The old man glanced at Li Guanyi, then lowered his head to chat and laugh with his granddaughter, his smile gentle.
Li Guanyi breathed a sigh of relief, his mind deep in thought.
The descendant of the General who secured the border with three arrows?
Then why does the Xue family not enter the court, nor allow their descendants to become officials?
There must be various reasons and hardships behind it, likely another story of grudges and emotions.
Over there, Xue Shuangtao was shaking the old man's arm and looked at Li Guanyi, saying many flattering words, claiming she had never seen a young man so skilled in the arts. The old man's wrinkled hand gently patted his granddaughter's hand, showing a look of amazement, and said with a smile, "Is that so?"
"Impressive, truly impressive."
The old man's gaze turned to Li Guanyi, observing his simple attire but bright eyes, and said with a smile:
"Young man, come forward for a look."
The coachman was stunned, and then a trace of unease suddenly surfaced in his heart—they always listened to the young lady, but never thought carefully about this matter. Isn't it unusual for the fourteen-year-old eldest daughter of the Xue family to bring home a young man of about the same age after going out?
Hiss—!!!
The old man has always doted on the eldest granddaughter.
But he would never ignore the fact that his fourteen-year-old granddaughter brought back a thirteen-year-old boy.
Back then, the old man's second daughter was young and reckless, bringing a playboy from the capital, riding a sweat-blood horse wildly down the main street of Guan Yi City, knocking over several stalls, and then riding into the Xue family, parking his horse at the entrance of the old man's tea pavilion.
In the end, that playboy was nearly beaten to a pulp by the old man.
At that time, the old man just smiled and said, young man, come forward.
Others saw the old man warmly greeting, but the old hands of the Xue family were filled with fear.
What Li Guanyi saw was different.
He saw that fierce tiger suddenly grow enormous, its whiskers and mane dancing wildly, stepping forward, the huge white tiger's head approaching, its pupils slowly contracting, locking onto this simply dressed young man. Li Guanyi's body stiffened, his heart raced, and an inexplicable fear emerged from the depths of his heart.
Oppression?
Then, relying on his willpower, he pulled himself out of this inexplicable fear, regaining his composure.
As Li Guanyi calmed down.
The bronze cauldron hummed softly.
The imprint of the red dragon seemed to begin to glow slowly, condensing with Li Guanyi's will.
The old man intended to test if this boy was a fraud, if he had a clear conscience, to see his character, applying a slight pressure.
Seeing him not showing fear, a smile appeared on his face, nodding slightly.
His character is not bad.
The White Tiger wields weapons to drive away evil.
Petty people find it difficult to stand firm before the White Tiger Dharma Aspect.
He intended to withdraw.
The enormous white tiger circled around Li Guanyi, about to leave.
But at this moment, the bronze cauldron within Li Guanyi suddenly let out a cry, and the red dragon, which was just an imprint, finally lit up, seemingly provoked, struggling continuously, and then its dragon head actually detached partially from the cauldron.
On the bronze cauldron, it bared its fangs and claws.
Scales rose, claws and teeth extended.
It seemed to intend to manifest from the cauldron, like the red dragon behind Yue Qianfeng, circling around Li Guanyi, protecting its host, a trace of pure aura spreading.
But it lacked foundation, ultimately remaining vague.
No matter how it struggled, it couldn't break free, finally only able to let out an angry, long roar.
Only a single roar of the red dragon exploded in Li Guanyi's heart.
Like rolling spring thunder.
The young man regained clarity.
The slight suppression exerted by the white tiger on him was shattered in an instant.
Li Guanyi looked at the old man before him, facing the fierce tiger, stepped forward, his posture like a blade, passing through the invisible white tiger, while the jade liquid within the bronze cauldron accelerated its accumulation, clasped his fists in salute, straightened his back, and said in a calm voice:
"Li Guanyi, greets Senior Xue."
The old man was somewhat surprised.
He looked at the young man before him, then patted the hand of his granddaughter who was holding his arm, and said with a smile, "Look, our Guan Yi City actually has such a talented young gentleman."
"And such a talented young gentleman was found by my granddaughter."
Xue Shuangtao didn't know what her grandfather had just done, but because the gentleman she recognized seemed to have also gained her grandfather's approval, she smiled. Her smile was not as gentle as outside, her eyes curved, full of spirit.
Obviously, when the old man praised Li Guanyi, she also felt a small sense of pride and happiness for her good judgment in recognizing talent, shaking her grandfather's arm, saying, "Grandfather, do you also think the gentleman is impressive?"
"Then, grandfather, won't you give a meeting gift?"
The White Tiger Dharma Aspect was already quietly lying behind the old man, yawning. The old man looked at Li Guanyi and asked with a smile, "Child, have you learned martial arts?"
Li Guanyi regretted that the accumulation speed of the jade liquid in the bronze cauldron had returned to normal, and replied:
"I practiced blade techniques with an uncle for a few years before."
The old man nodded, quite approvingly, "Hmm, it looks like the path of the Eight Blades of Breaking the Army."
"Thirteen years old, mastering the Eight Blades of Breaking the Army to the point of having the spirit of the blade, is considered diligent and hardworking."
"Your internal cultivation is also not bad, but your body is weak, likely due to hardships and not having enough meat and rice."
The old man said kindly, "Since you are the gentleman hired by Shuangtao, then young gentleman, feel free to come to the residence daily and have meals with the martial artists here."
"Earlier, I tested you, but it was only out of concern for my granddaughter, a common sentiment."
Xue Shuangtao said, "Grandfather?"
The old man sighed, "Alright, alright, take this Body Nourishing Pill, young gentleman, please accept it."
The old man did appreciate the young man's character, and being urged by his most cherished granddaughter, he simply took out a small porcelain bottle and tossed it to Li Guanyi, saying with a smile, "The arts of my grandchildren are in your hands, young gentleman."
"Let's go, Shuangtao."
Li Guanyi raised his hand to catch it, even through the porcelain bottle, there was a rich medicinal fragrance.
Xue Shuangtao turned back and nodded slightly to Li Guanyi, her eyes curved like crescent moons, then accompanied her grandfather away. The White Tiger Dharma Aspect lowered its eyes and also walked away, while the accumulation speed of the jade liquid within Li Guanyi's bronze cauldron slowed down, eventually coming to a halt.
In a short time, the bronze cauldron had accumulated to one-fifth.
Indeed, it requires being within a certain range of that old master to absorb the aura emitted by the white tiger.
Li Guanyi touched the bottle.
Hmm, ... it's jade.
Even just this would be worth three or four taels of silver each.
The young man looked at the old and the young, feeling they almost emitted a golden glow in his eyes.
Miss Xue Shuangtao, truly charming!
The coachman wiped the sweat from his forehead, saying, "Phew, I was overthinking it. The old master is strict, and everyone is somewhat afraid of him. However, since the old master has acknowledged you, young gentleman, there won't be any issues with you in the Xue family."
"Come, I'll guide you through the rest."
The coachman parked the carriage on a road flanked by high walls.
Then he led Li Guanyi through the Xue family's residence, introducing the layout of the mansion, pointing out where he could go and where he absolutely could not, "The inner residence is where the Xue family and the women live, and we usually can't go inside."
"This area is where the various guest ministers reside."
The coachman pointed to a distant courtyard, his tone filled with envy, and said:
"The treatment of guest ministers is completely different from ours."
"Each guest minister has an independent courtyard, and every month they can receive some pills and medicinal herbs from the family. Besides, they can exchange for some martial arts, and occasionally the old master will watch the Xue family disciples and guest ministers practice and give some pointers."
Guest ministers?
Independent courtyard?
Li Guanyi thought that if he could become a guest minister, he might often see that old man, and the bronze cauldron could complete its accumulation. His aunt could also be brought to live in the Xue family, which would be safer than renting a courtyard outside, and said:
"May I ask, elder brother, how can one become a guest minister?"
The coachman smiled knowingly, "Young gentleman also wants to become a guest minister?"
"In today's world, martial arts are the foundation. To become a guest minister in the Xue family, one must at least reach the entry realm."
"Entry realm..."
The coachman comforted Li Guanyi, "Young gentleman, you are young and already have martial skills."
"Though reaching the entry realm is difficult, it should take at most ten years."
Li Guanyi nodded.
He raised his hand and pressed it against his heart.
Li Guanyi, thirteen years old, has mastered the "Breaking Formation Melody."
Entry realm.
A step away.
Li Guanyi's movement slightly paused.
He touched something special—
Slowly lowering his gaze, a small red dragon's head emerged from his heart, vivid and lifelike, raising its head, meeting Li Guanyi's eyes.
Li Guanyi: "???"
(End of this chapter)