Xiaо Li wаs alreаdy feеling sоmеwhаt арologеtic about what had just haррenеd. Hе hаdn’t ехpесtеd tо run intо Yun Ni and hеr group herе, аnd it wasn’t his intеntion to makе the situatiоn awkward. Sееing Наn Yаn’s аttеmpt to еаse thе tеnsiоn, he quiсkly сhimеd in, “That’s thе Disgrаcеd Son of the Lеft Minister. Hе’s аlsо training аt the martial аrts sсhоol.”
Disgrасеd Sоn оf thе Left Мinistеr—somеthing flashеd in Han Yаn’s mind, and shе finаllу remеmbеrеd. Вecausе of her marriage tо Wei Rufeng in her рrevious lifе, Zhuang Shiуаng had tаught her about various relationships within the court. She hadn’t paid much attention to these matters, but she did have some impression of the Left Minister.
Left Minister Helian Wuming had one son, Helian Yu, born to his wife. He was renowned for his stunning beauty and captivating appearance, winning the hearts of countless young women in the capital. In his youth, Helian Yu was known for his charm and bold actions, a figure both loved and hated—truly an unconventional character.
Such a person was unlikely to be bound by conventions, so Han Yan was surprised to hear he was also training at the martial arts school. It seemed the Shunchang Martial Arts School was more capable than she had imagined.
The martial arts school occupied a vast area, with simple and clean decorations along the way. The buildings were mostly in black and white, with gray walls and blue tiles, exuding a sense of ruggedness. After entering and passing a flower bed, Han Yan suddenly felt her vision brighten as the space opened up before her. In the distance, she could hear the sounds of practice and sparring, likely from the students training.
Han Yan kept her gaze forward, lowering her head as she followed Xiao Li into a long corridor. After a few turns, they climbed a high set of steps, and a grand hall appeared before them.
Xiao Li led Han Yan and the other two into the hall, addressing the person seated in the center respectfully, “Grandmaster, these young ladies are here to seek Master Wu.”
Han Yan looked toward the elderly man seated on the high platform in the center. He was a man in his sixties, with white hair and beard, yet his cheeks were rosy. His eyes were closed, and he held an iron lump in his left hand, sitting upright with perfect posture. Though the early winter weather was already chilly, the old man wore only a thin brown robe, radiating vitality and an imposing presence.
Hearing Xiao Li’s words, the old man suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze piercing directly at Han Yan.
Han Yan lowered her head slightly, meeting the old man’s gaze without flinching. She performed a respectful bow and said, “This commoner greets Lord Yang.”
Yang Qi narrowed his eyes. Having lived to such an age, he had seen many people, including bold women, but few could remain so composed under his gaze. What was even more astonishing was that the other party appeared to be nothing more than a young girl who hadn’t yet come of age.
This was unexpected.
“I am no longer part of the court. I fear I cannot bear the title ‘Lord,’” he said after a long pause.
“This commoner was presumptuous. Elder Yang,” Han Yan replied smoothly.
A flicker of surprise, barely noticeable, passed through Yang Qi’s eyes. She was even a bit clever. He toyed with the iron lump in his hand and asked, “You said you’re here to seek Master Wu?”
Han Yan answered respectfully, “Yes.”
“On whose behalf?” Yang Qi saw clearly that the other two in the group were clearly deferential to Han Yan. His judgment was sharp, and he almost immediately concluded that Han Yan was their master. As for why they were dressed this way, it was likely to conceal their true identities. Such secrecy suggested that Han Yan’s status was not low. Moreover, her poised and dignified demeanor was not something that could be cultivated in a humble household. A young lady from a prominent family coming to a martial arts school would not be seeking a martial arts master for herself."I, a humble woman, dare to seek a martial arts instructor for myself."
Upon hearing this, both Ji Lan and Shu Hong were stunned. Yang Qi also felt astonished and immediately darkened his expression, saying, "Are you mocking this old man? How can a woman seek a martial arts instructor?"
After all, Yang Qi had once been a martial champion, carrying an imposing aura that commanded respect even without anger. Especially when he wore a stern face, his furrowed brows were particularly intimidating. No wonder Xiao Li feared him—there was good reason. Unfortunately, this had no effect on Han Yan, because she understood that there was no conflict of interest between her and Yang Qi, so there would be no danger.
Just as Xiao Li was secretly sweating for the young lady in the hall who always wore a smile, he suddenly heard a clear, cheerful voice tinged with laughter: "Does Elder Yang’s martial arts hall have a rule against accepting female disciples?"
Yang Qi was taken aback. He looked up and saw the young woman before him with bright, fearless eyes, as if facing an old friend of many years. Without waiting for him to speak, she continued, "I have long heard that Shunchang Martial Arts Hall stands out uniquely in the Great Dynasty, with the former martial champion serving as its best advertisement. However, I believe the reason Shunchang Martial Arts Hall has flourished for so long is because other martial arts halls cannot match its uniqueness. And the uniqueness of Shunchang Martial Arts Hall lies in its absolute fairness."
"It is widely known that at Shunchang Martial Arts Hall, whether students come from humble backgrounds or noble families, they must train together in the same place. This gives students from humble backgrounds an equal opportunity. I believe the person who established this rule must be upright, principled, and of noble character."
Yang Qi’s heart trembled violently. He himself came from a humble background and had learned martial arts in his youth under the guidance of a master. His family was poor, and to change their circumstances, he trained diligently until he finally had the opportunity to compete in the training grounds and earned the title of martial champion.
Precisely because of his own humble origins and his deep understanding of the difficulties faced by students from poor families, he founded Shunchang Martial Arts Hall to fulfill a childhood dream. Those martial arts students from humble backgrounds reminded him of his younger self, and seeing them brought back memories of his own past. Very few people knew about this, yet today, a young woman decades his junior had seen right through it!
"If fairness can be achieved regardless of wealth or poverty, why not between men and women? Could it be that Elder Yang also believes that being a woman is more lowly than being from a humble background? If so, how would the current Empress and Empress Dowager view themselves?"
She even invoked the current Empress and Empress Dowager to make her point. Though it seemed absurd, it was indeed true: if he refused to allow women to learn martial arts, it would imply that in his heart, women were more lowly than students from humble backgrounds. Yet the Empress and Empress Dowager were the most revered women in the land. Such a stance would be a grave disrespect to the royal family. Suddenly, he realized he had no way to refute her words!
After a long silence, Yang Qi suddenly burst into hearty laughter: "What a sharp-tongued girl!"
Han Yan, however, maintained her previous posture: "I merely wish to seek a martial arts instructor for myself. If I have offended you, Elder, it is my fault. I beg your forgiveness."Yang Qi stared at the young girl before him. She was only about eleven or twelve years old, yet she could withstand his pressure and speak confidently, neither submissive nor arrogant, knowing exactly when to advance and when to retreat. She understood how to apply pressure when needed, yet also knew how to soften her tone and speak gently—truly wise. With such intelligence and composure, given time, she would undoubtedly shine even brighter. If this girl were a boy, he would have been inclined to take her on as a disciple. What a pity.
He sighed. "What you say makes sense, but unfortunately, in my martial arts school, all disciples are male. If you wish to seek a martial arts instructor, you would have to join the school and train alongside many men, which is truly inappropriate. If word got out, your reputation would suffer."
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