20demayo Chapter 8 begins the competition.
Chapter 8 begins the competition.
"Alright, it's no fun just sitting here eating and drinking. Let's do as Lao Lü and Lao Wang said. After the sun goes down, let's have the younger generation perform to liven things up."
Lu Jin slammed his hand on the table, glanced sideways at the silent Lü Ci and Wang Ai, and set the agenda for the afternoon.
Although he didn't know exactly what those two old geezers were planning, there was no way he could do anything in public like this. He could only do it secretly later.
As for the future, ha, do they think the Lu family is made of clay?
"Okay, thank you very much, Lao Lu."
The old master raised his teacup and offered Lu Jin a toast, using tea instead of wine.
"It's nothing serious, you're too kind."
Lu Jin quickly picked up his wine glass and took a swig.
With the back-and-forth between the old master and Lu Jin, the table was once again filled with the lively sounds of clinking glasses and exchanging toasts.
The wine-redness on Lü Ci's face gradually faded, and his expression returned to clarity. He grinned.
He picked up the wine glass on the table, gestured to Wang Ai, and then downed it in one gulp.
Wang Ai glanced sideways at the smile on Lü Ci's face and also revealed a somewhat sinister smile. He picked up his wine glass and slowly drank the wine in it.
After finishing their drinks, the two put down their glasses, looked at each other, and exchanged knowing smiles.
"You two are so compatible, why don't you just live together? Hahaha~"
Guan Shihua watched the two of them from the side, covering her mouth and laughing heartily.
Gao Lian, Mu You, and Chen Jinkui, who were sitting opposite, smiled awkwardly but didn't say anything.
After all, they were still of a lower generation than these elderly people.
The banquet ended with a slight hiccup, and everyone followed the old master and Lu Jin toward the martial arts stage in the backyard.
The younger generation had been informed as soon as the decision was made.
……
Children naturally love excitement and are very enthusiastic about creating it.
The decision made at the banquet in the inner hall was met with cheers from the crowd as soon as it reached the side courtyard.
Groups of children, led by Lu Linglong, ran towards the backyard.
"Lü Qian, aren't you going?"
Lu Lin looked at Lü Qian, who was still sitting at the table gnawing on a pork knuckle, and asked him a question.
"Hmm...Da Ran...of course I'll go."
"But we have to eat well first, no matter what."
Lu Qian tore off the shiny skin of the pork knuckle in one bite, swallowing a lot of soft, tender shredded meat along with it.
He chewed for a moment and spoke indistinctly.
"You have no idea how isolated Lüjia Village is. There aren't even any skilled cooks around. Ugh... I've always eaten at the clan's kitchen since I was a child. This is the first time I've ever eaten at a banquet outside."
He glanced at Lu Lin, who seemed hesitant to speak, put down the large bone he had finished gnawing on, and then turned to tear off half a roast chicken.
"You go first, I'll be there shortly."
"You probably don't know the way, I'll wait for you."
Lu Lin glanced at Lü Qian, who was working hard at the table, and didn't know what to say, so she sat down at the table and waited.
"Don't worry, I'll be quick."
After saying that, he threw away the chicken carcass in his hand, picked up a plate of snacks, and poured them into his mouth.
"Well......"
Lu Lin watched silently as the dishes on the table disappeared one by one in a rapid manner.
……
Backyard Martial Arts Field
Lu Ci squinted as he stood at the door, carefully observing the group of children who had just barged in.
After a careful inspection, he confirmed that there was no trace of Lü Qian inside, and his expression darkened.
"Where is Lü Qian?"
"Grandpa, I'm here!"
Just as Lü Ci was about to step into the front yard to look for someone, Lü Qian waved and crawled in from behind the moon gate.
"Greetings, Master Lü!"
Lu Lin followed Lü Qian's footsteps and when he saw Lü Ci standing by the door, he quickly walked over and greeted him.
"Hmm, you really look like Old Lu when he was a kid."
Lu Ci carefully examined the child in front of him who carried the air of the Lu family, and said with narrowed eyes.
"You flatter me, Master Lü."
"The training ground is just ahead, please, Master Lü."
Lu Ci's cold demeanor did not affect him. Lu Lin stood up calmly and composedly to lead the way for Lu Ci.
"Let's go, kid."
Lu Ci grabbed Lu Qian by the back of the neck and led him strode toward the martial arts stage.
……
Inside the training ground
"Old Celestial Master, how about letting my Lu family's son have a match with your esteemed disciple first?"
Lu Jin and the Old Celestial Master led everyone into the martial arts arena and sat on the grand master's chairs below the stage.
Looking at the younger generation from various families making a ruckus below the stage, Lu Jin turned to the old master and asked softly.
"Alright, Qianhe, bring the spirit jade over."
The old Celestial Master beckoned to his eldest disciple, Zhang Qianhe, who led over a young Taoist priest dressed in a white robe.
"Your apprentice is really handsome."
"With his upright posture and long, steady breath, this disciple of the Celestial Master is quite skilled."
"Little one, how about I accept you as my great-grandson-in-law?"
"Shihua, I also have a great-grandson. Would you like to see him?"
"roll!"
As the two approached the crowd, Zhang Lingyu, the handsome young Taoist with long white hair, became the target of their teasing.
As Zhang Lingyu listened to the teasing remarks and felt the mocking gazes upon her, a bright red flush rapidly rose on her cheeks.
The words of the crowd made him so shy that he wanted to cover his face and hide, but Zhang Lingyu looked up at the old celestial master sitting there stroking his beard, suppressed his discomfort, and stood there expressionless and motionless.
He kept telling himself, "I mustn't lose my composure!"
Looking at Zhang Lingyu's forced composure, the old celestial master's eyebrows drooped, and he shook his head and sighed inwardly.
"Lingyu, when will you understand that cultivation is for your own benefit and to follow your true heart?"
As the last disciple of the Celestial Master, Zhang Lingyu's talent was not as good as the Celestial Master's back then, but he still made the Celestial Master very satisfied.
Handsome and intelligent, this disciple is good in every way, except for one thing.
That's "dishonesty"!
The word "sincerity" encapsulates the entirety of the path of spiritual cultivation.
Being sincere to oneself is the foundation of self-cultivation.
Only you need to understand yourself. If you can't even recognize yourself, no matter how good the teacher is, they can't teach you anything.
Zhang Lingyu takes the Old Celestial Master as his role model, confining himself within the framework of his imagination, wanting to become the perfect person in the eyes of others.
But in other people's eyes, you are the person, but you are not the person they see.
Such a waste of its own resources will turn even the most beautiful spirit jade crystal into a broken stone and a piece of waste.
"Oh dear! What a tragedy."
The old celestial master glanced at Zhang Lingyu, who stood straighter than a javelin, and sighed inwardly.
"That's enough. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. The time is not yet ripe, and we cannot force it."
Composing himself, the old master squinted and instructed, "Lingyu, you will be competing against a junior of the Lu family head later. He is of the same generation as you, so do your best."
"Yes, Master!"
"Lin'er is here, Lingyu can start making preparations."
Lu Jin turned his head to look at Lu Lin who was walking over, and waved for him to come over.
"Lin'er, I've found you a worthy opponent today. This is Zhang Lingyu, the last disciple of the Old Celestial Master. You two will go up on stage and have a match, showing off your skills to the seniors here."
"yes!"
"Greetings, Daoist Lingyu, please!"
"Brother Lu, please!"
Both men were handsome and exuded the elegance of gentlemen, leaving a good impression on everyone present.