Chapter 114: Bai Yun’s Request
Bai Yun had already stayed two days in Tiger God Temple City. The steward in front of her kept advising, “Young Miss, we truly have no news of Young Master Su. With his skills in the mountains, if others don’t want…”
Bai Yun’s eyebrows and eyes lifted slightly, her expression calm, her voice flat as she said, “Since he can have someone send you a message, he can know I’m here. Handle the matters yourselves. Once he arrives, we’ll return to the martial arts school.”
The steward had a face full of bitterness, but he couldn’t outstubborn Bai Yun, this true disciple and the school master’s own daughter, so he could only nod and say, “The young master is injured, and several shops in Yun Cang Town have been lost. I hope Miss can take charge in time.”
Challenging a martial arts school requires stakes; if you lose, you have to give up something.
But for a martial arts school, the losses from a challenge aren’t just those things.
Between martial arts schools, losing face in a challenge means your skills are inferior to others. If the opponent presses step by step, those wanting to join as disciples might switch schools.
“Mm.”
Bai Yun just gave a single “mm,” then no longer responded.
The steward turned to leave helplessly, only to run head-on into a hurrying young servant.
“Ste-Steward, Su-Su young master has arrived.”
The four true disciples were all martial arts school cores, each with their own way of being addressed.
But upon hearing this, the shopkeeper’s eyes lit up: “Where?”
In the midst of speaking, he already saw Su Yan striding in.
“Greetings, Young Master.”
The steward immediately bowed his head. Su Yan waved his hand and said, “You all go out first.”
“Yes.”
Within the room, only Su Yan and Bai Yun were left.
“Next time you go out, it’s best to leave a way to contact.”
Bai Yun finally saw her junior brother. Compared to half a month ago, her junior brother’s figure and aura were even more steady, his strength clearly greatly advanced.
Her eyebrows flickered with a slight light as she softly reminded him.
“My mistake.”
Su Yan admitted his mistake, then asked, “I heard Senior Brother is injured. Does Senior Sister know what happened?”
“Senior Brother was suppressing feral beasts in Miasma Valley and fought a first-order perfection green rock bear, sustaining some minor injuries. He returned to Golden Ape Martial Arts School to recuperate, which gave Long Rui an opportunity.”
Her tone was icy cold, her dark eyebrows slightly furrowed. Su Yan knew she was angry.
Li Jinshan was Bai Changlin’s eldest disciple, but if one really had to say it, he was practically an adopted son.
He was ten years older than Bai Yun. Back then, when Bai Changlin’s wife unfortunately passed from illness, and Bai Changlin had to represent the martial arts school in competitions with others, where did he have much time to look after Bai Yun?
It could be said that Bai Yun was raised under Li Jinshan’s care.
The two had a close relationship, no less than blood siblings. It was precisely because of this relationship that Bai Yun could single-mindedly pursue martial arts, entrusting the Golden Ape Martial Arts School and her father to Li Jinshan’s care.
But now, Li Jinshan had been seriously injured by someone.
“Long Rui took advantage of his weakness and even specifically used a second-order weapon. If not for my father acting in time, that chest wound wouldn’t be just a knife injury.”
“Where are Second Senior Brother and Lu Ling?”
Su Yan directly called Third Senior Brother Lu Ling by name, and Bai Yun didn’t find it strange.
She said, “Second Senior Brother went home. Third Senior Brother voluntarily switched to guard Miasma Valley.”
“Second Senior Brother went home?”
Su Yan showed a puzzled expression. Even if going home, if he was in Yun Cang Town, he could still substitute if someone came to challenge the school.
Bai Yun saw his puzzlement and explained, “Second Senior Brother is surnamed Zhao, the son of Hundred Herbs Hall’s Third Shopkeeper Zhao Ji.”
Su Yan was stunned: “There’s such a thing?”
“Mm.”
Bai Yun nodded: “Zhao Tianwen’s bone structure doesn’t match Green Goat Technique, and his temperament doesn’t like medicine refining either. By a fortunate opportunity, he became my father’s disciple, fulfilling the ties between the two families. But in the end, there is still closeness and distance.”
Su Yan’s gaze shifted slightly, but he had already thought of many things in his heart.
Whether it was truly fulfilling the ties between the two families, or Zhao Ji had him avoid danger and declare no intent to seize power—it was really up for debate, or perhaps both.
After all, as a descendant of Hundred Herbs Hall becoming another faction’s true disciple, he naturally couldn’t compete for the head shopkeeper’s line position. Even returning to become a shopkeeper wouldn’t be easy.
No wonder Lu Ling never saw Zhao Tianwen as a rival. Turns out he knew Zhao Tianwen was destined not to become school master.
With things laid out, Bai Yun now looked at her junior brother and declared, “I want to challenge Seven Blades Martial Arts School for revenge. I need you to come with me.”
Bai Yun had a cold and aloof personality, but she was not a weak woman. On the contrary, she was decisive and resolute. Otherwise, how could a girl practice fist techniques?
It wasn’t that Golden Ape Martial Arts School only had fist techniques. Since she didn’t plan to inherit Golden Ape Martial Arts School, couldn’t Bai Changlin join another faction and practice other martial arts?
Yet she had to grind away at these hard-hitting fist techniques, breaking who knows how many wooden stakes with her fists, snapping who knows how many feral beast bones, and even breaking her own bones.
This senior sister of his had a domineering personality deep down.
“Senior Sister, you probably haven’t told Master about this, right?”
“Are you afraid?”
She just looked at Su Yan like that, her eyes spirited. If Su Yan didn’t go, she would go alone with her two fists, to break Long Rui’s hands.
It was a pity she alone couldn’t break through the opponent’s true disciples. Seven Blades Martial Arts School still had four true disciples left.
Su Yan showed a smile: “If Senior Sister is going, how could I refuse?”
A smile appeared on Bai Yun’s face, like a cold plum blossom.
Su Yan’s tone turned slightly cold as he slowly said, “Senior Brother has treated me well. This grudge isn’t just to be avenged; we must make them feel the pain. However, Senior Sister’s plan must be put on hold. Before doing this, we still need to deal with some trash.”
Ripples moved slightly in Bai Yun’s eyes as she guessed a bit, her expression turning slightly cold, then she said, “I have no plan. Everything is up to you to arrange. I’ll just handle the fighting.”
Su Yan showed a look of astonishment: “With Long Qidao guarding Seven Blades Martial Arts School, you’re challenging without a plan?”
“That’s why I’m waiting for you.”
Bai Yun answered righteously. Only she knew her junior brother had secrets and many methods.
He could pit-kill half-step true intent in Miasma Valley and take a move from Long Qidao.
Now he must have progressed even more, with even livelier ideas. With him there, she didn’t need to make any plans.
“Alright, I’ll arrange it.”
The two set out together, hurrying back to Yun Cang Town from Tiger God Temple City.
The mountain path that originally took nearly a day and night was completed under their pace in just one daytime.
When they returned to Yun Cang Town, it was already fully dark.
The two arrived at Golden Ape Martial Arts School and knocked on the gate. The gate servant saw the two and immediately showed a joyful expression: “Young Miss, Young Master Su, you’ve finally returned. I’ll immediately report to the school master.”
“No need to make a fuss. We’ll go ourselves. Don’t tell anyone about our return.”
The servant’s heart tightened upon hearing this and immediately fell silent, nodding repeatedly: “This little one understands.”
Su Yan and Bai Yun entered, quietly going to the inner courtyard. Though the servant didn’t make a big announcement to alarm everyone,
he still reported to Bai Changlin. Only then did the two meet Bai Changlin.
“It’s good that you two are safe.”
Seeing the two unharmed, Bai Changlin’s worries were finally dispelled.
“Next time you enter the mountains to train, you two must not be willful. You need to leave a way to contact.”
“Disciple knows. How is Master’s and Senior Brother’s injury?”
“He took a knife to the chest, three ribs broken, nearly injuring heart and lungs. He needs months to recuperate.”
Bai Changlin’s tone was icy cold: “That dog thing Long Qidao sought a second-order weapon for the challenge. He calculated that your senior brother wasn’t healed yet. An old thief.”
“To not return a favor is impolite. Since he likes challenging like this, we’ll do the same.”
Su Yan’s gaze lifted. Bai Changlin frowned and shook his head: “Not yet the time. Yun’er alone can’t match his four disciples.”
“Count me in.”
“You’ve just broken through to Spirit Nurturing Realm, not even great accomplishment. How can you take the risk?”
Bai Changlin’s eyebrows drooped as he said, “Moreover, Long Qidao is just waiting for you to come knocking. Do you really think challenging is just about disciples? Beast King Sect’s envoy is already on the way, and disciple selection is imminent. Long Qidao wants to cripple you all with this justified method.”
Bai Changlin had his own considerations. Long Qidao had schemed against his eldest disciple; it would be false to say he wasn’t angry.
But acting rashly would fall right into the old thief’s trap.
Bai Changlin said, “Tomorrow go see your senior brother. These days, train Golden Ape True Skill, Jade Body Skill, and Tiger Body Bone Forging Technique to great accomplishment, forge them into your bones. Only when you join Beast King Sect will you be Golden Ape Martial Arts School’s greatest reliance.”
Bai Yun’s gaze lifted slightly: “One’s own self is one’s own reliance.”
The three didn’t chat much before leaving the room.
Bai Yun and Su Yan each returned to their rooms to rest. Early the next morning, they agreed to go together to Li Jinshan’s room to see him.
Just as they entered, they happened to see Lu Ling in the room.
This guy arrived quite timely; it seemed he knew of their return last night.
“Junior Sister, Junior Brother, I’m relieved you’re safe.”
