Chapter 80, Three Grandmasters

Translator: StarReader

 

The Heaven Falcon Inn buzzed with young martial artists exchanging cups and banter, enjoying the lively atmosphere as they discussed tomorrow’s Vaulting Mountains hunt and the evening’s martial competition.

 

Ah Nu, Su Chen, and Ah Chou were also making plans to hunt and play on Vaulting Mountains together.

 

Meanwhile, in a luxurious private room far across the third-floor hall, three high-ranking figures from Wu Region’s groups were gathered around a table, chatting casually.

 

Around the table sat an amiable old man in a Medicine King’s brocade robe, appearing to be in his seventies or eighties, yet with a vibrant spirit and flowing white beard. An eight trigrams gourd hung from his waist, lending him an air of refined detachment.

 

To the left of the table was a tall, long-limbed martial artist with a cold and imposing demeanor. Behind him stood a ten-foot pure silver spear, a bow, and a quiver of armor-piercing iron feather arrows.

 

To the right was a mild-mannered and affable middle-aged man, beside whom lay a heavy, refined iron sword.

 

The old man in the brocade robe held a crystal goblet, sipped a fine wine, and remarked with a smile, “The martial world changes; new generations replace old. Looking at the lively gathering of over twenty young martial artists tonight, it’s reminiscent of when we were young, full of vigor and ambition, often gathering and befriending martial artists from all walks of life. Yet, in the blink of an eye, only a handful of us old friends remain. It’s just that Han Ya, that fellow, is an old man in his fifties or sixties, still constantly secluded in cultivation, diligently honing his skills. How much can he still cultivate and surpass the Grandmaster level? He doesn’t even come out to share a drink with us old friends on Laba Festival. The future of the Wu Region belongs to these young people; we can’t resist the tide.”

 

“It’s fortunate that our generation has successors. I won’t mention Han Ya; he probably won’t rest until he matches Daoist Han Shan’s strength.”

 

The affable middle-aged man nodded, filled with emotion.

 

“All of the young talents aged sixteen and under thirty in the Wu Region should be present at this gathering. Based on my observations, only five possess true potential!”

 

The old man in the brocade robe smiled faintly, speaking with confidence.

 

“Oh, Old Sun has immersed himself in the martial world for five or six decades and has a keen sight. I wonder which five of these people have caught your eye?”

 

The affable middle-aged man asked curiously.

 

As for who possessed the oldest martial standing in the Wu Region, after listing everyone, it was likely that the elder in the brocade robes ranked among the top two.

 

“Han Shu, sister of the Heaven Falcon Group’s Han Ya, though a woman, possessed exceptionally high martial talent, already a first-rate master at seventeen. Among these young heroes, there are not more than two or three who possess martial skills comparable to hers.

 

“Ah Chou of the Heaven Falcon Group, this boy came from a humble background but is incredibly hardworking and possesses a tenacious spirit. After twenty more years, once his cultivation and martial skills reach their peak, it is likely that no one would dare challenge him; his potential even surpasses Han Shu’s.

 

“Caravan Guards’ Shadowless Whip Wu Qing, possessing soaring spirit, but appears slightly impatient and restless. If he can calm himself and refine his skills, he can still achieve great things.

 

“Han Yun of the Iron Sword Group inherited the affable and magnanimous nature of his late father.

 

“These four boys will all achieve great things and carve a path for themselves after twenty years.”

 

The elder in the brocade robes paused at the end of his statement, stroking his white beard. “However, I still cannot fathom the final one. This boy is peculiar. Though he sits amidst this lively grand banquet hall, he seems distant from the world, feeling out of place.”

 

“Oh? Even Old Sun cannot fathom this young man at this martial gathering? That is indeed rare!”

 

The middle-aged, stout man chuckled.

 

“The refinement and depth of his True Qi, the steadiness of his aura, surpass those of the other four. However, he rarely speaks of martial affairs at this gathering of young heroes, seemingly uninterested.”

 

The elder in the brocade robes mused.

 

“Young Miss Ah Nu is one of the two most renowned beauties in the Wu Region; it is likely his thoughts are focused on that Ah Nu maiden beside him.”

 

The middle-aged, stout man remarked in astonishment.

 

“Or he spends most of his time lost in thought, seemingly burdened by other concerns. He occasionally chats with Heaven Falcon Group’s Ah Chou and Mist Terrace’s Ah Nu on trivial topics—village life, shrimp and crabs in the fields—revealing that his heart lies not in martial pursuits, but amidst mountains and rivers. It seems he has not given Young Miss Ah Nu his full attention either. Nine out of ten, I am usually able to guess people’s character, but this boy is deeply enigmatic; I cannot fathom him.”

 

The elder in the brocade robes shook his head.

 

“A person even Old Sun can’t see through is likely no ordinary person! It’s useless for us to guess here; why not call him over and let’s see what kind of young talent he is?”

 

The burly spear user said straightforwardly.

 

“Alright! Have Manager Liu bring him over.”

 

The elderly man in the brocade robe nodded slightly, his mouth opening slightly as if he had spoken a few words outside the private room, but no sound appeared.

 

…

 

At the banquet, the young heroes were chatting and praising each other.

 

Manager Liu, who was idly conversing with Han Shu, suddenly stopped, his ears twitching slightly.

 

Su Chen glanced at Manager Liu and noticed the change. He furrowed his brow.

 

He was a Grandmaster, while Manager Liu was merely a peak first-rate expert.

 

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t hear any unusual sounds, nor would Manager Liu.

 

Su Chen suddenly thought of a possibility, and his expression changed.

 

[Sending!]

 

It was a Grandmaster technique!

 

The technique itself didn’t contain any profound secrets. It simply utilized extremely powerful and precise control to make the throat vibrate and produce a sound. True Qi was used to condense this sound into a thin thread, accurately transmitting it to the ear of someone within a range of a hundred meters, ensuring that others nearby couldn’t hear it.

 

The technique’s precise control over the muscles of the throat and the demand for True Qi to transmit sound were so high that even a first-rate expert couldn’t perform it.

 

This was a technique only a Grandmaster used.

 

Su Chen practiced controlling his vocal cords and could do it too.

 

A Grandmaster expert was close and conversed with Manager Liu.

 

Su Chen felt a jolt. He hadn’t sensed this beforehand.

 

Soon, Manager Liu seemed to receive instructions, his expression becoming solemn.

 

“Little Brother Su, come closer!”

 

Manager Liu quickly stood up, his gaze fixed on the most secluded table in the hall, directly beckoning to Su Chen.

 

Su Chen was naturally puzzled, unsure why Manager Liu had suddenly summoned him alone. Could the sending that Manager Liu overheard be related to him?

 

He rose and followed Manager Liu to a private room somewhat distant from the main hall.

 

At the banquet, the young heroes were all a bit stunned and confused.

 

Since taking his seat, Manager Liu had only spoken at length with Young Miss Ah Nu, Han Shu, and others, but hadn’t had individual conversations with any of the other young heroes.

 

Suddenly summoning Su Chen was unexpected.

 

“Little Brother Su, there are three respected Wu Region martial seniors in the private room who wish to speak with you. Answer whatever they ask, and remember not to speak out of turn, and even more, do not ask questions.”

 

Manager Liu walked in front, his expression solemn, quietly instructing Su Chen. He didn’t know what was going on, merely carrying out the orders of the Medicine King Group’s Sun.

 

Su Chen nodded slightly, a jolt felt in his heart.

 

[Three seniors?]

 

Manager Liu was the manager of the Heaven Falcon Group, second only to Leader Han Ya, and nearly all the group’s affairs were decided by him.

 

With Manager Liu’s esteemed position within the Heaven Falcon Group, to refer to them as seniors, they had to be powerful.

 

Then he recalled the technique of sending.

 

He already guessed that at least one, or even several, of the three seniors he was about to meet were Grandmasters.

 

This made Su Chen worry.

 

Although his strength had grown rapidly in recent years to the point that peak first-rate experts were no longer his match, he had still concealed his abilities.

 

He was very clear that there were still at least seven Grandmasters in the Wu Region martial world beyond his strength. Including the Wu Region’s most renowned hermit, Daoist Han Shan, the leaders of the Five Major Groups, and the White Lotus Society’s rarely seen leader.

 

Su Chen was also a Grandmaster, but there was still a clear hierarchy among Grandmasters. The stronger a Grandmaster was, the more acute their perception was.

 

Their perception would be superior to his.

 

Su Chen had always subconsciously avoided encountering other Grandmasters, in case they discovered something and threatened his safety.

 

He didn’t expect that the youth gathering at Heaven Falcon Inn would also attract the interest of Grandmasters, listening in the distance.

 

Had he known, he would not have come.

 

Su Chen’s expression was a little worried, but not afraid.

 

A Grandmaster’s perception was exceptionally sharp. But that was all it was; it didn’t mean that he could uncover every deeply guarded secret.

 

The most obvious example was that he discovered Grandmaster Han Ya at a tofu stall in the morning because Han Ya’s presence was overwhelmingly strong, and every step he took was flawlessly executed, radiating an unmistakable aura.

 

However, Han Ya failed to recognize Su Chen as a Grandmaster because he had only recently achieved that status, and his aura hadn’t yet developed the distinct hallmarks of a Grandmaster. He simply took Su Chen for an ordinary first-rate martial expert.

 

No matter how powerful Han Ya’s perception, he couldn’t directly enter Su Chen’s mind to uncover his secrets. He had to first see Su Chen demonstrate the brilliance of a Grandmaster before he could observe it with his perception.

 

For instance, he also surmised, through noticing Manager Liu receiving a sending and Manager Liu’s demeanor of utmost respect, that the Heaven Falcon Inn had other Grandmasters.

 

Otherwise, without seeing or sensing anything amiss, he would have no way of knowing.

 

Su Chen calmed himself upon realizing this.

 

Furthermore, even if these three seniors were to discover that he was a Grandmaster, so what?

 

It would make no difference.

 

Every Grandmaster in the Wu Region martial world had arisen through chance and natural circumstances. It simply indicated that his own luck was extraordinary; they couldn’t deduce anything further from it.

 

They couldn’t guess of the existence of the blue tears or fathom the secrets of Spirit Mountain, which were beyond the comprehension of outsiders.

 

Even if, hypothetically, they were to forcefully question him, and he had to recount parts of his journey to becoming a Grandmaster, including the gold-banded viper venom he received years ago while in the Vaulting Mountains, the experience of being swallowed by a large fish monster, and his entry into the Upper Dantian, he could conceal the most critical details.

 

They would only be able to marvel at it; they wouldn’t learn anything. The process of achieving Grandmaster status was unreplicable, and attempts at replication often resulted in death.

 

Manager Liu summoned him, and he couldn’t show any weakness by not going. Otherwise, with increased suspicion from others, the situation would likely worsen.

 

…

 

Manager Liu led Su Chen to a private room in the distant hall, opened the door, and let Su Chen enter alone.

 

Su Chen calmed himself, entered the small room, and saw a scholar in a brocade robe and a dignified martial artist, a gentle-looking middle-aged man gathered around a table, sipping wine.

 

Su Chen glanced around, inwardly relieved.

 

At least, Daoist Han Shan was not in this room. He did not recognize these three Grandmasters, nor did he have any direct conflicts of interest with them.

 

The scholarly elder wore the robes of the Medicine King Group, his expression kind, and he was clearly Sun Baihong, whom martial people respectfully called the Medicine King.

 

Su Chen had never seen him before, but a single look was enough to guess his identity.

 

As for the other two men seated with Sun Baihong, Su Chen had never seen them either, but he had heard descriptions of these two important figures.

 

The two men had dignified appearances and extraordinary bearing, and simply by observing their aura, he knew they must be Grandmasters who had long held authority in a martial group.

 

The burly man beside him, with a silver-tipped spear and a treasure bow placed nearby, exuded the heroic aura of a battlefield commander and was undoubtedly Li Shuo, the leader of the Caravan Guards.

 

The other gentle and amiable elder, of profound and immeasurable bearing, leaning against a refined iron sword, had to be Han Pingshan, the Leader of the Iron Sword Group.

 

Su Chen was greatly shocked inwardly.

 

Within the Wu Region, three of the seven Grandmasters, who were renowned throughout the martial world, were gathered in this small private room at the Heaven Falcon Inn. Adding to that the encounter with Han Ya earlier in the day, he had seen as many as four in a single day.

 

The aura of the three Grandmasters was intensely powerful; their dignified gazes descended upon Su Chen, making him feel as though a thousand kilograms were pressing down on him, almost suffocating him.

 

Su Chen didn’t dare to be negligent and immediately performed the respectful greeting for a disciple to the leader of the Medicine King Group, Sun Baihong, and said, “Medicine King Group executive Su Chen pays his respects to Leader Sun Baihong and Seniors!”

 

He was completely unaware of the intentions of these three Grandmasters summoning him, and he inevitably felt some anxiety and restraint in his heart.