"Would you like to sit down for a drink?"
"Forget it, I still need to go back to the Yi Hong Courtyard." With that, Gold Wood grinned, and Wen Ping followed with a chuckle.
Gold Wood’s laughter, naturally, stemmed from the comfort of being drunk.
Wen Ping laughed because it was the first time he heard someone refer to going to the Yi Hong Courtyard as going back to the Yi Hong Courtyard. Did he really consider it his home?
Gold Wood nudged the girl named Xiao Cui on his left, allowing her to bump into Wen Ping’s back. "Xiao Cui, accompany my brother for a few drinks. Let me tell you, he’s the Young Sect Leader of the Immortal Sect, above the mortal realm. Rich people are nothing compared to him!"
Xiao Cui smiled and quickly leaned over. Having worked in this line for a long time, her approach was quite skillful, making one unable to help but daydream, as if intending to seduce Wen Ping. She didn’t mind the identity of the person in front of her; as long as money was given, everyone deserved her respect and admiration.
"Young master, let me accompany you for a drink."
Wen Ping took the cup, slapped his forehead, and spoke to Xiao Cui with sudden realization, "Miss, let me ask you a question. If you know the answer, these 10 gold coins will be yours."
Ten gold coins fell onto the table, and Xiao Cui was completely dumbfounded.
Indeed, a Young Sect Leader! Ten gold coins! It’s rare for clients to spend this much money. This money equaled what she would earn serving someone for a month, yet Wen Ping casually offered it.
"Have you ever heard of someone with all their meridians severed, and under 18 years old?"
Upon hearing this, Gold Wood smiled and somewhat disappointedly said, "Bro, what kind of question is that?"
Xiao Cui quickly responded, "I know!"
"A client mentioned it two days ago. Their martial arts hall recently took in a young man, clumsy as can be, with all meridians severed, and took pity on him."
"Had I known earlier, I would have come to you directly!"
Hearing Xiao Cui’s words, Wen Ping felt a weight lifted off him and pushed the ten gold coins over.
"What martial arts hall is that?"
"Hmm, I think it’s called Longhua Martial Arts Hall."
"Longhua Martial Arts Hall?"
"Yes, it’s at the end of this street, newly opened. That client is a martial artist from Longhua Martial Arts Hall, I think his name is Li Hua."
With that, Wen Ping stood up and prepared to leave.
But Gold Wood suddenly stopped Wen Ping, smiling, "Bro, are you sure you want to go there?"
"I advise you not to go, lest you feel saddened upon meeting old acquaintances. That Longhua Martial Arts Hall is run by one of your old friends, with the word Hua in it. Think about it."
With the word Hua in the name?
"Yes, it’s her. The people hovering around her are all disciples of the Kao Shan Sect Elders. With your current status... do you really want to go?"
With that, Wen Ping stood up and left the tavern directly. Seeing this, Gold Wood shook his head, "Determined to humiliate himself."
Walking through the night market, Wen Ping began muttering the name Li Hua. That’s right, he too was an old acquaintance of Wen Ping. Although they hadn’t met many times, Wen Ping remembered his name.
Before long, Wen Ping arrived at the end of the street, standing at the entrance of Longhua Martial Arts Hall.
With one hand on the copper ring, he hesitated for a moment before gently knocking it.
After two knocks, a voice came from inside the martial arts hall.
The speaker was a young man, whose voice sounded somewhat weak, lacking confidence, with a sense of exhaustion.
Wen Ping speculated that this wasn’t the gatekeeper. If a martial arts hall’s gatekeeper spoke with such little energy, could it still be called a martial arts hall?
He probably just happened to be passing by and helped open the door.
A disheveled young man opened his eyes through the gaps in his hair and looked at Wen Ping, asking, "What do you want?"
Wen Ping didn’t answer, but looked at the young man’s information before him, struggling to contain his inner excitement.
Realm: None (Meridians Severed)
(Eldest son of the Zhao Family in Flower Moon City, fled here after offending a Two-star power, with no survivors left in the entire family. Although he escaped, it cost him his meridians. Currently indebted to Longhua Martial Arts Hall.)
Wen Ping couldn’t help but laugh. The troubles of the last few days paled in comparison to the joy of this moment.
Just as he was about to say, "I just came to take a look. Can I have a chat with you?" a voice came from inside the martial arts hall.
He recognized that voice instantly; it was Shi Hua’s.
When Shi Hua saw him, she wore a surprised expression, like meeting an old friend after a long separation.
"What a coincidence."
"What brings you here?"
Wen Ping replied, "I was passing by and heard this martial arts hall was run by you, so I came to take a look."
Shi Hua rolled her eyes, "Do you think I’ll believe that?"
"There’s nothing I can do if you don’t believe me."
He actually wanted to say, I’m not here for you.
Just then, someone inside the martial arts hall approached with leisurely steps, and a soft voice reached Wen Ping’s ears.
"Shi Hua, who’s visiting?"
Upon hearing this, Shi Hua grew anxious and quietly said, "Wen Ping, today isn’t convenient for me. Come another day."
With that, she was about to shut the door.
However, she was a step too late, as that person had already drawn near.
The footsteps were steady and very quick.
Wen Ping glanced over; it was the long-unseen Li Hua.
When he saw Wen Ping, Li Hua couldn’t help but smile slightly, then looked at Wen Ping with indifferent eyes.
"Oh, it’s the Young Sect Leader, leaving so soon? Since you’re here, why not come in and sit?"
He stressed the words "Young Sect Leader" heavily.
Wen Ping wasn’t a fool and could catch the underlying meaning in Li Hua’s words.
Listening to Li Hua’s tone, the initial awkwardness Wen Ping felt upon meeting Shi Hua disappeared, replaced by a cold expression.
"Shi Hua, who is this?"
Shi Hua was surprised, seemingly not expecting Wen Ping to not recognize Li Hua.
"Oh, this is Senior Brother Li. He used to be in the same sect with us. We opened this martial arts hall together. I provided the funds, he the effort."
Wen Ping thoughtfully asked, "Body Refinement Fifth Layer, Shi Hua, is this kind of power suitable to teach those kids?"
Li Hua’s brows furrowed, fists clenched. Although his expression remained unchanged beside Shi Hua, his heart was filled with anger.
He longed to point at Wen Ping and curse, "Do you still think you’re the Young Sect Leader?"
Li Hua restrained his anger, saying, "Young Sect Leader, distinguished individuals tend to forget things easily. Whether you remember the old titles doesn’t matter; it’s all in the past anyway. My current status is as an Inner Disciple to Elder Sun of the Kao Shan Sect."
Li Hua sneered silently, thinking: You may disdain my realm, but I disapprove of your current position too.
"Elder Sun?" Wen Ping pondered, searching through his memory for the only Elder Sun from the Kao Shan Sect, then asked, "Isn’t that Elder Sun’s other disciple called Mu Yan?"
"Yes." Shi Hua nodded.
Wen Ping glanced at Li Hua and couldn’t help but sigh, "So you are, in fact, that Elder Sun’s disciple."
Recalling the scene when the Immortal Sect first accepted disciples, where Elder Sun and his so-called disciple Mu Yan came to cause trouble, Yun Liao and he had thrown them into the bushes, leaving without daring to return, Wen Ping chuckled and shook his head.
No wonder Li Hua’s demeanor changed when mentioning Elder Sun; sickness truly spreads.
Li Hua smiled faintly, waved off Zhao Yi, and addressed Wen Ping directly, "Wen Ping, to visit my Longhua Martial Arts Hall so late, what do you intend? Surely not just for a chat?"