Chapter 53: Xiao Qing's Past
"This is too exaggerated. At the age of sixteen, our muscles and bones have not fully grown, and the epiphysis has not closed. Everything is still changing. It is already amazing to be able to reach the Iron Skin level at the age of seventeen like Nangong Yue. This Miss Xiao Qing is already in the Energy Movement Realm. Now that seven years have passed, doesn't she have to be in the Bone Refining Realm? Oh my God, a great martial artist at the age of twenty-three!" Mu Xuan was amazed and incredulous.
"Yes, everyone believed that Xiao Qing would become a great martial artist at the Bone Refining Realm, and would go even further in the future. So Xiao Qing's brilliance could be said to have completely overshadowed the younger generation in Fang Qie City. She was the granddaughter that Old Man Xiao valued and loved the most, and he almost always took her with him when he went out, so that he could always give her guidance and training. There were even rumors in Fang Qie City that Xiao Qing would become the behind-the-scenes leader of the Xiao family in the future, and that she would not marry outside the family. If you wanted to marry Xiao Qing, you had to marry into the Xiao family."
"Unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes. Grandpa Xiao's attention and love for Xiao Qing were meant to guide and cultivate her, but in the end, it ended up harming her. Seven years ago, when Grandpa Xiao was out, he was ambushed by a master of the Netherworld Sect. Grandpa Xiao was killed on the spot, and Xiao Qing had a chance to escape unscathed. Unfortunately, although she had a high level of cultivation, she was too soft-hearted. She couldn't bear to abandon the guards and escape alone, nor could she bear to see her grandfather's body thrown in the wild. As a result, although reinforcements arrived in the end, she herself was seriously injured, and her foundation was invaded and entangled by the death energy of the Netherworld. She had no choice but to dissipate her strength, and her realm fell to the iron sheet level. She will never have hope of reaching the realm of strength again in this life." When Lu Taiqiang said this, he closed the paper fan and shook his head repeatedly. It was unclear whether he was laughing at Xiao Qing's stupidity or feeling sorry for her.
Everyone sighed when they heard this, especially Mu Xuan, a lively and emotional woman, who asked unwillingly, "Is there really no hope at all?"
"A few days ago, I accidentally heard from my family that there is a kind of exotic beast called the Eight Desolate Green Python, whose flesh and blood can rebuild the foundation. However, the Eight Desolate Green Python is a third-grade exotic beast. Its strength is comparable to that of a martial artist at the peak of Hua Jin. It lives deep in the Wuyang Mountains. Who in the Xiao family can hunt it for it? So although it seems that there is still a little hope, it is actually equivalent to nothing." Lu Taiqiang replied.
"Oh!" Mu Xuan sighed deeply when she heard that.
Seeing this, Qin Ziling looked at Mu Xuan in surprise.
He didn't have much contact with Mu Xuan, so he didn't expect her to be so emotional.
"So what's next? Senior Brother Lu." Luo Yuke didn't have as many feelings as Mu Xuan, she just asked curiously.
"In the battle seven years ago, Old Master Xiao was killed and Xiao Qing lost her strength. The Xiao family lost two great leaders, one old and one young, and began to go downhill. They were completely suppressed by the Pang family in terms of momentum. In recent years, some things have happened, and their strength is almost at the bottom among the five major families. Haha, I've gone off topic. Let's talk about Miss Xiao Qing. Since she lost her strength and lost the care of Old Master Xiao, her status in the family has naturally plummeted."
"However, she is the eldest daughter of the fourth branch of the main lineage after all, and in terms of martial arts, she is the best in the family after the martial arts master. She is also smart. No matter how low her status in the family has fallen, she still has some real power. So she found another way and started to work on business matters."
"It's no wonder that Miss Xiao Qing is a martial arts genius and also has a talent for business. In just seven years, she has carved out a niche in the business world. In addition to Zuixiaolou, it is said that she also has several other businesses and shops. But as a woman, she rarely shows up in public, and everything is basically handled by the shopkeepers. She only makes plans behind the scenes, so she is not very famous. As time goes by, except for older martial artists or children born into wealthy families, few people have heard of this most outstanding genius in Fangqiao City, and gradually they have forgotten that there is such a person."
"In addition to its tranquil environment and well-selected service staff, the most talked-about thing about Zuixiaolou is that its dishes are made from wild game and medicinal herbs from the mountains, which are great tonics for martial artists and also take the taste into consideration. Therefore, it is favored by the dignitaries and wealthy children in the inner city."
"For example, the ingredients used in this dish, Dragon Soaring and Tiger Leaping, are Silver-scaled Python meat and Cloud-patterned White Tiger meat. The ingredients used in this dish, Golden Dragon Spits Pearls, are Golden-scaled Python meat and Golden-feathered Chicken. The ingredients used in this dish, Heroes Fighting for the Deer, are Muntjac meat. The ingredients used in this dish, Golden Branches and Jade Leaves, are Golden Spirit Grass and Jade Dew Ganoderma Lucidum... As for this Golden Jade Wine, I don't know what specific medicinal materials are used, but it is said that they are all precious medicinal materials. Not only does it taste great, but it is also very replenishing. This jar costs ten taels of silver."
"Tsk tsk, after Senior Brother Lu's introduction, it turns out that Senior Brother Zheng is using the name of celebrating birthday to replenish our bodies. We've made a lot of money this time!" Mu Xuan said with shining eyes after hearing this.
"Haha, it's true that we made a lot of money, but the one who made the most money is definitely not you, Mu Xuan!" Nangong Yue said with a smile.
He glanced at Qin Ziling intentionally or unintentionally.
When everyone heard this, they were slightly stunned and subconsciously looked at Qin Ziling.
Among those present, Qin Ziling's family is the poorest, and now there is also Liu Xiaoqiang, a freeloader. Everyone naturally thinks that he cannot give any valuable gifts.
Zheng Xinghan frowned slightly when he saw this. Just as he was about to speak, Qin Ziling said calmly, "Senior Brother Lu has finished his introduction. Can we officially start the birthday banquet, Senior Brother?"
"Yes, yes, Senior Brother Zheng, please start quickly. After listening to what Senior Brother Lu said, my mouth is watering!" Mu Xuan followed with a chuckle.
"Haha, we are all brothers from the same school, so there is no need to be restrained. Come on, let me toast everyone and thank all the junior brothers and sisters for their congratulations!" Zheng Xinghan said with a smile and raised his glass, looking at Qin Ziling with a hint of gratitude.
Nangong Yue's words just now were obviously directed at Qin Ziling. If Zheng Xinghan, the birthday boy, specifically explained that what Qin Ziling sent was the Yuan-replenishing Pill, the situation would definitely become more complicated. If he didn't explain, Zheng Xinghan would feel sorry for Qin Ziling.
Qin Ziling's initiative to change the subject helped Zheng Xinghan get out of his dilemma and also maintained the atmosphere of the birthday party.
Otherwise, if they really start to confront each other, this nice birthday party will probably end in a bad mood.
"Haha, we should thank our senior brother for his guidance over the years, and also thank you for the tonic food on this table!" Everyone raised their glasses and stood up.
Everyone drank a glass of wine together, and then everyone toasted the birthday boy one by one.
After Qin Ziling and the others had toasted Zheng Xinghan, he stood up and raised his glass to toast, saying, "Junior brother, I wish you to be as constant as the moon, as rising as the sun, as long-lived as Mount Wuyang, and as flourishing as pine and cypress. May all of this be bestowed upon you!"
Back in the other world, Qin Ziling became unable to move around easily, which gave him more time to read quietly, so he memorized a lot of poems.
There is no Nanshan in this world, so Qin Ziling changed Nanshan to Wuyang Mountain.
