Chapter 24: The North Has a Peerless Beauty

"Good, very good, these are the talents nurtured by our Qingyun Martial Arts Hall. You have indeed not let me and the Master down. Even a seven-year-old girl knows to distinguish right from wrong, and to admit her mistakes proactively, yet you are not even as good as a little girl. What is the use of keeping you here? Hand over the money and return it to the people. From now on, find your own path, Qingyun Martial Arts Hall will no longer keep you."

Hearing this, the disciples were shocked and immediately knelt down.

"Senior Brother, we all realize our mistake, please forgive us this time."

"Master, please don't expel us from the school."

He Ziyun sighed softly.

"There's no need to plead with me. This trip to Beijing, I've already passed the position of Martial Arts Hall Master to your Senior Brother. Originally, I wanted to tell you today, but I didn't expect... How to handle this matter is now fully entrusted to your Senior Brother."

"Senior Brother..."

There was another chorus of pleas.

At this moment, Ling Chen, who was observing, noticed that Ye Liangyong was casting a pleading glance at him. Smart as he was, he immediately understood. Ye Liangyong didn't really want to drive these disciples away, but instead wanted to use this opportunity to establish his own authority. The time was almost ripe; it was about time for him to provide a way out.

Thinking this, Ling Chen cleared his throat and said, "Mr. Ye, to know one's mistake and to correct it is the greatest virtue. Everyone makes mistakes, and they should not be defined by one fault. My suggestion is to give them another chance and judge them based on their future performance."

Feigning contemplation, Ye Liangyong then nodded and said, "Alright, this time I'm sparing you for Mr. Ling's sake. If anyone dares to do it again, I will show no mercy. As for you two..."

He looked coldly at Gao Wei and Song Yi.

"Pack up and get out of Qingyun Martial Arts Hall right away. I won't keep shameless scum."

Gao Wei and Song Yi, with heads bowed, dared not even fart, and scuttled away dejectedly.

"Get up and leave, do you want to kneel here and be a laughing stock?"

Once all the disciples had left, Ye Liangyong approached Ling Chen, cupped his fists, and said, "Young brother, I'm really sorry, it's unfortunate for our school to have such unruly disciples."

"It's ok. Mr. Ye, if there's nothing else, we'll take our leave now."

"Please wait, Ling."

Seeing He Ziyun coming towards him, Ling Chen said, "Mr. He, do you have something else?"

"Ling, perhaps have your friends leave first, and we can chat afterward."

"No problem."

After sending Jiang Hao and Zhao Zhengxiong away, Ling Chen followed He Ziyun to the main hall of the Siheyuan.

After the three of them sat down, a little girl named Little Hua politely brought over a cup of tea and handed it to Ling Chen.

"Ling, who did you learn your martial arts from? I just noticed that your technique seems quite diverse, not like it's from any orthodox school."

"I figured it out step by step on my own."

Ling Chen wasn't lying; he had self-taught his skills through a lost manual. Later, during his fugitive life, after numerous bloodied experiences, his martial arts gradually transformed, discarding unnecessary flourishes, focusing on the fastest way to kill an enemy. Therefore, his punches and kicks were all about wide swings and lethal strikes.

"I see Ling is indeed a martial arts prodigy."

"Young brother, your skills are formidable, but I sense too much killing intent. You should be mindful of that in the future."

"I'm aware."

"Little Hua, it's time for your medicine."

Just then, a woman walked in from outside.

Ling Chen couldn't tear his eyes away from the newcomer, and his gaze was firmly captivated.

The woman was about his age, dressed in a simple dress, with long hair over her shoulders, and a delicate figure.

To describe the woman's appearance and demeanor, Ling Chen could only think of one word: soft.

If Nanrong Wanqing was a snow lotus atop an icy peak, then this woman would be the gentle water of Bibo Lake, soft and beautiful everywhere. One glance was enough to soothe a turbulent heart, as if caressed by a slender jade hand, immediately bringing tranquility.

Apparently feeling Ling Chen's intense gaze, the woman turned her head, gave him a look, and said embarrassedly, "Sorry, I wasn't aware we had guests."

Tsk tsk, even her voice was so gentle. Ling Chen inwardly marveled.

He had always believed that Nanrong Wanqing's beauty and temperament were unsurpassable, only to find there existed another ethereal and gentle woman in this world.

"Xiaozhu, let me introduce you, this is Ling Chen. Young brother, this is Zhu Xiaozhu, she's a doctor."

"Miss Zhu, I'm pleased to meet you."

As soon as Mr. Ye finished speaking, Ling Chen took the initiative to reach out his hand, and the scent of a maiden immediately assailed his senses, swaying his mind.

Confronted with his courtesy, Zhu Xiaozhu couldn't refuse, and lightly grasped his hand before quickly letting go. However, in that brief moment, Ling Chen had already felt the softness and smoothness of her skin.

Top-notch!

He could get away without washing his hands today.

"Little Hua, it's time, come back with me."

"Coming, Xiaozhu sister."

Little Hua took Zhu Xiaozhu's hand and skipped out of the room.

"Mr. He, is Miss Zhu also your disciple?"

Encountering such a beauty, he naturally wanted to inquire further.

"If only I had such good fortune."

He Ziyun chuckled and said, "Xiaozhu's master and I have been friends for many years; she's just staying with me temporarily."

"She's not a local?"

Ye Liangyong added, "Her family lives in Beijing. Young brother, you seem quite interested in Xiaozhu, could it be you fancy her?"

Ling Chen, hearing the teasing tone in Ye Liangyong's voice, cracked a smile and said, "A gentleman covets a graceful lady; who doesn't like a beauty?"

"Ha ha, young brother has good taste; it's said that in the east there's Nanrong, in the north there's Xiaozhu, they're both recognized as stunning beauties by everyone. Unfortunately, she's been quite busy these few days, otherwise, I would have introduced you two."

"No, no, no."

Ling Chen hurriedly said, "Mr. He, it's just a joke, please don't take it seriously."

He still had a sense of self-awareness; some women could only be admired from a distance, not to be approached lightly, such as Nanrong Wanqing and the just-met Zhu Xiaozhu.

After sitting for not much longer, Ling Chen stood up and proposed to leave.

Ye Liangyong saw Ling Chen out and said, "Young brother, I have to ask a favor of you – I hope you can visit us here more often when you have time, to chat with my master. My master often stays at home alone, and usually only has those disciples around, seldom interacting with outsiders. With your excellent martial arts, you would have many topics in common with my master."

"Mr. Ye, don't you accompany him?"

"Young brother might not be aware, but I usually don't stay in East Sea City, spending most of my time in Beijing because I have a company to manage, so I don't come back here often."

"So Mr. Ye is in business. Alright, I'll definitely come to visit Mr. He when I get the chance."

"That would be much appreciated."