Zombie Bodyguard-Chapter 1419 - 1416: Secrets of the Hidden World

"I can assure you as sure as can be, this king now has enough to eat and drink and won’t make trouble for you," the Sword Spirit confidently promised. Lin Tian simply smiled and chose not to respond further.

The next morning, Ghost came knocking on the door. Lin Tian grabbed the safe and together they walked to the living room. Everyone was already seated, including Wang Yuanzhou, Wang Mingyan and his wife, the little loli, as well as Wang Wanxi and Yun Xiaotian—the whole family was there.

"Lin Tian, Ghost, did you sleep well last night? The Wang Family’s place is quite remote, and the nightlife isn’t as exciting as in your big cities, so I’m worried you young folks aren’t used to it," Wang Mingyan said, half-jokingly.

Lin Tian nodded politely and smiled, "Uncle Wang, you worry too much. Personally, I prefer a more quiet environment."

"That’s good to hear. Come and have breakfast, no rush to leave after eating," Wang Mingyan invited warmly.

The Wang Family’s breakfast was much simpler than that of the Yun Family and the Xiao Family. The food on the table seemed to all be locally produced in Qi County, consisting mostly of coarse grains, and even the steamed buns had a slightly yellow hue. Despite being from a large family, their breakfast lacked the refinement typical of wealthy households.

This isn’t to say that the flour and other ingredients were poor, but rather that the preparation process was more authentic. Many steamed buns in the market are dazzlingly white and fluffy, making them visually appealing but unhealthy, as they often contain whitening agents and baking powder.

Moreover, Lin Tian noticed another difference: the Wang Family had an unusually large appetite and didn’t fuss over etiquette while eating—something likely common among martial artists.

"Xiao Xi, is Xiao Tian going with you, or will he stay here to keep this old man company?" After breakfast, it was about time to set off, and Wang Yuanzhou couldn’t help but ask.

Wang Wanxi turned her head to look at her son, and Yun Xiaotian quickly stood up, saying, "Grandfather, I want to stay, but I also want to go out and see the world of Grandpa, Uncle, and Mom—the world of Ancient Martial."

"Good, it’s good for young people to travel and see the world—read thousands of books, travel thousands of miles. The broader your horizons, the bigger your perspective," Wang Yuanzhou chuckled in approval, rather than being upset.

"Thank you, Grandpa. Staying at home suffocates me. Grandpa is indeed nice to me," Yun Xiaotian said with a genuine smile, looking quite delighted.

"Hahaha..." Wang Yuanzhou laughed heartily, pointing at Yun Xiaotian. "You, with the way you speak, aren’t you afraid of making your mom sad?"

Amid Mr. Wang’s laughter, the group headed for the door, passing through the bronze door again, although this time Lin Tian didn’t need to open it. Two of the Wang Family’s younger members opened the bronze door, and a car was already waiting outside.

"Brother Lin Tian, remember to visit me next time, okay?" the little loli shouted loudly as Lin Tian got into the car.

"Study hard, and when you grow up, come to my school," Lin Tian joked.

The car drove slowly away from the Wang Family under Ghost’s control. Lin Tian watched the bronze door slowly close in the rearview mirror, feeling a mix of sentiment and excitement, thinking to himself that he had finally entered the Ancient Martial World.

Leaving the Wang Family and Qi County, the car drove along the national highway. Ghost glanced at the rearview mirror and asked, "Aunt Wang, where to next?"

"Tang City," Wang Wanxi replied directly.

"Tang City?" The three young people in the car were taken aback. Lin Tian, Ghost, and Yun Xiaotian all had rather peculiar expressions.

In Huaxia, Tang City is a very famous place because it’s a film base originally built for shooting an epic Tang Dynasty historical film, and now it’s a well-known tourist attraction.

Seeing their odd expressions, Wang Wanxi shook her head with a smile, "You’re mistaken; this Tang City is not that Tang City."

"Though it’s called a city, Tang City is actually not much bigger than Qi County. To be precise, it should be called a mountain city because Tang City is built along the mountain, with a significant elevation difference inside the city. Sometimes shopping can feel like climbing a mountain."

"This city is also an ancient city. Its history can be traced back to Qingshuang Pavilion. When Tang Rushuang founded Qingshuang Pavilion, the area was still a wasteland. But with the growth of Qingshuang Pavilion, people began to settle nearby."

"As more people came, it became a village, then expanded into a town, and with an increasing population, it grew into a city. Qingshuang Pavilion was established quite early, experiencing both peaceful and tumultuous times through various dynasties."

"During chaos, Qingshuang Pavilion helped the residents build city walls to fend off war outside. In peaceful times, it served as a tranquil town where people lived and worked happily. Despite the change of dynasties, it remained standing like Emei, Wudang, or Songshan Shaolin in the hearts of Tang City people."

"Of course, the various dynasties’ courts were aware of the existence of places like Qingshuang Pavilion. It’s not just Qingshuang Pavilion; all major ancient martial clans are known to the court. However, these clans are incredibly powerful and typically apolitical, much like those engaged in commerce for generations. In a sense, ancient martial clans help maintain stability for the court."

"Therefore, as long as the ancient martial clans do not oppose the court, the emperors of various dynasties tacitly approve of these clans’ legacies while also diluting their presence in ordinary society. This approach aligns with the ancient martial clans’ inclinations, as they too practice secluded cultivation, achieving a mutual understanding with the court in some ways."

"This dilution has proven very effective. Nowadays, if you mention ancient martial sects or clans to ordinary people, they’ll likely say you’ve been reading too many novels. Like you, Xiao Tian, unless you had trained in and contacted ancient martial clans, if someone had told you the Wang Family is an ancient martial clan, you’d say the same. In today’s society, no one believes in the existence of Ancient Martial anymore."

"By the same token, modern Tang City people only know about Qingshuang Pavilion through legend. Mentioning Qingshuang Pavilion is like mentioning the Wudang Sect. They might find it mysterious, perhaps even see it as sacred, but they won’t believe it’s a place of ancient martial heritage."

Wang Wanxi spoke at length, not just about Qingshuang Pavilion but also about why ordinary people no longer believe in the existence of Ancient Martial.

A few months ago, upon hearing the words "Ancient Martial," Lin Tian’s first response would have been "novel," "legend," "made up." Even having met ancient martial artists like Xiao Manxue and Tang Ziqing, Lin Tian remained skeptical about ancient martial clans and sects. If he had such doubts despite witnessing it, how much more incredulous would those who’ve never seen it be?

"I see, now I finally understand. This is the hidden secret of Ancient Martial. But this is actually good, at least no one will disturb the training of ancient martial clans," Lin Tian realized with a sudden understanding.