Silence filled the car.
Andrew Han rested both palms on his knees, sitting upright in the left rear seat. Miles Ning sat on the right.
Up front.
Victor Dong turned the steering wheel, driving toward the outskirts of Riverford.
According to Miles Ning, they would soon board a helicopter and head to Green Mountain Sect, a trip of about three hours. As for the exact location of the sect, Miles said nothing more.
The atmosphere inside the car was somewhat oppressive.
Huff.
Victor Dong extended his right hand and wiped his forehead.
He wore a dark suit, and the back of his seat was already soaked through. Miles Ning's abnormal presence filled him with a terror as if the sky were collapsing.
Who isn't afraid of death?
As a Second Rank martial practitioner, Victor Dong was certainly afraid of dying.
Fortunately, Andrew Han—who had a decent relationship with him—was sitting in the back. That offered Victor Dong a bit of comfort; no matter how crazy Miles Ning might get, he still had to maintain his image as a master.
...
A short while later.
A somewhat luxurious private airport.
Victor Dong wiped his face, turned, and bowed respectfully: "Mr. Ning, Mr. Han, we've arrived at the airport. Shall we depart immediately?"
"You get out first," Miles Ning said calmly.
Yes, sir!
Victor Dong hurriedly nodded, got out of the car, and gently closed the door. Feeling the biting winter wind outside, he found himself unexpectedly grateful for the embrace of the cold season.
"Too terrifying."
"Lately, Mr. Ning's mood has become more and more unstable."
He sighed inwardly.
As the old saying goes, serving a lord is like serving a tiger. But not everyone gets to experience that firsthand. Victor Dong walked to the trunk, gently opened it, and pulled out a massive suitcase.
Immediately after.
Victor Dong stood at a distance and spoke with the owner of the airport for a while.
The owner of this private airport was Riverford's richest man. He stood respectfully beside Victor Dong, worry in his eyes.
"Don't worry, we're just borrowing the helicopter," Victor Dong said in a low voice to reassure him.
"Of course, that's not a problem at all."
He forced a smile, but it was tinged with bitterness.
Anyone in Riverford who knows the Martial Arts World has heard of Miles Ning's terror—capricious, unpredictable, his reputation as a fearsome figure is well-earned.
...
Inside the car.
Miles Ning lit a cigarette, his face showing an oddly gentle smile. "Disciple, we're about to visit our Green Mountain Sect's gate. What are your thoughts?"
"Excited. Full of anticipation," Andrew Han replied solemnly.
Sss.
Miles Ning finished half the cigarette, letting ash fall onto the car floor. He nodded lightly. "Now Green Mountain Sect has only the two of us left. If you have the ability in the future to rebuild the sect, you may recruit more disciples."
"Understood," Andrew Han nodded quickly.
He was puzzled, but did not ask.
Why was his master saying all this now, instead of waiting until they arrived at Green Mountain Sect?
Hmph.
Miles Ning let out a muffled snort, his wrinkled old face showing a look of anticipation. "It's almost here—the era of Universal Martial Practice is about to arrive."
Andrew Han was taken aback. "What?"
Universal Martial Practice?
Impossible—so soon?
Ever since learning about the martial ban, the iron rules of the Martial Arts World, and the quota limits above the Martial Lord Realm, Andrew had been curious about the truth behind it all.
As time passed, Andrew stopped worrying about it.
He figured that once he advanced to the Martial Lord Realm, he would learn everything. Besides, based on memories from his previous life, Universal Martial Practice shouldn't begin for at least another four years.
But now...
What was happening?
Could something he did by accident have triggered a butterfly effect, indirectly bringing forward the era of Universal Martial Practice—and completely changing the course of Sinovera and even the world?
Miles Ning frowned and glanced at Andrew Han. "I've told you before: the key to all of this lies in a certain scientific project among the world's nations. If it succeeds, Universal Martial Practice will no longer be a grave danger."
"Your temperament still needs tempering."
"To be so shocked by such a minor matter—unworthy of the title 'peerless.'"
Hearing this, Andrew Han was speechless.
He wasn't shocked by the event itself, but by the discrepancy between his past life memories and this reality. The stronger he grew, the more those memories blurred—and the more wildly things diverged.
In other words—
Based on his previous life, society should have remained stable for at least another five years. But if things were already this far off course... how much longer could the current peace last?
Demons and Specters were growing stronger by the day.
Maybe one day they'd launch a full-scale invasion... Maybe in five years, or maybe even sooner.
"No, that's not right."
"That mysterious scientific project is close to success, but that doesn't mean it's guaranteed... Hopefully there won't be any major deviations. Otherwise, the five-year period of stability could be drastically shortened."
As his thoughts raced, Andrew Han let out a small sigh of relief.
Hiss.
Miles Ning smacked his lips twice, glanced at Andrew Han with a blank expression, and said quietly: "Once Universal Martial Practice begins, the martial sects will have to open their doors wide and expand their ranks."
"As for the number of disciples, I won't be strict."
"Just remember this: no matter how, you must make our sect flourish again and restore its former glory."
Hearing this, Andrew Han couldn't help but frown.
Yet Miles Ning's wrinkled face remained cold, except for a strangely gentle smile. "Also, with only the two of us left in Green Mountain Sect, all the complicated entry rituals and disciple ceremonies are temporarily canceled."
"Understood." Andrew Han nodded.
"After we arrive at Green Mountain Sect, you may explore the sect on your own. But do not disturb my memorial rites, or the consequences will be unimaginable." Miles Ning spoke gently. "You know what will happen, so I won't repeat myself."
Consequences?
Andrew Han's lips twitched twice.
Even a careless word disrespecting the sect's name could set Miles Ning off—let alone actually being inside Green Mountain Sect itself. He probably mentioned all this in advance out of concern.
Heavens above.
No wonder his master had been in a bad mood lately—it must be because of this!
"Ahem." After a moment's hesitation, he couldn't help but ask, "Master, how long has it been since you last returned to our sect?"
This chapter isn't finished yet~.~ Please click next page to continue reading!
Sss.
Miles Ning took a drag from his cigarette and smiled faintly. "Good disciple, you actually dared to ask me—truly worthy of the title 'peerless.' Such courage is commendable."
???
Andrew Han's expression stiffened.
He couldn't help but wonder if agreeing to accompany his master to Green Mountain Sect had been too hasty, too impulsive. If he could turn back time, maybe he shouldn't have agreed at all.
After all, the root of Miles Ning's neurological issues probably lay with Green Mountain Sect!
But...
No matter what, the result would be the same. It was his sense of respect for his master—not Miles Ning's terrifying reputation—that led him to agree.
Sigh.
Miles Ning glanced at Andrew Han and, unusually, let out a sigh. "If I count the days, it's been about twenty years and one hundred sixty-one days."
"That long?" Andrew Han's pupils contracted, feeling increasingly uneasy.
"Don't worry. As your master, I've always been gentle and kind—rarely angry. Especially lately, I've come to deeply appreciate the value of life." Miles Ning rubbed his hands together and placed one on Andrew Han's shoulder. "Besides, I'm well aware of my own mental state."
"I, Miles Ning, am certainly not ill."
"Good disciple, you don't believe me? I have more than ten psychiatric hospital diagnoses—all of them spelled out quite clearly."
Believe?
Believe you're ill, that's for sure! Just because a tiger develops the slightest taste for vegetables doesn't mean it becomes a kitten.
So Andrew Han straightened his collar, stood tall against authority and violence, and displayed the upright attitude of a model youth from the twenty-first century. "Of course your disciple believes you, Master."
Heh heh.
For the first time ever, Miles Ning actually laughed twice, then pushed open the door with his right hand—so hard the lock snapped, the car shook, and the luxurious door was sent flying.
Bang!
The twisted, deformed car door landed more than twenty meters away, clattering onto the concrete.
"Let's go."
"Disciple, let's go—let's return to Green Mountain Sect... It's time to go back."
Miles Ning stepped out of the car, looked at Andrew Han with a smile. His gaze flickered between savage pain and hopeful longing—utterly contradictory.
He had waited too long for this day.
Sometimes, he couldn't help but feel despair. But in the end, he endured the darkness and glimpsed a ray of light... With Andrew Han's sudden rise, the sect's name would surely shine again.
Andrew Han was momentarily stunned.
He got out of the car through the gap left by Miles Ning, and looked at his master. "Master, let's go back to Green Mountain Sect."
"Yes."
Miles Ning clasped his hands behind his back and walked toward the helicopter. His cloudy eyes squinted slightly, a barely perceptible smile at the corners.
...
Buzz buzz.
Inside the cabin, all was quiet.
Vroom.
The helicopter landed on damp earth, surrounded by the sea.
"We're here."
Victor Dong removed his headset and turned to speak respectfully.
He had flown the helicopter east, making two minor course corrections, and finally reached the location of Green Mountain Sect.
This was the eastern sea region of Sinovera.
The winter afternoon sun was gentle, shining over the rolling waves and illuminating a desolate island below.
Occasionally, two or three seagulls would rest and fly over the island.
Sometimes, waves crashed against the rocks, sending up sprays of foam.
"Green Mountain Sect."
Miles Ning stepped out of the helicopter, his stride heavy, heading toward the heart of the island.
The sound of waves rustled softly.
Andrew Han straightened his black windcoat, gave Victor Dong a gentle nod, then closely followed behind Miles Ning, his eyes filled with shock and uncertainty.
"Is this the East Sinoveran Sea?"
"Green Mountain Sect... shouldn't it be built among mountains? It's actually on the sea, on an island in the East Sinoveran Sea!"
Faced with this truth, he felt it was utterly absurd.
But on second thought, there was no rule that Green Mountain Sect had to be built among mountains.
......
After about three minutes.
The two of them arrived before the main gate of Green Mountain Sect.
It was a stone gate nearly twenty meters tall, hewn from pale stone, square and imposing, its mass hinting at a grandeur that once was. Yet the lintel beam was fractured, making the whole gate seem on the verge of collapse.
"Green Mountain Sect."
Miles Ning stood before the gate and smiled faintly.
Drip, drip.
At some point, that wrinkled old face had become covered in murky tears.