In front of the Funeral Shop, a man dressed in a red robe, wearing a crown with seven ridges, with a qilin insignia on his chest and back, was negotiating with the common folk of Underground Street.
"I, the Marquis, have come to visit my benefactor of days past. Since he is not here, I shall wait here."
Sun Ernian, possessed by Xuan Yu, was completely unfazed. She did not recognize Wang Liang, nor did she fear any noble above the first rank.
In Xuan Yu's eyes, humans had no distinctions of status.
Well, except for the Xu Immortal Family.
No one is nobler than the Xu Immortal Family.
"Guest, please leave. Our shop must continue operations. If you block our shop's entrance with these people, how can other guests be willing to come?"
Wang Liang smiled faintly and was about to reply when an iron pillar of a man, nine feet tall, stepped forward and said:
"Erniang has spoken, so guest, please come back tomorrow. Disturbing the neighborhood's business is minor, but wasting a noble's time is major."
"As for the matter of finding Master Xu... coming back tomorrow will not be too late."
"Master Xu?"
Wang Liang raised an eyebrow and reevaluated the robust man in front of him.
"You call Mr. Xu 'Master'? Could it be that you are one of his disciples?"
"I am unworthy and lack talent, born foolish, and can only be accepted as a named disciple by Master Xu, running this Paper Mache Shop."
Wang Liang's gaze slightly tightened. He had tried several times to become Xu Qing's disciple, only to be refused each time.
Even though later Xu Qing had given him martial arts cultivation techniques and pills, establishing a real teacher-disciple relationship, Xu Qing still would not officially accept him.
But now, the rough-looking simpleton before him claims to be Xu Qing's disciple...
Wang Liang caressed the jade ring on his hand, looking at Li Tiezhu with interest.
Over the years, having fought in numerous battles, his martial arts cultivation was already nearing the grandmaster level. If nothing went wrong, within two years, he would fully step into the realm of the Martial Arts Grandmaster.
The last person who was a master in both warfare and had grandmaster-level cultivation was Zhu Sheng, the biological father of the current Emperor, who was posthumously crowned as Emperor Hongren Zhaozong, also known as the King of the Long Pavilion in past years.
Wang Liang considered his own talents not inferior to anyone, comparable even to the late Emperor Hongren Zhaozong, or perhaps even better than him.
For someone like him to still not receive Mr. Xu's acknowledgment, what merits did the man before him possess to gain Xu Mr. Xu's favor and be accepted as a disciple?
Wang Liang chuckled lightly, his tone pressing as he said, "Seeing your physique, you must also be a person of martial arts. I too had the fortune of receiving Mr. Xu's guidance, learning martial arts to protect myself.
Could you, brother, guide me a bit?"
Li Tiezhu shook his head and waved his hand, saying, "No, no! I don't know martial arts, I only know some basic techniques."
Wang Liang stepped forward, suddenly grasping Tiezhu's arm, and laughed, "It's alright, I am also from a rural village. I won't use skills I've learned elsewhere, only what Mr. Xu taught me to spar with you."
Li Tiezhu tried to pull away from Wang Liang's iron grip, but found the latter was deliberately exerting force, trying to make him agree.
"Even so, it won't work! Master Xu said if we must fight, we have to kill and grind their bones to dust!"
"..."
Wang Liang suddenly recalled how back in Wanshou Village, he had killed those trying to seize his land and family business. When Xu Qing learned of it, he was not surprised but asked where the bodies had been hidden.
Upon learning he had dismembered the bodies and thrown them into the woods to be consumed by wild animals, Xu Qing had looked disappointed.
Now, connecting to Li Tiezhu's words, Wang Liang suddenly understood something.
Could it be that Mr. Xu was disappointed because he had not ground the bodies to dust?
Wang Liang shook his head. Those past events no longer mattered. His vision and breadth of mind now were far beyond what he was as a country boy.
What he needed to do now was prove his capabilities in front of Master Xu, and at the same time test the capabilities of this burly man. If he truly showed potential, even if lesser than his own, he could find a way to recruit him into the army, for the benefit of the Great Yan.
Using half his strength, Wang Liang's eyes brightened, seeing the man withstand his power without changing expression, indicating considerable potential within him.
However, even at seventy percent strength, the simple-looking man before him remained unchanged.
At ninety percent strength, Wang Liang's expression grew exceptionally serious.
When he refused to believe it and mustered all his power, exerting his full strength, Wang Liang's expression changed drastically!
At that moment, the ever-unruffled Tiezhu frowned slightly with some impatience, pushing away the Marquis's hand and stepping back, clasping his hands, he said:
"Master Xu already said not to act rashly. Since the noble Marquis was also guided by Master Xu, I should not strike, and kindly ask for your understanding."
Wang Liang staggered, and his attendants rushed to support him, only to be waved off by him.
"No wonder Mr. Xu accepted you as a disciple but did not take me... "
Wang Liang's expression was extremely complex, with a sense of defeat welling up inside. What kind of monster was this, to have grandmaster-level cultivation at such a young age?
"Brother Li's skills truly are exceptional. If Brother Li is willing, you can join me in the army. With Brother Li's skills, a bright future is surely ahead!"
Li Tiezhu firmly shook his head, "I am but a named disciple and must work hard in my cultivation to meet Master Xu's expectations. If I entered the military, it would only lead to further disappointment from Master Xu."
"..."
Wang Liang fell completely silent.
...
Meanwhile, at the end of Underground Street.
Xu Qing was preparing to return to his shop, only to see a group of well-dressed imperial guards surrounding his establishment, leaving no gap.