The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun

Page 473

The same is true of Ning Zhongze's wood carvings; it's as if Ning Zhongze's temperament has been carved into the wood carvings, both gentle and firm.

Listening to Jiang Ning's words and looking at the wooden carving in his hand, Yue Buqun couldn't help but fall into memories for a moment.

As Jiang Ning said, he and Ning Zhongze spent decades of joys and sorrows in the first half of his life, supporting each other through thick and thin until now.

Yue Buqun couldn't help but glance at Ning Zhongze beside him. He saw that Ning Zhongze's eyes were glistening with tears and her face was smiling. Clearly, the wood carving and Jiang Ning's words had truly touched her heart.

"I didn't know you had such skills."

Yue Buqun laughed.

The wood carvings by Jiang Ning were indeed stunning. Both carvings perfectly captured the expressions and temperaments of Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze, which greatly pleased him.

Chapter 643: I will find them myself

"Ning'er."

Yue Buqun looked at Jiang Ning and said, "Among your many fellow disciples, I have the highest expectations for you, and you are the most promising. I am very pleased to see you achieve what you have today."

Yue Buqun is right. He does have the highest expectations for Jiang Ning. Even before Jiang Ning obtained the Innate Skill, Yue Buqun had high hopes for him. Jiang Ning is also Yue Buqun's pride. This can be seen from the fact that when Yue Buqun visited other Five Mountains Sword Sects, he would often mention Jiang Ning even if Jiang Ning did not accompany him.

What Yue Buqun didn't expect was that Jiang Ning had actually reached this point, and indeed, he had lived up to his expectations.

Moreover, among all the disciples, Yue Buqun had the deepest affection for Jiang Ning. After all, even Linghu Chong, who was the first to join the sect, was already over ten years old when he became a disciple, while Jiang Ning was brought up the mountain by Yue Buqun when he was three years old and raised for more than ten years. Although he was not his biological son, he was no different from one of his own.

“You have been intelligent since childhood, and you understand many things and know how to do them, so I will not say more.”

Yue Buqun said.

Jiang Ning nodded silently and then stepped back. Next, Lin Pingzhi stepped forward to offer his congratulations. After Lin Pingzhi, the junior brothers and sisters who had not been in the sect for long came forward one by one to offer their congratulations.

Yue Buqun's 60th birthday celebration was not a grand affair, nor were other sect leaders invited. Only a banquet was held within the Huashan Sect. However, many disciples were not present at the banquet, as Feng Buping and Cheng Buyou were still out there providing disaster relief. Nevertheless, the event was still quite lively.

Seeing his disciples laughing and joking together, Yue Buqun also wore a faint smile.

“Senior brother, even if I meet my father in the afterlife now, I can have a clear conscience.”

Ning Zhongze said from the side.

Yue Buqun couldn't help but laugh.

"On such a joyous day, why bring up such an unlucky topic?"

Ning Zhongze laughed upon hearing this, saying, "That was just me jinxing it."

Listening to his wife's words, Yue Buqun was also quite emotional. Looking at his disciples laughing and joking, he couldn't help but say, "Decades have passed in the blink of an eye, and I am now in my sixties."

How many sixty-year periods does a person have in their lifetime?

Looking back decades ago, he was just an ordinary disciple of the Huashan Sect. Under normal circumstances, it would have been impossible for him to become the sect leader. But unexpectedly, he became the sect leader of the Huashan Sect by a twist of fate, and he served as the sect leader for decades. He devoted his youth and half of his life to the Huashan Sect. He helped the crumbling Huashan Sect to rise again. The hardships and suffering of the past decades flashed through Yue Buqun's mind.

But in every scene of the past, there is a figure that cannot be forgotten.

Yue Buqun couldn't help but look at Ning Zhongze beside him.

Feeling her husband's gaze upon her, Ning Zhongze turned her head to look at him and discovered that Yue Buqun's eyes were unusually filled with unprecedented tenderness, which surprised and puzzled her.

"what happened?"

Ning Zhongze asked in surprise.

"nothing."

Yue Buqun shook his head slightly and said, "You've worked hard all these years."

For Yue Buqun, Ning Zhongze was not only his wife, but also his partner, companion, and supporter through the decades of trials and tribulations.

To be honest, Yue Buqun has experienced countless hardships since he took over the Huashan Sect, which was practically an empty shell, from his dying master decades ago. Only he himself can truly understand the bitterness he has endured. There were countless times when Yue Buqun almost couldn't hold on. It was Ning Zhongze's constant support, understanding, and companionship that prevented him from going astray and becoming Zuo Lengchan. If it weren't for Ning Zhongze, he might not be where he is now.

Ning Zhongze hadn't expected Yue Buqun to say that, and shook her head, saying, "You're the one who's had the hardest time."

Yue Buqun laughed.

"Senior Brother, look at the way Father looks at me."

Not far away, Yue Lingshan nudged Linghu Chong and said.

What kind of look is that?

Linghu Chong was eating when he heard Yue Lingshan's words. He looked over, but was completely confused.

“Look at Dad, the way he looks at Mom is so tender.”

Yue Lingshan rested her chin on one hand and looked on with envy.

"I wish you could look at me like that someday."

"Isn't this simple?"

Upon realizing Yue Lingshan's request, Linghu Chong stopped eating and immediately patted his chest to assure her.

"Junior Sister, watch carefully."

Upon hearing Linghu Chong's words, Yue Lingshan turned to look at him, her eyes filled with suspicion, but also with anticipation.

Linghu Chong carefully observed Yue Buqun's gaze and expression as he looked at Ning Zhongze, pondered for a moment, and then looked at Yue Lingshan with a dreamy look in his eyes.

Yue Lingshan's expression was somewhat solemn at this moment.

"How about it?"

Linghu Chong looked at Yue Lingshan with a 'deeply affectionate' expression: "Do you feel anything?"

Yue Lingshan's face was serious.

"I feel nauseous and want to vomit."

"Hmm? Doesn't it look like it?"

Linghu Chong was taken aback.

Yue Lingshan said with an indescribable expression, "Senior Brother, my father looked at my mother with tenderness, but the way you looked at me just now was like that of a lecher. If it were anyone else looking at me like that, I would have already slashed them with my sword."

Is the difference really that big?

Linghu Chong was greatly affected.

Yue Lingshan didn't speak, but glanced at Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze, then looked back at Linghu Chong, shook her head and sighed.

They said nothing, yet they said everything.

Linghu Chong was even more devastated.

Not far away, at another table, Jiang Ning unusually picked up his wine glass and glanced at Linghu Chong, a slight smile on his lips, before downing it in one gulp.

Further away, Du Lanyin sat at another table, picking up food with chopsticks, but not putting any into her mouth.

Du Lanyin appeared to be eating, but she seemed absent-minded, her eyes unconsciously glancing in a certain direction.

Qiaojun, who was standing next to her, glanced at Du Lanyin, then at the figure sitting not far away, and shook her head inwardly.

"Junior Sister Du."

Yueyin called out, looking at Du Lanyin.

"what are you thinking about?"

Du Lanyin, who was lost in thought, was called and quickly came back to her senses.

"nothing."

While saying it was nothing, he put the food that was still on his chopsticks into his mouth.

Seeing her like this, Yueyin assumed the food was bad and suspiciously took a bite of the dish that Du Lanyin had just eaten.

“It’s quite delicious.”

Moon Silver muttered softly.

Qiaojun rolled her eyes inwardly when she heard her words.

At that moment, a figure was walking towards Jiang Ning from not far away.

"Senior brother."

Lin Pingzhi sat down next to Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning looked at him.

"how?"

“My grandfather sent a letter, mentioning the matter of opening a security escort agency that we discussed last time. He said everything has been arranged in Luoyang, and the agency can open anytime, so he needs me to go there.”

Lin Pingzhi said, "I have already spoken to my master about this matter, and he has agreed. I will be going down the mountain in a couple of days."

"That's it."

Jiang Ning nodded and asked, "Do you need me to come with you?"

"No, no, no."

Lin Pingzhi quickly shook his head and said, "There's no need to trouble you with such a small matter, Senior Brother."

Seeing Lin Pingzhi refuse, Jiang Ning had no choice but to nod, but still said...

"Be careful after you go down the mountain. If anyone else covets the Evil-Slaying Sword Manual and attacks you, don't fight them head-on. Remember their names and appearances. I will go down the mountain to find them when I return."

Chapter 644: Treating Liu Lie

"Thank you, senior brother."

Jiang Ning's care for Lin Pingzhi deeply moved Lin Pingzhi.

"Ah."

Jiang Ning nodded and didn't say anything more.

Yue Buqun's birthday banquet ended, and the disciples all had to go about their own business. When Jiang Ning returned to his residence, he didn't find Maodou. Jiang Ning wasn't surprised; he was already used to this elusive donkey.

Sitting at his desk, Jiang Ning had nothing to do. He looked at the books on the desk but didn't open them. Instead, he took something out of his pocket.

Jiang Ning stared at the object in a daze.

This is the tortoise shell he brought out from the ancient tomb in Zhongnan Mountain, and the inscription on it is the Innate Skill.

Jiang Ning stared intently at the tortoise shell, the words written on it already memorized.

He has now reached the end of the fourth level, only one step away from the fifth level, but this seemingly small step has left him with no hope of breaking through, as if he has been trapped.

"Hey."

Jiang Ning sighed almost imperceptibly.

However, Jiang Ning was not too discouraged. Life is never smooth sailing. He was already incredibly fortunate to have mastered the Innate Skill to this level in just a few years.

Calming himself down, Jiang Ning put the tortoise shell away again and got up to walk down the mountain.

It's already October, and he wants to check on Liu Lie's health.

Down the mountain.

Huaming Village.

When Jiang Ning arrived at the village, many villagers were repairing their houses.

Many houses in Huaming Village were flooded during this flood, but the damage was not too severe. Some houses, although flooded, can still be lived in after some repairs. However, some houses are uninhabitable and need to be rebuilt.

Fortunately, the Huashan Sect provides some assistance to people who lack the funds to rebuild and repair their houses, which prevents them from despairing.

In fact, the Huashan Sect could have taken full responsibility for all the losses they suffered, but Yue Buqun did not do so. It wasn't that Yue Buqun was unwilling to do so, but rather it was human nature.

At this time, several villagers were busy helping to repair the house at Liu's mother's home.

"Brother Li, Brother Sun, thank you so much."

Liu's mother brought water to several villagers, expressing her gratitude.

A man laughed and said, "We're all from the same village, it's nothing to help each other out when someone's in trouble."

"Yes."