Wizong's wooden sword of the Jin Yi Wei moved slowly, creating a mist-like shadow as if it were a haze. I found it difficult to track its movement with my naked eye, because the haze around the wooden sword was an illusion created by qi. I had never faced someone who used such martial arts, so I blinked in surprise.
'What is this? Oh.'
At that moment, I realized that the distance between Wizong of the Jin Yi Wei and me had somehow narrowed. There had been no warning at all, but the distance that had been about two zhang suddenly became much less than one zhang. This was probably due to the principle of using the big toe to confuse the opponent's sense of distance.
I understood that if I got caught in Wizong's footwork, it would be troublesome, so I swung my dagger.
Clang!
Wizong's wooden sword and my dagger clashed in mid-air. A lightning-like energy shook the air, creating an invisible wave. Normally, a first-rate expert like Wizong would be too strong for a mere child's dagger to block.
Stagger
However, Wizong almost lost his wooden sword due to the counterforce, his grip tearing. Although his wooden sword didn't break, it was slightly bent inward, and a stream of blood spurted from his mouth.
"Ugh...!!"
Wizong barely managed to hold onto his wooden sword, but his arm was already raised high into the air, and his posture was full of openings. He stumbled backward, taking a long time to regain his balance and catch his breath.
"Ugh, ugh, ugh...!! What kind of internal energy...?!"
"Did you just attack with full strength?"
"......"
I sneered, but Wizong, with sweat beading on his forehead, could not respond. He seemed to be frozen, looking for an opportunity to escape. Normally, a common bandit would have burned with fighting spirit and charged at me, but Wizong, being a highly skilled martial artist, had recognized the formidable potential of the internal energy in my dagger.
"Who are you?"
"Just a passing young boy."
I stared at him calmly and said,
"Why are you looking for Namgung Hwan and Murong Yan?"
"Gr... The Beggar Sect is involved too?"
"It's not the Beggar Sect."
I argued, as he stubbornly mistook me for a young expert from the Beggar Sect.
"I will not give up on Murong Yan!"
He seemed to have no intention of continuing the conversation, quickly looking around and then fleeing, clutching his torn hand.
Whoosh
I leaped up as he jumped over the wall, aiming to strike his back with my dagger. However, Wizong displayed agile light body techniques in mid-air, like a carp, and evaded my attack. It seemed that while his internal energy was powerful, his strength and speed were not sufficient.
Indeed, Wizong was a first-rate expert. His wooden sword moved with the丸刀術 (Wandao Shu), harmonizing with his footwork, displaying a level of martial skill that I couldn't match at the moment.
I still lacked depth in martial arts. If I could use my internal energy more efficiently, I might have caught Wizong just now. At the same time, I realized that this was the moment I had to make a decision.
The auras of experts were moving. Four first-rate experts!
'Their speed... they are walking.'
It was no coincidence that they moved simultaneously, as if by agreement.
They must have faintly sensed the clash of energy between Wizong and me. While ordinary people would hardly detect such a subtle wave of energy, it would have been as clear as a drop of cold water on the head to first-rate experts.
The fact that they were walking rather than heading straight here suggested that they had detected the clash of experts nearby but couldn't pinpoint the location, and were likely moving cautiously to guard against an unknown enemy.
I pondered what to do, understanding the psychology of these experts.
'Their senses are as sharp as those of wild animals. If I provoke one of them, the others will immediately charge at me like enraged wild boars. That's not a situation I want...'
I had never intended to fight Wizong from the beginning. The exchange of skills just now was merely a fleeting curiosity. I decided not to provoke the first-rate experts any further and quietly retreated into a back alley.
Murong Yan must be the name of Namgung Hwan's fiancée.
What did Wizong mean by saying he wouldn't give up on Murong Yan?
Does this mean Wizong has a crush on Murong Yan?
Is he trying to snatch her from Changtian Jianlong Namgung Hwan?
'Not quite.'
But I had a gut feeling that something was different. If Wizong had been acting out of love, his eyes and actions would have been filled with the earnestness of longing. However, from the moment I first saw him in the alley, he had a cold and calculating demeanor. Moreover, the tone of his declaration to not give up on Murong Yan seemed off.
It was as if it was driven by greed for an object.
After leaving the alley, I suppressed my aura as much as possible and walked down the street. Normally, it would have been difficult to hide my formidable internal energy due to the Leolong Yiqigong, but the Xiantian Gong made it easier to conceal. Not only did it enhance the mutual generation effect of the five elements, but it also made it easier to control the strength of my internal energy, reaffirming that learning the Xiantian Gong was an excellent choice.
Whoosh
"......"
I glanced back at a man in purple robes who had just passed by.
He was quite handsome and tall, with a feminine allure around his eyes. Moreover, he had a distinct aura of yin energy and the scent of cosmetics, making him a unique individual. Most importantly, he was definitely one of the four first-rate experts I had sensed earlier.
'He's a complete playboy. Is he also after Murong Yan?'
I naturally blended into the crowd without looking at him any longer. Regardless of how things turned out, my fleeting curiosity had dissipated. I had dipped my toes in enough, and now it was time to pull back.
I'll look into this later.
From now on, I'll focus on entering the Qinglong Martial Hall.
'What's with the Beggar Sect?'
It annoys me.
Before returning to my lodging, I stopped by a cloth shop and bought a simple set of children's activity clothes. I started resting a bit earlier. Although I wasn't physically tired due to my immense internal energy, I felt mentally at ease.
The next day, I woke up well-rested and headed to the Qinglong Martial Hall.
"Let's go."
Indeed, how will the Qinglong Martial Hall receive me?
In front of the Qinglong Martial Hall, two gatekeepers stood as usual. Although they were called gatekeepers, they were actually second-line disciples of the Qinglong Martial Hall, Fang Ri and Fang Qu. They were known as the Fang Brothers, and Fang Ri, with his chubby and muscular build, had once arm-wrestled me when I first entered the Qinglong Martial Hall.
I didn't particularly like Fang Ri, but after so many years, seeing him again made me feel a bit nostalgic. Compared to the hardships I had endured in my reincarnation, Fang Ri's jealousy was merely a minor annoyance.
I said to Fang Ri, who was on guard at the Qinglong Martial Hall,
"I've come to take the entrance examination for the Qinglong Martial Hall."
"Entrance examination? Hahaha, you're a funny kid."
"Wow..."
I was momentarily speechless.
Surprisingly, when I said the same thing I had said the first time I came to the Qinglong Martial Hall, Fang Ri's response was exactly the same! Regardless of my surprise, Fang Ri's words continued 'exactly' the same.
"Kid, are you perhaps from the Six Families of Guanzhong?"
"No."
"Then did you cultivate the foundation of internal energy from a young age?"
"......"
I stood there, unable to answer. I had never imagined I would experience such a situation. Fang Ri was repeating every word and action from the past! It was both astonishing and seemed to have some deeper meaning. After a while, I regained my composure and said,
"Yes."
"Then let's test the kid's internal energy, shall we?"
"Be gentle."
I was no longer surprised. When Fang Ri was about to challenge me with a show of strength, I had a sudden thought.
'Let's try to give the same answers and actions as before. I want to see if the reactions will be similar.'
Soon, we had a simple arm-wrestling match.
......
...
Of course, I won.
I could have won even with my pinky finger, but I deliberately controlled my strength.
Swoosh
"Ugh!"
"Enough of that. Just tell the Hall Master well."
Fang Ri went in and then came out.
"Follow me for a moment."
"Are we going to see the Hall Master?"
"Why do you keep asking?"
"I thought I would meet the instructors first..."
"Hmph, you must have heard about our Qinglong Martial Hall."
Fang Ri walked with me behind him and said,
"Normally, you would meet Chief Instructor Zhen Shaoqing, but he's out visiting a friend today. The two instructors are always busy guiding the trainees, so I have no choice but to take you directly to the Hall Master."
"A friend?"
"None of your business. Stop asking pointless questions and follow me."
Fang Ri's tone was rough, but it wasn't out of malice or spite. He was just naturally that way. I knew this best, having spent three years bickering with him. I couldn't like him, but I also couldn't really hate him.
Thud
"Hall Master, second-line disciple Fang Ri has brought the entrance examination candidate."
After a while, Fang Ri and I arrived in front of the Walong Hall, where the Qinglong Martial Hall Master and his family lived. It was a highly personal space, off-limits to ordinary disciples, and only top disciples like Zhen Shaoqing could visit privately. However, this time was special, so Fang Ri was allowed to bring me to the Walong Hall.
'I never got to enter the Walong Hall during my three years of training at the Qinglong Martial Hall.'
Actually, I had spoken directly to the Qinglong Martial Hall Master fewer than five times. The Hall Master, a middle-aged man with an almost transparent gaze, seemed more like a scholar. He appeared to have little interest in me, delegating all my education to Chief Instructor Zhen Shaoqing.
For this reason, even after three years of close proximity, I hardly knew what kind of person the Qinglong Martial Hall Master, Sanjie Li Guang, was. I had seen him when I was still a novice, so I didn't know the extent of his skills. I could only guess based on what Chief Instructor Zhen Shaoqing occasionally said.
"Come in."
Fang Ri and I entered the Walong Hall. Inside, there was a slightly spacious area, and the Qinglong Martial Hall Master was sitting in a chair. Near where he sat was a study, and he appeared to be reading.
The Qinglong Martial Hall Master's appearance was the same as before. After staring at me with his transparent gaze for a moment, he asked,
"Fang Ri, what is the child's name?"
"Um... That is..."
Fang Ri hesitated and looked at me, so I revealed my name.
"My name is Bai Xiong."
"Good... Fang Ri, you may leave."
"Yes."
Creak
After Fang Ri closed the door and left, the Qinglong Martial Hall Master watched me silently for a long time.