Solid Ice?
22: Chapter 22: Thin Ice?
Solid Ice?
The pavilion behind the Yang family residence had always been a place where Fifth Uncle arrived first.
He would usually sit there alone, unhurried, either daydreaming or fiddling with small trinkets, killing time while waiting for Yang Chang’an to come find him.
But today, things were completely reversed.
Not long after dawn, Yang Chang’an had already arrived at the pavilion alone and sat there quietly.
Unlike usual, he did not rush into training.
He simply sat in silence, his gaze calm, yet carrying an unprecedented seriousness.
Seated on the stone bench, he let the early morning breeze brush past him, thinking about the ending of the original story—Yang Wushuang’s fate after the “Gorgeous Seven Color” was never mentioned again, and Spirit Hall eventually collapsed in a single day… Everything was pushing him forward.
There was no retreat, and no need for one.
While Yang Chang’an was quietly lost in thought, a familiar figure slowly ambled down the distant path.
A fresh blue martial outfit, striking white hair, a tall and upright figure, and an absurdly handsome face.
His walking posture was casual and unrestrained—who else could it be but Fifth Uncle?
From afar, Fifth Uncle saw that Yang Chang’an had actually arrived before him today.
He raised a brow slightly, and a knowing smile immediately formed on his lips.
He understood it perfectly—this kid wasn’t here to play today.
He was here to give a final answer.
Yang Chang’an also saw him approaching.
Taking a deep breath, he immediately stood up from the stone bench, his back straight and his expression solemn.
Fifth Uncle strolled leisurely into the pavilion, sat down on the stone bench, rested one hand on his cheek, and smiled lazily at Yang Chang’an.
“Not bad, kid.
Did the sun rise from the west today?
You actually got here earlier than me.
Pretty proactive.” Looking at Fifth Uncle’s carefree and roguish attitude, Yang Chang’an’s initial nervousness faded quite a bit.
He let out a soft sigh and deliberately put on a well-behaved expression.
“I was just thinking from your perspective, Fifth Uncle.
Since I came early today, I finally realized how hard it must be for you to wait for me every day.” Fifth Uncle immediately laughed out loud at that.
Grinning, he stood up and circled around Yang Chang’an, sizing him up from top to bottom with a teasing tone.
“Oh?
You’ve grown sensible now.
Since you know Fifth Uncle has it tough, how do you plan to repay me?” Yang Chang’an straightened his expression and spoke in a deliberately deep and serious tone: “Fifth Uncle has treated me so well, taking care of me and protecting me.
From now on, whatever you ask, I, Yang Chang’an, will go through fire and water without hesitation.” Actually, that day outside the pavilion, Fifth Uncle had already overheard the conversation between Yang Chang’an and his grandfather.
He already knew the answer long before.
But hearing it spoken directly in front of him still made a trace of joy flash through his heart.
He genuinely liked this child.
If possible, he truly did not want Yang Chang’an to end up with a tragic fate.
Fifth Uncle reached out and firmly patted Yang Chang’an’s shoulder, his smile becoming much more sincere.
“Good kid.
Rest assured—this path you’ve chosen today, you will never regret it in the future.” Yang Chang’an nodded heavily and said nothing more.
Some words were enough when spoken once.
After that, the tense atmosphere between the two instantly dissipated, returning to their usual relaxed and casual tone.
Yang Chang’an had clearly prepared in advance.
He pulled out a pile of small gadgets he had made recently from his storage soul tool and pushed them all in front of Fifth Uncle.
“Fifth Uncle, look.
I brought you some new good stuff.” “Oh?
Thoughtful of you.” Fifth Uncle’s eyes lit up immediately.
He picked up the little items and began fiddling with them in his hands, thoroughly enjoying himself—he didn’t look like an ancient monster who had lived for who knows how long, but rather like a half-grown kid instead.
The two of them sat in the pavilion like that, chatting intermittently.
From morning all the way to afternoon, of course most of the time it was Fifth Uncle speaking while Yang Chang’an listened attentively.
Fifth Uncle was extremely knowledgeable and well-traveled.
He told him many secrets and interesting stories of the Douluo Continent that ordinary people could never hear—information about hidden factions, the origins of obscure powers, old monsters who had long since withdrawn from the world, as well as the rise and decline of various major sects in their prime.
Some of these forces and names were things Yang Chang’an had never even heard of, let alone seen.
The more he listened, the more shocked he became.
Only now did he realize that this world was far larger—and far more dangerous—than what he had known from the original story.
The two of them continued talking until the sun was about to set.
Golden twilight spilled across the back mountain.
Only then did Yang Chang’an stand up, brush off the dust on his clothes, and say to Fifth Uncle: “Fifth Uncle, I’ve been out for quite a while.
If I don’t head back soon, Grandpa will worry.
I’ll be going now.” Fifth Uncle didn’t even look up, still fiddling with the little trinkets in his hands as he waved casually.
“Go, go.
Remember to come keep me company again tomorrow.” Yang Chang’an responded with an “Mm,” then turned and walked out of the pavilion.
But after only a few steps, he suddenly stopped.
As if something had suddenly crossed his mind—or as if the last trace of hesitation in his heart was seeking an answer.
Slowly, he turned back to look at Fifth Uncle still sitting in the pavilion and suddenly asked an odd question: “Fifth Uncle… if a person walks cautiously his entire life, stepping on thin ice with every step, can he really make it safely to the other shore?” The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the pavilion instantly fell silent.
Fifth Uncle’s hands froze mid-motion.
He lifted his head.
Those eyes that had always carried a carefree smile and playful arrogance suddenly turned incomparably deep as he looked straight at Yang Chang’an.
Under normal circumstances, being stared at so directly by Fifth Uncle would have made Yang Chang’an instinctively avert his gaze.
But today, he did not.
He simply stood there, meeting that gaze head-on, a faint smile on his face and a calm, unwavering expression without the slightest avoidance.
Fifth Uncle looked at him and silently sighed in his heart.
This little guy wasn’t really asking about ice—he was asking about the path ahead, about the future.
After a few seconds of silence, Fifth Uncle didn’t directly answer.
Instead, he gave a similarly indirect reply: “If you don’t walk it yourself, how would you know whether what lies beneath your feet is thin ice or solid ice?” “Thin ice naturally won’t get you to the other shore.
But solid ice is stable—you can walk it freely.” Upon hearing this, Yang Chang’an immediately smiled, a bright and relaxed smile.
“I knew it would be solid ice.
Otherwise, who would be foolish enough to risk their life stepping on ice that shatters at the slightest touch?” After saying that, the smile on his face slowly faded.
He muttered a quiet, self-deprecating remark, his voice soft but exceptionally clear: “Besides… I’ve already fallen into it once before.” Without lingering any longer, he turned around and walked away, stepping into the golden sunset as he made his way back toward the Yang family.
His clear, carefree voice drifted back with the wind: “See you, Fifth Uncle.
I’m going back to learn how to swim!” To learn how to swim—meant not fearing falling into water.
Fifth Uncle sat in the pavilion, watching the boy’s small figure gradually disappear into the distance.
For the first time, a look of genuine satisfaction appeared on his face.
At that moment, a tall, silent figure of a burly man appeared without a sound inside the pavilion.
He glanced casually in the direction Yang Chang’an had left and gave a simple evaluation: “This kid’s got guts.” Fifth Uncle didn’t care, smiling lightly with a hint of appreciation in his tone: “If he didn’t have guts, could he break through to Titled Douluo?
In this entire continent, which peak expert hasn’t crawled out from the edge of a blade?” After a pause, his tone deepened slightly with certainty: “Besides, you heard what he said just now.
The Yang family means everything to him.
Someone like that—once he truly pledges loyalty—is more reliable than anyone.” The burly man fell silent for a moment but did not object.
Cowardly geniuses with no resolve were indeed not worthy of reaching the highest stage, nor worthy of being taken seriously by them, the Worship Elders.
After a brief silence, the burly man casually glanced toward the Niu family’s direction and said: “That fat kid from the Niu family also just absorbed his first Spirit Ring a couple of days ago.
His talent is average at best.
Might as well bring him along too.” “Fine.
One more doesn’t matter.
One less doesn’t matter either.”