Chapter 183 Clash of Prodigies, Beauty Yearns for Her Lord
Qingyuan Academy is a first-class institution of learning. The academic atmosphere is open, and one can see students debating and discussing classics on the road, with the sound of reading aloud filling the air.
Li Xian asked, "Is there a restaurant in the mansion?"
"Let's go out to eat," Liu Shu said hurriedly.
Li Xian said, "Alright." Knowing that the group was short of money and inevitably felt inferior, she understood that they had many classmates in the manor and that if others saw them, they would gossip and make her uncomfortable.
The five of them set off together, and along the way, Li Xian asked Xiao Fan about his daily life. Xiao Fan told him everything truthfully.
Life in the manor was peaceful, mostly spent reading, writing, and debating principles with others. Liu Shu, Hong Chengbing, and Lu Xuan's eyes dimmed. What Xiao Fan had said was only one aspect of life in the manor.
"Brother Xian, this noodle shop is delicious, let's eat here!" Lu Xuan pointed to a noodle shop at the end of a small alley.
The steam is fragrant.
Tables and chairs were set out from the alley, and many students were sitting there. They were all dressed in coarse linen clothes, their attire simple.
Li Xiaofan said, "Brother, this noodle shop has spicy oil-splashed noodles, which we don't have in Qingning County. It smells amazing!"
Lu Xuan, Hong Chengbing, and Liu Shu were all the same age as Li Xiaofan. Their family backgrounds were also similar. They noticed that although Xiaofan was handsome, his clothes and accessories were simple, unlike those of a wealthy family.
They also knew something about Xiao Fan's family situation. The four often chatted, and inevitably, they talked about their own family circumstances. Lu Xuan, Hong Chengbing, and Liu Shu were all in similar situations, poor but barely able to afford food and clothing. Li Xiao Fan was the most destitute.
It is also known that Prince Li Xiaofan sold himself into servitude to help Li Xiaofan with her studies. Although Prince Li Xiaofan must have been freed from slavery after picking the flower, how could his family possibly become wealthy under such circumstances?
So they deliberately led the students to a noodle shop in a small alley outside the government compound. The shop was run by an elderly couple who were kind-hearted and made cheap noodles. Prices in the prefectural city were high, and thanks to the old couple, poor students could barely afford to eat.
Li Xian smiled and said, "The noodle shop is quite good, but since I've come all this way, I should eat something substantial. I'll stay in the prefectural city for a few more days and come back another day to try the spicy oil-splashed noodles."
“This…but…” Hong Chengbing hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.
Li Xian laughed and said, "Let's go. We should at least go to a decent restaurant and I'll treat you to a big meal."
Hong Chengbing, Liu Shu, and Lu Xuan looked at Li Xiaofan. Li Xiaofan lowered his voice and whispered in his ear, "Brother, things in the prefectural city are so expensive!"
"Don't worry, your brother has money." Li Xian patted Xiao Fan on the shoulder. His wife gave him a hundred taels of silver, and he had more than ten properties in Qingning. He also prepared a hundred taels of silver when he went out. He should be able to afford a meal.
Unable to refuse, Hong Chengbing and his two companions had no choice but to follow. Walking down the street, their faces slightly flushed, they looked down at their feet, feeling extremely uncomfortable. They constantly felt that someone was watching them.
Li Xiaofan was absent-minded, thinking, "My brother hasn't seen me for a long time, and this meal will definitely cost him a lot of money. I have to find a way to get some money to help him with his travel expenses."
Not long after.
They arrived at "Zhenxianglou". The restaurant was bustling with activity, and the waiters inside were all neatly dressed, at least without any patches. Seeing this, Hong Chengbing and his group became even more uneasy and dared not enter.
Li Xian, with a graceful demeanor, stopped a waiter and asked, "Are there any seats available inside?"
The waiter was busy serving dishes. He quickly glanced at Li Xian's clothes, then at the four teenagers behind him, and was about to speak up and shoo them away. But then he sensed that Li Xian had an extraordinary air about him. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he changed his tone and asked, "Sir, this is Zhenxiang Restaurant. Are you sure you haven't come to the wrong place?"
“We…” Liu Shu’s cheeks flushed red, she was shy and embarrassed, feeling ashamed.
Li Xian smiled and said, "We've come to Zhenxianglou."
The waiter said indifferently, "Alright, there are still tables upstairs. Please help yourselves, the five of you."
Zhenxianglou was four stories high, but in the grand scheme of things in the prefectural city, it wasn't considered particularly impressive. Several similar establishments could be found on Hongzhu Street in Qingning County. Li Xian only had two hundred taels of silver, so he naturally acted within his means, even though this was considered an unattainable sum by Hong Chengbing and the others.
There is an empty table on the second floor near the terrace.
After taking their seats, Li Xian called over the waiter and ordered the dishes. Braised pork, spicy beef… all hearty meat dishes. He estimated it would cost around thirty taels of silver.
This is already very expensive.
Li Xian laughed and said, "This restaurant is open for business. We are guests, here to eat, so what's there to be afraid of?"
"One may exhaust one's physical strength, but not one's will. If one's will is not exhausted, where can't one go?"
Upon hearing this, the three gradually relaxed.
Just then, a voice was heard: "No, no." A man in a blue shirt walked slowly over, holding a folding fan and gently fanning himself.
The man was dressed in magnificent attire; upon closer inspection, he wore animal-patterned boots, a jade pendant and sachet at his waist, and his hair was adorned with pearls and jewels. His air of nobility was unmistakable.
Upon seeing this person, Liu Shu, Lu Xuan, and Hong Chengbing immediately changed color, revealing fear, while Li Xiaofan clenched his fists.
They immediately tensed up. Li Xiaofan and Liu Shu exchanged a glance and whispered, "Damn it, how did we run into him here!"
Li Xian, with his keen mind, smiled calmly and said, "May I ask what advice you have for me, brother?"
The man in the blue shirt said, "I wouldn't call it instruction, but rather correction." He paced back and forth, speaking slowly, "Brother, that's even more inappropriate. I'm not your brother."
Li Xian said calmly, "Please speak if you have any corrections."
"You just said that poverty doesn't diminish one's spirit? That one can be at ease anywhere?" The man in the blue shirt said, "I would say that poverty diminishes one's spirit. There are some places that you are born to never set foot in."
"But some ignorant people, wanting to see the magnificent palace, shout that poverty does not diminish their ambition, and shamelessly try to appear cultured."
"But he's a clown-like character, jumping around and singing for money, which is annoying."
"Wang Cheng, don't go too far!" Li Xiaofan was very well-mannered and had a long-standing grudge against Wang Cheng. He had once defeated Wang Cheng in a debate, and Wang Cheng had held a grudge ever since.
Normally, Li Xiaofan would ignore Wang Cheng's provocations, but today Wang Cheng's words were directed at Li Xian, which greatly angered him.
Li Xian laughed and said, "Whether I can set foot here or not is none of your business, is it?"
“Naturally, it has nothing to do with us.” Wang Cheng lightly waved his folding fan and said, “It’s just that drinking with you people in the same building lowers our standards. If you don’t leave, I will never come to Zhenxiang Tower again.”
He was followed by several companions. They had been invited to a gathering and were supposed to go to the private rooms on the third or fourth floor. However, when Wang Cheng saw Li Xiaofan, Hong Chengbing, and the others, he deliberately provoked them.
The commotion quickly attracted the attention of the manager of Zhenxianglou Restaurant, a middle-aged man named Hu Dazhen.
Liu Shu tugged at Li Xian's sleeve and said, "Brother Xian, let's go. We can't fight them. They're used to bullying us. If we back down, they'll ignore us."
Li Xian looked at Hu Dazhen and said calmly, "Shopkeeper, you've opened this shop to make a living; you can decide the reasons behind it."
Hu Dazhen looked troubled, hesitated for a long time, and decided that peace was the best course of action. She then said:
"How about this, Young Master Wang? My shop just caught a four-tailed red fish. I'll make ginseng fish soup and give it to you for free. How about we call this off?"
Wang Cheng said calmly, "It seems that I have the nerve to refuse Manager Hu's offer to kick people out."
Hu Dazhen chuckled, disliking the self-righteous Wang Cheng as well. Wang Cheng said, "Li Xiaofan, don't you have a wisp of luck? Why don't you weigh the pros and cons of this matter?"
The Great Wu Dynasty valued both civil and military affairs.
Martial arts can grant immortality, while literary arts can bring peace to the world.
Literature carries destiny and weighs principles. When principles are sound, destiny protects; when principles are flawed, destiny obstructs. But Li Xiaofan's fortune is weak, and this "scale" is too fragile to bear the weight of events.
"Manager Hu, since Brother Wang is not qualified, what about me?" A thin man stepped forward and said calmly, "I, Wan Run, have lost my appetite just looking at them. I have no intention of looking down on them in the slightest. I ask Manager Hu to mediate and handle this matter for me."
Wan Run crossed his arms, raised his head, and said proudly, "You should have heard of my reputation. I, Wan Run, am not very talented, but I recently entered the list of heroes and ranked sixty-seventh."
Hu Dazhen's expression changed as she weighed the pros and cons in her mind: Wang Cheng, though a wealthy young master, lacked both literary talent and martial prowess. Hu Dazhen, mindful of his family background, would treat him with utmost respect. Even if she truly offended him, the loss wouldn't be significant, and he wouldn't be able to act recklessly. But Wan Run was different; a renowned martial artist, he possessed a certain intimidation. If she offended him to death, the matter would be difficult to resolve.
He then said, "Since...that's how it is, then there's nothing I can do. My dear friends, sometimes matters of first impressions are truly difficult to explain. I would appreciate it if you..."
"Wait a minute," Li Xian said. "Does being a master on the Heroes Ranking mean you can use your power to intimidate others?"
"snort!"
Wan Run had a very volatile temper, and even after revealing his identity, this fellow still dared to resist. Upon reflection, one couldn't help but feel a sense of disdain. He immediately said:
“I’m going to suppress you anyway, what are you going to do about it? I hate your saying that poverty doesn’t diminish your ambition. Today I’m not only going to suppress you, I’m going to crush your spirit.”
After saying this, Wan Run looked around, picked up a peanut with both hands, and shot it towards Li Xian's knees. Li Xian pinched the peanut between his two fingers, and with a "bang," the peanut shattered into powder.
Wan Run intended to display his skills and prowess. While victory might be achieved through fists and kicks, it lacked elegance. Only by integrating martial arts into other areas and then applying them could he earn praise.
He looked around, searching for something useful. Suddenly he saw a gauze curtain. He walked over in a few steps, tore it down, rolled it up in his hand, and threw it at Li Xian.
The gauze curtain slapped shut as someone skillfully channeled their inner energy through it. If someone were to be covered by the curtain, it would feel as if they had been punched more than ten times in an instant.
This skill truly drew gasps of amazement from onlookers: "This is... a robe with fists hidden underneath! Legend has it that those skilled in this style of boxing like to wear loose robes. Their fists are concealed under their sleeves, and with a flick of the sleeve, it's as if a thousand punches are delivered!"
"Impressive, impressive. Wan Run uses a gauze curtain instead of sleeves. The gauze curtain is lighter, yet it exudes such power. He must have already reached a high level of mastery."
As the gauze curtain brushed against the ground, chopsticks broke and bowls shattered... Li Xiaofan exclaimed in surprise, "Brother, be careful!"
Li Xian sneered, lightly tapping his scabbard, and unleashed the Great Luo Sword Technique. Wan Run said, "Heh, the gauze curtain is as soft as water, and I hold it in my hand. How could your sword technique possibly cut through it? You can't even see through this part, it's truly..."
With a tearing sound, the gauze curtain was cleaved in two. The qi clinging to the curtain was indeed as gentle as water. Li Xiandan's Great Luo Blade Technique was like a raging bull in a muddy swamp, difficult to parry.
However, Li Xian's addition of the "Gentle Breeze Leg" principle completely changes things. The Gentle Breeze Leg emphasizes lightness and silence. This is inherently contradictory to the opening and closing, vertical and horizontal principles of the Great Luo Saber Technique, but Li Xian has mastered both to the highest level and can perfectly integrate them.
The water is soft, and the breeze is even softer.
Li Xianda took another step forward, demonstrating the essence of the "Four Directions Fist." A single sword technique, yet it embodied the essence of three pinnacle martial arts. In an instant, the sword flashed repeatedly, and no one on the second floor could open their eyes.
Wan Run was stunned. When he came to his senses, he suddenly felt a tightness in his throat as Li Xian lifted him up with one hand.
Li Xian said, "I think you've misunderstood."
"If you really can use the list of outstanding talents to suppress others, then I will suppress you."
Wan Run's face twitched, utterly humiliated. He immediately channeled his inner energy and struck back. Li Xian was greatly disappointed: "A prodigy on the Hero Ranking, is this all the strength you've got?"
He was thrown directly out of the building. Wan Run gathered his strength and energy in mid-air to slow his fall. But he felt the force was too heavy to resist and crashed heavily to the ground.
Although he managed to land with both feet on the ground after assuming a fighting stance mid-air, his leg bones were fractured, making it difficult to move. Running was also impossible…
Li Xian, holding a teacup, went to the terrace, looked down at Wan Run, and took a light sip of tea. She said, "Please have some tea!"
Using the internal force of the "Azure Palm," he gently shook the teacup, shattering it into over a hundred tiny fragments. He then used the "Soaring Cloud Hand" technique to shoot these fragments into Wan Run's body.
To date, all the martial arts techniques he has used have reached their pinnacle! Unfortunately, those present have not reached that level and are unaware of their power.
Wanrun was in excruciating pain in both legs and could not avoid it.
He was covered in blood in an instant. Although the injury was not fatal, the broken porcelain contained the force of the palm strike and was stuck in his flesh, making it very difficult to remove!
It was a severe injury, involving the tearing of tendons and the stripping of skin. Li Xian sat down calmly, composed and unperturbed. All the onlookers were astonished.
Li Xian said, "Manager Hu, since Wan Run has no appetite, I've already asked him to leave. Shouldn't you serve us our food now?"
"Okay, okay..." Hu Dazhen nodded repeatedly, as if waking from a dream. After a moment, she came to her senses and asked, "May I ask...may I ask your name, great hero?"
Li Xian laughed and said, "What great hero? My name is Li Xian. Hurry up and serve the food!"
Hu Dazhen immediately went to the kitchen, pondering the name "Li Xian". Suddenly her eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "The wicked officer... Li Xian? He's the wicked officer Li Xian?"
Recalling Wan Run's miserable state, he muttered, "The reputation of a villainous lie not in his face. He may have a handsome face, but he commits heinous acts."
Wang Cheng fled in terror, but Li Xian was not about to let him go. She picked up a peanut and shot it at his pressure point, causing him to wail in pain.
Li Xian suddenly froze, realizing his methods had become increasingly ruthless. There was a trace of his wife.
...
...
In the time it takes to eat a meal.
We were full and satisfied.
Li Xian escorted Xiao Fan back to the manor. As they descended the steps of the restaurant, Li Xiao Fan called out, "Sister Gu! Sister Gu!"
A beautiful woman in purple robes walked gracefully towards us, her features exquisite, her lips as red as cherries. Even just standing there, she was a rare and beautiful sight.
She was the same age as Li Xian, and thus lacked the maturity and ruthlessness of his wife. She was voluptuous, sexy, and alluring. But like a flower in full bloom under the blazing sun, the pride hidden between her brows was the most captivating of all the women Li Xian had ever seen.
Li Xiaofan smiled and said, "Brother, this is the wife I picked for you, Gu Nianjun!"
"Make the most of this opportunity. If we win her over, we'll be unstoppable in Yuhua District!"
(End of this chapter)
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