39. Fame
39. Fame
The Lu family's backyard.
Lu Qingyi had just finished having breakfast with her mother. They were sitting and drinking tea, talking about marriage.
The mother listed several promising young men from families of equal social standing in Huaiyin County, and even in the prefectural city, as if they were her own treasures.
Listening respectfully, Lu Qingyi's face flushed slightly, nervous and shy.
I have told my mother everything that has happened these days, including my speculations about the enemy and the current situation of the Lu family... And the solution my mother proposed is to marry into a wealthy family so that we can rely on each other.
Lu Qingyi did not resist getting married.
What woman doesn't get married?
Lu Qingyi also agreed that the two families were well-matched.
A woman of noble birth should not marry into a family without good fortune.
However... none of the people her mother mentioned met her expectations.
"Qing'er, is there a man you fancy?"
Madam Lu, Jin Xiulan, took a sip of tea, looked at her daughter, and asked with concern and a smile.
This girl has grown up so fast. The thought of her marrying into another family makes me really reluctant, but... it's all for her own good.
However, it is necessary to choose one that suits the daughter's taste so that they can live a happy life.
Lu Qingyi shook her head shyly: "No, no."
"You must have a type you like, right? Do you like being an official, a businessman, a martial artist, or a soldier? Tell me, and I'll help you find out more."
Kim Soo-ran, on the other hand, seemed rather clear-headed.
She was born into a military family; her father was originally a border garrison soldier who rose to the rank of centurion. Sadly, he died more than twenty years ago in the Battle of Wusheng Pass, which shocked the court and the public.
Lu Qingyi pouted slightly, revealing a bit of her girlish demeanor in front of her mother. She was a little shy, but still said, "Daughter, daughter likes heroes. Hmm, that is, those who can conquer the world on horseback and bring peace to the world with their pen."
Jin Xiulan chuckled silently.
"You child, you have quite the high aspirations... However, my daughter has grown up to be a beauty of unparalleled grace. She is not inferior to even a king or nobleman, let alone a hero."
"Mother, don't laugh at me."
……
Knock knock.
The mother and daughter were talking when there was a knock on the door.
Such a topic should naturally be discussed behind closed doors, and even the maids are not allowed to overhear.
A maid's voice rang out from outside the door: "Madam, Miss, Steward Li has arrived."
"Let him in."
As soon as Butler Li entered, he immediately reported the guests outside, their origins, and the matter concerning Ren Qingshan.
Upon hearing that Ren Qingshan was in the late stage of Silver Blood, Lu Qingyi suddenly stood up, so surprised that she lost her composure.
This senior is truly unfathomable, even more so than the Silverblood I had previously guessed.
Late-stage Silver Blood!
It's just a step away from chalcedony.
Jin Xiulan's eyes were calm as she turned to her daughter: "Is this Ren Qingshan the one who escorted two thousand taels of silver to the prefectural city for you in Yushugou?"
Lu Qingyi nodded: "Exactly. I didn't expect his cultivation to progress so quickly."
Jin Xiulan's expression turned serious.
"This person must have concealed their cultivation level before coming to my house, sneaking in like a rogue. I wonder what their purpose is?"
"Steward Li, prepare a gift and go to find out what's going on. If Ren Qingshan just happened to stay at our house, then so be it. If he has other ideas, you can try to find out, but be careful with your attitude... Our Lu family is going through a lot of trouble right now, and we absolutely cannot offend a martial artist in the late Silver Blood stage."
"Do you understand?"
Butler Li nodded repeatedly in agreement, secretly praising him.
For many years, the First Madam has been in charge of half the family business. Her judgment on major matters has never been wrong, and she has managed the vast family business in an orderly manner. Many times, even the Master himself is ashamed of his own in comparison.
"Mother, I also want to go and see him. I think this person doesn't like fighting and prefers to live in seclusion in the countryside. When he came to our house before, he was probably just taking advantage of the off-season to earn some extra money. He doesn't seem to have any bad intentions."
At this moment, Lu Qingyi spoke in a slightly coquettish tone.
She trusted her judgment of Ren Qingshan, and was also somewhat curious.
"You must not."
Jin Xiulan refused outright, waving her hand at Steward Li and saying, "Steward Li, you can go now, there's nothing for you to do here."
Wait for Butler Li to leave.
Lu Qingyi looked at her mother with a hint of grievance, her red lips slightly pursed, pretending to be unhappy.
Seeing her daughter like this, Jin Xiulan smiled gently and said, "You're being coquettish again. There's a reason why I don't want you to go. We haven't figured out this person's background yet. You can't see into someone's heart. What if he came to our house hiding his cultivation level to do something bad? Steal money? Or even be a notorious womanizer? We must be careful. You went to Elm Tree Gully before, and he just happened to be there. Was it really a coincidence? Or was he secretly following you?"
Hearing this, Lu Qingyi's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she smiled sweetly.
I walked up behind my mother and gently massaged her shoulders.
"What Mother said makes sense, but that's precisely why I should go and see. Today, Constable Guan, Master Zhang, and Steward Li are with me, so their safety is assured."
"Besides, our servant, Aunt Wang, also works at Ren Qingshan's house. Her wife is pregnant, and she asked me to send someone to take care of her before she set off to escort goods."
"The person who lives next to you knows best what a person is like. If I go, I can ask Aunt Wang and his wife."
"What do you say, Mother? Please let me go... After I get married, I won't have any freedom anymore."
Hearing her daughter's plea, Jin Xiulan finally softened and sighed before agreeing.
"Don't wander off. Go with them and come back together, understand?"
Lu Qingyi smiled brightly.
"Okay, Mom, don't worry! I'll be a good girl!"
……
Renjia Village.
The sun was high in the sky, and the whole village was filled with a joyous atmosphere.
A late-stage Silver Blood martial artist has emerged from the village!
Especially the Ren clan members, when talking about this matter, they feel proud and their backs straighten up a bit.
yard.
Ren Qingshan was entertaining the village chiefs of three nearby villages: Yang Zhongxian from Yangjiayu, Li Baofa from Xipo Village, and Chang Youmi from Changjia Village, along with Ren Zhengwei, as they sat together drinking tea.
These three men were all martial artists in their youth, but they didn't make a name for themselves. As their vitality declined, they returned to their village to live out their remaining years in peace.
But he has a wide range of knowledge.
Chang Youmi, in particular, had traveled all over the country in his youth on a large canal transport ship of the imperial court, and had seen a lot of the world, which made him exceptionally cheerful.
After boasting for so long, he insisted on demonstrating his swordsmanship and asking Ren Qingshan for pointers.
Ren Qingshan chuckled, but a thought stirred within him. He wanted to observe for himself, so he agreed.
Chang Youmi didn't bring a knife, so he broke off a tree branch, found an open space, and immediately began practicing the moves with great vigor, reciting their names.
One round of the Hundred Battles Sword Technique consists of four moves and three hundred and sixty variations.
After finishing his performance, the nearly sixty-year-old man, his face flushed and panting, grinned and said, "How was it? Is it to your liking? This sword technique originated from the military. It is extremely lethal and powerful, but it is very difficult to master. I have practiced it my whole life, and I can only say that I am proficient, not an expert."
Ren Qingshan seemed to be deep in thought.
I can clearly see every move and stance of this sword technique. Even though there are 360 variations, they are all vividly clear in my mind.
A sense of wonder stirred within me.
This... is probably the benefit of improving one's comprehension to the point of "getting a basic understanding"?
You'll understand after just one time?
"It is indeed a skill suitable for actual combat. Let me try it out and demonstrate it again. If there is anything I practiced incorrectly, Uncle Chang can stop me at any time."
Ren Qingshan laughed and said that his hands were itching, so he took the wooden stick from his hand and used it as a knife, and immediately practiced the moves one by one.
First move: Vanguard to break through the formation!
Everyone stared wide-eyed.
Chang Youmi nodded repeatedly: "Not bad, not bad, that's decent!"
The second move: Sweep Across the Army!
Chang Youmi's eyes showed a thoughtful expression as he gestured with his hand.
There were two changes that were different from my own, but they were also smooth.
The third move: Hiding the Python and Concealing the Needle!
Chang Youmi hadn't figured it out yet, but when he saw that Ren Qingshan had already practiced the third move and changed his move, he appeared to be extremely skilled, as if he had been tempered a thousand times. He was greatly shocked.
What kind of genius is this?
Photographic memory?
The fourth move: Breaking the Waves and Parting the Tides!
After finishing this move, Ren Qingshan, without blushing or panting, put down the wooden stick and asked with a smile, "Uncle Chang, is it acceptable?"
Chang Youmi's eyes were somewhat vacant as he murmured, "You...you've practiced this sword technique before?"
"No, this is the first time I've seen it, and the first time I've practiced it."
Chang Youmi was completely speechless. He took a deep breath, waved his hand with a wry smile, and didn't know what to say.
He looked at the other village chiefs.
All four of them stared at Ren Qingshan, falling silent in a mixture of surprise and envy.
No wonder he was able to cultivate to the late stage of Silver Blood!
Such talent is truly beyond words, something to be admired but never attained.
Ren Zhengwei had a sudden thought: he wanted to make Ren Qingshan famous, and he immediately burst into laughter.
"Are you dumbfounded? Now you know you've met a master, right? Otherwise, how could my sixth brother have reached the late stage of Silver Blood Cultivation?"
"Let me tell you, my sixth brother has been a martial arts prodigy since he was a child! When he was young, he could even learn a couple of decent moves while chopping wood... He was just weak before, but he has only recently improved. What do you call that?"
"This is what they call a rare genius who accumulates knowledge and skills over time, achieving great things late in life!"
"Right, Aoyama?"
……
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