Martial Cultivator

Before long, a paper kite floated into the courtyard from outside, landing in front of the old man.

He gently opened his eyes and saw a child nervously watching from outside the courtyard.

The old man did not get up, just closed his eyes again, not intending to say anything.

The child standing at the door hesitated for a long time, then gently knocked on the door and asked in a soft voice, ”Can I come in to pick something up?”

The old man made a nonchalant ’mm’.

Only then, did the child pluck up his courage to enter this courtyard which had remained empty for many years before this.

Seeing the rather clean small courtyard that was no longer as run-down as before, the child heaved a sigh of relief. This courtyard had been uninhabited for years, overrun with weeds. Later, someone spread a rumor that the courtyard was haunted, causing the children to keep their distance. Even now, with a new owner, the children were reluctant to approach. But that paper kite was personally made by his mother. If he lost it, he would be heartbroken.

Approaching the old man, the child quietly picked up the paper kite, and then turned to leave. However, after a moment’s thought, he mustered up the courage to turn back and bow deeply to the old man, saying softly, ”Thank you.”

The old man slowly opened his eyes and looked at the child, smiling, ”You’re welcome.

Hearing this, the child suddenly felt much more at ease. He plucked up the courage to ask a question similar to the one the girl at the tavern had asked.

The old man nodded, ”Indeed, I’ve been to many places. When I was furthest away, I even saw the Great Wall.”

Hearing this, the child became excited and asked hopefully, ”Have you met the Great General then?”

Seeing the child’s expectant eyes, the old man shook his head and said, ”No.”

The child’s eyes were suddenly filled with disappointment.

The old man asked curiously, ”Why? Do you know the Great General?”

The child shook his head and said softly, ”How is that possible? He’s the Great General. How could I know him? But my dad often says he’s the greatest hero in the world, and I just want to see him.”

The old man casually said, ”He’s no hero. Just an old coot.”

The child was somewhat angry. ”The Great General guards the Great Wall for us. How can you say that about him?”

The old man was taken aback and fell silent.

The child quickly reacted and apologized again with a red face.

The old man did not mind, saying, ”Even the greatest heroes grow old. He has lived for so many years, he’s also an old man.”

The child shook his head, still unwilling to accept this.

The old man did not dwell on it and just took a sip from his wine gourd. Then, he looked at the child staring intently at the wine gourd in his hand, and said with interest, ”Want a sip?”

The child swallowed hard, but still shook his head.

His dad did not allow him to drink, not even the rice wine during the New Year.

The old man scoffed, ”What are you afraid of? If you want to drink, just take a sip. At worst, you’ll get a beating. What’s there to be scared of?”

Provoked by the old man’s words, the child snatched the wine gourd and took a big gulp, but soon found himself choking and turning red in the face.

The old man burst into laughter.

The child glanced at him and, in a fit of stubbornness, took another sip. This time, he managed to swallow it, though his face turned red at once too.

After drinking, the child became more talkative and asked, ”You’ve traveled so far and seen many amazing people, right?”

The old man countered, ”What kind of people do you consider amazing?”

”The ones that can fly?”

The child was somewhat unsure.

The old man chuckled, ”Oh, I’ve seen quite a few of those.”

The child immediately became interested and pestered the old man to tell him stories.

The old man shook his head. ”My stories aren’t very interesting.”

The child thought for a moment and asked, ”Do you know the Great General’s story? My dad said he’s also from our Yellow Dragon Prefecture.”

This time, the old man nodded, then slowly began to recount the story of the Great General. However, he was not skilled at storytelling; he simply narrated events. Nonetheless, the stories he told were still grand and magnificent, stirring a sense of longing in the child from time to time. The old man looked at the child and smiled. ”He spent many years at the Great Wall. Later, he missed home, so he returned.”

The child exclaimed, ”If he’s not at the Great Wall, then who’s guarding it? Dad said the demons over there eat people.”

The old man chuckled, ”In such a vast Great Liang Dynasty, can’t they find someone to replace him?”

The child nodded, accepting the old man’s explanation, but quickly asked, ”But where does the Great General live? Is it nearby? Can I go find him?”

”Not too far, but why do you want to find him?” The old man took a sip of wine, looking nonchalant.

The child said, ”Just to see if he’s really as tall as my dad says, ten feet tall! And to thank him.”

”Thank him?” The old man raised an eyebrow. ”Thank him for what?”

The child said as a matter of course, ”If it weren’t for him, we would have been eaten by those demons. Of course, I have to thank him.”

The old man shook his head. ”Even without him, there would be others. You wouldn’t have been eaten.”

The child persisted stubbornly, ”But he’s the one on the Great Wall!”

The old man did not speak, as if unsure how to respond to that statement.

A long time passed.

The old man thought about it and suddenly said, ”I see.”

The child continued to ask, ”So where is he exactly?”

The old man shook his head and replied softly, ”I’m old, I forgot.”

The child felt somewhat disappointed, but was still very contented. After all, he heard a bunch of stories here today.

He looked up and saw that it was almost dark, then said, ”I have to go home now, or my dad will scold me.”

The old man nodded and smiled, ”Hopefully, you’ll be able to get out of bed tomorrow.”

Having already had some alcohol, the child shrugged, ”I’ve already drunk, what’s there to be afraid of?”

The old man gave a thumbs up, ”That’s the spirit!”

The child giggled and said, ”Anyway, I’m going to join the army when I grow up. At that Great Wall in the North, who doesn’t drink?”

The old man poured cold water on his enthusiasm, ”People die there.”

”I’m not scared! They’re not afraid of death, so I’m not either!” The child waved his small fists rather excitedly.

The old man sighed, ”How can they not be scared? It’s just that they still have to go even if they are scared. But you’re different, you’re amazing.”

The child laughed.

The old man pondered for a moment and then said, ”Shall I give you something?”

The child was taken aback, about to refuse.

The old man shook his head, ”Don’t refuse. It’s nothing special.”

Then, the old man slowly got up, went into the house, and when he came out, he had a wooden saber in his hand. The wooden saber was not exquisite, even a bit crude. After handing it to the child, he said, ”When I was your age, I also dreamed of joining the army all day long. But back then, I was young, so I made myself a saber. Every day, looking at the saber, I felt like I was the greatest person in the world.”

The child took the wooden saber, loving it so much that he could not bear to let go. After some thought, he handed over the paper kite in his hand and said, ”Then take this as a return gift!”

The old man shook his head and sighed, ”I’m old now, can’t run anymore.”

But the child said firmly, ”I must give it to you. That way, we’ll be friends from now on!”

The old man nodded in agreement, took the paper kite, and smiled, ”Then I’ll accept it.”

The child nodded happily and said, ”I’ll come back to play with you tomorrow!”

The old man nodded with a smile.

The child then turned around happily and left, skipping away.

The old man smiled as he watched the child leave, reminding the little one not to forget to close the door behind him.

Lying back on the reclining chair again, the old man murmured, ”Youth is so wonderful.”

Taking the wine gourd from beside him, the old man finished the last sip. The moon was already up in the sky, its light cascading down and falling upon the old man.

Putting the paper kite in his arms, the old man narrowed his eyes slightly and chuckled softly, ”Looks like this old man’s life wasn’t in vain.”

As he spoke, for some reason, a figure suddenly appeared before his eyes. It was his younger self, looking at the old man. Suddenly, he asked, ”Do you regret it?”

The Great General who had fought countless battles and guarded the North for the human race for many years shook his head with a smile, ”Why would I?”

”Are you happy then?”

Hearing this question, the Great General chuckled, ”Of course.”

Hence, his younger self nodded in satisfaction, ”Then I’m really amazing!”

The Great General also laughed, ”You’re not really amazing, it’s me who’s amazing.”

The young man snorted and walked away on his own.

The Great General watched his departing figure and murmured, ”Goodbye, Great Liang.”

It was the afternoon again. A girl carrying a flask of alcohol hurried to the door. Her mother was tending the shop today, so she quickly brought the alcohol to the old man. When she arrived at the door, she initially wanted to push it open, but in the moment her hand reached out, she hesitated. Finally, she opted to knock on the door.

Very lightly.

As if she was afraid of disturbing the old man inside.

The young girl called out softly, ”Are you inside?”

She waited for a long time, but there was no answer.