Meng Qi did not get angry. He casually placed his hand on Duan Rui’s shoulder and smiled at Qi Zhengyan: “Let’s go.”
“Aren’t you going to try a bit more?” Qi Zhengyan replied casually.
Meng Qi chuckled: “No one in this world can live entirely alone. Everyone has needs and desires. Even if you personally have no such desires and are unafraid of trouble, your family and friends inevitably do. They will have their own troubles and people they cannot refuse. As long as we find the right person, the problem will resolve itself. So let’s just wait for Miss Feng.”
Zhong Taiping hailed from Changchuan, where his family had lived for generations. With many relatives and old acquaintances, he inevitably had dealings with the local Six Gates and prominent families like the Fongs. No matter how eccentric or proud of his medical skills he was, he couldn’t possibly offend them all, or else he would have already lost his foothold there. After all, Jiangdong was not short of famous physicians!
Qi Zhengyan had once served as a senior official and was well-versed in such social intricacies. Upon hearing Meng Qi’s words, he did not argue further and simply followed Meng Qi out of the alley to find an inn.
Duan Rui, with little experience in the martial world, had only known life as a bullied beggar. He did not understand Meng Qi’s meaning at all, silently hoping that Miss Feng could convince “The Nine Refusals Physician”—the famous healer who refused treatment when he was in a bad mood or disliked the patient.
…
In the evening, Feng Yuanjing arrived at the inn where Meng Qi and Qi Zhengyan were staying, accompanied by three people.
“This is my father,” Feng Yuanjing dismissed the servants and directly pointed to a middle-aged scholar.
The middle-aged man had clear eyes and a refined appearance, with a long beard. Only the corners of his eyes showed slight wrinkles, and his temples were slightly gray, giving him a dignified and graceful aura. He smiled politely: “This humble one is Feng Bin, the ‘Bin’ in Wen Wu (literally ‘civil and military’). Unfortunately, I have failed in both scholarly and martial pursuits. I thank you two for escorting my daughter back safely. May I ask for your honorable names?”
“It’s an honor to meet you. My surname is Su,” Meng Qi had already inquired about Feng Yuanjing’s background at the inn. Her father, Feng Bin, was the younger brother of the Feng family head and a half-step beyond the worldly realm cultivator with considerable influence in the Feng clan.
Before Qi Zhengyan could speak, Feng Bin chuckled: “There’s no need for Young Master Qi to introduce yourself. I happened to witness your battle in front of Yanxia Pavilion at noon. I saw your extraordinary kung fu—crimson glow encircling your body, clouds and mist swirling, frost and chill spreading, almost like a deity or demon descending upon the mortal realm. Truly a prodigy of this generation. The Huanhua Sword Sect is indeed blessed.”
(Note: “red霞 (xia)” was translated as “crimson glow” to maintain the poetic imagery while ensuring natural English flow. The term “xia” was omitted as it’s part of the pavilion’s name “Yanxia” which was preserved in pinyin. The martial arts description was slightly adjusted for idiomatic English while retaining the mystical essence.)
As a half-step Exterior expert, although he hadn’t broken through by sensing the harmony of heaven and earth, his cultivation was solid enough to roughly assess Meng Qi and Qi Zhengyan’s strength. He could tell they were both at the Seven Apertures stage. However, this alone couldn’t determine their true combat power. Take Qi Zhengyan’s “Cosmic Glow Art” for instance—before activation, one could only perceive the distinctive nature of his vital energy, much like techniques such as Frost Palm or Blazing Saber that merely produced freezing or burning effects. It was only upon reaching the half-step Exterior realm that one could truly mobilize the power of heaven and earth.
As for Meng Qi, under the concealment of the “Eighty-Nine Profound Art,” Feng Bin sensed nothing extraordinary in his qi, as if he were an ordinary expert. Yet, he did not show the slightest bit of disrespect or negligence. After all, his daughter had vividly described how Meng Qi, a young expert capable of killing a tiger spirit with one punch, had easily overwhelmed his opponent, who could barely flail about helplessly, unable to block even a single strike.
“My humble thanks,” Qi Zhengyan, always a man of few words, replied.
Which Su expert could this be… Feng Bin mused inwardly while smiling at Meng Qi: “Master Su, your explanation at noon was truly enlightening. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have understood the profound subtleties and origins of Young Master Qi’s martial art.”
At his age and with his considerable experience, upon realizing the two were companions, Feng Bin immediately discerned Meng Qi’s intentions.
Meng Qi smiled lightly: “My senior brother Qi had a rare opportunity but couldn’t report it. Naturally, I had to help him find a way to clarify things.”
“What fortune to have a friend like Master Su! Are you also a disciple of the Huanhua Sword Sect?” Feng Bin praised, secretly thinking, though he does seem a bit showy…
“Not quite. It’s just become a habit to call him senior brother Qi,” Meng Qi replied vaguely, then pointed to the others: “And who are these two?”
Besides the Feng father and daughter, there were two more people. One was a man in his thirties, wearing a silk headpiece, with a goatee beard and sharp, spirited eyes. He had a reserved aura and a slightly arrogant expression, likely even stronger than Feng Bin. The other was a teenager, around fifteen or sixteen, with a new growth of facial hair around his lips. He bore a resemblance of about five or six parts to the goateed man, so they were either father and son or very close relatives.
Feng Yuanjing smiled and pointed to the man with the goatee: “This is indeed ‘Nine Refusals Physician’ Zhong Taiping.”
As she spoke, she stole a glance at Duan Rui lying on the bed behind, and seeing his face was normal, she felt slightly relieved.
Hmm, I thought he was in a bad mood, yet he came in person… Meng Qi was surprised inwardly but did not slacken, bowing respectfully: “It’s a great honor to have Master Zhong here in person.”
Qi Zhengyan also bowed.
Zhong Taiping slightly raised his eyes, his tone blunt: “I have a favor to ask.”
No wonder he’s called the “Nine Refusals Physician”—even when asking for help, he doesn’t bother to be polite… Meng Qi inwardly complained: “May I ask what it is?”
Zhong Taiping pointed to the teenager beside him: “This is my son Zhong Wei…”
He smacked his lips and suddenly scolded: “Rebellious son, just speak up yourself! Do you want me to lose face in front of everyone?”
Meng Qi barely suppressed a laugh. Zhong Taiping indeed seemed to be a man of genuine character, not fond of pretense, and actually a friend worth associating with.
The slight resentment Meng Qi had felt earlier due to Zhong Taiping’s arrogant attitude immediately dissipated.
Zhong Wei stammered, his face turning red, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak.
Feng Yuanjing held back a smile and explained: “Young Master Zhong is Master Zhong’s only son. As he has grown older, he has not taken much interest in the family’s martial arts or medical techniques. Instead, he wishes to join a major sect to advance his cultivation further, which often angers Master Zhong and puts him in a bad mood.”
So that’s why he’s been in a bad mood… Meng Qi and Qi Zhengyan suddenly understood.
“I don’t have much talent for medicine…” Zhong Wei softly defended himself, earning a glare from Zhong Taiping, but he still persisted, “Besides, all my senior brothers are more talented in the medical arts than I am. There won’t be a lack of successors. At worst, I can just have my son learn it later…”
Good grief, he’s already scheming to rope his own son into this at such a young age… Meng Qi’s lips twitched.
Zhong Wei suddenly quickened his speech: “Besides medicine, our family’s martial arts are not particularly outstanding either. A real man should strive to pursue better cultivation techniques!”
“Rebellious son! I was also ranked among the human elite in my youth. How is the ‘Eight Resolutions of the Green Satchel’ inferior? If you don’t explain yourself properly today, you’ll have it coming!” Zhong Taiping exploded in rage, his goatee trembling.
Meng Qi watched secretly amused. Many people must have endured the Nine Refusals Physician’s temper over the years, but now it all seemed to be repaid through his son. Truly, one thing subdues another.
Zhong Wei stubbornly said: “Of course it’s inferior! The ‘Eight Resolutions of the Green Satchel’ is indeed excellent at the Orifice Opening stage, but what about beyond that? How many have reached the Worldly Transcendence in our family’s history? Father, you were a prodigy who gained fame young, yet at nearly fifty, you’re still only at the Half-Step Beyond the Worldly. Are you pretending that’s not true?”
“This Duan young man, who saved Feng sister, is about my age and can already kill a tiger spirit with one punch. What about me? Can I even kill an ordinary tiger?”
Zhong Taiping was so furious that his beard bristled and his eyes blazed, yet he found no words to refute. After a long pause, he heaved a deep sigh, his voice tinged with the weight of vicissitudes, murmuring to himself: “But how can we forsake the treasures handed down by our ancestors…”
Seeing the two getting increasingly off-topic, Feng Yuanjing quickly interjected: “Young Master Qi, today you fought with Young Master Fang at Yanxia Pavilion, and Young Master Zhong was also upstairs, witnessing your martial arts prowess. He was awestruck, thinking that there is no better cultivation technique in the world. A real man should act like a god, demon, immortal, or sage. I wonder if you have any intention of taking a disciple?”
The Huanhua Sword Sect has different rules compared to Shaolin. As long as a disciple has the qualification to travel and cultivate outside the sect, they are free to take disciples.
Qi Zhengyan slightly furrowed his brow, about to refuse, when Meng Qi laughed: “You may not know, but the martial art my senior brother Qi obtained through a rare opportunity is transmitted through the essence stored in crystals and requires special crystals for cultivation. Before he fully masters it, not only can he not teach it, but even if he could, there wouldn’t be the corresponding crystals to assist.”
Under normal circumstances, except for the final two layers, the “Hun Tian Bao Jian” could be directly cultivated. However, Meng Qi and Qi Zhengyan had to block this path first, as even if they wanted to teach, they couldn’t.
Zhong Wei’s face showed disappointment, while Zhong Taiping exhaled and prepared to take his leave directly.
“But there are countless martial arts in the world that can rival this one, and major sects have even more,” Meng Qi smiled cheerfully. “As long as Young Master Zhong is determined, I can recommend you. Do you prefer the Huanhua Sword Sect, the sword techniques of the Xi Jian Pavilion, or the martial arts of Zhenwu? If you’re interested in qin-based techniques or wish to cultivate a righteous and powerful inner force, I also have some connections who might be able to help.”
Needless to say the Huanhua Sword Sect and Xi Jian Pavilion, Jiang Zhiwei recommending a disciple would be easy, and after Qi Zhengyan became famous, it wouldn’t be difficult either. As for the Zhenwu Sect, finding someone like Yao Xiaogui, who seemed aloof on the outside but was actually quite approachable, might also be possible. As for the Langya Ruan Clan and Zhou Jun Wang Clan, even if one couldn’t marry into the family to learn their clan’s supreme techniques, they certainly weren’t lacking in exceptional martial arts at the Worldly Transcendence level.
Hearing Meng Qi casually name-drop the great martial sects and powerful clans across the land, speaking of them as if they were his own possessions, as if he had friends everywhere, Feng Yuanjing, Zhong Taiping, and Zhong Wei all wore expressions of “This guy is clearly boasting.”
Feng Bin suddenly had an idea, thinking of the young hero who had recently gained great fame, and looked at the long saber at his side: “Could it be that you are none other than Master Su Meng?”
Meng Qi inwardly smiled and gracefully bowed: “Indeed, it is I.”
So that’s why he could easily subdue Duan junior… This thought arose in Feng Yuanjing’s heart. A top twenty expert on the Human List should indeed be like this! And it was said that in the next Human List, Master Su’s ranking would rise even further!
“Mad Saber Su Meng?” Zhong Taiping was stunned.
Zhong Wei frowned at Meng Qi, unable to believe that this seemingly delicate young man was the same Mad Saber whose reputation had spread throughout Jiangdong: “You’re not fooling us, are you?”
Should we call a Six Gates officer to witness this…
“You can try,” Meng Qi said with a half-smile, finding it amusing to discipline a bratty kid.
Even though he was only a year or two older than Zhong Wei in reality, in his previous life he had lived to be in his twenties.
Zhong Wei was a bit nervous yet excited. At his age, he was fearless and bold. He gritted his teeth: “Master Su, please.”
With that, he rushed forward, his steps steady and his foundation solid, his palms embracing like a ball.
Meng Qi did not lift his hands or move his feet, merely extending his mind and focusing his gaze on Zhong Wei’s left knee.
Zhong Wei felt his gaze like a tangible force, precisely piercing his weakness. Though he understood there was no real harm, he couldn’t help but change his move.
He saw through me!
Zhong Wei spun his foot, his palms forming wave-like strikes toward Meng Qi.
Meng Qi still only looked at him, his gaze fixed on the underside of Zhong Wei’s left palm.
Eyes like swords, Zhong Wei inwardly exclaimed, realizing again that his move had been seen through!
So he changed tactics again.
Feng Yuanjing watched in confusion. Why was Master Su sitting calmly in the chair, unmoving and not even lifting a hand, while Zhong junior seemed to be possessed, constantly jumping back and forth?
Zhong Taiping and Feng Bin’s expressions had already turned serious.
After several forced changes, Zhong Wei’s forehead was drenched in sweat. Suddenly, he made a wrong move, his left foot tripping over his right, and he fell straight toward the floor.
He didn’t fall, as his father grabbed his collar.
“Thank you, Master Su, for instructing my son,” Zhong Taiping said stiffly.
Lost? Did Zhong junior really lose like this? Feng Yuanjing looked at Meng Qi as if he were a monster in human skin. He hadn’t even attacked, and Zhong junior had already lost! It was simply unbelievable!
Zhong Wei, surprisingly not angry but delighted, looked at Meng Qi: “Master Su, would you consider taking a disciple?”
Such skills were simply beyond comprehension!
“My martial arts have been sworn not to be passed on,” Meng Qi gave them a look that said, “You understand.”
Shaolin’s supreme martial art… Zhong Taiping mused, then said: “Master Su, let my son think it over for a day or two whether he wants to join a major sect. At that time, I’m afraid we might trouble you…”
He was not good with such words and quickly turned red-faced, hastening to add: “Where is the patient? Let me take a look.”
He’s right there on the bed in front of you, you’re not blind… Meng Qi inwardly grumbled.
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