Under One Person: Rebuilding the Glory of the Beast Master

Chapter 52 Seeking Advice

After entering the room, Zhang Jingqing said, "To be honest, I came here for two reasons. First, to celebrate Elder Lu's birthday. Second, I really have something to discuss. I didn't know how to bring it up, but Mr. Wang and the others mentioned it, which suits me perfectly."

Lu Xuan and Zuo Ruotong, standing to the side, still looked puzzled, wondering what the Taoist master was trying to say.

Then Zhang Jingqing continued, "You all see my apprentice beside me, right? I took him on this trip to find a talented peer to teach him a lesson. Young people sparring and practicing together is an excellent opportunity."

"Master, what are you doing here!" Lu Xuan was puzzled. If the Master wanted to discipline his disciple, why would he need to use someone else's hand? It wouldn't be as simple as just a few slaps.

"Sigh..." Zhang Jingqing sighed. "To be honest, my disciple is good in every way, except for some of the sect's protective techniques—"

"Somewhat unsatisfactory?" Zuo Ruotong said.

This is not meant to belittle the disciple; "barely satisfactory" is a positive term, meaning that while not the best, it is still acceptable.

"No—it's too strong. And it's far too strong."

As soon as Zhang Jingqing said this, Lu Xuan and Zuo Ruotong felt that they must have misheard.

What kind of talk is this? Is it a roundabout way of praising one's own disciple?

If the two hadn't been so well-mannered, they might have actually turned around and left. Before leaving, they would have spat at Zhang Jingqing twice.

Zhang Jingqing also noticed that there seemed to be a problem with her language expression, so she quickly explained.

After listening to Zhang Jingqing's explanation, the two finally understood the reason for the matter.

In short, Zhang Zhiwei is too arrogant and impulsive, and his strength is exceptionally outstanding and formidable. Zhang Jingqing can no longer control him using ordinary methods.

At Longhu Mountain, none of Zhang Zhiwei's peers could defeat him. If an elder were to intervene, it wouldn't suppress him; instead, it would only make Zhang Zhiwei more arrogant. After all, losing to an elder isn't a real defeat. If one could defeat an elder by a move or two, that would be a great victory, which would only fuel Zhang Zhiwei's already insatiable arrogance.

After listening to Zhang Jingqing's words, Zuo Ruotong completely understood the Celestial Master. It just so happened that he also needed to find an opportunity to thoroughly train Lu Jin.

Although Lu Jin had gained a much deeper understanding after the last incident, the wildness in his heart was still there.

If this disciple of the Celestial Master is truly as strong as the Celestial Master claims, then Lu Jin will undergo a complete transformation in this battle.

Both instructors were prepared to use a repressive style of training.

"Alright, let Jin'er fight the Celestial Master's disciple tomorrow." Zuo Ruotong agreed to the battle.

"Oh! That's great, it's settled then," Zhang Jingqing said happily.

Lu Xuan didn't say anything; all he could do in front of these two was nod.

The birthday banquet outside is still ongoing.

Today, the Lu family is hosting a continuous banquet, where anyone who comes forward to offer birthday wishes can eat and drink as they please.

Lu Jin was now completely drunk, while opposite him was Lü Ci. The two were locked in a fierce battle, determined to determine the winner.

As a result, they both fell to the ground.

Although Lu Jin was unconscious, he still clung to the table, refusing to let the servants help him away.

"I—can still—drink, don't—touch—me—!"

Lu Ci, lying next to her brother, was the same, wriggling in her brother's arms, also wanting to keep fighting.

Finally, with the combined efforts of both sides, the two were separated.

Zeng Su sat to the side drinking juice, completely out of place with the others. There was nothing he could do about it, given his young age; otherwise, he would have had to go up and play a round.

-

Everyone present, regardless of gender, was incredibly generous and boisterous, especially Guan Shihua, who had already drunk two tables of people under the table.

"Young man!"

A tall figure sat down next to him, reeking of alcohol.

The visitor was Zhang Zhiwei.

"Greetings, Daoist Master."

Zeng Su didn't get up but turned his head and said that he was really excited when he first saw Zhang Zhiwei, but after looking at him for a while, he was just so-so.

People are completely different once you get to know them.

Zhang Zhiwei, in particular, had no airs at all. When drinking with others, he would just grab the wine jar and chug it down his throat. He also had no manners when eating. At first, he used chopsticks, but after he had his fill of drinking, he started eating with his hands.

Zhang Zhiwei is still holding a chicken leg and eating it right now!

"Why have you been observing me?" Zhang Zhiwei asked Zeng Su after taking a bite of his chicken leg.

Many people are observing him, since revealing his identity as a disciple of the Celestial Master will naturally attract a lot of attention.

However, Zeng Su was too young, which is why he became interested.

"Of course it's because you're very strong, Daoist Master!" Zeng Su replied, a very apt answer.

Zhang Zhiwei didn't say anything and continued gnawing on his chicken leg, but his eyes never left Zeng Su.

This child gave him a strange feeling. Judging from the level of Qi, he could be called a little genius, but he had seen too many geniuses. His fellow disciples on Longhu Mountain were all top talents, one in a hundred. But this child in front of him was different.

"How old are you this year?" Zhang Zhiwei asked.

"Eight years old, almost nine in a few days," Zeng Su said.

Zhang Zhiwei nodded, took another bite of the chicken leg, chewed twice, swallowed, and then wiped his mouth with his sleeve. His movements were so rough that he didn't look like a Taoist priest, but rather like an ordinary farmer.

"At eight years old, your Qi is already so abundant," he said, then his tone suddenly changed, "But yours—is too mixed."

Zeng Su had heard this question countless times. He remembered that when he obtained the Five Elements from Xuan Hei, it surprised Zuo Ruotong. In the end, Zuo Ruotong found that Zeng Su's condition was still normal, so she did not interfere too much and simply attributed the matter to his innate ability.

Besides, only innate superpowers can explain this.

Zhang Zhiwei tossed the chicken bones onto the table, then extended his right palm upwards. A powerful aura emerged from his palm, a pale golden color that condensed and did not dissipate, slowly flowing in his palm like a tamed golden flame.

"We from Longhu Mountain value purity," Zhang Zhiwei said. "Only purity leads to refinement, refinement leads to understanding, and understanding leads to mastery."

It's not pure; it's like a pot of porridge with sand mixed in. It's not inedible, but it's hard to chew.

He withdrew the Qi from his palm and looked at Zeng Su: "And the Qi in your body, I roughly counted, there are at least four or five kinds. There is the hardness of metal, the vitality of wood, the continuity of water, the intensity of fire, and the weight of earth—you have gathered all five elements."

Zeng Su picked up his juice, took a sip, and then just looked at Zhang Zhiwei, showing no intention of explaining.

This made Zhang Zhiwei feel a little embarrassed, something he hadn't done in a long time. He then rubbed his nose and continued, "So many kinds of Qi coexist in your body without conflict, without clashing or causing you to go into qi deviation." He paused, then asked the question he most wanted to know.

"How did you do that?"

"It's a secret!" Zeng Su replied directly. He wouldn't explain anything to anyone else, not even Zhang Zhiwei.

Zhang Zhiwei stared at him for two seconds, then smiled. But the smile seemed a bit forced.

"You are the most interesting person I have ever met."

"7

"Thank you for your evaluation, Master."

The conversation ended abruptly, with Zhang Zhiwei still unaware of Zeng Su, while Zeng Su could be considered one of the people in the world who understood Zhang Zhiwei best.

Time quickly passed to the next day.

In the morning, everyone gathered at the Lu family's training ground. The entire training ground had been cleared out, revealing a large open space.

The news that there would be a competition among the younger generation today caused quite a stir.

Many people had originally planned to leave after the birthday celebration, but after hearing about this, they decided to stay and see who among the younger generation was the strongest.

There are even people who run gambling dens, since gambling exists everywhere.

"Lord Lu, it is up to you to make the announcement," said the head of the Wang family from the side.

Grandpa Lu had a big smile on his face; old people like this kind of lively scene.

So Old Master Lu stood up and cupped his hands in greeting to those around him. Then his aged but loud voice echoed throughout the square: "Gentlemen, I am deeply grateful for your presence at my birthday banquet. Today, it is a rare occasion for heroes from all walks of life to gather here, so we elders have discussed letting the younger generation exchange skills and broaden their horizons."

As for the rest, I won't say any more.

He paused, then smiled and swept his gaze across the young faces present: "Let the competition begin!"

After he finished speaking, the square fell silent for a moment.

The younger generation looked at each other, their faces full of eagerness, but their feet seemed rooted to the spot, and no one moved.

The reason is obvious to everyone: being the first to go means a great start if you win, but if you lose, you become someone else's stepping stone. With so many eyes watching, nobody wants to be the one to stick their neck out.

"What's wrong? Weren't you all quite lively just now? Now you've all become silent?" a middle-aged man with unusual features teased, which drew a burst of laughter.

The young people were getting a little embarrassed by the laughter, and some of them started giving each other meaningful glances, meaning "You go first, you go first."

Lu Ci leaned against the courtyard wall with his arms crossed, a cold smile playing on his lips. His gaze swept across the area, selecting his prey. Finally, his eyes settled on Lu Jin; he had long wanted to fight Lu Jin.

Lu Jin stood among the Lu family members, his expression relaxed, and he didn't rush to step forward. His gaze swept through the crowd, glancing in his master's direction. His master was holding a teacup, his expression indifferent, offering no instructions whatsoever. So he had to wait.

Guan Shihua sat in a chair, cracking sunflower seeds with a satisfying crackling sound, watching the spectacle with great interest. She had no intention of participating in the competition; as a disciple of a shaman, individual strength was not important, as their strength primarily came from the spirit possessing them.

"Brother," she said, turning her head to Zeng Su sitting next to her, "look at these people, they're all like they're squatting on the toilet, holding their breath."

Zeng Su's lips twitched, but he didn't respond to that.

Just then—

"I'll do it!"

A voice rang out from the crowd, not loud. But in this setting, it was like a tidal wave, drawing everyone's attention to the direction from which the voice came.

The crowd automatically parted to make way, and a round figure emerged.

Wang Ai.

For the first time ever, this young master of the Wang family wore a short, tight-fitting outfit today, and his hair, which was originally parted in the middle, was now combed into a buzz cut.

"Wang Ai?"

"Why did he go first?"

"I didn't expect the young master of the Wang family."

A murmur arose from the crowd.

When the head of the Wang family saw his son step forward first, he raised an eyebrow slightly, paused for a moment while holding his teacup, and then continued drinking his tea as if nothing had happened.

He knew his son. Wang Ai wasn't one to seek the limelight, at least not the kind of first person to step forward. So what was he doing today—

The head of the Wang family narrowed his eyes slightly, and his gaze followed Wang Ai's line of sight, landing on a chubby girl with pigtails in the crowd.

Understood.

Then the head of the Wang family nodded; his son still had some courage and determination.

Of course, the head of the Wang family was also aware that his son was not among the outstanding talents present, and he had that much self-awareness.

So all he was thinking was that as long as his son didn't lose too badly, that would be enough; it would be even better if he could win.

Wang Ai walked to the center of the arena, clasped his hands in greeting to the four directions, and smiled as before, but today he had a bit more vigor: "Esteemed elders and fellow practitioners, I, Wang Ai, dare to be the first to go on stage today, to offer my humble opinion and inspire you all."

"good!

Someone shouted "Good!" No matter what, it takes courage to be the first to stand up, and that courage alone deserves applause. It's just unknown who Wang Ai will challenge or who will challenge Wang Ai.

Wang Ai waited with a smile for the applause to subside, then turned around, his gaze passing through the crowd and landing directly on one person.

"Today, I would like to ask for guidance from the esteemed disciple of the Left Master of the Sanyi Sect."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked at Lu Jin. Who else could it be but Lu Jin, the esteemed disciple of the Left Sect Master?

Therefore, people naturally assumed that Wang Ai was challenging Lu Jin. To be honest, this was really unexpected, after all, Lu Jin was a recognized outstanding young talent, not to mention that he was now a disciple of the orthodox Xuanmen Sanyi Sect.

Even the Wang family head, who was watching the spectacle from below, was dumbfounded. His hand trembled, and the tea in his cup spilled out. His son must be desperate for a beating; where did he get the courage to challenge Lu Jin?

"Could it be that Ai'er has been secretly cultivating without my knowledge?" the Wang family head wondered.

"Wow, Brother Wang, your kid's got some talent!" said the Lu family head in surprise.

Lu Jin was taken aback when he heard Wang Ai's words. He never expected Wang Ai to challenge him. However, since she had already issued a challenge, there was no reason not to accept it. So he prepared to step forward and fight.

But then Wang Ai continued, "Brother Zeng Su, I would like to learn a few moves from you. I wonder if I have the honor."

[More to come]