When Qi Xiuwu heard Qi Xiuwen speak so seriously, he was startled: "Brother, my dear brother, it can't be that serious!"
Qi Xiuwen's face was ashen as he reprimanded, "How can it not be serious? It seems that even though you know you're wrong and that being beaten hurts, you still don't realize how serious your mistake is. If the commander doesn't beat you, I will beat you today."
Upon hearing that he was going to be beaten, Qi Xiuwu immediately jumped back several meters away from Qi Xiuwen and said hurriedly, "I know how wrong I was, brother, please don't hit me. I just won't make the same mistake again."
Qi Xiuwen still didn't let him off the hook, and kicked him. Qi Xiuwu dodged, but kept talking: "Big brother, are you really going to kick my butt? It's just healed, don't kick it again and hurt it."
Qi Xiuwen was unwilling to say more, and then got close and beat him up.
Although Qi Xiuwu was skilled in martial arts, he was still a step behind Qi Xiuwen. Moreover, because he had been afraid of his older brother since childhood, he only dared to dodge and did not dare to fight back.
Finally, Qi Xiuwu got kicked a few times in the buttocks by Qi Xiuwen, and Qi Xiuwen stopped only after he screamed in pain.
"This is a lesson for you. Remember, from now on, keep all military regulations and laws in your mind. Before doing anything, think about whether it complies with the rules!"
Qi Xiuwu felt extremely wronged; his older brother no longer loved him.
Last time he was beaten with ten strokes of the military rod, his older brother didn't even comfort him; he even scolded him for deserving it.
This time, I'll just kick him directly. Ahhh, my brother is no longer the same as he used to be.
Qi Xiuwu endured the pain and kept nodding, afraid that Qi Xiuwen would beat him again.
"Let's go back!"
"I still need to go and call Feng Tao!"
"You don't need to go, I've already sent someone to fetch him."
Qi Xiuwen walked back with steady steps, saying as he went, "Go back and apply the medicine."
Qi Xiuwu was deeply moved. His older brother still cared about him, knowing that his buttocks had been kicked and bled again, and the wound that had just scabbed over had reopened.
He also brought the medicine Fang Chenyan had given him; once he got back and applied it, the pain would subside.
Qi Xiuwu went back to apply the medicine with great joy. As long as his older brother didn't dislike him, he was very happy.
Qi Xiuwen turned around and saw him limping away. He felt helpless; this younger brother was too much of a handful.
He returned to the meeting hall and happened to run into Feng Tao, who had been summoned, at the door.
Qi Xiuwen nodded to Feng Tao, who immediately bowed and said, "Greetings, Premier."
Feng Tao had just arrived, but he had already memorized some important figures. He could tell who Qi Xiuwen was just by looking at his demeanor and appearance.
Qi Xiuwen said gently, "No need for formalities, the commander is waiting for you, please go in!"
Feng Tao remained very polite and said, "Premier, please go in first."
Qi Xiuwen didn't stand on ceremony and went straight in, followed by Feng Tao.
Shenxi was writing something at her desk when she saw the two of them come in. She stopped writing and hung her brush on the brush holder.
Xing Xiuyan immediately put away what Chen Xi had written and tidied up her pen.
Qi Xiuwen and Feng Tao saluted simultaneously: "Commander."
Shenxi gestured for them to sit down, saying, "No need for formalities, please sit down. Let's talk about something."
Qi Xiuwen sat down at the lower end of the table, and Feng Tao, seeing Qi Xiuwen sit down so naturally, followed suit and sat down next to him.
"Feng Tao, I heard you're a disciple of Ren Xiaoyao, the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect?"
Feng Tao's information had already been submitted, and Shen Xi had already read it. In this age of information explosion, Shen Xi had seen plenty of information about martial arts and chivalry in novels.
Upon hearing the name "Xiaoyao Sect," one immediately knows that its founder must have been a martial arts figure who admired a carefree and unrestrained life. Since the sect leader is named Ren Xiaoyao, he must either be the founder or have changed his name later. What are the chances that his name would coincide with that of a gang?
Feng Tao replied very politely, "Yes, my master is the founder of the Xiaoyao Sect, named Ren Xiaoyao."
How many years has the Free and Unfettered Sect been established?
Feng Tao blushed slightly: "Just two years ago."
Shen Xi was taken aback, then smiled knowingly. No wonder his subordinates couldn't find out about this sect. If it were a famous martial arts sect, how could they not find out about it?
Feng Tao didn't hide anything and said directly, "My master likes to travel around. I don't know where my master learned martial arts. I was an orphan when I was young and grew up eating food from many families in the village. I met my master when I was very young."
As if recalling something, Feng Tao paused for a moment, then continued, "My master said that I had extraordinary bone structure and was willing to teach me martial arts. I liked it too, so my master trained me for three years before he went on a journey."
"That's an old man who can't sit still."
Speaking of this, a helpless expression appeared on Feng Tao's tough face: "Even during the three years of my upbringing, I would only go out for two or three months a year. After three years of upbringing, I would be gone for five years."
Before he left, he told me that I must practice the martial arts he taught me repeatedly, and I must not slack off on the basic skills.
“I was only nine years old at the time, and I didn’t think much about my master leaving again. I never expected that he wouldn’t come back for five years.”
Shen Xi and Qi Xiuwen exchanged a glance. According to the information they had gathered, there was indeed an old man living with Feng Tao. The old man knew some martial arts, but he disappeared for five years.
They did not interrupt Feng Tao, who continued to recall: "Five years later, when my master came back, I was already working as a stevedore at a small dock near us. The foreman said I was strong and paid me a lot of money."
Child labor! The records show that Feng Tao started working as a stevedore at the dock at the age of twelve.
This is one of the benefits of learning martial arts: increased strength.
"After my master returned, he was pleased to see that although I was working as a loader, my martial arts skills had not deteriorated and had even improved a lot. So he stayed with me again, and that stay lasted for two years."
“One day two years ago, my master said that he had founded a sect called the Xiaoyao Sect and his name was Ren Xiaoyao. I am his eldest disciple. This was also the first time my master told me my name.”
"Who knew that after my master finished speaking, he left a ring, saying it was a token of the sect, and left the next day. I haven't seen my master since."
As he spoke, Feng Tao raised his left hand, on which he wore a ring on his little finger.
The ring was not delicate; it was entirely black and had no patterns.
Seeing Chen Xi looking over, Feng Tao took off the ring and handed it over: "Master said this is made of Xuan Iron. People of the Xiaoyao Sect who see this ring will see Master."
Xing Xiuyan took it, saw that there was nothing wrong with it, and handed it to Chen Xi.
Chenxi picked up the ring and examined it carefully. Indeed, there were no patterns, but two words were left on the inside: "逍遥" (Xiaoyao, meaning carefree/free).
The calligraphy is elegant and bold; looking at the characters is like looking at the person. If Ren Xiaoyao himself carved the characters, perhaps he is an elegant and bold person.
However, this differed from the findings of the investigation, which revealed that the old man was somewhat mischievous, loved to wander around, and even frequented brothels.
Perhaps, he didn't carve this character?
Driven by curiosity, Chenxi thought this way and asked the question aloud.
Feng Tao shook his head: "I don't know who carved it, but my master's words are definitely not like this."
Shenxi understood. She knew it; her spies wouldn't be so useless now.
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