9 Chapter 009 Strangely Polite~
Chapter 009 Strangely Polite~
According to the rules of Bazhenlou, they do not cook at people's homes.
Therefore, although Wang Sumo had met many martial arts figures, he had not visited many martial arts sects.
Xuanji Sect and Qingyun Manor are two extremes.
The Xuanji Sect holds a very special position in the martial arts world.
The disciples under his tutelage were either proficient in abacus calculation or skilled in divination and esoteric arts.
Beyond these talents, only through rigorous selection and assessment can one have the opportunity to enter the Xuanji Sect to learn mechanisms, hidden weapons, and the creation and construction of top-level secret chambers and mazes.
In other words, the selection criteria for Xuanji Sect disciples are very high, and they never rely on numbers to win in the martial arts world.
However, no sect would dare to easily provoke the Xuanji Sect.
Therefore, the Xuanji Sect is mostly quiet, and the number of various mechanisms, hidden weapons, materials, blueprints, and books is far greater than the number of disciples in the sect.
But Qingyun Manor is different.
The image of the major martial arts sects begins to take shape as soon as one enters the foot of the mountain.
Qingyun Manor, naturally, is built upon a mountain. Qingyun Manor occupies the entire Qingyun Mountain, demonstrating its immense power and the large number of its disciples.
This is why the docks and merchant ships along the way always made things convenient for He Ping.
He Ping is Master Huo's right-hand man; giving He Ping preferential treatment is giving Qingyun Manor face.
The sheer size and power of Qingyun Manor is evident from the mountain gate alone.
"The master's guest, the boss personally went to invite him." He Lin's voice came from outside the carriage as he spoke with his fellow disciples. Although He Lin was a bit of a hothead, he was also very honest and had a close relationship with his fellow disciples.
After driving in through the mountain gate, it took about 15 minutes to reach the mountainside.
Qingyun Villa is located halfway up the mountain.
The carriage stopped, and He Lin lifted the curtain. "Miss Wang, we've arrived at the manor gate."
Wang Sumo got off the carriage, and He Lin helped her with her tools. She carried her own bundle and was still holding the basket of crucian carp that Lao Qu had brought.
The guard, dressed in the same clothes as He Lin, smiled and took the carriage from He Lin, said a few casual words, and went to stop the carriage.
There are about thirty more steps leading from here to the main gate of the resort.
While He Lin was talking to his fellow disciples, Wang Sumo saw a man dressed in white brocade robes being surrounded by four or five people, hurrying towards her from the entrance of the manor.
"It's our eldest son." He Lin also saw him from afar, and then whispered to Wang Sumo.
Wang Sumo recalled that He Ping had mentioned before that He Huai'an, the eldest son of Qingyun Manor, had been following Master Huo around to manage matters related to the manor for many years, and could be considered half a young master of the manor.
She was invited by Master Huo, but given Master Huo's status in the martial arts world, it would be more likely that an old man would come to greet her personally.
He Huai'an walked quickly but steadily. "Miss Wang has come from afar. I apologize for not being able to greet you properly. I was dealing with an important matter at the villa and was delayed. Please forgive me."
Compared to the others in the manor, He Huai'an looked more like a scholar. He was refined and cultured, lacking the heroic spirit of someone who had roamed the martial world. But in his every move, he still exuded the confidence of Qingyun Manor.
"You're too kind, young master. I just arrived too," Wang Sumo said, offering a way out.
He Huai'an smiled and then said to He Lin, "First, take Miss Wang's things to her room. I'll take Miss Wang to see my uncle first."
He Huai'an addressed him as "Uncle," not "Uncle Huo," indicating a close relationship between the two.
"Thank you for your trouble." After Wang Sumo finished speaking, He Huai'an gestured for her to enter, and then personally led her into the manor. During the journey, he asked if the trip was smooth and which road she had taken, expressing his concern and gratitude while also fulfilling his duties as a host by briefly introducing Qingyun Manor and the places they had passed.
For example, when passing by the training ground, you will see dozens or even hundreds of disciples in green robes practicing swordsmanship.
There is also the Meditation Cliff, located opposite the mountain villa. It has many stone caves of various sizes where you can see disciples meditating.
There is also Feihong Pavilion, which is a dedicated venue for martial arts competitions. Many disciples are sparring and exchanging skills, while others are watching.
There's also Guanxin Rock, where the waterfall's rushing water leaves only a damp spot at the top of the rock. To maintain balance while standing on one knee in such a place requires considerable skill, patience, and perseverance.
These places for daily practice were all arranged in places that He Huai'an, or places that Huo Lianchi could easily see when he passed by, which shows how much Huo Lianchi valued the disciples' basic skills training in the manor.
The essence of a sect can be seen in these details.
The Qingyun Manor's prominence in the martial arts world was not without reason.
“Miss Wang, the Lianfeng Pavilion is just ahead. You may rest here for a while while I go and inform my uncle.” He Huai’an bowed respectfully.
Wang Sumo nodded, "Okay."
The two-story pavilion not far from Lianfeng Pavilion should be where Huo Lianchi usually handles the affairs of the manor.
In ordinary mansions, one would find a side hall for receiving guests; but Qingyun Manor built a Wind-Gathering Pavilion, where one can play chess while the wind is still blowing, a gentleman's open and honest demeanor, a unique form of respect in the martial arts world.
There are inscriptions on the pillars in front of the pavilion, and Wang Sumo saw that the signature was Huo Lianchi.
"Miss Wang, please have some tea." As Wang Sumo was reading the inscription on the pillar, a maid brought her a teacup. Seeing that she was interested in the inscription in the pavilion, the maid did not disturb her and stepped aside with the tray.
Wang Sumo moved closer.
Putting aside the content of the inscription on the pillar, just the force with which it was carved—the iron strokes and silver hooks—clearly indicate that it was not carved by an ordinary craftsman with a knife.
It was written with the tip of a sword.
Then, looking at the last part, the name Huo Lianchi was written by Master Huo himself with the tip of his sword.
The old man once said that the world's martial arts techniques are ever-changing, but they all follow the same principle: the Longevity Gentleman's Sword. Longevity comes first, which means cultivating oneself; Gentleman comes second, which means character. Only by cultivating oneself and having good character can one master the Azure Cloud Sword Technique and achieve the power of a sword soaring into the azure sky.
The inscription on this pillar may seem simple, but it is not.
The brushstrokes are strong and elegant, yet subtly powerful and ambitious.
Even if Huo Lianchi's martial arts skills haven't reached the pinnacle, they're not far from the threshold...
If Huo Lianchi is this powerful, then the old master He behind him must be even more so.
The old man was once as famous as Master He, known for his "Longevity Gentleman Sword" and "Cloud-Piercing Mountain-Severing Hand," but now he is in his twilight years.
One is a chatterbox with a bad temper; the other is sulking with his juniors and simply refuses to eat.
Having made a name for himself in the world, he has now reverted to being a child at this age.
Wang Sumo couldn't help but sigh.
"Thud," the sound of something tiny hitting a pillar and falling to the ground.
It's not scary, just a little inexplicable.
Small pebbles?
Wang Sumo saw it on the ground.
"Tap," "tap," were the sounds of two small pebbles hitting the pillar in front of the Lianfeng Pavilion and then falling to the ground.
Looking in the direction from which the stones were thrown, you can see a boy sitting on a tall, ancient tree not far away, leaning against the trunk with his head in his hands, lazily looking up with his eyes closed, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth.
Perhaps noticing her gaze, he lazily asked, "Are you the one Huo Lianchi hired to cook for the old man?"
He kept referring to Huo Lianchi and "Old Master" while sitting arrogantly on the tree, looking completely nonchalant and unyielding...
“He Lingyun?” Wang Sumo asked.
Probably not expecting the other party to call him by name directly, He Lingyun subconsciously opened his eyes, then gave a displeased snort, "You really know a lot."
It doesn't carry much of a positive connotation.
"So you're the kind of person who drives a horse-drawn carriage and drags a restaurant around on horseback?" He Lingyun's tone was dismissive.
Wang Sumo corrected, "That's called Bazhenlou, just like you, it has a name."
Hearing this, He Lingyun finally looked at her properly.
This woman...
Wang Sumo continued, "At least, I didn't call you 'that arrogant second son of the He family who only knows how to go against his elders'..."
"You!" He Lingyun was speechless.
These were his exact words from earlier; she only changed a few words and gave them back to him. He couldn't even find a way to refute her!
“Wang Sumo.” She simply followed his lead, “I have a name too, not ‘you,’ but Wang Sumo.”
He Lingyun: "..."
He Lingyun couldn't help but glance at her a few more times.
Just then, a creaking sound came from not far away, probably the sound of someone pushing open a door. There was only one place nearby, which was where Master Huo was. Although Wang Sumo could not see as far as he did from his high seat, he could roughly guess where it was.
He Lingyun frowned, then suddenly looked at her and said, "Hey, let me tell you in private, the old man loves to eat lamb. He'll be so happy if you cook lamb for him."
Wang Sumo looked at him: "..."
The footsteps on the other side were getting closer, and he didn't want to meet them. But he hadn't finished explaining things to Wang Sumo, so he simply sat up straight and said, omitting and simplifying, "He doesn't like taking medicine. The doctor made him take medicine but wouldn't let him eat mutton, afraid it would clash with the medicine. So he just threw a tantrum and refused to take it!"
"You have to coax him a bit and treat the symptoms properly." After saying that, she lightly pushed herself up and jumped down from the height with ease, without any effort at all.
Then, while brushing the dust off his hands, he leaned closer to her, looked her up and down, and muttered, "Don't tell him it was me who said it, or he'll get angry and won't even eat mutton."
That's quite thoughtful...
He Lingyun glanced at her again, then sighed, "So thin, can you even lift a pot?"
Personal attack?!
Wang Sumo was speechless.
Footsteps approached nearby, and He Lingyun, not wanting to linger any longer, gave a final reminder, "Hey, the old man's taking his medicine, so don't give him too much mutton!"
Wang Sumo: "..."
"I'm leaving." I made a point of saying goodbye to her before leaving, which was rather "polite."
Wang Sumo was both amused and exasperated.
On her first day at Qingyun Manor, Wang Sumo met He Huai'an and He Lingyun. Just then, the footsteps behind her stopped, and she turned around.
Opposite him was a middle-aged man in a dark brocade robe, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding a strong and heroic air, yet also revealing a refined and wise demeanor.
Wang Sumo couldn't help but recall the inscription on the pillar earlier.
Your handwriting reflects your personality.
"Greetings, Master Huo." Wang Sumo bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.
"Miss Wang, you are too kind." Huo Lianchi's voice was calm and gentle. "We are very grateful to Qingyun Manor and I for taking the time to come. If Bazhenlou ever needs anything in the future, Qingyun Manor will definitely go to help."
Wang Sumo chuckled, "Master Huo, you're too kind. I will do my best, but I'd like to meet Lu Wenqu first."
[Author's Note]
I'm an hour late, [poor thing]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com