Chen Ziyuan’s eyes lit up. “Such beautiful birds…”
Should we snatch one?
Then she quickly shook her head. No, no, the old grandpa was already pitiful enough.
As she spoke, she instinctively moved closer to take a look.
A shabby old man sat by the roadside, filthy from head to toe.
His hair was a tangled mess, yet he wore a full smile, letting the birds fly into his palm to feed.
Those birds also trusted him completely, landing on the old man’s shoulders and rubbing against his arms, some even bringing their whole families.
It looked extremely harmonious.
In front of him was also a chipped, broken bowl…
From time to time, a few spirit stones would fall into that bowl, making crisp clinking sounds.
“Huh? Mother, those birds are so cute. I can never catch them normally,” a passing child said excitedly.
But the beautiful woman wore a look of disgust. “Cute? He’s just a beggar, and he stinks. Let’s go.”
She grabbed her son and hurried away.
The old man ignored all those voices. Even when someone pitied him and gave him spirit stones, he merely acknowledged it with a slight nod and paid it no further mind.
Then he just kept doing his own thing.
Suddenly, a childish voice rang beside his ear…
“Old grandpa, are these little birds for sale?” Chen Ziyuan asked.
Buying them should be fine, right?
The old man looked up and saw two three-year-old children. A faint glimmer appeared in his eyes.
He laughed. “Little friends, they’re my friends. How could I sell my friends?”
Chen Ziyuan felt a little regretful. “Old grandpa, since they’re your friends, then forget it.”
The old man laughed heartily. “I’m just a homeless beggar. You can call me Old Beggar. No need to call me grandpa, or it’ll make you seem out of place.”
“How can that be?” Chen Zihao said with complete seriousness. “Daddy said you can’t judge a person by appearances. Even a small person can hold the world in their heart! Even while sitting on the street, they can still become famous through the ages! Who hasn’t had a peak, and who hasn’t been down and out!”
The old man gave a surprised “oh.” “Then your Daddy must be very impressive, and also a man with a story.”
“Of course!” Chen Ziyuan, thinking she was very tight-lipped, said, “Our Daddy is the most amazing person in the world!”
“That’s right!” Chen Zihao puffed out his chest.
“But old grandpa, why did you choose to be a beggar?”
“…”
The old man felt a little offended, but he didn’t mind. He smiled and said, “For a clear conscience. Spotlessly clean!”
“Oh.” The two little ones didn’t really understand. “Old grandpa, how did you become friends with these birds? That must be hard, right?”
Hearing this, the old man said, “Of course it’s because of trust.”
“Alright, some things are hard for you to understand. But I can see that your bone structure is extraordinary. You are rare talents. Would you be willing to inherit my mantle?”
He was sincere. Of course, he also wanted to meet the father of these two children.
As soon as Chen Ziyuan and Chen Zihao heard this, they suddenly froze.
Inherit his mantle?
That sounded like child trafficking!
Seeing the two little ones looking baffled, the old man naturally understood. Then he pulled out an ancient yellow sword manual.
He waved it in front of Chen Ziyuan and Chen Zihao. “Don’t worry, I’m sincere. I’m absolutely not trying to fool you.”
The two children probably didn’t understand. Otherwise, this kind of opportunity would be something ordinary people could only dream of, let alone the legacy of Sword Emperor Changgeng.
Chen Ziyuan took one look and saw that it was a sword manual! So he wasn’t trying to kidnap them…
She immediately put on a serious expression. “Old grandpa, we can see that your bone structure is extraordinary, that you don’t eat well, don’t sleep warmly, and don’t even have a home. You’re quite pitiful too. Would you be willing to inherit our mantle?”
She wasn’t quite sure what a mantle was, but saying it back to him should be right.
Chen Zihao casually pulled out a sword manual. It was clearly immortal-grade.
“Old grandpa, if you’re willing to inherit our mantle, we’ll teach you.”
Sword Emperor Changgeng was completely stunned.
He never would have imagined that he, the mighty Sword Emperor Changgeng, famous far and wide, would one day be reduced to wandering the streets… only to be taught how to behave by two three-year-old children!?
They really didn’t play by the rules!
Then his gaze fell on that sword manual, and his expression visibly changed into shock…
“What a terrifying sword path will!” Sword Emperor Changgeng praised inwardly.
Just one look at the manual, and he could sense the terrifying power contained within it.
And Changgeng, in a certain sense, already represented the peak of swordsmanship!
Yet today, these two little brats had given him a lesson. He almost coughed up old blood.
“Old grandpa, do you want it or not?” Chen Zihao urged.
He didn’t care whether they were trying to kidnap them or not. They’d just kidnap the other party first.
Sword Emperor Changgeng saw this and laughed heartily. “Child, this old man was foolish. I misjudged things. This item, this old man cannot accept it!”
It was impossible to imagine what level that sword manual was at… for it to give him such a dangerous feeling.
In any case, it could not be simple. Then these two children must also have an extraordinary background. He was the one overreaching himself.
…And he had also been worrying too much. Even without him, these two children probably wouldn’t be in much danger.
“Old grandpa, so by refusing, you’re rejecting the inheritance of our mantle?” Chen Ziyuan asked.
Sword Emperor Changgeng suddenly felt a headache coming on.
“Child, this is no joke. This old man cannot bear it. If fate allows, we will meet again…”
“Oh, oh.” The two little ones still didn’t quite understand.
It was just the Eternal Night Sword Manual Daddy had given them. Why couldn’t the old grandpa bear it?
After that, they clasped their hands in a proper farewell.
And Sword Emperor Changgeng watched the two children leave with a smile. He never imagined that he, the mighty Sword Emperor Changgeng, would one day receive guidance from two children.
He had encountered such a remarkable friendship that transcended age.
Perhaps the children had not meant anything by it, but the appearance of that sword manual was a kind of stimulus to him.
Maybe pursuing an even stronger sword was his path.
Sword Emperor Changgeng looked up at the sky. Perhaps that was immortality…
…
After leaving.
Chen Ziyuan grinned. “Xiao Hao, let’s hurry and buy some things, then head back early.”
“Okay, sister.” Chen Zihao was feeling a little peckish.
They usually ate all kinds of herbs, fruits, and meat. They didn’t have strange snacks like candied hawthorns or sugar figurines, which were also pretty good for satisfying cravings.
This time in Anta City, they were definitely going to stock up on a huge pile!
Then the two of them bounced off to a tailor shop. First, they wanted to buy a lot of beautiful silk and brocade, make matching couple outfits for Daddy and Stone Mother, then make sibling outfits for themselves and their little sister… altogether, that would be a family outfit!
…As for whether they could actually make them, that wasn’t something they were considering for now. Anyway, they already had the idea.
In a corner not far away.
A few child traffickers had set their sights on Chen Ziyuan and Chen Zihao. Seeing them run into a shop, they revealed a faint smile.
…