Lin Zhennan understood. "The way you'll save us is by having Master Yue take Pingzhi as his disciple?"
Wang Jingyuan replied, "Exactly. It's the most straightforward solution. Once he joins the Mount Hua Sect, even if we clash with the Qingcheng Sect later, it won't just be a matter between the Fuwei Escort Agency and the Qingcheng Sect anymore.
"Even if the Mount Hua Sect is no longer one of the Five Mountains' foremost sects, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. It'll have more than enough power to deal with a mere Qingcheng Sect."
"This..." Lin Zhennan hesitated.
Wang Jingyuan clapped his hands. "All right, I think I understand what you're thinking. How many years has your son, Lin Pingzhi, been practicing the Bixie Swordplay?"
Lin Zhennan answered truthfully, "He's trained diligently since he was five. It's been about fourteen years now."
Wang Jingyuan glanced at Yue Lingshan. "Junior Disciple Sister, tell me, had I practiced martial arts before I came to Mount Hua?"
Yue Lingshan thought of how weak Wang Jingyuan had looked when he'd first joined the sect and answered honestly, "Of course not."
"Then how long have I practiced martial arts since joining Mount Hua?"
It hadn't been long, and Yue Lingshan quickly worked out the answer. "You've trained on the mountain for a little over half a month since joining the sect. Then we came down here together, which took two months. All in all, about two and a half months."
Wang Jingyuan turned to Lin Zhennan. "The facts are easy enough to verify. The daughter of the Mount Hua Sect's leader has no reason to lie to you. Call Lin Pingzhi over. I'll spar with him."
Lin Zhennan pondered for a moment, then quickly made up his mind. He went to call Lin Pingzhi from the main hall, then took Wang Jingyuan to the Fuwei Escort Agency's training ground.
Once they reached the grounds, Wang Jingyuan drew his sword. "Lin Pingzhi, I want to fight you one-on-one."
Lin Pingzhi glanced at his father. Lin Zhennan gave a slight nod, and Lin Pingzhi drew his own sword. "Young Hero Wang, blades have no eyes. Let's stop once we've determined the winner."
With that, he assumed a starting stance, seemingly waiting for Wang Jingyuan to make the first move.
This was probably a foolish brat who was lost in his ancestors' reputation and had no idea how good he actually was. Wang Jingyuan shook his head slightly and didn't bother with pleasantries. He thrust forward with the simple move Green Pine Welcoming Guests.
Lin Pingzhi felt that Wang Jingyuan's technique was polished and his angle tricky, though his sword was a little slow. Even so, he swung his sword to block. But before their blades could meet, Wang Jingyuan pulled his sword back, then thrust again with Green Pine Welcoming Guests.
This time, the move was blindingly fast. Lin Pingzhi hurriedly retreated, then swung his sword to block once more. But his swing had already thrown him off balance, and his movements looked rushed and clumsy.
Again, before their blades could touch, Wang Jingyuan pulled his sword back. Then came another Green Pine Welcoming Guests.
Now Lin Pingzhi no longer dared underestimate Wang Jingyuan. He brought out both his family's lightness skill and swordplay, trying to block and dodge in advance. But to his surprise, this time Wang Jingyuan merely took up the stance of Green Pine Welcoming Guests and didn't send the thrust forward.
Only after Lin Pingzhi had committed to his move did Wang Jingyuan seize the right moment to strike. This time, his attack was unhurried, just like the way he practiced swordplay every day. It was an ordinary, precise Green Pine Welcoming Guests, and the tip of his sword came to rest on Lin Pingzhi's shoulder.
Kid, having your opponent switch between slow and fast strikes is fun, isn't it?
[Mount Hua Sword Technique Proficiency +1]
"Thank you for letting me win." Wang Jingyuan returned his sword to its sheath and gave a casual salute. Then he looked at Lin Zhennan. "Joining Mount Hua won't be a bad deal."
Lin Pingzhi stood there, stunned. How could this be? His family's Bixie Swordplay was unmatched throughout the north of the Yellow River. He'd never lost a sparring match in his life.
How could he have been defeated so easily by the same sword move?
Wang Jingyuan patted Lin Pingzhi on the shoulder. "That move is called Green Pine Welcoming Guests. It's the first move in the Mount Hua Basic Sword Technique. You'll learn it as soon as you join Mount Hua."
Wang Jingyuan hadn't lied, but he left out the fact that his mastery of the Mount Hua Sword Technique was far beyond a beginner's level. Those first three uses of Green Pine Welcoming Guests had looked simple, but he'd only been able to pull them off that way because he could start and stop his movements at will.
Lin Pingzhi whipped around to look at his father. He didn't say a word, but his eyes brimmed with desperate hope.
As a seasoned veteran of the martial world, Lin Zhennan was even more decisive than Lin Pingzhi. He immediately came over and clasped Wang Jingyuan's hand tightly. "It's truly a blessing beyond three lifetimes for my son Pingzhi to join the Mount Hua Sect."
With Lin Zhennan's approval, Lin Pingzhi grew even more eager. He hurriedly cupped his hands toward Wang Jingyuan and Yue Lingshan. "Lin Pingzhi greets Senior Brother and Senior Sister!"
Wang Jingyuan nodded, readily accepting the greeting. As for Yue Lingshan, she didn't care who called her Senior Sister, so long as someone did. Besides, Lin Pingzhi seemed honest and straightforward, much more likable than a certain Junior Disciple Brother who showed no respect for his elders.
Wang Jingyuan asked, "Have you made up your mind?"
Lin Pingzhi nodded firmly. "Of course!"
Wang Jingyuan turned and asked Yue Lingshan, "Which way is northwest?"
Yue Lingshan worked out the direction and pointed northwest. Wang Jingyuan immediately barked at Lin Pingzhi, "Kneel that way!"
Lin Pingzhi jumped, but still knelt facing northwest. Wang Jingyuan laid his sword against Lin Pingzhi's neck. "Do you love gold, or do you love Mount Hua?"
Lin Pingzhi answered uncertainly, "I love Mount Hua?"
Wang Jingyuan pressed the sword a little harder and demanded again, "Do you love gold, or do you love Mount Hua?!"
Lin Pingzhi understood and answered without hesitation, "I love Mount Hua!"
"Junior Disciple Sister, recite the sect rules." Wang Jingyuan looked at Yue Lingshan. She didn't quite understand what he was doing, but she obediently began reciting them.
Then Wang Jingyuan looked at Lin Pingzhi, still kneeling on the ground. "Did you hear all that? Can you accept it? If you're having trouble with it, you can come back next time and think it over.
"No, I misspoke. You only get one chance. There is no next time."
Lin Pingzhi had learned his lesson. He answered at once, "I can abide by them!"
Wang Jingyuan nodded, then used his sword to sever the jade pendant hanging from Lin Pingzhi's waist. He struck it with his blade, shattering it to pieces, and said, "The loyal and righteous will enjoy wealth and glory; the disloyal and unrighteous will end up like this jade. Now kowtow."
Wang Jingyuan had said it casually, but Lin Pingzhi didn't dare take it lightly. He performed three prostrations and nine kowtows toward the northwest, and still felt he hadn't done enough when he finished.
In his experience, even a martial arts instructor at an ordinary school wouldn't take on a disciple so casually, much less the leader of the Mount Hua Sect. Was that really all there was to it? He hadn't even gotten into the moment yet.
Lin Zhennan and his wife, standing nearby, were dumbfounded too. They had never doubted that Wang Jingyuan and Yue Lingshan were disciples of the Mount Hua Sect; no one in the martial world would dare impersonate them.
But now Lin Zhennan was starting to doubt whether Wang Jingyuan's identity was genuine. It wasn't unheard of for someone to take a disciple on their master's behalf, but this was far too casual. No, he had to send someone to Mount Hua at once to confirm it!
"Junior Disciple Sister, teach him the beginner sword techniques and inner cultivation method first."
"Sure!"
Well, there's no need to rush quite that much. We can wait and see.
When Lin Zhennan and his wife saw that a Mount Hua disciple was about to pass on martial arts, they tactfully stepped away.
A short while later, Wang Jingyuan and Yue Lingshan were shown to a side room to rest. Lin Zhennan, meanwhile, called Lin Pingzhi into his study. Once they entered, Lin Zhennan dismissed the servants.
"Pingzhi, repeat the inner cultivation formula you just learned."
Lin Pingzhi stared at his father in shock.
Father, how could you do this to me?!
Before you continue