Chapter 7

"Dear nephews, coming from afar, my humble residence is truly shining."

A pot-bellied middle-aged man stood in front of the residence gate.

This person was the Zhu family head, Zhu Ping.

Don't look at his bloated appearance; this Zhu family head is a real martial arts expert in Qinghe. Anyone who fights often knows that this kind of 'meat-wrapped-muscle' is the hardest to deal with.

He once relied on a ruthless spirit to gain a foothold in Qinghe, but these years his mind has been used in business, and he doesn't need to use martial arts, so his temperament has softened a lot.

Zhu Ping changed his usual majestic appearance and smiled like a blooming chrysanthemum.

How could he not be happy!

Today, it wasn't just his son Zhu Yue who came to the Zhu residence, but also three other prodigies of the Huaqing Sect; even the County Magistrate would be jealous seeing this scene.

The Zhu family has gained great face.

"Sorry for the intrusion for the next few days, sorry to trouble Uncle Zhu."

The oldest man was worthy of being a disciple of a great sect; he didn't neglect anyone in his dealings, making people feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.

"No trouble, no trouble."

Zhu Ping laughed and waved his hands repeatedly; he wished these few Huaqing Sect disciples would stay in Qinghe for a few more days.

"Father."

Zhu Yue jumped off his horse first.

Zhu Ping looked at his good eldest son with gratification, almost saying 'my son has the qualifications of a great grandmaster.'

Zhu Yue pointed to the oldest man and introduced: "This is Senior Brother Han Qin, an expert in the Eighth-Rank Bronze Bone Realm; Master often praises Senior Brother Han, saying he will surely achieve great things in the future."

"Zhu Gan, don't praise me anymore."

Han Qin chuckled.

Zhu Yue pointed to another somewhat honest youth: "This is Tao Shidi Zhou Hu."

Finally, he pointed to the only girl this time: "This is Junior Sister Jiang Yan."

Zhu Ping nodded one by one: "All are young and promising heroes; in the Upper Sect, I have to trouble the three of you to take care of Yue'er."

Han Qin's smile remained unchanged.

Zhou Hu waved his hand shyly.

Jiang Yan was expressionless.

From this, one could see that the four had different temperaments.

Zhu Ping had been in charge of the Zhu family for many years and was very seasoned; he wouldn't let the atmosphere become awkward and, after ordering the servants to entertain them well, found an excuse to leave.

They were all young people; if he, a man nearly forty, forcibly joined in, it would only be counterproductive.

Zhu Yue took the three of them to tour the Zhu family garden.

Zhou Hu had long been fascinated by the endless pavilions and towers of the Zhu family: "Senior Brother Zhu, your home is really rich."

The disciples of the Huaqing Sect were not all from high-ranking families.

There were also those from humble backgrounds like Zhou Hu.

Of course, 'humble background' refers to scholar families whose family fortunes have fallen; ordinary families aren't even qualified to call themselves humble.

Zhu Yue was praised by Zhou Hu and was in a great mood: "If Tao Shidi Zhou likes it, you can stay at my home for a few more days."

Don't look at him being surrounded by stars in Qinghe; in the Huaqing Sect, he really couldn't be counted as anything.

Now that he could be praised by his fellow disciples, he was naturally happy.

Han Qin's smile seemed to never disappear: "The three great families of Qinghe, Zhu, Liu, Yang; the Zhu family is Zhu Gan's family, how could it not be powerful."

Zhou Hu's face was even more surprised.

He didn't expect that Senior Brother Zhu, who didn't show it on weekdays, had such a good family background.

Zhu Yue was blown away by the two, but still humbly said: "Senior Brother Han, you are teasing me again."

While speaking, he unconsciously glanced at the girl beside him.

To compare backgrounds, this girl was the best among the four.

Zhu Yue changed the subject: "Senior Brother Han, my father has a good relationship with County Magistrate Zhang of Qinghe; we can first let the government help us find the whereabouts of that traitor."

"Very good."

Han Qin heard this and readily agreed.

The reason the four of them came to Qinghe was, of course, not to tour the mountains and waters, but to hunt down a disciple who had defected from the Huaqing Sect.

Zhou Hu was also full of joy.

If the government could help, it would definitely save a lot of time.

Completing the mission earlier meant returning to the Huaqing Sect earlier to continue practicing.

Yes, even after becoming a disciple of the Huaqing Sect, one couldn't hide in the mountains to cultivate forever; disciples like Zhou Hu, unless their family background was thick enough, could only obtain resources for cultivation by doing sect missions themselves.

Martial arts masters are gold-swallowing beasts; even someone as wealthy as Zhu Yue had to go out to do missions.

The wealth of the Zhu family was only rich in the secular sense, but there were many things that couldn't be bought with silver.

In the Huaqing Sect, Zhu Yue had seen too many sights at the top of the mountain, and his horizons were getting higher and higher, so he returned to Qinghe less and less.

If it weren't for the fact that this mission happened to be in Qinghe, he might not have come for several more years.

Zhu Yue: "That person is Ninth-Rank and has a weapon; ordinary government runners are no match, so we will need to act ourselves when the time comes."

Han Qin nodded: "That is natural."

He, an Eighth-Rank, was more than enough to deal with a Ninth-Rank.

Zhou Hu smiled honestly: "Senior Brother Han's Falling Flower Sword was even praised by my master for having three points of charm."

Han Qin heard this: "Tao Shidi Zhou, is that true?"

"Of course!"

Zhou Hu patted his chest and said.

Although the four of them called each other senior brothers, they didn't worship the same master.

Zhou Hu's master was a famous sword expert in the Huaqing Sect; being praised by Zhou Hu's master, Han Qin was naturally happy.

Just then, the girl Jiang Yan, who had never spoken, suddenly opened her mouth: "Senior Brother Zhu, your residence is truly full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; even a groom is about to enter the rank."

Hearing this, the three were surprised and looked in the direction of Jiang Yan's gaze.

Zhu Yue discovered that, unknowingly, they had walked to the stables.

Their horses were just being led into the stables by an old groom.

Their horses were all good horses worth a thousand gold, each with a temper more unruly than the last, but in the hands of that old groom, they were as docile as sheep.

Zhu Yue remembered that this old groom had been in the Zhu family for a long time.

Long enough that it seemed he was already raising horses when he first remembered things.

It seems, called, called, called Li Rui?

"It's a pity he's too old, his blood and Qi are withered; never mind entering the rank, keeping his current state is already not bad."

Han Qin's words concluded Li Rui's fate.

Fists fear the young and strong.

Practicing martial arts isn't about being stronger the older you get; unless you can reach Seventh-Rank or above, the longer you live, the weaker your blood and Qi, and you can only end up as a whetstone for the younger generation.

Zhu Yue stopped paying attention.

A groom with decent strength; if it were before, he might have cared to win him over.

But now... he is devoted to seeking the Dao.

Operating forces is a lower-class technique, and Zhu Yue disdains to do it.

After the four left.

Li Rui looked at the backs of the four.

These four youths were unfamiliar faces, not Zhu family members, and dressed in luxury; if his guess was correct, they should be the distinguished guests from the Huaqing Sect that the servants in the residence were talking about.

Tsk tsk, entering the Huaqing Sect at such a young age.

Truly a boundless future.

But just as Li Rui lowered his head and prepared to tie the reins, —

A line of small characters appeared before his eyes.

【Congratulations to the host for completing the achievement 'Divine Couple' beginner plot—Acquaintance.】

(End of chapter)