Her Eye Was Better Than Yours

"What candidate could you possibly have? Stop spouting nonsense and go train!"

Guan Lie looked at Guan Lu, his gaze darkening as he spoke.

"Father, I'm not spouting nonsense!"

Guan Lu's delicate brows rose sharply. Completely unafraid of Guan Lie's glare, she said, "Chu Silin, Chen Song, and Liu Shiwu have decent Bone Structure, but none of them have experienced actual combat. They can't possibly be a match for the students of the Xiongying Martial Arts School. You definitely can't choose them!"

Guan Lie looked at Guan Lu helplessly. Her mother had died early, so he had indulged her too much, allowing her to develop such a lawless temperament.

"Look at that temper of yours. Aren't you afraid Martial Uncle will laugh at you?"

Guan Lie spoke with a stern expression.

Xie Changmin smiled faintly and said:

"It's fine. Xiao Lu, since you disagree with those three, who do you think should be chosen?"

Guan Lie also said:

"Since Martial Uncle has asked, tell us. Let's see whether you truly have an eye for talent, and let Martial Uncle test you!"

Guan Lu lifted her delicate brows and said:

"You definitely won't guess my choice, but this person is absolutely the most suitable. I dare guarantee that among the Front Courtyard disciples, no one is more suitable than him!"

"Oh!"

A half-smile appeared on Xie Changmin's face. He exchanged a glance with Guan Lie, then said with a smile:

"Then I'm truly interested. Xiao Lu, tell us—are there hidden tigers and crouching dragons in the Front Courtyard? To think they would earn such praise from our little Lu?"

"Don't listen to her nonsense. I haven't discovered any talent; what could she possibly discover?"

Guan Lie said with a fond, indulgent smile in his eyes.

Guan Lu smiled smugly and said:

"Father, Martial Uncle, my candidate will absolutely take you by surprise!"

"Enough, stop keeping us in suspense and tell us!"

Guan Lie said with a smile.

Guan Lu raised her hand and pointed in one direction. "I choose him!"

The two followed her finger and looked over. In a corner stood only one person, silently practicing his fists. Every punch and kick was executed without the slightest error. Beneath the blazing sun, sweat scattered down.

That was right—Guan Lu was pointing at Fang Mo!

Fang Mo was practicing the Tiger Subduing Fist. Having entered the third realm of the Tiger Subduing Fist, he felt more and more absorbed the more he practiced. Immersed in his own world, it seemed as if nothing existed except his body moving with the fist forms. Every stance and every move matched the essence of the Tiger Subduing Fist.

After watching for several dozen breaths, surprise appeared in Guan Lie's eyes.

"I never expected his Tiger Subduing Fist to have already reached the level of entering the hall and mastering the craft!"

Xie Changmin stroked his beard and said with a smile:

"Of course, it took you three months to grasp this realm, didn't it?"

Guan Lie nodded and said:

"Yes. Back then, it took me half a year, while Senior Brother took one month. He was already among the finest Outer Sect disciples of Danshi Mountain Buddhist Monastery. The Tiger Subduing Fist is easy to learn but difficult to master. I never expected this boy to grasp it so quickly—less than two months, perhaps!"

Xie Changmin sighed softly, regret in his eyes. "It is only a pity that such fine talent is limited by his Bone Structure!"

"Yes! His Bone Structure is far too poor!"

Guan Lie also sighed faintly. He had personally felt Fang Mo's bones before. Fang Mo simply did not possess the Bone Structure of a martial artist. Without good Bone Structure, there could be no foundation; one's starting point and endpoint were essentially set.

At once, Guan Lu grew anxious. "Father, how can you look down on him? You only look at Bone Structure. Haven't you seen Fang Mo's realm in the Fist Technique? With such a realm in the Fist Technique, how weak could his combat strength be? Who says someone without Bone Structure cannot possess combat strength?"

"Enough, stop making a scene. Go to the Back Courtyard and train. Your Martial Uncle and I still have matters to discuss!"

Guan Lie waved his hand.

Guan Lu was immediately so furious that smoke seemed to pour from all seven apertures. She stamped her feet anxiously and said in a rush:

"Father, why won't you believe me?"

"I guarantee it with my life—Fang Mo is absolutely the strongest among the Front Courtyard disciples! If you don't believe me, let them compete. Wouldn't that prove whether I'm right?"

"Nonsense!"

"What do you mean, guarantee it with your life? Go back. This has nothing to do with you!"

Guan Lie was somewhat angry, and his tone grew much heavier.

"Father, if you don't listen to me, you'll definitely regret it!"

Guan Lu stormed off after turning around. Her father and Martial Uncle had truly angered her to death.

Why would they only believe what they saw themselves?

She believed Fang Mo was absolutely the strongest, yet her father and the others refused to believe it no matter what. That left her deeply furious and disappointed.

"Senior Brother, what do you think?"

Once Guan Lu had left, Guan Lie looked to Xie Changmin.

Xie Changmin smiled faintly and said:

"I have to say, Junior Brother, you have a fine daughter. Her eye is better than yours!"

Guan Lie asked in surprise:

"Senior Brother, you agree with what she said as well?"

Xie Changmin looked toward the courtyard and gestured with his eyes.

"You should observe more carefully. Look at how full his qi and blood are, how steady his steps are, how heavy and fierce his fist force is, how precise his angles are. His Tiger Subduing Fist has already reached the level of entering the hall and mastering the craft!"

"Then look at how stable his Tiger Subduing Stance is. His stance skill is unmatched in the Front Courtyard!"

Regret also appeared on Xie Changmin's face.

"I was somewhat careless as well. I haven't observed him properly lately. I never expected him to have improved so greatly!"

Guan Lie said nothing more. He stepped forward a few paces and stood by the window, watching Fang Mo practice his fists.

Several minutes passed before a strange light finally flashed through his eyes.

"So it truly is!"

A look of emotion appeared on Guan Lie's face. He sighed softly. "This boy's comprehension is astonishing. It is only a pity about his Bone Structure!"

Since ancient times, Mortal Bone had found it difficult to enter the martial path. This was an iron law!

Over the three hundred years that martial arts had flourished, countless generations had concluded that a martial artist's Bone Structure was the most important factor. It accounted for nearly ninety percent of a martial artist's success. The rest depended on talent, diligence, and background.

Over three hundred years of history, how many with Mortal Bone had ever achieved anything?

Xie Changmin smiled faintly and said:

"I said before that even a common soldier might create a miracle. I was uncertain before, but now I have an even stronger feeling that perhaps he truly can do it!"

Guan Lie's brows lifted slightly as he looked at Xie Changmin.

"Senior Brother, then should we send him?"

But Xie Changmin merely smiled and said:

"No! He can serve as a reserve. We'll see tomorrow when the time comes!"

Guan Lie did not insist further and nodded.

"Then we'll do as Senior Brother says!"

Xie Changmin stood with his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky, his expression calm.

"This battle concerns your preaching in Yunyang. We may win, but we cannot lose!"

"How about this? Gather the other three contestants for three days of intensive training. I will take out the medicines I have kept sealed away and personally help them refine them. In addition, I'll teach you a few loose-hand techniques. Train them harder and strive to defeat your opponents in the grand competition!"

Guan Lie's eyes lit up sharply at his words, but then dimmed again as he asked with concern:

"Senior Brother, can your body endure it?"

"It's nothing!"

Xie Changmin waved his hand. "Go make the arrangements! The name of Danshi Mountain Buddhist Monastery cannot be tarnished!"

Guan Lie did not refuse again. He respectfully cupped his fists and said:

"Senior Brother, I'll have to trouble you!"