I Am a Rune Engraver, Carrying a Knife Makes Perfect Sense-Chapter 30 - The Old Man’s Notes

—

Knock, knock, knock…

Knock, knock, knock…

“Old man! Where the hell are you? Open the door! I brought some warmth for you!!”

Xu Shen stood outside the old man’s house, holding a roasted chicken and a bottle of white liquor. He pounded on the door with enough force to nearly break it down, but there was no response.

Frowning, Xu Shen extended a tendril of spiritual energy to probe inside. This was a basic skill most Awakening Realm cultivators could use to some extent.

His expression froze as he scanned the house.

BANG!

Without hesitation, he slammed his fist into the door. The wood shattered instantly, splinters flying everywhere as the door exploded inward.

Standing in the doorway, Xu Shen’s face darkened. A sense of unease crept into his heart, weighing heavily on him.

He stepped inside cautiously, his sharp eyes scanning the room.

The place was a mess. Furniture lay overturned, and various items were scattered across the floor. But this wasn’t unusual—the old man’s house always looked like this.

What struck Xu Shen as odd was the lack of blood or any signs of a struggle. There was no metallic tang of blood in the air, no crimson stains on the floor.

He exhaled in relief but couldn’t shake the growing unease in his chest.

Furrowing his brows, Xu Shen began piecing together possible scenarios in his mind. At least it didn’t seem like the old man’s enemies had come for him.

Walking toward the old man’s room, Xu Shen lifted the trapdoor leading to the underground training area—only to freeze in place.

The entrance to the underground passage had been sealed shut, completely flattened and concealed. When he pried it open, he found… a table?

The surface of the table was covered in carved writing.

—

[Xu Shen, if you’re reading this, I’ve already left.]

[Don’t look for me. Don’t ask where I’ve gone.]

[My real name is Yan Gui. I was born during Xia Nation’s darkest era—the time when cultivators first emerged.]

—

Xu Shen’s body trembled as he read those words. He had suspected as much, but seeing the old man admit it in writing still shook him.

If that were true… the old man was over two hundred years old?

—

[My parents died during that time. I survived by sheer luck and stumbled upon an opportunity.]

[That opportunity was the Battle Art, which I’ve already taught you.]

[I suspect the origins of the Battle Art are far older and more mysterious than I imagined.]

[In all my years, I’ve never encountered anything quite like it.]

[It feels like something out of legend—like a technique from mythology.]

[Don’t neglect its cultivation.]

—

The writing became more chaotic after this point, as if the old man had started carving something but then scratched it out halfway through. Unable to decipher it, Xu Shen continued reading the clearer parts.

—

[Enough rambling. No point in telling you all this.]

[Just don’t come looking for me. The next time you hear about me might be years from now.]

[If I’m still alive… well, maybe we’ll meet again someday.]

[If I’m dead…]

—

Xu Shen’s eyes narrowed. He noticed that this line and the one following it had been carved with different pressure, as if written at a later time.

—

[If I’m dead, take my ashes to Ling City in the south and scatter them on any mountain there.]

[And remember—be wary of the Cheng family!!]

—

The message ended abruptly. Xu Shen took a deep breath and stood up, turning away from the table with a calm expression.

“This damned old man… If you’re leaving, just leave. Why make such a big—”

Suddenly, his face twisted with rage. He spun back around and stomped on the table with all his strength.

CRACK!

The table shattered into pieces under his foot.

“Fuck! You old bastard! What’s the rush? You’ve waited all these years—why now?!”

“Who the hell wants to carry your ashes? I’ll camp outside the Cheng family’s place and punch you in the face when I see you!”

As he ranted, tears began streaming down Xu Shen’s face.

Over the years, he had come to see the old man as a father figure. Despite all the scolding and beatings, everything the old man did was for his benefit.

There were even times when Xu Shen had been ambushed during fights, only to be saved by small stones flying out of nowhere—clearly thrown by the old man watching from the shadows.

And now he had passed down something as extraordinary as the Battle Art…

Reading the old man’s parting words filled Xu Shen with a whirlwind of emotions.

The note mentioned that it might be years before anyone heard from him again, suggesting he wasn’t heading straight to the Cheng family. He might have other plans first.

Which meant… there was still time.

“Old man… don’t rush things… Just wait for me…” Xu Shen clenched his fists tightly, trying to calm his turbulent emotions.

As he turned back toward the shattered table, something beneath the debris caught his eye—a worn notebook.

Narrowing his eyes, Xu Shen brushed aside the splinters and picked up the notebook. It was old and tattered but intact.

“Did he leave this for me?” Xu Shen wondered aloud as he opened it.

His eyes widened as he read its contents.

“The old man wasn’t lying? He really reached Flame Mastery Realm??”

The notebook detailed the old man’s cultivation journey—from Awakening Realm all the way to Flame Mastery Realm!

—

The notes described how, despite his poor talent, Yan Gui had been fortunate enough to engrave a mountain rune and withstand its power. With the Battle Art in hand, he trained diligently and made significant progress.

Over time, he discovered that each cultivation stage had an invisible barrier—a limit that seemed impossible to surpass but hinted at further potential beyond it.

Awakening Realm and Core Solidification Realm were pivotal stages in cultivation. Yet Yan Gui had never managed to break through those limits completely.

However, he was certain that doing so would lead to an earth-shattering transformation.

Determined to uncover this mystery, Yan Gui chose to remain in Flame Mastery Realm for years, dedicating himself entirely to exploring this “half-step breakthrough.”

Despite countless attempts and relentless effort, that invisible barrier remained unbroken—a mountain he could not climb.

—

“Flame Mastery… Nine Flames?” Xu Shen muttered in disbelief as he continued reading.

According to the notes, Flame Mastery was a crucial stage where cultivators could ignite their “Flames of Consciousness” within their runes.

Most cultivators ignited five or six flames before advancing to higher realms. Only geniuses managed seven or eight flames.

Yan Gui… had ignited a faint tenth flame.

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

—

[Flame Mastery is unique—each flame ignited represents another level of power. The more flames you ignite before advancing, the stronger you’ll be afterward.]

[I’ve ignited what seems to be a legendary tenth flame. Though faint, it confirms my suspicions.]

[Xu Shen—don’t rush through your cultivation stages. If possible, always strive to break past your limits.]

[A strong foundation will pave a better path for your future. Remember this well.]

—

The final lines were clearly added later—likely just before Yan Gui left. Xu Shen couldn’t help but wonder how a blind man had managed to write so neatly…

“Was he messing with me?” Xu Shen muttered suspiciously.

Despite his doubts, he carefully tucked the notebook into his chest pocket like a precious treasure.

“Old man… I can’t help you now.”

“But give me some time—and wait for me!!”

With that vow in mind, Xu Shen swept away what remained of the table into dust before leaving.

—

Back at the repair shop, Yang Dian, Zhang Zhuangshi, Xu Guang, and Wang Qingqing were already waiting for him.

Wang Qingqing had contacted them earlier about going on an expedition outside the city. Staying within city limits had slowed their progress too much.

“Brother Shen! Finally! We’ve been waiting forever,” Yang Dian greeted him with a grin.

“So where are we going?” Xu Shen asked casually as he plopped into a chair.

Though he’d agreed to join them on this trip, he still had no idea where they were headed.

“Uh… I haven’t decided yet,” Wang Qingqing admitted sheepishly, her cheeks turning slightly red.

“…So we’re deciding now?” Xu Shen stared at her blankly—it was almost noon already!

Shaking his head, he pulled out a slip of paper with Yan Gui’s address written on it and handed it to Yang Dian.

“Before we leave, find someone to renovate this place. Keep the exterior unchanged—it’ll be our base from now on.”

Though curious about why Xu Shen wanted this done, Yang Dian didn’t ask questions. Taking the paper, he stepped outside to make some calls.

“You okay?” Wang Qingqing asked softly as she noticed a hint of sadness in Xu Shen’s eyes.

“I’m fine. What could be wrong? Come here and give me a kiss,” Xu Shen joked with a laugh.

“Get lost!” Wang Qingqing retorted as she dodged away from him.

Moments later, Yang Dian returned with an “okay” gesture. “All set!”

“Alright then,” Xu Shen said with a wave of his hand. “Let’s figure it out on the way!”

The group grabbed their backpacks and prepared to head out when Wang Qingqing suddenly stopped them.

“Wait!” she said.

Seeing their confused expressions, she explained reluctantly, “We can’t just go out like this. We need to pick up a mission from the Xinhuo Guard Hall first.”

“If we just wander around aimlessly outside, we won’t even know how we died.”

“The Xinhuo Guard posts missions?” Xu Shen asked curiously—it was news to him.

“Of course,” Wang Qingqing replied impatiently. “How else do non-Guard cultivators earn resources?”

“You really didn’t pay attention during lessons…” she muttered under her breath.

“Fine then—let’s check it out,” Xu Shen said nonchalantly.

“I’ll drive!” Yang Dian offered enthusiastically as he opened up his armored van. The group tossed their backpacks into the back before piling into the vehicle and speeding off toward the city center.