As soon as Li spoke, Shi Chun immediately knew who this dog was talking about. He longed to pull out the dagger hidden in his sleeve and stab him; it was something he was quite good at.

Halfway through the speech, the red-clothed woman calmly tugged at the corner of her mouth and shifted her gaze from the eloquent Li Hongjiu to Shi Chun behind him, directly negating any notion that this was Shi Chun's own intention.

The reason was simple: nowadays, Shi Chun had to sneak around just to leave his own home in East Victory Royal City. How could he dare openly come here to teach?

Noticing the fists slowly clenching beneath Shi Chun's sleeves, she couldn't help but recall the intelligence from Yanbao Sect: Shi and Li were not friends.

If they weren't friends, yet one calls the other to take disciples while the latter recommends the former, what were these two doing? What's going on here?

She suddenly felt disconnected from the lower levels, many things didn't fit her understanding anymore. Perhaps this matter should be left to the people below to handle, as it truly wasn't suitable for her to personally intervene.

However, she did want to see what those two dogs were up to, daring to disrupt her event. None would leave.

Everyone present gradually showed expressions of realization as Third Miss Dongliang Ying blurted out, "Is it Shi Chun?"

She spent a lot of time in the library and heard many related discussions.

The others matched the name but showed puzzlement. They had heard more or less about this person, but had never seen him. Could such a person really be a master for the second one?

Li Hongjiu gently clapped and said, "That's right, it's Shi Chun. This man is quite remarkable; he surpasses me in skill."

The members of the Dong Family exchanged glances.

The red-clothed woman lowered her eyes, openly disparaging herself to elevate Shi Chun, leading her to question her judgment again.

For Shi Chun, who was secretly clenching his fist, he cursed inwardly, shameless!

This time he was once again sure of his judgment: whenever needed, Li truly didn't care about his face.

Dongliang Ying was somewhat skeptical, defending her would-be master, "How is that possible? The world says Mr. Li is the number one among the new generation. How can Shi Chun compare to Mr. Li?"

Li Hongjiu gestured slightly with his hand, "That's a mistake! The world is not the parties involved; what they say is mere rumor, mistaken transmission. I am a party involved, who is higher or lower, how could I not know?"

Dongliang Ying: "There's a rumor that Shi Chun was beaten by Mr. Li and fled in embarrassment in the Divine Fire Domain..."

Li Hongjiu abruptly interrupted, "On the contrary, if I could truly suppress him, how could he escape easily? What outsiders saw wasn't necessarily the truth. In fact, before others saw us engage, I had already fought him once, and that was truly a life-and-death struggle. He wounded me severely; had I not escaped through trickery, I would have long been dead at his hand.

What you claim as him embarrassedly fleeing from my beating was truly him using deceit, unknowingly chasing him relentlessly until, away from the sects' help, he wounded me grievously and even captured me directly. That was the real embarrassment, but who witnessed the humiliation behind the scenes? Who spoke?

This only pertains to martial accomplishments, not to literature.

After emerging from the Divine Fire Domain, in a competition, a disciple of a small sect, an ordinary person, unknown to all, under his guidance and training, actually outperformed the entire Artifact Refining world and won the championship, making even me acknowledge defeat.

Someone he randomly guided in a short time could make me concede. Isn't such a person worthy to be a master?

At the Sky Rain Meteor Conference, he reversed situations, traversed and strategized, with unmatched wisdom, under weak circumstances, he managed all the sects as if attending to the minutiae, truly setting the winds and clouds astir, skillfully seizing first among the many heroes, unparalleled at the time in the world.

Most crucially, those under him were once abandoned disciples expelled from various sects, those who had been used by him at the Sky Rain Meteor Conference, and afterward bore deep resentment against him. That was a dead knot, yet he could turn steel into pliable fingers, make them forgive past animosities, willingly serve as loyal dogs and horses.

Even I, having forged a deep grudge with him in the struggle, wishing to kill him quickly, ended up making friends with him. Just ask everyone, with such skills, how many in the world can do it? Earning literary and martial prowess, unmatched intelligence, rising splendor, truly the world's elegance and heroism, Second Miss wouldn't need to worry about letting the pearl remain covered.

Such flamboyant praise amazed Shi Chun standing behind him, stupefied for a moment before regaining his senses, damn, is he talking about me?

Almost unwilling to awaken, nearly believing himself to be truly great.

If it weren't for knowing Li's malicious intent, he'd almost be floating.

He felt a bit itchy in his teeth, wanting to speak up and stop it, but as a servant interfering in his master's affairs, it was clearly inappropriate.

After such praise, the red-clothed woman couldn't help but repeatedly cast sidelong glances at Shi Chun, wearing a veiled hat. She had heard about these matters slightly before; now, hearing them put together, she suddenly realized that the fellow seemed indeed extraordinary?

The Dong Wenshu family was also left stunned, the facts laid bare, making them see Shi Chun as quite remarkable.

Especially the siblings, in their eyes there was some longing, imagining what kind of charisma such an elegant figure must possess.

Second Miss Dong Liangyu suddenly broke the silence, "But my body is not suitable for practice."

The implication being, he might not accept me.

Li Hongjiu immediately shook his head, "Overthinking! He can train an ordinary person to become the first of the Divine Fire Covenant in a short time; let alone you, these matters shouldn't concern you. He will have his own way to solve it. Now it's up to you whether you're willing. As long as you are willing, given my connection with him, I assure you, once I ask, he will certainly agree."

Shi Chun standing in the back heard and cursed inwardly, Li Hongjiu, damn you!

Not to mention, how could he have the skill to change Dong Liangyu's physique?

"This..." The head of the family, Dong Wenshu, suddenly spoke, hesitatingly and slowly asked, "Wasn't that Shi Chun locked up in the Land of Exile before?"

The tone didn't sound right, and Li Hongjiu immediately argued, "The curator misunderstood, he wasn't going to prison, he was born in prison, it's inborn, not a choice, can't help it."

Dong Wenshu hesitated and said, "Mr. Li, after all, he was released from the Land of Exile, and people with such a background have a widely known character, unaware of what virtue is, driven by self-interest. Honestly, no matter how capable one is, if they don't know why to cultivate themselves to be human, our family really doesn't dare to associate."

This statement left his children silent.

But it almost made Shi Chun burst into laughter. It was the first time he was so happy after being scolded.

After getting along for so long, he knew so well why Dong Wenshu, this old stick-in-the-mud, was called that. Even if the Heavenly King came, he wouldn't change such a direct statement of attitude.

Even Li Hongjiu, who was speaking eloquently just now, was a bit confused, thinking, after all my efforts talking about it with you, you talk to me about virtue?

Speaking of virtue, he searched his mind trying to find something to defend Shi Chun, but he really didn't know where to start. That person's reputation was well-known, is there any talk of virtue?

But he definitely wasn't going to give up easily, so he hurriedly said, "Curator, people are different from people, and those who came out of the Land of Exile aren't necessarily all lacking in virtue."

Dong Wenshu then turned his head left and right, and asked his children, "If I remember correctly, did that Shi Chun, as soon as he got out from the Land of Exile, become infatuated with a prostitute from a brothel, is that true?"

The four children slightly nodded, and Dongliang Ying even stated directly, "Yes, seems she's called Xiang Laner."

They were talking business, but the Red-clothed Woman who was eavesdropping suddenly became expressionless, feeling like she was fed something disgusting, utterly nauseated inside.

Someone once called her the most beautiful woman in the world, and there were hugs and kisses, now how come she feels she's on the same level as that someone or something?

What exactly is being plotted in the secrets of entering and exiting the Beidou Refusal Array? The Demon Path is mysterious, would careless actions startle the snake and break the clues? She thought these over and suppressed the impulse to flip the table once again.

Li Hongjiu was speechless, having just said people are different, and then brought up the topic of the brothel prostitute, he was inwardly cursing Shi Chun's name. As soon as he got out of the Land of Exile, he was eager to visit a brothel, what the heck.

He still wanted to help argue, but Dong Wenshu could see it and directly interrupted, "It seems it is true, those from the Land of Exile indeed have questionable character. The Dong Family's ancestral teachings and family view are above, the descendants dare not defy. If it thus hinders the young lady's future, then that future isn't worth having."

This was practically a direct end to the discussion, leaving no room for any turnaround.

Defeated, Li Hongjiu was stunned. Despite all calculations, he hadn't considered this, all the talking efforts were ruined on Shi Chun's poor background.

Looking again at the attitudes of the children, it was evident the family head had the final say.

Shi Chun, however, was laughing behind his veil, born destined, climbing all the way with struggle and hardship, why look back to care about those things? That'd be insane.

As for virtue, from the moment he walked out of the Land of Exile, ragged and worn, he faced countless disdainful looks from passers-by. Without grievance or enmity, did he owe something to virtue?

He admitted, he indeed didn't know what virtue was, anyway, all he saw was that it was something people pull out to use when needed.

Mr. Li's attempt ended like this, next was the official apprenticeship.

Since Li Hongjiu didn't care for specific times and dates, the sooner the better, Dong Wenshu personally wrote an apprenticeship letter for his younger daughter under the lamp, with details of her birthdate and time.

The lantern light was bright, the master sat solemnly, Dongliang Ying knelt and kowtowed, serving tea, with heaven and earth as witnesses, spectators as witnesses, the ceremony was complete, establishing the teacher-disciple relationship for a lifetime.

Li Hongjiu had never taken in a disciple before, this was his first.

Celebration couldn't last, eventually, the night quieted and people calmed.

Shi Chun had stayed at the library for so long, it was the first time he enjoyed the treatment of staying in a guest room, a courtesy he owed to Li Hongjiu.

However, before he could settle down, he received a Mother-child Talisman message from the Red-clothed Woman, inviting him to her room.

Alright, he snuck into the Red-clothed Woman's room silently, feeling curious and eager.

Upon meeting, he tried to hug, but the Red-clothed Woman blocked with her hands and feet.

Unsuccessful, Shi Chun complained, "Haven't you already agreed to be my woman?"

The Red-clothed Woman justified, "Things are only half done, once Situ Gu arrives, I will naturally oblige. But still, quite unexpected, didn't think you had the ability to bring Li Hongjiu."

She spoke and even gently lifted Shi Chun's chin, "When are you leaving?"

Shi Chun grasped her hand, stroking it, and said, "I can't stay long, still need to deal with your matter, Li Hongjiu might stay for a while, he's quite interested in the collections here."

Holding hands was acceptable, the Red-clothed Woman allowed it, her other hand drawing circles on Shi Chun's chest, "Since I've become your woman, isn't there supposed to be a token of commitment?"

She caught Shi Chun's hand in return, revealing a complex-patterned black ring, sliding it on Shi Chun's index finger, "This is for you, wear it at all times, don't lose it."

Shi Chun embraced her waist accordingly, wanting to kiss but avoided, he only managed to smack her cheek, "The token of engagement you gave, how could it be discarded, I'll keep it well for life."

As he spoke, he also drew out a hairpin and inserted it charmingly into her hair bun.

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