Twice as Long as the Previous Chapter

Liu Chang'an walked back, passing by the vegetable market where he bought some beef throat.

The beef throat he bought was actually the aorta of a cow, while the pork throat is naturally the aorta of a pig.

In some places, beef throat refers to beef throat, which is also delicious after being braised and stir-fried.

Back home, Liu Chang'an saw Gao Cunyi visiting. Gao Cunyi was dressed in a suit and looked very dashing. Tall martial artists like him often looked good in formal attire, and Gao Cunyi was no exception.

Gao Cunyi seemed a little uneasy, glancing up at the few leaves on the sycamore tree, tugging at his sleeves, and flicking off non-existent dust particles from his clothes.

Zhou Dongdong was looking at him.

A dog was lying at Zhou Dongdong's feet, and the dog was looking at him.

Gao Cunyi dared not make any rash moves. He originally wanted to greet Zhou Dongdong and pat her hair, which was tied up like seedlings on her head, but he felt that if he did so, the dog would pounce on him.

As a martial artist, Gao Cunyi wouldn't dare say he could fight a tiger, but dealing with this dog shouldn't be a problem. However, Gao Cunyi wasn't entirely confident; this dog seemed unusual.

The key point is that the small door to the storage room next door was open, the room was dark, and a little girl was sitting upright in the shadows, watching him.

Gao Cunyi felt a chill run down his spine. This little girl should be a person, but for some reason, being stared at by her gave him a cold feeling.

"Brother Chang'an, the bad guys are here again!" Zhou Dongdong saw Liu Chang'an and rushed over, but her attention was immediately drawn to the beef throat Liu Chang'an was carrying. "What's this delicious food?"

"This is beef throat; we'll stir-fry it for dinner tonight."

"Will you give me some?"

"No."

"Can I pick it up and eat it myself?"

"Can."

Zhou Dongdong was satisfied. When she noticed that Gao Cunyi's gaze had shifted to this side, she grabbed Liu Chang'an's clothes and hid behind him, peeking out half of her head and continuing to glare at Gao Cunyi.

"What's up?" Liu Chang'an asked with a smile.

"My martial arts school has been established, and there's a celebration banquet tonight. I've invited some relatives and friends, as well as acquaintances from the South Hunan martial arts scene. I've come especially to invite Brother Liu to attend," Gao Cunyi said, cupping his hands in greeting. Although he knew Liu Chang'an was the same age as his cousin, Liu Chang'an's martial arts skills were truly exceptional.

"I've already bought the groceries." Liu Chang'an up the beef tripe in his hand.

"I've already bought the groceries!"

"This can be eaten as a late-night snack. The chefs the hotel sent to cook tonight are all renowned figures in the industry," Gao Cunyi said.

"Alright, I am nominally a consultant for the martial arts school, so I still need to attend formal occasions." Liu Chang'an nodded.

"I still have to attend... Brother Chang'an, what should I eat?" Zhou Dongdong, who was echoing his words, asked hurriedly.

"Can I bring a child?" Liu Chang'an asked.

"All right!"

"Of course." Gao Cunyi nodded with a smile.

"I want to go too!" Shangguan Dandan ran out, tugging at Liu Chang'an's sleeve.

Gao Cunyi then clearly saw the girl who had been staring at him from the shadows. He was stunned for a moment and immediately understood why he had felt like he was being stared at by a ghost. She should have been a very beautiful girl, but she was wearing a red sweater, had long hair that reached her hips, and was sitting there motionless. The worst part was that her whole face was made up like a ghost!

"Who did your makeup?" Liu Chang'an looked at Shangguan Dandan and spoke after five seconds.

It turns out that beautiful people look good in anything, but if a beautiful person doesn't wear makeup properly, they'll look like a ghost.

"Myself." Shangguan Dandan was slightly puzzled. Wasn't it good-looking?

"Go wash that face of yours that could scare the flowers and plants clean, then we can set off," Liu Chang'an said, pointing to the faucet.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Shangguan Dandan said loudly.

Liu Chang'an and Gao Cunyi remained silent, so Shangguan Dandan turned to look at Zhou Dongdong.

"It looks great, like Sun Wukong." Zhou Dongdong was puzzled as to why everyone said that Sister Egg's makeup didn't look good.

So Shangguan Dandan went to wash her face.

Liu Chang'an went upstairs and put the beef throat in the refrigerator.

Zhou Dongdong followed Liu Chang'an, running up and down the stairs.

Gao Cunyi drove up in a black Audi A7. Sure enough, there's a reason behind the saying "poor people study literature, rich people study martial arts." Poor families must make their children study academic subjects so that one day they can change their own and even their family's fate. But learning martial arts... well, that's not so reliable.

However, Liu Chang'an admired Gao Cunyi's uncle's tractor more.

When talking about tractors, one cannot help but mention the Dongfanghong series of tractors. The First Tractor Manufacturing Plant started construction on October 1, 1955, and it took less than three years from the start of construction to the birth of the first Dongfanghong tractor.

The tractors of that era, with their classic color schemes, steely character, and mechanical expression of the power of the people, were truly beautiful.

Modern tractors are certainly more advanced, and their uses are more detailed and specialized; times are changing.

"Dongdong's mom gave me a lot of cosmetics today, and I didn't spend any money." Shangguan Dandan seemed to be talking to Liu Chang'an, but also to herself. Then she touched the eight hundred yuan in her pocket, which was her pocket money that she had slowly saved up. Although she wasn't very good at playing cards, she was no longer worried that Old Man Qian could win her thermos.

"I also wear makeup." Zhou Dongdong had put on makeup and then been beaten. This was a memory that almost every little girl had. It seemed that her mother's cosmetics were more precious than her beloved daughter.

"If Zhou Shuling wore makeup every day, I doubt either All-Star or Mi Gaoming would be so enthusiastic in pursuing her," Liu Chang'an said objectively. He added that Zhou Shuling's makeup style was probably learned from the old ladies in the neighborhood.

Now Zhou Shuling has realized her limitations and no longer tries to wear heavy makeup; she just applies lipstick and curls her eyelashes.

"She said she would slowly teach me how to do makeup." Shangguan Dandan was hit hard today. Of course, she had worn makeup before, but the cosmetics and makeup methods back then were completely different from now. For example, that lipstick was really good, and Shangguan Dandan applied layer after layer without stopping.

"You can learn from each other and improve together," Liu Chang'an said encouragingly. After all, they're the ones who have the face to laugh at; he's happy as long as they have something funny to look at.

Upon arriving at the hotel, Gao Cunyi had booked a banquet hall, which was quite large and spacious, and was decorated as a cocktail party. However, Liu Chang'an felt that it was more like a wedding venue, with a master of ceremonies whining. It was indeed a gathering of martial arts practitioners. The person in charge of the event was a vice master of the martial arts school named Fu Guanzhu.

Upon seeing Gao Cunyi, Fu Guanzhu approached, glanced at Liu Chang'an and his group of three, and said nothing more than lowering her voice, "Many renowned figures from South Hunan martial arts have arrived; you should go and greet them."

Gao Cunyi apologized to Liu Chang'an, who gestured for him to go about his business. Liu Chang'an then took Zhou Dongdong's hand, while Shangguan Dandan tugged at Liu Chang'an's sleeve and looked around.

"Hello." Fu Guanzhu didn't follow Gao Cunyi, but greeted Liu Chang'an by extending her hand.

Liu Chang'an felt the force in Fu Guanzhu's hand and couldn't help but chuckle. It turned out that martial artists throughout history had always used this method to intimidate their opponents.

People in ancient times also shook hands.

Liu Chang'an was in a dilemma. Should he retaliate and shatter him completely?

Let's forget about it. There are children around, and besides, Liu Chang'an is always a magnanimous person and doesn't hold grudges.

Just as he hesitated, Fu Guanzhu saw that the other party remained unmoved, and involuntarily increased the force.

Liu Chang'an snapped out of his daze, casually flicked his wrist, Fu Guanzhu flew out, crashing into the wall.

"He flew!" Zhou Dongdong exclaimed in surprise, her mouth agape. She quickly bit Liu Chang'an's hand to express her astonishment.

Fu Guanzhu got up and looked at Liu Chang'an in shock. He knew that the martial arts school had an advisor who had never shown up, and that Gao Cunyi had personally gone to greet him. He felt quite resentful.

Upon meeting him, Fu Guanzhu discovered that he was just a young man in his early twenties. After all, seeing is believing. He had read some information and heard some stories about him, which were exaggerated to the point of being incredible. But when he actually met him, he didn't have that kind of martial arts aura that could intimidate others. So Fu Guanzhu decided to test him.

Liu Chang'an bowed slightly to Fu Guanzhu.

Fu Guanzhu got up, now convinced, and smiled with genuine admiration. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Consultant Liu, for your mercy. I was impolite just now. I am Fu Guanzhu, the vice head of the martial arts school."

"I was lost in thought just now, but I subconsciously held back." Even after being thrown against the wall, Liu Chang'an politely explained that if he really hadn't been paying attention at all, Fu Guanzhu might have been thrown and embedded in the wall. It was good that the other party understood that he had held back.

"Thank you." Fu Guanzhu was still immersed in the shock. Fu Guanzhu had never seen such a light touch before. After all, he was a man weighing over 100 pounds, not some weakling.

Only then could Fu Guanzhu understand why Gao Cunyi insisted on finding an advisor who didn't care about anything and never showed up. Such a person was just like the top retainer of those ancient sects, powerful families, and wealthy clans. Even the sect leaders and heads of wealthy families had to treat him with respect.

Brother Gao is still the best.

"May I ask, Consultant Liu, who your teacher is?" Fu Guanzhu's mind had been racing, thinking of many famous figures in the martial arts world, but none of them should have such an outstanding disciple.

With a population of over a billion, it's perfectly normal for there to be many hidden talents among them.

"Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Sword Sect"

"Please forgive my ignorance." Fu Guanzhu was stunned for a moment, having never heard of such a sect before.

"The sect is dwindling in talent. Back in the day, there were over a hundred people..." Liu Chang'an sighed with regret. "Now, only four people and a dog are left."

Of these four, two are completely incapable of fighting; they're worse than dogs.

These two are completely incapable of fighting. One is in elementary school and all he does is eat, and the other only knows Mie Mie bleat.

If he were to tell anyone, he didn't know how many pitying glances he would receive. Liu Chang'an, concerned for his reputation, decided not to tell Fu Guanzhu the details.

"I see." Fu Guanzhu, being sensible, didn't ask any more questions. How desolate this place must be! They even had to mention a dog to make up the numbers and seem more impressive.

The moment Liu Chang'an made his move, Fu Guanzhu knew that the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Sword Sect was no ordinary sect. It must have some stringent inheritance conditions that hindered its growth; otherwise, if Liu Chang'an were to accept disciples, wouldn't his followers be as numerous as the crucian carp in ten rivers? (Note: Because there are very few crucian carp crossing rivers now, but the phrase "ten rivers of crucian carp" sounds abundant, the idiom "ten rivers of crucian carp" is now widely used instead of "crossing rivers of crucian carp," reflecting the modern evolution of the idiom.)

Fu Guanzhu and Liu Chang'an separated after their initial exchange, but the commotion from their collision with the wall was quite loud, attracting the attention of some people familiar with Fu Guanzhu.

Liu Chang'an dealt with it.

Shangguan Dandan couldn't even tug at Liu Chang'an's sleeve anymore, so she pulled Zhou Dongdong to find something to eat. After all, if it weren't for food, why would these two distinguished guests have graced this place with their presence?

Liu Chang'an would occasionally adjust his body position and talk to the people around him to ensure that his peripheral vision could always cover Shangguan Dandan and Zhou Dongdong.

"Brother Liu, you mentioned a novelist who started writing martial arts novels after witnessing the supernatural powers of an ancient martial arts practitioner, and even ushered in an era of explosive growth for martial arts novels. Does that mean you believe that many of the kung fu skills in martial arts novels are not entirely fabricated?" A robust old man of about sixty looked at Liu Chang'an with a hint of anticipation.

"Those kung fu styles are actually different from the kung fu we practice now. Our current kung fu is mainly for strengthening the body and can be practiced by anyone. You could say that as long as you persevere, have willpower and determination, and can endure hardship, you can achieve something. But those kung fu styles... are for people with special physical conditions. If ordinary people practice them, they will be unremarkable, but only those with special physical conditions can unleash their power," Liu Chang'an explained.

"Is Brother Liu someone with a special physique?" someone asked, not out of sarcasm, but because seeing Fu Guanzhu's submissive demeanor as he stayed by Liu Chang'an's side, they knew that Liu Chang'an was no ordinary person.

"Of course I am. I can imitate the indestructible Vajra of the Yi Jin Jing, the lightness skill like Lingbo Weibu, the swordsmanship like Dugu Nine Swords, and the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill with the power of ten dragons and ten elephants. Even if someone learns all of these and masters them all, they still can't beat me," Liu Chang'an said objectively.

"Haha, Consultant Liu is both capable and a smooth talker! He's a real talent!"

"Exactly, exactly. Putting aside all the formalities, there are probably no more than three people here who can truly convince Master Fu!"

The crowd was filled with laughter and joy. Liu Chang'an glanced at Shangguan Dandan and Zhou Dongdong, who were each holding a glass of juice and drinking it.

At that moment, the banquet hall doors were suddenly pushed open.

"My junior brother opened a martial arts school, but he didn't invite me at all, so I had no choice but to come uninvited..."

Wang Yibo led a group of people and stormed in aggressively, immediately spotting Liu Chang'an surrounded by several people.

Wang Yibo was stunned. He had obtained the guest list of the martial arts school, and Liu Chang'an was not on it. He and Gao Cunyi had invited Liu Chang'an before, but Liu Chang'an had not agreed to register at the martial arts school. How could he have imagined that Liu Chang'an would actually be here now?

"Fine, if you don't want to invite me, then don't. Do you think I care? I was just passing by. Sorry for disturbing you all." Wang Yibo cupped his hands in greeting to the people who were looking over, then turned and walked away.

Fu Guanzhu and the others all looked at Liu Chang'an. Everyone could see that Wang Yibo had stormed in aggressively, intending to cause trouble, but the moment he entered, his gaze locked onto Liu Chang'an, and then he turned and left without a word. Wasn't he afraid of Liu Chang'an?

Fu Guanzhu secretly felt lucky. Fortunately, Liu Chang'an was a magnanimous person. If he were petty, he would have left after Fu Guanzhu's initial probing. Now that Wang Yibo was causing trouble, she really didn't know who would step in.

At least Fu Guanzhu is no match for Wang Yibo.

Wang Yibo was just a minor incident. After Gao Cunyi found out, he came over and thanked Liu Chang'an again. He just didn't expect Gao Yuanshan to come too... It's quite normal. Although Gao Yuanshan isn't in the martial arts circle, he's Gao Cunyi's uncle. It's normal for an uncle to come and visit when his nephew runs a martial arts school.

Liu Chang'an and Gao Yuanshan chatted happily. After a while, the banquet officially began. Liu Chang'an brought Shangguan Dandan and Zhou Dongdong over to sit together. Surprisingly, they saw Li Hongfang, who had not been heard from for a long time, appear there.

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Today is the InterContinental Cup, LPL VSLCK, so I'm updating it early to avoid not being in the mood to code later.