Beginning of Cultivation
Chapter 29: Returning to Kunlun Mountains

Chapter 29: Returning to Kunlun Mountains

At this time, the group had returned to the capital city. Chu Wu issued an order for the soldiers to rest after the campaign. Within the Chu residence, Jun Wu Xiao spoke:

"Now that our tasks are completed, we’ve been out for more than three months, it’s time to return and seclude ourselves for cultivation."

Chu Wu nodded, understanding that he couldn’t keep them indefinitely, nor were they the type to forsake cultivation for mere leisure. He said:

"Good, I knew you would say that, so I had people prepare your luggage in advance. With this luggage, perhaps at our next meeting, someone won’t look as pitiful and ragged as a beggar."

Dao San Qian and Yue Guang burst into laughter upon hearing this, while Jun Wu Xiao’s face turned dark. He said:

"Hey hey, why do you keep talking about that? It’s all in the past so forget it. You’re old but you have a personality like that of a bratty kid. Come on, my handsome man is generous and doesn’t bother with childish old men."

Chu Wu looked at him with disdain, curling his lip and scoffed:

"Phew, I spit on that. You still have the nerve to call me old and childish, do you think you’re still young? As for being bratty, among all our friends, I’d dare say you’re the supreme."

"What did you say? How could I possibly be as childish as you?" Jun Wu Xiao argued back.

At that moment, loud laughter erupted:

"Ha ha ha ha."

Jun Wu Xiao felt betrayed, his friends were actually laughing at him. He said:

"Huh, what are you two laughing at? I didn’t say anything wrong."

"Ha ha... you... you’re not wrong... that would be odd. Ha ha, if you ask me who is more childish between you and Chu Wu, the answer is definitely you." Yue Guang said amidst laughter.

Chu Wu smirked, now that everyone was siding with him, it was his moment to shine. He declared:

"Accept the truth, the only childish old man here is you, Jun Wu Xiao. Stop resisting futilely, be honest with yourself."

Jun Wu Xiao, facing the laughter of the three, was furious. But it wasn’t true anger, and things would return to normal in a few hours. He said:

"You... all of you... are all against me. Huh, I won’t bother talking to you anymore."

And just like that, the four of them continued their playful antics until the end of the day.

The following morning, Chu Wu had prepared several horses to transport the luggage for the three of them. However, after seeing the horses, Jun Wu Xiao said:

"Keep the horses here. We will carry our luggage back ourselves. Consider it part of our cultivation practice. We don’t need to hurry back to the Kunlun Mountains."

Chu Wu had prepared the horses with good intentions, although knowing well that the luggage would not trouble the three of them. But since they deemed it unnecessary, it would be wasteful, so he decided to withdraw the horses and allocate them to the army instead.

"Alright, if you don’t need them, I’ll keep them." Chu Wu replied and was about to lead the horses back in.

At that moment, he realized an important detail in Jun Wu Xiao’s words. Despite having spent months together, he had never inquired about Jun Wu Xiao’s residence. Now he knew it was in the Kunlun Mountains.

"So you live in the Kunlun Mountains, which is indeed a vast mountain range spanning thousands of miles. Even if I visited, I doubt I’d know where exactly you reside." Chu Wu commented.

"You needn’t worry about it. You’re too weak. We’d get to you faster than you could find us." Jun Wu Xiao chuckled, teasingly highlighting Chu Wu’s weaker strength.

Chu Wu’s face darkened slightly at the remark, and he retorted:

"Huh, this is only for now. In the future, I will become stronger. There will come a day when I can grind you into the dust."

Jun Wu Xiao heard the bold declaration without striking back. Having spirit is good, at least he probably won’t give up halfway. He laughed:

"Ha ha ha, then I’ll look forward to that day. But when exactly will our next meeting be?"

Chu Wu thought for a moment, now that the immediate troubles had been dealt with, his future tasks might proceed more smoothly. Although that was the case, he indeed had much to do, and it wouldn’t leave him with free time anytime soon. He replied:

"Perhaps I won’t have free time for the next twenty years."

Jun Wu Xiao pondered briefly, estimating the time he would need for his next breakthrough. Based on what he knew, it would likely take him about eleven years to achieve a breakthrough, and since Chu Wu said he wouldn’t be free for the next twenty years, maybe in twenty-two years, they might have the time. However, the specifics of cultivation were uncertain.

"How about we meet again sometime after twenty years then? I’m not certain when exactly I’ll have my breakthrough." Jun Wu Xiao suggested.

"Agreed, let’s decide on that. After twenty years, whenever you have your breakthrough, just come here. You can directly find me here, as by then, I probably won’t be waging wars but handling official duties." Chu Wu agreed.

"Good, we shall meet again." Jun Wu Xiao concluded.

"Thank you for taking care of us while we were here. See you again." Yue Guang said.

"I am still a mere mortal like you, but beware next time we meet, I might surpass you." Dao San Qian added.

"Huh, try being a general and see if you have time for cultivation! But when I retire, I will focus more on cultivation." Chu Wu responded.

"Alright then, we’ll take our leave now." Jun Wu Xiao said, then proceeded to lead the others away.

As for the luggage, each carried their own, which wasn’t particularly heavy for Jun Wu Xiao and Yue Guang, but Dao San Qian would face some challenges.

Seeing Jun Wu Xiao about to leave, Dao San Qian asked:

"Hey, wait. Aren’t we taking the horses?"

"What horses? This time, we’ll carry our luggage and cultivate along the way." Jun Wu Xiao replied.

Realizing then, Dao San Qian remembered that the last time Jun Wu Xiao had him use a horse was not to delay their journey to meet Chu Wu. But now, since they were integrating travel with cultivation, time wasn’t as critical.

"Oh, I see. Then I won’t use the horses." Dao San Qian said.

Though he was just an ordinary person, the long journey carrying luggage and simultaneously cultivating would indeed be arduous, but nothing could deter him from becoming stronger.

After all, he had the most steadfast Path’s heart and clarity of purpose among them at this moment, so naturally, he wouldn’t shy away from difficulties.

As the three of them traveled and cultivated, it took them much longer to reach the Kunlun Mountains.

Six months later, they finally arrived at the base of the Kunlun Mountains. Admiring the majestic mountain range, Dao San Qian remarked:

"Wow, it truly is magnificent. I’ve seen it from afar before, but it’s only up close that you realize just how vast it is."

"Welcome to your new home, from now on you will cultivate here. There’s nothing here but many mountains, so feel free to pick any spot you like. Just find a temporary place to stay. But, do you know how to survive on the mountain?" Jun Wu Xiao asked.

"I know, but if you guys could help me until I break through, it would be much easier. Survival alone will take up a lot of time and make it hard for me to focus fully on cultivation." Dao San Qian replied.

He had no reason to stubbornly be alone. He was here to cultivate, to become stronger, to pursue his path—not to practice survival skills.

Seeing the sense in that, Jun Wu Xiao agreed and said:

"Good, then you’ll stay with us for the next ten years, and after that, you can go wherever you want."

"Wait, what do you mean by ’us’? Are you and Yue Guang staying together?" Dao San Qian asked.

"Um, from the beginning, we both took a liking to the same mountain, so we decided to live together." Yue Guang explained.

"What exactly is the relationship between you two?" Dao San Qian inquired.

"You already know, we’re friends, sparring partners, and fellow cultivators." Jun Wu Xiao replied.

Yue Guang nodded in agreement.

Dao San Qian didn’t quite know what to say to that, thinking to himself:

"These two really get along well. But after ten years, I might need to keep my distance. Otherwise, I’ll end up being dragged into their sparring sessions and come out the worse for wear."

"Alright then, lead me to where we’ll be living." he said.

"Let’s go." Jun Wu Xiao said.

The three of them then set out to go to the cave where Jun Wu Xiao and Yue Guang usually lived.