"..."
As soon as Elder Chen ntioned Liu Yi’s past experiences, his floodgates opened, and he began speaking nonstop with great enthusiasm.
Hearing his words, Zhang Beixing’s gaze towards Liu Yi grew increasingly astonished.
He truly hadn’t expected that Teacher Liu, who appeared so friendly and mild, had once been such a ruthless person!
Goodness! Mastering the Yue Family Lian Quan at thirteen, and then, as soon as he ca of age at eighteen, he strode out to make his way in the world.
He also ford friendships through martial arts with practitioners from all walks of life, winning far more often than he lost.
Thinking carefully, what was I doing at eighteen?
Oh, right!
Pulling all-nighters at the internet café.
I played so obsessively that I ended up living there for a week before leaving.
Of course, that week wasn’t my limit. It was my parents’ limit of tolerance for .
I still recall how I once looked unkempt with a scruffy beard in the internet café, and how my steel-pipe-wielding father recognized at first glance.
The beating I received from my old man... it’s still vivid in my mind, even now that I’ve been reborn.
Speaking of which, now that I’ve returned to Talltree District, maybe I should visit my parents?
Er... better not. If it were during a holiday, it would be fine, but if I go back now, I’m afraid I might never get out again. I’ll wait a bit longer!
As he listened to Elder Chen’s rambling, Zhang Beixing’s thoughts gradually drifted off.
Although he seed to be listening attentively, in truth, not even Zhang Beixing himself knew what he was actually thinking about.
Elder Chen didn’t notice the change in Zhang Beixing because, at this mont, he was getting more and more excited about his storytelling.
Liu Yi had beco a cherished friend of his—Elder Chen, Chen Hongguo—despite their age difference. This was not only because of Liu Yi’s high seniority in the martial world, but also because Liu Yi’s past experiences filled Elder Chen, a veteran who had fought on battlefields and killed enemies, with heartfelt admiration!
"Martial Nephew Zhang, what you don’t know is that your master was truly formidable in his youth. In 2007, over on the borders of our China..."
Just as Elder Chen was about to reveal one of Liu Yi’s most legendary experiences, having barely started speaking, Liu Yi, who had been silent all along, suddenly interjected, "Old brother, those are old stories, and I’ve already learned my lesson. Let’s not bring them up again, shall we?"
Hearing this, Elder Chen was startled for a mont. Then, coming to his senses, he slapped his forehead and chuckled helplessly. "Ah, look at ! The older I get, the more muddled I beco, forgetting what should and shouldn’t be said. I’m becoming truly useless!"
Then, looking at Zhang Beixing, he said, "Young Nephew Zhang, you don’t need to mind what I was about to say at the end. Just pay attention to what I said earlier."
At this, the corners of Zhang Beixing’s mouth twitched. He looked at Elder Chen, who had abruptly cut himself off mid-sentence, and felt as if ten thousand alpacas were stampeding through his heart.
Seriously? If you have sothing to say, just say it! What’s the aning of stopping halfway? And then telling not to mind? Do you even hear yourself?
Zhang Beixing was fuming internally but felt powerless. After all, the other man was a revered martial arts grandmaster from Northern River Province and over ninety years old.
If he stops talking, I can’t very well run over, pry open his mouth, and force him to continue, can I?
If I dared to do such a thing, forget Elder Chen’s reaction—Teacher Liu alone would probably tear limb from limb!
SIGH.
Life is tough, Beixing sighed to himself.
But then again, it’s clear to any discerning eye that Teacher Liu is obviously no simple character!
"So what happened after that? Did my master then defeat everyone, becoming unrivaled? And finding it lonely at the top, did he choose to retire into seclusion?" Zhang Beixing asked, his eyes bright with eagerness, his heart pounding with excitent.
"No. Your master had just finished his business up north. Before he could even head south, he was caught by the police. He was locked up for a few years. After he got out, well, that’s when he started teaching."
Hearing Elder Chen’s response, Zhang Beixing fell silent.
Forget it, martial arts training doesn’t seem all that interesting after all...
Still, although Zhang Beixing didn’t fully understand the specifics, he managed to infer a few things from Teacher Liu’s reaction and Elder Chen’s brief words.
Naly, Teacher Liu must have made so grave mistake when he was young. This mistake had a huge impact on him. Coupled with the ill effects from his cultivation of the Yue Family Lian Quan, his health suffered. Weighed down both physically and ntally, he simply let himself go, ending up in his current state.
The interruption had caused so awkwardness in the room.
Fortunately, Liu Yi knew the purpose of his visit. So, he steeled himself and made so small talk with Elder Chen, catching up on their recent situations.
Liu Yi looked at Elder Chen and said, "Old brother, you seem to grow more vigorous with age. Just looking at your complexion, one might believe you’re only in your sixties this year! Have you made another breakthrough in your Eight Pieces of Brocade practice?"
"HA HA HA! A breakthrough is too strong a word. I just had a stroke of luck, a small, accidental insight. Nothing worth ntioning!"
Saying this, Elder Chen waved his hand dismissively, yet the ruddy glow on his face betrayed that his feelings weren’t as nonchalant as his words suggested.
After all, at his age, he practically had one foot in the grave. But now, he had gained new insight into the Eight Pieces of Brocade, taking his physical condition to a new level and potentially adding more days to his life. Who wouldn’t be overjoyed by that!
Hearing his words, Liu Yi was startled. He clearly hadn’t expected his casual remark to be true.
However, he quickly recovered. A joyful smile spread across his face, his eyes filled with genuine admiration as he said, "That is truly a matter for congratulations, old brother! It seems fortune truly favors the virtuous."
"Pure luck, pure luck!" Elder Chen said, stroking his beard and smiling modestly, his eyes crinkling.
Seeing him like this, Liu Yi felt the ti was ripe.
So he said, "Speaking of which, old brother, I’ve also gained so insights recently. I’ve managed to perfect the one hundred and eighty-first form of the Yue Family Lian Quan that I’ve been diligently studying. Coincidentally, you’ve also made a new breakthrough. With such a fortuitous convergence, why don’t we seize the day? Let’s head to the martial arts training ground now and have a friendly spar. How about it?"
"Spar?" Hearing this word, Elder Chen paused.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to. On the contrary, as soone born into a martial arts aristocratic family who had also served in the military, the desire for combat ran deep in Elder Chen’s bones!
However, due to his age and seniority, no one in the family had dared to suggest such a thing to him for a long ti. Over ti, Elder Chen had suppressed this desire.
Besides, even if he was still formidable, he was old. One had to accept the limitations of age; he was indeed no longer a match for the younger generation.
If Liu Yi hadn’t brought it up today, Elder Chen might have almost forgotten what combat even felt like.
"Excellent! Excellent! Brother Liu, that’s a wonderful suggestion! Let’s do it, let’s spar!"
"Steward! Go and have soone tidy up the martial arts training ground. Also, call over all the juniors at ho. Today, they are in for a real treat!"
Elder Chen summoned the Steward and gave his instructions. Hearing his words, the Steward nodded, then left the reception hall, walking outside while murmuring sothing into his earpiece.
「Thirty minutes later.」
A flurry of hurried footsteps approached, accompanied by a cacophony of voices from beyond the door.
The Steward knocked on the door and, after receiving Elder Chen’s permission, entered.
He bowed respectfully to Elder Chen and said, "The martial arts training ground has been prepared. Also, all your descendants have been summoned and are waiting."
Hearing this, Elder Chen nodded and then rose from his grandmaster’s chair.
Liu Yi and Zhang Beixing quickly stood up as well.
Elder Chen looked at the two n and gestured towards the door, "Brother Liu, Young Friend Zhang, please."
"Old brother, after you!"
"Elder Chen, after you, please!"
"..."
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