Li Gouzi was just about to speak when Li Qingshi said first, “Thank you, Old Immortal, for examining my injuries.” He turned back and shot Li Gouzi a meaningful glance, indicating that he should say no more.
In that short time, Li Qingshi had already understood that even if he revealed the truth, Niu Qingyang might not believe him.
Even if he did believe him, judging from the indulgent look he gave Wang Yuanjia, it was clear that no matter how fair he was as a person, he would never bear to punish this disciple severely. At most, he would reprimand and lecture him a few times.
Since that was the case, why go out of his way to do it and give Wang Yuanjia another chance to mock him for nothing?
Wang Yuanjia’s eyes shifted as he suddenly said, “Master, could you please examine Shitou’s bone structure and aptitude? If his bone structure and aptitude are excellent, perhaps he could also become your disciple, keeping me company.”
Li Qingshi could not help glancing at him, deeply surprised. He could not understand why Wang Yuanjia had suddenly become so kind. After all, being accepted under Old Immortal Niu’s tutelage was a heaven-sent opportunity in the eyes of everyone in Qingshui County.
Niu Qingyang nodded slightly and smiled in satisfaction. “It is good that you have not forgotten your old friendship. This old man will examine him.” He rolled up his sleeve and placed a hand atop Li Qingshi’s head.
A moment later, he slightly furrowed his brows and said, “Your bone structure is truly…” He stopped halfway, but judging from his expression, who present could fail to understand that he most likely meant it was truly too poor?
After a pause, he continued, “You have already passed eighteen, correct? You should have just turned eighteen less than a month ago?”
Li Qingshi had not expected him to determine his age so precisely merely by lightly placing his palm on his head. He could not help being awed by his extraordinary ability and nodded. “I turned eighteen last month.”
Niu Qingyang shook his head. “You may not know this, but everyone who practices martial arts does. Once you pass eighteen, no matter how good your bone structure and aptitude are, you are already fated to have no connection with martial arts, unless you have already laid the foundation beforehand.”
Li Qingshi froze. Old Liu had also said that his bone structure was extremely poor, and that practicing taking blows for the past ten years was meant to Reforge the Bone Constitution, but he had never told him that one could no longer practice martial arts after turning eighteen.
His breathing suddenly grew heavy. His greatest thought in this life had always been to practice martial arts, and now he faintly sensed that something was wrong.
Then he suddenly thought of something, and a trace of hope arose in his heart. He asked cautiously, “I have been practicing stance training and tempering my sinews and bones all these years. This… does that count as laying a foundation?”
Niu Qingyang shook his head with a laugh. “By laying a foundation, I mean having already opened at least one major acupoint.”
Li Qingshi stood stunned. He thought to himself that Old Liu had Wandered the jianghu for most of his life, so he likely knew what he was talking about. Yet in all these ten years, he had never taught him a single martial art. From the looks of it, he… truly did not know martial arts…
It made sense when he thought about it. If Old Liu knew martial arts, then even if he could not compare with Old Immortal Niu, his complexion would still be far better than that of an ordinary person. How could he have grown old into such a state?
Li Qingshi turned his gaze around in confusion and suddenly saw the derision on Wang Yuanjia’s face. He immediately understood why Wang Yuanjia had suddenly become so kind.
Wang Yuanjia knew that his greatest thought was to learn martial arts, and he surely also knew that one could no longer practice martial arts after turning eighteen. He had done this precisely to watch him despair as his greatest thought was crushed!
Li Qingshi quickly adjusted his emotions, bowed to Niu Qingyang, and said, “Old Immortal, please examine him as well.” He looked toward Li Gouzi.
Old Liu had once said that Gouzi’s bone structure and aptitude were both excellent. Even if the old man did not know martial arts, his judgment and experience could surely not be wrong. If Gouzi could become a disciple under Old Immortal Niu’s tutelage, then that bastard Wang Yuanjia would have lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot. He certainly would be miserable, and if he was miserable, Laozi would be delighted…
While Li Qingshi was turning this thought over in his mind, Niu Qingyang had already shaken his head and withdrawn his hand. Li Gouzi’s bone structure and aptitude were even worse than those of an ordinary person!
This…
Could everything Old Liu had said have been nothing more than empty boasting and wild fabrication?
For a moment, Li Qingshi could not tell what he was feeling. When he looked up, the mockery on Wang Yuanjia’s face had grown even more pronounced.
Niu Qingyang turned around and said to Wang Yuanjia, “They have no talent for practicing martial arts, so you need not be disappointed. After all, bone structure and aptitude such as yours are rarely seen in a hundred years. Meeting you was a heaven-sent opportunity for this old man. From now on, you must cultivate diligently, guard against arrogance and impatience, and if you can enter the Hongmeng Realm within three to five years, there is an excellent chance that you will be accepted into the Three Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks and Twelve Grotto Heavens. Even Laojun Mountain may not be beyond your reach.”
The derision on Wang Yuanjia’s face rapidly transformed into pity for his childhood friend’s lost opportunity. Hearing this, he said, “This disciple has already taken you as his Master. Once a master, always a father. How could I take another as my Master?”
Niu Qingyang patted him on the shoulder. “I know how you feel, but if you can enter the Three Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks and Twelve Grotto Heavens, it would be an enormous boon to our Clearwind Manor.”
The Three Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks and Twelve Grotto Heavens were the twenty most supreme Martial Arts Holy Lands in this world, as well as the dream of every martial world practitioner.
Laojun Mountain belonged to the Three Mountains and was the foremost among these Martial Arts Holy Lands.
In the eyes of ordinary martial world practitioners, entering the Hongmeng Realm was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. In those Holy Lands, although one could not say such people were everywhere, entering the Hongmeng Realm was, in their eyes, merely the point at which one had just begun to gain entry into martial arts.
When he was young, Niu Qingyang had also visited those Holy Lands to seek his fortune. Unfortunately, his bone structure and aptitude were far from sufficient, and he had returned dejected.
His bone structure and aptitude were outstanding in Qingshui County, but compared with those favored by heaven, they were indeed ordinary. After cultivating martial arts for more than sixty years, he had now opened only forty-two major acupoints, leaving thirty more major acupoints before he could reach the Hongmeng Realm.
Yet this newly accepted disciple of his had opened three major acupoints after practicing martial arts for only three months. What an unparalleled genius!
Li Qingshi no longer wished to look at Wang Yuanjia’s smug face. He bowed to Niu Qingyang and prepared to leave with Li Gouzi.
Judging from Old Immortal Niu’s character, he clearly placed great importance on a disciple’s disposition. Time reveals a person’s heart. What kind of person Wang Yuanjia was did not need to be pointed out by Li Qingshi; sooner or later, Old Immortal Niu would see his true colors.
Li Qingshi and Li Gouzi had only taken a few steps when a Clearwind Manor disciple suddenly hurried over and bowed to Niu Qingyang. “Master, we just received word that early this morning, Zhao Fenghu and his band of bandits entered our Qingshui County and went into Guidang Mountain.”
Zhao Fenghu had entered Guidang Mountain!
Upon hearing this, Li Qingshi and Li Gouzi exchanged a glance, their faces instantly turning deathly pale.
Rumors about Zhao Fenghu and his band of bandits had been circulating throughout the area for a long time. It was said that there were more than a hundred of them, every one of them possessing profound cultivation and being vicious and brutal, killing without restraint. No one knew how many villages they had already massacred; they had even wiped out two cities!
And Baitou Village lay at the foot of Guidang Mountain, barely three or four li away!
Li Qingshi’s thoughts raced. He suddenly turned back, bowed deeply to Niu Qingyang, and pleaded, “Old Immortal, our village is at the foot of Guidang Mountain. Please, Old Immortal, take action and save everyone in our village.”
After thinking it over, Li Qingshi realized that only Clearwind Manor currently had the ability to eliminate the bandits. The government could not be relied upon at all. The county yamen had few people and no masters, leaving it with no choice but to request aid from the Imperial Court. By the time reinforcements arrived, no one knew how long it would take. By then, Baitou Village would have long since been slaughtered.
Li Gouzi came to his senses and bowed to Niu Qingyang behind Li Qingshi.
Wang Yuanjia’s face also turned pale, but he did not know what to do and stood there stunned.
Niu Qingyang helped Li Qingshi to his feet. His expression was incomparably solemn, and for a moment, he said nothing.