Senior Brother, Forgive Me

"Make the first move. Go all out without holding back," Yuchi Xiao said casually as he looked at Xia Daoming.

"Then take this, Senior Brother!" Seeing this, Xia Daoming could not be bothered with modesty. He lunged forward in a single stride and openly slapped out with the Snake Tongue Palm.

"Brat, you really want to compete with me in strength!" Seeing Xia Daoming's palm come straight at him without any variation, Yuchi Xiao muttered inwardly and raised his own palm to meet it head-on.

Bang!

The two palms collided in midair.

Thud! Thud! Yuchi Xiao staggered back two steps, while Xia Daoming remained standing as steady as a mountain.

"This..." Liang Jingtang and the others were all violently shaken, their eyes wide and fixed.

Liu Xiaoqiang pressed a hand to her ample chest once again.

"How is this possible!" After steadying himself, Yuchi Xiao felt the force surging through him like a mountain flood and could not help crying out in shock, his face full of disbelief.

Seeing everyone's astonished expressions, Xia Daoming curled his lip.

I barely used any strength!

"Again!" Yuchi Xiao swiftly collected himself and shouted, yet he did not charge forward. Instead, he stared gravely and warily at Xia Daoming. His right hand formed the shape of a snake, his palm swaying nimbly like a serpent's head, as though a venomous snake were confronting its natural enemy and waiting for a chance to deal a fatal blow.

Xia Daoming chuckled and still sent another palm directly at him.

"Good!" Yuchi Xiao shouted. This time, he did not clash with him head-on. Just as their palms were about to meet, his wrist twisted like a snake's body, and his palm suddenly became a snake's maw, darting down to seize Xia Daoming's wrist.

Yet at that moment, Xia Daoming's hand also became as nimble and slippery as a snake's body. It actually evaded his grab before giving a slight sideways shove.

Yuchi Xiao felt an immense impact force. His right arm was involuntarily knocked outward, leaving his chest wide open as a palm came slapping toward it.

Yuchi Xiao's left hand, which had been hidden at his waist, immediately shot out like a snake to block it.

But just as Yuchi Xiao's left hand extended, he saw Xia Daoming's left hand spread all five fingers and claw down at it.

Snap!

Yuchi Xiao's left hand was seized by the Dragon Claw formed from Xia Daoming's left hand.

Immediately afterward, Xia Daoming's right palm was already pressed against his chest.

Cold sweat instantly broke out across Yuchi Xiao's forehead.

"Forgive my offense, Senior Brother."

Xia Daoming quickly withdrew his right palm and cupped his hands toward Yuchi Xiao.

The training ground fell deathly silent.

Yuchi Xiao stood there blankly, looking utterly lost.

The onlookers all stared wide-eyed, Liang Jingtang included.

"Good! Good! Good!" After a long while, Liang Jingtang repeatedly praised him.

Everyone suddenly snapped awake, and Yuchi Xiao finally came back to his senses as well.

"Junior Brother, you are far too formidable. I concede wholeheartedly," Yuchi Xiao said, cupping his hands.

"Indeed, he is formidable. I'd say Junior Brother Xia's combat strength probably does not lose to that of a Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master!" Zhuo Xingji said in amazement.

"Not inferior to a Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master!" Jiao Yongbao and Liu Xiaoqiang shuddered, their gazes instinctively turning toward Liang Jingtang.

"Yuchi Xiao's swift defeat just now had much to do with his carelessness and underestimating his opponent. Still, Daoming's combat strength truly rivals that of an ordinary Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master. Otherwise, even if Yuchi Xiao had been careless and overconfident, he would not have lost so quickly," Liang Jingtang said with a nod.

After saying this, Liang Jingtang seemed to recall something, and his expression gradually became incomparably grave.

Seeing the change in Liang Jingtang's expression, Yuchi Xiao and the others seemed to remember something too, and their expressions changed accordingly.

"No one is to reveal anything about today's battle!" Liang Jingtang said in a deep voice.

"This disciple understands!" Yuchi Xiao and the other four replied solemnly.

"Furthermore, I have decided that I will make this journey alone!" Liang Jingtang added.

"Master!" Yuchi Xiao and the others' faces changed drastically.

"So long as Daoming can grow, he will surely carry the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School to greater heights. But he is still young and needs the support of you senior brothers and sisters.

"I am already old. My qi, blood, and strength are declining. Even if I return safely from this journey, how many more years can I live? Since that is so, why should I...?" Liang Jingtang said.

"The edge of a treasured sword comes from whetting; the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold! Master should understand this truth better than I do, shouldn't you?" Xia Daoming interrupted.

"The edge of a treasured sword comes from whetting; the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold!" Everyone was deeply shaken upon hearing this, and the way they looked at Xia Daoming changed once more.

"What a line—the edge of a treasured sword comes from whetting; the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold! I have taught disciples for over thirty years, yet I have understood things less clearly than you! Good, then the day after tomorrow, you shall accompany me on this trip." Liang Jingtang swept out a hand, restoring his usual bold and imposing manner.

"Yes, Master!" Xia Daoming first bowed slightly to accept the order, then added, "This disciple has one more request."

"Speak!" Liang Jingtang said with a smile, his gaze upon Xia Daoming full of affection.

"This disciple has an attendant who has also cultivated the Dragon Serpent Art to the fourth level. This disciple wishes to ask Master to permit her to study the secret diagram. This disciple will pay the silver in full, and I also ask Master to state the terms of the Pledge of Allegiance," Xia Daoming said.

"When I took you as my disciple, I thought you were an honest and dependable sort like your Senior Brother Yuchi. Who would have thought you hid yourself so deeply? You even have a Fourth-Rank Martial Master-level attendant at your side." Liang Jingtang was briefly stunned, then pointed at Xia Daoming and shook his head with a laugh.

"Master's eyes are like torches. This disciple truly is honest and dependable," Xia Daoming said without blushing or missing a beat.

"Pah! If you are honest and dependable, then there is not a single deceitful or cunning person left in this world," Liu Xiaoqiang could not help spitting out.

"Senior Sister, is that any way to speak of your own junior brother? Besides, every time I went to your Jade Flower Pavilion, I honestly only listened to music! These days, how many men go to pleasure houses and only listen to music like I do? If that is not honest and dependable, then what is?" Xia Daoming said with a wronged expression.

"That actually seems to make some sense!" Liu Xiaoqiang said thoughtfully.

"What sense is there in that? He keeps four young maidservants at home! If I kept four young maidservants at home, I could sit in a pleasure house and listen to music with a straight face too," Yuchi Xiao said.

"Senior Brother Yuchi, that is easy enough to say, but whether you could do it is another matter. Senior Brother Zhuo and Senior Brother Jiao not only have wives and concubines at home, but also young and beautiful maidservants," Xia Daoming said, curling his lip noncommittally.

"This..." Yuchi Xiao was speechless.

"Ahem, ahem!" Zhuo Xingji and Jiao Yongbao looked thoroughly awkward.

"What nonsense!" Seeing Xia Daoming grow increasingly outrageous, Liang Jingtang shot him an irritated glare. "Fine. Whenever it is convenient, bring your attendant over. This time, you will be facing grave danger on this journey with me, so let that count as payment for the silver and the Pledge of Allegiance!"

"Thank you, Master! She is in the front courtyard right now. Why not have her come study the secret diagram at once?" Xia Daoming said joyfully.

These past days, Liu Qiaolian had not only enjoyed treatment comparable to the direct descendants of Li City's four great powers every day, but she had also received personal instruction at any time from an expert who had already comprehended the true intent of the eighth level of the Dragon Serpent Art. Her progress had been rapid, and she had already met the requirements to study the secret diagram.

"Since she is already in the front courtyard, then call her over," Liang Jingtang said.

"Thank you, Master. This disciple will go call her now." Xia Daoming bowed slightly and quickly left the rear courtyard.

"Master!" Seeing Xia Daoming return, Liu Qiaolian hurriedly stepped forward and curtsied.

"Come with me to the rear courtyard. My master has agreed to let you study the secret diagram today!" Xia Daoming said.

"Ah!" Liu Qiaolian covered her small mouth in surprise.

"No more ah. The sooner you study the secret diagram, the sooner you may reach the Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master realm."

"But..."

"No buts. Just come with me."

"Yes, Master!"

With a heart full of both nervousness and anticipation, Liu Qiaolian followed Xia Daoming into the inner courtyard.

"I'll be damned!"

"No way!"

Watching Liu Qiaolian take light, graceful steps, her willow waist swaying, exquisitely lovely and captivating beyond words, Yuchi Xiao and the others were instantly dumbfounded.

They had never imagined that the Fourth-Rank Martial Master attendant Xia Daoming mentioned would be such a delicate, stunning beauty.

"This little woman, Liu Qiaolian, greets the school master and all the Martial Masters." Liu Qiaolian curtsied in greeting, her voice soft and melodious.

"Not bad!" Liang Jingtang nodded, then turned to Xia Daoming. "Daoming, take Qiaolian to the cultivation chamber and wait there first."

"Yes, Master." Xia Daoming nodded, then looked at Liu Qiaolian. "Lian'er, come with me."

"Yes, Master!" Liu Qiaolian curtsied to accept the order and followed closely behind Xia Daoming toward the secret chamber.

"This time, I truly admire that brat," Yuchi Xiao said emotionally as he watched the two leave.

"Yes. At his age, aside from practicing martial arts, I was working hard escorting caravans with my father. Being able to visit a pleasure house once in a while and enjoy myself was already quite good.

"But this fellow not only keeps four young maidservants at home, he even has such a gorgeous and captivating female Fourth-Rank Martial Master attendant. There is no comparing, no comparing!" Zhuo Xingji said with deep sympathy.

"Junior Brother Xia's truly impressive point is that, at such a young age, his strength already rivals that of a Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master," Liu Xiaoqiang said.

The Xu family estate was built against the mountain.

In the garden connected to the rear mountain.

Xu Zhiyuan, with silver hair and bushy brows, lay in a bamboo rattan rocking chair, basking in the evening sun.

Xu Shixiong, who appeared exceedingly arrogant and stern before outsiders, stood behind him now, gently rocking the chair.

Thanks to silence01 for the ten-thousand-point reward, and thanks to readers Yu Jinkun, Autumn Divine Light, Disciples, Primordial Nine-Turn Golden Pill, Night Rain Thousand Searches, Little Lotus 005, Ling Sha, RPG Defense, 20220525193318231, 20210520094943235, 20220327121142937, and others for their rewards.