Chapter 6: Concealment
Ning Xuan’s father was Master Ning.
But Master Ning also had a name.
Master Ning was no exception.
His name was Ning Taiyi.
He originally wasn’t called Ning Taiyi. It was because he was fond of metaphysics that he changed his name to “Taiyi.” Similarly, he named Ning Xuan “Xuan.”
Ning Taiyi was often away from home, sometimes for three to four days, and other times for three to four months.
Ning Xuan had asked his mother about it.
His mother said, “Your father has some influence outside; many people invite him to mediate or similar matters.” When Ning Xuan asked further, “Where does he go, what kind of mediation is it, and can it be done just with influence?” his mother replied that she didn’t know.
Ning Xuan didn’t pry into the romantic past of his elders. However, even without asking, he could roughly guess how his father and mother met.
That process was only slightly better than his own reunion with Xiaojie.
The improvement lay in the fact that Xiaojie was selling calligraphy outside a Zen temple in the neighboring prefectural city, while his mother, accompanied by her family’s elderly matriarch, was inside the same temple praying and burning incense, with the abbot himself striking the chanting bells.
Xiaojie came from humble origins, while his mother was from a prominent family.
His mother lived a quiet life there until Master Ning, already in his thirties, arrived.
Master Ning in his thirties was irresistible to all ages.
His mother fell in love with him.
Therefore, his mother had no involvement in Master Ning’s life before he arrived at their home; she knew nothing and didn’t ask.
However, Ning Xuan felt that as his father’s son, he should inherit his father’s legacy in addition to awaiting his father’s arrangements. But he wasn’t. He didn’t even know what “father’s influence” meant.
At times, he even wondered if he was truly Master Ning’s biological son, especially since he had transmigrated before birth and only witnessed his own birth.
However, this question didn’t need asking, as anyone could see the father-son resemblance purely from their appearance.
Master Ning was elegant.
Young Master Ning was a pretty boy.
They were cast from the same mold.
Master Ning’s doting affection was evident on his face.
He granted any request without hesitation!
Moreover, the people Master Ning hired were all very obedient to him.
Even if these individuals had never met Ning Xuan, simply because he was Young Master Ning, they would get out of bed in the middle of the night, follow him for a long journey without asking questions or giving reason, and harbor no complaints.
Last night, when he returned with a group of people, Master Ning had just left again.
At this moment, Ning Xuan put away the Mountain Crushing Bear Heavenly Demon Scroll and resumed his original appearance. He went out and found the head of the mountain manor’s guards, an elder with a kind and benevolent face, who carried a black metal cylinder of Pear Blossom Needles.
“What does the young master seek from this old man?” the elder asked with a smile.
Ning Xuan respectfully said, “May I inquire your name, elder?”
The elder quickly returned the courtesy. “This old man’s name is Han Ba. The martial world calls me the Eight-Armed Elder.”
Ning Xuan said, “But you do not have eight arms.”
The elder named Han Ba chuckled. “It’s just a saying to describe how fast I move, as if I had eight arms when I’m in action. It’s an exaggeration.”
Ning Xuan asked, “The manor’s martial artist, Zhang Erquan of the Swallow Chasing Wind Saber, how do you compare to him?”
Han Ba replied, “If it were a fight to the death, he would die beyond ten paces, and I would die within ten paces.”
Ning Xuan bowed again. “It seems you are a senior from the martial world of the same generation as my teacher.”
He had originally intended to become a disciple.
Now, the thought of becoming a disciple had turned into an investigation.
Han Ba smiled. “Young Master is polite and humble. However… this old man truly doesn’t know why you suddenly left the manor yesterday.”
Ning Xuan explained, “The mountain air was heavy with yin energy, and I was chilled. I wanted to leave, but it was pitch black, and there were many ferocious beasts in the mountains. So, I had to trouble all of you to escort me.”
Han Ba found it somewhat strange.
But considering the young man’s identity, it didn’t seem entirely unreasonable.
Ning Xuan said earnestly, “I wish to learn some martial arts.”
Han Ba replied, “The more you learn, the more danger there is. Without the master’s orders, this old man dare not teach you martial arts privately. However, the Swallow Chasing Wind Saber is already quite formidable.”
Ning Xuan countered, “But I’ve always heard that there are powers in this world that transcend martial arts. Have you heard of them, sir?”
Han Ba stroked his beard and fell silent for a moment. “Did the Young Master hear this from a storyteller?”
As he spoke, he suddenly froze because he noticed the young man opposite him looking at him thoughtfully.
Han Ba quickly asked, “Did I say something wrong?”
Ning Xuan, disappointed, asked, “There truly isn’t?”
Han Ba replied, “There truly isn’t.”
The air became suddenly quiet.
Ning Xuan nodded and said, “Ah well, I’ll go practice my saber.”
Han Ba said, “Then this old man will take the guards back to the manor.”
Ning Xuan invited, “Since you’ve come to the manor, why not stay for two more days?”
Han Ba declined, “No, since the Young Master has escorted me, it is time for me to return.”
Ning Xuan replied, “Mr. Han, please do as you wish. However, if you return to the manor, please send word of your safety.”
Han Ba smiled. “The Young Master shows courtesy to subordinates, truly embodying the spirit of a leader. Please go about your business; this old man will send word upon my return to the mountain.”
A moment later, after watching the young man’s retreating figure disappear around the corner, the elder displayed an expression of extreme regret, clenching his fists, knitting his brows, and raising his hand as if to slap himself.
Finally, he slowly lowered his fist, letting go of the distressed look on his face, and muttered, “I’ve hunted geese for years without ever being caught in a trap, yet today I was pecked in the eye by a mere gosling. Oh, this old man…”
He had been tricked into revealing something.
That little fox was too cunning.
And he had been too careless.
He hadn’t guarded against Young Master Ning. Young Master Ning had chatted with him casually, in a conversational tone, but suddenly blurted out, “But I’ve always heard that there are powers in this world that transcend martial arts. Have you heard of them, sir?”
He hadn’t been on guard, but when this sentence was uttered, he reacted defensively. He paused, then made a mistake typical of someone with a guilty conscience, quickly asking, “Did I say something wrong?” Then, the thoughtful Young Master Ning provided an easy way out, and he quickly took it, saying, “There truly isn’t.”
“Oh, oh!”
Han Ba couldn’t help but slap his own mouth, filled with regret because… the master had explicitly forbidden him from telling the young master certain things.
However, in the next moment, he began to console himself.
Perhaps it was all the old martial artist’s overthinking.
The young master might not have thought that deeply.
After all, these words sounded like normal casual conversation.
He felt there was an issue only because he was an old hand in the martial world.
“So, there are indeed powers in this world that surpass martial arts.”
“Father must know.”
“But he didn’t tell me.”
“Is it to prevent his offspring from being drawn into danger that he deliberatelyWithholds these secrets? Father doesn’t seem like such a rigid and ignorant person…”
For a moment, Ning Xuan suddenly felt a thin layer of psychological distance form between himself and his father.
Although he was a transmigrator, he had transmigrated before birth.
He had been raised by his father and had feelings for him.
(End of Chapter)
