Chapter 56

(Second update of the day, quite early, right? It's Monday again tomorrow, and there are only four days left for the new book rankings. I'm asking for everyone's support with recommendation votes at midnight, and new readers, please consider adding to your collection. Thanks!)

"Senior Master Jing Shou, there is Su Qinnian from the Free and Easy Valley requesting an audience, wishing to enter the Xuanwu Tower."

The on-duty disciple spoke, but there was no reaction from the old wicker chair. The on-duty disciple's eyes gleamed with amusement and he repeated, "Senior Master Jing Shou, there is Su Qinnian from the Free and Easy Valley requesting an audience, wishing to enter the Xuanwu Tower."

After a while, the on-duty disciple turned and said to Su Qinnian with a helpless look, "Senior Master Jing Shou often sleeps and doesn't wake up. Junior Brother Su, please wait a moment. I still have my duty to attend to and cannot leave for long. I'll take my leave now."

With that, the on-duty disciple didn't wait for Su Qinnian's response and walked away.

Su Qinnian's gaze was calm, and he sneered inwardly. The on-duty disciple thought he could do things without his knowledge, but he had spiritual power, and within a ten-zhang radius, everything was clear to him. Nothing could escape his eyes.

At this moment, he looked at the old Taoist who seemed to be sound asleep on the old wicker chair. An ordinary person might not notice, but the moment the on-duty disciple spoke, he clearly saw the old Taoist's eyes twitch slightly. This was not just a deep sleep, but a deliberate act of not waking up.

Standing in front of the Xuanwu Tower, Su Qinnian heard the gurgling sound of the mountain spring nearby. A couple of koi fish leaped out of the pond and splashed back into the water.

After half a cup of tea, a full cup of tea, and an incense stick, half an hour passed.

Su Qinnian even closed his eyes slightly and began to meditate. His steps shifted slightly, and he naturally stood in the Turtle-Snake Stance. By now, this stance had gradually become a part of his every movement. At this moment, if it were an ordinary outer court disciple who hadn't mastered the Turtle-Snake Technique, they wouldn't be able to see Su Qinnian's stance, thinking he was just standing still.

On the old wicker chair, Senior Master Jing Shou was slightly surprised. He didn't want to deal with this young man, a suspended death row inmate who had taken over the inheritance of Wudang's Qingyang Peak. In his view, this inheritance should be given to some outstanding outer court disciples or even the inner court disciples of various peaks, so that it could be put to good use. In a world surrounded by demons, Wudang could only continue to thrive if there were constantly strong successors.

Now, he wanted to see how much patience this Su Qinnian from the Free and Easy Valley had.

Of course, he had heard some rumors, but in his view, they only confirmed his initial words. Letting a beggar have such a fortuitous encounter and advance in cultivation was a disgrace to Wudang! If this news spread, how would other martial arts sects and fellow practitioners view it? Wudang disciples were inferior to a suspended death row inmate, and even a former beggar who had once been a waste of life.

An entire hour passed.

The tea on the small octagonal wooden table had cooled, and the charcoal fire had gone out, but Senior Master Jing Shou still hadn't woken up.

Su Qinnian remained still, like a stone statue, and his breathing became almost imperceptible.

As time passed, Senior Master Jing Shou on the old wicker chair felt a growing sense of unease, as if a thorn was pricking his back. This was strange; why would he have such a feeling? Could it be because of this young beggar?

Impossible!

The old Taoist sensed again carefully. Su Qinnian stood still, calm and composed, but he felt something different from the beginning. He noticed the green iron longsword on the young man's back. The cloud patterns on the hilt seemed to have some meaning, indicating a sharp blade. However, even so, it shouldn't make him feel such a near-unsettling prick on his back.

Another incense stick passed.

Several outer court disciples arrived at the Xuanwu Tower and saw this almost eerie scene.

What's going on?

The young men exchanged glances, unsure of the situation. As they observed Su Qinnian, they felt increasingly uneasy. His attire and age didn't seem to match that of an outer court disciple from Baiyun Peak.

One young disciple left and returned after half a cup of tea.

"What! Su Qinnian from the Free and Easy Valley!"

"This waste of a person!"

"The inheritance of Qingyang Peak fell into his hands? Truly a pearl in the mud, a great misfortune for Wudang!"

The young disciples raised their eyebrows, their eyes flashing with cold and unfriendly light. When the news of the Qingyang Peak inheritance was announced from Tianzhu Peak, many outer court disciples of Baiyun Peak sighed in frustration, feeling aggrieved. Although the two poor disciples, Qingyu and Qingye, were unknown, they were still outer court disciples. While they felt aggrieved, they wouldn't be resentful. However, this Su Qinnian from the Free and Easy Valley, upon receiving the inheritance, returned to the Free and Easy Valley to show off, even injuring several prominent suspended death row inmates. How could such a person deserve their heartfelt respect and the passing of the lineage, let alone bowing to him and addressing him as Senior Brother of the peak one day?

"What is this upstart doing at our Baiyun Peak outer court?"

"According to the on-duty disciple, this person actually went down the mountain to slay a demon beast, obtained a waist tag from Senior Uncle Jingdu of the Free and Easy Valley, and wants to come to our Baiyun Peak Xuanwu Tower to study the eighth, ninth, and tenth levels of the Turtle-Snake Technique."

"Impossible, he can slay a demon beast? Nonsense, I don't believe it. There must be some trick. Senior Uncle Jingdu didn't listen to Senior Master Jing Shou's advice, leading to this disastrous outcome. There must be some hidden secret between these two, some kind of benefit."

One disciple suddenly spoke, and the other young disciples were taken aback, not expecting such a shocking statement.

"Be careful! The temple is a taboo, and you cannot defame Senior Uncles and Aunts of the Jing generation."

"What's to be afraid of? The Free and Easy Valley has always been a mix of good and bad. Senior Uncle Jingdu was once on Zige Peak. If it weren't for his mistake and capture, Senior Uncle Ningyun, a top figure and martial arts master, wouldn't have fallen on the northern coast. What's this about guarding the Free and Easy Valley? It's more like being exiled there. For so many years, has he ever stepped out of the Free and Easy Valley? This is his penance, his atonement!"

The disciple showed no restraint, revealing some secret past events without hesitation. The other young disciples, though their eyes flickered with blame, did not really stop him, clearly believing that everything he said was well-founded and not mere rumor or defamation.

"I don't believe this person can slay a demon beast alone! There must be some trick. I will report to the True Wu Hall on Tianzhu Peak and have everything thoroughly investigated. The rules of Wudang cannot be violated!"

"Right, a thorough investigation is needed. If there is any wrongdoing, it cannot be tolerated. Wudang's reputation of thousands of years cannot be tarnished!"

"Let's take him down first. Before the truth is clear, we cannot let him enter our outer court Xuanwu Tower and risk leaking the Wudang martial arts lineage."

Whoosh!

The next moment, an 18- or 19-year-old disciple made a move, his large hand reaching out and landing on Su Qinnian's shoulder.

Huh?

In an instant, the disciple raised his eyebrows. His hand seemed to have landed on a statue of iron, not moving at all.

"Move!"

He coldly shouted, his blood and qi surging, his strength flowing, his bones and tendons resonating like war drums, clearly showing the sixth level of the Turtle-Snake Technique.

A fiery red horse tore through the air, its hooves as wide as bowls, landing in the void, emitting a silent neigh.

He couldn't budge him!

The disciple's face turned red with effort, his hand exerting more force, even using his other hand to press on Su Qinnian's other shoulder, both arms straining, veins bulging, but still unable to make Su Qinnian move.

After a few breaths, he suddenly released his hands, taking several steps back, breathing heavily, and looking at Su Qinnian's back with uncertainty.

What the hell!

The other outer court disciples frowned, their eyes fixed on Su Qinnian's back, standing there calmly, facing away from them, yet exuding an inexplicable aura.

"Could it be the Turtle-Snake Stance!"

One person had keen eyes and deep cultivation, seemingly seeing through the situation, his gaze becoming increasingly serious.

Turtle-Snake Stance?

One person immediately turned and left, while the others moved forward, each taking a position, surrounding Su Qinnian.

Four outer court disciples, each occupying a position of the Four Symbols, the oldest seemingly in his early twenties, the youngest around 17 or 18. As they took their positions, the air in front of the Xuanwu Tower quickly became stagnant, the wind stopping, the cold air being pushed back, and four hot breaths slowly rising. (Second update of the day, quite early, right? It's Monday again tomorrow, and there are only four days left for the new book rankings. I'm asking for everyone's support with recommendation votes at midnight, and new readers, please consider adding to your collection. Thanks!)