Martial Saint through Reading

Hoong Ying poured hot tea.

He remembered last time he came, he didn’t even have a sip of water.

Chu Ming took the teacup, sipped it, and found the taste surprisingly pleasant, full of charm.

”This is Red Flame Golden Lotus Tea, not only is it rich and mellow in flavor, but it also has a good effect of replenishing Qi Blood,” Hoong Ying said slowly.

Red Flame Golden Lotus Tea?

Chu Ming’s eyes flickered.

He remembered that this tea was only available in one place—the homeland of the Red Flame Race.

The Red Flame Race is ranked among the top clans under the rule of the Great Qin Dynasty, unlike the Wolf Race, the Red Flame Race has always been submissive to Qin, obeying Qin’s commands and fighting for Qin.

This clan’s people have a particularly special ability, a very high talent for artifact refining; many powerful weapons of the Great Qin Dynasty come from the Red Flame Race.

In the Qin Capital Imperial Forbidden Army, several Grand Generals are said to be strong warriors from the Red Flame Race.

Red Flame Golden Lotus Tea... Hoong Ying...

Looking at the woman in red in front of him, he roughly guessed something.

”Yes, I am from the Red Flame Race.”

Hoong Ying presented the Red Flame Golden Lotus Tea, implying she intended to reveal her identity.

Chu Ming held the teacup, his expression unchanged by Hoong Ying’s admission that she was from the Red Flame Race: ”I would like to ask Master Hoong Ying what matter calls me here today?”

”You mentioned before that you would go to the Qin Capital with me, does that still stand?”

Hoong Ying slowly removed the red veil covering her head.

Beneath the veil was long black hair with a streak of fiery red at the temples.

The red hair is a symbol of the Red Flame Race, on women it appears at the temples, on men it’s more towards the top of the head.

”Of course it stands,” replied Chu Ming.

”Good, I plan to head to the Qin Capital in a few days; can you accompany me?”

Hoong Ying stood up and brought over two paintings.

One was Tang Bai’s ’Sword Pointing to the Sky,’ the other was an imitation painted by Chu Ming.

”Going to the Qin Capital...” Chu Ming pondered.

”Yes, I want you to participate in the ’Golden Hundred Knowledge Grand Competition.’ You don’t have to win in the top ten or top three, I just need you to defeat a few of Tang Bai’s disciples.”

Hoong Ying’s emotion was slightly agitated.

Golden Hundred Knowledge Grand Competition?

Here it is again.

”If you agree, I’ll give you this painting.” Hoong Ying pushed Tang Bai’s original work over.

”This painting is of no use to me.” Chu Ming was unmoved.

He intended to go to the Qin Capital, but he hadn’t planned on participating in the Golden Hundred Knowledge Grand Competition.

But looking at Master Hoong Ying from the Red Flame Race, it seemed she really wanted him to participate and defeat Tang Bai’s disciples.

”As far as I know, several of Mr. Tang Bai’s disciples have received his true teachings and are skilled painters. To defeat them, you’ll need to enter at least the top twenty or even the top ten of the competition, don’t you agree, Master Hoong Ying?”

”You are a martial artist, but you are also a painter,” Hoong Ying unrolled the imitation ’Sword Pointing to the Sky’ scroll, ”Tang Bai’s disciples indeed have good tutelage, but in my view, your painting skills surpass theirs.”

Hoong Ying’s eyes shifted, appearing stirred yet somewhat hesitant.

Chu Ming looked at the scroll without speaking.

With his current painting skills, it’s possible to take the first place in the competition.

But he naturally wouldn’t just agree like that.

After all, according to the original agreement, it would take place six months or a year later.

Hoong Ying’s eyes flickered over the two paintings, then seemed to make a decision, raising her eyes suddenly, with the red strands falling to her sides.

”I know, I didn’t follow the agreement.” She stood up and removed the vibrant red garment.

”That...” Chu Ming turned awkwardly.

Hoong Ying was unmoved, removing the outer garment and then another inner layer, subsequently pulling out a piece of red silk from within.

”What are you thinking?”

She redressed and placed the red silk on the table.

The candlelight illuminated the densely inscribed text and patterns on the silk.

”This item is the Red Flame Refining Technique, the artifact forging technique of my Red Flame Race...” Hoong Ying explained while pushing the silk towards Chu Ming, ”This is the upper part.”

Red Flame Race’s Artifact Forging Technique?

Chu Ming turned to see the red silk on the table.

”If you agree to participate in the Golden Hundred Knowledge Grand Competition in Qin Capital, the upper part of the Red Flame Refining Technique is yours.”

”As for the lower part, defeat Tang Bai’s disciples, and I’ll give it to you.”

Hoong Ying bit her silver teeth lightly, her gaze lingering on the red silk, seemingly reluctant.

The red silk indeed recorded the Red Flame Race’s artifact forging technique, but the silk was left to her by her mother.

She had thought about copying it to paper, but without understanding the ’Red Flame Refining Technique,’ it couldn’t be replicated. Her knowledge of the artifact forging technique was just superficial.

”May I take a look first?” Chu Ming said, as the Sword Gourd Spirit began examining the red silk.

”Go ahead,” Hoong Ying concealed her emotional fluctuations, ”your talent in artifact refining is very high, higher than any Red Flame clansman I’ve seen.”

”Perhaps, you can comprehend the Red Flame Race’s secret artifact forging technique.”

Secret artifact forging technique?

Indeed, such fundamental clan heritage wouldn’t be spread easily.

Chu Ming casually unrolled the silk to examine it.

The silk wasn’t large, but recorded a considerable amount of text and patterns.