Chapter 38: Shaozhou City, the Young Man

Chapter 38: Shaozhou City, the Young Man

"Hey, Ning Xishi, can you even do this?" Senior Brother Xiao shouted loudly from under the tree.

Ning Xishi was climbing the tree to pick fruit, and upon hearing this, he broke out in a cold sweat: "If you're so capable, you come up and do it."

It had been seven days since the Martial Arts Alliance Leader election, and for the sake of over three thousand martial artists who were like frightened birds, Ning Xishi had no choice but to reluctantly accept the position of Alliance Leader.

Because he was the first and only person brave enough to go up alone to face the imperial army, even though there were originally some in the martial arts world who didn't accept him, no one dared to say a word of dissent that day.

In fact, among those who came to the Martial Arts Alliance Leader election were several respected veteran figures of the martial arts world. They were upright and honorable, and had no intention of competing for the position of Alliance Leader, only wanting to help steer the future of the martial arts world.

Regarding Ning Xishi becoming the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, these veterans originally had some objections and planned to talk it over with Ming Hanche on the final day.

But when they saw him go up to meet with the legendary God of Slaughter, General Xie, and won benefits for the martial arts world, all their thoughts instantly shifted to—

"I think the Jule Gang's leader is perfect for the Alliance Leader position."

"Having him in the martial arts world is a blessing for all of us!"

"What a young hero!"

However, the veterans still had a few concerns, such as hoping Ning Xishi would take off his mask and reveal his true face.

Otherwise, what if someone tried to impersonate him?

Ning Xishi really didn't want to stir up another fuss over his identity, so he immediately said: "I think our Guardian Ye is excellent and very suitable to be the Alliance Leader. I've decided to step aside and nominate our Guardian Ye as the new Alliance Leader..."

Before he could finish speaking, the veterans immediately changed their tune: "Actually, our Alliance Leader not revealing his true face is a brilliant move! After all, the Alliance Leader's martial arts and qinggong are unmatched in the martial arts world. Anyone trying to impersonate the Alliance Leader would be found out in no time."

"Exactly, exactly! Our Alliance Leader is a genius. Those idiots who want to impersonate him should first take a good look at themselves."

"The Alliance Leader is heaven-blessed, and leading the martial arts world is his destiny!" Someone shouted a slogan, and everyone quickly echoed it. Ning Xishi felt his face turning red, but fortunately, the mask covered it, making it hard to notice.

Fortunately, the Ming family had conducted strict checks and registration for everyone coming up the mountain. Ning Xishi could simply use the registry to verify identities and have the gang disciples handle the checks and entry.

As for those not on the registry, they were either Ming family guards or retainers from the Ming family's theater.

These people were all tied to the Ming family, so Ning Xishi simply left them all to Xie Jingxing to deal with.

The veterans saw how composed and organized the new Alliance Leader was in handling things, and they all breathed a sigh of relief, feeling they had truly chosen the right person this time.

So they left their secret signals and some trained carrier pigeons with the Jule Gang, saying that if anything came up in the martial arts world, they could always count on them.

·

After the new Alliance Leader finished sorting things out, he immediately went to the Ming family's dungeon to pick up his senior martial brother, then they headed back to his maternal grandfather's place in Shaozhou to mooch off him.

"My grandfather's sweet and sour fish is to die for," Ning Xishi said. "This time, thanks to you, Senior Martial Brother, I'll treat you to a hundred of them."

Xiao Shaoqing shot him a sidelong glance: "If you're really sincere, then you make it for me yourself."

Ning Xishi's face immediately dropped, but thinking about how his senior martial brother had been key to resolving this crisis so quickly, he seemed to steel himself, gritting his teeth: "Fine, I'll cook for you."

Seeing that he actually agreed, Xiao Shaoqing burst out laughing: "You'd better not take that back."

"If I do, I'm a piglet."

"Fine, you're a pig. Ning the Pig."

"I haven't even taken it back yet!"

Sitting nearby, Second Senior Sister Tong Kehua listened to the two of them squabbling like kids and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. Why had she been so foolish as to agree to follow this little brat Ning Xishi to Shaozhou for a few days?

The martial arts world was huge, and as the Alliance Leader's senior sister, she should be living her best life!

After Xie Jingxing finished wrapping up the loose ends, he claimed he needed to go find his partner and planned to head to Shaozhou as well.

Qiu Changyu was still amazed that Xie Jingxing could trust a stranger of an Alliance Leader so much, and he couldn't help asking again: "General, are you really sure you have no prior connection with that Alliance Leader?"

"I didn't even know who he was before I came to Ningzhou. How could we have any ties?"

Qiu Changyu thought back carefully. He and the General had been together since they were fifteen, practically inseparable.

The General really didn't know such a young Alliance Leader with some standing in the martial arts world.

"So we're just trusting him like that?"

Xie Jingxing himself didn't know if placing so much trust so suddenly would end in betrayal like it had in the imperial palace back then.

To be honest, he and Ning Xishi weren't that familiar with each other. Their relationship was only close on a ceremonial level, and they didn't seem to know much about each other otherwise.

But Xie Jingxing could see how Ning Xishi interacted with his friends, subordinates, and fellow disciples, and every aspect proved him to be a sincere and passionate young man.

Xie Jingxing believed in such a young man.

At least, he wanted to trust someone unconditionally one more time.

Qiu Changyu noticed that Xie Jingxing's lips actually curled into a bitter smile, and he was startled: "General, don't tell me you and that Alliance Leader have, have that kind of...?"

Xie Jingxing: "..."

"I suppose you could say so." They had been that close before.

Qiu Changyu immediately understood and said he wouldn't pry into martial arts world matters anymore.

But seeing that Xie Jingxing was about to become a hands-off boss, leaving him to handle the Ming family affairs alone and also go to Chuzhou to assist in catching bandits, Qiu Changyu couldn't help asking one more question: "General, what are you planning to do now? I'll come find you after I finish handling things."

"Didn't I already say? I'm going to Shaozhou to find Ning Xishi."

Qiu Changyu had thought that was just an excuse, but he never expected his General to actually go find his legally recognized partner. He immediately felt uneasy.

Don't you like that new Alliance Leader?

Why would you go find someone else just because the other person is busy?

Qiu Changyu didn't have a girl he liked yet and didn't know how to interact with people, but he felt that a person shouldn't be like the General... so fickle.

Qiu Changyu watched his General push his wheelchair away into the distance and thought to himself, well, the General's legs were already in such a state. He probably didn't want to show his weakness in front of his beloved, and in the end, he realized that only his wife could accept everything about him.

...This was simply a textbook scumbag script.

However, what Qiu Changyu didn't know was that in their General's heart, someone else was the one who truly held that script.

Just as he got off the boat and was about to take a carriage to Ning Xishi's maternal grandfather's home—the Qin residence—

He heard many people around him discussing Ning Xishi.

"Master Ning [Ning Xishi] is back again. Last night, he went boating with Master Xiao [Xiao Shaoqing]. I caught a glimpse of him from a distance—he's really good-looking."

"Exactly, I've never seen such a handsome young master."

"You're obviously not from around here. Everyone in Shaozhou knows how gorgeous Young Master Ning is!"

Xie Jingxing [Xie Jingxing] caught the key phrase: boating with Master Xiao [Xiao Shaoqing].

The carriage rolled through the lively Jiangnan market. There were so many stalls that the road was a bit backed up, and Xie Jingxing [Xie Jingxing] overheard more remarks.

"It's getting cold—why are you still flying a kite?"

"Oh, I'm not flying it. This is a kite Young Master Ning painted for me a few years back. I take it out to air out every year."

Xie Jingxing [Xie Jingxing]: "..."

He lifted the curtain and glanced at the two girls who were talking. They were both around ten, which meant Ning Xishi [Ning Xishi] had only been six or seven when he painted those kites for them.

With that in mind, Xie Jingxing [Xie Jingxing] couldn't exactly take it away from them.

The carriage seemed stuck up ahead and hadn't budged for a while. Xie Jingxing [Xie Jingxing] heard the two girls add, "It's a shame Young Master Ning hasn't painted kites for everyone these past few years."

"I heard from Grandma that it's because the son of the Wang family, the squire next door, was jealous of Young Master Ning. He said Young Master Ning's painting skills hadn't improved at all over the years, and Young Master Ning got so upset that he stopped painting for everyone."

"But I think Young Master Ning paints really well!"

"Exactly! That's why the Wang squire's son was jealous of him!"

Xie Jingxing [Xie Jingxing] sat in the carriage, barely able to hold back a smile.

A vivid, youthful face seemed to appear before him, every little quirk and mood written all over it.

He lifted the curtain again and took another look at the kite in the girl's hands.

The colors were bold, the design was lively—it was genuinely beautiful.

But the carriage still wasn't moving, so Xie Jingxing [Xie Jingxing] asked, "What's happening up ahead?"

The driver replied, "Reporting to the General, since we're traveling undercover without showing who we are, it seems a young master from a big family in Shaozhou passed the provincial exam and is handing out celebratory pastries along the street. A lot of locals are going over to grab some."

Passed the provincial exam, huh?

That's definitely a big deal.

Xie Jingxing [Xie Jingxing] said, "Let's wait. We'll go once the road clears up."

"Yes."

By the time Xie Jingxing [Xie Jingxing] reached the Qin residence, half an hour had gone by. When the guards outside saw the driver flash the token, they were startled and quickly had the steward invite him in for tea, then hurried to inform Ning Xishi [Ning Xishi].

But after searching everywhere, they still couldn't find him anywhere.

"The young master's gone somewhere. We've searched everywhere and still can't find him."

At the entrance of the main hall, a guard lowered his voice to report to the steward.

The steward was just as worried. Recently, the old master had gone to the mountains to meditate, leaving only the young master and his two senior fellow disciples at home. The young folks were energetic and liked to hang out together.

No one had expected a guest to show up.

And such a high-ranking official, no less.

"Didn't the young master say he wasn't leaving the house today?"

"I've been at the front gate the whole time and never saw him leave."

Just then, Dongshuang [Dongshuang] rushed over and said, "Steward, I heard you were looking for the young master? We're all at the back gate. What's going on?"

The steward was about to mention the important guest when Xie Jingxing [Xie Jingxing] spoke up, "In that case, I'll go join in on the fun."

Seeing the visitor, Dongshuang [Dongshuang] was startled and stammered, "G-General, I'll go fetch the young master right away."

"No need. I'll go over myself." Xie Jingxing [Xie Jingxing] also wanted to know what Ning Xishi [Ning Xishi] did at home all day. "Lead the way."

His tone carried such authority that even with a young face, no one dared defy him.

Dongshuang [Dongshuang] reluctantly led Xie Jingxing [Xie Jingxing] to the back courtyard. Seeing the steps ahead, he was about to suggest fetching the young master himself when one of the two guards behind laid down a wooden plank, easily descending the steps.

Dongshuang [Dongshuang] had no choice but to silently pray for the young master's good fortune.

Before reaching the back gate, they heard Ning Xishi's [Ning Xishi] voice: "Hey, Wang Qifeng [Wang Qifeng], stop showing off in front of me. Passing the provincial exam—is it really that impressive?"

"Ha. Naturally, I'm not as impressive as you. You've only been in the capital a short while, and you've already married someone."

==========Author's Note:==========

Subscribed readers can check the blurb—there might be red packets to claim.

Good night.