Chapter 8, Acknowledgment of the Lord

Later, he returned again and left behind a remark: "Do not disturb me," and then began his seclusion. He left behind a mess for the then family head to deal with. His actions indeed brought considerable turmoil to our Wen family over the following decades. However, in the end, although the Four Great Gates disappeared, our Wen family still stood firm on Mount Jiuding! It was not until thirty years later that this ancestor suddenly emerged from seclusion.

Wen Leyang extended another hand and lightly scratched Xiao Yi's delicate little nose, saying: "No, I have already thought of its name, it shall be called 'I Give In'!"

In the future, when I get into a fight with others and find myself at a disadvantage, I will just shout that I concede..." As he spoke, Wen Leyang teased the firefly, repeatedly calling out: "I concede, I concede, I concede..."

As Wen Leyang's fist was about to smash the insect into pieces, an irresistible force suddenly surged from behind, violently lifting his body backward. Confused, Wen Leyang let out a loud shout, hugging his knees. In the moment his body was airborne, he charged toward the enemy who had ambushed him like a bouncing ball. The strange technique he had employed in his counterattack had already become instinctive; whenever he was attacked, he didn't need to think, as he naturally had a way to respond.

The result was met with a cold snort, just taken out from the freezer.

Wen Leyang extended a finger, gently stroking the Buddha lamp worm in his palm with a heartache. The plump worm immediately poked its head out, rubbing against his fingertip incessantly, appearing exceptionally affectionate: "I thought it would hurt Xiao Yi... Now, you are the elder, so, it is as it should be..."

The firefly suddenly recognized its master, leaving Wen Leyang flustered, and he accidentally tossed Wen Lazi's notes into the clouds.

A sense of pride gradually arose in the words of the Fourth Master.

Xiao Yi, with a face full of joy and curiosity, leaned her little face into Wen Leyang's palm, repeatedly examining the firefly: "Wen Leyang, it's so hot, like a furnace. Can we call it a furnace?"

Xiao Yi frowned and said, "I am baffled. How could someone choose such a peculiar name? It is not pleasant at all"

Wen Leyang dazedly got up, and upon looking at Xiao Yi, he saw her playfully teasing the plump firefly on her arm with a beaming smile.

The glowworm seemed to be enraged upon hearing Xiao Yi's voice, its plump body suddenly tensing up as it shot towards her like lightning! Wen Leyang let out a cry; this creature, bearing a peculiar venom, was regarded as the king of insects, and was mostly known for its violent temperament. Although its toxicity could not harm him, Wen Xiaoyi was merely an ordinary girl, and a single prick from its hard bristles would result in her immediate death, leaving no chance for rescue.

Wen Leyang stared in disbelief, his eyes wide open: "Hasn't he already mastered the wrong fist in just ten months?"

In the depths of Lord Wen Si's gaze, a barely perceptible smile flashed: "Kid, this insect is a coveted treasure for poison refiners. Not to mention whether it can be transformed into a Buddha lamp, even as a larva, it offers countless benefits for refining formulas, self-defense, or attracting other rare poisonous substances. You almost killed it just now, and now you want to give it away?"

Old Master Wen Si snorted, shook his sleeve, and turned to leave: "A trivial skill, keep it for yourself to play with! If you like, you can give it a name; this kind of insect is perceptive and knows when you call it!"

The speed of the firefly is extremely fast. By the time Wen Leyang reacted, it had already stuck to Xiao Yi's fair little arm. Wen Leyang was furious, and with a punch like the wind, he struck down at the little bug that had been playing and frolicking with him for the past few months. No matter how important the bug was, compared to the adorable Xiao Yi, it was nothing.

Wen He, feeling relieved, pulled out a carrot and stuffed it into his mouth: "Fortunately, I am a man..." Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly slapped his forehead, bent down to pick up the notes left by Wen Lazi, and hurriedly went to find Old Master Wen Si. He suddenly remembered that his uncle had mentioned this ancestor, Wen Lazi, when he took him into the mountains.

Wen Leyang knew that the moment of excitement had arrived. He took out a carrot but, in front of the Fourth Master, did not dare to eat it. Instead, he tightly clenched it in his hand, his eyes sparkling with a bright and yearning light, reminiscent of Sri Lankan black gems

The few stiff hairs on the firefly's body have now all drooped down softly, wrapping around its plump belly, and are vigorously rolling on that lotus root-like white and tender arm.

"I give up" crawled around Wen Leyang as if searching for a place to settle. Wen Xiaoyi reminded, "Don't move, don't move. After the Buddha Lamp Bug recognizes its master, it will find a spot on your body."

The Wen family usually cultivates poison, and the potent toxins accumulate and merge into their meridians. At this moment, Wen Lazi's meridians were severed, and the toxins immediately erupted, quickly burning through his internal organs.

For decades, Wen Lazi integrated all the erroneous techniques into the instinctive movements of his body. After emerging from seclusion, he laughed heartily, babbling incoherently, uttering words that others could not comprehend. Finally, he suddenly shouted: "Without trying, how can one know what is impossible to achieve?" Immediately, a series of muffled sounds like exploding beans resonated throughout his body, and he astonishingly began to rupture his meridians inch by inch

The Fourth Master was sitting in his large house, his expression dark and brooding as if he were contemplating something. When he saw Wen Leyang hurriedly entering with an ancestral text in hand, a fleeting, barely noticeable embarrassment crossed his face, as he thought this young man had come to ask about obscure characters again

"One day, if he is willing to leave along your arm, it means he has recognized his master..." The words spoken by Da Bowein Tunhai once slipped through Wen Leyang's mind

Wen Xiaoyi had long known from the classics about the tale of the Buddha lamp worm recognizing its master. She jumped up, clapped her hands, and laughed, saying: "Wen Leyang, the Buddha lamp worm has recognized you as its master!"

The firefly indeed understood the main idea; upon hearing "I give in," it immediately raised its head and responded with a couple of calls, causing Wen Leyang and the little girl to burst into laughter.

Master Wen Si briefly glanced at the notes before closing them and tossing them back: "Having seen it is enough. This ancestor was originally exceptionally gifted, with astonishing talent. At the age of thirteen, he passed the ten-year imperial examination, and within ten months, he mastered the intricacies of the wrong fist. Four years later, he comprehensively integrated the martial insights left by our ancestors, making him the foremost figure in the history of the Wen family over the past two thousand years! He then began his travels down the mountain. However, this ancestor's temperament was somewhat peculiar, which was quite contrary to the secluded teachings of our Wen family."

Old Master Wen still wore that cold, expressionless face, and his tone held not a trace of emotion: "What are you panicking about? Didn't Wen Tunhai tell you that once the Buddha Lamp Bug recognizes its master, it will share a bond of understanding with them? Your friends and family are also its friends and family?"

Wen Lazi's body trembled strangely, as if it still wanted to raise its hands and feet to throw a series of incorrect punches. However, in the end, it let out a deep sigh, its eyes wide open, and fell to the ground, unable to close its eyes in death

As he spoke, Lord Wen Si paused for a moment, slightly closed his eyes, as if also savoring the arrogance of the past regarding Wen Lazi: "At that time, it was the chaotic era of the Yuan and Ming dynasties, with wars raging across the land, and various heroes contending in the martial world. The four great extraordinary schools were in full swing, yet our ancestor inexplicably chose to challenge them. Over the course of six years, he suffered consecutive defeats against the Yin-Yang talismans of the Nanguang in Jibei, the Qimen Dunjia of Duanmu in Lingnan, the mechanical arts of the Ge family in Shandong, and the divine thunder of the Tongmen in Chenzhou. At that time, he was barely in his twenties! When asked why he did this, he defiantly replied: 'How can one know the efficacy of poison without trying it?'"

A cold snort that he has become all too familiar with over the past few months

The young girl is innocent in her thoughts, yet not foolish at all. In her mind, she immediately sketches a scene: the handsome youth Wen Leyang, dancing as if in a performance, is fighting against a villain with a face full of excess flesh. Just as it seems he is at a disadvantage, he suddenly stops, grimacing, and shouts, "I give up!" The villain, grinning maliciously, is taken by surprise as a fiery red spirit insect shoots towards him from Wen Leyang like a bolt of lightning. In the end, justice triumphs over evil, and the cosmic hero Leyang Ultraman Wen raises the spirit insect, laughing heartily towards the sky.

Wen Lazi's life has been full of ups and downs, while the tone in which Old Master Wen Si recounts these events is almost coldly indifferent. This stark contrast fills the entire mansion with an eerie atmosphere

Wen Leyang listened with rapt attention and quickly asked, "What happened next?" It is a common trait among the disciples of noble families; they become excited upon hearing about the glorious deeds of their ancestors. A young man in his twenties, just to hone his skills, single-handedly defeated the ultimate techniques of the four great noble families. Although it could be said that he was looking for trouble, this level of skill and audacity is enough to leave a remarkable impression for future generations.

Xiao Yi's face turned pale as he stared helplessly at the insect on his arm

"Four Elders, this ancestor..." Wen Leyang respectfully handed over the notebook, which opened to the very page where Wen Lazi was cursing. He thought to himself that it shouldn't be just me receiving the scolding.

Lord Wen Si cast a glance at the ancient texts held by Wen Leyang, and with a hint of fatigue, waved his hand: "You may glance at the notes, but do not take them too seriously." After saying this, he turned his head away and closed his eyes

Wen Leyang hurriedly opened his body, straining to twist his legs. Under the powerful inertia, he forcefully changed direction and fell to the ground in a clumsy manner. Before he could get up, he frantically shouted, "Fourth Uncle, quickly save Xiao Yi!"

The numerous wrinkles on the old gentleman's face contracted slightly, forming a peculiar expression: "At that time, when his family saw him emerge from seclusion, they were all overjoyed, thinking that the Wen family would soon produce several astonishingly lethal formulas. Yet, no one expected... can you guess what he had been doing in seclusion for decades? He had been practicing those thirteen errant punches all along"

The Fourth Master nodded: "For decades, this ancestor has been continuously practicing the wrong fist technique, integrating every action of eating, sleeping, defecating, and scratching into the wrong fist. By the time he emerged from seclusion, he had forgotten how to walk, how to shake hands, and his entire body was perpetually engaged in the wrong fist technique"

After speaking, he walked over to Old Master Wen Si, hesitating for a long time before finally saying: "Grandpa Si, I can't take care of this bug either, so I... I want to give it to you..." Wen Leyang had always been kind-hearted, especially towards family and friends. In his view, the best things should be offered to the elders. In truth, he was extremely reluctant to part with it. The Buddhist lantern bug seemed to sense that this young man was giving it away, lying motionless in his palm, looking sorrowful.

Wen Leyang felt a sense of relief upon seeing that Xiao Yi was unharmed, and he hurriedly reached out to take the insect, saying to Xiao Yi with a worried expression: "Be careful, be careful; it would be terrible if it hurt you."

Wen Leyang imagined the places on his body where insects could hide, and an incredibly terrifying thought surged up within him. Before he had the chance to speak, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest, followed by a numbness. When he unbuttoned his clothing to take a look, he found that the words "I give up" had somehow embedded themselves into the muscle of his chest, appearing like a dark red birthmark. When he touched it, there was not a hint of protrusion or gap between the insect and his pectoral muscle, as if it had been that way from birth.

Wen Leyang was overjoyed and called out loudly to the back of the Fourth Master: "Thank you, Fourth Grandfather!"