Legend of the Great Saint

An old man with a goatee and wearing a long ocher gown took their pulse one by one. He shook his head from time to time, nodded from time to time, or raised and lowered their hands from time to time. On his left was Liu Hong, and behind him stood Dragon Li, ready to replenish his tea at any time.

A crowd of Iron Fist Gate disciples formed a human wall, keeping many people outside the human wall, whether male or female, young or old. They were seemingly these children’s relatives, all anxiously watching their own children. They beamed from ear to ear if they could obtain the old man’s nod. They hung their heads crestfallen when the old man shook his head.

This was a great figure come thousand miles away from Clear River City, a solemn protector of the Iron Fist Gate with exceedingly wonderful martial arts. Their children could truly reach the sky in a single step if they could obtain his approval.

Li Qingshan had seen the old man with a single glance. This old man had a dense aura all around him, a tad stronger than Feng Zhang. He was indeed an innate master, but he wasn’t any dangerous character. He was confident he could kill this old man in a single move if he were to transform into monster form. It wouldn’t be too much trouble even if he were to maintain his human form either, he would merely need to spend some effort.

He was only curious about what they were doing.

Liu Hong sat beside the old man. The two of them were all elderly people, but even insensible children could tell the disparity in momentum between them. Liu Hong sighed inside. There had truly been quite a few extraordinary characters who’d come to this Suncheer City of late.

Ever since he’d come to this Suncheer City in retirement, he hadn’t seen for a great many years this protector Yan, Yan Song. But then again, with his second-grade talent, he hadn’t seen him more than a few times even back in the days. The last time had been at the headquarters’ master’s birthday feast more than ten years ago. At that time he was still in the prime of his life, while protector Yan already had this same appearance. Now he’d already become an old man, but this protector Yan actually hadn’t changed in the slightest.

Liu Hong said, “Protector Yan, better take a little rest!”

“Please have tea!” Dragon Li hurriedly added tea from the side. Hall master Wu had died a violent death, canceling his plans of leaving Suncheer City, but his heart was happy instead. He hadn’t liked hall master Wu to begin with, being so rude toward his master. Served him right to die. In the turn of an eye came a protector Yan again, but not only his martial ability was even higher, his manners were also much steadier. He was arrogant but didn’t expose it, and he could even directly take him to Clear River City.

Yan Song stopped. He leisurely drank a mouthful of tea. “I’m old, my bones and body are no longer any good.” He let these children stand under the sun.

Liu Hong said, “Where is the headquarters’ master?”

“Don’t worry, you can also be regarded as an elderly of the sect. How would we blame the one named Wu’s own uselessness on you. I will make things clear to the headquarters’ master.” Yan Song’s mood wasn’t bad. It was of course because he’d gotten quite a few benefits from Liu Hong. He didn’t actually care much about the silver, but one of the ancient paintings was from the hand of a famous master. It could even be said to be hard to obtain even with thousand golds, and just happened to match his taste.

Liu Hong said in great delight, “Then I have to give many thanks to the protector. How do your honored self find these children?”

Yan Song said, “There are a few good seedlings among these children. I don’t know whether they can refine qi, but at least it’s enough to train in martial arts. Children with decent aptitude would have been cleanly rounded up a long ago if we were in the Clean River capital city. You have to struggle and scramble in order to obtain a good seedling when one appears. How could there be such a casual selection.”

Liu Hong said, “It’s all due to the headquarters’ master’s wisdom.”

“Hm?”

Yan Song lifted his head at this time. He saw a crack open in the human wall built from Iron Fist Gate disciples. A young man walked in. But he ordered after throwing one glance, “Let him go out. He’s too old.” Moreover he was also too ordinary; there was fundamentally nothing about him worth his attention.

But the Iron Fist Gate disciples actually didn’t obey his words and stop this young man. They split on both sides instead in alarm. Yan Song was somewhat curious. He saw Dragon Li beside him, and even Liu Hong, open their eyes wide: “Li Qingshan!”

The crowd of people was even noisier as they separately discussed, “Isn’t this Li Qingshan?” “Black Tiger Li Qingshan!” “Didn’t they say he died? How did he come back?” Li Qingshan could also be regarded as a personage of fame inside Suncheer City now.

Li Qingshan walked forward and waved with a smile in greeting. “Gate master Liu, long time no see. This one must be some protector right, it’s my honor it’s my honor.”

Yan Song frowned. He remembered another goal of his current journey, wasn’t it precisely for the sake of this young man?

Liu Hong said awkwardly, “You… You came back!”

Li Qingshan went straight to the point and said, “That’s right. This time I have to act like an unwelcome guest and invite gate master Liu to give me a few things. Or else change them into silver notes, I would rather get a little less. After all, it wasn’t easy for you to dig it out either.” The current Li Qingshan seemed very placid, without any awe-inspiring might or baleful aura.

Liu Hong looked at Yan Song. Yan Song tasted the tea and faintly said, “You’re that Li Qingshan? You still dare to come back? Now I’ll ask you questions, and you’ll give me answers. One less answer will result in one more slap. How did hall master Wu die?”

He didn’t even stand up. This wasn’t at all someone worth him standing up, and Li Qingshan’s “disrespect” had also made him somewhat angry. He must have eaten panther guts and actually dared to ask things from him. Moreover there were a good many signs hall master Wu’s death had a great relation with this person, so he naturally wouldn’t be polite with an enemy.

Li Qingshan was hiding his strength? Perhaps! But even if Li Qingshan were a first-grade master, or even an innate master who’d reached the realm of qi refining, then what about it? With his strength at the second layer of qi refining, how many people were able to enter his eyes.

Li Qingshan wasn’t a stranger to such behavior. This was someone who had absolute confidence in his own strength and believed he could subdue the scene. Everyone had to listen to his arrangements and follow his orders.

After Li Qingshan had seen these characters soaring to the horizon however, he now felt it extremely amusing looking at this appearance of Yan Song’s. It was just like a toad shouting in great croaks, gesticulating to and ordering about a bunch of insects and flies, believing itself a king.

Therefore Li Qingshan laughed. At least I can be regarded as a frog, and a very strong one at that.

The corner of Liu Hong’s eyes twitched. He hadn’t seen this kid as he went out for a stroll for a few months. He originally thought he’d become a little more subdued, but he hadn’t expected he was still the same after coming back. Mild on the surface, but utterly arrogant in his bones.

Yan Song’s face became suddenly chilly. “What are you laughing at?”

Li Qingshan said, “I saw something laughable, so of course I’ll laugh.”

Yan Song slowly stood up and said, “You try laughing again.”

Li Qingshan said, “Cut the nonsense. You must have swallowed all my things right, now hurry up and spit them all out.”

Yan Song crossed a distance of several feet in one step and came in front of Li Qingshan without any warning. He lifted his hand and fiercely slapped his palm down. He wanted to slap Li Qingshan’s face so he would never be able to laugh again in this life, so he would know the price to be paid for provoking the Iron Fist Gate.

“Pa.” A crisp and loud slap.

Yan Song’s head was slanted to one side, a burst of fleshy waves surging on his old face. His eyes were open wide and round. A tooth flew out. His mind was fully in disbelief. He clearly hadn’t sensed the slightest bit of internal strength or true qi on Li Qingshan, but his speed was quick and violent beyond compare against all expectations. Was it possible that he was a body refining master? But looking at him, he didn’t have any of the particular momentum of a body refining master.

Li Qingshan had seen Yan Song trying to give him a face slap. He didn’t have much anger in his heart, mostly lamenting instead. The originally quick and violent movement was now actually so slow in his eyes, so slow he simply was doubtful whether his own assessment was mistaken or not.

As to Yan Song, he’d exposed quite a few openings because he’d underestimated the enemy. Li Qingshan would naturally not let them slip by. He hit a slap on Yan Song’s face, his smile unchanging. “If you don’t spit it out, I’ll just hit you until you spit it out.”

“Protector Yan!” Liu Hong was dumbfounded. The protector Yan of invincible might had unexpectedly suffered a slap in front of so many people. He was even more surprised Li Qingshan had actually beome so strong and fierce. Such a rate of growth was simply too fearsome.

A burst of astonishment also went through the crowd of people. They were willing to come with their families’ sons and heirs because Yan Song had exposed genuine skills. He’d exploded a wooden stake more than ten feet thick in one punch. For them it was simply the power of divine immortals.

Dragon Li couldn’t resist wiping his eyes clean. Was this really that bull baby from Crouching Bull Village? He felt he was becoming less and less familiar with this fellow villager.

Yan Song’s heart was furious. He retreated a step back and adjusted his body. The true qi in his entire body rushed into his pair of fists.

Pa!

How would Li Qingshan give him the opportunity to make a move. He went forward a step as soon as he saw Yan Song’s posture and once again hit him with a slap.

How great was Li Qingshan’s strength? Yan Song was hit dizzy, and it routed the true qi he’d just assembled. But he wasn’t resigned and once again revolved it inside, about to strike at Li Qingshan.

“Pa.” The third slap landed down. Empty-handed close combat was just like this; it was very difficult to recover once struck downwind.

“Pa Pa Pa.” The slapping sounds were incomparably crisp and clear, shocking the martial training field. There was no longer any other sound other than the slapping.

Li Qingshan hit Yan Song without the slightest courtesy every single time the latter showed signs of striking back. The reason he chose slaps wasn’t simply to pay back a tooth for a tooth, but because he didn’t have the intent to kill, hence he couldn’t use strong attacks either. Hitting the head was actually the best choice to repress Yan Song downwind. Slaps weren’t strong enough to be lethal, while they could also produce dizzying shakes and ruin Yan Song’s movements. It was truly the optimal way.

Yan Song retreated back step by step. Li Qingshan advanced step by step.

With a crashing bang, Yan Song sat again on his great lion chair1. He shielded his head and face as he shouted, “Stop hitting!” He’d actually woken up from his rage after suffering several slaps and become afraid instead. Li Qingshan could kill him. The older men grew, the more they cherished life.

Li Qingshan indeed took his hand back. “Hand over my things!”

Yan Song’s face was sometimes pale white and sometimes flush red. He roared, “Liu Hong! What are you still doing standing there!” But he secretly slipped his hand inside his bosom at the same time. He likewise had talismans he used as trump cards. Losing so much face in front of so many people, he couldn’t be a man anymore if he didn’t take revenge for this hatred.

Li Qingshan said, “I urge you not to use it!”

Yan Song’s hand trembled.

Li Qingshan said, “You wanted to hit my face, so I hit your face. If you want to kill me, then I can only kill you.”

Li Qingshan’s words were tranquil and unperturbed. He didn’t even stop Yan Song from taking his talisman. Yan Song squeezed the corner of the talisman, his expression going through an even stronger change. He couldn’t take it out anymore for the moment.

Yan Song said, “Is it really… really you who killed hall master Wu, killed those people?” Although there was no way to identify the skeletons, quite a few ruined weapons had seen been found. Hall master Wu’s iron gloves were among them.

1. I previously translated the chair as great lion chair because it’s the literal translation and because it fits with Liu Hong’s Iron Lion title. It’s actually a wooden chair that also symbolized power in ancient China. Often found in palaces, government offices, or as the chair of the head of the family, etc. An example among several styles: