Chapter 763 - 294: Elder Tan Nan Has Passed Away (Part 4)

Ming Lan couldn’t understand it, so he simply stopped trying. He decided to follow his grandfather’s advice and do whatever the Old Ancestor arranged!

Early the next morning, Ming Lan was awarded by Xu Xingguang with a pair of Mystic Iron Shackles. Only after accepting his fate and putting on the shackles did he realize how heavy they were.

The following day, at the break of dawn, Dongfang Yi appeared punctually at the door of Ming Lan’s house.

Ming Lan opened the door and saw Dongfang Yi, wearing the shackles yet moving freely. His view of Dongfang Yi slowly started to change.

This kid, though inexperienced, is not weak.

From that morning on, there was another figure on the mossy stones by the river valley.

Eagle Sparrow was now busier than ever, having to supervise both Dongfang Yi and Ming Lan.

Ming Lan was smart, but he didn’t have Dongfang Yi’s martial arts talent.

During Dongfang Yi’s first training session, under the supervision of Eagle Sparrow, he lasted forty minutes. Ming Lan, however, collapsed into a puddle at the 32-minute mark.

As he slipped towards the pool, not making it to the last second, the Starlight Sword left a bloody mark on his neck.

Sitting in the pool, Ming Lan touched his slightly painful and bleeding neck, feeling somewhat discouraged.

Noticing Dongfang Yi’s calm demeanor and steady breath with no sign of fatigue, he couldn’t resist asking curiously, "Xiao Yi, how many minutes did you last?"

Dongfang Yi: "40 minutes."

"..."

Ming Lan took back his comment from yesterday about Xu Xingguang not considering talent when choosing disciples.

Having personally experienced the hardships of training, he knew better than anyone the amount of willpower needed to persist every extra minute.

For the first time, Ming Lan, who always regarded himself as formidable, gave Dongfang Yi a thumbs-up. "You’re impressive."

Staring at the thumbs-up from Ming Lan, Dongfang Yi felt a sense of achievement from overcoming hardships. "Brother Ming Lan, hang in there. I’ve only been training for a month and have already improved rapidly."

Dongfang Yi spoke with ease, "In another month, I plan to challenge my father. If I can defeat him, he’ll allow me to go to Medicine King City with my master."

"Once I’ve got a grasp on Ancient Martial Arts, I want to go to the Emperor City, join the Ming Family Army, and undergo trials on the battlefield."

"Only in desperate situations can heroes be forged. I want to write my own life story."

The youthful declaration was a bit melodramatic, but his life plan was clear and resolute.

Ming Lan did not mock his dream; instead, he sincerely said, "You will become a true hero." He realized that even without the assistance of superpowers, he was still far behind Dongfang Yi.

He needed to work even harder.

*

The day before the admission test in Golden Gate City, Xu Xingguang took Ming Lan to plot number 18 to teach him how to fertilize the Poisonous Widow.

She handed Ming Lan a clay-colored medicine bottle, "Inside, there are three compressed fertilizer pellets. The mixing ratio is one pellet to three thousand milliliters of water."

Ming Lan casually played with the bottle in his palm, asking, "Isn’t the mixing ratio too diluted? Can it still promote growth?"

Xu Xingguang calmly told him, "This isn’t fertilizer; it’s a highly toxic pill. This Poisonous Widow grows by absorbing toxins and must be mixed according to this ratio."

Upon hearing this, Ming Lan’s hand tightened around the bottle, almost crushing it on the spot.

He quickly adjusted his grip to cradle it like a precious pearl.

Only then did Ming Lan realize that the ’Jade Cabbage’ he thought he was handling was actually a highly toxic herb. "Do I need to wear a gas mask?"

Perhaps due to psychological effects, he began to feel his lower leg’s skin itch, his chest tightening, and a headache coming on, feeling like he could collapse at any moment.

Xu Xingguang looked at him with amusement, "Of course, you need to wear a mask when fertilizing."

"Is wearing a mask enough?" Ming Lan’s voice trembled.

"Yes, don’t worry, it won’t kill you."

Yet Ming Lan couldn’t feel reassured.

"Come on, it’s time to go home."

Ming Lan quickly stored the poisonous fertilizer into his ring storage and followed Xu Xingguang back to Wuyuan Town.

The new house was behind the park in Wuyuan Town. Xu Xingguang and Ming Lan landed near the park and strolled home.

At this time, the town’s grandparents were gathered in the park for exercise.

Since Xu Xingguang taught them a set of the Moon-cutting Sword Technique, they had been diligently practicing, determined to win the sword dance competition to be held in eight days.

Xu Xingguang, accompanied by Ming Lan, headed home through the park’s sword practice square, only to find Aunt Zhao, Uncle Su, and Granny Tang all present but not practicing, sitting on the park bench with faces full of grief.

Xu Xingguang slowed her steps, walking towards Granny Tang.

"Granny Tang, Aunt Zhao, why aren’t you practicing today? Taking a break?"

Upon hearing her, Granny Tang and the others looked up, their gazes filled with sorrow and affection.

Seeing their demeanor, Xu Xingguang had a bad feeling in her heart.

"Dear Xingguang," Granny Tang grasped Xu Xingguang’s hand, gently patting it as tears streamed down her face. "Elder Tan Nan...has passed away!"

Xu Xingguang pressed her lips tightly together, saying nothing.

Granny Tang assumed she was in shock and overwhelmed with grief, unable to speak.

Granny Tang stood up, raised her arm to stroke Xu Xingguang’s head, "Poor child, with Elder Tan Nan’s passing, you’re left to face the Golden Gate City exam alone tomorrow and then fend for yourself in Medicine King City..."

Aunt Zhao and others worried for Xu Xingguang, "Poor girl, such bad luck."

Ming Lan stood silently behind Xu Xingguang, observing the scene without speaking.

After sitting with them for a while and listening to their accounts, Xu Xingguang finally understood the cause.

It turned out Elder Tan Nan was already in her twilight years, with her body showing signs of organ failure. This trip to Medicine King City might have been too tiring, resulting in a sudden heart attack and her untimely death.

As Elder Tan Nan was an elder of the Ying Family, upon her passing in Medicine King City, the Ying Family arranged for her return and burial in the elders’ tomb.

"Elder Tan Nan passed away three days ago, and it was only after the funeral that the news was conveyed to Wuyuan Town," Granny Tang said.

After listening quietly, Xu Xingguang comforted them with a few words before heading home with Ming Lan.

Ming Lan noticed her odd mood, which seemed more angry than sad.

Ming Lan had met Elder Tan Nan, though he didn’t have a deep impression of the elderly woman. He knew she was very fond of Xu Xingguang and was a good teacher.

"Sister Xingguang." Ming Lan felt at a loss for words. After much deliberation, he could only offer a short but sincere, "My condolences."

Condolences?

Xu Xingguang looked up at the sky, where dusk and moonlight intermingled, curving her cherry-red lips into a smile, "There will be a day for condolences."

Once she reorganized the Divine Martial Realm, she would personally erect a monument for Granny Nan and slaughter all the realm’s power-hungry leaders!

She would use their blood to pave a path to reincarnation for Granny Nan!