Chapter 127: The Old Man's Apology

Chapter 127: The Elder’s Apology

Recalling how he had previously looked down upon Shen An, Senior Apprentice Brother Zhou Yang now felt utterly ashamed.

The elder, who had been bowing, heard the terrifying figure of thirty thousand. He looked up, and upon seeing the number on the punch force tester, his first reaction was that the machine must be broken.

"That tester must be malfunctioning, right? Otherwise, how could such a terrifying result be possible? Thirty thousand..." The elder exclaimed in shock. Thirty thousand jin was far beyond the strength expected of a third-rank mid-stage cultivator.

Hearing the elder’s observation, Senior Apprentice Brother Zhou Yang also arrived at the same conclusion.

"May I check if the punch force tester is showing any anomalies? A figure of thirty thousand is too bizarre for anyone to accept without skepticism," Zhou Yang suggested.

Hearing this, Shen An stepped aside, allowing Zhou Yang to conduct his inspection.

A disciple of the Yincheng Martial Arts Hall assisted him, but after a thorough check, they found no signs of error in the equipment.

The disciple reported, "Senior Brother, there is nothing wrong with the tester."

Zhou Yang nodded, agreeing that it was unlikely the machine had malfunctioned. "I agree, but for the sake of accuracy, allow me to test it myself," he said.

With that, Zhou Yang struck the device with his own fist. His punch measured five hundred jin—a figure that, compared to thirty thousand, seemed insignificant.

Having already witnessed the shock of the thirty-thousand-jin display, the gathered awakeners were no longer impressed by a mere five hundred, or even several thousand.

"It isn't broken. He is truly capable of delivering thirty thousand jin of force. There is no doubt about it; his strength is exactly that profound." Zhou Yang verified the reality of the situation.

It was not that the machine was faulty; it was simply that Shen An was that powerful.

The elder was deeply humbled. He turned to Shen An and said, "I apologize. I was blind and failed to recognize your true stature. I hope you will not take offense to my previous behavior."

Shen An naturally did not take it to heart; the man had merely been eager to prove his own worth and had committed no grave error. "There is no need for apologies. You were only anxious to prove yourself," Shen An replied.

The elder felt a wave of relief. He had not expected Shen An to be so magnanimous, unlike many young men who, having gained a modicum of status, would become arrogant and overbearing.

***

With the test concluded, Shen An’s purpose for visiting the Yincheng Martial Arts Hall had been fulfilled.

"Thank you for the hospitality, Yincheng Martial Arts Hall. This is a fine place, and I shall remember it," Shen An said to Zhou Yang. Throughout their interaction, Zhou Yang had left him with a positive impression.

Zhou Yang scanned Shen An with an appreciative gaze. "It is an honor for our hall that a master such as yourself would come here to train and test your strength. If you visit again in the future, I shall personally welcome you. I also hope that one day you might share some of your insights on cultivation with our disciples."

"You are too kind. I am merely an ordinary awakener; there is nothing particularly special about me," Shen An said modestly.

Just then, a silver-haired elder entered the hall, his arrival immediately drawing many eyes.

"Look, it is the Master of Yincheng Martial Arts Hall, Jiang Chengzi!" an awakener called out. Jiang Chengzi was quite famous; he was considered one of the top experts in Yincheng.

Seeing him return, Zhou Yang was overjoyed. He couldn't wait to recount his meeting with Shen An to his master, believing that Jiang Chengzi would be delighted and would surely recognize Shen An's potential.

"Master, you have finally returned! You cannot imagine—while you were away, a true master visited our hall," Zhou Yang said.

"What? A master has come to Yincheng Martial Arts Hall?" Jiang Chengzi swept his gaze across the crowd and quickly spotted Shen An. Although Shen An was a young man, Jiang Chengzi did not show the slightest bit of contempt.

He approached Shen An with a friendly smile. "Are you the master who visited my hall?"

Seeing the imposing yet dignified bearing of the man before him, Shen An realized this was likely the legendary Master of the Yincheng Martial Arts Hall. "Are you the Master of the Yincheng Martial Arts Hall?" Shen An asked.

"Hahaha! I feel as if we are old friends at first sight. Why don't we go inside for a small gathering? I happen to have some excellent vintage wine, kept specifically for honored guests," Jiang Chengzi offered.

Jiang Chengzi knew that Zhou Yang’s standards were exceptionally high; anyone who could earn his approval was undoubtedly a formidable individual of great capability.

***

Shen An smiled. "I am at your disposal."

Soon, Jiang Chengzi led Shen An into the inner chambers of the hall, a move that stirred envy among the onlookers.

"A master is truly different. To be so appreciated by the Master of the Yincheng Martial Arts Hall... it is simply incredible."

"If only I could be like him. Sigh, even half his strength would be enough."

"Handsome and powerful—wherever such a person goes, they will always be the focus of the crowd."

They arrived in a room decorated with simple furnishings, a tea set, and a few landscape paintings. Jiang Chengzi produced a bottle of fine wine, aged for decades. While it could not increase one's cultivation, such items were extremely rare in the current era.

Jiang Chengzi smiled. "Young man, you must be a third-rank mid-stage awakener, correct?"

"You are correct, Senior. I am indeed at the third-rank mid-stage. However, even so, I must continue to work hard, for the third-rank mid-stage is not the peak of strength in Yincheng," Shen An replied honestly.

"Hahaha, indeed, it is not the peak. As far as I know, there is no shortage of fourth-rank experts in Yincheng. If you encounter them, remember not to be too ostentatious," Jiang Chengzi cautioned.

Shen An nodded. "I understand, Senior. I will keep your guidance in my heart."

"Young man, what is your name?"

"Shen An."

"A fine name. Shen An, my old bones haven't had the chance to spar in a long time. How about we have a friendly match? If you win, consider the wine my treat," Jiang Chengzi proposed.

"Oh? So you wish to test your skills against me, Senior? Then I shall gladly comply," Shen An said.

"Good!"