“Even if a tiger falls into a flatland, it’s not something a stray dog can bully…” Su Ziyue murmured to herself, her bright eyes gleaming even more. She admired her second elder brother’s heroic demeanor and confidence, feeling that nothing could daunt him or scare him away, truly a celebrated hero of the martial world and the current number one on the Human Ranks!
That’s what a true great man should be!
Compared to her second brother, the young men from aristocratic families she usually interacted with seemed like immature children still drinking milk, full of naivety. Despite their prestigious family backgrounds, they were merely arrogant without true strength.
She began naturally inquiring about her elder brother’s various legendary experiences, chattering excitedly, her face flushed with excitement, rosy and charming. It wasn’t until Meng Qi coughed lightly twice that she suddenly realized her behavior and covered her lips in flustered embarrassment, exclaiming, “Oops, I forgot that my second brother is still injured!”
She gradually dropped the slightly formal address of “second brother.”
“Yeah, I’ll tell you more about it later,” Meng Qi naturally felt close to this “same father and mother” younger sister. “However, the martial world might sound thrilling and exciting when heard from others, making one wish to experience it firsthand. Yet, those truly in the martial world know that behind the excitement often lurks deadly danger. Many people die before even creating their own stories, their corpses rotting away in dark corners, devoured by rats and stray dogs, completely unnoticed.”
He feared that Su Ziyue might romanticize the martial world, just like those teenagers who get overly excited after reading a few legendary novels or listening to some storytelling performances.
Su Ziyue nodded in agreement, though it was unclear whether she truly listened or not: “Second brother, you should go inside and rest and recover. I’ll take my leave first.”
After walking a few steps away, she suddenly let out a soft “Ah!” and rushed back, flustered and embarrassed: “Father asked me to bring you some medicinal pills for healing.”
She had clearly been too excited and forgot about this earlier.
Meng Qi’s injuries were neither too severe nor too light. Using the Great Recovery Pill would be too wasteful, and he had no other pills available, leaving him distressed about where to find some healing medicine. Now, it was like finding a pillow when he needed one, so he naturally accepted the pills.
Su Ziyue patted her chest in relief, grateful that she hadn’t completely forgotten this matter, and bid farewell once more. Midway, she paused again and quickly dashed back like a little rabbit: “Second brother, I almost forgot to tell you—tomorrow when the three Ke brothers challenge you, many young people from prominent families in the capital will come to watch, including Miss Liushuyu from the Liu family.”
She gave him a look that said, “You must perform well.”
Who was Liu Shuyu…Meng Qi was completely clueless.
Sensing Meng Qi’s confusion, Su Ziyue smiled and explained: “Big sister Liu is the second daughter of Uncle Liu, the divine inspector. She is intelligent, quick-witted, and has a photographic memory, making her extremely knowledgeable. She is also gentle and graceful, truly admirable. Countless young men from noble families have lost sleep over her, but she maintains her dignity and never…”
In her mind, only her second elder brother was worthy of Liu sister, and only Liu sister was worthy of her second elder brother.
Hearing this, Meng Qi’s mouth twitched, and he quickly interrupted, feigning the manner of a righteous man: “I wonder how old Miss Liu is now, what level of cultivation she has reached, what martial arts techniques she excels in, and whether she has the strength to be on the Human Ranks?”
This sudden matchmaking completely went against his aesthetic.
Su Ziyue was stunned. Her second brother’s first question was normal, but the following ones were simply unbelievable, as if he were asking about an opponent in battle!
Instinctively, she replied, “Elder Sister Liu is around your age. Though she was born with a frail constitution, she is exceptionally bright and insightful. She has already unlocked six apertures and is proficient in the Liu family’s ‘Parting Blade’ and ‘Reunion Sword.’ However, as she hasn’t mastered any external techniques yet, she remains far from reaching the Human Ranks…”
Suddenly realizing her words, she quickly added: “Second brother, do you look down on big sister Liu? She is gentle and refined, considerate and generous, able to write and paint, and can recite any book she’s read, earning her the title ‘Hundred-Knowledge Fairy’…”
Meng Qi smiled and stopped Su Ziyue from continuing: “It’s not that I look down on her, it’s just that I’m used to being free and easy, preferring to wander the martial world, seeking vengeance and justice, and pursuing martial cultivation. The wife I envision should be able to walk side by side with me, sharing romantic moments, discussing supreme martial arts, and fighting enemies together, trusting each other enough to have each other’s backs.”
“Though the fairy is good, she’s not my type!”
He spoke frankly, trying to dispel Su Ziyue’s thoughts to prevent her from persistently matchmaking and creating a messy entanglement.
Su Ziyue listened in a trance, not feeling disappointed but instead developing a longing for the kind of marital state her second brother described, which felt different from the marriages within the Su family and many other aristocratic families.
“Divine couple…” the thought suddenly popped into her mind.
After finally getting rid of his younger sister, Meng Qi pushed open the door to his room, stepping into Su Ziyuan’s old world.
It was very tidy inside, with many miscellaneous items seemingly thrown away. Meng Qi walked toward the bookshelf with a strange sense of familiarity and took out a stack of calligraphy practice papers.
These were Su Ziyuan’s calligraphy samples. It was evident that he worked hard and diligently, although of course, his handwriting was quite different from Meng Qi’s current style.
“Good thing there’s muscle memory, and a bit of the original style remains…” Meng Qi exhaled. As long as there was some resemblance, he wouldn’t be suspected, especially since when Su Ziyuan was sent to Shaolin, his handwriting was far from mature.
Amid this vague sense of familiarity, Meng Qi walked through every corner of the room, seeing small wooden knives and swords, and unique stationery sets.
Sitting on the bed, Meng Qi touched the wooden sword within reach, as if feeling the pain, despair, sadness, and reluctance of a child who had just learned he was about to be sent away. He placed the wooden sword and knife by the bed, wanting to protect himself.
Meng Qi sighed deeply: “I’m sure you must want to know why you were sent away… and you must also want to return here honorably…”
Sensing Su Ziyuan’s “wish,” Meng Qi focused his mind, swallowed the medicinal pill, and began meditating to heal his injuries.
Although he managed to resist most of the thunder blade’s power, and the Undying Seal Art helped neutralize some effects without breaking the defense of the Eight and Nine Mysteries, his internal energy was still disrupted, causing the purple lightning to go out of control and inflict significant internal injuries. Even with medicinal assistance, it would take at least three days to recover.
“At present, I only possess about fifty to sixty percent of my peak strength…” Meng Qi murmured inwardly. “Why would a mythical figure emerge in the capital… Could it be connected to the matters of the Heaven-Devouring Sect and the Luo Cult, or perhaps the Qionghua Banquet? Are they truly in league with Old Third Zhao?”
Gradually, Meng Qi entered a meditative state to absorb the medicinal effects.
…
The next morning, at the main house of the Su family.
“You wish to pay respects to our ancestors?” The Divine Marquis Su Li had initially thought Meng Qi arrived early to inquire about the Qionghua Banquet, but this request took him by surprise.
It delighted and astonished him. Yesterday, Su Ziyuan still seemed resentful, not mentioning anything about wanting to rejoin the Su family. Yet today, he was proactively requesting to pay homage to the ancestors!
Was it because he was frightened by the previous encounter with an external opponent, or did seeing the old items in his former room awaken his familial feelings?
“Yes,” Meng Qi didn’t explain his reasons.
It might have been one of the “young Su Ziyuan’s” past wishes.
“Good, very good!” Su Li said twice, leading Meng Qi toward the ancestral hall on the west side.
“Father…” Meng Qi found the word awkward to say. “What exactly is the Qionghua Banquet competition about?”
Su Li slightly lifted the corner of his mouth: “The emperor seems to want to test several princes, perhaps also intending to observe the talents of the next generation from various families. Exactly how he will conduct the test, only the emperor himself knows.”
He suddenly chuckled softly: “You’ve always dreamed of showing off your martial prowess before the emperor, becoming the champion, and bringing honor to our family. It seems that hasn’t changed, no wonder you’re looking forward to the Qionghua Banquet…”
Meng Qi didn’t pay attention to what Su Li said afterward. He felt a sudden buzzing in his head, as if he had entered a certain illusion, seeing a profound and empty universe, and countless brilliant and mysterious threads of cause and effect.
Since his mastery of the causal secret techniques, whenever something significant involving his own causal relationship occurred, Meng Qi always experienced similar intuitions!
“Was this Su Ziyuan’s greatest wish? Did he want to shine before people, gain the emperor’s praise, and bring honor to the family?” Meng Qi slightly furrowed his brows.
As for why Su Ziyuan had such a wish, Meng Qi had no clue. It might be due to his upbringing, a fear of being abandoned, a desire for a more stable position within the family, or simply a youthful dream. Anyway, it wasn’t important.
Meng Qi concealed his reaction well, and Su Li didn’t notice his oddity, continuing on his own: “Every prince or official invited to attend the Qionghua Banquet can bring along another person. Since Zi Yu has already been adopted under your mother’s name, I have no choice but to bring him. However, your fifth uncle is also attending the banquet, so he can bring you inside.”
Phew, Meng Qi quietly exhaled in relief; the initial issue of infiltrating the Qionghua Banquet was resolved.
Before long, the two arrived at the Su family’s ancestral hall. Before entering, Meng Qi could already sense powerful wills surging back and forth, like raging waves within.
These were the lingering wills of deceased external experts; the newer the death, the stronger the presence.
Meng Qi took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and stepped forward with firm resolve, silently reciting in his mind: “I inherit your body and bear your karma!”
He solemnly paid homage, his mind empty and tranquil, free from external distractions. When the homage was completed, he suddenly felt his physical body become lighter and freer, as if some constraints had been lifted, making him more lively!
It actually worked… Meng Qi seized the opportunity and quietly asked, “Father, why did you send me to Shaolin back then?”
Su Li was taken aback, then sighed: “Since it’s all in the past, don’t ask anymore. Let the past be like death yesterday.”
He paused, his voice softening, barely audible within the ancestral hall: “In short, be careful of your fifth uncle. The human heart is separated by the belly…”
“Again, be careful of Su Yue?” Meng Qi’s eyes narrowed slightly. Just as he was about to inquire further, he suddenly heard Su Li say, “Your injuries haven’t fully healed yet. Why did you agree to the duel with the Ke brothers?”
Them? Meng Qi hadn’t even spared a thought for the Ke brothers. His mind had been entirely preoccupied with other matters since last night until this morning. Hearing their names suddenly, he was momentarily stunned.
He then smiled: “What’s the problem if I give them half of my strength?”
Su Li looked at him carefully before saying: “Then go quickly. They’re waiting for you at the training ground.”
He believed his son, already the number one on the Human Ranks, understood his own strength better than anyone else. If he thought it was fine, then it definitely was.
Meng Qi temporarily suppressed his doubts and slowly headed toward the training ground.
He was already intimately familiar with the Su family’s layout.
The training ground was crowded with people dressed in fine silks, among whom a woman stood out the most. She had an oval face, willow-shaped eyebrows, and almond eyes that sparkled with grace and gentleness. Surrounded by beauties like Su Ziyue, she was like the moon surrounded by stars.
Liu Shuyu… Without any introduction, Meng Qi instantly guessed who she was.
On the other side, three men were glaring at Meng Qi. The one in front was tall and handsome, but his expression was slightly resentful and mocking.
Su Ziyue approached and whispered to Meng Qi: “Second brother, the other two are just here for fun. They’ve only opened nine apertures, while the main one is the middle person. His name is Ke Changji, the third son of the Ke family. He is already thirty-four years old and opened all nine apertures several years ago. However, since he hasn’t mastered any external techniques and lacks notable achievements in defeating powerful enemies, he isn’t listed on the Human Rankings. He might have reached the stage of communion with heaven and earth by now…”
You might assume that Meng Qi frequently encounters adversaries skilled in external techniques, but this is primarily because he operates at a higher tier and contends with more formidable opponents. In truth, the majority of young martial artists with inherited legacies are incapable of mastering external techniques or cultivating any external martial arts to even a minor level of perfection. Even within the prestigious Wudang Sect, only about ten individuals of this generation have attained such proficiency—and not a single one hails from the Ke family in the capital!
Meng Qi smiled and patted her shoulder: “Not at the stage of communion with heaven and earth.”
Su Ziyue was stunned: “Still at the Nine Orifices stage and dares to challenge my second brother?”
She felt it was an insult to her second brother.
Ke Changji stepped forward, laughing heartily: “I’ve been in seclusion for years. The moment I emerged, I heard that the Mad Blade claims there’s no one in the Ke family worthy of challenging him. Is that so?”
His imposing manner was fully displayed, stirring the winds and clouds.
“Half-step into the external realm!” Su Ziyue covered her mouth.
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