Xu Da'an bent down and explained how Li Qingshi had treated the County Governor's daughter.
Wang Tieniu's expression shifted between dark and light. He was deeply unwilling to accept this, but with the County Magistrate as the other party's backer, he had no choice but to take the beating for nothing.
After persuading Wang Tieniu, Xu Da'an went to talk to Li Qingshi as well, speaking with utmost courtesy.
Li Qingshi had acted so decisively precisely because he had spotted Xu Da'an from afar. Now that he heard Xu Da'an's advice, he readily followed it and stopped at once. This made Xu Da'an feel honored and very pleased with himself.
Wang Tieniu helped Fang Tiezhu to his feet, then left with his legs clamped together, waddling with every step. When he reached Li Qingshi's side, he whispered, “A county magistrate serves a three-year term. Just you wait, Laozi.”
Li Qingshi immediately understood what he meant. He was saying, “I will definitely get revenge on you in the future, so if you still have not had enough, hurry up and attack while you can.”
Thus, Li Qingshi readily followed his suggestion once more and sent several more heavy slaps flying.
Why had he started fighting again? Who would have thought this Little Divine Physician had such a short fuse... Xu Da'an hurried forward to restrain him.
The corner of Wang Tieniu's mouth twitched several times. In the end, he did not dare make another vicious threat. This time, he truly left without looking back.
Li Qingshi exchanged a few more courteous words with Xu Da'an, saying that they should keep in close contact in the future, then clasped his hands in farewell.
The pedestrians who had stopped in the distance were utterly astonished. Someone from the Broadsword Society had been beaten, yet the matter had simply been let go. Just what kind of background did this young man have?
Regardless of his background, anyone who could teach the Broadsword Society a lesson and vent everyone's anger was a truly great person!
The common people of Qingshui City had suffered under the Broadsword Society for far too long. Thus, they all remembered this young man, who was even more handsome than a woman, and looked forward in their hearts to this person who dared to challenge the Broadsword Society completely suppressing its arrogant spirit in the future.
Li Gouzi looked at the friendly and respectful faces surrounding them and said, “Brother Stone, we certainly made a name for ourselves this time, but we also caused trouble. Those two were members of the Broadsword Society! Weren't you always good at enduring things before? Why were you so impulsive this time?”
Li Qingshi said nothing. He calculated inwardly that the Broadsword Society's backer was apparently no stronger than the County Magistrate. Then who could it be...
Regardless of who it was, there was ultimately a little more hope of taking revenge.
Li Gouzi sighed and stopped dwelling on what had already happened. He said, “With things like this, how are you going to run a medical clinic in the city from now on? For now, we have the County Magistrate as our backer, but that person was right: a three-year term. The County Magistrate will have to leave sooner or later, while the Broadsword Society will not. What will we do then?”
Li Qingshi smiled. “In Qingshui City, the Broadsword Society fears more than just the County Magistrate.”
Li Gouzi was startled. “Who else do they fear?”
“Clearwind Manor!”
Clearwind Manor was a true Jianghu sect. Its manor lord, Niu Qingyang, had always been an Immortal-level figure in the eyes of the common people. His martial cultivation was unfathomably deep. He had already become famous far and wide in his youth, and although he was now over seventy, he looked no older than someone in his thirties or forties.
Compared with Clearwind Manor, the Broadsword Society was like children playing house.
Li Gouzi said, “Can Clearwind Manor support us?”
Li Qingshi rolled his eyes. “What kind of memory do you have? Yuan Jia is at Clearwind Manor. Did you forget?”
Li Gouzi froze for a moment, then slapped his thigh. “That's right! Wang Yuanjia took Old Immortal Niu as his Master. I really didn't remember until you mentioned it! This is great. Once the Broadsword Society learns that we have someone in Clearwind Manor, they definitely won't dare provoke us again.”
Wang Yuanjia had grown up with them in the same village. He was a year and a half older than Li Gouzi and a year and a half younger than Li Qingshi. They had played together since childhood. They were not blood brothers, but they were closer than blood brothers.
Three months earlier, Wang Yuanjia had happened to catch Old Immortal Niu's eye and had been accepted as his disciple.
Li Qingshi said, “Counting the days, Yuan Jia has been at Clearwind Manor learning martial arts for three months already. We haven't seen him for so long, and I rather miss him. Come on, let's go to Clearwind Manor and take a look at him!”
Li Gouzi readily agreed. All his worries vanished, and he walked along cheerfully. Then he suddenly wondered whether Brother Stone had already calculated everything before fighting those two members of the Broadsword Society. He really thought of everything. When would he ever become as formidable as Brother Stone...
The two of them left the city and headed south.
Clearwind Manor stood majestically atop a small mountain south of Qingshui City. Its buildings stretched continuously across the mountain. It was not only enormous in scale but also magnificent in bearing.
A vast plaza lay before the entrance, with a stone lion more than twice the height of a person guarding the gate on either side. They were imposing and majestic. A huge plaque hung above the gate, bearing the four characters of Clearwind Manor in iron-hook and silver-stroke calligraphy, exuding a chilling air of slaughter.
When they reached the vermilion gate studded with copper nails, they were explaining their purpose to the gatekeeper when two young men in their twenties walked out through the gate.
They wore moon-white robes, with the four small words “Clearwind Manor” embroidered in gold thread on their sleeves. They were handsome and refined. By comparison, Li Qingshi and Li Gouzi's sweatshirts and gray trousers looked even more shabby.
When the two heard Li Qingshi say that he had come to find Wang Yuanjia, smiles suddenly spread across their originally stern faces. They said warmly, “So you're friends of Junior Brother Wang. Please, come in. I'll take you to find him.”
Seeing this, Li Qingshi thought, That fellow Yuan Jia seems to be doing quite well. He actually has this much influence... He immediately felt honored by association, his face glowing with pride.
The group passed through a long corridor and arrived at an enormous training ground. In the distance, they saw a familiar figure practicing swordplay.
The young man with a small mole on his left cheek said, “You don't know this, but Junior Brother Wang is a heaven-sent genius. He has only been here for three months, yet he has already opened Three Great Apertures. Master even said that, in the future, Junior Brother Wang will be the one to shoulder Clearwind Manor's burdens.”
After a pause, he continued, “Ah! You don't understand martial arts anyway, so why am I telling you this? In any case, just know that Junior Brother Wang is amazing.”
Li Qingshi revealed a delighted smile, genuinely happy for his childhood friend.
Although he did not know martial arts, he had heard Old Liu say that the human body possessed seventy-two major apertures. If one could open them all, one could enter the Hongmeng Realm.
And once one entered the Hongmeng Realm, one would have the ability to found a sect and become a grandmaster of a generation.
This was no easy feat.
Not to mention the entire Qingshui County—even throughout Yulong Commandery, or even all of Jingzhou, no one had ever heard of a master who had entered the Hongmeng Realm.
He and Wang Yuanjia had grown up as brothers in the same village. The more highly Wang Yuanjia was valued at Clearwind Manor, the brighter his future would be. Perhaps one day he would become an Immortal-level figure famous far and wide, just like Old Manor Lord Niu. At that time, as his good friend and brother, Li Qingshi might not even be able to benefit from it, but at the very least, he would have plenty to be proud of.
With a smile on his face, Li Qingshi casually flattered him. “Big Brother, you're too modest. Someone as imposing and distinguished as you must surely be much stronger than Yuan Jia.”
The young man gave two dry laughs. “Not at all, not at all. I'm far behind him—far, far behind. I've been here for twelve years, and I... I have only opened two major apertures.”
Li Qingshi's expression twitched, and for a moment he did not know how to respond.
The atmosphere grew slightly awkward.
To prevent the awkward atmosphere from continuing to grow, Li Qingshi called toward the training ground, “Yuan Jia!”
The youth practicing swordplay stopped, turned his head, and froze for a moment. “Why are you here?” He sheathed his longsword and walked toward them.
Wang Yuanjia was also dressed in a moon-white robe. Although his features were not as handsome as Li Qingshi's, he was still a fine-looking young man.
Li Qingshi looked him over. After not seeing him for three months, he felt that this fellow had gained a little more composure and confidence. Combined with those handsome clothes, he no longer looked even slightly like someone from a farming family.
The two young men who had shown them the way chatted warmly with Wang Yuanjia for a few moments, then tactfully left so as not to disturb Junior Brother Wang while he caught up with his friends.
Li Gouzi grinned. “Brother Yuan Jia, we came to see you. You've been gone for three months without even coming back to the village to take a look.”
Wang Yuanjia smiled, picked up a piece of silk cloth, and wiped his longsword.
Li Gouzi talked about their recent lives and shared amusing stories from Baitou Village. Wang Yuanjia wore a faint smile, but only added a word after a long while, as if something were weighing on his mind.
Li Gouzi did not notice his indifference. Just as he was about to mention how Brother Stone had treated the County Governor's daughter, Wang Yuanjia suddenly said to Li Qingshi, “Stone, we haven't fought in so many years. How about we exchange a few moves?”
Li Qingshi had been listening to them with a smile while surveying the grand and extraordinary buildings of Clearwind Manor. After visiting the County Office, his horizons had been broadened once again.
He was sighing inwardly over the sight. So this was what Clearwind Manor looked like inside. Its foundation was indeed profound, and it was much more magnificent than the County Office... Hearing Wang Yuanjia say this, he could not help but freeze, clearly caught off guard.
Remembering how everyone had wrestled and fought as children, he smiled. “Come on, let's exchange a few moves with a martial arts master!”
He also wanted to see exactly how great the difference was between himself and someone who had practiced martial arts.