In the eyes of Hou Guang and the other onlookers, Lin Le drew his fist back to his abdomen, then abruptly flicked up his left leg. One whip, three cracks—it struck Zhu Gaoyuan, who had rushed in headlong, squarely in the groin.
With his lower body attacked, Zhu Gaoyuan naturally froze stiff on the spot.
Song Shanhai knew the outcome had already been decided. Turning to Hu Zigui, a trace of displeasure entered his tone. "This is the good combat talent you spoke of? He took such an obvious bait?"
Hu Zigui lowered his head, faint beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. "Sorry, Master Song. I think Junior Brother Zhu was merely not in good condition today. He normally isn't like this."
"Is that so?" Song Shanhai turned away. "No matter. Take your people back. If there is a next time, don't bring anyone into my residence again."
"Yes." Hu Zigui nodded, though he cast Lin Le and Hou Guang a venomous glance. In his view, if Hou Guang and Lin Le had not provoked Zhu Gaoyuan beforehand, Zhu Gaoyuan would not have lost his mind like this.
Zhu Gaoyuan limped away. Just before leaving, he turned his head and looked at Lin Le, the killing intent in his eyes practically spilling out.
Lin Le watched quietly, unsurprised. Given the selfishness of human nature, grudges would only knot tighter and tighter. Smiling away old enmity required one side to be willing to repay resentment with virtue.
Unfortunately, he would only repay resentment with justice, and virtue with virtue.
Back in the reception hall, Song Shanhai sat in the seat of honor. "Your combat talent in that match was quite good as well. But Little Hou said your comprehension was even better, so I must examine you properly once more."
"I will follow Master Song's instructions," Lin Le said.
Song Shanhai pondered for a moment before saying, "Old Ma, bring me that painting."
"Yes."
A voice answered. An old servant left Song Shanhai's side.
Lin Le's pupils contracted slightly, because he had not seen that old man at all just now.
A cultivator!
No matter how a martial artist concealed his presence and held his breath, he could not make himself completely invisible. Only a cultivator who had learned spells could accomplish that.
As expected of a wealthy household—even cultivators could serve as servants and slaves.
Very quickly, the old servant brought over a scroll. Song Shanhai unfurled it and held it toward Lin Le. "Little brother, what do you see on it?"
Hou Guang could not help looking at the painting as well. It was blank, with only a few fine threads upon it.
But what Lin Le saw was different. He did not answer Song Shanhai. His entire mind sank into the painting.
The painting showed dark clouds packed thick, lightning flashing and thunder roaring, with a storm faintly forming. It possessed none of the expressiveness a landscape painting ought to have; it was more like animation.
However, Lin Le did not pay attention to that strange phenomenon for the moment. All his focus lay on the words formed from lightning.
Seeing Lin Le remain silent, his face filled with fascination, Song Shanhai said nothing further. He knew Lin Le had completely entered the painting.
He was somewhat surprised inside. He had not expected Lin Le to truly be able to see it.
Yet after only a few breaths, Lin Le said, "I saw dark clouds, Master Song."
"You only saw dark clouds?" Song Shanhai asked in a deep voice.
"Yes." Lin Le nodded, his face as expressionless as a mask.
Song Shanhai nodded. "Being able to see dark clouds is already not bad. I did not expect you to possess the aptitude for the Heavenly Gate path. Unfortunately, the Heavenly Gate is difficult; it is not as easy as the Spirit Platform path."
After sighing with feeling, Song Shanhai said, "You have passed this test. The next test is your skill. Little Hou said you are good at arithmetic and astonishing at mental calculation. How about this? I will give you a problem. Answer within three breaths, and you pass. What do you say?"
"I will follow Master Song's instructions." Lin Le nodded.
"Then here is the question." Song Shanhai thought for a moment. "There are beasts, with six heads and four legs; birds, with four heads and two legs. Above are seventy-six heads, below are forty-six legs. How many birds and beasts are there respectively?"
A system of two linear equations? Lin Le calculated, then answered in less than one breath, "Eight beasts, seven birds."
Song Shanhai could not help clapping his hands. "Your mental calculation truly is astonishing. You solved it in less than a breath. If you fail my daughter's test, little brother, would you be willing to work at my shop as an accountant? Hmm, how about as the shopkeeper?"
"Once I have achieved something in martial arts, I would be willing to serve Master Song." Lin Le declined tactfully.
Achieving something? Becoming the greatest in the world still counted as achieving something.
Song Shanhai knew Lin Le was declining, so he did not say more. "Old Ma, take this little brother to the young lady."
"Yes." The old servant walked before Lin Le. "Young master, please follow me."
"Alright." Lin Le nodded and followed the old servant out.
Watching Lin Le leave, Song Shanhai drawled, "Little Hou, your junior brother is quite ambitious. Is he here to scrape together tea money again?"
Hou Guang wanted to lie, but facing Song Shanhai's calm gaze, cold sweat broke out across his back. With a bitter smile, he said, "Nothing escapes Master Song's discerning eyes. I hope you will not take offense."
"I do not, I do not." Song Shanhai lifted his tea and took a sip. "Spending a dozen or so taels to forge a thin bond with a young genius is also a fine bargain to me."
"It is just my unfortunate daughter." Song Shanhai sighed, a trace of sorrow appearing on his face. "Who knows when she will meet the man of her dreams?"
Hou Guang looked at his nose, then at his heart, and did not respond.
Elsewhere, Lin Le followed the old servant while reading through the Heavenly Gate Method he had forcibly memorized.
The Qi Guiding Realm was merely a foundation. Only upon entering the first realm, the Qi Refining Realm, could one be considered a true cultivator.
Cultivators were also divided into different paths, three in total.
The Spirit Platform path: martial artists refined blood into qi and opened the Spirit Platform, leaning toward physical combat.
The Yellow Court path: one used spiritual roots to refine qi and opened the Yellow Court, leaning toward spell-based combat.
The Heavenly Gate path: one often cultivated it alongside another path, opened the Heavenly Gate, and leaned toward assaults upon the soul.
The Heavenly Gate Method was also called a visualization method. It could strengthen the divine soul. For instance, Lin Le's Thunderfire Soul Refining Diagram visualized the lightning of heaven and earth to temper the divine soul.
After reading through it, Lin Le decided to practice it when he returned. Tongbei Fist was nearly at its limit anyway. Next, he only needed to steadily increase his strength step by step.
He might as well use that spare time to practice the visualization method.
Soon, the old servant brought Lin Le before a room. Then he called out, "Miss, is this the candidate this time?"
Inside the room, a slender woman could not help sighing and stopped the sword dance in her hands.
Her figure alone made one feel she must be an exquisite beauty. Her face shape was also delicate. Unfortunately, her pretty face was covered in crisscrossing gray lines, looking as though a spiderweb had stuck to it.
She opened the door and looked at Lin Le. Lin Le looked at her as well, yet showed no great reaction.
How should he put it? In his previous life, his group chat friends had fed him too many images of people hauling excrement. He had long since developed strong psychological resistance to ugly things.
The birthmark on Miss Song's face was indeed somewhat hideous, but it was still not as eye-searing as those "Smurfs."
Seeing Lin Le's calm gaze, Miss Song could not help feeling a trace of goodwill toward him. Yet she still shook her head. "No affinity at first sight. Next one."
"Yes." The old servant did not try to persuade her. He had long grown used to it.
He led Lin Le away, while Miss Song returned to her room.
Before you continue