Chapter 173 (1/2)

Chapter 173

Old Man

Chu Shen walked down the mountain path, pa.s.sing through the jade gate that lead to the Majestic Sword Academy. Soon, he came to the foot of the mountains. He saw an old man at the foot of the mountains, walking towards the stairway.

His hair was gray, his robe was dirty with tears in it. He was stooped over and would have fit in with the beggars on the side of a road. This old man though, he had a familiar aura to him. Chu Shen was struck with a thought. Could this be his father?

Upon hearing Chu Shen’s footsteps, the man glanced upwards. His face had wrinkles on it and a long scar could be seen going across his right eye. The eye was clouded and blind. Chu Shen sighed. It wasn’t his dad.

The old man stumbled and fell. Chu Shen hurriedly came over. “Are you alright old man? Anything broken?”

The man shook his head and used Chu Shen’s outstretched arm to pick himself up. “No, I’m fine. You know, I have a son about your age in the academy. I was just going to visit him.”

“Oh?” Chu Shen became curious. “Well, would you like me escort you up the mountain?” He was supposed to meet his dad here but he didn’t specify a time. He was already at the foot of the mountain and his dad wasn’t here so escorting this old man wouldn’t waste too much time.

The man smiled and nodded. “Yes, that would be wonderful.”

Chu Shen held the old man’s elbow as they slowly walked up the mountain. They were halfway up when the old man started to talk. “I always raised my boy to respect his elders, to look after those who couldn’t look after themselves. It’s nice to see someone else doing so in his stead.”

Chu Shen smiled. “It’s nothing. My dad taught me that as well. Actually, I wanted to ask you something, if you don’t mind.”

The old man smiled kindly at him. “Go ahead, I won’t mind.”

“What is the name of your son.”

The old man grinned. “Well now, that is something I wish to keep a secret for a while longer.”

Chu Shen smiled. “Then I guess I’ll have to keep you company for a while longer. Could you tell me a little more about your son? Maybe I’ll recognize him then.”

The old man smiled softly before he started talking. “Well, my son is very kind. Maybe he has changed since then, the martial path does tend to harden the heart of many. I believe that he still the same innocent boy.”

“He went through some hard times as a boy. More than most others would have. I believe it gave him the character he needs to stay true to my teachings. He is talented though, very talented. He had a poor const.i.tution though which would have limited him in the future.”

“Luckily a traveling expert was able to heal him and fix his const.i.tution. Thanks to that expert, my boy reached a decent cultivation level and was the strongest in our village. That was how he was able to enter the Majestic Sword Academy.”