Fortunately, he was Liu Yilin's grandfather, and he had no conflict with Ning Beichen. Ning Beichen was only here to protect Liu Yilin under his master's orders, not to harm her or pursue her, so Ning Beichen appeared quite uninhibited.
While taking a stroll in the backyard, Ning Beichen saw the old man who had been standing behind Liu Shaoyuan appear before him.
"Mr. Ning, the master sent me to deliver a message."
Without Liu Shaoyuan around, Ning Beichen discovered that the old man's aura was like that of a awakened tiger, no longer the quiet and harmless elder by Liu Shaoyuan's side.
"Please, speak."
Ning Beichen found it a bit strange, wondering what message Liu Yilin's grandfather would have for him.
"The master said that Liu Yilin is the most promising person in the Liu family, so he will not allow anyone to harm her, not even a hint of it."
A Pu relayed Liu Shaoyuan's words.
"Is that all?"
Ning Beichen found it very odd, feeling as though the words were directed at him.
"I apologize, but I don't understand what your grandfather means. However, if he is worried that I might harm his granddaughter, then he has no need to be. There is no need for such concern."
Ning Beichen stated frankly.
"But you do not put our master's mind at ease. Our master wishes to know why you are approaching Liu Yilin."
A Pu looked at Ning Beichen with a scrutinizing gaze and a probing tone.
"I am a bodyguard, and approaching her is naturally to protect her. This is my job."
Ning Beichen continued to answer honestly.
"As far as I know, Liu Yilin did not invite you to be her bodyguard; you approached her yourself."
A Pu looked Ning Beichen in the eyes and asked.
"Is there a problem with that? Either the job seeks me out, or I seek out the job. You cannot say that because I sought a job, you should question the propriety of my actions."
Ning Beichen frowned slightly, clearly displeased with A Pu's attitude.
"Our master dislikes surprises and does not wish to see any uncontrollable factors emerge."
After speaking, A Pu suddenly extended his hand, forming a claw with his five fingers, and lunged towards Ning Beichen.
"What are you doing!"
Ning Beichen reacted with extreme speed. Before A Pu's claw could reach him, he had already retreated two steps, creating some distance between them.
"Oh? You managed to dodge my grab. You do have some skill."
A Pu expressed surprise, clearly not expecting Ning Beichen to evade his attack. However, he immediately pressed forward again, lunging at Ning Beichen with even greater speed and ferocity.
His five fingers, like steel nails, shot towards Ning Beichen's front.
A faint tiger's roar echoed through the air, making Ning Beichen feel as though a great tiger was clawing at him.
Ning Beichen wasted no time and met A Pu's claw with a punch. A Pu smirked, flipped his wrist, and changed his clawing motion from top to bottom, aiming for Ning Beichen's wrist.
Ning Beichen's expression remained unchanged. He took a step back with his left foot, then twisted his body and, with a surge of power from his shoulder, slammed into A Pu.
With a bang.
A Pu was sent staggering back five or six steps by Ning Beichen's impact.
"Old sir, I am holding back not because I fear you, but because I respect your age. However, that is no reason for you to push your luck."
Ning Beichen stood firm, hands clasped across his chest, speaking to A Pu without restraint.
He was being considerate; if it were a few years ago, the Ning Yama would have already beaten this A Pu to a pulp.
A Pu rubbed his sore shoulder, and only now did he truly regard the young man before him with seriousness.
"Young man, I underestimated you. Your previous attack integrated Bagua, Xingyi, and Tai Chi, and seemed to incorporate 'Beng Jin' (Explosive Force) and other techniques. It's clear you have a deep understanding of Guoshu (Chinese martial arts). I shall get serious now, be careful."
A Pu looked visibly excited by the challenge. He removed his outer Tanggua robe, revealing his short jacket underneath, then twisted his ankle and assumed a starting stance with one hand forward.
"Fine. Since you're so interested, old man, I'll play along. But I'll say it again: fists and feet have no eyes. If you get injured, don't come crying to me."
Ning Beichen laid down the ground rules, ensuring the old man wouldn't blame him if he got hurt.
"Don't worry. I, He Pu, have roamed the jianghu for decades. I still have some dignity."
"Take this!"
He Pu lightly scraped his toe on the ground, creating a rumbling sound. The seemingly frail He Pu instantly transformed into a fierce tiger descending a mountain, charging towards Ning Beichen.
"Da Pu Shou!" (Great Pouncing Hand)
He Pu roared.
His arm, like a flexible whip, lashed out towards Ning Beichen.
He Pu's arms were as pliant as dough, attacking Ning Beichen like a storm. Afterimages of his arms filled the space, making it impossible to distinguish the real from the fake.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Ning Beichen did not retreat; he met the onslaught head-on. They fought back and forth in the backyard, leaving numerous scattered footprints and marks on the lawn.
"Be careful, here comes my 'Da Bei Shou' (Great Stele Hand)."
Unable to gain the upper hand after a prolonged assault, He Pu's stamina began to wane. After all, he was an old man and could not compare to a younger man.
The atrophied muscles on his arm suddenly began to swell. It was evident that his right arm was considerably larger than his left.
Seeing He Pu's arm thicken and enlarge, Ning Beichen dared not be careless. He took half a step back, gathered qi in his dantian, then stepped forward and unleashed a punch towards He Pu's arm.
With a loud boom.
The sound resembled that of hard objects colliding at high speed.
Ning Beichen grunted, but his body remained unmoving, not even shifting his footing. However, a faint fluorescence could be seen emanating from his fist.
He Pu, on the other hand, was sent flying as if hit by a speeding train. A clear cracking sound was heard from his arm.
He landed on the ground, a surge of blood rushed to his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"My apologies, old sir. My move was a bit too heavy just now."
Taking a deep breath, Ning Beichen, appearing unfazed, calmly said to the spitting He Pu.
"I lost."
After a moment, He Pu finally regained his breath. He looked at Ning Beichen with a complex expression, his voice weak as he spoke.
"My apologies, old sir."
Ning Beichen cupped his fists in a gesture of respect.
"It's alright. I was simply outmatched."
He Pu struggled to his feet, wiped the blood from his lips, glanced at Ning Beichen, then cupped his fists in return before turning and leaving.