Ten Years Lantern on a Stormy Martial Arts World Night Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Shifu's Disciples

Zeng Dalou led Cai Zhao back. 

“Cai shimei, please don’t blame me for letting Lingbo go.” He sighed. “In reality, Qingque Sect is strict and doesn’t allow bullying. However… Lingbo has good talent, and her meridians are more like shifu and not shimu… weak when young, but once she can break through…” 

“Wait,” Cai Zhao felt something was missing, “My aunt said, the previous Sect Leader Yin was a famous prodigy. He was famous at the age of ten.” 

Zeng Dalou turned. “My shifu Lingbo’s father, the current Sect Leader, not her maternal grandfather.” 

Cai Zhao ah-ed, looking at Zeng Dalou. “Sect Leader Qi is your shifu? You…” He looked like he should be in the same generation as her father, Cai Pingchun. 

“I just look mature, but I am a lot younger than your father.” 

Even if you’re younger, you’re still more than thirty. Cai Zhao smiled politely. 

“Cai Nvxia never mentioned me?”  

Cai Zhao shook her head. “Aunt would sometimes talk about the cool rumors she heard while travelling the Jinghu, but she avoided mentioning anything to do with the Beichen Sects.” 

Her parents had always forbidden Cai Zhao from asking Cai Pingshu questions, worried that her youthful curiosity would ask things she shouldn’t and cause Cai Pingshu to remember sad things. This caused Cai Zhao’s impression of the Jianghu to be very fragmented.  

Zeng Dalou sighed and shook his head. "...If it weren't for the kindness of shifu and Cai Nvxia, I would have been just a little beggar on the street who almost died of cold and hunger. How could I have entered the Qingque Sect? Not to mention to be able to cultivate. Shifu’s kindness is unforgettable. Despite my age, your father has made great progress in martial arts over the past ten years, but my talent is mediocre. All I have to show for myself is my seniority." 

Cai Zhao explained, “The martial arts of Luoying Valley is like that though. When you first start practicing, progress is very slow. You have to persevere. The further you practice, the stronger you are. Aunt said that because of this, my dad got bullied a lot when he was young.”  

——The martial arts skills of Luoying Valley were like a tree. When it was a sapling, everyone could easily pull it up. But when the tree grew deep and had deep roots, the root system went into the solid rock underground. Even the strongest wind and storms could’nt harm it. 

Of course, there were occasional exceptions.  

Cai Pingshu was an exception. 

Zeng Dalou really smiled and said: "So that's it, then Lady Cai is extremely talented. Not only did she become famous in the world at a young age, defeating all the heroes, but she also single-handedly killed the leader of the Demonic Cult. Her reputation as 'the best master in the world' was truly well deserved. When I met Cai Nuxia when I was ten years old, I was very surprised. This little girl was only a few years older than me, why were so many heroes and heroes so respectful to her?” 

Cai Zhao was silent: "Yes, but the price was too high." 

"The injuries sustained while killing Nie Hengcheng caused Cai Nvxia to die young." Zeng Dalou was very sad. 

Cai Zhao didn't want to continue this topic: "Zeng shixiong, please tell me about my shixiong and shijie in the sect, so I don’t have any 'misunderstandings' later." 

Zeng Dalou smiled bitterly. "You did the right thing today. It was shimei who went astray. Chang Ning is the orphan of the hero Chang Haosheng..." 

Cai Zhao’s eyes widened. "He is actually the son of Chang daxia? But the Chang family is still..." 

Zeng Dalou sighed: "You in Luoying Valley maybe didn’t hear. A few months ago, the entire Chang family in Wu'an was massacred by the demon sect. Only two people, Chang daxia and his son, escaped. Chang daxia was too seriously injured and passed away on the way to Jiuli Mountain. Based on his friendship with his master, Chang Ning came to join with a handwritten letter from his late father. How could shifu ignore him? So he took him in.” 

Cai Zhao let out a soft sigh: "My aunt said that she rarely admires people in her life, but Chang Haosheng was a hero who hates evil and had a kind heart. She admired him very much. Back then, Chang Haosheng also helped Luoying Valley... Chang Ning is also a member of the sect now? My shixiong?” 

"Not yet, Chang Ning was seriously injured, and remains poisoned. Shifu plans to cure him first, and then take him as disciple. He will teach him skills, so he can avenge the Chang family in the future.” 

“Oh, so that means the Snow Lotus Pill was used to treat Chang Ning's injuries and poison.” Cai Zhao brought the topic back. 

Zeng Dalou could only continue to sigh: "Master has a rare 'Heavenly Fire Dragon' physique (根骨). His cultivation is slow at first, but as long as he is not afraid of setbacks and has the courage to forge ahead, once he breaks through the barriers in his meridians, he will get twice the result with half the effort in any skill he practices. The difficulty lies in 'not afraid of setbacks and having the courage to forge ahead'." 

——It is said that during the prehistoric period, other giant dragons could easily break out of their shells and roam around the world, but this 'Sky Fire Dragon' had to suffer in the flames for ninety-nine and eighty-one years before it could break out of its shell and look down on the world. 

Cai Zhao nodded: "I know that. My aunt said that when she met Sect Master Qi, he was being bullied. Originally, Sect Master Yin had another direct disciple. Later, he saw that Sect Master Qi had broken through the barriers and made rapid progress, so he was brought in the inner sect and then taught with care.” 

Zeng Dalou sighed: "Yes, that's Qiu shibo. He travels all over the world now and doesn't often come back to Wan Shui Qian Shan Peak. I wonder if he will be able to come back in time on the Ancestor’s remembrance ceremony." 

He turned back to look at Cai Zhao, "Shifu often said that he was able to successfully break through his meridians thanks to Cai Nvxia. When they met, shifu was just a mediocre outer sect disciple. But Cai Nvxia said that he was a dragon in the rough. He would surely soar into the sky one day. He shouldn’t be discouraged just because it doesn't go well at the beginning. Shifu said that he has never dared to forget Cai Nvxia's words." 

Cai Zhao raised her head, and the sunlight in the mountains stung her eyes. 

She could imagine how courageous and inspiring her aunt was when she said these words. 

“But Lingbo can’t do it. She keeps trying to push through her meridians, practicing hard, but shimu only has this one daughter. She has been carefully protected since birth. The snow lotus pill can save you from some suffering when pushing your meridians, so Lingbo had put her hopes on it. That Snow Lotus Pill had been discovered by your third shixiong and dedicated to shifu. When shifu discussed with shimu, they had planned to give it to Lingbo. Who know that Chang Ning suddenly arrived so… of course, saving a life is more important.”  

“Maybe it’s not a pity at all. Didn’t old sect master Yin have a lot of good elixirs? He wholeheartedly hoped that his two daughters would become talents. Did the two Miss Yin succeed? Maybe Madame Qinglian is okay, but my future shimu Madam Sulian… haha.”  

In fact, Cai Pingshu's original words were that Yin Qinglian’s martial art skill was like a three-legged cat, and Yin Sulian could be regarded as a tortoise on its back. 

Practicing martial arts was extremely hard work. You practiced in the morning and at night, in the cold and heat, and the meridians and bones of the whole body have to withstand the impact of hard work over and over again. Only then can you be reborn and break through the limitations of the ordinary body. Girls with noble births and beautiful looks often couldn't bear this hardship, not to mention that their fathers have already arranged easy futures for their daughters. 

Zeng Dalou frowned and smiled helplessly. “Cai Nvxia and my shimu have never been on good terms. Maybe Cai Nvxia could say this as a joke, but Cai shimei must be careful about what she says. From now on, shimu will also be your elder.” 

Cai Zhao ignored that and changed the topic. "Even if you can suffer less pain from taking the Snow Lotus Pill to push your meridians, it may not be successful. But Snow Lotus Pill is a holy product for clearing poison and healing wounds. If you use it for the meridians, but fail in pushing through, that’s a waste of this good medicine.”  

Zeng Dalou sighed: "It doesn't matter whether it succeeds or not. I just hope that shifu maand his family will be in harmony." 

The two chatted while walking, and Cai Zhao soon knew that she would have five senior brothers and one senior sister in the future. She ranked seventh.  

Zeng Dalou was the eldest shixiong, a little beggar who was taken in by the sect leader Qi Yunke when he was young. He had ordinary physique and mediocre martial art talent. He was warm-hearted and kind, and he was thorough and fair in doing things. Therefore, he had in all but name become the chief steward of the Qingque Sect, managing general affairs. 

The second shixiong was the handsome young man who acted like a puppy to Qi Lingbo just now. His name was Dai Fengchi, and he was the son of a distant relative of the old sect leader. It was said that when he was still in his infancy, his whole family was lost at the hands of the former leader of the Demon Sect, Nie Hengcheng, so he was adopted by the old sect leader, Sect Leader Yin. Later, he became a disciple of Qi Yunke. He was good at the seven-seven-forty-nine-handed Meteor Chasing Wind Sword. He had become somewhat famous in the martial arts world (aka very famous). 

Cai Zhao said that she had heard of his famous name (but she had never heard of him).  

Next was Song Yuzhi.  

Both in his personal family and in his sect family, he was ranked third. Among all the disciples, he was the most talented, the strongest in martial arts, the most handsome, and the wealthiest. He also had the most arrogant father and brother. 

“It is rare that third shidi is willing to live a frugal life here. You must know that the Guangtian Sect on Mingchui Mountain is extremely wealthy. It is like a mountain of gold, silver, and pearls…”  

“Ah, I could tell,” Cai Zhao laughed. “Previously on Wind Cloud Peak I saw Guangtian Sect’s entrance. Not to mention that the mother of the third shixiong is the late Ms. Qinglian. I will not provoke him in the future. " 

Speak of the devil, Zeng and Cai were here speaking and saw a familiar figure fly towards them. 

“Da shixiong! Da shixiong.” 

When Song Yuzhi first yelled da shixiong he was about eight meters away, but when he yelled the second time, he was right in front of them. Cai Zhao couldn’t help think: beautiful qing gong.  

“Da shixiong, Cai shimei.” Shong Yuzhi cupped his hands and greeted both of them. His handsome face held a few hints of anger. “Da shixiong, did Lingbo cause trouble again?!” 

Zeng Dalou was in a dilemma, but he couldn't hide Qi Lingbo's actions in front of Cai Zhao. 

Song Yuzhi's face turned livid: "Shixiong, stop protecting her. Over and over again. I will tell Shifu right now..." 

“Wait!” Zeng Dalou grabbed Song Yuzhi and said, "Why are you in a hurry? Why can’t we talk about it slowly? I will deal with Lingbo..." 

“You’re just going to let her go!” Song Yuzhi looked straight at Cai Zhao and said with cold eyes, “Cai shimei, just now you were bullied by them, and the leader was Lingbo, right?” 

This was her first time here and she didn’t know the intricacies between these shixiong and shimei, so Cai Zhao was not going to randomly step in. 

So she shook her head and smiled beautifully. “Song shixiong must have misunderstood. Just now I just greeted Qi shijie. Qi shijie was very exuberant and offered me hospitality. Asking me to go rest quickly, afraid that I’d be tired, next teaching me how to live here well, in only a short period of time, I learned a lot from Shijie and think of her like a close jiejie.” 

Zeng Dalou opened his mouth, but no sound came out. 

Song Yuzhi glared and said directly, “You’re lying.” 

“If you don’t believe me, ask shixiong if I’m lying. "  

Zeng Dalou was stunned: "...No, she didn't lie. Lingbo did ask Cai shimei to rest and explained some truth..." Language is really... a magical art. 

Song Yuzhi looked at Cai Zhao: "Even if the first part is true, the second part about a close jiejie is fake.” It sounded disgusting. 

Cai Zhao rolled her eyes: "Shixiong, how do you know what I think? Anyway, I'm fine. Third shixiong, please go and do your own business." 

Song Yuzhi's chest heaved. It was enough to be angered by this little girl twice in one day. He turned around and left, never wanting to see this terrible future-shimei again. 

Zeng Dalou breathed a sigh of relief: "Cai shimei is very generous. As a senior brother, thank you. It's not that I don't want justice, it's just that once this matter goes wrong, shifu and shimu will argue again." 

Zeng Dalou continued to introduce the disciples. 

Fourth shixiong Ding Zhuo was someone immersed in martial arts. He was a man of few words. He would likely not attend an event like today. 

“Fourth shidi practices hard every day in hopes he can avenge his family.” 

“So other than you and third shidi, does everyone have something to avenge?” 

“There’s fifth shidi.” 

Zeng Dalou explained that in a few moments they would see a young man who welcomed all the guests with smiles and dimples. This would be fifth shidi, Fan Xingjia. He was the only disciple that started out as an outer sect disciple. He was referred by the outer sect manager Li shibo because his temperament was good, his talent was great, his parents were both alive and his family got along well. But most importantly, he had a very rare talent for alchemy and making medicine. 

“Fan shixiong can make elixirs and pills? This was a rare physique.”  

What martial artist doesn’t get hurt on the path of cultivation? If you had someone beside you who could heal, it was a treasure.  

The problem was that during the war between the righteous sects and demonic cult 20 years ago, Nie Hengcheng sent out his followers to kill the alchemists and healers of the Beichen Sects. Often, the martial art skills of those alchemists were not as good, and so the success rate of the killings was very high. As a result, when senior heroes were injured, it was difficult for them to recover, and so the six Beichen sects fighting powers were greatly reduced.  

Not many people were born with this type of talent for healing. The rarer something was, the more valuable it was. No wonder Fan shixiong could become a disciple of the Sect Leader.  

Lastly, Qi Lingbo was the sixth disciple of the Sect Master. In a few days, Cai Zhao would join and be the seventh.  

“Why does shifu have so few disciples? I heard that Siqi Sect accepts nearly thousands of disciples.”  

“Shifu says that capable heroes become so due to their own efforts. They aren’t grown like fruit or plants. This year many prospective students came to Jiuli Mountain, and shifu accepts all that are virtuous and have a clean background. He then teaches everyone, those that are talented will naturally stand out.” 

Cai Zhao smiled softly: "Shifu is right. What's the use of old Sect Master Yin accepting so many disciples? In the end wasn’t it shifu, an outer sect disciple, that became the most capable?” 

“That’s right. In the future when shimei becomes accomplished, you can also compete for the position of Sect Leader,” Zeng Dalou teased. 

Cai Zhao rolled her eyes. “Thanks.” 

As they walked, a huge palace appeared in front of them. White jade steps, yellow gold details, white walls and black roof, red support beams and elegant paintings, a three-floored palace stood like it floated on the clouds.  

Hence the saying, the Heavens had the Jade Palace, and the Earth had Muwei Palace.  

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Jade Palace: In Chinese mythology, the Jade Palace was the palace in the heavens where the ruling Jade Emperor lived.