"Little brat, trying to play mysterious again?" Hua Yumo shouted angrily, her eyes full of indignation. "How could my grandpa be taken in by your little tricks? And you want to give him pointers? What makes you think you're qualified?"
Gu Chen remained calm, a faint smile curving his lips. "You're a martial artist, aren't you, old sir? You cultivate an extreme-yang technique. Though you look imposing, your cultivation has actually hit a bottleneck. If you don't break through soon, the extreme-yang qi will turn on your meridians, and all your previous efforts will come to nothing."
The old man's heart jolted. He then picked up his teacup and gently rocked it. "You have a keen eye, young friend, to see through my cultivation."
Gu Chen chuckled, a hint of pride in his eyes. "Your complexion is ruddy, old sir, but the skin around your cheekbones is slightly ashen. If I'm not mistaken, extreme-yang qi has been building up for a long time, and your internal organs have already suffered damage. Try pressing a finger three inches to the left of your abdomen. It should hurt terribly."
Hua Yumo scoffed. "Grandpa, don't listen to this swindler's nonsense!"
The old man hesitated for a moment, then finally did as Gu Chen said. His expression changed instantly, and cold sweat poured down his face. The pain nearly suffocated him.
"Grandpa!" Hua Yumo cried, rushing to support him.
The old man stared at Gu Chen in shock. "How did you know?"
Gu Chen leisurely picked up his teacup and gently rocked it in imitation of the old man. He smiled mysteriously but said nothing. He was the Divine Emperor; his gaze was profound and could see through everything.
The old man's expression turned solemn. "Forgive this old man's poor eyesight, young friend."
Wang Hu and Hua Yumo exchanged shocked looks, unable to believe that what Gu Chen had said was true.
Gu Chen waved a hand magnanimously. "It's nothing. Everyone makes mistakes. What happened yesterday was indeed my fault, but today I can give you pointers to help you break through your bottleneck and spare you in the future."
Hua Yumo said angrily, "Grandpa, how can you take this greenhorn at his word?"
Gu Chen chuckled. "Young miss, you seem to have a prejudice against me."
"You'd better get lost right now, or I'll break your legs!" Hua Yumo said coldly.
"Yumo, don't be rude!" the old man shouted, turning to apologize to Gu Chen. "My granddaughter doesn't know any better. Please don't hold it against her, sir."
Gu Chen remained composed and merely took a small sip of tea. Hua Yumo grew even angrier. "He's a swindler! He even tricked us yesterday!"
"You say I'm a swindler. What proof do you have?" Gu Chen asked.
Hua Yumo was at a loss for words. She glared at Gu Chen. "Since you dare offer my grandpa pointers, you must be highly skilled in martial arts. How about we have a match?"
Gu Chen raised an eyebrow. "Didn't we already exchange blows just now?"
"I didn't use martial arts that time!" Hua Yumo gritted her teeth. "If you can beat me, I'll believe you. If you can't, get lost!"
Hua Yumo had a measure of pride. Though still young, she had studied under a martial arts master since childhood and had now reached the peak of Entering the Hall and Inner Chambers, enough to look down on her peers!
Gu Chen chuckled. "Very well. Let's give it a try."
Hua Yumo's expression turned cold. "Let's see how many moves you can withstand!"
Wang Hu started to speak but was stopped by the old man. The old man looked at Gu Chen, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.
Gu Chen remained calm, as though everything were under his control.
"Get ready. Don't let me beat you to tears!" Hua Yumo cried, pouncing at Gu Chen like a cheetah, both palms like blades as they cut through the air with a whistle.
Gu Chen didn't move until Hua Yumo was upon him, then stepped aside to dodge. Hua Yumo's palm blade missed, and she swept out with her other palm.
Bang! Hua Yumo's expression soured. Her palm throbbed with pain, as though she had struck steel.
Gu Chen chuckled. "Is that all you can do?"
Unwilling to show weakness, Hua Yumo attacked again. But Gu Chen's arm shook, and an overwhelming aura suddenly surged out. Hua Yumo's expression changed drastically, and she stumbled back again and again.
She had only ever seen such an aura from her master, and Gu Chen's was even stronger!
How is this possible? How old is this brat? Hua Yumo was horrified.
Gu Chen smiled calmly. "To beat you, one finger is all I need."
As he spoke, he extended his index finger, and a flash of lightning seemed to sweep across its tip. At that moment, though frail, he seemed as heavy as Mount Tai and as mighty as a thunder god.
"Careful!" The old man went pale with shock.
But it was already too late. Gu Chen thrust out one finger, like heavenly punishment descending with the force of ten thousand thunderbolts. Hua Yumo felt her chest go numb and her whole body turn weak, and she collapsed to the ground.
Gu Chen looked down at her, his gaze like that of a deity surveying all living beings.