C23 You Are Great Master Chu!

"Damn it, are you deaf? Get out of here now!" bellowed a yellow-haired thug with an air of arrogance.

Upon spotting Hsu Qingya and Shen Xiaoyu, another ruffian's eyes gleamed with malice as he smirked, "Little girl, if you won't leave on your own, then I guess I'll have to get rough."

As he reached out towards Shen Xiaoyu, she let out a terrified scream, "Ah, don't touch me!"

Suddenly, a drop of wine levitated from Chu Xuan's cup and, with lightning speed, struck the man's outstretched hand. Blood splattered as his fingers were severed and his palm mangled. He screamed in terror and collapsed to the ground.

Chu Xuan, disdaining the thought of taking a weak mortal's life, had opted to deliver a memorable lesson instead. Should there be a next time, he wouldn't hold back.

Shortly after, the two henchmen scrambled down the stairs in a panic.

Shen Xiaoyu, still reeling from the shock, was unsure of what had just occurred, but she was certain of her safety.

"Was it that person who intervened?" she wondered, recalling the unnamed individual who had shot Mr. Peng twice. Her mind was awash with emotions.

Why didn't he reveal himself? Where was he hiding? Could he be an avatar of justice?

"Xiaoyu, are you okay?" Hsu Qingya asked, gripping her hand and breathing a sigh of relief. It was fortunate that Chu Xuan was present.

Such an unparalleled master was truly formidable!

Hsu Qingya stole a glance at Chu Xuan, who continued to drink as if unaffected by the chaos around him.

Unexpectedly, a verse from the poet Li Bai flashed through her mind: "Once the deed is done, retreat into the shadows, concealing both your actions and identity."

A surge of intense curiosity compelled her to learn more about the enigmatic young man before her.

Chu Xuan, who exactly are you?

"What happened here?" Elder Hu demanded, his face stern as he eyed the disheveled lackeys.

He had expected it to be an easy task to expel three people, but the outcome had taken him by surprise.

"That guy took a cheap shot again, damn it..." whimpered the lackey with the shattered hand, lifting his bloody stump.

Elder Hu's face went pale. The Martial Dao Grandmaster was still among them?

However, aside from his group and Chen Guangyun, there were only three people left on the second floor.

Chen Guangyun certainly didn't have the capability, and since he had been right across from him the whole time, he hadn't had the opportunity to act.

Could the Martial Dao Grandmaster be among the one man and two women upstairs?

"It looks like they've run into some trouble. Elder Hu, why don't you go up and see for yourself?" Chen Guangyun suggested with ill intent.

Did Elder Hu dare? He truly didn't have the courage to take that gamble.

"Chen Guangyun, you've become so bold. So, someone has been backing you up, the Xiao family, right?"

"Yes, absolutely. It's my Xiao family," came a cheerful laugh from outside the bar's entrance.

Then, a young man dressed in a sharp suit and leather shoes, his hair meticulously groomed, entered with seven or eight sturdy bodyguards.

Elder Hu, taken aback, inquired, "Xiao Qing, is that you? Why didn't your father come?"

"My father's tied up with work. Why should we trouble him with this? I can handle things here," Xiao Qing replied, smiling.

"Young Master Xiao!" Chen Guangyun's anxiety melted away upon seeing him.

He had been uncertain whether Chu Xuan would come to his aid, which is why he had his daughter call Xiao Qing.

Xiao Qing was quick to respond. Now, Chen Guangyun, having learned an incredibly powerful technique through his tenuous connection with Chu Xuan, was highly regarded by the Xiao family.

"Hmph, Chen Guangyun, you left my disciple Guo Hao nearly crippled. We can't just let this slide. Why does the Xiao family feel the need to interfere?" Elder Hu retorted icily.

Xiao Qing responded with a sneer, "The fight was agreed upon by both parties, fair and square. If you're brave enough to fight, you must be willing to accept defeat. Seeking revenge afterwards is beneath you. Your Guo family is really losing face, aren't they?"

"Moreover, your last name is Hu, not Guo. Why put in so much effort? With all this loyalty, what exactly does the Guo family have to offer you?"

Elder Hu's expression grew stern. "I don't need lessons from someone as young as you. Have Xiao Tianhai speak to me directly. You're not even close to being qualified!"

Xiao Qing burst into laughter. "I might accept such words from Patriarch Guo, but who are you to compare yourself to my father? What's your standing in the Guo family compared to my father's position in the Xiao family? It's utterly ridiculous!"

Fuming with rage, Elder Hu turned to Chen Guangyun and warned, "The Xiao family is just using you to gain access to Great Master Chu. Once they're done with you, you'll be discarded. Without their protection, you'll be in grave danger!"

"But if you align yourself with the Guo family, things will be different. Share with us the martial arts techniques you've learned from Great Master Chu. I assure you safety and the Guo family will reward you handsomely, ensuring a life of comfort for you and your daughter…"

Chen Guangyun was somewhat swayed by the offer, but he was a principled man and wouldn't play both sides.

"I will never walk the same path as the Guo family."

Xiao Qing could hardly contain his laughter. "Do we really need him to get close to Great Master Chu? Great Master Chu is both far and near – he's already an honored guest of the Xiao family. My visit today is to pay homage to Great Master Chu."

"What?" Elder Hu was taken aback. Great Master Chu was in this bar?

Suddenly, it all clicked for him. He should have realized sooner – the Martial Dao Grandmaster who had defeated Mr. Peng and his men was none other than Great Master Chu!

The answer was now clear!

With a heavy heart, Elder Hu gazed towards the second floor, where a young man had been drinking incessantly.

At the Martial Dao Exchange Conference, Elder Hu's only impression of the enigmatic Great Master Chu was his youthfulness.

Now, he was face to face with the true identity of Great Master Chu, who was even younger than he had imagined – so young it was almost unbelievable.

Elder Hu almost wished this was all just a figment of his imagination.

Xiao Qing wasted no time in proving that it was no illusion; it was all very real. He dashed up to the second floor and bowed respectfully to Chu Xuan. "Great Master Chu, I'm Xiao Qing. My father sends his regards."

Chu Xuan, with his back to the staircase and Xiao Qing, didn't bother to turn around as he asked indifferently, "Dad, as in father, correct? Who is your father?"

"Xiao Tianhai, and Xiao Qianxue is my cousin, hehe..."

Xiao Qing's curiosity about Chu Xuan was piqued. Had it not been for Xiao Tianhai pointing him out on the monitor and sternly instructing him to treat this man with the utmost respect, warning that any negligence would result in severe punishment, Xiao Qing would never have believed Chu Xuan could be any sort of master.

At his side, Hsu Qingya was completely taken aback. She was familiar with Xiao Tianhai, being close friends with someone from his family. But how did Chu Xuan's relationship extend to the entire Xiao family? And how had he become this esteemed Great Master Chu, receiving such deferential treatment from Xiao Tianhai?

Shen Xiaoyu was equally astonished. Though she hadn't heard of any of the day's visitors, she was aware they were all influential figures from the capital. And yet, here they were, humbling themselves before Chu Xuan.

Just who was Chu Xuan?

Was he not the underprivileged student who had fortuitously gained admission to a university in the capital from a backward mountain area? How could someone so unacquainted with concepts like stocks or Taekwondo command such respect? To think he had the audacity to call himself a master!

Shen Xiaoyu's worldview seemed to be completely upended.