Physical immortality begins with Bajiquan

Chapter 63

Chapter 63 Rewards

"Qin Heng... he actually won?!"

Below the arena, Cui Ran stood frozen in place, his voice trembling, his hands clenched tightly, unable to hide his excitement.

His team had been at the bottom for seven or eight years in a row, but this time they finally got their moment in the spotlight. The sixth lot alone was worth more than the total resources they had received over the past five years!

Just then, the clan elder in charge on the high platform slowly rose, raised his hand in a gesture of suppression, and silenced the commotion below: "The battle for Lot Six has ended with thirteen teams emerging victorious! Thirteen teams have successfully secured Lot Six!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire place erupted in a frenzy, with the Cui clan members discussing the matter endlessly.

"My goodness! Were those three guys made of paper? Qin Heng took them all down by himself! What kind of skill is that?"

"What a great thirteenth team! This time they really stood up, no longer coming in last place year after year."

"The rankings on the Martial Arts Examination B list are probably inaccurate. Qin Heng's ability to defeat Lu Cang in a comeback suggests he's been hiding his true strength."

"My God! This Qin Heng really defeated Lu Cang and two others, securing the sixth prize for the Thirteenth Branch! Where's my dad? Quickly, find him and tell him that our Tenth Branch will also invite him to help us next year!"

"Damn it! What's wrong with Lu Cang? How come the top-ranked player on the second-tier list can't even control the fifth-ranked player? Quickly, someone help him up! If number six is ​​lost, go get number seven!"

No sooner had these words left his mouth than Cui Laoliu of the Seventh Brigade stamped his feet in anger: "Hey, hey, hey! Don't be ridiculous! There are still people in the Seventh Brigade! We hired Xiao Wu, who helped your Sixth Brigade, and you're not even grateful, but instead you're eyeing our Seventh Brigade? So you think you can get all the benefits?"

Cui Dalang of the Sixth Branch immediately retorted with a sneer: "So what? Lu Cang, whom we invited, is Xiao Wu's senior brother. Xiao Wu, whom you invited, naturally has to yield!"

"Bullshit!" Old Cui was furious, his face red and neck bulging. "If you're so capable, go and fight Qin Heng again! If you can't beat Qin Heng, you come looking for trouble with our Seven Branches. You're utterly shameless!"

"You! Don't talk nonsense! I didn't mean that..."

'

These words were like daggers to the heart, leaving the six members speechless on the spot, their faces turning red and then pale.

"clang"

The clear, resonant sound of the gong rang out again. The elder on the high platform raised his hand to signal silence, and continued to preside over the competition in a deep voice: "Xiao Wu..."

Zhao Kui, Lu Cang, and Sun He have been defeated. The clan has determined that they are no longer eligible to challenge for positions number six or higher and must immediately leave the arena. Their respective branches can decide for themselves whether to participate in the remaining positions in the next round. There will be a half-hour break. After the break, if no one challenges, it will be considered a forfeit, and vacant positions will be filled in order of previous years' rankings.

He paused, his imposing gaze sweeping over the crowd below before settling on Cui Ran: "Thirteenth branch, having won bid number six this time, according to the rules of my Cui clan, your branch's ranking is immediately elevated to sixth! From now on, you may be known as the Sixth Branch of the Heyang Cui Clan!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room erupted in uproar once again.

Those members of the Cui clan branches who had consistently ranked at the bottom all looked at Cui Ran with envy. Everyone knew that just by winning this one round, Cui Ran could completely reverse the decline of the past two or three years and emerge from his long-standing bottom-ranking slump.

Amidst their envy, everyone turned to Qin Heng, who had already stepped off the stage. Their eyes gleamed, their minds racing, and they all harbored the intention to cultivate a good relationship with him. They planned to secretly inquire about Qin Heng's personality, preferences, and usual habits once the competition was over, and then devise ways to win him over and make him a new asset to their respective branches.

On the high platform, the elder of the Cui clan, having loudly proclaimed the rules, slowly took his seat in the main position, his expression solemn and dignified.

Seated in the guest seat beside the clan elder was a middle-aged man. He was dressed in fine clothes, the fabric of which appeared to be the finest brocade. He had an upright posture, deep-set eyes, and a calm and composed expression.

The middle-aged man's gaze swept indifferently over the crowd below, finally settling on Qin Heng. He slowly spoke, "This lad is not bad. How could such a rare martial arts talent be confined to a minor branch of your clan?"

Upon hearing this, the elder of the Cui clan looked somewhat ashamed, stroked his long beard, and sighed, "Brother Chen, that's a good question. To be honest, we've never paid any attention to that thirteenth branch of the lower class, so naturally we don't know how Cui Ran managed to persuade Qin Heng to come to his aid."

"More than a month ago, after the second round of the martial arts competition, he publicly refused the Ming family's offer of recruitment. It was rumored that he was unwilling to join the Five Great Families, which is why my Cui family did not send anyone to invite him. Who would have thought that he had already secretly taken up a position in one of my Cui family's branches. I will send someone to discuss this after this competition ends. Now is the time when we need people, and such a master of hidden strength should be well won over and put to use by my Cui family."

The middle-aged man shook his head slightly after hearing this, and smiled calmly: "Brother Cui, there's no need to go to the trouble of sending someone. Why not leave this man to me? My Chen family is also short-handed in Heyang. In my opinion, if Qin Heng were interested in seeking a future in your Cui family, given his relationship with Cui Ran, he would have already sent word. Why wait until today?"

The elder of the Cui clan remained silent for a moment upon hearing this, then slowly nodded. "Very well. Brother Chen, you shall handle this matter. At this juncture, joining your Chen family is no different from settling down in my Cui family."

It was evening at Cui's Pharmacy.

The table in the private room was already a mess.

Cui Ran was completely drunk. Half an hour earlier, he had been holding a wine jar and insisted on thanking Qin Heng for helping him win the championship. He gulped down the entire jar of wine in one go.

His face was flushed, his eyes were glazed, and his tongue was slurred, yet he still clung tightly to Qin Heng's wrist and refused to let go.

"Xiao Heng! Our good brother! We owe you so much today!" Cui Ran shouted excitedly, making the wooden windows of the side room rattle. "I, Cui Ran, have lived for almost fifty years and have never submitted to anyone! But today I submit to you! Really, today Uncle Cui will swear an oath of brotherhood with you, and we'll be sworn brothers! From now on, we'll share both good times and bad!"

Before Qin Heng could speak, he suddenly slapped his thigh, as if he had remembered some great news, his eyes lighting up: "That's right! Good brothers should share good fortune! Little Heng, I have a daughter named Cui Yingying, she's absolutely gorgeous! Do you want a wife? Today I'll make the decision and marry Yingying to you! Once you marry Yingying, we brothers will truly be family, hahaha!"

.

As soon as she finished speaking, Cui Yingying, who was standing to the side pouring wine, blushed instantly, her face turning bright red all the way to her ears. She lowered her head abruptly, fidgeting with her fingers, her heart pounding, but she couldn't help but steal a quick glance at Qin Heng.

Moonlight streamed through the window and shone on Qin Heng's face, but his expression remained calm and undisturbed.

Cui Yingying's heart sank, a sense of loss creeping into her. She took a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, and quickly stepped forward, gently tugging at Cui Ran's arm, her voice barely audible: "Father, what nonsense are you talking about? Brother Qin is still a young man, how could he become sworn brothers with you? You've had too much to drink, don't talk nonsense."

"I'm not drunk!" Cui Ran flung his arm, his face flushed with drunken anger. "I'm not drunk! I'm telling the truth! Good brothers should share the good times! Is it beneath you to marry me to Brother Qin?"

"You!" Cui Yingying felt instantly ashamed and embarrassed, her cheeks burning hot. She felt utterly humiliated in front of others, and her eyes even reddened slightly. No longer caring about ladylike reserve, she grabbed Cui Ran's arm tightly and dragged him out with all her might: "Father! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll really get angry! Come back to your room with me to sober up!"

Cui Ran kept muttering "I'm not drunk," "Let me go," and "I can drink more," but he didn't struggle much. Cui Yingying half-dragged and half-pulled him out of the room.

Cui Xu then put down his wine cup and bowed apologetically to Qin Heng, saying, "Scholar Qin, I am truly sorry. My elder brother was drunk and talking nonsense. Please forgive him."

Qin Heng put down his wine glass and shook his head: "It's alright."

"Alright, it's getting late. I'll call a carriage to take you home." Cui Xu said, getting up and picking up Qin Heng's outer robe draped over the back of the chair.

When the two walked out of the pharmacy, it was already dark. The servants of the Cui family had already prepared the carriage, and Cui Xu helped Qin Heng into the carriage.

The carriage slowly drove away from Cui's pharmacy, the wheels creaking as they rolled over the bluestone pavement.

Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, Cui Xu was filled with mixed emotions. He secretly rejoiced that he had been lucky enough to make a trip to Songxuan Martial Arts Academy and arrange for this young man, whose natural talent wasn't particularly good, to take a temporary job at his family's pharmacy. Now, it seemed like the best decision he had made in over thirty years.

And then there's the brilliant move of elder brother Cui Ran, who saw early on that Qin Heng possessed considerable potential and provided him with financial assistance in advance, which is why he has reaped the rewards he has today.

Shaking his head and letting out a long breath, Cui Xu turned and walked back to the pharmacy.

Upon returning to the pharmacy, Cui Xu went straight to Cui Ran's bedroom to visit his drunken elder brother.

But as soon as he pushed open the door and entered the room, he froze on the spot, his steps instinctively halting.

Cui Ran was sitting in a chair inside the room, holding a cup of hot tea and sipping it slowly. He looked clear-headed, showing no trace of his drunkenness and incoherent ramblings from earlier.

"Big brother? What's going on...?" Cui Xu exclaimed in surprise, but swallowed the words back as if he had thought of something.

Cui Ran looked up at him, took a sip of tea, and said, "You're back? Tomorrow, go to the accounting office and get four hundred taels of silver, plus twenty blood-boosting pills. Send them to Qin Heng first thing in the morning! Although he's no longer holding a position in my Cui family, we can't let him miss out on the reward for winning the bid this time."

Cui Xu nodded emphatically: "Understood, I'll take care of it tomorrow!"

He paused, then lowered his voice and tentatively asked, "Brother, in your opinion, what are the chances of Yingying and him...?"

'

"No chance!" Cui Ran sighed heavily, put the teacup on the table, and said, "Don't expect anything if it's not our family's opportunity, otherwise we'll just waste the last bit of goodwill we have left."

Cui Xu remained silent, then slowly nodded.