Shuai Chang approached Fu Bai and said, “Fu Bai, you have been in Wulin Village for five years. In these five years, you have practiced martial arts day and night, working tirelessly. Your skills are undoubtedly among the best among the fighters. I have a manual called ‘Swift Wind Fist Technique’ which requires a solid inner strength to practice. Once you learn it, its power should not be underestimated. Fu Bai, are you willing to become my disciple?”
Fu Bai’s eyes sparkled; he clasped his fists neatly and replied, “Fu Bai is willing!”
Shuai Chang nodded with satisfaction, “Coincidentally, the people from the martial world are still here to attend the wedding, so we will hold the apprenticeship ceremony tomorrow. I will pass the manual to you then, and you must study diligently.”
“Yes! Disciples will obey!” Fu Bai exclaimed excitedly, his fists clenched, veins popping on his arms.
“It’s getting late; let’s go to the dining hall for a meal.”
“Disciple takes his leave.”
After Fu Bai left, Shuai Chang fell into deep thought.
Initially, he had not intended to take Fu Bai as his disciple; Fu Bai had a complicated background and a deep mind, making him not the best candidate for a student. However, Fu Bai also possessed many virtues. At only fifteen years old, he was resolute and patient, with exceptional talent. Such a promising figure was right before him, and it would be hard to feel at ease if he didn’t take him in as a disciple.
Shuai Chang went to the inner chamber to find Chunyu Lan, who was lying on the royal couch with a pout, her expression very serious.
Shuai Chang asked worriedly, “Lan’er, why are you pouting? Are you feeling unwell?”
Chunyu Lan jumped in surprise and after patting her chest said, “I’m not unwell. It’s just that my husband said he wants to teach me, so I practiced a bit early.”
Practicing in the air… Shuai Chang couldn’t help but smile as he sat next to her, “Looks like Lan’er has already learned it, so I won’t need to teach you after all.”
Chunyu Lan looked at him blankly, unable to believe it, “If I had known, I wouldn’t have practiced by myself…” Her voice was filled with grievance, almost on the verge of tears.
“Truly a delicate treasure,” Shuai Chang laughed as he lay down beside Chunyu Lan and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’ve even broken your lips; I’ll teach you tomorrow.”
Only then did Chunyu Lan feel satisfied.
“Hubby, what did you just discuss with Fu Bai?” Chunyu Lan asked.
“I plan to take Fu Bai as my disciple, and we will hold the apprenticeship ceremony tomorrow,” Shuai Chang responded.
Before Chunyu Lan could ask why, Shuai Chang continued, “Fu Bai’s real name is Fu Baichuan, the only son of Fu Hansheng, the master of the Fu family village in Qiyang. Five years ago, the Fu family village was wiped out, and he changed his name to Fu Bai to escape the pursuit of his enemies. Fu Bai has never forgotten to avenge his parents and relatives; he has worked hard in martial arts over the years and excels compared to many children older than him.”
Five years ago, the murderer who destroyed the Fu family village was the Iron-Armored Guards of the court, ordered by the Emperor to incite conflict in the martial world. After the massacre, the Crown Prince killed his father to seize the throne, becoming the new Emperor. In the shifting power dynamics, the Iron-Armored Guards were neglected by the new Emperor, and the orders from the previous Emperor were naturally set aside.
However, this suspension was only temporary. Once the new Emperor consolidated his control over the court, turmoil would once again ensue in the martial world.
After Chunyu Lan’s death, Fu Qingya colluded with the court, drawing martial artists to kill each other with the promise of peerless martial arts manuals. The court, seizing the opportunity, dispatched heavy troops to suppress them, leading to a sharp decline in martial artists’ power.
Fu Qingya, once renowned for prowess, was granted the title of Anle Marquis by the new Emperor; the news shocked the entire martial world. As the leader of the martial world, he had colluded with the court and fallen into degradation, and he was cursed and shunned by martial artists until his death.
Fu Qingya’s distorted desire for power led him to use Chunyu Lan’s body to attract experts for his own gain.
Presently, he became Fu Qingya; regardless of reputation or personal interests, he could no longer assist the court in committing wrongdoings. In the process of seeking revenge, Fu Bai’s mastery of martial arts would be an indispensable important step in his “conversion.”
The next day, heroes gathered at the martial arts training ground in Wulin Village. The martial world leader Fu Qingya, recently wed, was about to take in a disciple, marking a significant event in the martial arts community.
Many sects that had not yet departed felt fortunate that Fu Qingya had ascended to the position of martial world leader, not only due to his virtue but also because of his martial prowess.
Fu Qingya had a unique encounter during his childhood; at seven years old, while traveling home with his parents by horse-drawn carriage, he fell off a cliff. His parents and the driver perished, leaving him as the sole survivor. He remained by their bodies for five days and nights until he was rescued by a secluded master who settled nearby.
The master helped him bury the bodies and, recognizing his astonishing talent, took him as an apprentice. Just before his death, the master imparted all his martial skills to him, transferring decades of inner strength into Fu Qingya.
After the master’s death, Fu Qingya helped arrange a proper burial for him and, at nineteen, he stepped out of the cliff and spent several years honing his skills in the martial world, gaining fame.
Before the previous martial world leader stepped down, he held a martial arts conference within Wulin Village, where various sects came together in a grand celebration. Fu Qingya, with his extraordinary martial skills and unfathomable inner strength, firmly secured the number one position in martial arts; he was widely recognized for his virtuous reputation, so who else could succeed him as the martial world leader?
Fu Qingya became the martial world leader at the age of twenty-seven, yet he was barely past thirty.
Shuai Chang sat in the main seat while Fu Bai, dressed in a blue brocade robe, stepped forward and bowed three times, saying, “Disciple salutes my Master.”
Shuai Chang helped him up, feeling pleased, and said, “Today, Fu Qingya takes Fu Bai as his disciple. Fu Bai has no family; henceforth, he shall take my surname and be called Fu Bai. My disciple Fu Bai will venture into the martial world, and I hope all the uncles and elders present will take care of him.”
His voice, though not loud, was clear and reached everyone’s ears. Those originally eager to seize the opportunity to challenge Fu Qingya to make a name for themselves immediately suppressed their thoughts—after another thirty years of training, they still couldn’t reach his level, so why bother seeking hardship?
However, while Fu Qingya could not be challenged, his newly accepted disciple could.
The master of the Bagua Palm signaled to his disciple, who nodded after receiving the cue. He then leaped onto the platform with a strong push of his feet and clasped his fists, saying, “I greet the leader and the leader’s wife. I am Liu Yang, a disciple of the Bagua Palm, and I wish to spar with senior brother Fu Bai.”
Fu Bai stood up and boldly replied, “I accept!” He turned to look back at Fu Qingya, who smiled and nodded, “Go ahead.”
Fu Bai’s confidence soared.
Liu Yang was twenty years old, significantly older than Fu Bai, but Fu Bai was exceptionally talented. Although Liu Yang had trained for a few more years, he might not necessarily be Fu Bai’s opponent.
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