Chapter Seventeen Drifting Away

  In this fulfilling and happy life, another five years have passed.

  Before long, it was already February 183 AD, and Wang Xu was also 13 years old this year. Of course, this is the calendar that Wang Xu himself deduced, and the solar calendar of later generations did not exist at that time. Even this 183 AD was calculated by Wang Xu according to the chronology in historical books.

  According to the era's terminology, it should be February of the second year of Guangxu. However, Wang Xu and Xue Shu privately used the Gregorian calendar to keep track of dates, otherwise the year numbers would change frequently, which was really troublesome.

  After getting up early in the morning, Wang Xu was washing while planning future things in his heart.

  Next year will be the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and when that time comes, the world will be in great chaos. Although my family's home in Shan Yang County, Yan Zhou is not a stronghold of the Yellow Turbans, we should still make early preparations, otherwise it will be very troublesome when the time comes.

  As he walked to the Wu Institute with a heavy heart, he strangely didn't see his master. For five years, every morning when he came here, he could always see Master Xuanwei standing quietly in the center of the courtyard, but today was indeed strange.

  Shaking his head in frustration, Wang Xu prepared to go to the nearby shelf to take out his weapon and practice for a while before doing anything else.

  He had just taken a step when a maid came running up and called out loudly: "Young Master! The master wants you to go to the main hall!"

  "What's so urgent? I'm practicing my skills!"

  "No! The young master's teacher is also in the main hall."

  "What's wrong?" Hearing that Xuan Wei was also in the main hall, Wang Xu shook his head and walked towards the main hall with a puzzled expression.

  As soon as he entered the door, he saw that Xuan Wei Dao Zong was carrying a bundle on his back, and Wang Xu also understood what had happened in an instant.

  Master is leaving? Thinking of this, Wang Xu's heart was anxious, and he hurriedly ran over, shouting: "Master, where are you going with your luggage?"

  Seeing Wang Xu arrive, Xuan Wei Daolong smiled and said kindly: "Good disciple, the master is going back now, because there are still many things waiting for the master to do. The master has been here for five years, and everything that should be taught to you has been taught. From now on, how far you can develop depends only on your own efforts and comprehension. Don't let the master down!"

  When Wang Xu heard these words from Master Xuanwei, he felt extremely distressed in his heart. After all, they had lived together for five years, and this master was very fond of him, how could he not have feelings? Moreover, the transportation in this era was not as convenient as before, it's not like you can just come and go as you please. Master Xuanwei left this time, who knows when they would meet again, maybe many years later, or even never see each other again!

  He bowed his head in silence for a long time, and Wang Xu finally suppressed the pain of parting, nodded bitterly. "Master, since you still have things to do, I won't keep you any longer. I know everyone has their own things they must do, and parting is often inevitable! However, Master, can you tell me where you will be hiding, and I will definitely come to see you in the future."

  "Hehe! You're so understanding!" Xuan Wei said with a gentle smile, stroking Wang Xu's head. A hint of melancholy flashed in his eyes, but he quickly recovered. "Yes, parting is always inevitable!"

  He said with a smile to Wang Xu. "There's no need to see me off, in my observation, the world will be chaotic. You are a worldly person, if you come to the deep mountains, not only will you disturb the disciples' cultivation, but also bring disaster. In the future, when I have time, I will look for you!"

  Although it was hard to accept, Wang Xu also knew that his master had spoken the truth. In the future when the world would be in great chaos and the various lords would be at war with each other, if others were to find out about his lineage, it was very likely that they would take revenge on him by bringing their armies to cause trouble for him.

  Thinking of these things, he no longer insisted and said in a low voice: "The disciple understands."

  Xuan Wei Dao Chang smiled and nodded, then turned to face Wang Yan who had been standing quietly beside him and said: "In that case, I'll take my leave."

  "Alright! Since the Taoist priest has made up his mind, I won't force him to stay either. Let me and my child see the Taoist priest off for a while!" As he spoke, Wang Yan also let out a deep sigh.

  "But no need," said Xuan Wei Dao Chang, shaking his head. "Sending each other off would only add to the sadness. We Taoists don't need such formalities."

  He turned his head again and reminded Wang Xu: "Do you still remember the silk I gave you at that time? The master did not expect that your talent would be so good, resulting in the end of our master-disciple relationship. But now it's not the time for you to learn from that silk, so the master specially wrote the notes on this piece of silk."

  He took out a folded silk handkerchief from his bosom and handed it to Wang Xu. "When you are over fifteen years old, you can carefully examine it, and at that time, you will naturally understand its meaning. But you must also remember what your master said to you at the beginning. After you remember it, you can burn the handkerchief, don't let others know about it. If this technique falls into the hands of someone with an evil heart, it will become a wicked technique and cause endless harm. You must remember!"

  "Master, please be at ease. The disciple will take good care of it and burn it immediately after reading it later. I will never leak out even a single word!"

  Having obtained Wang Xu's promise, Xuan Wei Dao smiled and turned to bow to his father before striding out of the hall.

  Wang Xu and Wang Yan still couldn't help but follow to see him off, but Xuan Wei Dao Zhang simply raised his left hand and waved it without looking back!

  Wang Xu and his father exchanged a glance, but in the end they did not follow. They just gazed afar at the receding figure of Xuan Wei Dao...

  "Xuan Wei Dao Chang is indeed a high-ranking person in the world!" Wang Yan sighed and then saw that Wang Xu's mood was somewhat low, so he patted him on the shoulder and said: "A man should not be timid, if you miss your master, then you should strive to be more outstanding and achieve great things. When your name reaches his ears, he will also be delighted!"

  "Ah!" Wang Xu also knew this truth, but in his heart he couldn't help feeling a lingering sadness.

  Suppressing the emotions in his heart, Wang Xu was about to go to the Wu Institute to practice martial arts and shift his attention, but suddenly remembered what had just happened in his mind. He hastily called out to Wang Yan, who was about to walk out of the hall.

  "Dad, I have something to tell you."

  "What? What's going on?" Wang Yan stopped in his tracks and turned around to ask doubtfully.

  Quickly walking up to his father, Wang Xu said in a low voice: "Father, I have something to ask of you."

  "Hehe, go ahead! As long as it's for Father, I'll definitely satisfy you."

  But Wang Xu shook his head, his face solemn. "Father, this matter is not just about me, it's a big deal for our family!"

  Hearing his son speak so seriously, Wang Yan's eyebrows furrowed. "What is it that's so important?"