At the high-speed rail exit, a few men with exceptional airs got into a bit of a standoff over a gift.

「On the other side, at a restaurant in Shishi.」

Ever since the phone call with Zhang Beixing half a month ago, Liu Yi, despite his injuries, had a premonition. He felt he was on the verge of mastering the external release of Vital Energy and breaking through to Grandmaster status. However, he still needed some time to meditate. He bid farewell to his brother Liu Pan and returned to Shishi, tuning out the distractions of the world and focusing on cultivation. He planned to find Zhang Beixing after breaking through to Grandmaster in a few days to show him what a real Grandmaster was all about and what it truly meant to release Vital Energy externally.

「But before that...」

Liu Yi and several middle-aged men were seated in a private room of a Dongbei-style restaurant. Among them, the man in the seat of honor, who looked to be about fifty with a fierce expression, undoubtedly became the sole focus of the room.

"Mr. Wu, it's been several months since we've seen you. You've gotten even more formidable!"

"I heard Mr. Wu spent the last half-year training abroad. I wonder, how do foreign martial artists compare to our domestic ones?"

"You should've said something, Mr. Wu. You left for abroad without telling us! It's like you don't consider us brothers. If you had just told me, I would have followed you to take on the challenge, even if it meant running through fire and water."

The man addressed as Mr. Wu was surrounded by others, fawned upon and flattered like the moon encircled by stars. If outsiders had seen this scene, they would have been dumbfounded. Everyone present at this meal was, without exception, a recognized figure within the Great Xia martial arts community! Liu Yi needed no introduction; he was born into the Yanjing Liu Family, the orthodox successor to the Yue Family's connected fist technique, and revered as "Liu of the Eight Steps." Sitting next to him was Wang Hua, the current 57th-generation practitioner of Sliding Fist, whose level was that of a Pseudo Grandmaster. Across from Wang Hua was Shi Dazhuan, successor to the Great Compassion Fist, his level also a Pseudo Grandmaster! Next to Shi Dazhuan was a practitioner of Tang Fist. Although not a Pseudo Grandmaster, he was also a master. This modest-looking little dinner gathering had a minimum entry threshold of master level. And now, this group of masters was all trying to curry favor with Wu Hegui, the one seated in the place of honor, known as Mr. Wu.

Even though Wu Hegui was trying his best to suppress his smile, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.

He crossed one leg over the other, waved his hand, and said, "It's nothing much. I just went abroad for half a year and fought a few underground bouts. I got some minor injuries and unintentionally killed a few people. By some fluke, I came to a few realizations. It's not worth mentioning."

Wang Hua couldn't help but speak up, "Mr. Wu, you're far too modest. If advancing to Grandmaster isn't worth mentioning, then what in this world is? In our current martial arts community, how many actually dare to fight to the death? Many seem skilled but lack real combat ability and the courage to risk their lives. We still need to look up to you!"

"Exactly, Mr. Wu, you are so incredible! To become a Grandmaster at the age of fifty, you are truly our role model. How can we ever hope to keep up with your pace?"

"Mr. Wu, have some tea. This is some top-quality Tieguanyin I managed to acquire recently. Hey, Old Liu, what are you doing not paying attention? Get some hot water for Mr. Wu!"

Upon hearing this sudden order to fetch hot water being barked at him, Liu Yi, holding his chopsticks, furrowed his eyebrows. What the hell? They're ordering me around now? He turned his head to glance at the man, then looked at Wu Hegui.

"Old Wu, what's the real reason you called me out to eat today?" Liu Yi put down his chopsticks, looking at Wu Hegui with a somewhat hostile expression. This old rival from his younger days suddenly returned to seek him out for a meal. What tricks is he playing now?

Hearing his words, Shi Dazhuan, who was sitting next to Wu Hegui, was about to say something, but Wu Hegui raised his hand to interrupt him. Wu Hegui, with a cheerful smile, picked up a piece of blood sausage and chewed it. Only after he had thoroughly savored the blood sausage, enjoying its flavor from the inside out, did Wu Hegui size up Liu Yi and say, "Nothing much. I just strolled abroad for half a year, stumbled upon some breakthroughs, and became a Grandmaster. After I came back, I heard you weren't in retreat anymore and had even taken on a disciple. So, I thought I'd come over and see you."

"I didn't expect that after all these years, even I've become a Grandmaster, while you, Old Liu, haven't changed a bit. You're still treading water in the same spot. Back in the day, your talent was so much greater than mine!"

"Oh wait, I'm wrong, there is a change—you've gotten fatter, haha! Who would have thought the famous Liu of the Eight Steps would let himself go and put on so much weight."

"No wonder you got thrashed by a junior not too long ago... All in all, you're a massive disappointment to me now!"

"But it's okay. Now that you, Liu Yi, have re-entered the pugilist world, there's still room for improvement. Given your talent, it shouldn't take you too long to catch up with me. After all, this is just a small, inconsequential advance on my part. Don't you think?"

As if recalling something, Wu Hegui's tone changed. He shook his head at Liu Yi, wearing the expression of an elder scolding an unworthy younger relative. Listening to his words, Liu Yi's mouth twitched uncontrollably, and a surge of anger filled him. This kid! He looked me up the moment he got back to the country just to show off and provoke me, didn't he?!

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