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

Jiang Ning stared blankly at the broken sword in his hand.

This gentleman's sword was Yue Buqun's personal sword for many years. When he left Dengfeng, Yue Buqun gave him this sword again, but now it is broken.

This sword held great significance for him.

Jiang Ning was lost in thought for a long time. After regaining his senses, he looked back at the room where he lived.

The Zhenwu Sword is placed there.

Speaking of the True Martial Sword, Jiang Ning had to admit that it had greatly helped him after that great battle, significantly reducing his internal energy consumption. If it weren't for the True Martial Sword, he wouldn't have been able to retreat; he would have been worn down to death by experts like Xiang Wentian, Lan Fenghuang, and Shangguan Yun long ago.

"The True Martial Sword..."

Jiang Ning murmured softly.

He never expected that this sword would end up in his hands.

Perhaps this is destiny.

……

October.

After another month of recuperation, Jiang Ning's injuries were almost fully healed.

And he was preparing to leave.

“My benefactor, you were so badly injured before, and only a few months have passed. Why don’t you rest and recuperate for a while longer?”

The woman said it very sincerely.

The doctor had told her before that Jiang Ning's injuries were very serious and that she would need to rest for a long time, at least six months. During these six months, she should try not to move around too much, otherwise not only would the recovery be slow, but she was also afraid that the injuries would relapse.

The woman was also worried that if Jiang Ning left before his injuries had healed, those who were after him would find him again.

"My injury has almost healed."

Jiang Ning smiled.

Although he was seriously injured and on the verge of death before, he has recovered to a considerable extent after two months of recuperation.

The doctor said he needed to rest for at least six months, unaware that he possessed internal energy. The Innate Skill itself has a strong healing effect. After two months of rest, coupled with the automatic operation of the Innate Skill, his body had almost fully healed, and even the wounds on his body had healed.

Speaking of the Innate Skill, Jiang Ning was able to sustain himself for so long and get here only because the Innate Skill was circulating within his body on its own, keeping him alive. Otherwise, he would have died before he even got here.

Of course, the Zhenwu Sword played an indispensable role.

Seeing that Jiang Ning was determined to leave, the woman could not stop him.

Jiang Ning then asked, "What are your plans?"

The woman was taken aback, then looked disappointed.

She has nothing left except her son; her family no longer wants her.

Jiang Ning looked at her, then at the child beside the woman, and suddenly said, "Your son is weak and has a harder time growing up than others. I can try to find some herbs and a skilled doctor to treat him, which may allow your son to grow up safely."

Upon hearing this, the woman's expression shifted slightly. She did not answer immediately, but after glancing at her son beside her, she suddenly knelt down before Jiang Ning.

"This humble woman has a request: could you please accept my son as your apprentice?"

Jiang Ning was taken aback.

The woman said, “My son has been weak since he was a child. The doctor said he was destined to die young. It is fortunate that he has survived to this day. Now, I am not able to raise him by myself. I ask for nothing but that you, my benefactor, take him as your disciple. That would be better than him living by my side.”

She knew that Jiang Ning was no ordinary person, but a great man. Her son could not possibly grow up alive in this small village, and even if he did, he would be plagued by illness. Now might be her son's chance to change his fate.

Jiang Ning remained silent, his eyes lowered, and after a moment's thought, he nodded.

"Alright."

The woman was overjoyed.

Jiang Ning looked at the child. "Would you like to become my disciple?"

The child tilted his head, his eyes filled with innocent curiosity.

It took a moment before it finally opened its mouth.

"Willing... willing... to".

Jiang Ning nodded and looked at the woman: "What is his full name?"

The woman's eyes reddened upon hearing this: "He doesn't have a formal name yet. My husband originally thought that a humble name would make him easier to raise, so he gave him a nickname and planned to give him a formal name when he grew up, but..."

Jiang Ning remained silent for a while, waiting for the woman to calm down before speaking.

"In that case, how about I name him?"

The woman was delighted to hear this and nodded repeatedly.

"If my son is granted a name by our benefactor, it will be a blessing he has earned through three lifetimes of good deeds."

Jiang Ning didn't say anything upon hearing this, and turned to look at the child.

“You have been frail and sickly since childhood, and it is difficult for you to move around or speak clearly, so I named you Lie.”

"If you move slowly, then walk slowly and steadily. If you have difficulty speaking, then don't speak. Let your actions demonstrate your will."

The child didn't react to what he heard; he just tilted his head and looked at Jiang Ning.

Seeing this, the woman became anxious and quickly told her son to thank the master.

She was illiterate and had never been to school, but she knew that Jiang Ning's words reflected his hopes for his son.

The child looked at her blankly, not understanding why his mother was doing this, but still obediently replied.

"Thank you... Master."

Jiang Ning nodded.

“You also have a senior brother named Liu Zhao. His name was also given to you by your master. You two share the same surname, Liu. Perhaps this is your destiny.”

Jiang Ning said.

"I gave you these two names not because I expect you to be outstanding in the future, but because I hope that when you grow up you will have a righteous heart and do things to save people."

"As your teacher, I hope that your virtues will shine as brightly as the sun and the sky, that your virtues will be illustrious and your actions will be valiant."

Chapter 444: Departure for Jiading (Bonus Chapter 8, 8/26)

"This humble woman thanks my benefactor on behalf of my son, Liu Lie."

The woman repeatedly kowtowed to Jiang Ning to express her gratitude, and then said to the child, "My son, quickly kneel down and thank your master."

The child, Liu Lie, remained standing there blankly. The woman pulled Liu Lie down to kneel and kowtow three times to Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning did not stop him; this was something Liu Lie deserved to do.

After Liu's mother finished kowtowing to Liu Lie, Jiang Ning said, "Get up."

After Liu's mother helped her son up, Jiang Ning said to Liu Lie, "Now that you have become my disciple, I will tell you where your master is."

"My name is Jiang Ning, Jiang as in river and Ning as in peace. I am a disciple of the Huashan Sect in Shaanxi. Your grandmaster is Yue Buqun, the current head of the Huashan Sect. After you return to Huashan with me, you will need your grandmaster's permission to join my Huashan Sect."

Liu Lie, a two-year-old child, naturally couldn't understand what Jiang Ning was saying; he was speaking to his mother.

Hearing Jiang Ning's words, a pang of sadness flashed through Liu's mother's heart.

Shaanxi...

She wasn't familiar with the geography, but she could sense that Shaanxi sounded very far away from her, which in those days often meant that she and her son would never have the chance to see each other again.

However, Liu's mother became nervous again after hearing what Jiang Ning said next.

She could tell that Jiang Ning was no ordinary person, and that the Huashan Sect must be an extremely powerful force, beyond her imagination. As the leader of the sect, Yue Buqun was unlikely to agree to her son, a country bumpkin, joining the Huashan Sect.

Jiang Ning could tell what she was thinking just by looking at her expression, and then said, "You don't need to worry. My master is a gentleman and he won't refuse Liu Liehua a visit to the mountain."

Jiang Ning knew his place in Yue Buqun's heart. As long as he didn't ask for the sun, moon, and stars in the sky, Yue Buqun would agree to whatever he asked for. If only one of them could live, Yue Buqun would definitely choose to die so that Jiang Ning could live.

This is Jiang Ning's status in Yue Buqun's eyes. Let alone just taking on a small disciple, if Yue Buqun knew that Liu's mother had saved Jiang Ning's life, he would probably want to worship her.

Hearing Jiang Ning's words, Liu's mother finally felt relieved.

But what followed was sadness.

Well, at least Lie'er can survive and grow up safely with her benefactor, and perhaps in the future she can become a chivalrous person like her benefactor.

Liu's mother thought to herself.

Just as she was grieving alone, Jiang Ning suddenly asked, "What are your plans after your son returns to Mount Hua with me?"

"I?"

Liu's mother was taken aback, then looked bewildered.

Liu Lie is her only concern now. With Liu Lie gone, she really doesn't know what to do next.

Seeing her like this, Jiang Ning said, "Why don't you come with me to Shaanxi? Liu Lie is still young, and even if he comes to Mount Hua with me, he will need someone to take care of him. You are his birth mother, so it would be best if you could take care of him personally."

Liu's mother was delighted.

"My benefactor, may I go to Shaanxi to be with my son?"

Jiang Ning nodded.

Liu's mother was overjoyed. She had thought that Jiang Ning's agreement to take her son as his apprentice was already a way of repaying her life-saving grace, and she couldn't ask for anything more, lest it seem like she was taking advantage of the situation. But Jiang Ning's words made her feel no sadness at all, and she was about to kneel down to thank Jiang Ning, but Jiang Ning stopped her.

"No need for thanks, please rise."

After the woman got up, Jiang Ning asked, "Is there anything in your house that needs tidying up? If so, you can postpone your departure by two days."

Mother Liu quickly shook her head: "No, no, I only have some clothes, and I can leave today."

Jiang Ning nodded.

"Alright, go pack now, we'll be leaving shortly."

It's already October, and he can't delay any longer.

December is the inauguration ceremony for Abbess Qingzhu, the head of the Emei Sect. She is currently in Shandong, which is quite a distance from Sichuan. If she doesn't set off now, she will miss the ceremony.

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, Liu's mother nodded quickly, then went inside to pack. Not long after, she came out with a package.