Why do I have so many masters?

The wall of the Master stands several Ren high; one cannot find its gate and enter.

Once entered, one would step into the hall.

Jiang Shouyi set down his teacup and saw Wang Anfeng already rising to put the ancient guqin back in its place. He raised his hand in a gentle pressing motion and, watching the youth stop, smiled and said,

"Since you have entered, this guqin is now a gift for you, Anfeng."

"Though it is not among those famed for roaring dragons and phoenix cries, it was handcrafted by a good friend of mine. It lacks a certain craftsmanship found in ordinary artisans' works, which suits you perfectly."

"How about it, do you not wish to accept it?"

Wang Anfeng was slightly stunned upon hearing this.

In the present-day Confucian School, which educates the world, students refer to their teachers as Mister and those who are older and virtuous as Master.

When a Master offers his personal belongings, whether it be a guqin, chess, calligraphy, painting, or even stationery like brushes, paper, and inkstone to a student, it carries a deeper meaning than a mere gift. It signifies the Master's true recognition of you as his student, capable of inheriting his scholarly mantle, and not just as a pupil to resolve doubts.

With joy rising in his heart, Wang Anfeng carefully placed the ancient guqin on the table, swiftly stood up, and intended to bow in respect. However, finding that his movements were a bit flustered and his clothing disheveled, he quickly adjusted his robe and ensured there was nothing disrespectful before finally deeply bowing to Jiang Shouyi, saying,

"In that case, I thank you, Teacher—not just as a Mister."

Jiang Shouyi nodded with a light smile and said,

"Very good, very good."

The two conversed again briefly, with Jiang Shouyi advising the young man on the questions he still did not understand from his readings. As the tea turned cold, Wang Anfeng rose to take his leave, but today he was no longer empty-handed; he now carried a heavy guqin case.

Cradling the guqin, Wang Anfeng exited the Jiang family's courtyard and saw that a layer of white snow had already fallen on the street outside the gate.

There were no pedestrians around, yet in the midst of the snow stood a young man in white, who had been standing there for who knows how long; snow had begun to accumulate on the tips of his hair and shoulders, making the youth's features seem even more delicate and faint.

Standing beside the youth was Zhao Xiujie, who had not visited in a long time. A fine silk umbrella lay discarded on the ground, with two silent and strong men standing behind him, each holding a brocaded box. Upon seeing Wang Anfeng emerge, Zhao Xiujie's eyes brightened. Before he could speak, the young man in white beside him stepped forward and cupped his fists, saying,

"I am Qin Fei from Tianhe County, here to apologize."

Wang Anfeng responded with slight surprise,

"Apologize?"

"I remember, I have never met Your Excellency before... what wrong is there to apologize for?"

Qin Fei looked up at him and said,

"Precisely because we have not met, I committed the impertinence of visiting without invitation."

"I heard of Brother Wang's exceptional martial arts skills, and my curiosity could not be contained. I wished to visit and exchange a few moves, stopping when a point is made, to foster friendship through martial arts."

Seeing his straightforward demeanor and honest speech without any pretense, Wang Anfeng felt a sense of affinity for him. However, he had been cautioned by Jiang Shouyi just earlier to keep a low profile, and having realized only yesterday in Shaolin Temple that his own skills were quite common, he truly had no desire to engage in a fight. So, he smiled and said,

"I am Wang Anfeng."

"Hmm... Since Brother Qin and Brother Zhao have traveled far as guests, given the heavy snow today, why not come to my house for a cup of tea to warm yourselves?"

Qin Fei opened his mouth, sensed the polite refusal in the words, and after a few moments of silence, said,

"...then, I shall impose upon Brother Wang."

"It's no trouble at all."

Wang Anfeng smiled slightly, taking the lead towards his home, with Qin Fei following behind. Although he said nothing, the disappointment on his face was apparent even to Zhao Xiujie.

But the regret in his heart was more than tenfold what showed on his face.

Seeking a martial contest is a matter between two persons; not simply because he wished to exchange skills meant that the other would agree to it. Arriving in high spirits only to return disheartened naturally brought regret.

Though regretful, he still talked and laughed with Wang Anfeng as usual. Suddenly, his foot found empty space, and he leaned sideways toward one side, inadvertently stepping into a pothole. His mind was distracted and he hadn't paid attention to his steps, but being a martial artist, he quickly regained his balance after a brief stagger.

But as his right foot landed, his body sank, unexpectedly plunging deep into a snow pit. He paused briefly, only now realizing that the pit was not small and was covered by thick snow, making it indistinguishable.

Wang Anfeng turned back with a slight start and apologized:

"In the countryside, the roads are naturally uneven. I hope Brother Qin will forgive me."

"It's nothing. I wasn't watching where I was going…"

Qin Fei replied casually, but his expression paused slightly right after he finished speaking. Wang Anfeng chuckled and turned to continue leading the way. Meanwhile, the young man slowly turned back, his eyes fixed intently on the ground, fixated on the nearly identical footprints.

Whether it was the flat ground or the pits.

The depth was consistent, showing no abnormalities, contrasting sharply with his own pit-like footprints.

Zhao Xiujie didn't understand why, but still followed beside Wang Anfeng, turning back curiously to look at his own cousin, gesturing for him to come along. The two strongmen stood in front of Qin Fei. Ah Da, looking at the footprints and then at the youth waiting for them, lowered his voice and said solemnly:

"He possesses lightness skill, the grade unknown, but it has already reached extreme proficiency, like a blazing fire turned pure blue."

"With just the skill of lightness, young master, you are not his match."

Qin Fei slowly nodded, looking up at Wang Anfeng, who was waiting ahead. Wrapped around him were chains that weighed at least two hundred catties. The ancient zither he carried was no light burden either. Yet, despite such weight, his steps on the snow were no different from those of an ordinary person, still smiling and looking untroubled.

Having initially felt a twinge of regret, Qin Fei quickly strode to catch up with Wang Anfeng, who didn't inquire but merely covered the topic with village anecdotes. Great Liang Village itself was not very large, and they soon reached the courtyard in front of Wang Anfeng's house. The young man pushed open the wooden gate with his foot, revealing a tidy courtyard.

In the courtyard, there wasn't much clutter, just two straw huts. Under one, a plump black bear was in a deep slumber, while the other housed a fine horse, its mane disheveled, its eyes a vertical golden slit, turning its head towards the sound and Wang Anfeng and others, its gaze as cold and piercing as lightning, which slightly startled Qin Fei.

And Wang Anfeng was already smiling and asking:

"How are you today, horse?"

The horse whinnied softly and affectionately, prompting the young man to chuckle, speak a few more words, and then gently set down the ancient zither. He opened the door wider and said to the people behind him:

"Please come in."

After Qin Fei expressed his apologies for the intrusion, he stepped in first, followed by the others into the house. Wang Anfeng then closed the door against the snowy winds outside. The interior was sparsely furnished, very simple, with the only new item being the bed. Everything else was old, with markings of long use.

Wang Anfeng had them sit down, he started a fire and boiled water, all the while chatting softly. Qin Fei tried several times indirectly to inquire about Wang Anfeng's martial arts, but he always evaded the topic. Once the water boiled, the young man, fetching the tea, smiled and said:

"It's the first time we've had so many guests, and we don't have enough tea cups. I hope you don't mind using these coarse porcelain bowls."

"Brother Wang is too polite."

Wang Anfeng smiled, retrieving the porcelain bowls. His technique of brewing tea, learned from Jiang Shouyi's wife, wasn't complicated, focusing on simplicity and authenticity. The onlookers couldn't notice any difference. Even Qin Fei was just quietly observing the surroundings. The books were plentiful, which was normal, as the Confucian Sect valued education, and few in this era were uneducated.

Beyond that, there was nothing that seemed related to martial arts, making it hard to gauge Wang Anfeng's real strength. It was like a bucket of cold water had been thrown over Qin Fei's earlier enthusiasm, cooling his ardor. Just then, the fragrance of the tea gradually filled the air, calming Qin Fei's mood, thinking perhaps he was too impatient. Soon, a bowl of tea soup was placed before him.

The bowl was black, making the tea within appear amber-clear.

Wang Anfeng didn't just brew tea for himself and Zhao Xiujie; the amount of water boiled was just enough for five bowls of clear tea, and even the two strongmen each received a bowl. Qin Fei sipped it gently, momentarily startled, feeling the dryness recede and a slight shock in his heart. Lifting his eyes, he saw Wang Anfeng pour out the last bowl but not drink it, puzzled, he asked:

"Brother Wang... why aren't you drinking?"

"The guest has come from afar, let the tea be for the guest…"

As he spoke, Wang Anfeng already looked towards a seemingly empty area. Though no one was there, he still felt an uncomfortable sensation. It wasn't targeted at him, but it made him constantly recall the cold, encompassing eyes of Master Ying from the night before.

This kind of intense bodily reaction was entirely impossible to ignore.

Qin Fei was just about to reply when he suddenly thought of something, and his expression changed slightly. Meanwhile, the youth in the blue shirt had already risen, his chains clinking softly as he beckoned with his hand towards an empty direction, saying softly:

"I mean no harm to Brother Qin, and those outside the house cannot see inside. Since you've already revealed yourself, why continue to hide?"

"It's cold outside; it might be better to drink a cup of hot tea to warm up."

As the voice echoed, everyone's expression changed drastically, except for Zhao Xiujie.