dishes, and Lin Tian called Lin Feng into the inner room.

An oil lamp was lit inside, casting a dim, yellowish light.

Lin Tian pulled a small wooden box from under the bed, opened it, and inside were several neatly folded clothes, all made of cotton that were neither new nor old, but were starched and clean, and smelled of sunshine and soap.

"Take these with you, and wear them in rotation."

Lin Tian took out the clothes, unfolded them one by one, folded them carefully, and put them into a blue cloth bundle.

"It's not like home outside, so don't dress too flashy. Just be clean and warm."

He then took out a small, heavy cloth bag and handed it to Lin Feng: "Inside are twenty taels of silver and a few hundred copper coins. Keep the silver hidden close to your body and don't let it show. Use the copper coins for pocket money on the road. Spend what you need to spend, don't be stingy, but don't spend recklessly either."

Lin Feng took the cloth bag; it felt heavy in his hand.

Twenty taels of silver—he'd never seen so much money in his entire life.

He clutched the cloth bag tightly, his throat tightening slightly: "Father..."

"And this too."

Lin Tian seemed not to notice his expression, and pulled out another neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket, stuffing it into his hand.

"Keep this safe. When you get to Yuanyang County, which is about fifty miles from here, find a place called Fengyue Post Station. When you get there, show this note to the innkeeper and tell him you're looking for Uncle Qinglong. He'll know what to do once he sees the note."

"Uncle Qinglong?"

Lin Feng unfolded the note, which contained only two words: Lin Feng.

The handwriting was crooked and messy, as if it had been written casually.

"Yes, your father used to travel around in the past and made some acquaintances who have some connections in Yuanyang County."

Lin Tian continued to fabricate stories without changing his expression.

"When a group of you children go out, there needs to be an adult to look after you. He will arrange everything after he sees you. Remember, wait until you get to the post station to find him; it won't work if it's too early or too late."

Although Lin Feng felt that the name "Uncle Qinglong" was a bit strange, he always believed his father's words.

He carefully folded the note, placed it together with the silver, and kept it close to his body.

"They've confessed everything they needed to."

Lin Tian patted his shoulder, his voice softening.

"Feng'er, I know this is your first time traveling so far, and I'm worried. But boys should have to go through this. The world outside is vast, with good people and bad people. There are lively places and quiet places. Listen more, observe more, think more, speak less, and don't try to stand out. Don't be afraid of anything, and remember what I've always taught you."

Lin Feng nodded vigorously: "I understand, Dad."

"Just remember that." Lin Tian smiled, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes, but it quickly vanished.

"Go to sleep, you have to get up early to get ready tomorrow."

Lin Feng returned to his room, but did not go to sleep immediately.

He sat on the edge of the bed and took out the things his father had given him one by one to look at: the jade pendant was warm and smooth against his chest.

The "candy beans" in the small porcelain bottle emitted a sweet fragrance. The pages of the "Breaking the Void Fist" booklet were yellowed and the ink was deeply stained.

The cloth bag filled with money was heavy. The note with "Lin Feng" written on it was unremarkable...

Each one was like his father gradually revealing to him a side of himself that was hidden beneath his usual lazy exterior, a side that he had never seen before.

He suddenly felt that his father seemed to know everything and had prepared everything.

This feeling of being carefully protected warmed his heart and made him feel a little bloated.

He carefully packed his things away, blew out the light, and lay down on the bed.

Moonlight filtered through the window paper, covering the ground with a layer of frost-like white.

The courtyard was quiet. Occasionally, one could hear the father and Aunt Yao talking in hushed tones, as well as Ao Xiaohei's whimpering in his sleep.

He stared at the roof beams with his eyes open, his mind a jumbled mess.

One moment it's the Master talking about the outside world, the next it's Zhang Kai's silent face, then it's Liu Xiaohu's red eyes, and then it's Zhao Mingxuan's arrogant demeanor...

In the end, it all turned into the image of the father lying in a rocking chair, half-closing his eyes and saying, "Go, go if you want to."

Lin Feng turned over and buried his face in the pillow.

The pillow was newly replaced by Shi Yao; it was fluffy and soft from being sun-dried and had the smell of sunshine.

He sniffed and closed his eyes.

-

In the courtyard, Lin Tian and Shi Yao were still sitting under the grape trellis.

The night was deep, the dew was falling, and the air was damp.

Ao Xiaohei transformed back into its mini black dragon form, coiled on Shi Yao's lap, its tail tip swaying idly, its eyes half-closed, as if asleep, or perhaps listening.

"Is everything arranged?"

Shi Yao asked softly, holding Lin Feng's old jacket in her hand, carefully mending an inconspicuous tear in the cuff by the moonlight.

"Um."

Lin Tian leaned back in his rocking chair, gazing at the starry sky.

"The Azure Dragon Society will meet us in Yuanyang County, and they will arrange the route to Qingyang Prefecture. Once we arrive in the prefecture, the teachers at Qingyang Academy will take care of things, so there shouldn't be any problems."

The Azure Dragon was a gold-level character he summoned the night before last. In the world of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Azure Dragon was a Grandmaster at the peak of his strength.

"That White Deer Academy..."

"It depends on the children's own fate," Lin Tian said calmly. "It would be best if they could get in, but if not, Qingyang Academy is enough. The important thing is to leave Hexi Town and go out into the world."

Shi Yao stopped the needlework and looked up at him: "Young Master, are you worried about..."

"It's not worry, it's preparation."

Lin Tian interrupted her, his voice calm.

"The tallest tree catches the most wind. The Bad Guys, the Soul Palace, and Hexi Town... they're too conspicuous. There are always sharp-nosed dogs in the Sky Patrol Bureau."

He paused, then looked at Ao Xiaohei on Shi Yao's lap: "Xiaohei, where are the things I asked you to prepare?"

Ao Xiaohei opened one eye and lazily exhaled a small cloud of black mist.

The black mist dissipated, revealing three palm-sized, jet-black scales with dark gold patterns along their edges in the palm of the hand.

"Look, the small scale that I obtained by chance back then should be a kind of fish scale."

He loves collecting strange and unusual things.

"It's been refined. Wearing it can block one fatal injury—but only for those below the 8th level of Grandmaster. I can't help those above that level."

Lin Tian took the scale; it was cold to the touch, hard as iron, and faintly emitted a flowing light.

He examined it carefully, nodded, and handed one to Shi Yao: "Keep this one."

Shi Yao took it without asking any questions and carefully put it into her bosom.

"Two pieces left."

Lin Tian looked at the scales in his hand.

"One piece is for Jing'an, that kid. He has a special constitution and is more prone to attracting trouble. The other piece..."

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Give it to that kid from the Zhao family."

Shi Yao and Ao Xiaohei were both stunned for a moment.

"Give it to him?"

Ao Xiaohei's eyes widened.

"That kid's obviously no pushover, all smug and arrogant, and he doesn't even get along with Feng. Why give him to him?"

"It's precisely because we don't get along that we should give it to him."

Lin Tian smiled, but the smile was somewhat cold.

"I know what Zhao Dechang is up to. He wants Zhao Mingxuan to embark on the path of cultivation so that he can bring glory to the family in the future. That's true. But Zhao Mingxuan is unstable and jealous. If he gains power outside, the first person he will suppress will be Feng'er and the others."

He stroked the scale: "Giving him this scale is twofold. First, just in case, if Feng'er and the others encounter unavoidable danger, he can offer some protection. Second... to give him a little reward, and also to tie him to a rope. To let him know that his Zhao family's schemes are being watched. He should reach out when he should, and withdraw his hand when he shouldn't.

Shi Yao understood and nodded gently: "My lord is indeed very thoughtful."

Ao Xiaohei curled his lip: "All this roundabout stuff, so troublesome. If you ask me, if anyone's not behaving properly, just breathe dragon breath on them and all is well."

That's you.

Lin Tian carefully put the scales away.

"We need to follow the rules now. At least in front of the children."

He then looked at Shi Yao: "Have you examined the jade pendant on Feng'er?"

"It's been checked." Shi Yao nodded.

"It contains three full-force attacks from the young master, which will be automatically triggered when Feng'er faces a life-or-death crisis."

She spoke casually, as if she were saying that a spoonful of salt had been added to her dinner.

Lin Tian nodded in satisfaction: "What about that bottle of Marrow Cleansing Pills?"

"As instructed by the young master, the outer layer is coated with sugar and osmanthus honey, and it smells like candy. There are nine in total, one to be taken every three days. The medicine is mild and will not attract attention. By the time we arrive at Qingyang Academy, the medicine should have been mostly absorbed, and our aptitude should improve by about 30%."

Shi Yao paused for a moment,

"The 'Breaking the Sky Fist' has also been revised."

Shi Yao continued her report, "On the surface, it's a basic boxing style, but it actually contains methods for circulating qi. If Feng'er practices it, he can strengthen his body and unconsciously build a foundation for physical training. When the time is right, we can teach him the subsequent techniques, and it will all come naturally."

"very good."

Lin Tian sighed, leaned back in the rocking chair, and closed his eyes.

"The rest is up to them to decide."

The courtyard fell silent.

The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly.

The shadows of the grapevines were dappled on the ground. A few barks came from afar, then quickly faded into silence.

Shi Yao finished sewing the last stitch, bit off the thread, folded the jacket neatly, and placed it on her lap.

She looked down at Ao Xiaohei, who was sleeping soundly on her lap, snoring softly, then looked up at Lin Tian, ​​who was resting with his eyes closed, and sighed softly.

The sigh was soft, carrying an indescribable tenderness and worry.

"Shi Yao"

Lin Tian suddenly spoke, his eyes still closed, "Do you think I'm meddling too much?"

Shi Yao shook her head: "Young Master is doing this for Feng'er's own good."

"Yes, it's for his own good."

Lin Tian opened his eyes, gazing at the starry sky, his eyes somewhat unfocused.

"But sometimes I wonder, is arranging everything for him really helping him, or... is it binding him?"

He paused, then chuckled self-deprecatingly, "But what can I do? That's all a father can do. I know I should let him fly, but I can't help thinking, 'The wind's strong outside, so I'll add more feathers under his wings to make him fly more steadily.'"

Shi Yao didn't speak, she just listened quietly.

"Sending him out this time is... to let him see the world for himself. It's also to let him experience cultivation," Lin Tian said slowly.

"Hexi Town is too small, so small that he thought the world was just about catching fish, climbing trees, and playing around with a group of friends. He needs to see that the world is more than that. There is prosperity, but also danger. There is kindness, but also scheming. He needs to learn to make his own judgments and walk his own path."

He sat up and looked at Shi Yao: "So, I gave him the jade pendant, the pills, the boxing techniques, and arranged for the Azure Dragon to provide backup... But these things are crutches, not legs. He still has to walk his own path, step by step. If he falls and gets hurt, he has to get up on his own. All we can do is watch from behind and make sure he doesn't fall into a pit he can't climb out of."

Shi Yao nodded emphatically: "I understand."

"Good that you understand."

Lin Tian lay back down, his tone more relaxed, "Go to sleep, we'll be busy tomorrow."

Shi Yao got up, carried Ao Xiaohei back into the house. Reaching the door, she looked back one last time.

Lin Tian was still lying in the rocking chair, his eyes closed, as if he were asleep. The moonlight shone on him, gilding him with a silvery edge.

She stared at it for a long time before gently closing the door.

Lin Tian was the only one left in the courtyard.

He opened his eyes, gazed at the starry sky, and after a long while, whispered:

"Kid, how far can you go...?"

"It's up to you."

The sound drifted in the night wind, as soft as a sigh.