Zhao Tianjie!
The young man who emerged from the martial academy was none other than Zhao Tianjie, who had had a conflict with Li Qianfan.
Simultaneously, Zhao Tianjie also noticed Li Qianfan standing at the entrance of the academy, and his eyes narrowed instantly. The events of the previous day played over in his mind like a slideshow.
Rage burned wildly in his heart!
So, not only did you beat me up outside, but now you’re following me here to cause trouble?
Are you trying to ruin me completely?
Clearly, Zhao Tianjie misunderstood Li Qianfan’s intention for coming here. His anger flaring up, he approached Li Qianfan and demanded, “You damn blind man, what are you doing here?”
“???”
Liu Sisi was startled by his cursing out of the blue, but she quickly recovered. Could it be that this ‘Fourth Rank’ martial artist had some history with Li Qianfan?
Liu Sisi wisely chose not to speak, opting instead to observe the situation further before reacting.
“What does my being here have to do with you?”
Li Qianfan snorted coldly.
“To me, it seems you’re here just to destroy my reputation!”
It was as if Zhao Tianjie had confirmed his suspicions, pointing at Li Qianfan and growling, “Let’s settle the outside matters outside. Don’t bring them into the martial academy.”
It was well known that Zhao Tianjie was a man who cared greatly about his image, especially within the academy. In the eyes of his disciples, he was a man of status.
If word of his defeat at Li Qianfan’s hands got out, how could he show his face in the academy again?
What the hell?
Upon learning about the connection between the two men, Liu Sisi’s mind was rocked, her gaze towards Li Qianfan filled with shock. This guy actually beat a ‘Fourth Rank’ martial artist from the Four Seas Martial Pavilion?
Just how strong was this guy?
For a moment, her confidence in Li Qianfan’s interview surged. Could someone who defeated a ‘Fourth Rank’ martial artist not qualify as an ordinary student?
Li Qianfan understood Zhao Tianjie’s thoughts and chuckled coldly, “I am here for the interview, not to sully your reputation. As long as you don’t cause trouble, I definitely won’t speak about what happened outside.”
With that, Li Qianfan grabbed Liu Sisi’s arm and said, “Sister Sisi, let’s go!”
“Here for an interview?” Zhao Tianjie watched their departing figures and breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they weren’t there to damage his reputation, that was fine.
But the more Zhao Tianjie thought about it, the more it didn’t sit right with him!
If Li Qianfan passed the interview and became a student of the Four Seas Martial Pavilion, he could reveal the beating at any time.
This was a ticking time bomb.
The next moment, Zhao Tianjie’s face darkened. Narrowing his eyes, he muttered, “I absolutely can’t let this fellow join the Four Seas Martial Pavilion. I must trip him up from the inside. And the matter of my broken fist hasn’t been settled yet. Now that you’re on my turf, I’m going to make you spit teeth!”
Returning to the academy, Zhao Tianjie headed straight for the martial training hall on the third floor, finding Zhang Ju, a close friend of his. Zhang Ju was a ‘Fifth Rank’ martial artist and had just won second place in the city’s martial arts competition, earning him significant status within the academy.
Zhang Ju was imparting martial knowledge to his twenty or so disciples when he noticed Zhao Tianjie’s anxious expression and asked, “Tianjie, what’s the rush?”
“Big Bro Ju, come out for a sec, I have something to tell you.”
With so many people in the training hall, it was difficult for Zhao Tianjie to express his inner thoughts, so he gestured for Zhang Ju to come over.
After briefly instructing his disciples, Zhang Ju followed Zhao Tianjie out of the training hall and asked, “Tianjie, what’s going on? You’re not usually like this.”
Zhao Tianjie said, “My rival has come to interview at our academy.”
“Your rival??”
Zhang Ju muttered under his breath and then, with a look of astonishment, turned to Zhao Tianjie, “You’re not going to tell me that the blind man who beat you up is here for an interview, are you?”
As they were close, Zhang Ju was the only person who knew about Zhao Tianjie being beaten by that blind man.
“Yes, yes, yes, that’s him!” Zhao Tianjie was visibly excited.
Their years of brotherhood allowed Zhang Ju to instantly grasp Zhao Tianjie’s intent. Surveying his surroundings and finding no one else around, he inquired, “So, tell me, what do you want me to do?”
“Bro Ju, even though Li Qianfan is blind, with his martial arts foundation, he will surely gain the master’s approval and pass the initial test. As long as a teacher-level martial artist accepts him, he can join the academy. I want you to talk to the other teachers and keep them from accepting Li Qianfan!”
Zhao Tianjie was serious as he continued, “As long as nobody accepts him, he can’t join the academy.”
Zhao Tianjie was aware of his own standing within the academy; if he asked the teachers himself, they certainly wouldn’t accommodate him.
But it was different for Zhang Ju. He was the master’s favored pupil, highly skilled in martial arts, and the most distinguished among the teachers. If he spoke up, the other teachers would undoubtedly respect his wishes.
“Sure, I’ll do it!”
Zhang Ju immediately agreed.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Tianjie’s face lit up with excitement. He said, “Thanks, Brother Ju, when you’re free, I’ll treat you out for a good time, the usual spot, the same old arrangement, two gals for each man.”
Hearing that, Zhang Ju licked the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with excitement. He chuckled and said, “Okay, with that being said, I’m even more inclined to help you.”
Under Zhao Tianjie’s watchful eye, Zhang Ju made eight phone calls in a row.
Afterwards, he said, “Tianjie, I’ve notified everyone. Excluding the two of us, out of the eight mentors, seven agreed. Only Ling’er didn’t agree. She said she wouldn’t be part of this kind of thing, but don’t worry, she’s the children’s group mentor and won’t accept Li Qianfan since he’s already in his twenties.”
That actually made a lot of sense!
Zhao Tianjie smiled and said, “Okay, as long as Li Qianfan can’t join our martial pavilion, that’s all that matters. Plus, seeing as it’s on your account, Ye Ling’er will definitely show some face. By the way, how far have you progressed with her, have you won her over yet?”
Zhang Ju wore a bitter smile and shook his head, “Still the same, I need to try harder!”
…
Unaware of Zhao Tianjie’s behind-the-scenes maneuvering, Li Qianfan followed Liu Sisi to the pavilion master’s office for an interview.
The pavilion master was named Qin Sihai, an amiable-looking elder with white hair but a very ruddy complexion, as if he were only in his fifties. He could aptly be described with the Chinese phrase ‘a youth’s face with a crane’s hair.’
Standing just over five feet seven inches tall, he wasn’t particularly tall among men, but he looked very powerful, especially with those sharp eyes that exerted a strong sense of pressure.
The badge on his chest indicated he was an ‘Eighth Rank’, belonging to the category of advanced martial artists. In Huaxia, he could be called a martial arts grandmaster with the qualifications to be a judge as well as run a martial pavilion.
It was indeed surprising that tiny Taoyuan County had an Eighth Rank martial artist.
However, when Li Qianfan thought about the heads of the other three senior martial pavilions being of the same rank, he couldn’t help but feel awed that such a small place was truly a hidden dragon and crouching tiger.
“Sisi, you’re here!”
When Qin Sihai saw Liu Sisi enter the office, he immediately got up to greet her, without any pretense.
“Grandpa Qin, I’ve missed you.”
Liu Sisi came up to Qin Sihai and hugged him with open arms, looking very familiar.
After exchanging pleasantries, Liu Sisi got straight to the point. She pointed at Li Qianfan, who was behind her, and said, “Grandpa Qin, this is Li Qianfan, the one my grandpa mentioned to you. Even though he is blind, he has an extraordinary martial arts talent. Could you let him take the test to join your Four Seas Martial Pavilion?”
“As long as someone loves martial arts, even if they are disabled, my Four Seas Martial Pavilion will give them a chance. Here, everyone is equal!”
As Qin Sihai spoke these words, his tone was firm and resonant, elevating his stature in Li Qianfan’s eyes in that moment.
Liu Sisi chuckled and said, “Then shall we go to the test?”
“Yes!”
Qin Sihai scrutinized Li Qianfan from a distance. For some reason, when he looked at this young man, he always had a special feeling, as if this lad was no ordinary person. Find more to read at empire
At the same time, Li Qianfan was also observing Qin Sihai.
There was no ‘qi’ within his body!
Li Qianfan learned from “Dragon and Phoenix Mystery Skill” that below a cultivator was a martial artist, with nine ranks to their stage. Only after surpassing the ninth rank would one have a slight chance of becoming a cultivator.
Now that he had become a cultivator, did that mean he had already surpassed Qin Sihai?
For a moment, Li Qianfan’s expression was very animated; had he already surpassed the pavilion master upon stepping through the doors of the Four Seas Martial Pavilion?
How would Qin Sihai react if he knew this?
By then, Qin Sihai had already approached Li Qianfan. He said, “Young man, let’s go. I’ll take you to the test. It’s all very simple tasks.”
“Thank you, Pavilion Master Qin,” Li Qianfan expressed his gratitude.
On their way to the testing area, a woman approached Li Qianfan. She was dressed in a white martial artist’s uniform, her black hair tied back with a cord. Even without makeup, her skin was smooth and fair, with a healthy blush.
Her figure was incredibly alluring, with a pronounced bust and curves, especially her long, straight legs. Even dressed in the loose outfit of a martial artist, the contours of her beautiful legs were unmistakable.
Perhaps it was because of martial arts practice that she exuded a valiant and refreshing demeanor.
When sex appeal and a valiant presence are combined, it is undoubtedly a fatal temptation for a man.
Meanwhile, Ye Ling’er also noticed Li Qianfan coming towards her. Because of his handsome features, she took a second glance, and it was this extra attention that made her suddenly stop in her tracks as if she had discovered something.
After careful observation, her face revealed an uncontrollable excitement.
“Pavilion Master, who is he?”
Ye Ling’er blocked Qin Sihai’s way, her gaze firmly on Li Qianfan as she inquired.