Chapter 158: Sun Heng's Teacher
We dodged our own plane and continued to flee in a hurry. We first left the goddess's residence, then came to the nearest small town, took the only bus here for a day, and left directly from here.
Our destination is the new site of Wudang Sect.
This new address was told by Kong Shou, I haven't been there yet, this time is the first time to go. Fortunately, this new address is easy to find, just on the outskirts of a small town in Beijing.
When we four arrived at the new site of Wudang Sect, I saw Yifan practicing at a glance. It's been almost two years since we last met, and Yifan has grown much taller and looks more mature.
I watched Yi Fan practicing with a focused mind, and stopped Li Yingying from going forward to greet him. Then I stood together with Li Yingying and others, watching Yi Fan practice various martial arts techniques one by one. It felt both amazing and astonishing. This Yi Fan was indeed a martial arts genius. In such a short period of time, he had already mastered the inner energy technique, and it seemed that he was much more powerful than me.
I was so absorbed in watching that I inadvertently started shouting "good" without realizing it.
As soon as I spoke, Fan stopped in his tracks. When he saw me, he was taken aback at first, then sprang into action, floating to my side like the wind, and bowed to say: "Elder Brother, you're back?"
I smiled and made a fist: "Yi Fan, my junior brother, you've surprised me. I didn't expect that after two years of not seeing each other, you'd already surpassed me. It seems that from now on, I'll have to cultivate diligently, otherwise, this title of senior brother will be yours."
Yi Fan smiled and said, "Senior brother is being polite, I wouldn't dare to compete with senior brother for the title of 'most powerful'. Besides, if senior brother saw the cultivation levels of our other junior brothers and sisters, you would definitely not think that I am the most formidable. This title of 'most powerful' is not something that I can attain."
I was shocked: "Is there someone who cultivates faster than you?"
Hehe, with a silly smile on his face, he said: "Master brother, you don't know, our Wudang sect is not ordinary now! Not to mention others, just talking about your loved one... Nan Gong Qian Lan sister, it's really surprising. In just over a year, she has already completed the heart method and even modified our heart method on her own. Our Wudang heart method is now easier to cultivate and also easier to reach the state of great completion. And, Master brother, you must not have thought that our heart method, in addition to the great completion state, there is also a state of entering the divine."
I was shocked again, these empty guards had never told me about it, and I also knew for the first time. So I asked in a hurry: "Are all of these created by Qianlan alone? Then... has anyone practiced it successfully?"
Yi Fan said with a hint of helplessness, "It seems that Big Brother is really busy and doesn't even know about such a big thing... This entry into the Hua Jing realm was created by Nan Gong sister, so she must have already cultivated it!"
I was deeply surprised and delighted. After all, Nan Gong Qian Lan was able to create a realm of mind alone, which can't be said to be not a genius in martial arts, nor can it be said that he is not a genius on the same level as the founder of Wudang Sect.
Whenever I see your happy and worshipful face, I couldn't help but say: "Master said that after you return, Big Brother Master, you will have to give up your position to Shimei Nangong... Big Brother Master, you don't know, now our younger brothers and sisters here all idolize Shimei Nangong Qianlan, few people dare to offend Shimei Nangong Qianlan, once someone offends Shimei Nangong Qianlan, they will be attacked by everyone, the consequences are very severe... Hehe, I digressed, Big Brother Master, you see... this matter..."
I smiled and said, "The position of the Great Master, I am no longer worthy of sitting in. Let's let Nan Gong Qian Lan, who created the fourth layer of the Heart Method for our Wudang Sect, be the new Great Master."
As soon as I finished speaking, I heard Nan Gong Qian Lan's voice coming from afar: "Who said that they would give up the position of our senior brother? How many times have I said it? Jin Cang will always be our senior brother, and no one can change this!"
With a sudden voice, a figure flashed over like lightning and appeared in front of me, Yifan and the others within a zhang. The person was none other than Nangong Qianlan, her appearance hadn't changed much, still the same as before, I recognized her at a glance.
Nangong Qianlan seemed to have not expected to see me, and when she stopped in her tracks, she suddenly froze. Then she immediately pounced on me, giving me no time to react, and had already hugged me tightly.
I heard her say with a sob: "Jin Cang, is that really you? Why did you only come to see me now? I..."
As I spoke, she suddenly burst into tears, which made me panic. You see, she's now the idol of most of our fellow disciples and sisters here; if she were to cry because of me, who knows how many people would come after me for an explanation?
This is the information that Fang just told me, I don't dare to be an enemy of all the disciples of Wudang. As the saying goes "two fists are hard to defeat four hands", let alone I am now just a wounded person.
On the way here, I did get some rest and recuperation, but my injuries are still not light. The gene medicine can save my life, but it cannot completely cure my injuries, so I am still a wounded person.
My worries almost immediately became a reality, as Nan Gong Qian Lan's words just now have attracted the attention of more Wu Dang disciples, and they are all rushing over this way right now. I think their original intention was probably just to see what's going on, but now that they've seen their idol crying, they almost simultaneously shouted: "Who dares to make our Shifu sister unhappy? Come out!"
I forced a smile and pushed away Nan Gong Qian Lan who was still holding me, saying in a low voice: "If you don't explain now, I'm going to get beaten."
Nangong Qianlan was originally a mix of happiness and tears, but now only tears were left. She hugged me again with such great force that I felt like I couldn't move at all. I heard her say: "You deserved to be beaten! Who told you not to come see me for so long?"
I was about to explain when I heard the Wudang disciples behind me almost shouting in unison: "Who are you? Let go of our sister!"
I couldn't help but smile wryly in my heart, yet I could only choose to ignore those junior brothers and sisters. Because at this point, even if I wanted to let go of Nan Gong Qian Lan, I wouldn't be able to. The martial arts skills of this Nan Gong Qian Lan were probably far superior to mine already.
I didn't respond to what my junior brothers and sisters said, so they thought I was doing it on purpose. As a result, two of my more impulsive junior brothers attacked me without warning.
Facing the attack of my junior brothers, although I was held by Nangong Qianlan and couldn't move, I could still cope with it. With just a slight movement of my hands, I blocked all the kicks and punches that my two junior brothers launched at me.
The kung fu of these two junior brothers is also very good, if I'm not mistaken, they have already achieved a small success in their mental method.
My resistance incited the anger of two junior brothers. They exchanged a glance, suddenly each stretched out one hand, and with hands clasped together, they began to revolve around me in a dance-like manner.
I furrowed my brow, knowing that this should be a formation. Once two people cooperate properly, it's like one person. Moreover, their attack power is not simply 1 + 1 = 2, and it may even increase exponentially. I've heard that a brilliant formation can make the attack power of those participating in the formation ten times greater than the sum of their individual attack powers.
I dare not be careless anymore, and quietly told Nan Gong Qian Lan: "Hurry up and let me go, this formation of theirs seems to be very powerful, I may not necessarily be their opponent."
Nangong Qianlan finally stopped crying and let me go. However, she didn't let me face the formation of the two junior brothers just yet, but instead shouted: "Halt! Do you know who he is? How dare you take action!"
The two junior brothers seemed to have also sensed something and stopped in confusion, looking at me with a bewildered expression on their faces.
"Nangong Qianlan said loudly: 'What are you all stunned for? Don't come over to pay respects to Eldest Senior Brother?!'"
A crowd of junior brothers and sisters all looked at me with strange expressions, but Yifan was different. He directly pulled Huang Yi'er, who was also stunned beside him, and the two of them bowed to me together: "Greetings, Senior Brother!"
With the two of them taking the lead, the remaining junior brothers and sisters finally came to their senses, clasped their fists together, and shouted in unison: "Greetings, Senior Brother!"
I smiled and said with a bow: "Hello, fellow disciples. My name is Jin Cang. I just returned from outside and don't know you all yet, please forgive me."
"Little Yellow Shirt asked me cautiously: 'Big Brother Master, how did you come back?'"
I seemed to hear her implying that I had returned at the wrong time, or rather, that I shouldn't have come back in the first place. So I smiled and said: "I have a task, and I came back to see Master and Mistress, as well as you all."
The boy in yellow clothes looked me up and down carefully, then smiled: "It seems you really are our senior brother, your appearance has changed, but this voice is indeed yours."
I know what she means by saying I look different. Firstly, two years have passed and I've matured more. Secondly, because I was hurt, my complexion is a bit pale.
Yi Fan, however, was a young girl in yellow clothes who softly said: "What are you talking about? Eldest Master is injured, that's why his complexion is somewhat pale."
"Huang Yi'er exclaimed in surprise: 'Is there still someone who can hurt Da Shixiong?'"
I forced a smile: "There's a heaven beyond the heavens, and I'm certainly not the best in the world."
Ying'er couldn't help but speak up at this time: "Are these people all Wudang disciples? Why don't I recognize any of them as your senior brother?"
Before I could respond to Ying'er's words, Nan Gong Qian Lan had already spoken up for me: "That's because he hasn't returned in two years, three months and seventeen days. And most of the fellow disciples here are those who have joined our Wudang Sect within these past two years."
Ying'er nodded, somewhat unexpectedly saying to me: "You haven't come back in over two years? That's not too good. Look at these people, they don't really consider you their senior brother. You should be careful, or someone will take your place as senior brother."
Ying'er had just finished speaking when Nan Gong Qianlan furrowed her brow and said, "And who are you? Why were you with my fiancé?"
Ying'er raised her head, reached out and grabbed my hand, saying loudly: "I am Jin Cang's junior fellow disciple, and also his friend, why can't I be with him?"
Nangong Qianlan looked at me with an expression that clearly asked: "Have you found another girlfriend?"
"I hastily explained: 'Ying'er is someone I met on this mission, we've been through life and death together, so we can be considered friends. Ying'er is very interested in martial arts, so I took her as a disciple on behalf of my master, and she joined our Wudang Sect.'"
Nangong Qianlan nodded slightly, pulled me with one hand, and moved her body. Without caring whether I was injured or not, she directly lifted me up and leaped towards a new building in the internal area of the Wudang Sect.
I heard Ying'er and Liu Mei, as well as Qin Zhenzhen, all exclaiming in surprise. I wanted to say something to comfort them, but then I heard Nan Gong Qianlan say: "First go see Master and Mistress, other things, I will arrange for you."
I nodded and suddenly thought of something, so I said: "Kong Shou is your grandfather, how can you also call him Master? Isn't this a bit confusing?"
Nangong Qianlan smiled slightly and said, "So you're saying that I'm now your junior disciple?" Suddenly her face turned stern, and she angrily said, "You must be dreaming! In the martial arts world, people don't pay attention to trivial matters. Although my uncle can't be my master, he can still be my teacher, right? I'll call him Teacher Uncle, you can call him Master, and we... are still equals!"
I couldn't help but want to laugh, but then I heard a voice coming from Kong Shou: "Good kid, you finally know how to come back, huh?!"
Nangong Qianlan let go of my hand and had me stand in the corridor on the third floor, then said to Kongming: "Grandfather, you have three minutes."
Kong Shou was taken aback for a moment, then he grabbed me with one hand and said fiercely: "You little brat still knows how to come back... you... you're injured?"
I smiled wryly at the empty space: "Master, your disciple has arrived."
Kong Shou's hand landed on my wrist, slightly probing my pulse, and immediately said: "Your body is very weak, is it caused by excessive blood loss after injury?"
I nodded: "It was almost time to meet King Yan, fortunately, there is Li Yingying, the big disciple of Qianbianmen, who saved my brother's life."
"Qian Bian Men?" Kong Shou nodded: "People only know that Qian Bian Men is good at disguise, but they don't know that they are also very skilled in medicine."
I laughed: "But just now Qianlan was in a hurry to pull me to see you, and actually threw Li Yinyin outside..."
Just as I was saying this, Nangong Qianlan had already jumped up and flew down to the floor like a big bird, quickly running towards Li Yingying and Ying'er.
I knew that Nan Gong Qian Lan must have gone to invite Li Yingying and the others over, so I asked Kong Shou: "Master, how have you been lately?"
Kong Shou smiled faintly: "I'm fine, don't worry! Follow me, I have a top-grade wild ginseng here, said to be four or five hundred years old, most suitable for you to take now."
I was taken aback and immediately refused: "That's not possible, you'd better keep it for yourself, I'm young, a few days of rest will allow me to recover..."
Kong Shou said, "Your injury was treated hastily and doesn't seem to be a big deal, but your meridians have been damaged. It'll take at least a year or two for you to fully recover. So now you need some medicine that can nourish your body. This old ginseng of mine is just what you need."
I knew that refusing again would be ungrateful to Kong Shou's kindness, so I didn't say anything more and obediently followed him to a room on the fourth floor.
The room was obviously empty, with everything arranged exactly as it had been years ago at the old site of the Wudang sect. This made me feel a bit nostalgic, so I walked in and sat down directly.
Kong Shou smiled and said: "You're quite straightforward, sitting down directly like that."
I also smiled: "Yes, this is Master's room, I should be more casual."
Kong Shou handed me a long box: "This is the wild ginseng I was telling you about, some people say it's already four or five hundred years old, I think it's about that too. You take it and have Qian Lan help you decoct it before drinking it."
I didn't want to take Master's ginseng, but I also knew his intentions, so I didn't say much and took the ginseng. I said to Master: "I can't stay here for long, I still have a task at hand."
Kong Shou smiled slightly: "I know you're busy, so I won't think much of it. But Qian Lan this little girl... you know, why don't you take her with you to the Hu Long Team this time?"
I suddenly felt very embarrassed, after all, if I took Nan Gong Qian Lan to the Hu Long Tuan, Chen Jing might get angry. And if others also got angry together, my days would be difficult.
Kong Shou looked at me with a difficult expression, and suddenly sighed: "It's better to be alone, there are too many troubles. You're just too emotional, a bunch of women, this is troublesome, isn't it?"
I forced a wry smile and didn't dare speak. I feel like in this mission, I always like to force a wry smile, don't know if it's already become a habit.
"Grandfather, what are you talking about?" Nan Gong Qianlan's voice came just in time to bail me out: "I'll introduce you to a very special disciple, come and take a look, it's incredible!"
Kong Shou looked at me for a moment, then silently turned and walked out. Then I heard him say, "What kind of person makes you think they're so special? Is it him?"
"He is Sun Heng, a friend of Jin Cang and also the husband of Jin Cang's cousin sister."
Kong Shou laughed and said: "Sun Heng, I know him, I've seen him before. I thought the good disciple you were talking about was one of these three girls."
I knew it was Ying'er, Liu Mei and Qin Zhenzhen who were brought over by Nan Gong Qianlan, so I went out and smiled: "Master, these three are my friends. This is Ying'er, this is Liu Mei, and this is Qin Zhenzhen." Turning back to Ying'er and the others, he said: "This is my master, also the current leader of Wudang Sect, Kong Hou."
Ying'er and others hastily paid their respects, then Ying'er said: "Disciple Ying'er pays her respects to Master!"
Liu Mei hastily said: "Disciple Liu Mei pays respects to Master."
Unequal emptiness guards speech, Qin Zhenzhen also fell down: "Master is above, please accept the disciple Qin Zhenzhen's one bow."
Kong Shou could only stare at me, his face full of surprise. I was just about to speak when Sun Heng, who was standing beside him, suddenly hugged me tightly and exclaimed loudly: "You're okay? That's great! I thought you had already been blown up by our plane... How could you not even give us a call, at least let us know you're safe?"
I smiled and gave Sun Heng a hug, saying: "I'm fine! I was just anxious to see Master, so I didn't go with the Dragon Protection Squad. How is it now? Is everything all right with the Dragon Protection Squad?"
Sun Heng let go of me, patted my shoulder with force: "It's okay, don't worry!" After a pause, he said: "I came specifically to find Master Konggu, didn't expect to see you here!"
I was also surprised and only understood why he was here after hearing Sun Heng's words. So I asked him, "What do you want with my master?"
Sun Heng smiled and said: "I was ordered to come, to keep an eye on the master, Chen Lao invites you to go to the military department, saying that there is something important to discuss with you."
Kong Shou nodded slightly, which was taken as a response. However, his words were not directed at Sun Heng, but rather at Ying'er and the others: "Why do you want to make me your master? I don't even know any of you."
Ying'er smiled and said: "Master, it was Jin Cang Shixiong who accepted us on your behalf. The three of us are now your disciples."
Kong Shou nodded slightly, then turned back to Sun Heng and said: "Are you here to convey Chen Lao's orders? I heard that you are now a division commander, so it shouldn't be necessary for you to personally make the trip, should it?"
Sun Heng smiled: "Master Kong, you truly have a keen sense of foresight. This time I came over, indeed there is another matter. Our Dragon Guard Regiment has just been promoted to Dragon Guard Division by the Military Department, and I am temporarily taking on the role of Division Commander. Currently, our Dragon Guard Division lacks martial arts instructors, and Old Man Chen's intention was for me to come ask you: can the Wudang Sect send a few skilled martial artists to serve as our martial arts instructors?"
Kong Hou furrowed his brow slightly, but still said: "How many people do you want? You can discuss it with Jin Cang, he is the eldest disciple of Wudang. From now on, you can find him directly for these matters. I don't want to deal with these things anymore and won't go see Old Man Chen."
Sun Heng and I were almost stunned at the same time, because of Kong Shou's words...