HPDBC Chapter 301: Routine
Chapter 301: Routine
Chapter 301: Routine
In the afternoon, Qiao Yuanshan brought Meng Yang and his sister, Meng Xue, to the secluded courtyard where Li Pin resided.
Children from poor families often mature early. Despite his young age, Meng Yang was very sensible. He knew exactly what it meant for them that Li Pin was willing to take them in.
As soon as they arrived, Meng Yang immediately led his sister in performing the three kneels and nine kowtows ritual.[1]
That evening, Wen Yusheng held another banquet. During the meal, he smiled and suggested, "Martial Saint Li, are you considering taking Meng Yang as a disciple? Yuanshan recently inquired and found that Meng Yang indeed has great talent. In just half a year, he mastered the Body-Tempering Fist Technique that Yuanshan himself passed down years ago.
"It was precisely because of this talent that Meng Ren decided to support his martial arts training, hoping to change his life. If you are willing to take him as a disciple, I can arrange for a formal apprenticeship ceremony right away."
"No need," Li Pin replied. "I'm not in the habit of taking disciples. Whether he learns martial arts by my side is entirely up to him. If he chooses to train, I might occasionally give him some pointers. If he understands, he can practice; if not, it doesn't matter."
"A single word from a top-tier expert like yourself is worth more than a thousand books. The Meng siblings are truly fortunate," Wen Yusheng remarked with envy.
"You flatter me," Li Pin said, quickly recognizing Wen Yusheng's intentions. Having lived off his hospitality for some time, Li Pin added, "If Wen Xuan wishes to listen from the side, he may."
Wen Yusheng was overjoyed! Before him stood Li Pin, a man whose strength was deep enough to contend for the title of King of the Century. If he could break through the life-and-death barrier and become an Astral Cultivator, his future would be limitless.
Though he did not take disciples, even receiving guidance from someone of Li Pin's caliber was an extraordinary opportunity.
Without delay, Wen Yusheng called out, "Quick, thank Uncle Li!"
"That's not necessary," Li Pin said.
However, Wen Yusheng insisted that Wen Xuan perform the full kneeling ritual.
Wen Yusheng promptly said, "Martial Saint Li, for someone of your stature, even a casual word of guidance is invaluable. We cannot let it go without expressing our gratitude.
"From now on, this courtyard and the barnyard to the north will be yours. I know that Xiangye City is just a stop on your journey, but we will always keep these places for you. You will always be welcome here."
Li Pin did not refuse. Firstly, land in Xiangye City wasn't worth much. Secondly, what Wen Yusheng said was true; giving Wen Xuan a bit of serious guidance would be far more valuable than the courtyard and the barnyard.
There was no need for further politeness.
As for why Li Pin chose Wen Xuan over Wen Yusheng's other sons, the rest were too lacking in talent for martial arts. They were at best on par with Li Yunyao.
Only Wen Xuan barely reached the level of Lin Xiaolu, Wang Zuocai, Zhou Yuanfei, and Jiang Zhenhai.
At that moment, a man who appeared to be a housekeeper whispered something to Wen Yusheng. Wen Yusheng's expression darkened instantly.
However, mindful of Li Pin's presence, he quickly composed himself and forced a smile. "Martial Saint Li, a guest has arrived, and I'll need to excuse myself for a moment. Mr. Qiao, may I trouble you to entertain Martial Saint Li?"
"No need. The banquet is almost over, and I should be leaving too," Li Pin replied.
They exchanged pleasantries before Wen Yusheng beetled off.
The sound of a car engine could be heard from outside.
Wen Yusheng hurried to greet the guest, taking with him key officials from Xiangye.
Li Pin didn't linger either, rising from his seat and heading back to his remote courtyard.
As he walked, he could vaguely hear Wen Yusheng talking to the guest.
"So, it seems Lord Cui has found the culprit behind the Ginkgo Village massacre?"
"Wasn't Ginkgo Village destroyed by demonic creatures? How many times do I have to tell you before you believe me?"
The response came with a hint of impatience. "This time, I'm here to discuss urgent matters with you, Lord Wen. You know that in a month, the tax official will arrive. As the first line of defense against Kanyun Country's invasion, you know better that our Xiangshi Territory is struggling.
"It's unlikely we'll make next month's payment, so I've come today to see if I can borrow some from you...."
Li Pin had not officially taken Wen Xuan as a disciple, so he naturally didn't want to appear unfriendly.
Several hours later, just after finishing his training, Li Pin heard footsteps approaching.
He waited and soon saw Wen Yusheng, Qiao Yuanshan, Wen Xuan, Wen Li, and two unfamiliar men and women enter the courtyard.
Though Li Pin didn't recognize the man, he could guess from his resemblance to Wen Yusheng.
As expected, Wen Yusheng introduced with a smile, "Martial Saint Li, let me introduce my eldest son, the future lord of Xiangye Territory, Wen Xingchen."
"Hello, Martial Saint Li."
Before Li Pin could respond, Wen Xingchen had already stepped forward. "Thank you, Martial Saint Li, for teaching my brother. Without your help, I don't know how long it would have taken him to unleash his Aura Force."
Li Pin glanced at Wen Xingchen. "You're too kind."
He was indeed a solid Martial Saint, though Li Pin wasn't sure how refined his skills were.
Still... he was still only another Martial Saint. Li Pin no longer had the urge to spar with every Martial Saint he met like before.
Now, only those High-Class Astral Cultivators with rare astral equipment, or those Top-Tier ones who had manifested Starlight Bodies could stir his battle spirit.
After a brief exchange, the Wen family excused themselves, sensing that Li Pin wasn't too keen on continuing the conversation.
As they were leaving, Qiao Yuanshan said, "The Astral Crystal has been sold, and the herbs and training equipment you requested have been purchased. The equipment was reasonable, but the herbs... They were expensive. After buying everything, only 500 thousand Royal Empire Gold Yuan is left."
He handed over a small box while speaking.
Li Pin opened it and found ten stacks of five hundred Royal Empire Gold Yuan.
Li Pin accepted the box. "Thank you for your efforts."
"It's nothing," Qiao Yuanshan replied with a smile.
The training equipment Li Pin bought wasn't particularly expensive. It merely served to prevent him from unintentionally reducing walls to rubble with his unleashed Aura Force.
However, many of the herbs came at quite the cost. For instance, the Concentration Incense, a cultivation resource highly effective for meditation, carried a hefty price tag of over a hundred thousand per portion.
With his relatively low mental spirit attribute, these resources were essential to help him temper it effectively.
***
That evening, Wen Yusheng hosted a small gathering to welcome his eldest son's return.
Since it wasn't a family banquet and several officials from Xiangye Territory were invited, Li Pin chose not to attend.
In truth, Xiangye Territory had a population of over 300 thousand, but the number of public servants was pitifully low. Excluding soldiers and law enforcement, there were likely fewer than a thousand.
The number of officials was even lower, with just over a hundred, and only about a dozen held high-ranking positions.
Most had been promoted from local areas, and while their education levels weren't high, few fit the image of the typical glutton.
A month ago, when Li Pin first arrived in Xiangye, the law enforcement officer he encountered had been particularly responsible. Of course, the officer's willingness to help was also due in no small part to Li Pin's noticeably different demeanor from the locals.
The banquet continued until about half-past eight when a mechanical roar suddenly echoed from nearby. Within half an hour, the noise grew intense, accompanied by the sounds of Martial Saints clashing.
Meanwhile, Wen Li rushed in, looking anxious. "Uncle Li... My brother and Lord Cui's men are fighting. Could you please come and take a look, just to help bolster their confidence?"
Seeing her worried expression, Li Pin, though uninterested in Martial Saint battles, stood up. "Alright, let's go."
1. Chinese traditional custom that involves said action as a sign of respect. Often performed during ceremonies like weddings, ancestral worship. ☜