Chapter 1: The Emergence of the Martial God (8)

Liu Hanyan said to Manager Li: "Manager Li, you should come and sit down here too." Manager Li replied: "In front of the young lady and Young Master Li, where is my place? I will remain on the side to serve." Liu Hanyan smiled and said: "My father and I have never regarded you as a subordinate. Besides, Brother Li is not an outsider; you should sit down." Manager Li again declined firmly and refused to sit. Seeing this, Li Yueqian reached out and grabbed Manager Li, pressing him into a seat, saying: "You should sit down first; where does all this formality come from?" Manager Li smiled and no longer declined, but there was a hint of awkwardness in his smile.

Upon hearing that this wine was brewed in memory of a great poet named Li Bai, Li Yue immediately lost interest. When he was young, Li Qingshan had taught him to read and made him memorize a few lines of Tang poetry, such as "The bright sun sets behind the mountains, the Yellow River flows into the sea. To gaze a thousand miles further, one must ascend another floor." He did not take it seriously, nor was he willing to learn to read, which caused him considerable hardship. Later, when it was Wu Tianyuan's turn to teach him, he was also made to memorize simple and easy-to-understand lines like "Two orioles sing among the green willows, a line of white egrets flies in the blue sky. The window frames the snow of the western peaks, the door moors ships from the east of Wu for thousands of miles." He still did not take it seriously, nor was he willing to learn to read, which again led to much suffering. When it was Wu Tianyuan's turn to teach him, he was also made to memorize simple and easy-to-understand lines like "Two orioles sing among the green willows, a line of white egrets flies in the blue sky. The window frames the snow of the western peaks, the door moors ships from the east of Wu for thousands of miles." He even deliberately misrecited and wrote the characters incorrectly, naturally enduring several beatings from Wu Tianyuan. Thus, he harbored a deep hatred for "poetry" and the "poets" who wrote it. Now, although he has grown older and understands that most of this "poetry" was composed by long-deceased "poets," he still cannot help but feel a lingering resentment towards both "poetry" and "poets." It is said that "poets" write poetry mostly out of some "feeling." As for what kind of "feeling" that is, he does not know, nor does he wish to know. Consequently, he has come to terms with it, relinquishing the childhood hatred he held towards "poetry" and "poets" (for even if he wanted to take revenge, he could find no target). However, he still cannot shake off the lingering thoughts regarding "poetry" and "poets."

Liu Hanyan's expression finally eased a bit as she asked, "How are the other matters progressing?" Manager Li replied, "I have checked our several businesses, and the accounts show no issues. I also negotiated with the local mountain goods shop, but the owner is unwilling to transfer it." Liu Hanyan inquired, "Why?" Manager Li responded, "Our price is already quite reasonable, yet he still finds it too low. In my opinion, it would be better to send someone to intimidate them; they would surely agree to transfer it to us." Liu Hanyan shook her head and said, "I have told you many times that we must conduct our business honestly and not bully others with our power! We should not resort to violence at every turn. Go back tomorrow and simply offer a higher price. I believe the location of that shop is excellent; if we acquire it, our shops will connect, and we will definitely be able to recoup our investment there." Manager Li felt disheartened and fell silent, yet he was quite skeptical in his heart. However, since the young lady had said so, he had no choice but to comply. One thing was certain: he had never doubted the young lady's judgment.

Li Yueqian observed that the wine in the small cup was indeed amber in color and said, "Who is Li Bai? Has he ever drunk this 'Tulip' wine? Otherwise, how would he know that the wine is amber in color?" Liu Hanyan smiled and shook her head, saying, "Li Bai was a great poet of the Tang Dynasty. At that time, tulip was a type of herb, and the wine infused with this herb appeared golden yellow, which also enhanced the fragrance of the wine. As for my 'Tulip' wine, I estimate it was brewed by later generations to commemorate the great poet Li, and it is likely that Li Bai himself never drank it."

Liu Hanyan and Li Yingchang were both left speechless. According to Li Yueqian's account, Wu Tianyuan was already able to create his own martial arts at the age of twelve or thirteen. This was simply absurd! Liu Hanyan could not help but ask, "Is what you said true?" Li Yueqian replied, "I know you must think I am bragging or that I have gone mad. But what I say is absolutely true. At that time, when my elder brother told my father and me about this, I did not believe it, nor did my father. Liu Hanyan could not help but ask again, 'Is what you said true?' Li Yueqian continued, 'I know you must think I am bragging or that I have gone mad. But what I say is absolutely true. At that time, when my elder brother told my father and me about this, I did not believe it, nor did my father. However, when he demonstrated the martial arts he had created, we had no choice but to believe. At that time, my elder brother wanted to pass on the martial arts he had comprehended to me, but I refused. I thought to myself, if he could create martial arts, why couldn't I? My father had once said that I was a rare talent in martial arts in a hundred years! I thought to myself, if he could create martial arts, why couldn't I? My father had once said that I was a rare talent in martial arts in a hundred years! Why should I lose to him? (At this moment, Liu Hanyan suddenly realized that Li Yueqian was very proud.) Two years later, I also embarked on this path. However, I still handed over my first set of self-created skills to him for his assistance in modification. At that time, he began to pursue the path of self-created internal skills, which most people dared not attempt. However, I still handed over my first set of self-created skills to him for his assistance in modification. At that time, he began to pursue the path of self-created internal skills, which most people dared not attempt. By this time, I had already been left far behind by him.

Li Yueqian saw the two of them talking and suddenly found them both in tears. He said, "Why are you two crying while talking? My elder brother said that a man should bleed but not shed tears." Upon hearing this, Li Yingchang's face turned red, and he replied, "Indeed, I was a bit overwhelmed with emotion just now and lost my composure."

Liu Hanyan pulled out the wooden cork from the wine jug, and immediately a rich fragrance wafted out, intoxicating those who inhaled it. Li Yueqian asked, "What kind of wine is this? Why does it smell so good?" Liu Hanyan replied, "This wine is called 'Yujinxiang.'" Li Yueqian inquired in surprise, "What kind of wine is 'Yujinxiang'? I have never heard of it." As Liu Hanyan poured the wine, she said, "Li Bai once wrote: 'The beautiful wine of Lanling is Yujinxiang, served in a jade bowl that glows like amber. As long as the host can intoxicate the guests, who cares where the homeland is.'"

Liu Hanyan said, "Please come in," and Li Yueqian had already barged in, asking, "Sister Liu, did you call me for something?" Liu Hanyan replied, "I see that it's still early, and I wanted to invite you to chat. Come, have a seat." Li Yueqian was not polite and sat down at the table. He looked at the dishes in front of him and said, "With just this little bit, it's not enough to fill my teeth; how can I eat?" Liu Hanyan smiled and said, "This isn't a meal; it's just a little snack, and you mustn't gobble it all down at once." Li Yueqian nodded and said, "I understand."

Liu Hanyan asked, "What happened later?" Li Yueqian sighed deeply and said with considerable frustration, "Later, who would have thought that just half a year later, his martial arts skills caught up with mine. By then, it was impossible for me to give him a black eye. A year later, my elder brother's martial arts surpassed mine, and from then on, it was only him who could hit me; I could no longer hit him. When I turned ten, my father was no longer my match and could no longer discipline me. A year later, my elder brother's martial arts surpassed mine, and from then on, it was only him who could hit me; I could no longer hit him. When I turned ten, my father was no longer my match and could no longer discipline me. Therefore, the responsibility of disciplining me was handed over to my elder brother. It was also in that year that my elder brother began to create his own martial arts, forging a path that had not been trodden by others.

Liu Hanhé said: "It seems that Brother Wu is usually busy and does not have the mind to waste on these trivial matters." Li Yueqian nodded and replied: "You are right about that." Liu Hanyan then asked: "When did Brother Wu become your father's disciple?" Li Yueqian recalled and said: "It should have been when I was six years old. My father returned from practicing medicine and brought my elder brother back with him; at that time, he was about eight or nine years old. My father had me practice martial arts and study medicine with him. I had already been training for two years by then, and every time we sparred, I could beat him up so badly that he would end up with a bruised face." At this point, Li Yueqian smiled like an eight or nine-year-old child, reminiscing about the time when he had the most advantage in his encounters with Wu Tianyuan.

"Lengzi? Who is that?" Li Yingchang could not help but ask. Li Yueqian's voice was somewhat hoarse as he replied, "It's me, my nickname is Lengzi. After my father finished speaking, he held onto my elder brother's hand and sighed, saying, 'But it is you who has suffered!' My elder brother cried and said, 'Master, you can rest assured, I will take good care of Lengzi.' Only then did my father close his eyes and pass away. It was then that I realized my father was no longer with us, and I understood why my elder brother was crying. After my father finished speaking, he held onto my elder brother's hand and sighed, saying, 'But it is you who has suffered!' My elder brother cried and said, 'Master, you can rest assured, I will take good care of Lengzi.' Only then did my father close his eyes and pass away. It was then that I realized my father was no longer with us, and I understood why my elder brother was crying. I could not help but burst into tears. After burying my father, we lived a peaceful life for several years, until three years ago, when he unexpectedly mastered the 'Three Mystical True Fire.' I had always wondered how my elder brother could learn medicine, gather herbs, read books, and practice martial arts all at once. Meanwhile, I only practiced martial arts and did nothing else, yet I tried my utmost to catch up, but I could never match him. I had always wondered how my elder brother could learn medicine, gather herbs, read books, and practice martial arts all at once. Meanwhile, I only practiced martial arts and did nothing else, yet I tried my utmost to catch up, but I could never match him. It was only at that moment that I realized my elder brother was truly extraordinary. The gap between us was too great, too great!" At this point, Li Yueqian's voice was almost inaudible.

Liu Hanyan said: "Brother Li, please have a drink, don't be shy." Li Yueqian finished the wine in his cup and felt a delightful fragrance fill his mouth. As the wine entered his belly, it was even more exhilarating, prompting him to exclaim: "What a good wine!" Then, he took a few anise beans from the silver platter, chewed them, and found them sweet, fragrant, and pleasantly chewy. Unable to restrain himself, he exclaimed: "Delicious!" He also sampled several other candied fruits and delicacies from the silver platters, each one a flavor he had never tasted before. He couldn't help but say to Liu Hanyan: "I never knew there were so many delicious things in the world. Why has my elder brother never bought any for me to eat?"

As the conversation and the books came to an end, tears welled up in Liu Hanyan's phoenix-like eyes as she drained the cup. Upon hearing this, Manager Li was also moved to tears, his hand trembling as he held the wine cup, saying: "Years ago, I was pursued by my enemies, and in the vastness of the world, there was no place for me, Li Yingchang, to take refuge. In this time of peril, it was the fortress master who took me in and avenged my grievances. Since I joined the 'Haotian Fortress,' the fortress master, Second Master, and Miss have placed great trust in me, assigning me important responsibilities, and have never regarded me as a mere subordinate. I have only done a little bit of work, which truly does not deserve such praise from Miss." He also drank from the cup.

After Liu Hanyan saw Manager Li leave, she took a large green lacquered wine gourd and three small blue-and-white porcelain wine cups, placing them on the table. Then she took out several plates and arranged them with snacks such as sunflower seeds, candied fruits, bayberries, sweet lotus root, and fennel beans. Just as she finished setting everything up, she heard a knock at the door from Manager Li.

Liu Hanyan and Li Yingchang felt as if they were listening to a mythological tale, staring blankly and unable to speak. It is important to note that creating one's own martial arts techniques, even if they are not particularly exquisite or have some flaws, generally poses relatively little harm to the body during practice. At most, one might be easily injured by an opponent in combat. However, internal cultivation is entirely different; even the slightest mistake can lead the practitioner to go astray, resulting in serious injuries or, in severe cases, a complete disruption of the body's meridians, potentially even costing one’s life. It is indeed an extremely perilous endeavor. Li Yueqian continued, "Later, my father, suffering from a terminal illness, collected many herbs and sought numerous prescriptions in an attempt to refine elixirs for healing. However, every attempt at alchemy ended in failure. My elder brother and father studied for a long time before realizing that the issue lay with the fire used in the alchemy process." Liu Hanyan asked curiously, "What could be wrong with the fire?"

Liu Hanyan was unaware of the intricate entanglements of grievances and affections between him, "poetry," and "poets." She raised her wine glass and said to Manager Li, "For this first cup of wine, I would like to toast Manager Li first." Manager Li hurriedly stood up and replied, "This is not appropriate. How can the young lady toast a servant like me?" Liu Hanyan said, "Manager Li, please sit down first." Manager Li had no choice but to sit down, his face displaying a look of unease. Liu Hanyan then said solemnly, "Since my father has been seriously ill, my second uncle has nominally taken on the role of the fortress master, but I know that the one who truly held up 'Haotian Fortress' and prevented it from collapsing was you, Manager Li. In the years I have taken over the Liu family's business, it was you who guided me hand in hand during the initial two years, teaching me how to manage the overall situation and how to deal with numerous heroes of the martial world. The kindness you have shown to the Liu family is something Hanyan cannot repay. Today, allowing Hanyan to toast you with a cup of water wine and call you Uncle Li, what is so excessive about that?"

Li Yueqian said: "In ancient times, alchemists used 'true fire of Samadhi'. Initially, both my father and elder brother thought that this 'true fire of Samadhi' was merely a type of fire, like firewood or charcoal. It was only after my elder brother perused countless Daoist texts that he realized this 'true fire of Samadhi' is not a type of fire, but a form of internal energy. In order to refine elixirs and save my father's life, my elder brother began to study how to cultivate this 'true fire of Samadhi'. Unfortunately, by the time my father passed away, my elder brother had only just begun to grasp a little of it. It was too late! My father, knowing his time was near, called my elder brother and me to his bedside and said to my elder brother: 'I have only one son, born to be a good material for martial arts, yet he lacks the ambition to help the world, and thus will find it hard to achieve greatness. After I am gone, you must keep a close watch on him and prevent him from causing trouble. Alas! Our Li family has only this one seedling. I hope you can treat him as your own brother, and if there is an opportunity in the future, help him establish a family, fulfilling a wish of mine as a teacher.' At that moment, my elder brother was in tears, unable to speak, only nodding repeatedly. I did not know my father was about to leave us, and seeing my elder brother cry like that was the first time I had ever witnessed such a sight. I had never imagined that someone as formidable as my elder brother could cry like a child. My father then said to me: 'Fool, from now on, do not call Wu Shixiong anymore, just call him elder brother, and you must treat him as your own brother. In the future, you must listen to everything your elder brother says.'

Liu Hanyan said: "Have you dismissed the matter with the 'Tianlong Gang'?" Manager Li replied: "I have contacted the 'Tianlong Gang'. However, that Chief Chen refused, saying he must see the young lady tonight." Liu Hanyan continued: "They are the local bullies here, and since we are staying at the 'Jixiang Inn', they must have known about it long ago. Has Li Yueqian gone to sleep yet?" Manager Li responded: "It seems he hasn't." Liu Hanyan instructed: "Please invite him to come here and have a chat with me." Manager Li replied: "Understood."