Apex War God - Chapter 47
Wild Tactician Xun Rui. There was nothing wrong with introducing himself with such theatrical flair.
In the past, he didn’t look like this, but wiser with a celestial demeanor, sporting a feather fan and silk scarf—a sagacious appearance like someone experienced and talented in governance.
The imperial court’s Prime Minister Song had appreciated his talent and brought him into his group of advisers to solidify his position in court.
Xun Rui had a lot of opinions on economics and heroically wrote Twenty-Four Volumes on An Opinion Piece on the Nation’s Disastrous Mistakes on his own initiative. Each volume was full of the injustices of and dissatisfactions with the imperial court of that time. This matter even indirectly blamed the emperor, causing a great upheaval in the imperial palace. Prime Minister Song was nearly deposed, which scared him out of his wits. In the end, Xun Rui, this most outstanding perpetrator, should have been beheaded, but the emperor kindly gave him a way out, sentencing him to torture and life imprisonment in the mountain prison.
This happened ten years ago. Yang Wu had heard about the twenty-four volumes from his younger brother, the top scholar, who was voluble in praise for them. He thought that if the imperial court utilized these twenty-four volumes, its national power would inevitably increase significantly, the common people would live in peace and prosperity, and civil and military arts would flourish.
At that time, his younger brother had even lamented that if he met Xun Rui, he had to take him as a teacher to learn this way of governance from him.
Yang Wu had a close relationship with his younger brother, Yang Wen; the two were only a year apart. He had heard his younger brother speak of Twenty-Four Volumes on An Opinion Piece on the Nation’s Disastrous Mistakes and Xun Rui more than once. It was just that he never imagined Xun Rui would appear before him—and with this appearance. It was indeed a surprising twist of fate.
Yang Wu stood up and bowed to Xun Rui, saying extremely respectfully, “So, you are Xun Rui, the senior who wrote Twenty-Four Volumes on An Opinion Piece on the Nation’s Disastrous Mistakes. Yang Wu has been impolite.”
This time, Xun Rui was the one who was shocked. “You really know an old coot like me?”
“My younger brother, Yang Wen, is one of your admirers. He once said that if he had been born ten years earlier, he would definitely have taken you as his master!” Yang Wu said honestly.
Xun Rui beamed, exposing his yellow teeth, as he gave a thumbs-up and said, “Hehe! Your younger brother has discernment. With just these words, I’ll accept him as a nominal disciple for the time being. After I have assessed his aptitude, I will consider whether to pass the mantle on to him. This old man’s great governance abilities are not something ordinary people can learn.”
“My younger brother is this year’s top scholar—and the only one to get full marks for every subject in the past century!” Yang Wu said with pride.
“You little brat can boast better than me! Why not just say that you are a martial arts champion?!” Xun Rui dug his ear with a skeptical expression.
“Don’t be too quick to say that. Wait till I turn eighteen and reach adulthood. I’ll definitely become the top martial artist that year; that way, my Yang Clan would be adept in both pen and sword and renowned all over the Xia Nation!” Yang Wu said with a look of yearning.
He had dreamed of being the top martial artist when he was young. He originally also had some talent; it was just that he was nothing compared to real cultivation geniuses. Take Wan Lanxin, for example. When she was his age, she reached the Warrior Realm through her own talent, yet he had previously just been a Consummate Grade Foot Soldier.
Now, everything was different. He had the Supreme Nine Profound Art, the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art, and an immortal body. These all ensured he could rise up. As long as he got rid of his present status, he could easily clinch a martial arts championship in another two years.
“Alright, kid, we are all prisoners. Speak more humbly.” Xun Rui interrupted Yang Wu’s daydreaming and asked, “Kid, since you know this old man’s name, do you still want to listen to those three things?”
Effacing himself, Yang Wu replied, “Yes, yes, Senior Xun, just say it.”
Anyway, the old man before him was the person his younger brother admired. He had to treat him with respect, no matter what. He also wanted to hear what the other party had to say.
“Not bad, not bad. First thing, could you get this old man some meat tonight? This old man has not eaten meat for so many days that I have almost forgotten the taste of it,” Xun Rui said, slumping on the ground.
Yang Wu almost fainted when he heard those words. Why did I feel this old man was a hidden expert when he can’t even get a mouthful of meat now?
“The second thing is, can you let me live in Black Ape’s dwelling for a few days? This old man has been exposed to the elements for many years. I’m already half a foot in the grave. I want to sleep properly for a bit!” Xun Rui didn’t care whether Yang Wu agreed or not; he was just talking to himself.
Yang Wu didn’t wait for Xun Rui to mention the third thing, interjecting, “I say, Senior Xun, you wanted to talk about these types of things?”
“Of course, problems of living—eating, drinking, defecating, urinating, and sleeping—are big matters in one’s life. What would I talk about if not these?!” Xun Rui retorted matter-of-factly.
Yang Wu wanted to faint. He waved his hand and said, “I’ll promise you these things.”
“I still wanted to talk about the third thing,” Xun Rui said anxiously.
“Your third thing is a request for a beauty and a bottle of liquor? Wanting to sip wine with a beauty in your arms, facing the moon, then singing and dancing!” Yang Wu said for Xun Rui.
“Hey, kid, how did you know?” Xun Rui revealed a trace of embarrassment.
“Old man, you had a wretched look on your face; how could I not know?” Yang Wu slapped his forehead, paused for a moment, then added, “I can find you a girl, but liquor is currently an extravagant hope!”
“Hehe, kid, you are much more easygoing than Black Ape! Not bad, not bad. This old man isn’t one to take more than I’m given; your charity will be rewarded in the future!” Xun Rui said, smiling.
Yang Wu didn’t take Xun Rui’s words to heart. He felt that this old man didn’t have the demeanor of an expert and strongly suspected his younger brother had overestimated this person.
Yang Wu no longer bothered with Xun Rui. Yesterday’s battle had been exhilarating, and he had a new realization about the Rainstorm Spear Art. Each move had reached the Accomplished stage, able to bring out great might, but he was not satisfied with this. He wanted to practice the Rainstorm Spear Art to Perfection; that way, his combat prowess could reach a higher level. He raised the crowbar and started to train.
Dark Clouds Covering the Sky.
Arrows of Savage Rain.
Rolling Thunder Shifting Winds.
Yang Wu repeatedly executed the Rainstorm Spear Art, his movements incomparably skillful. He showed vast Profound Energy, his power extraordinary.
Xun Rui didn’t leave. He just sat nearby and watched as Yang Wu stabbed, thrust, and swept around, his old eyes gleaming with a trace of interest. After quite a while, he couldn’t help talking. “These fanciful moves are only enough to scare those useless fellows.”
Yang Wu seemed not to hear him, continuing to go through the steps. Despite that, Xun Rui interrupted him and once again opened his mouth. “A rainstorm’s might lies in suddenness, rapidness, ferocity. Don’t even dream of unleashing the full might of the combat art if you continue to practice feebly like this! What a pity!”
Yang Wu couldn’t help being affected, his movements becoming a little erratic.
Xun Rui seemed addicted to speaking. He added in a deep voice, “Jink like a fleeing hare, with the intensity of roaring thunder and the ferocity of storms—be like a rainstorm…”
Initially, Yang Wu wanted to ignore Xun Rui’s words, but after hearing this, he had an epiphany, suddenly clearly comprehending the true essence of the Rainstorm Spear Art.
“Jink like a fleeing hare, with the intensity of roaring thunder…” After Yang Wu muttered for a while, his body’s form and movements changed drastically, adopting the swift and sudden motion of a cunning hare escaping. He showed an intensity akin to thunder; his crowbar transformed into a lightning-fast spear, its tip flashing brightly. His power suddenly increased by more than a level.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The crowbar continuously made a strange noise as Profound Energy flooded the area. Stone, dust, and mud flew around as the martial figure kept accelerating until his actions and poses were pretty much blurry afterimages.
Xun Rui’s old eyes flashed with a trace of appreciation. At some point, a gourd appeared in his hand. He uncapped it, raised his head, and poured a mouthful of liquor, muttering in his heart, The boy is worth teaching!
At this moment, Sooty appeared from somewhere and pounced at the gourd. His actions were lightning fast—too fast for most people to react in time.
Whether Xun Rui sensed the puppy or just coincidence, he took the gourd into his arms, leaving Sooty to pounce on nothing.
Woof! Woof!
Sooty failed to pounce on the gourd and barked in dissatisfaction. It pawed the ground a few times, its eyes staring unblinkingly at the gourd in his embrace, its tongue lolling, in blatant desire.
Xun Rui kept his gourd close as he said to Sooty, “You are very intelligent, knowing the wonder of this old man’s gourd wine. However, I don’t have much in stock; I can’t waste it on you!”
Sooty did not seem to care about Xun Rui, continuously pouncing at him, determined to snatch the wine gourd.
When Xun Rui saw Sooty charging so ferociously, he scrambled to his feet to dodge, saying, “Little black dog, don’t mess around! These old bones can’t stand this torture.”
Sooty sped up, jumped high, and almost tore Xun Rui’s prisoner clothes, but it still came up short.
Woof! Woof! Apparently unresigned, Sooty continued increasing its speed and renewed its assault after barking a few times.
“Little fellow, don’t think old people are easy to bully. I’m capable of anything and everything above the skies and under the ground. If you keep provoking me, I’ll roast and eat you!” Xun Rui hurriedly warded off the attacks, his actions looking very awkward. Sooty almost caught the gourd a few times, but the old man just barely evaded it; the puppy could not do anything.
Xun Rui didn’t have an easy time, either. He hunched over and panted nonstop, apparently exhausted.
Sooty grabbed its chance, springing up on its four limbs with full force, pouncing at Xun Rui to bite him.
This time around, Xun Rui really couldn’t dodge. Sooty chomped down on his butt. In agony, he wailed, “Little black dog, quickly let go! No, quickly open your mouth! If you don’t, this old man will really get nasty!”
Xun Rui continuously shook his butt, swatting behind himself with both hands, but Sooty held on like its life was on the line, inflicting unspeakable pain.
This disturbed Yang Wu, who was practicing the Rainstorm Spear Art. He immediately stopped to scold the puppy. “Sooty, what are you doing? Quickly let go of your senior!”
Xun Rui piped up, “Right, right, little black dog, quickly let go. Wait! When did I become this little black dog’s senior? Little brat, are you indirectly insulting this old man?!”
Yang Wu appeared embarrassed as he said, “Ahem, ahem! Senior Xun, I misspoke, misspoke. Sooty, you quickly let go. Senior Xun is our honored guest; you can’t be disrespectful to the honored guest.”
Indeed, just now, Yang Wu had received a few words of guidance from Xun Rui and vaguely touched the Rainstorm Spear Art’s Perfection stage. As long as he practiced diligently a bit more, he should be able to reach it. He couldn’t help viewing Xun Rui in a different light, but seeing Xun Rui get bitten by a dog reinforced his initial impression.
Under Yang Wu’s urging, Sooty finally let go of Xun Rui. Xun Rui’s butt bled. He was in such pain that he covered his butt and incessantly scolded Sooty. But when Sooty snarled once more, he quickly shut his mouth.
Regardless of whether Xun Rui was a wise man or an expert, Yang Wu decided to treat this old man well, have Xu Jiaohua serve him, let him stay at Black Ape’s dwelling, and prepare good food for him. He could not have been more thoughtful.
Anyway, this old man was the person his younger brother admired. He just considered it helping his younger brother establish a friendly connection.
Xu Jiaohua felt bitter in her heart.
She wanted to serve Yang Wu, not this horrible old man with a mouth full of yellow teeth.
It was a pity she didn’t have a choice.
Sometimes, this kind of grudging obedience was not necessarily a misfortune but might even be a blessing.
