Chapter 37: Senior Xia Shidi, I

"You strike first—give it your all." Yu Chi Xiao looked at Xia Daoming with a relaxed expression.

"Then, Senior Xia Shidi, take this!" Xia Daoming, seeing this, had no patience for modesty—he stepped forward in one swift motion and delivered a direct, open palm strike like a snake's tongue.

"Brat, you really think you can match me in strength!" Seeing Xia Daoming's straightforward palm strike with no variation, Yu Chi Xiao muttered inwardly, then raised his own palm to meet it head-on.

"Boom!"

Their palms collided in midair.

"Stagger! Stagger!" Yu Chi Xiao retreated two steps, while Xia Daoming stood firm, unmoved.

"This…!" Liang Liang Jingtang and the others were all shaken to their cores, eyes wide with disbelief.

Liu Xiao Xiao Qiang pressed her hand again against her heaving chest.

"This… how is this possible!" Yu Chi Xiao steadied himself, feeling the torrent-like force surge through him, and couldn't help crying out in shock and disbelief.

Seeing their stunned expressions, Xia Daoming smirked.

I haven't even used half my strength!

"Again!" Soon, Yu Chi Xiao regained his composure, calling out—but didn't charge. Instead, he fixed his gaze intently on Xia Daoming, his right hand forming a snake shape, palm like a serpent's head, flexing with eerie grace, as if a venomous snake faced its mortal enemy, waiting to strike a fatal blow.

Xia Daoming chuckled, still delivering a direct palm strike.

"Good!" Yu Chi Xiao roared, this time refusing to clash head-on. At the moment of impact, his wrist twisted like a snake's body, his palm suddenly snapping open like a serpent's mouth to seize Xia Daoming's wrist.

But Xia Daoming's hand had become just as supple and slippery as a serpent's body, slipping free of the grip, then sweeping sideways with a light bump.

Yu Chi Xiao felt a massive force jolt through him; his right arm involuntarily swung outward, leaving his chest wide open—another palm was already hurtling toward him.

His left hand, hidden at his waist, instantly shot out like a striking snake to block.

But as Yu Chi Xiao's left hand extended, he saw Xia Daoming's left hand spread its five fingers wide, clamping down upon it.

"Snap!"

Yu Chi Xiao's left hand was seized by Xia Daoming's transformed Dragon Claw.

Instantly, Xia Daoming's right palm pressed against his chest.

Cold sweat burst from Yu Chi Xiao's forehead.

"Forgive me, Senior Xia Shidi."

Xia Daoming quickly withdrew his right palm and bowed to Yu Chi Xiao.

The training ground fell utterly silent.

Yu Chi Xiao stood frozen in place, dazed and hollow-eyed.

All onlookers stared blankly—even Liang Liang Jingtang was no exception.

"Good! Good! Good!" After a long pause, Liang Liang Jingtang praised him three times in succession.

The crowd snapped back to awareness; Yu Chi Xiao finally regained his senses.

"Xia Shidi, you're too formidable—I surrender, completely and humbly." Yu Chi Xiao bowed.

"Truly impressive! I'd say Xia's combat strength rivals that of a Sixth-Rank Great Wu Shi!" Zhuo Zhuo Xingji exclaimed in awe.

"Rivals a Sixth-Rank Great Wu Shi!" Jiao Jiao Yongbao and Liu Xiao Xiao Qiang jolted, their eyes instinctively turning to Liang Liang Jingtang.

"Yu Chi Xiao's swift defeat was largely due to his carelessness and underestimation—but Xia's combat strength truly does match that of an ordinary Sixth-Rank Great Wu Shi. Otherwise, even if Yu Chi Xiao had been careless, he wouldn't have fallen so quickly." Liang Liang Jingtang nodded.

As he spoke, Liang Liang Jingtang seemed to recall something, his expression gradually turning grave.

Seeing Liang Liang Jingtang's change in demeanor, Yu Chi Xiao and the others also seemed to remember something, their expressions shifting in turn.

"No one is to reveal a word of today's match!" Liang Liang Jingtang said sternly.

"We understand!" Yu Chi Xiao and the other three replied solemnly.

"Also, I've decided—I'll go alone on this journey." Liang Liang Jingtang added.

"Master!" Yu Chi Xiao and the others turned pale.

As long as Daoming continues to grow stronger, he will surely elevate the Qianjiao Martial Gym to new heights, but he is still young—he needs the support of you, his senior brothers and sisters.

"I'm old now. My vital energy and strength are declining. Even if I return safely from this journey, how many more years do I have left? If that's the case, why bother…" Liang Liang Jingtang said.

"Plum blossoms perfume only after bitter cold; a sword's edge sharpens only through grinding! Master, surely you understand this better than I do!" Xia Daoming interrupted.

"Plum blossoms perfume only after bitter cold; a sword's edge sharpens only through grinding!" Hearing this, everyone was shaken again, their gazes toward Xia Daoming shifting once more.

"Excellent! 'Plum blossoms perfume only after bitter cold; a sword's edge sharpens only through grinding!' I've taught students for over thirty years, yet I've failed to see as clearly as you have! Very well—you'll accompany me the day after tomorrow." Liang Liang Jingtang waved his hand, regaining his former bold and commanding presence.

"Yes, Master!" Xia Daoming bowed slightly in acknowledgment, then added: "I have one more request."

"Speak," Liang Liang Jingtang smiled, his gaze filled with affection for Xia Daoming.

"I have a servant who has also reached the fourth level of the Dragon-Snake Scripture. I ask you to permit her to observe the secret diagram—I'll pay the silver in full, and I'll accept whatever oath of loyalty you require." Xia Daoming said.

"When I took you as my disciple, I thought you were as honest and straightforward as Yu Chi Xiao. I never imagined you were hiding so deep—you even have a fourth-rank Wu Shi serving you!" Liang Liang Jingtang paused, then pointed at Xia Daoming, laughing and shaking his head.

"Master, your insight is as sharp as a blade—I am truly honest and upright." Xia Daoming said without a flicker of embarrassment.

"Pfft! If you're honest and upright, then there's no such thing as deceit or cunning in this world!" Liu Xiao Xiao Qiang spat.

"Senior Sister, how can you say that about your own junior brother? Besides, when have I ever gone to your Yao Hua Pavilion without sitting quietly listening to music? In this day and age, how many men go to brothels just to listen to music? Isn't that honest and upright?"

"Hmm… that does make sense," Liu Xiao Xiao Qiang mused.

"Nonsense! You've got four young maids at home! If I had four young maids, I could sit there solemnly listening to music in brothels too!" Yu Chi Xiao said.

"Senior Xia Shidi, that's easy to say—but hard to do. What about Senior Xia Shidi Zhuo and Senior Xia Shidi Jiao? They don't just have wives and concubines—they've got young, beautiful maids too!" Xia Daoming shrugged.

"This…" Yu Chi Xiao was speechless.

"Cough! Cough!" Zhuo Zhuo Xingji and Jiao Jiao Yongbao looked embarrassed.

"What nonsense!" Liang Liang Jingtang scowled at Xia Daoming, who was growing increasingly absurd. "Enough! When you're ready, bring your servant here. Since you're coming with me on this dangerous journey, I'll waive the silver and the oath."

"Thank you, Master! She's already in the front courtyard—shall I call her over now to observe the secret diagram?" Xia Daoming beamed.

These past days, Liu Liu Qiaolian had enjoyed treatment equal to that of the direct heirs of the Four Great Powers of Li City, and had received direct guidance from a master who had already comprehended the eighth level of the Dragon-Snake Scripture—her progress had been astonishing, and she had now reached the threshold to observe the secret diagram.

"Since she's already in the front courtyard, call her over." Liang Liang Jingtang said.

"Thank you, Master—I'll go get her now." Xia Daoming bowed slightly and swiftly left the rear courtyard.

"Master!" Liu Liu Qiaolian hurried forward and bowed as Xia Daoming returned.

"Come with me to the rear courtyard—my master has agreed to let you observe the secret diagram today!"

"Ah!" Liu Liu Qiaolian gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

"No need for 'ah'—the sooner you observe the secret diagram, the sooner you can reach the Fifth-Rank Great Wu Shi realm."

"But—"

"No 'buts.' Just come with me."

"Yes, Master!"

With a mix of nervousness and anticipation, Liu Liu Qiaolian followed Xia Daoming into the inner courtyard.

"No way!"

"Seriously?!"

Watching Liu Liu Qiaolian's delicate steps and swaying waist, her beauty utterly captivating, Yu Chi Xiao and the others were stunned into silence.

They had never imagined Xia Daoming's fourth-rank Wu Shi servant was such a delicate, stunning beauty.

"Lady Liu Liu Qiaolian bows to the Gym Master and all the Martial Masters." Liu Liu Qiaolian bowed gracefully, her voice melodious.

"Good." Liang Liang Jingtang nodded, then turned to Xia Daoming. "Daoming, take Liu Qiaolian to the training chamber and wait."

"Yes, Master." Xia Daoming nodded, then looked at Liu Liu Qiaolian. "Liu Qiaolian, come with me."

"Yes, Master!" Liu Liu Qiaolian bowed and followed Xia Daoming step by step toward the chamber.

"Now I truly respect this kid!" Yu Chi Xiao watched them leave, sighing.

"Indeed. At my age, besides training, I just worked hard escorting goods with my father, and occasionally getting to visit a brothel for a night of fun was already a luxury."

"This guy? He's got four young maids at home—and now a stunning fourth-rank female Wu Shi as his servant. No comparison, no comparison at all!" Zhuo Zhuo Xingji agreed deeply.

"What's truly impressive is that Xia Shidi, so young, already rivals a Sixth-Rank Great Wu Shi in strength," Liu Xiao Xiao Qiang said.

The Xu family's estate, built against the mountains.

Connected to the garden behind the hill.

Xu Xu Zhiyuan, with white hair and bushy eyebrows, lay in a bamboo-and-rattan rocking chair, bathed in the setting sun.

Xu Xu Shixiong, who always appeared arrogant and cold to outsiders, now stood behind him, gently rocking the chair.