The Secret to Picking Up Girls

This once solemn and exquisite martial arts hall was now a scene of utter devastation. Potholes were everywhere, as if ravaged by some immense power. Yet, amidst this ruin, an old man and a young man were drinking tea as if no one else was around. No matter how one looked at it, the scene felt incredibly strange. The disciples of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū who witnessed this could hardly believe their eyes.

“Master Chiba, what is the meaning of this?” One of the taller young men approached the two, bowing deeply to Chiba Shūgō, his expression extremely respectful.

Chiba Shūgō, with a blank face, waved his hand at the group of Hokushin Ittō-ryū disciples, saying nonchalantly, “It’s nothing, just a minor matter. You may all withdraw. I have an important guest to entertain.”

Chiba Shūgō’s words left the group speechless. If this was considered a minor matter, what on earth would qualify as a major one? However, no one dared to contradict Chiba Shūgō. The group exchanged glances, bowed deeply to the two, and quickly departed.

Zhang Yuze had been observing everything with a cold eye, from the group’s conversation with the old man to their departure. Zhang Yuze could already determine that the old man’s position within the Hokushin Ittō-ryū was likely very high. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so obedient and compliant, not even daring to ask a single question. However, judging from the old man’s strength, Zhang Yuze wasn’t surprised. A seventh-dan martial artist was a grandmaster, not just in a small country like Dongying, but even in Donghua.

Looking at the surrounding ruins, and with Zhang Yuze’s relationship with the old man now somewhat eased, Zhang Yuze suddenly felt a slight sense of guilt. He said to the old man, “Sir, our battle has caused your martial arts hall to be destroyed. I feel very bad about it.”

Chiba Shūgō gazed deeply at Zhang Yuze, then suddenly burst into laughter. He said to him, “What does this small martial arts hall matter? To be able to fight with someone like you is truly gratifying. To me, everything else is external and not worth mentioning!”

Hearing Chiba Shūgō say this, Zhang Yuze couldn’t help but laugh as well. He couldn’t help but admire Chiba Shūgō’s magnanimity.

“Haha, if you say so, sir, it makes me seem petty.”

Saying that, Zhang Yuze picked up the tea on the table and drank it all in one gulp. He suddenly laughed and said, “Fragrant and delicious, excellent, it’s good tea.”

Suddenly, Zhang Yuze remembered that the old man had mentioned his name was Chiba Shūgō, the top expert of the Dongying Hokushin Ittō-ryū twenty years ago? His face suddenly changed as he looked at the old man and said, “Sir, could you be the former head of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū?”

Chiba Shūgō looked at Zhang Yuze, who seemed extremely moved, and laughed heartily, “It’s just a false name, not worth mentioning. What I seek is only the highest realm of martial arts, everything else is like fleeting clouds to me!”

Zhang Yuze nodded slightly upon hearing this. He felt that only this old man was truly someone who lived for martial arts.