16: Banquet martial arts performance

“Understood, you can go back now!”

Hearing Master Zhao agree, the young man didn't wait any longer. He nodded to Qin Yue and the other five and then left.

After the young man left, Master Zhao said to the youths from Shiqiao Village, “You've all been walking for a day and must be tired. Tidy up the room, have dinner, and go to bed early. Don't run around, and try not to get into conflicts with others. I'll come pick you up tomorrow morning.”

After the youths agreed, Master Zhao turned to look at Qin Yue and said, “Come with me.”

With that, Master Zhao turned and walked out of the room. Qin Yue quickly followed, leaving the youths from Shiqiao Village looking at each other in confusion.

Qin Yue followed Master Zhao out of the courtyard, quickened his pace, caught up to Master Zhao, and said, “Master, you don't have to trouble yourself. I'll just stay with them!”

Qin Yue said this because he felt that showing preferential treatment would be bad for Master Zhao's reputation. He couldn't contradict Master Zhao inside the room, so he only spoke his mind now that they were alone.

Master Zhao slowed his steps and walked alongside Qin Yue.

“I know you're a good child. Asking you to come to my place isn't about treating you differently from them. It's because I have something for you to do tonight. Just follow my arrangements.”

Since there was a reason, Qin Yue didn't say anything more, simply agreed, and continued to follow Master Zhao.

After circling a garden, Qin Yue was led by Master Zhao into another small courtyard.

This small courtyard was simply furnished, and its overall layout was very similar to the courtyard Master Zhao lived in back in Shiqiao Village.

“You'll stay in the small room on the west side. The bedding inside is all prepared. Go in, tidy up, and then come eat with me.”

Since he was here, Qin Yue had to follow Master Zhao's arrangements. He went to the west room and found it very clean, with no need for cleaning at all. It seemed that even though Master Zhao hadn't returned for a long time, the room was regularly cleaned.

Qin Yue put down his belongings and briefly tidied his luggage. Master Zhao then came over with a set of clothes: “Change into these clothes later. See if they fit.”

Qin Yue didn't stand on ceremony with Master Zhao. After Master Zhao left, Qin Yue changed into the clothes.

Qin Yue knew that he shouldn't embarrass Master Zhao when going out to eat with him, and his own clothes were simply not presentable.

Master Zhao's taste was quite good; the clothes fit perfectly. It was a black outfit, with only the collar and cuffs featuring white embroidery.

Qin Yue's body was inherently quite handsome, and with the clothes accentuating him, no one would think he was just a farmer's son who had recently come out of the village and seen nothing of the world.

When Qin Yue was ready and came out of the room, he saw that Master Zhao had also changed into a similar outfit. It's true that clothes make the man; even a burly man like Master Zhao, dressed in fine clothes, exuded a touch of aristocratic elegance.

Master Zhao looked at Qin Yue, who was wearing the clothes he had given him, and nodded, appearing very satisfied. However, seeing Qin Yue come out empty-handed, he told him, “Bring your saber. You'll need it later.”

Qin Yue was stunned by this. Didn't he say they were going to eat? Why bring a saber?

But Qin Yue followed instructions. Master Zhao said to bring a saber, so he went back into the room and brought the black saber Master Zhao had given him.

This time, when Qin Yue came out, Master Zhao didn't say much, only told Qin Yue to follow him, and then led Qin Yue out of the house.

They hadn't walked far when Master Zhao led Qin Yue to another courtyard.

This courtyard was much larger than Master Zhao's. Its main gate was open, and many people dressed as servants were busy inside.

The main hall's door was also open, facing the courtyard, and a banquet was already set.

Master Zhao entered and went straight to the main hall. In the center of the hall sat a burly man, who, judging by his age, should be Master Zhao's elder brother.

Master Zhao walked closer and cupped his fists, saying, “Elder Brother!”

The burly man saw Master Zhao approaching, stood up, took two steps forward, and put his arm around Master Zhao's shoulder, “How long has it been since you've been back? If it weren't for the Selection Competition starting, I wouldn't even see a trace of you.”

Saying this, he led Master Zhao to sit beside him, then looked up at Qin Yue and asked, “Which one is this?”

“This is a Disciple I took in Shiqiao Village. I brought him to broaden his horizons,” Master Zhao replied.

At the same time, Master Zhao looked at Qin Yue and said, “Come sit next to me.”

Hearing this, Qin Yue obediently sat down next to Master Zhao.

After a while, another father and son arrived. Listening to Master Zhao's conversation with them, this was Master Zhao's third brother and his son.

Once everyone had arrived, the banquet officially began. Qin Yue had barely seen any of the dishes on this feast since his Transmigration. He just ate throughout, and apart from responding a couple of times when he was mentioned, he barely spoke. The truth was, he didn't know why Master Zhao had brought him here, as he wasn't the main character of this banquet.

At Qin Yue's age, he couldn't drink alcohol, so he quickly filled up on food. At this point, Master Zhao noticed and, with a change of topic, shifted the conversation to Qin Yue.

“I've been in the village for ten years, and this year I finally took in a Disciple I'm satisfied with. I brought this kid here today to ask Elder Brother and Third Brother to take a look and see what you think of my Disciple.”

He then turned his head to Qin Yue, “Qin Yue, perform a set of saber techniques for Senior Martial Uncle and Junior Martial Uncle, and let them offer some guidance.”

Now Qin Yue understood why Master Zhao had called him. It was just like when parents used to take their children to recite ancient poems at dinner parties—it was for showing off!

Qin Yue didn't waste words, agreed with a sound, and directly flipped into the courtyard, performing the Mad Demon Thirty-Six Slashes.

Qin Yue had been Cultivating this Mad Demon Saber Technique for a month. This was the slowest Martial arts he had learned since his Transmigration, taking over ten days just to get started. However, after getting started, his progress accelerated, and he had now reached the proficient Realm in his saber Cultivation.

Qin Yue's Mad Demon Thirty-Six Slashes was much more powerful than when Master Zhao demonstrated it that day. Because Master Zhao had injuries, he hadn't used his Blood Qi during the previous demonstration. But the Mad Demon Thirty-Six Slashes was originally a Blood Qi Martial arts study, and with Qin Yue's Blood Qi enhancement, the black saber moved with fierce, wind-like power.

Since it was already dark, every time Qin Yue's saber tip touched the stone ground, a spark flew. The sparks connected, looking like fireworks going off in the courtyard.

When Qin Yue finished his saber technique and concluded his practice, he found that everyone at the banquet had moved to the doorway. His Master's elder brother looked at Qin Yue and asked, “You've Cultivated to the Blood Qi Realm?”

Before Qin Yue could answer, Master Zhao quickly interjected, “This kid is quite diligent in his Martial arts. He just reached the Blood Qi Realm two months ago!”

“Then Second Brother, don't you have a way to treat your injury?”

Master Zhao's elder brother was a bit excited.

Master Zhao smiled, “Haha, as his Master, I owe it all to this Disciple's diligence.”

Although Master and Senior Martial Uncle were very happy, Qin Yue noticed that his Master's third brother's expression wasn't as excited. Qin Yue had already found his Master's third brother a bit strange.

Master and Senior Martial Uncle were both burly, muscular men, but this Junior Martial Uncle was different. He didn't look like a Martial Artist at all; he was thin and pale, as if he had some illness.

“Elder Brother, Second Brother, today is truly a good day. I actually had some good news too, but Second Brother beat me to it. Your nephew has also achieved a Breakthrough to the Blood Qi Realm. How about we let him compete with Second Brother's Disciple later?”