"Hold on. I’m just worried that guy will come back. If he kills Old Guo, you’ll all just blame it on me again!"

Zhao Rui said with a half-smile, his words carrying a hint of mockery for how Nie Sheng had jumped to conclusions earlier.

Nie Sheng’s face flushed. He suddenly cupped his fist in a salute to Zhao Rui and said, "I failed to distinguish right from wrong. That was petty of me! I’m sorry!"

"It’s nothing, it’s nothing!"

Seeing how frankly the other man admitted his mistake, Zhao Rui didn’t dwell on it.

As the two of them spoke, a woman walked over to Old Guo’s bedside with his medicine and began to care for him.

This woman was quite young. When Zhao Rui saw her last night, he had thought she was Old Guo’s daughter.

But it turned out she was his wife.

And she was his student, too!

’That old coot, helping himself to what’s right in his own backyard!’

From nearby, Qiao Si Niang, a youthful-looking married woman, frowned thoughtfully and asked, "What kind of grudge would drive someone to want you dead? Old Guo, do you have any idea who it might be?"

"I’ve got no damn idea! My whole life, yeah, I’ve had a bit of a temper, but I’ve never made an enemy with that kind of deep-seated grudge!"

Guo Qiquan shouted angrily, but the effort pulled at his wound, causing him to cry out in pain.

His young wife immediately soothed him in a soft voice, "Try not to talk so much. The doctor said you need to rest quietly!"

Seeing her doting and considerate manner, Zhao Rui felt a pang of jealousy.

’What incredible luck with women!’

’Luck with women?’

Zhao Rui’s eyes lit up, and he couldn’t help but glance at Old Guo’s wife—she was graceful and strikingly beautiful.

She had both the tenderness of a young wife and the delicateness of a young girl. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

’A woman like that...’

Zhao Rui shook his head. ’I shouldn’t jump to such conclusions. What if I’m wrong? Besides, it has nothing to do with me.’

’As long as I’m in the clear, that’s all that matters.’

"There’s nothing for me here, so I’m leaving. Old Guo, rest up. In a couple of days, I’m going to challenge the other Martial Arts Halls!"

After Zhao Rui finished speaking, he waved his hand and strode out of the hospital room.

Watching him leave with such nonchalance, the others just looked at each other.

"That kid is too arrogant!"

one of them said with a frown.

"He has the right to be arrogant!"

Guo Qiquan shook his head helplessly, a bitter smile on his face.

"Oh? So you’re convinced, Old Guo?"

"I have no choice but to be. That man in black used strange and unpredictable Martial Arts; I was completely on the defensive. But this young man sent him running in just a few moves. How could I not be convinced?"

"He’s that strong?"

"He uses Ice Palm Force!"

Old Guo’s words silenced the room.

In truth, there are also ranks among Martial Arts Grandmasters.

Ordinary Grandmasters are forged step-by-step through diligent and arduous training. If they don’t have any fortuitous encounters later in their careers, then even after becoming a Grandmaster, their Martial Arts are merely ordinary.

Most of them are already old when they break through, and their Martial Dao careers have essentially peaked. So, they open a Martial Arts Hall and teach students.

As for talented disciples, they learn supreme Martial Arts while still in the Martial Arts Stage, making it common for them to challenge and defeat opponents of a higher rank.

Furthermore, their Cultivation Techniques are special, containing Attribute Power, which gives them a much greater chance of advancing to the subsequent Divine Void Realm and Dharma Realm.

And Ice Palm Force is exactly this kind of attribute-based Divine Skill.

It’s usually passed down through a master-disciple lineage.

"We’ll discuss this again later."

An idea seemed to strike Qiao Si Niang. She spoke the words in a low voice, already heading for the door. "I’m stepping out for a moment."

The others frowned and resumed their casual discussion about the attacker.

In the hospital corridor, Qiao Si Niang hurried to catch up with Zhao Rui, who was heading out of the building.

"Brother Zhao, wait!"

Hearing her voice, Zhao Rui stopped and asked curiously, "Yes, Ma’am? Can I help you?"

’Ma’am?’

The woman’s expression stiffened. ’So much for priding myself on looking young,’ she thought. ’In a young man’s eyes, I’m already an old, washed-up woman.’

"Brother Zhao, I’m guessing you don’t absolutely have to keep your Martial Arts Hall open. In fact, you’ll probably close it after a while, am I right?"

Her phoenix eyes narrowed as she spoke, her voice laced with hidden meaning.

"What difference does it make whether I do or not?"

Zhao Rui asked noncommittally.

"The truth is, your only goal is to compete against our thirteen Martial Arts Halls. While I can’t guess your motive, I can help you. You don’t have to go through all this trouble."

"I’m not interested!"

With that, Zhao Rui started walking away again, completely ignoring her.

’Overly clever women, especially older ones, are such a pain.’

Qiao Si Niang’s face froze for a moment. She quickly hurried after him. "Everyone is motivated by fame or fortune! Young man, just name your price. Anything I, Qiao Si Niang, can do for you, I will!"

"What is it that you really want?"

Zhao Rui said, his voice laced with annoyance. This woman was prattling on as if they were old friends.

"I know why Old Guo was targeted for assassination. That’s why I’d like to invite you, young man, to stay at my Martial Arts Hall for a while..."

Seeing his expression, Qiao Si Niang had no choice but to state her true purpose.

"Not interested! Stop bothering me!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhao Rui’s figure flickered. Suddenly, there were two of him, each walking in opposite directions.

They quickly vanished from sight.

’Incredible!’

Seeing this, Qiao Si Niang wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. On the contrary, she grew even more delighted.

After leaving the hospital, Zhao Rui returned to the small Martial Arts Hall he had opened.

The twenty students had just gathered, all of them looking excited and rubbing their hands in anticipation.

This was a teacher from the Grandmaster Realm, after all.

If they performed well and earned the Grandmaster’s favor, their futures would be limitless.

Zhao Rui didn’t waste any words. Following his established teaching method, he began to guide their sparring practice.

Now that he was in the Grandmaster Realm, he could provide guidance from a commanding perspective, even if he didn’t know a student’s particular style of Martial Arts.

And that was especially true for a group of teenagers.

Zhao Rui had no intention of shortchanging them. Since he was earning Advancement Points from them, it was only right that he help them make some real progress in return.

Under the guidance of a Grandmaster like him, the talented ones were bound to undergo an earth-shattering transformation.