Hong Xiaojiao stood there, unmoving. Wang Hongcheng waited for a good half hour, growing impatient. However, seeing the recruitment envoy beside him nearly snoring, he dared not lose his temper. The family head had instructed them not to offend the recruitment envoy at all costs.
“Little brother! Little brother? Are you asleep? Are you still fighting?” Hong Xiaojiao suddenly opened her eyes and saw Lu Fan asleep, quickly asking.
“Oh? Weren’t you asleep too? I saw you sleeping, so I decided to sleep a bit. Since you’re awake, let’s fight! By the way, no fifty rounds this time, okay? Fighting should be quick and decisive!” Lu Fan opened his eyes, yawned widely, and said.
“Okay! I’ll try!” Hong Xiaojiao blinked her big eyes, clenched her small fists, and secretly cheered herself on. Then she walked in front of the robed man.
“Little girl! Please make your move!” Wang Hongcheng stood there dismissively. For a fourth-generation disciple to fight fifty rounds, hmph, and now she wants a quick victory against me? Overestimating herself! I’ll defeat you in ten moves!
Whoosh… Hong Xiaojiao suddenly attacked, her fist aimed directly at the opponent’s face.
Wang Hongcheng sneered, raising his hand to grab Hong Xiaojiao’s wrist. Swoosh… Hong Xiaojiao’s move suddenly changed. Her punch was a feint; she sidestepped and kicked at Wang Hongcheng’s calf.
Just as Wang Hongcheng was about to lift his leg to counter, Hong Xiaojiao took a step sideways, and with a swish… she moved behind Wang Hongcheng.
Lu Fan’s eyes lit up. This girl had actually found a way to counter Taijiquan from the previous fight.
Taijiquan uses softness to overcome hardness, and slowness to defeat speed. While it’s said to use slowness to defeat speed, it’s actually about using short-range attacks to counter long-range ones. An attacking punch requires three feet to reach the target, while a defender only needs to swing their fist three inches to defend. So, while it seems slow, it’s actually about short-range engagement. If you truly treat it as slow, you’ll definitely get beaten black and blue.
The so-called “four ounces deflect a thousand pounds” is actually borrowing force to strike. Following your momentum, even adding a straw would be unbearable.
The so-called “one skill breaks a thousand pounds” is actually at the moment when your attack loses its momentum and your defense is weakest, when your breath is exhaled and not yet inhaled, and your internal energy is not flowing smoothly. This is the moment of greatest vulnerability. A single force can break it.
That Hong Xiaojiao could comprehend these things in such a short time made Lu Fan feel ashamed. When he was at his peak, he hadn’t grasped these principles. He relied entirely on brute force, where one force conquers all. Now, it seemed he truly needed to gain experience in the martial world to grow faster.
Bang… Suddenly, Hong Xiaojiao’s fist landed on Wang Hongcheng’s back. Staggering… Wang Hongcheng was sent back three steps before he could stabilize himself. When he turned around, his old face was flushed red. He hadn’t expected that after all his efforts, he’d been spun around by Hong Xiaojiao and hit by a move that transitioned from feint to reality. Alas! It was precisely the tenth move! How humiliating!
“Hmph! Girl! Shall we go again?”
Wang Hongcheng, losing face, wanted to continue fighting. Suddenly, a stern shout came from afar: “Hongcheng! Since you’ve lost, do not be impertinent!”
Wang Hongcheng shivered and quickly retracted his fist.
Lu Fan and Hong Xiaojiao looked up and saw a group of people appearing in front of them.
“Patriarch of the Wang family of Taiji, Wang Shoutian…”
“Patriarch of the Chen family of Taiji, Chen Bufan…”
“Patriarch of the Li family of Taiji, Li Wangchun…”
“Patriarch of the Wu family of Taiji, Wu Shifei, along with their clansmen, greet the esteemed recruitment envoy!”
“Oh? Taijiquan is divided into so many families?” Lu Fan was surprised. He hadn’t expected to meet so many patriarchs here. But then Lu Fan understood. The news of the Xue family of Silver Spear being wiped out must have spread, and the Wang family of Taiji had brought in some helpers.
“Patriarch Wang, I was passing by here today and happened to bring you a family letter. You all don’t need to be so tense!” Lu Fan waved his hand casually, and an IOU flew towards Wang Shoutian.
However, this time he didn’t use much internal force. From the living conditions of the nearby residents he saw on the way, he could tell that the Wang family treated the surrounding people quite well. Moreover, martial arts duels to enter the mountain were a rule of the martial world, so there was no need to establish his authority everywhere first!
Slap… Patriarch Wang caught the paper and glanced at it. His expression immediately changed slightly. He quickly handed the IOU to the people beside him to examine.
The others read it and exchanged bewildered glances. This was no family letter, but clearly an IOU. And two hundred million was not a small sum.
“Esteemed recruitment envoy! Is our Wang family’s ancestor truly still alive?” Wang Shoutian’s eyes were slightly moist.
“There’s no mistake! You can let your current ancestor examine the handwriting on this paper to confirm. Of course, if you cannot confirm it, this money doesn’t need to be paid. I will find a way to resolve it with your ancestor when I return,” Lu Fan said calmly.
“We wouldn’t dare! Esteemed recruitment envoy, please proceed up the mountain! Allow us to make preparations,” Wang Shoutian said immediately.
“Why aren’t you fighting anymore?” Lu Fan asked with a playful smile.
“No more fighting! No more fighting! If that Hong family girl makes it to the fourth round, we’ll lose all face. Hahaha!” The Wang family patriarch burst into laughter.
“Haha…” The others followed suit with laughter.
Damn it… They actually knew Hong Xiaojiao was from the Hong family. It seemed they had put in a lot of effort! Lu Fan instantly understood.
The group quickly ascended the mountain and arrived in front of a luxurious villa. Upon entering the villa, they found themselves in a large central living room. After Lu Fan and Hong Xiaojiao entered, the four patriarchs followed, while everyone else remained outside.
“Esteemed recruitment envoy! This… IOU, do the rest of our families have one as well?” After being seated, the Chen family patriarch suddenly asked tentatively.
“Heh heh! Have any of your families had ancestors enter Huarong Mansion?” Lu Fan asked back with a playful smile.
“No… no!” The Chen family patriarch shook his head awkwardly.
Everyone understood Lu Fan’s meaning. Even though this was an IOU, their families were not qualified to possess it.
The other three patriarchs’ eyes began to dart around. They had just spoken with Patriarch Hong, Hong Zhancheng, on the phone and knew that these two hundred million were not just for nothing; the benefits Lu Fan had left for the Hong family were not something money could buy.
“Patriarch Wang! I know your Wang family has some assets, but most of your money has been spent on rural development, and you’ve invested a lot in the common people. Two hundred million is not a small sum for you. Although our Taiji is divided into many sects, we are essentially one Taiji family. How about this, I’ll pay fifty million for you!” the Chen family patriarch suddenly said.
“Yes! Yes! We Taiji practitioners are originally one family. How about this, let our four families each contribute fifty million. That will make up the two hundred million. This will also relieve some pressure on Patriarch Wang!” the Wu family patriarch quickly added.
“This is a good idea, I agree!” the Li family patriarch immediately responded.
Lu Fan smiled faintly from the side. It seemed these Taiji practitioners were quite harmonious, actually competing to offer money.
“Thank you all, patriarchs! But please rest assured, this money is a loan from me, and I will definitely repay it in the future,” Patriarch Wang said with a hint of excitement.
“Patriarch Wang, then… we’ll be imposing on you for today’s meal. Haha!” the Li family patriarch suddenly said with a laugh.
“Of course! I’ll go arrange it right away.” Patriarch Wang hurried out.
Not long after, the food and drinks were ready. Patriarch Wang immediately invited everyone into the banquet hall. However, upon entering the banquet hall, Lu Fan was stunned. Inside the banquet hall, there were more than a dozen girls who looked about eighteen or nineteen years old. They were all shy and fidgety…
Did I come to the wrong place? Is this a matchmaking event?