Chapter 509: Foster Son? Disciple? Master!

"Ghost Lynx Tiger cub! This spirit beast resembles a lynx, intelligent and nimble, with a supple figure; its adult length is less than three feet, and it can launch a surprise attack capable of slaying a Warrior at the Rushing Horse Initial or Mid Stage!"

"Ideal for guarding homes and entertaining masters. Starting bid: three hundred taels of silver! Each increment must be no less than fifty taels!"

Gold light flowed across the platform built of teak.

Zhu Zhu Bingcan lifted a cub resembling a tiger-striped cat and displayed it to either side.

The cub struggled desperately, its tail lashing the air with a whistling sound, yet to no avail.

"Three hundred and fifty taels."

"Four hundred taels."

No one in the second-floor private booth responded; only scattered bidders on the ground floor called out prices.

The Ghost Lynx Tiger's power is low-tier; as an auction item, its advantage lies in its appealing appearance, pleasing to women, so few bid on it.

Moreover,

today's auction had everyone distracted, their gazes repeatedly drawn to the central private booth on the second floor.

Liang Qu's acquisition of the jade token was known to all except those in deep seclusion.

Why would the King of Xu Yue summon a Wolf Smoke Warrior without cause?

There was no need to ponder the underlying logic.

Thus, Zhu Zhu Bingcan temporarily rearranged the order of the first few auction items.

Originally, a fine heavenly treasure was meant to open the event and warm the atmosphere; now it was replaced with an insignificant pet cat, giving people time to think.

In the seating area, leaders of familiar minor clans formed a small circle.

"Gentlemen, what are your thoughts?"

The middle-aged man spun a lion-head ornament, glancing sidelong at the second-floor stage.

"I've heard several gold-token holders say that if one endures the martial trial for a full quarter-hour, a divine spear will materialize, descending from the heavens, containing a faint trace of the Wu Sheng's intent, striking out at the challenger. Hence the speculation: to obtain the jade token, one must shatter or withstand this divine spear!"

"Shatter or withstand the divine spear?" Others sounded as if they'd heard a fairy tale, "Doesn't that mean confronting the Wu Sheng's will?"

"Precisely."

"Perhaps a Grand Warrior might have a chance, relying on sheer quantity—but a mere Wolf Smoke... how?"

"You think it impossible?"

"Impossible!"

"Then why is his jade token unique?"

The lion-head ornament clicked sharply.

All fell silent, unable to refute.

"What martial art or true technique can cultivate the Wu Sheng's will? Wu Sheng's ultimate art? Or something higher?"

"Martial arts are cultivated by men. Can one simply obtain a true technique and instantly ascend to sainthood? Whether one succeeds or fails ultimately depends on the man."

Hearing this, the clan leaders ceased their debate.

"Ancient bronze inscribed water... starting bid: five hundred taels..."

"What do you think the King of Xu Yue wanted by summoning that boy to his booth?"

"To adopt him as a disciple," said the goatee clan leader, stroking his armrest. "Adopting as disciple, arranging a marriage alliance, taking as foster son—these are the most common ways to court talented youths."

There is no record of the King of Xu Yue having a daughter or granddaughter of marriageable age; any marriage alliance would have to be arranged with a collateral branch.

With such a genius, a collateral branch alliance would remain too shallow. But taking him as a foster son seems too intimate. Only becoming his master strikes the perfect balance."

"Unlikely," said the mustached clan leader, shaking his head. "Liang Qu is ambitious. One mountain cannot hold two tigers; one nation cannot have two sovereigns. A father or sovereign is singular—he won't abandon his current master for another."

"So what if he seeks fame? Fame and profit feed each other: profit naturally brings fame; fame naturally brings profit."

"The Guoluo carries the Mingling 's young—I think it's not impossible he might become a foster son. You all know the jade token holder has extraordinary talent, but do you know just how extraordinary?"

"This..."

The goatee and mustached clan leaders exchanged glances.

Indeed.

The Wu Sheng was so distant from them that though they knew the one who shattered the Wu Sheng's will must possess peerless talent, they had no clear sense of just how high that talent truly was—only vague speculation.

Amid murmurs, a shadow flickered in their peripheral vision.

The door to Booth Jia-1 opened.

Liang Qu scanned the room, ignored them, and walked toward Booth Yi-3 amid countless probing gazes.

Auction guests whispered among themselves.

Among them were numerous gold, silver, and bronze token holders, their eyes sharp.

Gold, silver, and bronze—each received vastly different treatment.

What of the jade token?

Booth Yi-3.

Xu Xu Yue, distracted, listened half-heartedly as Zhu Zhu Bingcan announced the bids; through the window grille, he spotted Liang Qu, spun around, opened the door, and pushed his younger brother onto the Luo Han bed.

"Quick, quick, Liang Ashui! What did the King of Xu Yue want with you? Is he going to take you as his disciple?"

The few clan leaders could guess this—how could his senior brothers and sisters not? All were tense, awaiting Liang Qu's decision.

Liang Qu chuckled, rose, bowed to Yang Yang Dongxiong, then turned to face all his senior brothers and sisters.

"At first, the King of Xu Yue wanted to take me as his disciple!"

Xiang Xiang Zhangsong stretched his neck: "And then? Did you accept or refuse?"

"I naturally refused," Liang Qu turned to Yang Yang Dongxiong and bowed respectfully, "My Master gave me rebirth. How could I abandon my benefactor for personal gain and switch masters?"

When the old monk once offered to take him as disciple, Liang Qu was only at the Four Passes realm—four major realms below—and still he refused.

From Wolf Smoke to Heavenly Dragon Wu Sheng, the gap is now only three realms—less than before. There is no reason to accept now when I refused then.

Yang Yang Dongxiong, hearing this blunt declaration, felt an inexplicable emotion.

He was moved, yet also regretful—fearing he had hindered his disciple's brilliant future.

A Wu Sheng.

The pillar of the nation.

"Master, don't grieve for me. Without your teaching, I would never have reached this point."

Before I obtained the jade token, I saw a man from Nanxun acquire a bronze token—his clothes were patched, washed pale, clearly impoverished."

If he lived in Xiangyi County, burdened by travel costs, how could he ever turn his fortune?"

Liang Qu spoke with sincerity.

With Yang Yang Dongxiong's help, he smoothly passed his formative years, then naturally entered the River Office, cultivated ties with his superior Xu Xu Yue, and rose swiftly thereafter.

Without Master Yang's foundation, many things would never have been possible.

At least the May anomaly would never have granted Liang Qu a share.

Yang Yang Dongxiong nodded slightly, understanding Liang Qu's words, deeply comforted.

Xu Xu Yue could not wait to press further.

"And then? After refusing, did it end there?"

"Then the King of Xu Yue proposed to adopt me as his foster son."

Foster son!

Everyone was startled.

This bond is far closer than master and disciple!

"Did you accept?"

Liang Qu shook his head again.

"Huh?"

Everyone was shocked.

Xu Xu Yue exclaimed: "Disciple? Foster son? You refused both?"

"I refused."

No disciple. No foster son.

Liang Qu had initially been tempted.

Even keeping a cat leaves a cat's scent—but the King of Xu Yue never held the serpent demon incident against him, showing great magnanimity.

But timing was different.

He had worked hard for years to develop Xingxing Town.

In Ningjiang Prefecture, he would likely reside in the central city.

Whether he'd even participate in the annual River God sacrifice was uncertain, and he'd be far from the water marshes compared to Pingyang Prefecture.

Moreover, the toad king's passage had vanished; the bloodstone mines in Xiangyi County were now farther away, and his hard-won foundations would vanish overnight.

To connect north and south, he'd need to link a long stretch of the Wolong waterway—daily maintenance would be a heavy burden.

He'd need to check it every one or two days—too frequent, his body couldn't endure it.

"If you refuse everything, you gain nothing but the jade token?"

"Not quite. The King of Xu Yue, moved by my loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness, still accepted me as a recorded disciple. From now on, the jade token is my official badge—I may go to Ningjiang Prefecture anytime to seek the King of Xu Yue without prior notice, and..."

Liang Qu paused deliberately.

"Oh my god, you're like a bride on the sedan chair—can't you just spit it out?!" Xu Xu Yue grabbed Liang Qu's shoulders and shook him.

"The King of Xu Yue summoned me—why are you more anxious than I am?"

"Tell us! Tell us now!"

Liang Qu grinned: "The King of Xu Yue has ordered his disciple to go to Ningjiang Prefecture nine or ten years from now to teach his four-year-old grandson martial arts! He wants me to be his master!"

"What?"

The master of the Grand Saint's grandson?