161: Chapter 161 The Three Heroes of the Serpent, Courtyard
Wang Honghu pointed a finger toward the back of Kong Wen's heart, but his footsteps ceased to move forward.
Kong Wen's hair stood on end, and he instinctively lunged forward.
In the eyes of the onlookers, it looked as if Wang Honghu had sent Kong Wen flying with a finger across the air.
The corners of Wang Honghu's mouth curled slightly as he cupped his fists toward the disheveled Kong Wen, who had just turned around. "Junior Brother Kong, thank you for the match."
Kong Wen's face flushed red. Wang Honghu had only used two fingers in total—or perhaps just one, as the first finger was merely a feint.
He had been defeated so easily!
Without even looking, Kong Wen could feel the dozens of pairs of eyes around him, projecting looks of ridicule, mockery, and schadenfreude onto him.
After all, Kong Wen was the one who had taken the initiative to challenge him. To lose so easily was truly a self-inflicted humiliation.
Kong Wen felt some regret in his heart; had he known Wang Honghu would win, he wouldn't have challenged him.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but cast a somewhat resentful glance at Meng Qian.
Wasn't it agreed that Wang Honghu was obsessed with Alchemy and neglected his martial arts?
Kong Wen cupped his hands and said, "Senior Brother Wang, I... I lost."
After speaking, Kong Wen retreated behind Meng Qian.
Meng Qian's expression was also quite uneasy. Senior Sister Xu Lingji and Liu Zan were one thing, but Wang Honghu also appeared to be no ordinary person, causing the flames of jealousy to burn fiercely in her heart.
The more prosperous the Lineage Master's faction became and the more Geniuses it produced, didn't that just prove the Vice Lineage Master's faction was mediocre and incompetent?
The Kong Wen she had worked so hard to find looked as if it would be difficult for him to even compare to Wang Honghu in the future, let alone compete with Liu Zan and Senior Sister Xu Lingji for the position of Lineage Master.
What would become of their Vice Lineage Master's faction in the future?
Thinking of this, Meng Qian stepped out of the line and said loudly, "Junior Brother Wang, please grant me some guidance."
Wang Honghu, who was about to leave, stopped and spread his hands. "I have just experienced a, well, fierce battle, and my physical strength is exhausted. Moreover, as a Senior Sister at the Middle Stage of Core Formation, I am certainly no match for you. If the Eldest Senior Sister returns, she could certainly discuss matters with you, Second Senior Sister."
The mention of 'Eldest Senior Sister' immediately struck a sore spot for Meng Qian.
In reality, she was more than ten years older than Senior Sister Xu Lingji, but in the martial Dao, the strong are respected. Furthermore, as the Lineage Master's first Disciple, Senior Sister Xu Lingji's position was even more legitimate.
Meng Qian's bone structure was only at the level of six dragons. Despite practicing martial arts until now with the support of the Meng Family, she was only at the Middle Stage of Core Formation. Having been stagnant for years, she had been caught up to by Senior Sister Xu Lingji, and it was only a matter of time before she was surpassed.
Whether in appearance or Cultivation, she was inferior to the other in every way. In terms of actual combat ability, they were worlds apart.
The other was an existence compared to Geniuses like Jin Long, Jin Chan, Azure Dragon, and Changqingzi, while she, Meng Qian, could only be called slightly talented. It was uncertain if she would ever Breakthrough to Gang Strength in this lifetime.
Seeing that Wang Honghu was unwilling to accept the challenge, Meng Qian wanted to say more, but Meng Guzhou's voice reached her ears.
“Hahaha, no wonder there are rumors outside calling you the ‘three prodigies of the spirit snake.’ Your movement is agile and your finger techniques are sharp; it is not an exaggeration at all!”
Wang Honghu said humbly, “Junior Martial Uncle overpraises me. Junior Brother Kong’s sword technique is sharp; I only took advantage of having Cultivated for a longer time.”
Having already suppressed Kong Wen's arrogance, Wang Honghu did not dare to be overconfident.
“Mhm, keep up the good work. If your finger technique improves further, you might obtain satisfactory gains in the next Yueqing Secret Realm...”
A few words of encouragement combined with guidance made Wang Honghu ‘overwhelmed by favor,’ and he thanked him repeatedly.
“Thank you for the guidance, Vice Lineage Master. This Disciple will keep it in mind.”
“Mhm, that’s good.”
Meng Guzhou stroked his beard. “In that case, let us adjourn. Remember to contemplate your martial arts more after you return... Also, Zhao Heng, Xue Ting, and Li Qing, you three have one year to Cultivate diligently. After one year, you will need to complete a mission every three months. And as I said earlier, in future Minor Competitions, those whose Fundamental Law progress is slow will have their mission frequency increased...”
With that, Meng Guzhou left with Meng Qian and Kong Wen, and the rest of the crowd dispersed as well.
Wang Honghu glanced at Li Qing, then used his movement technique and vanished from the spot.
Senior Brother Shi Yuan smiled and said, “Let’s go, three Junior Brothers and Sister. I will take you to your quarters.”
Everyone walked out of the Spirit Snake Hall, following the path along the mountainside and rounding the back of Dragon Mountain. In the middle of the surrounding mountains, there was actually a very open area.
There were many courtyards there, with a river running through the area. A street along the river was bustling with activity, lined with shops hanging signs for ‘Alchemy,’ ‘Equipment,’ and fabrics. Disciples wearing various styles of uniforms came and went.
Senior Brother Shi Yuan first pointed to that street. “The main city of Dragon Mountain City is the trade core of Canglong Prefecture, and those who come and go are all sorts of experts from the Jianghu.
And the street before you is specifically for the transactions of Dragon Snake Sect Disciples. For trading, silver is acceptable, as is merit points.
If you Junior Brothers and Sister possess a Wisdom Eye, you might be able to find rare items that are seldom seen outside.”
Then, Senior Brother Shi Yuan pointed to the rows upon rows of courtyards situated on both sides.
“These courtyards are specifically for Named Disciples to stay in. Each courtyard houses four people. Do the three of you want to be together?”
Zhao Heng and Xue Ting looked on with slight longing. As Utility Disciples, they had lived in smaller, more crowded courtyards for the convenience of their work.
In the past, when they rested, they were disturbed by various noises. Although they had individual rooms, the space was cramped and ultimately not as spacious or quiet as these courtyards.
Hearing this, the three looked at each other and nodded. “The three of us entered the sect at the same time; it is fate. It should be so.”
Thus, Senior Brother Shi Yuan led the three of them to a courtyard.
“Courtyard Bing-78. The environment here is beautiful and it’s further from the trade street. Are the three of you satisfied?”
Senior Brother Shi Yuan looked at the three, focusing particularly on Li Qing.
If it weren't for this person's outstanding performance and the fact he had just learned from Zhao Heng that Li Qing had entered using a spirit snake token, he wouldn't have been so helpful.
The three said with satisfaction, “We are satisfied. Thank you, Senior Brother Shi.”
Thus, he took the three of them to the Internal Affairs Hall to collect their courtyard tokens, three sets of uniforms, a Spirit Rain Sword named after the sword technique, and four books.
“If you need anything, you can find me at Courtyard Yi-91.”
After bidding farewell to Senior Brother Shi Yuan, the three returned to the courtyard.
As soon as they entered, they smelled a refreshing fragrance, similar to tender buds after rain.
In their sight, a large elm tree stood in the center of the courtyard, covered with elm seeds that were a dripping emerald green.
Suddenly, there was a rustle among the leaves, and everyone then saw a fat man standing on the trunk, picking elm seeds.
The fat man saw Li Qing and the others and immediately said with joy, “Are you three my, Huo Zonglin's, new courtyard mates?”
That night, a bonfire was lit in the courtyard, and the four of them sat around it.
“Quick, try these. These are elm seed dumplings I just made; they're very fresh!”
Huo Zonglin laughed. His face was round, but his eyes were small, giving him an honest appearance.
He had entered the sect a month earlier than the three of them and was a Named Disciple of the Golden Dragon Lineage. It was said his ancestors were Dragon Snake Sect Disciples, and he had traveled a long distance from Jiangzhou.