Chapter Fifteen: Mortal Eyes Struggle to Discern the True Immortal in Person
“You?”
Hearing this, Li Qingdai glanced at Yi Beidou and couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “You do know how to joke around.”
Then her expression grew serious as she continued, “But not everything is to be taken lightly, or it might bring disaster upon you. Do you understand? Those who have attained physical sainthood are virtuous masters—the pinnacle of human body perfection. Such figures must not be insulted or treated with disrespect.”
“Alright then.”
Seeing that Yi Beidou wasn’t taking her words seriously despite her sincerity, she said no more and had no intention of continuing the argument.
As the old saying goes, ordinary eyes fail to recognize Mount Tai; standing before someone, one might not see a true master. That’s roughly the feeling.
Li Qingdai’s temperament was magnanimous; she didn’t mind Yi Beidou’s somewhat inappropriate “joke.” After all, it’s quite normal for a young man to try to show some humor to attract the attention of a beautiful woman.
Next, Li Qingdai introduced Yi Beidou to the current state of the Qingmu Xin Yi Fist. Naturally, some boasting was involved. Yi Beidou also inquired about the local situation around Qingmu Mountain to get a better understanding.
“If you truly want to learn the authentic skills of our Qingmu Xin Yi, you must proceed step by step. That’s the rule, and I can’t help you with shortcuts. You need to first go to the Qingmu Fitness Sports Center to make an appointment and register. They offer free lessons in basic stances, and every month there will be assessments. Only after passing can you advance to the next stage of training.”
“After passing three assessments and confirming you have the potential, and once the sect verifies your identity and background, you’ll qualify as a registered disciple. Judging by your age, you seem a bit older, but your innate constitution looks good. Becoming a registered disciple to learn some self-defense techniques shouldn’t be a problem. Whether you can formally apprentice depends on your aptitude and destiny. By the way, if you manage to officially become an apprentice, it might just change your life.”
Li Qingdai explained to Yi Beidou.
As she spoke, a sign for Qingmu Mountain Natural Scenic Area appeared ahead. Not far off was a bustling commercial area for visitors, bustling with people.
Qingmu Mountain is renowned for its clear waters and lush mountains; it is the natural oxygen bar of Han Province, a center for health and vacation. The recreational facilities are complete, and many affluent residents from nearby cities come here with their families during their leisure time to relax and enjoy.
“I’ll get off here and just stroll around for a bit,” Yi Beidou said.
“Aren’t you coming with me? It’s still a few kilometers on foot to the destination,” Li Qingdai asked in surprise.
“No, I’ll head there on my own later. Mainly, I don’t want to trouble you,” Yi Beidou replied with a smile.
Li Qingdai was a good person. Not only had she given him a ride, but also answered his questions. What Yi Beidou was about to do next might have serious consequences; involving her could bring undeserved calamity. That would be repaying kindness with ingratitude.
“Alright then, add me on Feixun. If you have any questions, you can ask me. Here’s my business card. When you register, show it to the person in charge and say I recommended you. It should make things easier,” Li Qingdai said, seeing Yi Beidou’s firm attitude and not insisting further.
Though a woman, Li Qingdai had the spirit of a chivalrous hero. With her family’s excellent financial standing, she enjoyed making friends and building good relationships, and was straightforward and generous.
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“Wait, my phone was off. Let me turn it on first.”
Yi Beidou didn’t refuse; he took out his phone and powered it on. This was to prevent Zhou Baiwei and the Security Bureau agents from locating his phone and causing trouble. But now that he had reached the destination, it no longer mattered.
“Today you guided me and answered my questions—that’s fate. If you ever have trouble, I can help you once,” Yi Beidou said. He admired her character; he did as he pleased and acted on impulse, not caring too much.
“Haha, then it’s a deal,” Li Qingdai laughed, not knowing the true value of this promise.
A celestial’s word is an accumulation of worldly fate.
She merely thought it was a polite response to save face, not something she took to heart.
Waving goodbye to Yi Beidou, she rolled up her car window and drove off.
Yi Beidou watched Li Qingdai leave but didn’t rush. Like an ordinary tourist, he leisurely enjoyed watching the crowds and scenery around him.
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Wencheng City.
“Captain Zhou, his phone is on now. Our tech team just located him. He’s currently at Qingmu Mountain in Dawu City.”
With Yi Beidou’s phone powered on, Zhou Baiwei and her team received the message.
“Qingmu Mountain? That’s the territory of Qingmu Xin Yi, a sect once home to masters who achieved physical sainthood. The current leader, Mu Huaidong, is a soul-seizing expert who can manifest the intangible into the tangible. He’s among the top in Han Province. What is that guy doing there?”
Hearing this, Zhou Baiwei recalled Yi Beidou’s earlier claim to be learning martial arts and felt a strong foreboding.
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On the other side,
At the northern part of Qingmu Mountain Natural Scenic Area stood the Qingmu Fitness Sports Center.
This was an extremely comprehensive sports center, equipped with professional courts and coaches for badminton, tennis, swimming, boxing, and more. There was even a professional nutritionist team offering tailored dining and exercise plans, and a large shooting range, reflecting the owner's substantial influence.
At this moment, many elegantly dressed people came and went inside, all exuding extraordinary temperament, chatting and laughing. The parking lot was filled with luxury cars.
The center operated on a membership system, with a hefty annual fee. Thus, members were mostly wealthy or influential, making this a gathering place for local elites.
Today’s upper class not only cared about wealth and power but also about enjoying life and maintaining good health. Places like this, with real substance, were naturally highly favored.
This was one of the Qingmu Group’s enterprises, controlled by the Qingmu Xin Yi sect. The Qingmu Group’s scale and influence surpassed even the Xu family of Wencheng City. It operated across many industries including health, pharmaceuticals, real estate, and security.
Whereas the Xu family’s influence was limited to Wencheng, the Qingmu Group held significant sway throughout Han Province—it was a completely different league.
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Li Qingdai parked her car and headed toward a section of the sports center reserved exclusively for core disciples of the sect. Even members were not allowed entry here.
“Junior sister, why are you just arriving? The other two sects are already here. Master and senior brother are receiving them in the reception room. Soon, they will head to the training hall. Hurry and change into your martial arts uniform to meet the others,” a burly man in a cyan martial arts suit chided her on the way.
“Sorry, Senior Brother Gao, I was delayed by some family matters,” Li Qingdai smiled apologetically and went straight to the changing room.
Today was an important day—the two other major sects in Han Province had come to pay respects and exchange skills. There would be sparring sessions, promising great entertainment.
If it were Senior Brother, he would surely outshine disciples from the other sects and uphold Qingmu Xin Yi’s prestige.
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Meanwhile,
Yi Beidou strolled leisurely at the foot of Qingmu Mountain for about half an hour, taking in the scenery and local customs, and enjoying some local snacks.
“Time’s about right.”
Using a sensory technique called Demonic Perception, he confirmed his direction and leisurely walked toward the path his intuition indicated.
Soon, Yi Beidou stood before the entrance of the Qingmu Fitness Sports Center and stepped inside.
“Excuse me, sir. This is a members-only facility. May I ask if you have a membership card?” a polite young hostess approached him with a smile as he entered the hall.
“No, I don’t,” Yi Beidou answered honestly.
“If you want to apply for a card and join, please follow me to the reception room. I’ll give you a detailed introduction. Of course, besides membership, we also offer free trial sessions for Qingmu Fist, but you need to make an appointment first,” the hostess explained politely upon hearing he wasn’t a member.
“I’m not applying for a card or joining. No need to trouble you. Actually, you can think of me as here to challenge the place. You can call security or anyone to try to subdue me. If someone manages to, I’ll be very pleased,” Yi Beidou said kindly, not wanting to waste anyone’s time and urging her to get help quickly.