Chapter 358: Chapter 356: 356: The Twenty-something Half-Step Grandmaster_1

“What did you say?”

Fraser Simmons was so shocked that he almost jumped out of his wheelchair.

Mick Simmons said bitterly, “You heard me right, Greg Jensen is a half-step Grandmaster.”

“A Grandmaster in his twenties? How is that possible?”

Fraser Simmons still couldn’t believe it. Martial arts isn’t like other skills, where you can take shortcuts. If you want to improve your abilities, you have to practice day in and day out.

Therefore, those who can become Grandmasters are generally over fifty years of age, and even for a half-step Grandmaster, reaching it before the age of forty is doubtful.

And that’s for those with talent. Those with lesser talent can’t even touch the threshold of the Grandmasters.

How could someone in their twenties be a half-step Grandmaster?

It’s simply ludicrous!

Mick Simmons sighed, “Dad, there’s no deception here. I saw with my own eyes as he released his True Qi, and it was quite powerful. It’s just uncertain whether he has entered the Master Realm.”

“It’s probably not possible for him to be that young and in the Master Realm.”

Fraser Simmons’s expression became grave. If Mick Simmons was right, then this was a serious problem.

Albeit the Simmons family was prestigious in the provincial city, they had no certainty when facing a Grandmaster.

What’s more, Greg Jensen was only in his twenties.

What does it mean to be a half-step Grandmaster in your twenties?

Others usually reached this realm in their forties, which means Greg Jensen had over twenty more years of cultivation time than the rest.

With so much time, even the legendary realm of Dao was not out of reach.

No one wants to provoke an enemy with such potential!

The living room fell silent, with three people wearing uneasy expressions, and no one spoke a word.

After a while, Mick Simmons raised his head and looked at his father, “Dad, shall I pay a visit to the Ford family later?”

“Hmm, go ahead.”

Fraser Simmons seemed to come back to life, pondering for a moment with a forced smile, “It’s all right, no need to worry. It’s just about shedding some blood, after all.

Late you go to the study and take the genuine script of ‘Mountain and Stone Old Man’ with you. Your Uncle Jaden has always wanted that painting. Now, he will finally get his wish.”

Upon hearing this, Mick Simmons followed with a bitter smile, nodded, stood up, and went to the study to take out a scroll of the painting.

Fraser Simmons watched the scroll in his hands with reluctance, waved his hand feebly, and said, “Go on, send it to your Uncle Jaden, and tell him I’ve treasured it enough, and now it’s his turn.”

“Okay.”

Watching the sad look on his father’s face, Mick Simmons felt considerably relieved. Holding the scroll, he gave Donald Simmons a meaningful glance and turned to leave.

Fraser Simmons watched their departing figures and sighed deeply, “Let’s hope Uncle Jaden’s influence is big enough!”

…

The Ford family in the provincial city.

Jaden Ford and a few brothers were chatting in the living room when Bradley Ford emerged from the study, laughing, and descended the stairs.

Seeing the grandfather in such high spirits, Jaden Ford couldn’t help but feel curious, smiling, “Grandpa, what’s put you in such a good mood?”

Bradley Ford laughed, “Haha, Greg Jensen just called to say that those two Simmons boys went looking for trouble with him again.”

Jaden Ford’s face changed upon hearing this, “They went to him again? Greg is okay, right?”

“Haha, those two Simmons boys are no match for Mr. Jensen,”

Bradley Ford said with a beaming smile, “If it weren’t for our family’s sake, those two Simmons brothers wouldn’t be alive right now.”

Relieved to hear Greg was okay, Jaden Ford rolled her eyes and said, “Grandpa, those two brothers from the Simmons family got beaten up, and you’re happy about it?”

“Haha.”

Bradley Ford laughed heartily, “Because Fraser Simmons, that miser, is finally going to bleed.”

“Bleed?”

Before Jaden Ford could fully comprehend the intricacies, the butler suddenly came in and said, “Master, the young master of the Simmons family is here.”

“Look at that, speak of the devil and he shall appear. Let them in.”

“Very well, Master.”

It wasn’t long before the butler returned, followed by Mick Simmons and Donald Simmons.

“Oh, if it isn’t my worthy nephew.”

Bradley Ford smiled and said, “Have you come to pay me a New Year’s visit?”

Mick Simmons’s face turned red as he chuckled awkwardly, “Um, happy New Year, Uncle Jaden, I’m Mick Simmons, here to offer you an early New Year’s greeting.”

Donald Simmons’s face also reddened as he opened his mouth, too embarrassed to speak.

“Take a seat. Tracy, ask Ms. Xu to brew a pot of tea.”

“Right away, Grandfather.”

Bradley Ford motioned for the Simmons brothers to sit on the couch, then his gaze fell upon the painting scroll in Mick Simmons’ hand, feigning indifference as he asked:

“Mick, what is that in your hands?”

“Ah, this… well, it’s New Year’s, and I didn’t have anything good to bring, so I brought over the painting of the old man among the mountains and rocks made by my father.”

Mick Simmons handed over the painting very cleverly, his demeanor in stark contrast to how he’d been at the Simmons family home.

Bradley Ford seemed to forget what had happened before, received the painting cheerfully and said, “Look at you, there was no need to bring anything.”

The corners of Mick Simmons’ mouth twitched slightly, and though he felt incredibly frustrated, he still maintained a smile and said, “It’s proper to bring something when visiting one’s elders, as it should be.”

Bradley Ford unrolled the painting to take a look, and his eyes instantly brightened, exclaiming, “What a fantastic painting, the brushwork is extraordinary and the intention lofty. It’s a magnificent piece.”

Mick Simmons hastily praised, “No wonder you’re an expert, Uncle Jaden. My father said the same when he first got this painting.”

Bradley Ford had had his eye on this painting for quite some time, and now that he finally had it in his hands, he naturally felt in high spirits. He carefully re-rolled the painting, then looked at Mick Simmons and said:

“You’re not one to come without a reason. Out with it, what brings you here today?”

Mick Simmons laughed awkwardly and after much hemming and hawing, he finally spoke shamefacedly, “Uncle Jaden, our families have been friends for many years.

Since you knew all along that Mr. Jensen was close to the Grandmaster Realm, you should’ve said it outright. Why the need to…”

Bradley Ford’s smile slowly faded as he sternly asked, “Mick, ask yourself, if I had told you back then that Mr. Jensen was close to the Grandmaster Realm, would you have believed me?”

“I…”

Mick Simmons was startled by the question, and his face quickly turned to one of embarrassment.

To be honest, no matter who said such a thing, he wouldn’t have believed it.

After all, the idea of a twenty-something-year-old being close to the Grandmaster Realm seemed no different than a joke.

Who in their right mind would believe the world had such a young person nearing the Grandmaster Realm?

Had he known that Greg Jensen was close to the Grandmaster Realm, he never would have sought trouble with him.

At this point, it was too late for anything he said, and he could only bow his head in submission.

“Uncle Jaden, I was wrong in my actions. I ask for your understanding.”

Mick Simmons sincerely apologized and then said, “Uncle Jaden, considering the longstanding relationship between our two families, could you please help mediate?”

“Mediating is no problem, and given my face, Mr. Jensen probably won’t hold a grudge against you, especially since there were no serious consequences. However…”

“However, what?”

Mick Simmons tensed up once again.

Bradley Ford looked at him and sighed, “Getting him to treat your father’s illness, I’m afraid, will be difficult.”

“Oh, it’s that matter.”

Mick Simmons relaxed and smiled, “As long as he doesn’t cause trouble for our Simmons family, that’s fine. As for my father’s illness, we’ll try to get a Nine Revolutions Muscle Changing Pill at the exchange meeting.”

Bradley Ford scoffed, “You, rather than hoping for a Nine Revolutions Muscle Changing Pill which you have no idea when you’ll be able to get, it would be better to ask Greg Jensen for help.”