I misjudged...
Hu Ma did not underestimate Old Mr. Sun, and even had a sowhat intentional desire to befriend him, but initially thought of him as just a martial artist who occasionally went through Entering the Mansion.
But now, seeing this man’s boldness in handling affairs, the more he thought about it, the more he felt sothing was amiss.
The family had so many rchant caravans that a little ghost could deliver a ssage to bring so much grain to the mine. Moreover, just one word from him could even shift the salt and iron talismanic armor—sothing strictly forbidden for Martial Artists to touch. What kind of existence was this?
The court had always been very strict about the regulation of salt and iron armor. Even in this Chaotic World, it was sothing ordinary people couldn’t afford to ddle with. Those who could dabble in it were said to roll in wealth, with fortunes beyond number, and that might even be an understatent.
In his mind, he suddenly held Old Master Sun in higher regard. Yet, outwardly, he did not show it, nor did he decline. He simply smiled and said, "Old brother, you’re being overly polite. Our mine’s nearly out of food, so I won’t refuse your generosity."
Even the Calculation standing by got excited all of a sudden. He had initially intended to get so compensation from this Old Master, but now upon seeing this...
...how could it be just compensation? It was like a golden goose laying eggs!
Old Master Sun, hearing this, was also delighted. Hearing the term "old brother" ant the bond of friendship was now firmly in place.
He laughed heartily with a drink and praised, "In our Path, what are petty amounts of gold and the stench of copper worth? How can one earn another’s respect this way? It must rely on one’s genuine skill!"
"Manager Hu, I am a few years your senior. Allow to call you ’young brother.’ Frankly speaking, although you’re not very old, your skills truly command my respect."
"Earlier in the valley, my few disciples were hard by that Witch using Gu Bees. Do you think I wasn’t anxious?"
"I wanted nothing more than to hack him to pieces. But I must admit, that Witch was different from the usual kind. He possessed formidable Gu Techniques. Even if I went against him, I couldn’t guarantee I wouldn’t suffer an unexpected defeat."
"But you, at that ti, took your knife and charged bravely, using several trump cards to break his Gu Technique and get close to him. That truly made this Old Man’s heart swell with joy. It brought honor to us in the Shousui Sect and helped vent my anger."
I did get close, but then got hit with thirteen Gu on my body... Hu Ma thought to himself. With a bitter smile, he said, "To be honest, I too wanted to kill that Witch, but unexpectedly, he secretly placed several Gu on . I had my knife in hand but didn’t dare strike."
"I could have taken his life with that slash, but his final counterattack would’ve surely made suffer greatly. In the end, I had to let him go. Ultimately, it was due to my lack of power. If Old Master Sun had intervened, things would have been different."
Although it was a cover-up, the words barely deviated from the truth. It subtly praised Old Master Sun.
Seeing this young Shousui man, who wasn’t arrogant at all, Old Master Sun appreciated him even more and said with a smile, "You’re being modest. Young brother Hu, you’re still so young. That Witch was much older than you. It’s rare to see such extraordinary skill."
He opened up and started chatting with Hu Ma about martial skills and Strange Skill, topics that were inevitable with Shousui n who drank, and Hu Ma naturally did his best to engage with Old Master Sun.
Even though he had just Entered the Mansion, he had gained considerable knowledge and experience about the Shousui Path from Ji Tang of the Beggar Gang. So, engaging in conversation, he was eloquent and didn’t expose his lack of knowledge in front of this veteran Shousui man. However, these were secondary matters, just casual conversations. The most crucial aspect was to understand the real skills required for Entering the Mansion, so now, he cautiously steered the conversation in that direction.
After three rounds of drinks, everyone beca more spirited, and Hu Ma said with a smile, "Our Second Master always said that learning from a teacher is not as good as traveling the jianghu. My skills aren’t worth ntioning, but you, old brother, comnd perhaps only because I am young."
"Actually, coming to this mine, I also intended to visit the nearby experts. But as soon as I arrived, I got caught up in this incident, and without an expert to introduce , it delayed everything."
Hearing this, Old Master Sun beca even more pleased and said again, "That’s no problem at all. I’ll introduce you, Young brother Hu. We have plenty of good friends on this West Ridge Road."
"Now that it’s the Chaotic World and Evil World, people are like floating duckweed, and weapons are blind. We are of one family, watching out for each other and supporting one another in this chaotic era. If you don’t wish to remain unnoticed, you could make a career in these troubled tis, providing blessings to your descendants..."
Why did the conversation shift to making a career? Hu Ma was slightly stunned.
This old brother is full of spirit, but in the first part of the conversation, he ntioned the salt and iron talismanic armor forbidden by the officials. Now he spoke of making a career. He seems as if he’s inclined toward rebellion?
I need to be vigilant, as I have nurous matters at hand. If I were to consort with those who couldn’t find peace, it’s uncertain how much trouble it would attract.
Quickly calculating in his mind, yet outwardly smiling, he said, "That’s very kind of you. I indeed wish to et more experts and get so guidance. However, I’m young and inexperienced. If all the people on this road are as capable as you, old sir, I might hesitate."
"Haha, the manager’s words are pleasing, but my skills aren’t worth ntioning," Old Mr. Sun said, refusing the praise. He waved his hand and said, "People say, ’There is always a sky beyond the sky, a person beyond a person.’"
"I used to think highly of myself too. But upon entering the Red Lantern Society and eting you, young brother, I realized the excellence of the younger generation. My skills still fall short."
He sighed with so sentintality, "As for , I am a man of karma. An old acquaintance of my elders took as a disciple and taught the skills of a Shousui man. When I first Entered the Mansion at the age of forty, I was quite prominent."
"But once I Entered the Mansion, my Master had nothing more to teach and left. I grew complacent and relied on the Earth Listening Technique and Spirit Summoning Technique passed down through the sect to indulge in wealth and acquired large estates."
"I took advantage of the affection of jianghu friends, engaged in salt trading and iron mining, and made a lot of Silver Coins. Foolishly, I squandered a lot of good tis, with little improvent in my skills, while ending up with five or six sons."
The Earth Listening Technique, Spirit Summoning Technique? Hu Ma nodded to himself. Upon Entering the Mansion, the first thing to learn was the Seven Apertures skill, which every Shousui man had to undergo.
The Seven Apertures technique was actually prepared from the beginning of Entering the Mansion. By inhaling and exhaling yin qi, one would start learning the skill often even before officially Entering the Mansion.
Old Mr. Sun’s ’Earth Listening’ and ’Spirit Summoning’ were both skills at the Seven Apertures level, useful indeed, but not truly skills of the Entering the Mansion realm. Hearing his story, he was intrigued, but how should he ask?
The Calculation, while holding his wine cup and listening, suddenly said, "You Shousui n truly have impressive skills. I’ve heard that the Earth Listening Technique can discern minute movents within dozens of miles, and the Spirit Summoning Technique can call Wandering spirits and yin spirits within ten miles, which is truly powerful."
"But sir, why are you being so modest? From what I see, your skill seems to be beyond that?"
"Alas..."
Old Mr. Sun sighed and said, "Exactly! If it weren’t for an extraordinary opportunity later, I might not have made the progress I have now."
Both Hu Ma and Calculation were curious and asked eagerly, "How so?"
Old Mr. Sun shook his head, sighed softly, and said, "Back then, I was content, thinking I was not lacking. But at sixty, I suffered a major setback and finally understood."
"It was then, fortunately, that an expert guided . I realized that the Chaotic World does not permit complacency. This ager skill may easily earn wealth, but it takes a lot more to maintain it."
"Thus, I sincerely sought the dharma thod. An expert taught the Qi Eating Skill of a Shousui man who has Entered the Mansion, and I cultivated a Magic body. Now, at sixty-seven, I’ve finally opened the second Mansion Gate. But the third is still far away..."
Qi Eating? Magic body? Hu Ma felt a slight stir. Is the skill for a Shousui man after Entering the Mansion the Qi Eating Skill?
Importantly, from what he said, this trump card of his wasn’t taught by his Master but imparted by an expert?
He was extrely surprised internally, so he deliberately asked, "This expert must be impressive, to have taught you all these skills, old brother. Who could such an extraordinary person be?"
When he asked this question, he wasn’t very sure. After all, in the jianghu, directly inquiring about such secrets was sowhat abrupt. It was like if soone asked him where he learned the thod for Entering the Mansion; he wouldn’t casually tell others unless absolutely necessary.
Unexpectedly, Old Mr. Sun, upon hearing his inquiry, suddenly lowered his voice and said, "To be honest, the expert who guided has a remarkable background!"
"Have you ever heard that in this world, there is a group of extraordinary people? They roam the four directions, possess Strange Skill, are free and unfettered, specializing in enlightening people. They do not care about Paths, nor belong to any governnt or gang. They call themselves..."
After a slight pause, he said in a low voice, "...Not Eating Beef!"
"HUH?"
Hu Ma was montarily taken aback upon hearing these three words.
Not Eating Beef?
Wasn’t this the Tao left behind by the Great Virtuous Master, who once created chaos in Shangjing and skinned the Emperor?
His disciples were still active?
"Alas..."
Old Master Sun sighed, saying, "I was enlightened by him, finally realizing that Shousui n could evade karma. But, it was easy to lose sight of greater things. While I seed to avoid troubles, I was actually cast aside by the great world trend, becoming a discarded child of the wilderness!"
"Such an extraordinary person exists?"
Hu Ma suddenly beca attentive and said, "Did you, sir, beco part of Not Eating Beef, and thus receive their teachings of the Qi Eating dharma thod for Shousui n Entering the Mansion?"
"No way..."
Old Mr. Sun waved his hand, saying, "The extraordinary people of Not Eating Beef are unafraid of gaining fa, never leveraging it for gratitude, nor seeking advantages. They don’t even prioritize the na of master and disciple. They only teach if they think you have karma..."
Hu Ma was genuinely astounded, "Is there really such a thing?"
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