Becoming a Martial Master: Starting as a Swordsmith

"Then I might as well tell you that although I, Situ Lihai, am ill, I am not dead yet. If I were to die in this manor today, my Situ family's disciples, retainers, and old friends are all over Qingyang County and even several surrounding prefectures. They may not be able to do anything to the Prefectural Governor's Office, but they can certainly make your Longchuan Sword Sect and Yunyin Temple pay the price."

Situ Lihai sneered, "Chen Mozhi, do you want to take a gamble? Bet that after I, Situ Lihai, die, the Situ family will wipe out your Longchuan Sword Sect's lineage?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Chen Mozhi's head, forcibly suppressing his anger, which was already on the verge of exploding.

He stared intently at Situ Lihai, his gaze sinister, but he uttered no further threats.

Because he knew that what Situ Lihai said was true.

The atmosphere in the hall became tense. Both sides were on the verge of attack, neither willing to back down an inch, yet neither daring to actually make a move.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from the side of the hall.

"Father, I have something to say."

All eyes turned to the source of the sound.

The speaker was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, dressed in a brocade robe, and his face bore a five or six-point resemblance to Situ Lihai.

It was Situ Ming, the son of Situ Lihai and the elder brother of Situ Aotian.

Situ Ming walked into the hall, first bowed to Chen Mozhi, then turned to his father and bowed deeply: "Father, I think that the situation is now beyond our control, so we should temporarily go with the flow to avoid damaging the harmony."

Situ Lihai's gaze suddenly turned cold: "What did you say?"

Situ Ming did not avoid his father's gaze, but his voice was noticeably lower: "Father, the Longchuan Sword Sect and Yunyin Temple have joined forces, and they also have the Prefectural Governor's Office backing them. Although our Situ family has some foundation, if we confront them head-on, we will be the ones who suffer. It would be better to feign compliance for now and prioritize the preservation of the family..."

"You bastard!"

Situ Lihai slammed his hand on the table, his face flushed with anger. He coughed several times and pointed at Situ Ming's nose, cursing:

"You unfilial son! Do you know what you're saying?! My Situ family has built a legacy for three generations, and we have never bowed our heads to anyone! How dare you advise me to surrender at a time like this?! Are you terrified of them, or have you been in cahoots with them all along?!"

Situ Ming knelt down with a thud, his forehead hitting the floor tiles heavily. His voice was choked with sobs: "Father, please understand! Your son has no ill intentions! Your son just... just can't bear to see the Situ family destroyed! My sister is still in the city. What will we do if they use her to blackmail us?"

When Situ Aotian was mentioned, Situ Lihai's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his cold and hard look:

"Aotian has his own abilities, you don't need to worry about him! Stand up and stop making a fool of yourself here!"

But Situ Ming did not stand up.

He knelt on the ground, head bowed, shoulders trembling slightly, but his voice was crystal clear: "Father, no matter how important my sister is, she's still just one person. The Longchuan Sword Sect, the Yunyin Temple, and the Prefectural Governor's Mansion—is she worth it all? Are all hundreds of members of our Situ family going to die with you, Father?"

The other members of the Situ family in the hall looked at each other, and finally a few more stepped forward, bowing and saying:

"Master, although the young master's words were inappropriate, they are true. The situation is beyond our control now, and our Situ family doesn't need to fight to the end. Perhaps we should go along with their wishes for now and discuss things further later..."

Situ Lihai looked at his subordinates who had followed him for many years, and at his own son kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise his head. His chest heaved violently, and his face turned pale and then red.

He suddenly understood.

These people may not have been bribed, but they are afraid.

The Longchuan Sword Sect, the Yunyin Temple, and the Prefectural Governor's Mansion behind them...

This force was so great that even these usually loyal subordinates, and even their own sons, were filled with fear and preferred to live in humiliation rather than fight to the death!

He slowly sat back in his chair, closed his eyes, and remained silent for a long time.

The council chamber was silent; everyone awaited his decision.

After a long while, Situ Lihai opened his eyes, his gaze filled with weariness.

He looked at Chen Mozhi and said slowly, "Go back and tell the Prefect that my Situ family does not wish to be enemies with the Prefect, but if the Prefect issues an official order, my Situ family will have no objection."

Chen Mozhi understood that this was the limit the Situ family could go on.

Of course, it also met the requirements of the prefect.

Chen Mozhi then chuckled, "Brother Situ, wouldn't it have been better if you had said so earlier? Let's turn hostility into friendship from now on!"

Situ Lihai snorted coldly and ignored him.

Chen Mozhi didn't care. He cupped his hands in greeting and left, leaving the Situ family members looking at each other in bewilderment!

........

After sleeping for an unknown amount of time, Shen Chu slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing you see is a low, mud-brick house with mottled walls and a sparse thatched roof in some places, through which a few rays of sunlight can still be seen.

The air smelled of a mixture of manure and firewood.

Embers were still burning in the stove not far away, making crackling sounds.

He looked down at himself.

A pair of small, tender hands, short arms, and a patched, coarse cloth garment.

He paused for a moment, then quickly walked to the water vat in the corner and stood on tiptoe to look at himself.

The mirror reflected the face of a boy who looked about seven or eight years old; his skin was dark, and his features were fairly delicate.

His eyes revealed a composure beyond his years.

This is his new identity in "A Thousand Years of Dreams".

The son of a villager in Qingshan Village is named Shen Shitou.

As he looked at himself in the mirror, a flood of complex memories rushed into his mind.

He instinctively grabbed the wall, letting those memories merge in his mind.

Qingshan Village is located at the foot of an unnamed mountain in Qingzhou, within the territory of the Great Yan Kingdom. The entire village has only about a hundred households, who make a living by farming, hunting, and gathering herbs.

Shen's father was an honest and simple farmer. His wife died early, and he raised his son Shen Shitou alone.

Although life was poor, the father and son depended on each other for survival and lived a peaceful life.

After digesting these memories, Shen Chu slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

The first layer of the Great Dream Through the Ages involves constructing a complete world within the dream, immersing oneself in it with a completely new identity, living and growing within this world, until finding the key to escape the dream.

He stretched his small frame, then pushed open the door and went out.

Outside the gate was a small courtyard, with a small patch of vegetables growing in the corner and several bundles of firewood piled up.

Shen's father was chopping wood when he saw Shen Chu get up, and he gave her a kind smile.

"Stone! Hurry up and eat! After you finish eating, Dad will take you to the assembly point. Today is the big day that the masters of the Divine Fist Sect are coming to our village to select students!"