The Guandi Legend: Temple of Triumph

Zhang Xun felt a piercing pain throughout his body, as if he had been pricked by needles from head to toe. He faintly remembered driving a sightseeing cart within the ancestral temple gardens of Guandi, right up until he reached the pond of released lives. His cart had suddenly lost speed, plunging both him and the vehicle into the pond, and after that, his memory was a blur. As he tried to assess his current situation, a stream of foreign memories flooded his mind. "To think, in my lifetime, I would encounter the fortune of crossing worlds," he mused with a wry smile. "But the conditions of my arrival could hardly be more tragic." According to the memories of his predecessor, he knew that from childhood to adulthood, he had lived in a place called Yunlu Village, within the vast Golden Dragon Dynasty. His predecessor's parents had gone hunting in the Yunlu Mountains when he was thirteen, only to encounter a ferocious beast. With their strength merely that of ordinary hunters, their fate upon meeting such a beast need not be spelled out. Subsequently, the predecessor was left alone, and this year he would be fifteen. By the laws of the Golden Dragon Dynasty, only upon reaching the age of fifteen could one legally sell family land and houses, as well as any leftover hunting tokens. Possessing a hunting token granted one the freedom to hunt in the Yunlu Mountains and to sell the flesh of any number of beasts without restrictions. Most crucially, holding a hunting token was the only way to gain entry into the county town and a single chance for a free promotion. As for what this promotion opportunity entailed, the predecessor didn't know, except that it was not easily utilized. Lin Hu, a villager, had long coveted this, his fertile land being particularly enticing, which could fetch a hundred taels of silver. But what truly interested Lin Hu was the chance for promotion that came with the hunting token. Under threats and coercion, Lin Hu's men cornered Zhang Xun in a secluded spot, but the predecessor refused to comply, resulting in serious injuries. In the end, it was Chen Lie, a hunter and good friend of his parents, who came to his aid after hearing of his plight, treating his wounds with a medicinal ointment. Before leaving, Chen Lie instructed Zhang Xun to seek him out upon awakening. With a heavy sigh, Zhang Xun resolved to accept his situation and decided to follow Chen Lie's advice first, suspecting it had something to do with Lin Hu. "Hisss." Enduring the intense pain, Zhang Xun managed to rise to his feet and donned his faded hemp garment. He opened the courtyard door and made his way towards Uncle Chen Lie's house, located on the village's edge, convenient for entering the Yunlu Mountains for hunting. Along the way, many villagers steered clear of the pale-faced Zhang Xun as if approaching him would bring misfortune. To them, associating with Zhang Xun, who had been targeted by Lin Hu, was undesirable. Lin Hu wielded considerable authority in the village and was known for his domineering ways. Whatever he coveted, none could refuse. They believed Zhang Xun would be better off surrendering his belongings, for his very survival was in question. Understanding their avoidance all too well and knowing he was powerless to change anything at the moment, Zhang Xun continued on his way. After about ten minutes, he arrived at Uncle Chen Lie's closed gate and knocked. "Knock, knock, knock." As the sound echoed, Chen Lie inside slowly set down a stone lock weighing a hundred jin, exhaling a deep breath. "Come in." Upon entering the courtyard, Zhang Xun was greeted by the sight of a burly man in homespun clothes standing before a massive stone weight. Judging by the stone's heft, it was clear that Uncle Chen possessed extraordinary strength. Without waiting for Zhang Xun to speak, Chen Lian turned to him and said, "I'm not one for idle chatter. I prefer to get straight to the point." "Now that you're of age, it's time you knew the truth." "Firstly, your parents took on a task from the village chief and died in the Yunlu Mountains, likely because they ventured into dangerous territory." "Secondly, before they entered the mountains, they entrusted you to my care. Upon reaching adulthood, no matter the circumstances, I was to teach you martial arts and set you on the path of the warrior." "The Golden Dragon Dynasty exercises strict control over martial arts, but with your hunting token, you are entitled to learn." "Unless you enter the county town to join a martial arts school or receive a token from the county yamen." "Thirdly, your parents' hunting token is with me. Once you've advanced to the martial apprentice level, I'll return it to you. The opportunity for promotion is not as straightforward as you might think—you must reach the ninth level of a quasi-martial artist." "With the hunting token, you might just manage to break through to the martial artist level. For now, concentrate on your training to reach the martial apprentice level quickly." After Chen Lian relayed all of this in one breath, Zhang Xun hadn't expected the cause of his parents' death to be so linked to the village chief. Any retribution would have to wait until he had the power to act. What surprised Zhang Xun was the existence of martial arts in this world. Having read many online novels in his previous life, he had always longed for the martial path and now, in this life, he could truly experience it. With deep respect, Zhang Xun bowed to Chen Lian, "Uncle Chen, I am willing to follow you and learn. No matter the hardship, I am prepared to endure it." Chen Lian's face remained expressionless as he turned and walked back into the house. After rummaging under the bed for a while, he lifted a floorboard and pulled out a yellowed book. "What I'm going to teach you today is the 'Body Tempering Technique'," he said as he handed the book to Zhang Xun. "The 'Body Tempering Technique', while the least sophisticated of the average martial arts, is considered one of the best foundational methods in Yunlu Village." "It also details the levels of martial arts and techniques, to give you a better understanding of the path and practices." "The training for a martial apprentice is quite straightforward. When you go back, train according to the technique, and pay attention to my annotations." "As for Lin Hu, he wouldn't dare to attack you with me around. Of course, if other problems arise, you'll need to handle them yourself." "Remember, Zhang Xun, you must be ruthless with yourself and even more so with others." "Don't forget how Lin Hu bullied you." "I'll give you the medicinal ointment I've prepared, which will be enough for you to break through to the martial apprentice level." As Chen Lian spoke, a fierce determination glinted in his eyes, causing Zhang Xun to shiver. Zhang Xun knew that if Lin Hu had bullied his former self to this extent, even if he didn't seek trouble with Lin Hu now, the man would not let him be. After all, Lin Hu was after the hunting token he possessed, and the fertile land was likely just a pretext. With a resolute gaze, Zhang Xun assured, "Uncle Chen, rest easy. I will surely resolve these troubles." Satisfied, Chen Lian nodded, "Once you have fully grasped the technique, then you may attempt to train. I have annotated all the answers to potential problems." Tucking the 'Body Tempering Technique' into his chest and grasping the medicinal ointment, Zhang Xun left. Walking along the road, his heart surged with excitement at the prospect of beginning his training. Meanwhile, in the corner of the village path, Xu Ming frowned, looking in the direction Zhang Xun had come from, a tinge of concern in his heart. He hadn't troubled Zhang Xun these past few days because Chen Lian, the hunter, had previously treated him, apparently possessing the strength of a level six quasi-martial artist. Now that Zhang Xun had emerged from Chen Lian's home, it was clear that Chen intended to protect him. Xu Ming decided it best to report this development to his elder brother Lin Hu and see what the leader would decide.