The Test

"Have a fight? Miss Liu, are you sure?" Cheng Yang felt that this girl was probably pulling his leg.

"Of course." Liu Yi met his gaze openly. "We're both Flesh Tempering martial artists. Isn't it perfectly normal to spar?"

"That's true." Cheng Yang thought it over and found no fault with it.

"Young Master Cheng, I broke through to Flesh Tempering quite a while before you did. Though you're a genius, I don't think I'll lose to you." Liu Yi's tone was serious, without the slightest hint of condescension. "If you can't hold on, just admit defeat. I won't laugh at you."

She was not being arrogantly overconfident.

With the foundation of two Great Accomplishment stance arts, she figured that no matter how talented Cheng Yang was, he could at most have mastered one stance art to Great Accomplishment.

No matter how she calculated it, her odds of winning were higher.

"The same goes for you, Miss." Cheng Yang returned her words to her intact.

A moment later.

After an "intense" round of sparring, Liu Yi sat on a stone bench in the courtyard with her teeth bared, staring down at the patches of bruises covering her body, her face filled with utter disbelief.

"How is this possible?" She could not puzzle it out no matter how hard she tried. "Sure, men and women differ physically, but I've cultivated one more Great Accomplishment stance art than you! How can my strength and speed both be inferior to yours?"

As for technique, there was even less to say—she had been beaten down from beginning to end. Every move Cheng Yang made seemed to precisely restrain her style, as though he had seen through every technique in her belly before she even used it.

"Maybe it's because I cultivated three stance arts in the Skin Tempering Realm as a foundation," Cheng Yang casually made up an excuse.

"So that's how it is..." Liu Yi suddenly understood. She then cupped her fists in salute, her tone sincere. "Young Master Cheng truly lives up to the name of genius. Liu Yi admires you."

"Miss Liu's strength is quite remarkable as well," Cheng Yang said politely.

"Young Master Cheng, do you have someone?" Liu Yi suddenly asked.

Cheng Yang froze. "No. Why does Miss Liu ask?"

"Young Master Cheng is handsome, and your strength surpasses mine..." As Liu Yi spoke, the tips of her ears quietly turned red.

Cheng Yang's eyelid twitched.

No, why are you blushing like that?

He could already picture what Liu Yi was about to say.

"I'd say my family circumstances are not bad either. If Young Master Cheng has such intentions, you can give me priority consideration."

Liu Yi believed that one should boldly pursue the person one liked, but when she truly spoke the words aloud, she could not help feeling somewhat shy.

Cheng Yang grumbled wildly in his heart.

Why does that sound like I'm some womanizing playboy?

Still, in this era, one husband with multiple wives is fairly normal...

Yet all he could do was offer an apologetic smile. "Miss Liu, this one's heart is set upon the martial path. For now, I have no such intentions."

"I was presumptuous." Liu Yi was straightforward enough not to press the matter. Changing the subject, she said, "How about this? I'll treat Young Master Cheng to a meal as an apology.

"You may pick the place. Anywhere in Qinglin County will do."

Cheng Yang's eyelid twitched again, and he could not help looking at Liu Yi in a new light.

In two lifetimes, this was the first time he had encountered a woman so frank and open-minded.

"Miss Liu, you're being too serious. It truly isn't anything worth mentioning. There's no need for a treat." Cheng Yang waved his hand. "As the host, I can let Miss Liu sample the fare at our Chen Clan Martial Hall later.

"Or we can wait until the two elders finish discussing business, then decide where to have lunch."

"Either works for me." Liu Yi nodded. "In that case, Young Master Cheng, why don't we first discuss our insights into martial arts and exchange what we've learned?"

"No problem."

Elsewhere.

"Old Liu, we've reminisced long enough." Holding a teacup, Chen Feiyi spoke unhurriedly. "There's something I want to ask you. I wonder whether you'll agree."

"If you've got something to say, say it. Old Chen, how many years have we known each other? Why are you still beating around the bush with me?" Liu Hongquan gave a broad wave of his hand.

"I'm quite interested in your Whale Breath Stance." Chen Feiyi did not beat around the bush either. "How about trading it for my Rock-Still Stance?"

"For your disciple?" Liu Hongquan immediately guessed the reason.

Chen Feiyi admitted it frankly. "I want to help him accumulate a few more stance arts and see if he can reach the realm of Gold Bone."

"Gold Bone..." Liu Hongquan smacked his lips, his tone touched with emotion. "That's the foundation only geniuses in the prefectural city possess.

"Old Chen, you really dare to dream."

"He has the talent for it," Chen Feiyi said with certainty.

"Flesh Tempering in five days—he certainly does." Liu Hongquan nodded, then changed the subject. "But this matter isn't so simple. To cultivate Gold Bone, resources and talent are both indispensable.

"Among Foundation Establishment's Three Gates, Gold Bone itself is difficult enough to achieve, let alone breaking through to a Force Tempering Martial Master after attaining Gold Bone.

"Without external aid to push one along, those who can succeed through nothing but their own grueling cultivation are as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns."

"What I can do is help him forge a Gold Bone foundation. The rest of the road, he'll have to walk himself after entering the Five Elements Sect." Chen Feiyi's tone was calm, yet it carried a sense of satisfaction.

"The Five Elements Sect..." Liu Hongquan sighed. "It's a pity, really. Your disciple definitely won't make it in time for this Ascending Dragon Conference. He can only wait for the next one in four years."

"Enough, stop talking about such distant matters." Chen Feiyi waved his hand. "Are you trading that stance art or not?"

"Little Yi should be about done talking with your treasured disciple." Liu Hongquan looked left and spoke of right. "Let's go see what's going on with the two of them first."

"Old Liu, are you really planning to have your daughter chase after my disciple?" Chen Feiyi shot him a sidelong glance.

"What kind of talk is that? If young people are mutually in love, can that be called 'chasing'?" Liu Hongquan laughed and patted him on the back. "If it really works out, our brotherhood will become family ties upon family ties."

"Come on, let's take a look first. We can discuss the cultivation art later."

This old bastard... Chen Feiyi grumbled inwardly, but he still followed Liu Hongquan back.

When the two returned to the courtyard, Cheng Yang and Liu Yi were sitting side by side and talking. The atmosphere appeared rather harmonious.

"Father, Hall Master Chen." Liu Yi rose to greet them.

"Master, Hall Master Liu." Cheng Yang stood as well.

Liu Hongquan looked at his daughter expectantly. "Daughter, how did your conversation with Young Master Cheng go?"

"Hall Master Liu, this one has no such intentions for the time being," Cheng Yang answered before Liu Yi could speak.

"...All right." Liu Hongquan felt somewhat disappointed.

"Father," Liu Yi suddenly said, "I want to teach our family's Whale Breath Stance to Young Master Cheng."

Liu Hongquan froze and stared at his daughter in astonishment. No, the two of you didn't work out, so why are your elbows already turning outward?

Chen Feiyi was secretly delighted at the side.

His own disciple truly had what it took. The girl was practically delivering the cultivation art right to his mouth.

"Young Master Cheng's talent, strength, and natural gifts all inspire heartfelt admiration." Liu Yi spoke openly. "After learning that he is wholeheartedly striving for Gold Bone, your daughter sincerely wishes to lend him a hand."

"Miss Liu is most thoughtful." Cheng Yang cupped his fists in thanks.

Chen Feiyi, Cheng Yang, and Liu Yi all turned to look at Liu Hongquan in unison.

The corner of Liu Hongquan's mouth twitched.

So today, whether I hand over this stance art or not, I have to hand it over?

In the end, he relented and agreed to teach Cheng Yang the Whale Breath Stance.

However, he did not forget to give Cheng Yang a "small test."

"Kid, I can teach you the Whale Breath Stance, but I'll only demonstrate it once before you." Liu Hongquan raised one finger. "Whether you can remember it will depend on yourself."

He also wanted to take this chance to test just how monstrous Chen Feiyi's treasured disciple's talent truly was.

Chen Feiyi watched from the side, laughing inwardly.

His old friend was certain to lose face.

His disciple could remember even the Rock-Still Stance after seeing it once. What difficulty was there in remembering one Whale Breath Stance?

Did he really have to lose face before his daughter once?

"Father!" Liu Yi glared reproachfully at her father.

Cheng Yang did not think much of it.

The test Liu Hongquan had set was, to him, about as difficult as one plus one equaling two—there was no difficulty at all.

"Kid, watch carefully." Liu Hongquan said no more. His feet shifted apart, he sank his waist and drew in his breath, then began to demonstrate.