Physical immortality begins with Bajiquan

Chapter 64 Recruiting

As dawn broke, Qin Heng finished breakfast, got ready, and was about to head out to the martial arts school.

As soon as he stepped out of the house, his older sister Qin Ting came to greet him. "Xiao Heng, two groups of people came to the house this morning, both of them specifically to bring you things."

As she spoke, she handed over a heavy, carved wooden box and then took out a gold-embossed invitation. "Hey, this wooden box was left by Manager Cui Xu himself when he came to visit. This invitation was sent by someone who claimed to be the steward of the Chen family in Heyang."

Qin Heng was slightly surprised. He reached out and took the wooden box and invitation, then walked to the stone table in the courtyard and sat down.

Upon opening the wooden box, one finds eight fifty-tael silver ingots neatly stacked inside, gleaming brightly, along with five small white porcelain bottles tightly sealed with wax.

Looking at these items, Qin Heng understood immediately; this was the generous reward from the six branches of the Cui family for his winning the championship yesterday.

After a series of fierce battles, it wasn't all for nothing; Cui Ran was a very thorough person.

Picking up the invitation again and scanning the signature, he realized it was from Chen Jingyi, the head of the Chen family, inviting him to a banquet at Wangjiang Restaurant at noon.

"The Chen family of Heyang?"

Qin Heng frowned slightly, his mind filled with doubt. He had lived in Heyang for a long time and had never heard of any prominent Chen family in the area. Ordinary families were not qualified to host banquets in a top-class venue like Wangjiang Restaurant, which showed that the Chen family was no ordinary local gentry.

After a moment's thought, he suddenly remembered that there had been some rumors circulating in the martial arts world recently that a branch of the Chen family in Jishui had recently moved to the Heyang area.

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Qin Heng's fingers tightened slightly as he held the invitation, his heart churning with turmoil.

The Chen family of Jishui is no ordinary family. It is a martial arts family under the rule of the Seven Yang Sect. Before the martial arts examination, a sect inspector from the Chen family of Jishui personally visited Heyang.

Why did the other side choose this particular time to send a branch of their forces to Heyang? What were they planning?

After a moment's thought, Qin Heng felt a growing urge to back out.

But then I thought, since the other party has sincerely extended an invitation, it would be better to go and accept the invitation. Even if the Chen family tries to win me over during the meal, I can refuse them in person. If I refuse to go without a reason, it would be tantamount to humiliating them in person, which is really not worth it.

As noon approached, the winter sun hung high in the sky, its warm light gently spilling across the streets and alleys, yet unable to dispel the bone-chilling cold. The sky was clear and bright, carrying the unique clarity and openness of winter.

The Wangjiang Restaurant in the inner city occupies a prime location in the most prosperous inland port of Heyang, built right by the river. The building is layered, with eaves covered with a thin layer of frost and upturned in an irregular pattern. The area in front of the restaurant is bustling with traffic, and the people coming and going are all prominent families, nobles, and martial arts celebrities in the city. The signboard in front of the restaurant flutters in the cold wind.

Qin Heng, dressed in a simple gray cloth outfit, walked steadily, following the butler Chen Fu who was already waiting outside the restaurant. They passed through the lobby, climbed the steps, and went straight to the top floor of the restaurant, entering a superior private room with a panoramic view of the river.

Chen Fu gently pushed open the door, and a faint fragrance of sandalwood wafted out. The room was quiet and spotless, perfectly isolating it from the hustle and bustle of the city downstairs and the winter chill outside the window, creating a distinct separation between the inside and outside.

Inside the elegant room, Chen Jingyi had been waiting for some time in the main seat. He was dressed in a dark-patterned brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist. He appeared to be a middle-aged man with a calm and reserved demeanor, exuding the aura of someone who had long been in charge of a prestigious family.

"Young friend Qin Heng, you've come at the perfect time. Please have a seat."

Chen Jingyi rose calmly, his smile humble, his demeanor revealing the refinement and maturity of someone from a distinguished family.

"Since it is Patriarch Chen who sincerely invited me, Qin Heng naturally dared not refuse."

Qin Heng returned the greeting with a cupped hand, his gaze sweeping over the interior and exterior of the elegant pavilion.

The room was elegantly furnished, with landscape paintings and calligraphy hanging on the walls. A three-legged gilded brazier stood in the center, its charcoal fire burning quietly. From the window, one could overlook the endless streets and houses of the inner city, and the sails dotting the riverbank, offering a wide and unobstructed view. Apart from Chen Jingyi and the steward Chen Fu, there were no other people around, so Qin Heng relaxed his guard a bit and politely took his seat in the opposite seat.

"Yesterday, during the Cui family's division competition, young friend Qin defeated three masters of internal strength with his superb skills and firmly won bid number six. His performance that day was truly breathtaking."

Chen Jingyi spoke sincerely, his eyes filled with admiration.

"I won't beat around the bush. I've heard that you intend to participate in this year's state military examination. I wonder if you intend to serve the imperial court or join the Seven Yang Sect? If you wish to join the Seven Yang Sect, my Chen family still has some influence and connections."

Martial arts examination? Seven Yang Sect!

Qin Heng's fingers, which were gripping the wine glass, suddenly froze, and his heart pounded wildly.

The martial arts examination was the ladder to heaven for martial artists from humble backgrounds, and the only way for ordinary martial artists to learn superior martial arts.

Normally, one has to pass the martial arts examination before having the opportunity to join a sect or the imperial court. But judging from Chen Jingyi's words, could there be a way to directly join a sect?

Qin Heng suppressed the pounding in his heart, loosened his grip on the wine cup, and forced a calm expression: "Patriarch Chen is joking. With my current abilities, how could I possibly be qualified to directly enter the Seven Yang Sect? I am just curious, however, what exactly is the path that Patriarch Chen is referring to? Even if there is a real way, I doubt it would be given away for free."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jingyi tapped his fingertips lightly on the table and nodded slightly: "That's natural. If young friend Qin is willing to take up a position in my Chen family, there will naturally be an opportunity to be introduced in the future. You should know that my Jishui Chen family is qualified to recommend outstanding martial arts talents to the Seven Yang Sect every year. If they pass the sect's assessment, they can officially join the Seven Yang Sect."

really!

Qin Heng sighed inwardly. Aristocratic families always acted on the exchange of benefits; they would never give away advantages for nothing.

"Patriarch Chen is too kind, but this matter is of great importance, and Qin Heng cannot make a decision on the spot. Please allow me to go back and think it over for a few days, weigh the pros and cons, and then give Patriarch Chen a definite answer."

As he spoke, Qin Heng got up to take his leave, but Chen Jingyi stopped him.

"Young friend Qin, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Young people are always impatient." Chen Jingyi raised his hand and gestured, his tone gentle but firm: "Since you've invited someone to a banquet, how can you ask the guest to leave before the meal has even started? Just stay here. Whether or not this matter can be settled, young friend, at least stay and have your meal before you leave."

As the two were talking, Chen Fu led several servants in one after another, carrying a variety of exquisite dishes and arranging them on the table. The last dish brought out was a large celadon plate decorated with gold trim.

A rare fish, about a foot long, lies quietly on the plate. Its body is slender and straight, like a cold blade resting on the plate. Its silver scales are shiny and lustrous, and its body is smooth and elegant. The fish meat is white and tender like solidified fat. A faint layer of warm mist floats on the surface of the plate.

Chen Jingyi gazed at the rare fish on the plate and slowly introduced it: "This is the Silver Blade Treasure Fish, which lives only in the deep, cold, flowing waters of great rivers. It is extremely delicate and difficult to catch, and its growth is incredibly slow, only about two inches long per year. Regular consumption can replenish vital energy and increase blood circulation, making it ideal for martial artists to strengthen their foundation. Today, as we meet for the first time, I have specially prepared this delicacy as a token of my hospitality."

Silver Blade!

Qin Heng naturally knew the value of this fish; the bones of this fish were as soft as cotton before the Qingming Festival, and as hard as iron after the Qingming Festival.

Even the fish bones exude freshness; at this time of year, even the bones are soft, making it a truly delicious experience.

Chen Jingyi noticed that Qin Heng was a little embarrassed, smiled slightly, picked up the serving chopsticks, and personally placed a large piece of glistening fish meat on Qin Heng's plate.

"Young friend Qin, there's no need to worry. It's just a simple meal; please enjoy it without any worries."

Qin Heng then picked up fish pieces frequently and began to enjoy them. The fish melted in his mouth, its fresh and mellow flavor penetrating his lungs; he could even chew and swallow the tender fish bones along with it.

Warm currents flowed through my meridians, filling my body with qi and blood, making me feel incredibly comfortable.

After several rounds of drinks, the room was warm and inviting. Chen Jingyi looked at the empty, gilded celadon plate and smiled, "Young friend Qin, can you guess the market value of this five-year-old silver blade?"

Qin Heng shook his head: "Please forgive my limited knowledge; such delicacies are truly beyond measure."

"Eight hundred taels." Chen Jingyi picked up his wine cup, took a small sip, and spoke slowly with a calm and composed expression.

"Eight hundred taels?!"

Qin Heng was shocked. A few bites of fish and meat were worth more than three apartments in the hotel district and still had some left over.

The Chen family actually treated us to such exorbitantly priced delicacies!

After the initial shock, Qin Heng quickly calmed down, his expression instantly returning to calm.

The fact that the Chen family head was able to treat him to such expensive delicacies shows that he deserved this favor and affection, so there was no need for him to feel uneasy.

The two toasted each other and chatted for a few more minutes before Qin Heng got up to take his leave.

Chen Jingyi personally escorted him to the entrance of the Elegant Pavilion, watching his back as he went downstairs before turning back to his seat.

The steward, Chen Fu, holding the celadon plate devoid of even the soup, couldn't help but click his tongue in astonishment: "Master, an eight-hundred-tael silver-plated treasure fish, the Silver Blade, was just given to some outsider like that? You're far too generous!"

Chen Jingyi picked up the wine pot and poured himself half a cup of warm wine, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table: "What nonsense are you talking about? What eight hundred taels? Eight hundred taels is just for Qin Heng's ears. The goods from our Chen family's fishing grounds in Jishui naturally don't need that much."

Chen Fu paused, looking up with a puzzled expression. "Then why did you quote such an exorbitant price? Besides, Qin Heng's natural talent is only below average. Although he's ranked fifth on the martial arts exam and defeated Lu Cang and two others in the Cui family competition, showing good aptitude for martial arts, such a person will ultimately have limited achievements. Is it really worth all this trouble to recruit him?"

Chen Jingyi took a sip of wine, his eyes sharp and insightful: "Foolish servant. What I value in him is precisely his mediocre talent. If he were a genius with superior talent, I wouldn't have bothered with this."

Admittedly, Chen Fu's idea is not without merit.

The level of innate talent has almost become the sole criterion for determining the upper limit of a martial artist.

But Chen Jingyi didn't think that way at all.

"Ah Fu, let me ask you this. You've lived for almost forty years. How many people with average to below-average aptitude have you seen who have managed to become masters of internal strength through sheer hard work? This boy is only seventeen years old, yet he has already reached the level of internal strength with only average to below-average aptitude. I dare say that he must have some extraordinary abilities hidden within him, and he must be no ordinary person."

He put down his wine cup, his gaze deep and thoughtful: "People judge people by their natural talents, only praising those with good aptitude. But in my opinion, someone like Qin Heng deserves to be treated exceptionally well. What I value most is his calm and composed demeanor, his composure, and his wisdom in using the rules to defeat his opponents one by one during the competition. This is why I have tried so hard to win him over."

"Just you wait and see." He looked out the window, a hint of certainty flashing in his eyes: "Sooner or later, this boy will become a great help to the Chen family of Heyang."

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