Chapter 6: Concealment

Ning Xuan’s father was Old Master Ning.

But even an old master has a name.

Old Master Ning was no exception.

His name was Ning Taiyi.

But his original name was not Ning Taiyi. It was because of his fondness for metaphysics that he changed his name to “Taiyi.” Similarly, he named Ning Xuan “Xuan.”

Ning Taiyi was often away from home. The shortest time was three or four days, and the longest could be three or four months.

Ning Xuan had asked his mother.

His mother said, “Your father has some face outside, and many people will invite him to do things like mediation.” When Ning Xuan asked again, “Where does he go, what kind of mediation does he do, and can he mediate just by relying on his face?” his mother said she didn’t know.

Ning Xuan didn’t ask much about the past of the older generation, but even if he didn’t ask, he could still roughly guess how his father and mother met.

The process was a little better than his meeting with Xiao Jie.

The good part was that Xiao Jie was selling her calligraphy at a stall outside the Zen monastery in the neighboring city, while his mother was accompanying her family’s old lady to chant sutras and burn incense in the Zen monastery in the neighboring city, with the abbot personally striking the梵磬 on the side.

Xiao Jie came from a humble background, while his mother was from a large family.

His mother lived a quiet life here until she met Old Master Ning, who was already in his thirties.

The thirty-something Old Master Ning was a killer of all ages.

His mother fell in love with him.

Therefore, his mother did not participate in Old Master Ning’s life before he came here. She didn’t know, and she didn’t ask.

But Ning Xuan felt that as his father’s son, besides waiting for his father’s arrangements, he should also inherit his mantle. But he didn’t. He didn’t even know what “his father’s face” was.

Sometimes, he even wanted to ask if he was really Old Master Ning’s biological son. After all, he had transmigrated into a fetus and had only seen his own birth.

But, there was no need to ask this question, because anyone could tell from their appearance that he and Old Master Ning were father and son.

Old Master Ning was refined and elegant.

Young Master Ning was a pretty boy.

They were cast from the same mold.

And Old Master Ning’s doting on him was written on his face.

Whatever he asked for, he would be given!

Not only that, but the people Old Master Ning hired were also very obedient to him.

Even if these people had never seen him before, just because he was Young Master Ning, they were willing to get out of bed in the middle of the night, and then, without asking anything, follow him on a long journey for no reason, without any complaints.

Last night, when he brought a group of people back, Old Master Ning happened to be out again.

At this time, Ning Xuan put away the Mountain-Crashing Bear Heavenly Demon Record, returned to his original form, and went out to find the head of the mountain villa’s guards, the old man who looked kind-faced but carried the “Storm Pear Blossom Needle” black metal tube.

“What brings the young master to see this old man?” the old man asked with a smile.

Ning Xuan said respectfully, “May I ask for the elder’s name?”

The old man hurriedly returned the courtesy and said, “This old man’s name is Han Ba, and the people of the martial world call me the Eight-Armed Old Man.”

Ning Xuan said, “But you don’t have eight arms.”

The old man named Han Ba smiled and said, “It’s just to say that this old man’s movements are fast, and when I move, it’s as if I have eight arms. It’s just an exaggeration.”

Ning Xuan said, “The martial arts instructor in the mansion, ‘Wind-Chasing Swallow Saber’ Zhang Erquan, I wonder how you compare to him?”

Han Ba said, “If we were to fight to the death, he would die beyond ten steps, and I would die within ten steps.”

Ning Xuan bowed again and said, “It seems that you and my teacher are of the same generation of martial arts seniors.”

He had originally planned to become his disciple.

Now, the thought of becoming his disciple had turned into an inquiry.

Han Ba smiled and said, “The young master is polite and humble, but… this old man really doesn’t know why you suddenly left the mountain villa yesterday.”

Ning Xuan said, “The yin energy in the mountains is heavy, and I was struck by the cold air, so I wanted to leave. But it was dark and there were many ferocious beasts in the mountains, so I had to trouble you all to escort me.”

Han Ba felt that it was a bit strange.

But considering the identity of the young man in front of him, it seemed not unreasonable.

Ning Xuan said seriously, “I want to learn some martial arts.”

Han Ba said, “The more you learn, the more dangerous it is. Without the master’s order, this old man dare not teach the young master martial arts privately. But the Wind-Chasing Swallow Saber is actually not bad.”

Ning Xuan said, “But, I’ve always heard that there are powers in this world that are above martial arts. I wonder if you have heard of them?”

Han Ba stroked his beard and was silent for a moment, then said, “Did the young master hear it from a storyteller?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he was suddenly stunned, because he found that the young man opposite him was looking at him thoughtfully.

Han Ba hurriedly said, “Did this old man say something wrong?”

Ning Xuan said disappointedly, “Is there really none?”

Han Ba said, “There really is none.”

The air suddenly became quiet.

Ning Xuan nodded and said, “Alas, I’m going to practice my saber.”

Han Ba said, “Then this old man will take the guards back to the mountain villa.”

Ning Xuan said, “It’s rare to come to the mansion, why don’t you stay for two more days?”

Han Ba said, “No, since the young master has been escorted, this old man should also go back.”

Ning Xuan said, “Mr. Han, please do as you wish. But if you return to the mountain villa, please send a letter of safety back.”

Han Ba smiled and said, “The young master is courteous to his subordinates, and truly has the demeanor of a master. Please go about your business. This old man will send a letter after returning to the mountain.”

A moment later, the old man watched the young man’s back disappear around the corner, and only then did he show a look of extreme annoyance. He clenched his fists, his brows furrowed, and he raised his hand as if he was about to slap himself.

Finally, he slowly lowered his fist, let go of the worried expression on his face, and murmured, “I’ve been hunting geese all my life, and I’ve never capsized in a ditch. Today, I was pecked in the eye by a little goose. This old man, this old man… alas.”

He had been tricked.

That little fox was too clever.

And he was too careless.

He hadn’t been on guard against Young Master Ning, but Young Master Ning had chatted with him in a casual tone, and then suddenly threw out a sentence, “But, I’ve always heard that there are powers in this world that are above martial arts. I wonder if you have heard of them…”

He hadn’t been on guard at first, but when he mentioned this sentence, he reacted. He was silent for a moment, and then he made a mistake that only a “guilty person” would make, and hurriedly asked, “Did this old man say something wrong?” Then, the young master thoughtfully handed him a way out, and he actually hurried down the ladder and said, “There really is none.”

“Aiyo, aiyo!”

Han Ba couldn’t help but slap his own mouth, his heart filled with annoyance. After all… the master had said not to tell the young master some things.

However, in a flash, he began to comfort himself.

All of this might just be the imagination of an old martial artist like him.

That young master might not have thought so much at all.

After all, these words sounded like normal small talk.

He felt that there was a problem, but it was only because he was an old martial artist.

“So there really are powers in this world that are above martial arts.”

“Dad must know.”

“But he didn’t tell me.”

“Is it because he’s afraid of getting his son involved in danger, so he deliberately didn’t tell me these secrets? Dad doesn’t seem like such a pedantic and ignorant person…”

For a moment, Ning Xuan suddenly felt a thin psychological barrier between him and his father.

Although he had transmigrated, he had transmigrated into a fetus.

He was raised by his father, and he had feelings for him.