After exchanging a few words, Old Master Qin changed the subject, turning his gaze to Xia Wan, who was sitting quietly to the side. With a kind smile on his face, he asked, "Wan, I heard you're quite skilled. Have you studied martial arts before?"
His eyes held a hint of curiosity and inquiry, after all, Xia Wan's agility and courage in the fight with the spies that day were hard to ignore.
In that thrilling battle, the streets were in chaos, with passersby fleeing in panic and shouts rising and falling.
The screams of the people mingled together, creating a chaotic sonic wave.
Xia Wan, on the other hand, was like an agile cheetah, with nimble movements and fluid grace.
Her eyes were firm and sharp, fixed on the enemy's every move. Every action was swift and decisive. She was agile when dodging and delivered powerful and seamless punches when counterattacking. If she hadn't received professional training, how could she have cooperated so well with Zhao Qian in such a short time to successfully subdue several cunning and agile spies?
When asked this question, Xia Wan remained calm and composed, without the slightest panic. She nodded gently and replied in a clear and steady voice, "I did study it. My adoptive mother found me a master, but he has passed away now."
As soon as she said it, she knew in her heart that this excuse might not hold water. After all, it would be difficult to completely dispel other people's doubts with such a simple explanation.
But right now, she really couldn't think of a more suitable reason. After all, the fighting skills she displayed on the street that day were indeed quite impressive, and she needed a reasonable explanation.
She thought to herself that if she was questioned again, she must remain calm and composed and not give herself away, just like she was when facing the enemy on the battlefield.
She clenched her fists slightly, her nails digging into her palms, trying to calm herself down as she rapidly reviewed the coping strategies she had devised.
Xia Wan knew in her heart that, normally they wouldn't go to such lengths to investigate in Suzhou City over something so trivial, since she was usually cautious and had never done anything that would arouse suspicion.
Moreover, even if an investigation were to take place, she would not be afraid at all. This was because the original owner had indeed come into contact with such a person. Although the original owner had absolutely no interest in martial arts and had not learned any of them, this fact would give her the confidence to deal with the investigation.
Silently, she pieced together every detail of the original owner's interactions with that master. Those hazy fragments of memory might become the key to resolving the crisis, just in case. She closed her eyes, trying hard to recall every scene of the master in the original owner's memory, from the scene of their first meeting to the few words the master had said, not letting go of any detail.
"Master? No wonder!" Sure enough, Old Master Qin's attention was immediately drawn to this mysterious master.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, a searching light gleaming in them, as if trying to sketch out the image of his master in his mind, attempting to find more secrets about Xia Wan from this clue.
He couldn't help but wonder who this master was—a martial arts master living in seclusion in the mountains, or a hidden extraordinary person who could teach such a powerful disciple.
He secretly pondered that if he could find more information about this master, he might be able to unravel the mystery surrounding Xia Wan. His curiosity was thoroughly piqued, and his desire to explore this mysterious master grew stronger.
Seeing this, Xia Wan maintained her bewildered expression, seemingly unaware of the suspicion in Old Master Qin's eyes, and continued, "Yes, after Master left, I secretly practiced on my own, and under my adoptive father's suppression, I have been hiding myself."
Her tone carried a subtle hint of helplessness, a stubborn refusal to yield to the oppression of life, which evoked pity in the listener.
She lowered her head slightly, a hint of loneliness flashing in her eyes, as if recalling that difficult time, those nights practicing alone in the dark, her clothes soaked with sweat, yet she never gave up.
Her thoughts drifted back to those nights when moonlight spilled into the dilapidated courtyard, and she practiced the moves her master had taught her alone in a corner. Each fall and rise was filled with a yearning for power and a struggle against fate.
Just then, Xia Xiong, who had been listening silently, suddenly noticed something important. He quickly interrupted what Old Master Qin was about to say and started talking about Xia Tao's desire to join the army.
"Speaking of which, Taozi is a good prospect for the army. That kid is stubborn and follows the rules, and he's also quite quick-witted when it comes to doing serious things..."
As Xia Xiong spoke, a hint of pride gradually appeared on his face, as if he could already see Xia Tao in military uniform, looking dashing and heroic.
He recalled Xia Tao's earnest demeanor when helping neighbors solve problems, and his relentless determination to overcome difficulties. He felt even more strongly that this young man would surely achieve great things in the army and become a pillar of the nation in protecting the country.
He recalled the scene of Xia Tao being inspected in the army. Xia Tao stood tall and straight, with a firm gaze, marching in neat and powerful steps, his face beaming with pride and arrogance.
Upon hearing this, Old Master Qin's eyes flashed with a hint of inquiry, but he still followed Xia Xiong's words and turned his attention to Xia Tao's desire to join the army.
"Oh? Xia Tao wants to join the army? That's great! It's commendable that a kid from our military compound has such ambition!"
Grandpa Qin's voice was loud and powerful, with a hint of satisfaction, echoing in the courtyard and startling a few small birds in the trees, which fluttered away into the distance.
His face beamed with a smile, as if he saw a glimmer of hope for the future of the military compound—the rise of a new generation, a legacy and continuation.
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