Chapter 56: Outer Relatives, Sparring

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Outer Relatives, Sparring

The ancestors of the Wei family had run an Escort Agency, but after moving to the Jade Capital, they started a fish stall business. Though the business hadn’t expanded much, it was doing decently well.

Lu Yuan’s maternal grandfather, Wei Changgong, had three sons and one daughter: Wei Huidong, Wei Huisheng, Wei Huiling, and Wei Huilong. Lu Yuan’s mother was the third child. Wei Huilong was the youngest and remained unmarried to this day. In the next generation, Wei Huidong and Wei Huisheng had fathered a total of eight daughters between them, but not a single son.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

Lu Yuan knocked on the door.

"Who is it? It’s so late." Wei Huidong’s voice rang out, carrying a hint of vigilance. It was past visiting hours, and the curfew was already in effect.

"Uncle Huidong, it’s me," Lu Yuan called out.

"Oh, it’s Ayuan." Wei Huidong hurried over to open the door. He was of medium build with a heart-shaped face and a handlebar mustache, looking to be in his early forties. Seeing Lu Yuan, his face lit up with joy. "What brings you here at this hour, kid?"

"I missed you all, so I came over," Lu Yuan smiled, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

"Haha, I heard your cultivation reached the Eighth Grade and you’ve even joined the Demon Suppression Bureau! It’s a massive surprise. You completely exceeded our expectations. We never noticed you had such talent before," Wei Huidong laughed, teasing him.

This was undoubtedly a joyous event, equally so for the Wei family. With Lu Yuan’s rise to prominence, the Wei family would also benefit from his success.

"Can’t it just be that I worked hard and suddenly had a breakthrough? What can I say?" Lu Yuan rolled his eyes, replying with a smug look.

"Haha, I heard from your mother that you experienced an epiphany," Wei Huidong laughed out loud, though his expression grew slightly complex.

An epiphany was the ultimate dream of countless Martial Artists, something they deeply yearned for. It could lead to rapid, exponential progress, allowing one to soar straight to the heavens.

"It was probably the joyous occasion of my engagement that brought good luck."

Lu Yuan nodded. It was fine if everyone understood it that way. He needed them to believe precisely that.

"Brother Yuan!"

"Brother Yuan!"

Two girls ran out, holding hands. One was about eleven or twelve years old, with an oval face and almond-shaped eyes. She was exceedingly pretty, her gaze lively and astute, with a hint of stubbornness between her brows. The younger one was only five or six. She wore her hair in pigtails, her large, sparkling eyes full of innocent purity.

"Yunchan, Yingying," Lu Yuan greeted them. They were his two cousins, Wei Yunchan and Wei Yunying.

"Come on, let’s head inside," Wei Huidong said, patting Lu Yuan on the shoulder.

"Alright." Lu Yuan nodded.

"Brother Yuan, your hand," Wei Yunying said, quickly grabbing onto Lu Yuan’s hand.

The four of them entered the house.

Wei Changgong sat in a grand armchair. He shot Lu Yuan an indifferent, sidelong glance. "How long has it been since you came to see your grandfather? What, now that you’re engaged, your grandfather isn’t family anymore?"

"That’s not true! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven..." Lu Yuan extended his fingers, pretending to count. "It hasn’t even been that many days. If I’d forgotten about my grandfather, I wouldn’t have come. Besides, didn’t I distill all the liquor my mother brought you?" Saying so, he lifted the two bottles of liquor in his hands.

"You little brat, you’ve just got a glib tongue. I’m not pining for your little bit of liquor." Wei Changgong quickly stood up, snatched the bottles, and pulled them close. He acted as if taking even a moment longer would allow his two sons to get their hands on them. It was glaringly obvious that his actions completely contradicted his words.

"Ayuan, is tomorrow your day off?" Wei Huisheng asked. Unlike his older brother, Wei Huisheng was tall and heavily built, with a square face and a somewhat rugged, fierce appearance. He looked aggressive and imposing, yet there was a shrewdness etched into his features. He was also the one who had fathered five daughters in a row.

"No, I still have to go to work tomorrow morning." Lu Yuan shook his head, offering a helpless expression. "I just purely missed you guys, really."

"Hahaha!"

Everyone burst into laughter. They believed him. The Lu family was simply too small; how could it ever be as lively as their household? Young people always preferred a bustling environment.

"Wenqi, go tidy up a room for him," Wei Changgong instructed.

"Right away, Dad," Aunt Wenqi replied with a smile before taking her leave. Aunt Xiu’ning also went along to help.

"Come, let’s head out to the courtyard. Let me see exactly how much your skills have improved lately," Wei Changgong said, setting down the liquor and waving his large hand. Among Martial Artists, sparring and comparing notes was their favorite and most frequent pastime.

"Perfect, I want to see for myself too." Wei Huidong was suddenly eager to give it a try.

"Huidong, let me try him first." Wei Huisheng cracked his knuckles.

"I’m afraid you might not be a match for Ayuan," Wei Huidong teased.

"How is that possible?" Wei Huisheng reacted immediately, feeling provoked. "Even if you give this kid a few more years, he still might not be my match."

"Uncle Huisheng, don’t speak too soon." Lu Yuan unbuckled his saber and walked into the courtyard.

"Oh ho! Sure enough, we haven’t seen you in a few days, and your ego has grown. You’ll see what’s what in a moment." Wei Huisheng cracked his knuckles again, then crooked a finger at him. "I can let you have the first three moves."

"You said it," Lu Yuan chuckled.

SWISH!

His figure vanished rapidly, instantly appearing right in front of Wei Huisheng to throw a heavy punch.

BAM!

Wei Huisheng casually reached out a hand, blocking it steadily. "Not enough. Too weak."

THUD!

Lu Yuan whipped his leg out, kicking sharply at his lower back.

"Still not enough. Put some force into it." Wei Huisheng tucked his arm in, blocking the strike with his elbow.

"Alright." Lu Yuan dropped his stance low and delivered a full-powered, frontal punch.

BAM!

Wei Huisheng caught it, but his body swayed slightly, and a visible change finally crossed his face. "Now that’s a bit more interesting."

"Three moves are up. Now it begins for real!" Lu Yuan immediately unleashed the upgraded Cyan Gang Fist.

BAM, BAM, BAM!

BAM, BAM, BAM!

Although it hadn’t yet reached the Superior level, its finesse had vastly improved. Especially after reaching Perfection, its power had multiplied. Wei Huisheng was immediately forced on the defensive. Of course, Wei Huisheng wasn’t using his full strength.

"Good power, and good fist technique!" Wei Huisheng praised. He was in his forties this year. He had long since achieved major completion in Bone Tempering and was now undergoing Bone Marrow Cleansing and Blood Exchange, nearing major completion in that stage as well. That placed him at the Peak of Middle Tier Eighth Grade, meaning his cultivation base was a full notch higher than Lu Yuan’s.

"You’re still the tough one, Uncle Huisheng! Looks like I need to put in more effort! More effort!" Lu Yuan exerted his full strength.

BAM, BAM— BAM, BAM—

Wei Huisheng’s feet finally began to shift backward...

"This kid’s cultivation is definitely not weak." A sharp glint flashed in Wei Changgong’s eyes. He had only just broken through to the Eighth Grade, yet he was already capable of forcing his second uncle to retreat. He remembered that the last time they met, his Cyan Gang Fist hadn’t even reached major completion.

"Yeah, there seems to be some changes to his Cyan Gang Fist as well," Wei Huidong nodded. There were some rumors circulating outside, but rumors were just rumors, after all. Their third sister hadn’t elaborated on the details with them either.

"It should be the effect of his epiphany." Wei Changgong stroked his beard, thoroughly satisfied. Just based on what he was demonstrating now, it would be extremely easy for this kid to break through to the Seventh Grade in the future. Attempting to reach the Sixth Grade might truly not be an impossibility for him either.

"Yeah," Wei Huidong agreed. That was the only plausible explanation.

"Fourth Sister, Brother Yuan is amazing! Dad was knocked back." Wei Yunying’s eyes widened, sparkling with excitement.

"Mhm, though Dad probably isn’t using his full strength," Wei Yunchan replied.

"Oh." Wei Yunying touched her lips with her finger, not understanding why.

They sparred for half the time it took to finish a cup of tea.

"I’m done, I’m done. I yield." Lu Yuan took the initiative to stop and spoke up. He had already gotten a rough estimate of his second uncle’s strength.

PHEW...

Wei Huisheng also let out a long breath. This nephew’s strength was even greater than he had imagined.

"Ayuan, wipe your sweat." A graceful and beautiful young woman of sixteen or seventeen, wearing a blue floral blouse and a green skirt, walked over and handed him a damp towel.