MM Racing Chapter 40 Qiu Ren
Chapter 40 Qiu Ren
As Zhao Yu walked, he corrected people along the way, and the willow branch in his hand would fall from time to time, but no one complained. Instead, they practiced even more diligently.
For them, receiving personal guidance from this unfathomable Lord was an immense opportunity.
As Zhao Yu watched the lightning-fast sword light on the training ground and listened to the incessant sound of blades cutting through the air, he couldn't help but marvel.
Although the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual is evil, it is truly an unparalleled divine skill.
In just a few days, these ordinary people who couldn't even stand still in a horse stance have mastered the basic sword moves of the Evil-Repelling Sword Technique quite well.
His sword speed even surpassed that of many ordinary martial artists who had practiced for three to five years.
Such progress is simply unbelievable.
No wonder people like Yu Canghai and Yue Buqun would go to such lengths to master this martial art, even at the cost of ruining their reputations for life.
Zhao Yu shook his head, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.
He knew very well that this rapid progress was achieved at the cost of a man's most fundamental possession.
He possesses the Northern Darkness Divine Art and the supreme martial arts of the Free and Unfettered Sect. His path leads to countless worlds, so it's not worth paying such a high price for this little bit of progress in martial arts.
As he was instructing everyone on sword practice, he heard light footsteps behind him and quickly walked over.
He bowed and leaned close to Zhao Yu, lowering his voice: "Your Majesty, a Mr. Qiu has come to the manor. He said he heard a message from a man named Hong Qi and came all the way from Jinghu South Road to request an audience with you."
Mr. Qiu? Hong Qi?
Zhao Yu's eyes suddenly lit up, and he casually tossed the willow branch aside, a smile playing on his lips.
Qiu Qianren has finally arrived.
Unexpectedly, Hong Qi's words spread quickly. Not long after the New Year, Qiu Qianren arrived in Lin'an from Iron Palm Peak.
"Huai'an, keep an eye on things here and continue to supervise their practice. Correct any mistakes in their sword techniques as I taught you before," Zhao Yu instructed, patting Wang Huai'an on the shoulder.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured, leave this to me." Wang Huai'an quickly bowed and agreed.
Zhao Yu didn't linger. He turned and left the courtyard, heading towards the Prince's Mansion in Lin'an City.
Half an hour later, Zhao Yu returned to the Prince's mansion.
He first went around to the backyard to avoid the eyes and ears of the mansion, changed into a moon-white Taoist robe that he usually wore, tied his hair up with a jade hairpin, and still looked like a leisurely prince who was devoted to Taoist cultivation. Only then did he slowly walk to the main hall of the front yard.
He instructed the servants to let Mr. Qiu in.
Shortly after, footsteps were heard outside the hall, and a man and a woman walked in side by side.
The woman walking in front was about twenty years old. She had a beautiful face and fair skin, but she had narrow eyes and upturned eyebrows. Her eyes were slightly slanted upwards, and her brows carried a hint of meanness.
She looked at people with her chin slightly raised, and with a hint of arrogance.
The most eye-catching figure was the man walking beside her. He was burly with broad shoulders and a thick back, dressed in a blue outfit. He stood tall and proud, exuding an aura of authority.
What's most special about him are his hands. His palms are large and thick, his knuckles are thick, and his palms are covered with thick calluses. You can tell at a glance that his hand skills have reached the pinnacle.
It was none other than Qiu Qianren, the leader of the Iron Palm Gang, also known as Iron Palm Water-Drifter.
The two walked into the hall, stopped, and bowed to Zhao Yu, who was seated at the head of the table.
"My name is Qiu Qianren, and I greet Your Highness!"
"Qiu Qianchi greets Your Highness."
The woman was Qiu Qianren's younger sister; it seemed that the two siblings had come together.
"No need for formalities, please rise." Zhao Yu smiled and raised his hand to help him up. "I have long heard of Chief Qiu's reputation. The Iron Palm Clan is renowned throughout the two lakes region, and Chief Shangguan once led his members to fight bloody battles against the Jin on the front lines. He is a hero of our Great Song Dynasty. I have always wanted to meet the Chief, and today I have the honor to meet you. He truly lives up to his reputation."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Qianren's eyes flashed with surprise, and he then cupped his hands again, saying, "Your Highness is too kind. I am unworthy of such praise."
Zhao Yu waved his hand and ordered the servants standing on either side, "All of you, step back. Without my permission, no one is to approach the main hall."
"Yes."
The servants bowed in agreement and filed out of the main hall.
In the large main hall, only Zhao Yu, Qiu Qianren, and Qiu Qianchi remained.
The hall fell silent. Zhao Yu looked at Qiu Qianren and asked, "Chief Qiu, did you come to Lin'an after receiving a message from Brother Hong, and that's why you've come to see me?"
"Exactly."
Qiu Qianren's voice was very deep and resonant, and he didn't sound like a villain at all.
"Last month, Chief Hong passed by Iron Palm Peak and conveyed His Highness's message to me, saying that His Highness wished to see me to discuss important matters. I dared not delay and immediately brought my sister with me, rushing to Lin'an without stopping. I just don't know, what is it that His Highness seeks me out for?"
He asked politely, but he had already started making plans in his mind.
Qiu Qianren was the renowned leader of the Iron Palm Clan in the martial arts world, but he didn't even hold a minor official position in the imperial court.
The fact that the Prince of the Court had taken the initiative to summon him and even entrusted Hong Qi to deliver a message indicates that this matter was by no means simple.
He traveled a long way from Iron Palm Peak to Lin'an, precisely because of this extraordinary opportunity.
Zhao Yu chuckled inwardly.
Sure enough, Qiu Qianren was, at heart, a person who yearned for wealth and glory.
Upon hearing that it was a summons from the current prince, he rushed to Lin'an so quickly without the slightest hesitation.
Such people are the easiest to win over; just give them the high-ranking positions, generous salaries, and immense wealth they desire, and that will be enough.
Since Qiu Qianren was willing to pledge allegiance to Wanyan Honglie of the Jin Dynasty for wealth and honor, he could naturally also be willing to serve him for an even higher position.
Thinking of this, Zhao Yu put down his teacup, a sigh on his face: "Actually, it's nothing much. I just heard that the Iron Palm Clan is united in resisting the Jin and has been harassing Jin troops and protecting the people in the border areas of Lianghuai and Jinghu for many years."
"The late Chief Shangguan was a fierce general under Marshal Han Shizhong, who made great contributions to the court and was a true hero in the fight against the Jin dynasty."
He paused, his tone tinged with regret: "It is the court's fault that such loyal and virtuous officials are left to wander the world, without official rank or title, only able to serve the country in obscurity. I am ashamed."
These words were spoken with such sincerity that Qiu Qianren's eyes flashed with emotion as he listened.
Since the death of their master Shangguan Jiannan, the Iron Palm Clan has been regarded as a bandit gang by the imperial court and suppressed in every way. No one has ever recognized their achievements in resisting the Jin dynasty.
Now that the current prince had personally spoken these words, he couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for being recognized and appreciated.
Before he could even speak, Qiu Qianchi, unable to contain herself any longer, stepped forward and blurted out, "Your Highness! Hong Qi clearly said you would bring our family immense wealth! Why all this empty talk? Just say it: can you grant my second brother a high-ranking official position?"
"Little sister! Shut up!"
Qiu Qianren's face instantly turned cold, and he sternly rebuked Qiu Qianchi.
He immediately stood up, bowed deeply to Zhao Yu, and said apologetically, "Your Highness, please forgive me. My younger sister has been spoiled by me since childhood. She speaks without restraint and is ignorant of etiquette. She has offended Your Highness. Please forgive her."
Zhao Yu looked at Qiu Qianchi, whose face was flushed red with anger, and secretly felt contempt for her.
Just like in the original story, Qiu Qianchi is completely naive and has a quick temper and greed. No wonder she was later schemed against by Gongsun Zhi and suffered for decades.
However, he was in dire need of manpower at the moment, so he naturally wouldn't bother with such matters concerning a woman.