“Senior? You can’t be joking!”
“Who’s joking with you? Aren’t you from the capital? Then you must have heard of an elder called Chang Yin Zun Zhe, who was killed in Kunlun Mountain. That’s right, I was the one who killed him.”
“Ah!” Master Duan’s expression changed. Of course, he knew about this. After all, he had been in the capital for years, but he was just a nobody there. That’s why he could only come to this third-tier city to find a sense of presence, and even be treated as an important figure. So he often left the capital to visit smaller cities, to enjoy the admiration of those weaker than him.
“So, the Dark Night Flying俠 was actually a senior. I apologize for my disrespect.” Master Duan immediately bowed to Zhou Hong.
“The Dark Night Flying俠 is not me, but a friend of mine.”
“I understand, I understand.” Master Duan was incredibly happy at this moment, not expecting to have befriended such a formidable individual. This meant he was about to prosper too.
“Just now, why didn’t you kneel before me in front of Qiao Wanli and Qiao Xiaoyu?” Zhou Hong asked with a smile.
“Replying to the senior, you are hidden in this small city, surely for some unspeakable reason or other important matters. How could a junior possibly disrupt your plans?”
“You’re quite careful in your dealings,” Zhou Hong said with a helpless chuckle. Why did everyone think he had some hidden agenda here? Everyone who discovered his true strength was too afraid to expose it, which left Zhou Hong speechless.
However, if others didn’t expose him, Zhou Hong was too lazy to make a fuss.
“Then I’ll be going back now. If my grandfather asks, I’ll say you’ve been mentoring me.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Master Duan said, a cold sweat breaking out.
“Whether you dare or not is your business. I’m going to tell them that anyway.”
Master Duan let out a wry smile.
“By the way, did my grandfather call you today and tell you that the Qian family was going to make a move against me?”
“Replying to the senior, yes, he did. At that time, knowing your strength, I told him not to worry, that you would be fine. I didn’t say much else, so you can rest assured.”
“Haha, now the Qian family doesn’t dare to come trouble me, and my grandfather thinks it was you who helped me in secret, and he’s extremely grateful to you.”
“This, this… I can hardly accept such praise,” Master Duan said, wiping a bead of sweat.
“It’s alright. I see you’re a decent person, and you have indeed been kind to the Qiao family.”
“The senior flatters me. It was the Qiao family that helped me before, and I haven’t been able to help them much. On the contrary, they often send me money to support my cultivation. I’ve always felt guilty. I originally wanted to find an opportunity to repay them by taking one of their family members as a disciple, but unfortunately, no one in the Qiao family has the talent for martial arts, so it was always delayed. Until you appeared, I told Qiao Wanli to find you.”
“Hehe, which family from the capital are you from? Eighth-rate or ninth-rate?”
“The senior is joking. I am merely a nobody in the capital, without any family. Not only that, I often get bullied in the capital. I presume the senior knows that the capital is teeming with strong individuals, which is why I occasionally leave the capital to come to these third-tier cities. Only here am I an important figure, and only here am I called ‘Master.’”
“Hehe, you’re quite honest. But I see you have good roots and are suited for martial arts. How about this! I can’t be stingy either; I’ll teach you a few moves.”
“Thank you, senior. Please accept my bow.” Master Duan knelt down again and kowtowed several times.
“Alright, no need for formalities. I will now impart a cultivation technique to you. Listen carefully to the incantation; I will only say it once. How much you can remember is your fortune.”
“Okay.” Master Duan immediately became fully alert.
Zhou Hong then recited a passage of incantations, about ten lines long.
“Did you remember it?”
“I did.” Master Duan processed the information and nodded.
“Good memory. Then that’s all for today. I’ll be leaving now.”
“I respectfully bid you farewell, senior.” Master Duan kowtowed again and saw Zhou Hong out the door, but he did not follow him.
Zhou Hong walked to the outside of the reception hall, where Qiao Wanli and Qiao Xiaoyu were waiting.
“Grandpa, do you think Master Duan is really mentoring Zhou Hong?” Qiao Xiaoyu asked with great joy, a question she had repeated several times.
“Is there any doubt? He specifically kept Zhou Hong behind, surely to mentor him. It seems Zhou Hong is going to be lucky. With Master Duan’s guidance, he will surely advance further in martial cultivation.”
“Mhm, I’m truly happy for him.”
“It would be even better if Master Duan could take Zhou Hong as a disciple,” Qiao Wanli chuckled, but he dared not harbor too great expectations, as mentorship itself was already a great fortune.
“Grandpa, is Master Duan very powerful?”
“Is there any need to ask? He’s from the capital. Although I don’t know Master Duan’s exact strength, in our Jinshi City, there might not be anyone who can match him.”
“Wow!” Qiao Xiaoyu exclaimed, secretly praying that Zhou Hong could one day become as powerful as Master Duan.
“What are you two talking about?” Just then, Zhou Hong walked over, asking with a smile.
In fact, Zhou Hong had overheard their conversation, but he felt utterly speechless. Zhou Hong had considered telling them his true strength. However, after thinking about it, with their current understanding, someone like Master Duan was already beyond their imagination. If Zhou Hong were to reveal his true power, they might even feel a sense of distance, and it might even affect his relationship with Qiao Xiaoyu.
Although Qiao Xiaoyu was an ordinary woman, after spending so much time with her, Zhou Hong was increasingly accepting of her role as his girlfriend. Zhou Hong didn’t want her to develop a distance from him simply because he was too powerful.
Therefore, Zhou Hong felt it necessary to gradually guide Qiao Xiaoyu onto the path of martial cultivation. If Qiao Xiaoyu also continuously grew stronger herself, then she and Zhou Hong would not feel any distance between them. Su Dan Novel Network.
“Zhou Hong, how was it? What did Master Duan say to you?” Qiao Wanli and Qiao Xiaoyu quickly walked up to ask Zhou Hong.
“Haha, is there any doubt? Of course, he gave me some guidance. Master Duan lives up to his reputation; he’s too amazing. After his guidance, I truly had an epiphany. I think I can break through to the seventeenth stage of Martial Practitioner tomorrow.” Zhou Hong said with a loud laugh.
“Mhm, mhm!” Qiao Xiaoyu cried excitedly, seemingly happy for Zhou Hong.
“Why are you crying?” Zhou Hong helplessly wiped away Qiao Xiaoyu’s tears.
“I’m just happy for you.”
“Silly woman,” Zhou Hong said with a wry smile.
“Zhou Hong, as long as you have gained something, your grandfather is also happy for you. I hope you can truly reach the next level tomorrow and enter the seventeenth stage of Martial Practitioner.” Qiao Wanli also said with great emotion. Zhou Hong was currently at the sixteenth stage of Martial Practitioner, which was widely known, even reported by the television station.