Chapter Eleven: The Transaction

Although he had made his judgment earlier, until he heard the truth spoken directly from Ruan Qiong’s mouth, he would not hesitate to abandon the identity of a disciple.

When one is weak, it is dangerous to step into the game of the strong, much less become a mere pawn; otherwise, endless troubles will follow.

While becoming a disciple was indeed his goal, he did not wish for such a trivial gain to bring misfortune upon his own fate.

Hearing this, Ruan Qiong laughed heartily, then turned around and fixed his tiger-like eyes, shining with sharp light, on Su Ling, sizing him up from head to toe.

“Boy, you’re really growing more and more to my liking.”

“…Master, you flatter me,” Su Ling said humbly, bowing respectfully.

The atmosphere grew heavy. Just as Su Ling thought Ruan Qiong wouldn’t answer his question, Ruan Qiong suddenly spoke in a deep voice.

“You’re a person I can’t see through.”

“Your past, your original destiny, vanished into thin air that night three months ago.”

“But you miraculously survived, and your martial talent has become unprecedentedly strong.”

“Frankly speaking, your future holds the promise of becoming a supreme deity, a God of Martial Arts, a Martial God in flesh.”

“So, I’m very curious: why has your transformation been so immense that it has even stirred the forces of this small town?”

“However, once you become my disciple, you need not worry about those petty factions.”

“My purpose is singular.”

At this point, Ruan Qiong’s expression turned serious. His eyes, radiating brilliant light like twin mountains pressing down on Su Ling, surged with unstoppable momentum.

“No matter which great transcendent you may be reincarnated from, after your training, you will help my daughter, Ruan Xiu, in the future.”

“That is my answer. If you disagree, let’s pretend this never happened—you may descend the mountain and leave.”

His words implied a clear choice: either agree or leave immediately.

If he was correct, this space had already been sealed off from the outside world by Ruan Qiong, a sage of military strategy, who used his divine ability to temporarily isolate it.

Except for the Confucian sage Qi Jingchun, whose realm was nearly equal, ordinary strongmen could not probe what transpired here.

No wonder since ascending the mountain, he had felt uneasy all over—it was because this area had been sealed off, triggering his instinctive alertness.

The lockdown probably started when he first arrived; it seemed Ruan Qiong was quite prudent.

Hearing this reply, Su Ling feigned deep thought but inwardly laughed like a pig.

Indeed, using Ruan Qiong’s military strategy to see his past and future, the original owner’s predetermined fate had already changed the moment he transmigrated.

As for Ruan Qiong’s prediction of a future Martial God, Su Ling felt no surprise at all.

After all, even the strength of a bald-headed puncher was not something to be underestimated in this vast world.

Moreover, that raw power and physique alone could elevate him to the rank of Martial God. If he mastered the martial arts of this world during his growth, his overall strength would be unimaginable. His only weakness was his fragile soul.

Clarifying this line of thought, Su Ling nodded in agreement with Ruan Qiong’s proposal without making him wait long.

Unbelievably, in theory, this was a high-stakes transaction between equals.

On some level, Ruan Qiong even seemed to be getting the better end of the deal...

The parties: Party A—the military sage Ruan Qiong; Party B—the promising martial man of Clay Bottle Alley.

The terms: If Party B helps Ruan Qiong’s daughter Ruan Xiu in the future, Party A will protect Party B during his growth until he is fully capable.

Such a windfall was impossible to refuse. Besides, Ruan Qiong’s purpose was clear; there was no need to suspect him of ill intent.

With the deal sealed, Ruan Qiong’s furrowed thick brows seemed to bloom like a magnificent peony, his face radiant with smiles like chrysanthemums.

“Good!”

Ruan Qiong laughed heartily, then raised his hand as if wiping dirt off the sky. The barrier isolating this area vanished, reconnecting the space with the outside world.

“Good disciple, wait here a moment. I will now deal with your lingering trouble.”

After speaking, he suddenly exerted force with his feet, and his tall, burly figure vanished instantly.

Yet the surrounding area remained undisturbed, showing his martial realm had reached the pinnacle, able to wield divine power freely without affecting external objects.

As for the “lingering trouble” Ruan Qiong mentioned, sharp-minded Su Ling immediately realized.

“Life essence porcelain…”

Ruan Qiong first confirmed Su Ling’s agreement, then impatiently rushed off to eliminate the threat.

This was somewhat out of character for a military sage, but from another perspective, it was a display of protective fatherly affection.

Ruan Qiong acted decisively, never dilly-dallying—this was something Su Ling admired about his convenient master.

The key was that Ruan Qiong truly possessed such capability. With his individual combat power, only a handful in the town could match him.

It seemed the life essence porcelain he had worried about earlier was no longer a threat...

Before long, after about ten minutes, Ruan Qiong’s figure streaked across the horizon and silently landed before Su Ling.

A strong gust raised a swirl of dust. Seeing Ruan Qiong’s serious expression, Su Ling felt a bad omen.

As expected, Ruan Qiong first expressed frustration, then apologized.

“Su Ling, I’m sorry. Your life essence porcelain at the Dragon Kiln vanished three months ago…”

“...Thank you for bringing me this news, Master.”

Su Ling did not complain. Though this concerned his future, he understood and would not take it out on his convenient master.

“Don’t worry. I will investigate the matter of your life essence porcelain thoroughly. Leave it to me, your master.”

“Hmph!”

“I want to see who dares to steal my good disciple’s life essence porcelain. Once I find them, I won’t go easy!”

Ruan Qiong was furious, grinding his teeth, barely holding back the urge to grab a blacksmith’s hammer and search every household.

“…I entrust this matter entirely to you, Master. Thank you for your trouble.”

“Mm.”

Regardless of the outcome, he had to act the part of a disciple.

“Let’s go inside first.”

“Yes.”

Following behind Ruan Qiong, Su Ling furrowed his brow. Who would steal his life essence porcelain...

Though unclear, he had some inklings.

The culprit’s background was definitely formidable. After all, his transmigration also happened three months ago.

The thief must have had ulterior motives, and surely discovered his future as a Martial God, which is why they swiftly took the life essence porcelain...

But that was understandable—the original owner did not exist in the original story; his arrival was the only thing attracting attention.