The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 226 - 160 That Year, Standing Like a Minion

Chapter 226: Chapter 160 That Year, Standing Like a Minion

Li Yan saw this and was immediately startled.

Today, this place was filled with masters, and they had agreed to be low-profile and learn from others, so how had they ended up confronting someone so quickly?

He frowned slightly and hastened his steps.

But as he got closer, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

He saw that standing opposite Zhang Shitong was an old man dressed in worn cotton clothes with a bamboo hat on his head, and even a twig stuck in his bun.

The old man’s getup was that of a desolate wanderer of the pugilistic world.

Yet, he was also standing with his hands on his hips and staring with dead fish eyes, almost exactly mimicking Shitong’s demeanor.

"What did I do to you?" Zhang Shitong was clearly displeased and spoke with a restrained anger.

"How can I not interfere?" The old man’s voice was nasal as if he was pinching his nose, "You, a mere boy, dare to resemble me?"

As soon as he spoke, a thick Hubei accent was apparent.

Zhang Shitong’s chest heaved with anger, but unusually, he didn’t retort with filth and instead, cupped his fists and said, "We people from Guanzhong are magnanimous. Senior has come from afar, I will not quibble with you."

With that, he turned to leave.

"Hey, explain yourself clearly!" The old man was relentless, seemingly intent on making fun of Zhang Shitong. He stepped forward and grabbed at the neck of Shitong’s robe, "Are you saying that I am petty?"

Zhang Shitong was stifled and suddenly spun around.

His family’s Heart-Mind Six Harmony Fist emphasized intention born from the heart and transforming that intention into fist.

This turn, seemed to glide along the old man’s palm while simultaneously, his other hand shot back, attempting to swipe the old man’s hand away.

However, the elder merely gently lifted and managed to preempt Zhang Shitong, pulling him off balance, nearly causing him to stumble.

Li Yan watched with a shudder of alarm.

Zhang Shitong was a seasoned practitioner of Hidden Energy and his Six Harmony Fist had very stable footing; he wouldn’t lose his balance easily.

The only possibility was that the elder had used skillful energy manipulation.

Indeed, just as Zhang Shitong struggled to free himself, the elderly man pulled him left and then right, making him totter around like a child, looking quite embarrassed.

The old man teased, "Hey, young man, you can’t even stand properly; don’t pull me down too."

"Ha ha ha..."

Many onlookers around them burst into laughter.

Li Yan couldn’t help but smile too, watching the commotion from the sidelines.

He figured it out by now; this was clearly a formidable senior having fun at the expense of Zhang Shitong because he resembled him.

Zhang Shitong soon caught on as well and simply stopped resisting, sitting down on the ground and shouting, "What’s so funny? Can’t you see a foreigner bullying the younger ones?"

Just then, a voice rang out from a distance.

"Senior Zhang, please hold back!"

A middle-aged man strode out from the entrance of the Divine Fist Association.

His steps seemed slow, yet his speed was extremely fast.

In a moment, he had reached the scene.

Li Yan saw this and his pupils shrank.

This man moved with even steps, using the Eight Trigrams Mud Stepping method!

But with each step, Hidden Energy surged, and he moved with an effortless air that concealed his exertion yet his power was considerable.

To spectators, it created an illusion.

It almost seemed like he was shrinking the ground beneath his feet!

Such refined use of Hidden Energy was the mark of a master of Force Transformation!

The middle-aged man wore a dark red military uniform, stood tall, and had a broad face. He greeted with a respectful bow and a smile, "Senior Zhang, why bother teasing the younger ones? The master has been waiting for you."

Then, looking at Zhang Shitong lying on the ground, he said with a smile, "Shitong, this is Senior Zhang Xiaoshan from Yunyang Prefecture in Hubei, a master of Dan Strength. His Trigram Willow Leaf Silk Palm is renowned in the pugilistic world."

Zhang Shitong quickly got up, a bright smile forming as he bowed, "Thank you for the lesson, senior. I too am surnamed Zhang, from Xianyang, and I practice the Heart-Mind Six Harmony Fist."

The old man, feeling bored, pursed his lips, "This guy has a thick face, and his kung fu isn’t impressive. Boring."

With that, he followed the middle-aged man into the entrance.

After his departure, the scene became chaotic.

"Dan Strength master!"

"It’s a Dan Strength master, damn, what a revelation!"

"Zhang Shitong, how did it feel just now?"

Zhang Shitong also shook himself off, patted the snow from his clothes, and nodded, "Amazing, truly amazing, it was like being stuck in the mud, I couldn’t stabilize at all."

"To have sparred with a master of Dan Strength, this life is sufficient."

"Oh, come off it!"

"You really have no shame!"

People around him jeered, clearly all acquaintances.

Li Yan looked thoughtfully into the distance.

The elder’s skillful use of energy was beyond his discernment, but he had made an additional discovery.

He hadn’t noticed before, but after hearing that the man was a master of Dan Strength, he realized that the scent on him hadn’t changed at all!

His smell superpower had grown even deeper.

Now, not only could he differentiate each person’s scent, but he could also discern the state of others by changes in their sweat scent.

For instance, when a martial artist exerted himself, the blood flow and scent would intensify.

But the elder’s scent had remained unchanged, indicating that even though he had exerted force, he maintained a restrained state.

Could this be a characteristic of a Dan Strength master...

He’d observe more carefully later; if that was the case, then in the future, he could identify a master without being caught unawares.

"Well, aren’t you loyal."

Zhang Shitong came over, muttering, "Just eagerly watching me be bullied by the sidelines."

Li Yan sighed, "I’m sorry, I should have stepped in."

Zhang Shitong looked slightly touched, "No need, really."

Li Yan shook his head, "Don’t get me wrong, it’s rare to encounter a Dan Strength master who also likes to joke around. Without a harsh confrontation, I wanted to experience it too."

"Pah! Forget I said anything!"

Zhang Shitong spat and walked away.

Li Yan smiled slightly and followed.

...

The Divine Fist Association, originally from the earlier dynasty was significant.

It started as a gathering of pugilistic individuals resisting the Golden Tent Wolf Country, and after the founding of the Great Xuan Dynasty, it was incorporated as a semi-official organization.