The Jiangxiang Sect, as the name suggests, comprised individuals who, despite existing within the martial world, possessed the purported talent of a prime minister.
These people emerged during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, were widely prevalent in the Cantonese-speaking regions, and wielded considerable influence.
Although they seemingly faded into obscurity under imperial suppression, they have, in reality, continued to be passed down in secret to this day.
Upon joining the Jiangxiang Sect, Long Yun learned that his fellow disciples had all amassed fortunes through physiognomy. Thus, he began to meticulously study secret manuals on fortune-telling and divination, such as "Yingyao" and "Tianbao."
He regarded these texts as treasures, poring over them day and night.
However, before he had fully grasped their teachings, he managed to accumulate considerable wealth through deception and charlatanry.
As the saying goes, to achieve wealth and honor but not return home is like walking in brocade at night.
He felt the same, and thus, despite his master's dissuasion, he resolutely returned to his hometown.
His master's advice was intended to encourage him to learn more genuine skills.
Unfortunately, his fellow disciples disliked him, which was one of the reasons he chose to return home.
His suspicion that Lin Fan was also a member of the Jiangxiang Sect stemmed from the fact that a renowned master named Lin Xingnan had emerged from the sect in the 1990s.
Lin Xingnan was proficient in medicine and possessed knowledge of various trickery techniques used in the martial world.
He masterfully combined his medical skills with his deceptive practices, which, in the societal context of the time, brought him considerable acclaim.
If Lin Fan were a similar master, he would surely be at a disadvantage.
"Mr. Lin, merely drinking tea and chatting is rather dull."
"What suggestions does Master Long have?"
With a flourish of his long sleeves, a rolling artifact walnut appeared on the table.
"Please, Mr. Lin, have a walnut."
Long Yun feigned surprise, "Oh dear, it's about to fall!"
Zhou Yi asked in astonishment, "How could a walnut fall off this well-made prismatic glass table?"
Long Yun swiftly extended his right hand, stopping the rolling walnut.
Simultaneously, he extended his left hand beneath the table, making a motion as if catching something.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye.
Long Yun, with a smug expression, revealed his right hand, which was empty.
His left hand, however, held a walnut. "Fortunately, I reacted quickly."
"Oh dear!"
"How did it fall?"
Zhou Yi and Xiao Zheng's eyes widened, having not seen how he managed it.
The walnut had been on the edge of the table, held by his right hand. How, in the space of a blink, did he retrieve one from under the table?
Zhou Yi even ran her hand over the table, suspecting there might be a hole.
"Indeed! Master Long possesses remarkable skill!"
"You flatter me, Layperson Zhou."
Long Yun stroked his beard, exuding an air of nonchalance.
"Heh!"
Lin Fan couldn't help but let out a scoff.
Seeing this, Long Yun's expression changed drastically. "What are you laughing at?"
"I'm laughing at..."
Lin Fan shook his head, thinking to himself, "I possess such profound abilities, and you dare to show off before me? You truly don't know the meaning of death."
Long Yun, enraged, flicked his wrist and suddenly hurled the walnut at Lin Fan.
*Crack!*
Lin Fan's eyes were quick; he snatched the walnut. "Master Long, thank you for your generosity."
He placed a teacup in the upper left corner and then smiled, "Since that's the case, I shall offer you a cup of tea as a return gesture."
Long Yun believed Lin Fan had relented and reached out to take the teacup.
However, at that moment, Lin Fan suddenly released a wisp of purple energy, striking the teacup forcefully.
The teacup tilted, and the hot tea spilled onto Long Yun's wrist.
"Ah—"
Long Yun cried out in pain and desperately shook his right hand.
*Clink!*
A faint sound.
Everyone saw a walnut suddenly appear on the clean marble floor.
Lin Fan chuckled, "Master Long, you're a bit stingy. You had two walnuts but only produced one. I'm not greedy, would I covet your walnuts?"
Zhou Yi understood everything at this point.
Long Yun had used sleight of hand to conceal the walnut from the table into his right sleeve, while simultaneously retrieving another from his left sleeve.
His technique was indeed swift, but he had the misfortune of encountering Lin Fan, who saw through his trickery on the spot.
Facing the scornful gazes of those present, Long Yun felt as if he had swallowed bitter herbs; he had no words to express his predicament.
"Heh, I, I was merely playing a joke on Mr. Lin."
Although no one mocked him, he still found a way to save face.
Zhou Yi twitched her lips and then smiled, "Master Long, it's alright. We are all friends; a joke is nothing."
After speaking, she turned to look at Lin Fan, her face, eyes, and heart filled with reverence.
Long Yun, having made a fool of himself, felt extremely embarrassed and was contemplating how to regain his standing.
He could not afford to lose face today!
Otherwise, the news would spread, and his livelihood would be ruined!
Seeing Long Yun lost in thought, Lin Fan knew he was hatching a wicked plan. He coughed heavily, drawing his attention, and said, "Master Long, since the tea was not served properly, let me peel a walnut for you."
Long Yun became instinctively nervous.
He truly dared not underestimate Lin Fan now.
Lin Fan had seen through his trickery at a glance, which filled him with dread.
"Little Fan, what are you doing?"
Zhou Yi was puzzled as Lin Fan placed the walnut on the table and then covered it with the teacup.
With the walnut covered by the teacup, how could it be peeled?
"Hush~"
Lin Fan gave a mysterious smile and made a shushing gesture.
Immediately afterward, he circulated the purple energy from his dantian.
Thanks to the practice he had on Edo Yuki, his control over the purple energy was now superb.
He simultaneously controlled the purple energy to make the walnut spin within the teacup and to peel the walnut.
A rapid series of crackling sounds made Zhou Yi stare in disbelief.
Long Yun was even more dumbfounded, wishing he could crawl under the table and see what was happening inside the teacup through the glass surface, wondering if some mechanism was at play.
But he was a master!
Would it not be beneath his dignity to crawl under the table?
Half a minute passed quickly.
Lin Fan laughed heartily and removed the teacup. The onlookers then saw that the smooth surface of the artifact walnut had its shell completely shattered.
The kernel, however, was completely intact!
Silence!
A deathly silence!
Zhou Yi leaned forward, her eyes fixed on the walnut kernel on the table and the shell that had shattered into grit.
She saw a dark brown, shriveled, and twisted walnut kernel standing quietly on the table.
Long Yun was also watching everything.
He had been involved in unconventional arts for decades, believing his skills to be of the highest caliber in the world.
Yet, merely through a glass table, and right under his nose, he could not discern how it was done.
"What mechanism could possibly peel the outer shell of a perfectly good walnut in such a short time?"
This was the only possibility he could think of at that moment.