Chapter 129
After sending Li Shunxi off, Lu Sheng had just turned around to head to the Pharmacy when he saw his senior apprentice brother, Hong Mingzi, leading an unfamiliar middle-aged man in the direction of the sect master’s study .
The two men walked side by side . That middle-aged man stood tall and straight, and did not seem old . However, upon closer inspection, one could see that the roots of his hair had turned white, with the vicissitudes of life showing in his eyes . He was definitely older than thirty or forty years in age .
Lu Sheng took the initiative to approach in welcome .
"Senior Apprentice Brother, what brings you here? This is…?" he looked at that middle-aged man .
As soon as that person approached, he examined Lu Sheng with a peculiar glint in his eye, as if he were laying his eyes on some rare, precious treasure .
"This is none other than Nine-Strokes Sword and Palm Wang Yuanshan, who’s also Elder Wang’s elder brother, whom he mentioned previously . The original, complete version of Heart-Shattering Palm that you learnt is Brother Wang’s family heirloom martial arts skill," Hong Mingzi introduced .
"Wang Yuanshan?" Lu Sheng could indeed recall the name . "Come in, come in, let’s talk inside . "
He welcomed the duo in the study, shut its doors, then sent someone to fetch some tea .
After the three sat down, Wang Yuanshan said bluntly, "Sect Master Lu, you indeed live up to your great name . Sect Master Lu is an expert in both the inner and outer force, and armed with both hard body skills and inner Qi . You’ve epitomized the very essence of martial arts! In comparison, this old man…" he was straightforward in speech . Though seemingly flowery in his vocabulary, his choice of words were rather basic, altogether striking an uncanny impression .
"Senior Wang, you're too polite . May I know why Senior has come this day?" Lu Sheng smiled .
Lately, some of his hair had begun to grow out slowly and he was no longer bald and shiny like before . Although his muscles were still extremely tough, he had at least regained some of the appearance of a young master .
"Junior Apprentice Brother," Wang Yuanshan didn't speak; instead, it was Hong Mingzi who spoke first .
He glanced at his surroundings .
Lu Sheng got his drift and dismissed those by the side with a wave of his hand . They shut the doors and stood guard outside the study .
Seeing that the attendants were dismissed, Hong Mingzi lifted up the teacup by his side . His expression gradually turned solemn .
"I made this trip to ask Junior Apprentice Brother regarding a matter . I ask that you reply me truthfully . "
Lu Sheng startled, before smiling, "Senior Apprentice Brother, please speak your mind . "
Hong Mingzi took a sip of his tea, before gently lowering his teacup . His finger caressed the edge of the teacup absentmindedly .
"May I be so bold to ask Junior Apprentice Brother, just which Noble Family did your mother’s ancestors descend from?"
Lu Sheng’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly . He didn't know whether to laugh or to cry . These two fellas assumed that he had descended from an offshoot branch of some Noble Family lineage .
Before he had the time to respond, Hong Mingzi continued,
"Honestly speaking, I didn't have the opportunity to ask you previously with all the urgent matters we had to settle . However, ever since witnessing junior apprentice brother’s battle to fend off the Scarlet District ghost, I began to hazard a guess," Hong Mingzi said seriously . "The ordinary sect members may perhaps be unaware of these secrets, and presume that all ghosts are the same and cannot be defeated . However, for those of us who have interacted with Noble Families, we do understand the difference .
The difference between ghosts and Anomalies is like the difference between the heavens and the earth . For Junior Apprentice Brother to be able to force Scarlet District’s Deputy District Mistress into retreat, there is no longer any doubt about your true power . "
"Most importantly, this sort of power… even if we were to survey the entire Northern Lands, we won’t be able to find another like you . Not even the Central Plains…" Nine-Strokes Sword and Palm Wang Yuanshan interrupted and added grimly .
Lu Sheng instantly understood why the duo had come . No wonder that previously, the upper echelon of the sect—including Chen Ying—had been increasingly deferential towards him . Come to think of it, it was actually because they had mistaken him to be someone of Nobleman bloodline .
Someone like that swordsman whom Xiao Hongye had arranged to test him out . A remnant member of a declining Noble Family, wandering about outside, was rare but not non-existent .
Lu Sheng deliberated for a moment before raising his head .
"Actually, the answer that Senior Apprentice Brother seeks is not important . What’s important, is whether or not I am able to lead Crimson Whale Sect and Crimson Sun Sect onto a better path ahead . "
His reply neither confirmed nor denied their assumptions directly .
Hong Mingzi and Wang Yuanshan exchanged glances, a look of comprehension dawning on their faces, as if they had learnt something .
Lu Sheng was clueless about what they had just understood or verified .
"That works too . We’ll skip this matter . It’s really my blessing to have someone like Junior Apprentice Brother lead our Crimson Sun Sect . However, there’s also that other question, regarding how to expand the strength of the sect’s disciples," Hong Mingzi asked again .
Only now did Lu Sheng recall Song Zhenguo, whom he had abandoned in the city like a forsaken sheep . He had given him some martial arts instruction, as well as the initiation mantra for Green Pine One-Thought Formula . After that, he had not paid him any attention . How far the latter had progressed was a mystery to Lu Sheng .
"The key to a strong sect lies in taking in disciples and making public our mantras," after thinking it over, Lu Sheng replied grimly .
"Make public our mantras!? NO WAY!" Hong Mingzi got the fright of his life and rose in objection vehemently .
"Senior Apprentice Brother, hear me out first . When I say to make public the mantras, I don't mean to reveal all of them . It’s just to make public some of the most basic ones, in order to filter out the geniuses and talents who show aptitude in cultivating martial arts . Only this way can we sieve out the gold from the sand, and find the best disciples," Lu Sheng already had this in mind from way back .
Anyway, even if he were to throw out all the original versions of the martial arts skills he cultivated, no one could possibly surpass him . Therefore, he wasn't too bothered about the skills being leaked out .
As long as he had Yin Qi, then he could advance many times faster than others, and achieve full-mastery in the skill in an instant .
"That won't do either! These martial arts skills are the blood, sweat, and tears of our sect’s pioneers, who had to pay a hefty price to carve out this legacy . To leak them out so flippantly is a huge dishonor to our founders . Junior Apprentice Brother, think of another way out," Hong Mingzi refused to budge an inch on this matter .
Lu Sheng said more, but was still unable to convince him, and could only let the matter rest . The original process of enlisting disciples—first observe their character and personality, then test out their aptitude—was too inefficient . That was no way for Crimson Sun Sect to grow in strength .
The duo including Hong Mingzi got the answer they sought . Before long, they rose and left in disappointment . Since they now ‘knew’ that Lu Sheng was of Nobleman lineage, then the reason why he could fight the Scarlet District’s Deputy District Mistress, who was in the realm of Bind, was because he must have had countered the black membrane of the Anomaly with the power of Bind in his own bloodline . It was the only way he could stand his own in that battle .
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