Ming Pao (Seeking Further Reading)

Actually,

Li Xiuwen could tell as well that his current status and standing were rather awkward within this little circle.

Especially Ding Shao. There was a touch of distance and indifference in his eyes. Though his tone remained polite, it always felt somehow off.

People changed. A rise in status brought changes in mindset.

Wu Jun Hair Salon,

Brother Jun, who had returned a few days ago after going outside the walled city to further hone his craft, casually picked up the newly bought Ming Pao.

With a glance, he spotted a familiar name.

"Night Heron Martial Arts Hall challenged Four Seas Martial Arts Hall. Four Seas Martial Arts Hall sent four disciples from the first floor to fight, and only one emerged victorious... Li Xiuwen?"

"Ah Wen's gotten this good already?"

"I knew it. Ah Wen was someone who could make something of himself."

Brother Jun smiled knowingly.

"A few hundred dollars bought me the role of Ah Wen's big brother. That money... was well spent!"

Outside the walled city, Fortune Restaurant.

Zhao Dalong and Ding Sheng had gathered together.

Compared to their last small get-together, this one was livelier, with a dozen or so new members.

Drinking, eating, shooting the breeze... it was bustling with excitement.

Zhao Dalong was quite happy, but Ding Sheng seemed somewhat listless.

"Ding Shao? Not in the mood?" Zhao Dalong asked, carrying over a glass of wine.

Ding Sheng frowned. "You didn't invite Nanshu?"

After a pause, Zhao Dalong narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Nanshu belongs to Southern Sky Martial Hall, after all. Their rules are strict. She told me her senior sister only allowed her to gather once every six months."

Ding Sheng smiled faintly. "It's understandable that Nanshu didn't come... but Ah Wen is giving me no face too?"

Momentarily stunned, Zhao Dalong raised his glass and laughed. "You know Ah Wen's personality—sensitive and insecure. He isn't doing too well these days, so maybe he just didn't want to come."

Ding Sheng took a sip of wine. "True enough. The three of us are doing rather well... Ah Wen must feel somewhat unbalanced inside."

"These are all new friends I brought in. What, Ding Shao looks down on them? Only thinking about Nanshu?" Zhao Dalong asked with a half-smile.

"Not at all," Ding Sheng said with a smile.

This little gathering ended in haste.

In the luxury car on the way back, Ding Sheng breathed out a mouthful of wine-scented air and said coldly, "Nanshu didn't come because of the rules... Ah Wen not coming really is giving me no face."

The driver smiled. "Young Master, a lowlife from the walled city would only lower your class if he came. Do you know why Mr. Ming has been able to hold the walled city?"

"Because he's powerful?"

The driver smiled. "That's only one reason. Another is that the walled city... stinks too badly."

Ding Sheng smiled. "Its stink can keep all those martial arts masters outside?"

"I heard the master say that the top experts outside the walled city refuse to enter because they dislike being tainted by its foul, murky stench, afraid of dirtying their own pure and ethereal vital aura and affecting their martial cultivation.

"The people in the walled city are like catfish in a cesspit. Having lived in that place for decades, every word and deed of theirs has been steeped in the stench unique to the walled city.

"If you ask me, it's best to have less contact with them, lest they contaminate you with misfortune and affect Young Master's heaven-reaching good fortune.

"Do you really expect stinking fish from a muddy pond to leap over the Dragon Gate? Connections like that are useless connections. It's fine not to make them."

Hearing that, Ding Sheng smiled. "No wonder Ah Wen always has that sort of smell about him. I understand now."

He picked up the newspaper he had casually bought from a roadside newsstand.

As the heir to the Spring and Autumn Press empire, he had to read other newspapers every day, learning from their strengths to make up for his own weaknesses.

After some time, his gaze settled on the latest Ming Pao. He saw a familiar figure and said in surprise, "Ah Wen?"

The driver asked, "What is it, Young Master?"

"Nothing. A friend of mine from that walled city seems to be doing quite well in there. He's even become a martial artist..." Ding Sheng said with a faint smile.

The driver smiled. "For such an unknown little martial hall to make the papers, they probably bought the space themselves. It isn't worth mentioning."

Ding Sheng smiled. "That's good. We did know each other, after all, and I hope Ah Wen can do a little better, though it doesn't really mean much."

The driver said, "If you ask me, even if he becomes a local big shot in that walled city... he'll still be a caged sparrow, a frog at the bottom of a well.

"Young Master, once you take charge of Spring and Autumn Press, the people you chat and laugh with will all be Justices of the Peace, the Empire's martial aristocrats in Fragrant Sea. Those are the people above people."

Several days later,

Mount Tianping,

Inside a grand villa shaped like a dojo,

Li Nanshu sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, her five centers facing heaven. The pores across her jade-like skin opened and closed as she sensed the marvels of breathing in and out with the cycle of heaven.

After some time, she rose and took the Ming Pao delivered by a servant.

Though her master was Ye Nantian, her true idol at heart was the more legendary, low-profile, mysterious "Mr. Ming."

She had occasionally heard rumors from martial halls that when her master had first arrived in Fragrant Sea and gone around challenging martial halls, he had once entered the walled city to visit Mr. Ming.

After coming out, her master never spoke of the outcome of their battle, saying only one thing: "All Southern Sky disciples are forbidden from entering the walled city. Do not become enemies with Ever Joy!"

That was why she never missed an issue of Ming Pao.

But on this day, her brows drew together, and surprise appeared on her face.

"Night Heron challenged them, and Sea Sand suffered a crushing defeat..."

"This Four Seas Martial Arts Hall is far too pathetic."

"So even someone with Ah Wen's physique and aptitude could become their most promising disciple."

"Ah Wen is quite good. From what I saw, his natural physique was only fit for a servant. To achieve this much, he most likely took drugs, but that is still Ah Wen's own ability."

Chen's Rice Noodle Factory,

Having long known that Ah Wen would appear in the newspaper, Auntie held the Ming Pao, cut out the page with Ah Wen on it, and pressed it to her chest, her face full of anticipation.

In truth, Li Xiuwen only occupied a single sentence in the article, an unnoticed background figure.

Unless someone was especially attentive and familiar with him, they would most likely miss the three characters "Li Xiuwen" while skimming the newspaper.

The real protagonist of this article was Longlegs Seven from Night Heron Martial Arts Hall.

"Alright, alright. Your name only appeared once. Look how pleased you are—you didn't sleep all night," Uncle said helplessly.

"But this is Ming Pao! Ah Wen made it in at twenty-one, and he's even the strongest one at Four Seas Martial Arts Hall."

Uncle had to admit, "Ah Wen really has made something of himself."

Auntie smiled. "A few days ago, some punk wanted to collect protection money from me. When he heard Ah Wen was a martial artist, he ran off on the spot."

These past days, Longjin Road had been unusually peaceful.

Uncle sighed. "If I'd known, we should have had Ah Wen learn martial arts earlier. Maybe he'd already be a big shot by now."

He had heard as well that Ah Wen was somewhat old, his physique already set in shape, so his potential was likely limited. Everything he had now was being propped up by sheer diligence.

Auntie gave a cold snort, then smiled. "Someone used to go on about not touching the four vices. Regretting it now, aren't you?"

Scratching his head, Uncle smiled bitterly. "How was I supposed to know Ah Wen would really be this good... Besides, Ah Wen never said he wanted to learn martial arts before. It was only after Brother Ji knocked him unconscious that he got the idea."

"That's all in the past now. Ah Wen is on the right track. From now on, as long as we don't hold him back, that's enough. Maybe Ah Wen is the sort of talent who blooms late?"

Uncle sighed. "Yes... I truly hope I can see that day sooner."

Auntie's expression dimmed, then she said, "Then take proper care of your health! Listen to Ah Wen and go to the hospital regularly!"