Concealment

Chapter 6: The Concealment

Ning Xuan's father was Old Master Ning.

But Old Master Ning also had a name.

Old Master Ning was no exception.

His name was Ning Taiyi.

However, he hadn't originally been called Ning Taiyi. It was because he favored metaphysics that he changed his name to "Taiyi." Similarly, he named Ning Xuan "Xuan."

Ning Taiyi was often away from home. Sometimes he would be gone for three to four days, and other times it could be three to four months.

Ning Xuan had asked his mother about it.

His mother said, "Your father has some influence outside. Many people invite him to mediate certain matters." Ning Xuan asked again, "Where does he go, what kind of mediation is it, and can it really be done just on influence?" His mother replied that she didn't know.

Ning Xuan didn't pry into the past of the older generation. However, even without asking, he could roughly figure out how his father and mother had met.

That process was only slightly better than how he and Xiao Jie had reunited.

The "better" part was that Xiao Jie set up a stall outside the Zen Gate in the neighboring Prefecture City to sell calligraphy, while his mother was inside the Zen Gate of the neighboring Prefecture City, accompanying an elderly lady from the family in reciting Buddhist scriptures and burning incense. The Abbot himself was personally striking the Brahma Bell.

Xiao Jie came from a humble background, while his mother was from a prominent family.

His mother lived a quiet life there until Old Master Ning, already in his thirties, arrived.

Old Master Ning in his thirties was irresistible to all ages.

His mother fell in love with him.

Therefore, his mother had no part in Old Master Ning's life before he came there; she didn't know and didn't ask.

But Ning Xuan felt that as his father's son, besides waiting for his father's arrangements, he should also inherit his legacy. Yet, he hadn't. He didn't even know what his "father's influence" was.

Sometimes, he even really wanted to ask if he was Old Master Ning's biological son, especially since he had transmigrated into this life and had only witnessed his own birth.

However, there was no need to ask this question, as anyone could see from their appearances that he and Old Master Ning were father and son.

Old Master Ning was refined.

Young Master Ning was a pretty boy.

They were cast from the same mold.

And Old Master Ning's doting on him was evident on his face.

Whatever he asked for, he received without refusal!

Not only that, but the people Old Master Ning hired were also very obedient to him.

Even though these people had never met him, simply because he was Young Master Ning, they were willing to get out of bed in the middle of the night, ask no questions, and follow him for half a day without reason, without any complaints.

Last night, when he returned with a group of people, Old Master Ning had just left again.

At this moment, Ning Xuan put away the Mountain Crashing Bear Heavenly Demon Record and resumed his original form. He went out and found the overseer of the manor, an old man who looked kind and benevolent but carried a black metal cylinder for the Heavy Rain Pear Blossom Needles.

"Why is the young master looking for this old servant?" the old man asked with a smile.

Ning Xuan respectfully replied, "May I ask the elder's name."

The old man quickly returned the courtesy, "This old servant's name is Han Ba. The martial world calls me the Eight-Armed Elder."

Ning Xuan said, "But you don't have eight arms."

The old man named Han Ba laughed, "It's just a saying that this old servant is fast. When I'm in action, it's as if I have eight arms. It's an exaggeration."

Ning Xuan said, "The manor's Martial Master 'Swallow Chasing Wind Saber' Zhang Erquan, how do you compare to him?"

Han Ba replied, "If it were a fight to the death, he would die beyond ten paces, and I would die within ten paces."

Ning Xuan bowed again, "It seems you are a senior in the martial world of the same generation as my teacher."

He had originally planned to become a disciple.

Now, the thought of becoming a disciple had turned into an investigation.

Han Ba chuckled, "The young master is polite and humble in his dealings with others, but... this old servant truly doesn't know why he had to leave the manor so suddenly yesterday."

Ning Xuan said, "The mountain has heavy yin energy, and I was struck by the cold. I wanted to leave, but it was pitch dark, and there were many fierce beasts in the mountains, so I had to trouble you all to escort me."

Han Ba found it a bit strange.

But considering the young man's identity, it didn't seem entirely unreasonable.

Ning Xuan said seriously, "I want to learn some martial arts."

Han Ba said, "The more you learn, the more dangerous it becomes. Without the master's instructions, this old servant would not dare to teach the young master martial arts privately. However, the Swallow Chasing Wind Saber is already quite formidable."

Ning Xuan said, "But I've always heard that there are powers in this world that are above the Martial Way. Have you heard of them, sir?"

Han Ba stroked his beard and was silent for a moment, "Did the young master hear about it from a storyteller?"

As he spoke, he suddenly paused because he noticed the young man opposite him was looking at him thoughtfully.

Han Ba quickly asked, "Did I say something wrong?"

Ning Xuan said with disappointment, "There really isn't?"

Han Ba said, "There really isn't."

The air suddenly fell silent.

Ning Xuan nodded and said, "Ah, I'm going to practice my saber."

Han Ba said, "Then this old servant will take the guards back to the Manor."

Ning Xuan said, "Since you're already at my residence, why not stay another two days?"

Han Ba said, "No, Young Master. Since you've escorted me safely, this old servant should return."

Ning Xuan said, "Mr. Han, please do as you wish. However, if you return to the Manor, please send word that you've arrived safely."

Han Ba chuckled, "Young Master is kind and respects his subordinates, truly possessing the bearing of a host. Please attend to your business. This old servant will send word upon returning to the Manor."

A moment later, the elder watched the young man's back disappear around the corner. Only then did he reveal an expression of extreme regret, clenching his fists, furrowing his brow, and raising his hand as if to slap himself.

Finally, he slowly lowered his fist, dispelling the troubled expression from his face, and muttered, "I've hunted geese for years without ever capsizing in a ditch, yet today a little goose pecked my eye. This old man, this old man..."

He had been tricked into talking.

That little fox was too cunning.

And he had been too careless.

He hadn't guarded against Young Master Ning, but Young Master Ning had chatted with him about this and that in a casual tone, then suddenly thrown out a sentence: "But I've always heard that there are powers in this world that surpass the Martial Way. Have you heard of them, sir?"

He hadn't been on guard at first, but when that sentence was mentioned, he reacted instinctively. He paused, then made a mistake that only a "guilty person" would make, quickly asking, "Did this old servant say something wrong?" Then, Young Master Ning thoughtfully offered him a step down, and he quickly took it, saying, "There really isn't."

"Ouch, ouch!"

Han Ba couldn't help but slap his own mouth, his heart filled with regret. After all, the Master had explicitly forbidden him from telling the Young Master certain things.

However, in the next moment, he began to console himself.

Perhaps all of this was just his old fox's imagination.

Perhaps that Young Master hadn't thought that deeply.

After all, these words sounded like normal idle chatter.

He felt there was something wrong only because he was an old hand.

"So there really are powers in this world that surpass martial arts."

"Father must know."

"But he didn't tell me."

"Is it to prevent his child from being dragged into danger, so he deliberately didn't tell me these secrets? Father doesn't seem like such a rigid and foolish person."

For a moment, Ning Xuan suddenly felt a thin layer of psychological distance grow between him and his father.

Although he was a transmigrator, he had transmigrated as a fetus.

He had been raised by his father, and he had feelings for him.