Path to Dual Cultivation

Chapter 7: Leaving Home

"You won't have to worry about people picking on him at the Sect." Su Qiao said, his expression overflowing with confidence in his own claim.

"What makes you so sure?" Su Lin frowned at him.

"Because our son won't be an ordinary disciple. He has a large-sized Dantian, so the Sect will treat him properly. In fact, there's already an Elder who is interested in him. And once they realize his sword talents, nobody in the Sect would dare to touch him!"

Su Qiao spoke with such confidence and praise that it made Su Yang blush.

"Is that really true?" Su Lin's eyes flickered with excitement after hearing this.

"Of course. If Su Yang hadn't refused that senior's offer, he would've been a disciple by now. I don't know much about the cultivation world and its Sects, but I know that one must pass an entrance exam no matter what Sect they choose, yet Su Yang is allowed to join one without doing so. If that isn't special treatment, I don't know what is!"

"If you say it like that..." The worry in Su Lin's heart began to lessen.

She turned to look at Su Yang and continued, "If this is really what you want, I won't stop you. I can only pray for your safety and success."

Su Yang nodded with a solemn expression, "I've never been more certain in my life. When I wielded a sword for the first time today, I realized the path I want to tread."

"In that case, I have nothing more to say. Good luck, Su Yang." Su Lin sighed.

Su Yang smiled, "I won't be leaving immediately. Until then, I will spend every moment with you and Su Jia."

However, Su Lin frowned and rejected, "Every moment? I won't allow that. You only have a month to prepare for your new life in the Sect, so you'll be doing just that, or I won't have a peaceful heart once you leave."

"How am I supposed to prepare, though? It's not like I can start cultivating now..." Su Yang raised his eyebrows in a puzzled manner.

Su Qiao pointed at his sword and said, "You can improve your swordsmanship in the meantime. While I may have taught you everything that I know, there is still plenty to learn. I'll see if the old man at the bookstore has some sword manuals later."

"Okay." Su Yang nodded.

Thus, Su Yang started training with the sword nearly every day since then.

He would follow Su Qiao to the Mayor's Estate in the morning and train at the training ground until it was late.

To improve his stamina, his training routine at the start consisted of running until he was on the verge of passing out. To strengthen his muscles, he would swing the sword thousands of times a day until his hands bled.

When Su Yang was not training, he was recovering at home while spending time with his mother and sister.

Time passed much quicker than usual for the Su Family, and in the blink of an eye, it was already time for Su Yang to leave home.

The day before Su Yang left, his family threw a luxurious feast for him.

"Su Yang, I want you to take this." Su Qiao placed a brand new sword before him.

"This is...?"

"Did you think we would send you to the Sect empty-handed? Unfortunately, we could only afford an ordinary steel sword."

Su Yang shook his head with a gentle smile on it, "Ordinary or not, I will treasure this sword and put it to good use. Thank you, Father."

"Also, you will need some money for traveling." Su Qiao handed a small leather pouch containing 10 gold coins inside.

"T-Ten gold coins? This is far too much money for only a month of travel! I cannot take this!" Su Yang immediately refused to accept the money, offering it back to them.

"It isn't just for your travel. You'll also need money at the Sect, right?" Su Qiao shook his head, refusing to accept the money back.

However, Su Yang insisted, "Actually, there are many methods for a disciple to survive inside a Sect without needing any money–at least that's what the books say. Moreover, mortal currency doesn't hold as much value in the cultivation world, so these 10 gold coins won't help me that much. Rather than wasting it on me, use it for yourself and Su Jia."

Hearing Su Yang's words and seeing the stubborn look on his face, Su Qiao could only take back the money.

Su Yang showed them the gold coin he received from the bookstore's manager and smiled, "This will be more than enough for me."

"Even though you're the one embarking on this dangerous journey, you're still more concerned about us than yourself..." Su Lin sighed, her heart filled with perplexed emotions.

The following day, Su Yang left his house early after exchanging his final goodbyes with his family.

Before leaving the city, he exchanged his single gold coin for 90 silver coins and 1,000 copper coins.

Su Yang intended on paying for a carriage at first since the journey would take a month, but he decided to use this opportunity to train his body further by running the entire way. If he's having trouble making it to the Sect on foot, it wouldn't be too late to hire a carriage in another city, as he would be passing through several to get to the Sect.

'I just need to follow this path for a month...' Su Yang thought to himself as he kicked his feet and started jogging along the trail.