Blood Bonds And Golden Ties

Chapter 2: Shi Fu's Lesson

[Luo Xiao Zhao]

A man with flowing white robes, a youthful face, and wavy black hair had spoken. A simple wooden pin stuck in his hair.

Standing tall and proud, his right arm folded in front of his stomach while his other arm was behind his back. His hands were white, soft, and delicate. They didn't seem like hands fit for fighting.

Xiao Zhao took his foot off the desk and sauntered toward the newcomer. The old man quickly intercepted his path and held up his arm.

"Well, Wang Shi Fu, this boy tried to barge into the building without a name tablet. I told him he couldn't and so he threw a fit," explained the old man.

"Oh? Is that so?" Wang Shi Fu asked as he eyed Xiao Zhao carefully.

"Yes! Yes!" The old man said hurriedly.

"I was asking him. Not you. Answer me, is that true?" Wang Shi Fu turned to Xiao Zhao.

Xiao Zhao met the man's gaze and replied, "So what if it's true?" What are you going to do about it?"

"Interesing," Wang Shi Fu said.

"With the way you're acting, Wang Shi Fu will definely not let you—" the old man was saying.

"Let him in," Wang Shi Fu interrupted.

"What? But he—"

"I said let him enter. Don't make this hard."

The old man looked down and sighed, reluctantly letting his arm fall to his side.

Xiao Zhao looked at the old man smugly as he passed him.

"What is your name?" the man asked.

"My name is Xiao Zhao."

"Xiao Zhao? Hmmm, there are not many people with the surname of Xiao. It seems to be a more common name for people in the south."

"No no, my surname isn't Xiao. It's Luo, so my full name is Luo Xiao Zhao."

"Oh I see."

Xiao Zhao nodded and they entered the building.

The room was spacrious and made of white stone. In front of him were lines of tables occupied by dozens of people. By now, there was a low buzz in the room as the potential disciples talked among themselves and wondered where Wang Shi Fu had gone. Xiao Zhao scanned the room and found an empty table near the back corner of the room. He slowly made his way towards it and once he reached it, knelt down and sat on his heels.

When he looked up, he found Wang Shi Fu at the front of the room. He cleared his throat and said, "Let us continue the examination. As I was saying, the exam will have three parts: a writing part, a reading part, and a chance for you to show your skills in martial arts. Now let us continue. I know paper is expensive and that not all of you may afford it. I have pieces of paper up front for all of you. I am sure that most of you had brought your writing brush which—"

"I thought you were testing to see our martial art skills! Not our reading and writing ability!" A voice protested loudly.

"He's right! Why are you giving us such a useless exam?" Another voice chimed in.

Then suddenly, the room was filled with buzzing.

From nearby, Xiao Zhao heard one say, "Is he really qualified to be a Shi Fu? Maybe he doesn't know what he's doing!"

"That can't be right! Isn't he the world-renowned martial artist Wang Jing Ling? He must have his reasons," another answered.

By now the confusion and the chatter was at its peak when suddenly a voice thundered, "Silence!"