Chapter Forty: Only the Eternal Is Truth! (First Update)

After a round of conversation, Lin Dong turned and walked out of the room, for someone was needed outside to take charge of the situation.

Jiang Yu intended to leave together with Jiang Ziyue. Since he had verbally agreed to become Lin Dong’s disciple, it could be considered a gesture in return for her goodwill. As for whether it was true or not, Jiang Yu didn’t take it to heart. If one were to be strict about it, Lin Dong should go and ask his teacher Lin Wangtian whether he dared to take Jiang Yu as his disciple.

Xia Qinghan called out to Jiang Yu, “Wait.”

Jiang Yu replied calmly, “Is there something else?”

Xia Qinghan’s expression was aloof, “I have a few words to say to you.”

With that, she turned and walked out, crossing the boxing club and leading Jiang Yu into the elevator, heading straight for the top floor.

Inside the narrow space, a unique fragrance emanated from Xia Qinghan, subtle and intoxicating. Her exquisitely beautiful face betrayed no emotion. It was this cold, noble aura that made her all the more captivating.

No wonder even a prodigy like Lin Dong was infatuated with her beauty.

“Where are you taking me?” Jiang Yu asked curiously.

The corners of Xia Qinghan’s mouth curved slightly, “Are you afraid?”

Jiang Yu responded with a smile, but said nothing.

Baida Hui Commercial Plaza had twelve floors, with hundreds of shops of all sizes. Even international brands like Armani, Givenchy, Baida Jade, Hermes, Chanel, and more than a dozen others had their own counters here.

The goods on sale were dazzling, with thousands of varieties. This was the capital of the Xia family in Jiangbei.

On the twelfth floor rooftop, the warm breeze intoxicated visitors, and the city of Cloud was surrounded by mountains, reminiscent of the famous mountain city in Sichuan Province.

The air was fresh and the scenery delightful. Cloud City had long been known as the small mountain city of Jiangbei, and the tourism industry was gradually developing year by year. Standing atop the twelfth floor of Baida Hui, overlooking the city, one felt a sense of altitude above all.

“Jiang Yu, standing here, overlooking Cloud City, what do you feel?” Xia Qinghan walked to the edge, hands behind her back, her slender silhouette gazing at the street scene, then asked lightly.

Where she stood, a single step forward would send her falling from the rooftop. Not only women, but even the average man would likely tremble and collapse in such a spot.

Yet Xia Qinghan remained unmoved by the wind, steadfast as ancient pine. Her mastery of late-stage Condensed Strength was the most impressive accomplishment Jiang Yu had seen among secular experts.

It was a pity Xia Qinghan was born in the wrong era. Had she lived five thousand years ago, when the world’s spiritual energy was still dense, with her outstanding talent, reaching the Golden Core stage would not have been impossible.

Jiang Yu likewise approached the edge, hands clasped behind his back, and said calmly, “Countless people on the street busy for survival, so small as to be like ants. Even this vast city of Cloud now seems insignificant.”

A smile appeared at Xia Qinghan’s lips, and her beautiful eyes revealed a hint of dominance: “Just as the Tang poet Wang Zhihuan said, if you wish to see a thousand miles, climb one more floor. To see farther, you must ascend higher. In this vast world, how can mere mortal eyes ever glimpse its entirety?”

“When I stand atop Baida Hui’s highest floor, I suddenly feel that the ordinary people below are nothing special. Just like you; perhaps you think your achievements are enough to stand above your peers, but you do not realize that the height you pride yourself on is merely something we have already discarded.”

Jiang Yu smiled tranquilly, “Oh? And how high do you think you can see?”

Xia Qinghan shook her head, “How high I can see is not important. What matters is that I know, above the places I cannot see, there are still others overlooking the heights we believe to be lofty.”

“Jiang Yu, I know you seem modest on the surface, but deep down you are proud, and many things you do not regard. Of course, you have your own strengths. Everyone can see that you agreed to be Lin Dong’s disciple merely to reassure Jiang Ziyue.”

“To win you this opportunity, Jiang Ziyue privately begged me for help. In truth, even if you hadn’t shown your skill today, I would have taken you as a disciple of the boxing club afterwards.”

Xia Qinghan met Jiang Yu’s gaze, only to find his eyes as calm as ever, unmoved.

It was as if beneath this youthful exterior lay a soul weathered by ages. For a moment, Xia Qinghan almost believed it.

“All you’ve said is nothing but your own guesses about me. Indeed, I am proud, but I have the capital to look down on all. You called me up here just to say these things?” Jiang Yu felt little emotion.

Jiang Ziyue always spoke of how different heights meant different perspectives, but how could she see what Jiang Yu could see?

While others still studied secular martial arts, Jiang Yu’s gaze was already cast upon the vast void. His understanding was not something these people could comprehend.

When these people turn to dust in a hundred years, in a thousand or ten thousand years, Jiang Yu would still exist.

Ten years to observe the seasons, a hundred years to witness birth and death, a thousand years to see dynasties rise and fall, ten thousand to watch stars shift. Only the eternal is truth; no matter how high a mortal’s perspective, what they see remains limited.

Suddenly, Xia Qinghan smiled brightly, “Jiang Yu, this is why I called you up. You are not convinced by everyone forcing you to be Lin Dong’s disciple.”

“I just wanted to tell you, what you understand of this world is but the tip of the iceberg.”

As she finished, Xia Qinghan brought her fingers together like a blade, her beautiful face cold and fierce, and struck down beside Jiang Yu.

A faint, visible force shot from her fingertips, leaving a deep mark on the floor, as if cut by a knife or axe. The hard flooring, under the energy, was like tofu, bearing a yard-long gash.

“My family, the Xia’s right branch, is dedicated to martial arts. At twelve, I was already a Condensed Strength expert. At sixteen, mid-stage; at nineteen, late-stage, with one foot in the door of mastery. The so-called geniuses like Yuan Tiangang are nothing in my eyes.”

“These things, perhaps you have never seen or heard of. The existence of secular martial artists is itself beyond normal comprehension. I tell you this only to make you understand that we have every right to take you as a disciple. Your pride is nothing before secular martial arts.”

“Every young person has pride, but sometimes, don’t let it swell too much. Defeating Mo Tian and Zhou Yongji is nothing to boast about; either Lin Dong or I could easily defeat them.”

Jiang Yu found it amusing. Wasn’t Xia Qinghan’s speech just a show of authority?

She had called him up alone to dampen his spirits.

“In Cloud City, there are few people for whom I would promise to act three times. You are one. I hope you understand, even the most precious wood is just ordinary until it is carved by a master.”

Jiang Yu lit a cigarette. In the swirling smoke, his eyes reflected a depth as vast as the sea.

He quietly watched the traffic below.

Xia Qinghan radiated powerful confidence; young, a late-stage Condensed Strength expert, her blood vigorous and surging. Jiang Yu could almost hear her strong heartbeat; if he reached the Foundation Establishment stage, he could even hear the blood flowing through nearby veins.

The Foundation Establishment stage, in some ways, is life evolving to a higher level.

After a moment, Jiang Yu smiled, “Your understanding of me is still too shallow; otherwise, you would not say these things.”

Xia Qinghan was unperturbed. She knew that winning over someone like Jiang Yu could not be accomplished in a day.

“All right, I’ve said everything I wanted to say.”

She parted her red lips and spoke calmly.

Jiang Yu shook his head with a smile, “It seems Xia Ning hasn’t told you my identity.”

Xia Qinghan was taken aback, “What identity?”

Jiang Yu said, “Logically, with your Xia family’s intelligence capabilities, you should have picked up something from certain events. I overestimated your information network.”

With that, Jiang Yu turned and left.

Xia Qinghan was left standing alone, lost in thought.

After a while, she picked up her phone and dialed, “Uncle Xia, could you check what’s happened recently in Xia Ning’s family?”

A deep voice answered, “All right, I’ll find out as soon as possible.”

After ending the call, Xia Qinghan looked in the direction Jiang Yu had gone, murmuring, “Jiang Yu, do you have an identity I know nothing about? It seems Xia Ning is hiding something from me. Otherwise, why would she be so close to Jiang Yu?”

After a long pause, Xia Qinghan smiled bitterly, “Perhaps I’m overthinking it.”