Chapter 6: Concealment

Chapter 6: Concealment

Ning Xuan’s father is Master Ning.

But the Master has a name, too.

Master Ning is no exception.

His name is Ning Taiyi.

However, that was not his original name. Because he was fond of metaphysics, he changed his name to "Taiyi." By the same logic, he named his son "Xuan."

Ning Taiyi is often away from home; sometimes for as little as three or four days, and other times for as long as three or four months.

Ning Xuan once asked his mother about it.

His mother said, "Your father has some standing in the world; many people invite him over to handle matters like mediation." When Ning Xuan asked, "Where does he go, what kind of mediation does he do, and can it really be settled just by his reputation?" his mother would say she didn't know.

Ning Xuan did not pry into the past of the older generation, but even without asking, he could roughly guess how his father and mother had met.

That process was slightly better than how he and Xiaojie had met.

The difference was that Xiaojie had been setting up a stall to sell calligraphy outside the Zen gate of the neighboring prefecture, while his mother had been inside that same Zen gate, accompanying the family matriarch to chant sutras and burn incense, with the abbot himself striking the bronze chime nearby.

Xiaojie came from humble beginnings, while his mother was from a wealthy family.

His mother lived quietly there until she waited for Master Ning, who was already in his thirties.

A man in his thirties like Master Ning was charming to both the young and the old.

His mother fell in love with him.

Therefore, his mother had no part in Master Ning’s life before he arrived there; she did not know, and she did not ask.

Yet, Ning Xuan felt that as his father’s son, besides waiting for his father’s arrangements, he should also inherit his mantle. But he hadn't; he didn't even know what "his father’s reputation" actually entailed.

Sometimes, he even wanted to ask if he was truly Master Ning’s biological son, after all, he had transmigrated as a fetus and only knew his own birth.

But this question didn't really need to be asked, because anyone could see from their features that he and Master Ning were father and son.

Master Ning is scholarly and refined.

Young Master Ning is a pretty boy.

They were cut from the same cloth.

And Master Ning’s doting on him was written all over his face.

Whatever he asked for, he was granted!

Not only that, but the people Master Ning hired were also very obedient to him.

Even if these people had never met him before, just because he was the young master of the Ning family, they were willing to crawl out of bed in the middle of the night, ask no questions, and follow him for half a day’s journey without a single complaint.

Last night, when he brought the group back, Master Ning happened to have gone out again.

At this moment, Ning Xuan put away the Mountain-Crashing Bear Heavenly Demon Talisman, returned to his original physique, and went out to find the head guard of the mountain villa—the old man who looked kind and benevolent but carried a black metal cylinder containing "Rain of Pears Blossom Needles."

"What brings the young master to look for this old man?" the old man asked with a smile.

Ning Xuan said respectfully, "May I ask for your name, elder?"

The old man hurriedly returned the gesture, "This old man is named Han Ba, known in the pugilistic world as the Eight-Armed Elder."

Ning Xuan said, "But you don't have eight arms."

The man named Han Ba laughed, "It’s just a way of saying I’m quick. When I unleash my techniques, it’s as if I’ve grown eight arms; it’s just an exaggeration."

Ning Xuan asked, "How do you compare to the manor’s martial arts instructor, 'Swallow Chasing the Wind Blade' Zhang Erquan?"

Han Ba replied, "If it were a fight to the death, he would die beyond ten paces, and I would die within ten paces."

Ning Xuan bowed again and said, "It seems you are a senior of the same generation as my teacher."

He had originally intended to take a master.

Now, the thought of taking a master had turned into an investigation.

Han Ba smiled, "The young master is polite and humble, but... this old man truly does not know why you suddenly wanted to leave the villa yesterday."

Ning Xuan said, "The mountain was heavy with yin energy, and I was struck by the cold, so I wanted to leave. But it was pitch black and full of fierce beasts, so I had to trouble you all to escort me."

Han Ba felt something was strange.

But considering the identity of the youth before him, it didn't seem entirely unreasonable.

Ning Xuan said seriously, "I want to learn some martial arts."

Han Ba replied, "Learning brings danger. Without the Master’s orders, this old man dares not teach the young master martial arts in private. But the Swallow Chasing the Wind Blade is already quite formidable."

Ning Xuan asked, "However, I have always heard that there are powers in this world that transcend martial arts. I wonder if you have heard of them, sir?"

Han Ba stroked his beard and fell silent for a moment before saying, "You must have heard that from a storyteller, right?"

As the words left his lips, he suddenly froze, realizing the youth opposite him was looking at him thoughtfully.

Han Ba hurriedly asked, "Did I say something wrong?"

Ning Xuan said with disappointment, "Is there really nothing?"

Han Ba replied, "Truly, nothing."

The air suddenly went quiet.

Ning Xuan nodded and said, "Sigh, I’m going to practice my blade."

Han Ba said, "Then this old man will take the guards back to the villa."

Ning Xuan said, "It’s rare for you to come to the manor, stay for two more days."

Han Ba said, "No, since the young master has been escorted safely, this old man should return."

Ning Xuan said, "As you wish, Mr. Han. But if you return to the villa, please send a letter of safety back."

Han Ba laughed, "The young master is courteous to his subordinates and truly has the air of a master. Please go about your business; this old man will send word once I return to the mountain."

A moment later, the old man watched the youth’s back disappear around the corner, only then revealing an expression of extreme annoyance. He clenched his fists, furrowed his brows, and raised his hands as if to slap himself.

Finally, he slowly lowered his fists, let the look of distress fade from his face, and muttered, "I’ve hunted geese all my life, never once capsizing in a gutter, yet today I’ve been pecked in the eye by a little gosling. Old man, oh, old man..."

He had been tricked into revealing information.

That little fox was too sharp.

And he had been too careless.

He hadn't guarded against the young master, but the young master had chatted with him, using a casual tone, only to suddenly throw out, "However, I have always heard that there are powers in this world that transcend martial arts. I wonder if you have heard of them, sir..."

He hadn't been on guard, but when that sentence was mentioned, he had reacted instinctively. He had fallen silent, then committed the mistake only a "guilty person" would make, hurriedly asking, "Did I say something wrong?" Then, the young master had kindly offered him a way down, and he had actually taken it, blurting out, "Truly, nothing."

"Ouch, ouch!"

Han Ba couldn't help but slap his own mouth, his heart filled with annoyance, after all... the Master had said not to tell the young master certain things.

However, in the blink of an eye, he began to console himself.

Perhaps all of this was just the imagination of an old pugilist.

That young master might not have thought that much at all.

After all, those words sounded like normal idle chatter no matter how you listened to them.

He felt there was a problem only because he was an old veteran of the world.

"So, there really are powers in this world that transcend martial arts."

"Old man definitely knows."

"But he didn't tell me."

"Is it because he’s afraid of involving his offspring in danger that he deliberately hides these secrets? The old man doesn't seem like such a pedantic and ignorant person..."

For a moment, Ning Xuan suddenly felt a thin psychological barrier growing between himself and his father.

Although he had transmigrated, he had done so as a fetus.

He had been raised by his father; there were feelings there.

(End of chapter)