Journey to the West: The Immortal Clan Begins by Feeding Monkeys at Five Elements Mountain

Chapter 54 Seventy percent
Jiang Liang was unaware of the subtle ripples in Hongdu Jiao's eyes.

He simply stood in the courtyard and let out a long breath.

He gripped the stick tightly with both hands, bowed his head, clasped his fists, bent over, and began to wield the stick.

The wind arises from within the stick.

At first, it was just a simple, flat swing, seemingly without any sharpness, but in an instant, it became like the first tide on a river, surging with power and sound, unstoppable once it started.

It possesses both the power to sweep away enemies and the skill to manipulate them, seemingly capable of severing a life with a casual flick of the wrist.

But hidden within that clever technique are a few deadly moves. When unleashed, each move is as heavy as a mountain, leaving no room for the opponent to even think of dodging.

Everyone in the courtyard held their breath and remained silent.

As Jiang Liang finished his final move, he gently tapped the staff with both hands and stood still like a pine tree.

His breathing was long and steady, without any sign of haste, and his body showed no signs of fatigue, except for a light sheen of sweat on his forehead.

The stick stood silently on the ground, and the courtyard fell silent as well.

Hongdu Jiao's gaze remained fixed on the stick, as if trying to discern something from its mottled wood grain.

After a long while, he slowly raised his eyes and looked at Jiang Liang.

The calm and collected look in his eyes was gone.

He seemed about to speak, but in the end only nodded slightly and said softly:

"Good physique and strength, steady breathing... This style of stick fighting is wild, but it is controlled well, excellent."

Though his words were few, everyone in the courtyard immediately understood that this evaluation was extremely high.

Just then, a maidservant approached softly and whispered:
"My lord, the feast is ready."

County Magistrate Tian raised his hand:
"Understood. Let the servants go and have their meal first. I'll have a few drinks with Instructor Hong alone."

Li Wenxuan and her brother, along with Jiang Liang, understood the implied meaning in the words. They responded with "Yes," bowed in unison, and tactfully withdrew from the courtyard.

Once the three figures disappeared into the courtyard gate, Magistrate Tian's smile faded, and he turned his head slightly to look at Instructor Hong Du beside him.

Hong Du remained calm and composed, but his gaze was fixed on the dusty spot in the courtyard.

It was as if he was still savoring the stick technique he had just learned.

After a long silence, he simply nodded and repeated his earlier comment:
"Good physique, even breathing, and excellent staff skills."

His tone remained calm, but with an added air of certainty.

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Tian felt a little relieved.

His face also regained its composure, and he said directly:
"Brother Hong, your judgment is indeed excellent. You can say that he is 'not bad'. So, how confident do you think this young man is in the prefectural election in three months?"

Upon hearing this, Hong Dujiao did not respond for a moment.

"It's too early to judge such matters before they've even begun. When the fight actually starts, it will depend on their character and courage..."

After a moment, he slowly spoke: "However, judging by his physical foundation alone, he is already top-notch. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll be seventy percent."

These words, though neither too harsh nor too mild, are more genuine than a hundred words of praise from others.

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Tian's eyes and brows immediately lit up with interest.

"Whose family does this kid belong to?"

Hong Du asked in a calm voice, his tone tinged with inquiry: "How could Brother Tian be so concerned that he even made a special trip to invite me here?"

"Oh, Brother Hong, I'm afraid you'll laugh at what I'm saying."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Tian gave a wry smile and waved his hand slightly:
“My own sister only has one son and one daughter. As for my nephew, you’ve seen him yourself. He’s not good at academics, and he’s not good at martial arts either. As his uncle, I can’t protect him forever.”

He spoke casually, as if chatting about everyday matters: "If your own children aren't up to par, you can only try to find a son-in-law. Ordinary families aren't good enough for you, and if they're too powerful, you're afraid they'll take advantage of you and raise an ungrateful child."

Upon hearing this, Hongdu Jiao did not flinch, but a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes.

It wasn't meant as mockery, but rather that I sensed something amiss.

Magistrate Tian continued speaking, unhurriedly, as if he already had a plan in mind:

“This kid comes from a respectable family and doesn’t have any powerful backers. He has a good foundation and seems reliable. If we can establish a good relationship with him early on, he can be a pillar of support for the Li family if he really makes something of himself in the future.”

He spoke sincerely, but his expression remained impassive.

"If it succeeds, it succeeds; if it doesn't, it doesn't matter. It's just that I'm not skilled in martial arts, and I'm afraid I might have misjudged the situation."

He said this before looking up at the Hongdu Sect again, his eyes now showing a hint of tact and calculation:
“But if he arrives at the prefectural capital and actually shows up in the general election, then I won’t be the only family vying for his hand in marriage. At that time, I’m afraid my position as a mere county magistrate will be inadequate.”

He paused, then raised the corner of his mouth in a self-deprecating manner: "That's why I shamelessly invited Brother Hong to take a look at my work in advance."

After hearing these words, Hong Dujiao's expression did not relax; instead, it revealed a strange look.

He hesitated for a moment before speaking:
"In terms of physical constitution, that kid is indeed top-notch. His frame is well-proportioned, and his pulse is steady. If he is willing to work hard in the future, he may have a bright future."

The tone shifted abruptly, but softened:
"But if you say he came from humble beginnings, was alone in the countryside, and had no connections whatsoever..."

He shook his head slightly, as if he were smiling, but there was no smile in his eyes: "I think that's not necessarily true."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Tian was taken aback at first, then straightened up a bit, his face showing a mixture of confusion and wariness.

"Oh?"

He softened his tone, clasped his hands in a slight bow, and said, "Please speak plainly, brother."

Hong Du then whispered, "That stick that kid used earlier may look crude and unremarkable at first glance, but it's not."

At this point, a glint flashed in his eyes, but he did not look at Magistrate Tian:
"The copper hoops at both ends of the stick are old in style and finely polished, but they are not ordinary items."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Tian opened his mouth slightly as if he wanted to say something, but then swallowed it back.

How did he come to know such a thing?

In his eyes, the stick was nothing more than a handy tool, at most a bit heavy and sturdy.

Hongdu Jiao seemed to have read his mind, smiled faintly, and continued:
"If it were just those copper hoops, one could say it was a coincidence, or that he found some old things that had been lost. But what's more important is that set of staff techniques."

His eyes narrowed slightly:
"Although I can't figure out the specifics, I know that it's something that ordinary martial arts schools can't teach, much less something that the instructors at the county magistrate's office can instruct you on."

His tone was unhurried, yet a sense of gravity was subtly conveyed between the lines:

"If you say that such a path was unnamed and started from humble beginnings, then, with all due respect, that is absolutely impossible."

County Magistrate Tian's expression gradually darkened.

He wasn't a trained martial artist after all; martial arts were just a passing fancy to him.

Occasionally, when I visited the county commandant's office, the instructors I knew all spoke highly of Jiang Liang, saying that the boy was exceptionally talented and a promising talent that could be honed through hard work.

However, he never mentioned how exquisite the staff technique was or what was unusual about the copper hoop.

Given the status and knowledge of someone like Hongdu Jiao, it's unlikely that his statement was baseless.

County Magistrate Tian's heart skipped a beat, but he only replied in a low voice, "This...it was my oversight earlier."

Seeing that he was pondering, Hong Du Jiao did not urge him, and his tone softened as well:
"The kid is good. He has good aptitude, his training method is correct, and he doesn't seem impetuous. Building a good relationship with him early on might be a good thing in the future."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Tian nodded slightly, his expression unreadable for a moment.

Outside the courtyard, the wind rustled the bamboo shadows, casting faint, slanting shadows, and for a moment, no one spoke.

(End of this chapter)