In their local customs, the second day of the Lunar New Year was the ti for paying New Year visits and entertaining relatives.
Zhang Beixing needed to go ho soon to get ready.
However, Zhang Beixing hadn’t finished his preparations when others took the initiative to co over for a visit.
"Um... this... er... Sister? Excuse , are you President Zhang’s mother? Is President Zhang at ho right now?"
A robust yet cautious voice ca from outside the door.
The voice sounded sowhat familiar, causing Zhang Beixing, who had just finished bathing and changing his clothes, to poke his head out curiously.
He looked out and saw a white-haired yet spry and robust old man standing in the doorway of his house. The old man was holding an unopened gift and cautiously addressing Zhang Beixing’s mother.
Behind him stood quite a few middle-aged or elderly n.
They all had one thing in common: they were carrying gifts and looked sowhat uneasy.
Hearing the old man’s words, Zhang Beixing’s mother was bewildered.
She glanced at the man’s aged face, then touched her own. Subconsciously, she pulled out her phone, turned on the front cara, and took a look.
After peeking several more tis, she looked at the old man before her in astonishnt and doubt. "Sister? ??"
"Uh... then perhaps, ’Auntie’?" Wan Mingde asked tentatively, seeming uncertain.
Although Zhang Beixing was young, his seniority and strength were undeniable! As the President of the Great Xia Martial Arts Association, Zhang Beixing was unequivocally NO·1 in the Great Xia martial arts world. Except for Liu Yi and Liu Pan, those two fortunate old fellows, almost everyone else had to address Zhang Beixing as ’Senior.’
But even so, there was no need to be *this* deferential. The primary reason was that Zhang Beixing was an unprecedented Martial Artist of the Hidden Essence realm! Terms like "Transcendent" or "Land Immortal" were not exaggerations to describe him.
Therefore, in the presence of such an individual, worldly seniority ant little; showing respect was paramount. So, they couldn’t possibly call a senior’s mother ’young lady’ or ’beauty,’ could they? That would be completely turning things upside down.
At the sa ti, Zhang Beixing was their leader, the President of the Great Xia Martial Arts Association. Adding a touch of the pugilist world’s lingo, he was the "Big Brother." Calling their "Big Brother’s" mother ’Auntie’... that... should be acceptable... right?
Zhang Beixing’s father, hearing the commotion, also ran out from the house to ask what was going on. However, upon seeing the situation clearly, he was stunned.
So many... So many old n! What on earth? Has our house poked an old n’s nest? Are these all Dad’s friends? That shouldn’t be right; he didn’t rember any of his father’s elderly friends having this kind of presence.
Zhang Beixing’s father was completely baffled.
Wan Mingde and the others had also noticed him by then. Realizing he must be Zhang Beixing’s father, they hesitated for a mont, just about to speak.
"Hold on! Leave this to ," Zhang Beixing said, stepping out of the house.
He had to intervene. If this continued, after calling his mom ’Auntie,’ they’d likely start calling his dad ’Uncle.’ Although he knew they were doing it out of respect for him, it was entirely unnecessary! Such excessive elevation of seniority was preposterous. The generational hierarchy would beco a complete ss; it was better for everyone to address each other normally.
"You can all just address us normally, according to our ages," Zhang Beixing said. "What brings you all here today?"
Hearing Zhang Beixing’s words, Wan Mingde and the others chuckled. "Well, it’s the New Year, and as you are the President of our Great Xia Martial Arts Association, it is both proper and heartfelt that we should co to visit you."
"I am Wan Mingde, and with my colleagues here, we represent the many mbers of our Great Xia Martial Arts Association. We are here to wish President Zhang a Happy New Year, may all go well for you, and may the new year bring a fresh start!"
As he spoke, Wan Mingde clasped his hands and made a respectful bow to Zhang Beixing.
The others followed suit, bowing to Zhang Beixing with utmost respect.
Seeing their deanor, Zhang Beixing couldn’t say much. After all, it was the New Year, they had co bearing gifts, and their attitude was so reverent. Even if there had been a few awkward monts, it didn’t spoil the festive spirit.
So, he returned their New Year’s greetings, then stepped aside, inviting the group inside.
After a flurry of activity, everyone was seated. Zhang Beixing took the main seat, sitting commandingly with the others respectfully gathered around him. They then began to chat about everyday matters and recent amusing stories from the martial arts community.
Of course, ’chat’ was hardly the right word; it was more a case of Wan Mingde and the others one-sidedly showering him with flattery.
As soon as they entered, they started with phrases like ’returning to true simplicity’ and ’a great talent hidden within the city.’
Then, the conversation shifted to Zhang Beixing having reached the Hidden Essence realm, and the flattery intensified. They proclaid that Zhang Beixing’s talent was unparalleled throughout history. If he had been born a century earlier, he would have been a true deity in the world, capable of dominating an era—an Emperor on horseback, an immortal when dismounted, and so on.
Their main approach was to flatter him relentlessly, exaggerating as much as possible.
Their flattery had even made the normally shy young man, Zhang Beixing, blush. His smile stretched so wide it almost reached the back of his head, silently inviting more. He was quite happy to listen to such "honest truths."
With one group eager to speak and one person happy to listen, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
It was during this friendly exchange that Zhang Beixing noticed sothing: it seed that the visitors today weren’t only mbers of the Great Xia Martial Arts Association.
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