"As soon as the disciple's words fell, a stout and spirited man with a buzz cut strode in.
"Senior Brother Ma!"
The disciple called out and quickly stepped aside, making way for the newcomer.
The man with the buzz cut didn't even glance at the disciple. He strode into the hall, cupped his fists towards Luò Déxuān, and said brazenly, "Master, your disciple is back to see you!
"I heard you were injured some time ago. Tell me, who was so bold as to hurt you? Your disciple will avenge you!"
Luò Déxuān did not answer. He remained seated and looked at the man. His face, which had been full of smiles, suddenly lost its warmth.
Luó Yǒngnián stood up and asked with a stern face, "Ma Yuan, who told you to come back?"
"Yǒngnián, what kind of question is that? I haven't been back in so long, what's wrong with me coming to see Master?"
Ma Yuan completely ignored Luò Déxuān and Luó Yǒngnián's expressions. He walked over to them and, without any preamble, picked up the fruit from the table that was meant for Qín Yì and began to eat it casually.
In such a situation, Luò Déxuān and Luó Yǒngnián's expressions grew even uglier.
Ma Yuan noticed Qín Yì and asked curiously, "Master, Yǒngnián, who is this?"
"He's Dad's savior. Dad was injured before, and he healed him!" Luó Yǒngnián replied directly.
"Oh! So powerful?"
Ma Yuan was somewhat surprised, then he looked Qín Yì up and down with an interested gaze.
Qín Yì, in turn, sat there without being polite, and also sized up the man.
He observed that Ma Yuan was not only well-built, wearing a black shirt that accentuated the bulging muscles of his abdomen and chest, but also exuded a dominant aura.
If it were an ordinary person standing before him, even if the man did nothing, that person would likely feel heavy in both body and mind, burdened by pressure.
Of course, these attributes of Ma Yuan had no effect on Qín Yì!
It was evident that this Ma Yuan was also a martial artist, and Qín Yì felt that the man's strength was even slightly greater than that of Jiāng Hóngxìn!
Perhaps sensing Qín Yì's gaze, Luó Yǒngnián immediately walked over to Qín Yì's side and whispered an explanation, "He was the first disciple my father took. However, two years ago, my father expelled him from the martial arts school..."
Ma Yuan, hearing Luó Yǒngnián's words, interrupted before he could finish, "Master, I've returned this time to help our Tie Xian Quan martial arts school regain its prestige at the martial arts exchange conference!"
"Hmph, there's no need!" Luò Déxuān snorted coldly and directly refused, "You are no longer my disciple, and the matters of the Tie Xian Quan martial arts school have nothing to do with you!"
"Master, don't be so quick to refuse!"
Ma Yuan said with a smile, "I have now reached the peak of the Minor Grandmaster realm, and I am only one step away from the Grandmaster!"
"What?"
"!!!"
Luò Déxuān and Luó Yǒngnián's bodies trembled simultaneously, their faces filled with shock.
Ma Yuan was very pleased with their reaction and proudly continued to ask Luò Déxuān, "So, Master, are you sure you don't need me to represent the Tie Xian Quan martial arts school in this exchange conference?"
"With my strength, if I participate in the exchange conference, I will surely win first place, and then I can bring back a lot of cultivation resources for our Tie Xian Quan martial arts school!"
A flicker of light involuntarily appeared in Luò Déxuān's pupils.
He was clearly tempted by what the man had said.
Ma Yuan sensed this and continued, "However, Master, I can represent the Tie Xian Quan martial arts school in the exchange conference, but I have a few conditions!"
"First, of what I win at the exchange conference, I will take seventy percent for myself, and the remaining thirty percent can be given to the martial arts school!"
"Second, I wish to return to the martial arts school and assume the position of the headmaster. I am only thirty-nine years old and have already reached the peak of the Minor Grandmaster realm. I believe that the Tie Xian Quan martial arts school will have a more promising future under my leadership than under yours!"
"Third..."
"Ma Yuan, you're dreaming!"
Before he could utter his third condition, Luó Yǒngnián angrily interrupted him.
Luò Déxuān had initially been somewhat swayed by the news that Ma Yuan had reached the peak of the Minor Grandmaster realm, considering letting him return and represent the Tie Xian Quan martial arts school in the exchange conference. However, with the emergence of his conditions, his anger flared up.
Especially upon hearing the second condition, Luò Déxuān pointed towards the door and shouted, "Scram, get out!"
His second condition was clearly an attempt to usurp power!
Facing their anger, Ma Yuan was unconcerned. He smacked his lips and said, "Don't be so hot-tempered. I'll give you a day to consider. When you've made up your minds, call me!"
After saying that, he glanced at Qín Yì, who had remained seated throughout, smiled, and turned to leave.
Luò Déxuān only sat back down in his chair after he had watched Ma Yuan's retreating figure disappear from sight.
"You've angered me to death!"
Luó Yǒngnián sat back down, took a sip of tea from the table, and the anger on his face subsided somewhat.
Qín Yì asked curiously, "Hall Master Luó, why did you expel this Ma Yuan from the Tie Xian Quan martial arts school back then?"
"He forcibly abducted a married woman, using his martial prowess to forcefully violate a married woman!"
Luó Yǒngnián gritted his teeth and said, "In the end, he also crippled the woman's husband. Such a wicked person, my father naturally could not allow him to remain in the martial arts school!"
Qín Yì had not expected Ma Yuan to be such a person!
If that were the case, Qín Yì felt that Luò Déxuān would have been justified in killing him, let alone expelling him from his tutelage!
"Alas!"
Luò Déxuān sighed heavily and said, "Ma Yuan was my first disciple. He had great talent in cultivation. Without exaggeration, he was the most talented cultivator I had ever seen in my life. At that time, whatever I taught him, he could learn it very quickly!
"Things that others couldn't learn in months or even a year, he could master in a short time! His cultivation also progressed rapidly!
"Originally, I intended to train him as my successor, and I placed great hopes on him. Unfortunately, his heart was not pure, and his character was flawed!"
It was evident that Luò Déxuān felt great regret regarding Ma Yuan.
Qín Yì shook his head and made no further comment.
"Forget it, let's not talk about such unpleasant matters!"
Luò Déxuān changed the subject, "Mr. Qín, you don't have any urgent matters today, do you? You must stay for lunch. Last time, I didn't have the chance to properly host you, so let us make up for it this time!"
With such earnest hospitality, Qín Yì did not refuse.
Thus, Qín Yì stayed at the Tie Xian Quan martial arts school for the entire morning. He had lunch with Luò Déxuān and Luó Yǒngnián and did not leave until the afternoon.
Upon learning that Qín Yì was returning to Hai City and did not have a car, Luò Déxuān had Luó Yǒngnián personally drive him.
Qín Yì said it was not necessary, but both Luò Déxuān and Luó Yǒngnián were very insistent.
In the end, he couldn't refuse their persistence and was driven back to Hai City by Luó Yǒngnián."