From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 54 Fighting
There were servants guarding outside the reception hall.

Fu Zhiyi knew her father was meeting a guest and it would be impolite to go in without warning, so she asked the servant, "Who is coming?"

"Miss, it's Master Qi of the Xionghu Clan and his son. It seems... they're here to propose marriage to you."

As the servant spoke, he couldn't help but steal a glance at Xu Xiaogou beside Fu Zhiyi, trying to guess the identity of this strange man.

Say goodbye?

Why come at this time instead of earlier?

Fu Zhiyi ordered the servant: "Send a message to my father and tell him that I have something urgent to discuss with him."

----

In the reception hall, Qi Chunshan was still praising his son, saying how upright and kind his character was, how self-disciplined he was in his daily martial arts practice, and so on.

The servant walked in quietly and whispered a few words into Fu Yuanzhen's ear.

"My daughter is here? That's great, let her in."

Fu Yuanzhen said loudly in front of the Qi family father and son.

The servant went out to deliver the message, and then Fu Zhiyi and Xu Xiaogou came in.

The Qi family father and son thought that Fu Zhiyi came alone, but when they saw a young man following her, they were puzzled.

Xu Xiaogou looked embarrassed. He came here to confront Fu Zhiyi and her father, but he never expected to encounter such a situation.

"Dad, Uncle Qi..."

Fu Zhiyi was a bit timid and didn't dare to point out Xu Xiaogou's identity in this situation: "This is my friend, Xu Xiaogou."

Xu Xiaogou quickly greeted the two leaders: "Master Fu, Master Qi, I have long heard of your great names."

He recognized these two big men, having seen them outside several times.

His heart was pounding with nervousness, beads of sweat oozing from his forehead. He considered himself a martial arts genius, certain to ascend to the Xiantian realm in the future.

But the two big guys, Qi Chunshan is at the innate level, not to mention that Fu Yuanzhen is known as one of the most talented people in martial arts in Tonggu County in the past few decades and is at the martial arts master level.

In front of the two of them, he was as weak as an ant.

However, he, an ant, came to marry Fu Yuanzhen's daughter and snatch Qi Chunshan's daughter-in-law.

"Don't be nervous young man, sit down."

Fu Yuanzhen gestured for the two to sit down and introduced Qi Xiaping: "Ayi, your uncle Qi's second son Xia Ping, you have met him before."

"Brother Xia Ping."

Fu Zhiyi greeted him politely, her expression cold. She had met Qi Xiaping at a wedding banquet a few years ago and remembered that he kept stealing glances at her, which didn't leave a good impression on her.

Qi Chunshan's gaze shifted between Fu Zhiyi and Xu Xiaogou. He saw something, but then felt it was insignificant. This was Fu Yuanzhen's first time meeting Xu Xiaogou, and Fu Zhiyi hadn't revealed Xu Xiaogou's identity.

That means: his Xia Ping still has a chance.

There was just a little affection between the young people, but that spark was extinguished in an instant in the face of "parents' orders and matchmaker's words".

He smiled and said kindly, "Zhiyi, I haven't seen you for two or three years, you have become more beautiful.

No wonder my Xia Ping keeps talking about you. He saw you at the temple fair a few days ago, and when he got home he couldn't eat or drink and couldn't stop thinking about you.

As he said this, he winked at his son, asking him to speak.

Qi Xiaping was too shy to face his elders, but with his "rival" next to him, how could he not fight for it?
"Yes, yes. Sister Zhiyi is so gentle and lovely. Which man wouldn't want to marry her and pamper her for life?"

Qi Chunshan nodded secretly, very satisfied with his son's performance, and continued: "Zhiyi, our two families have known each other for decades. If you marry into our family, it will be a close relationship. We will definitely treat you like our own daughter.

Don't worry about Xia Ping's character. I have disciplined him since he was young. Besides being obsessed with martial arts, he has never touched opium or gambling...

Speaking of martial arts, Xia Ping's talent is no worse than your elder and second brothers. Saying he has an 80% chance of advancing to the Xiantian realm is an understatement..."

Fu Zhiyi watched the Qi family father and son chattering back and forth, leaving her with no chance to refuse or decline. If they continued talking, she wouldn't even know how to find an excuse to refuse.

Fu Yuanzhen calmly sat at the main seat, sipping his teacup. This was a test for Xu Xiaogou.

His daughter couldn't marry a coward.

As a martial artist, he values ​​the "heart of martial arts" more than family background.

Xu Xiaogou couldn't help it after all. Seeing the two of them talking about marrying Fu Zhiyi in front of him, he exploded.

He stood up with a whoosh, interrupting the two Qi family members and bowing to Fu Yuanzhen: "Master Fu, I like Zhiyi. Can you let her marry me? She and I are truly in love. Please grant us your blessing."

"..."

Qi Chunshan's expression changed slightly. This kid was more daring than he had imagined. He was not easy to deal with. "Why are you still standing there?"

He turned toward his son and whispered.

Qi Xiaping, who had reacted, also stood up and said, "Uncle Fu, I like Zhiyi. She will definitely be happier if she marries into our family."

Fu Yuanzhen looked at the two young men without saying anything.

Qi Chunshan said, "Young man, where are you from? I see you're also practicing the Bear and Tiger Stance, it looks unfamiliar to me."

The characteristics of the Bear and Tiger Stance are very obvious.

Qi Chunshan had never seen Xu Xiaogou in his own martial arts school, so it was obvious that he did not learn it there.

"Master Qi, I am Xu Xiaogou, a member of the Xu family of Baihe Mountain."

"How's the family fortune?"

"Um...we have 280 acres of land at home, 100 acres of which are rented from other families."

Xu Xiaogou didn't want to brag on this topic.

Qi Chunshan was very experienced in manipulating people: "Look at the environment Zhiyi grew up in. If she marries you, she will have a hard life. If you really like her, let her go. It will be good for her."

"Ok?"

Xu Xiaogou was very smart and realized instantly that this person was trying to set a trap for him through sophistry.

"Master Qi, Zhiyi doesn't like your son. Will she be happy if she marries into your family? Besides, don't look down on the young and poor. My family is just not rich at the moment. I can also ascend to the Xiantian level in the future, so I won't let Zhiyi suffer."

"..."

Now it was Qi Chunshan's turn to be speechless. He didn't expect that this young man could respond calmly in the face of pressure from him, a congenital warrior.

----

"Stop arguing."

Fu Yuanzhen finally spoke and took control of the situation.

He was quite satisfied with Xu Xiaogou's performance: he dared to express himself, was neither humble nor arrogant, was not afraid of the strong, and was very confident in himself.

"Ayi, what do you say?"

He gave the decision-making power to his daughter, actually choosing Xu Xiaogou.

Fu Zhiyi's words stunned everyone present.

"Let's follow the common solution of warriors and fight. They all say that one can advance to the Xiantian stage, so we'll know who is more talented after a fight."

"?"

Fu Yuanzhen wondered, as long as his daughter chose Xu Xiaogou, he would just go along with it, why did he have to resort to such a bad idea?

"Okay, we are all martial artists, so let's follow the rules of martial arts!
Brother Yuanzhen, can you lend me your martial arts arena?"

Qi Chunshan smiled happily.

A man who practices bear-tiger stance in the village, competing with his son?
Fu Zhiyi had already spoken, so Fu Yuanzhen had no choice but to take everyone to the martial arts training ground in the backyard.

The martial arts training ground is a low platform about two meters square, paved with thick rocks. It is here that Fu Yuanzhen practices his martial arts or moves at home, and occasionally instructs his sons.

The half-meter-thick rock bricks often had to be replaced because they broke.

"The rules of the fight are to give it your all. Whoever falls off the stage loses."

Fu Yuanzhen said.

He had inquired about Xu Xiaogou's situation and learned that his kung fu was unmatched in Baihe Village. But that was within the village.

As the son of the leader of the Xionghu Sect, Qi Xiaping's martial arts resources are far beyond Xu Xiaogou's reach.

Fortunately, both of them have reached the third level of Zhuang Gong, so Xu Xiaogou may have a chance of winning.

The two men walked onto the stage and bowed.

Xu Xiaogou's eyes were calm. He hadn't used his full strength in a long time, and he no longer boasted about his talent. After his eldest brother went to the army, he became more reserved and calm.

Beneath his reserved demeanor lies his absolute confidence. However, he will never underestimate his opponents, as he has suffered losses several times due to his carelessness.

Qi Xiaping on the opposite side had a faint smile on his face, and it seemed that he was sure to win against Xu Xiaogou.

He had no shortage of nourishing herbs since he was a child, and it was his father who taught him martial arts, who had mastered the bear and tiger physical skills to the innate level.

(End of this chapter)