Chapter 31
He flipped through the last few books, and to his surprise, the second one recorded a martial art that Zheng Fa had already begun to learn: the "Song He Zhuang" (Pine Crane Stance). So, was this the reason why the lady wanted him to study "Ling He Shen" (Spirit Crane Body)?
Was it because he had shown some talent in the Song He Zhuang?
He skipped the second book and turned to the third and fourth.
The fourth book detailed a martial technique, "Ling He Chuan Yun Shou" (Spirit Crane Passing Through Clouds Hand), which, according to the text, was quite powerful, but it wasn't the core of the "Ling He Shen" practice.
Only the third book, titled "Ling He Xin Jing" (Spirit Crane Heart Sutra), contained the essence of this technique.
However, when Zheng Fa opened the third book, he couldn't help but frown. The Seventh Young Master beside him looked equally puzzled and muttered, "What on earth is this drawing?"
On the page, there was a figure with a human head and body, but with wings sprouting from its shoulder blades and crane-like feet, draped in feathers, striking poses that made no sense, with no explanations or annotations.
Zheng Fa stared at it for a long time, utterly baffled. He wasn't discouraged, though; it was normal that he couldn't grasp a martial art that had eluded Xu Jiaotou for twenty years.
...
In the lady's small building, the Seventh Young Master lifted the curtain and strode in.
"Well, well! Look who’s here?" The lady wore a teasing smile. "A rare visitor!"
The Seventh Young Master’s face flushed. "Isn’t it only right to visit my mother?"
"Right? Who has been avoiding me all these years?"
"I was just..."
"Enough! You never come without a reason. Just spill it."
"I want to learn 'Ling He Shen,' but I can't make heads or tails of it. Mother, do you know any secrets?"
"You want to learn?" The lady raised an eyebrow at her son. "Didn’t I give 'Ling He Shen' to Zheng Fa?"
"I'm the young master! I want to see and learn. Can he stop me?" The Seventh Young Master had a defiant look.
"Is that so?"
"I was thinking, that fool Zheng Fa can’t learn it no matter what. If there’s a secret, and I learn it, it’ll drive him crazy!" The Seventh Young Master coughed.
"Oh, I see..." The lady nodded, seemingly convinced.
"Mother? What’s the secret?"
"The secret?" The lady tapped her forehead and said, "I think I heard someone mention that the creator of this technique once said that to master 'Ling He Shen,' the key lies in the first volume."
"Really?"
"Would I lie to you?"
"Mother, I have things to do. I’m off!" The Seventh Young Master turned and dashed away, leaving the lady watching his retreating figure, a smile playing on her lips.
...
"Zheng Fa! My mother said to master 'Ling He Shen,' we need to look at the first volume!"
The Seventh Young Master burst in, unable to contain his excitement.
"You asked the lady?" Zheng Fa was a bit surprised.
"Just a casual chat, and it came up." The Seventh Young Master waved his hand. "Quick, bring out the first volume. Let’s study it together."
Zheng Fa glanced at the Seventh Young Master and retrieved the first volume of "Ling He Shen."
Gao Yuan stood at a distance, consciously avoiding looking at the "Ling He Shen," but his curiosity still drew his gaze in that direction.
Zheng Fa and the Seventh Young Master carefully flipped through the first volume, both frowning.
It was just an ordinary autobiography, and since the author was a martial artist, he probably hadn’t received much formal education. The narrative was clichéd and dull.
"Could there be some hidden meaning?" The Seventh Young Master speculated.
Zheng Fa shook his head. "Not impossible, but if there is a hidden meaning, we should at least know the rules."
The Seventh Young Master, undeterred, pulled Zheng Fa to flip through the book repeatedly, trying to find some pattern.
After a long while, the Seventh Young Master threw the book down in frustration, his anger boiling over as he launched a personal attack on the author of "Ling He Shen":
"What a terrible book! It’s worse than a third-rate novel!"
"I’m about to throw up from reading it!"
"Is this person just bored? Climbing mountains and observing birds to gain ultimate skills? With that time, why not learn something useful, like how to write a book!"
Zheng Fa shook his head and laid the book flat on the table, but he had to admit—there really was no discernible secret to cultivation in this book.
Gao Yuan, noticing the dejected expressions on their faces, couldn’t help but smile slightly.
The Seventh Young Master, seeing his expression, asked, "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing," Gao Yuan replied, shaking his head.
"Are you happy that I, the young master, and Zheng Fa, who’s more talented than you, can’t understand this? Is that what makes you smile?"
Gao Yuan’s face turned red, and he honestly said in a low voice, "I’ve been struggling with my training too. Now it seems like we’re all in the same boat..."
Zheng Fa understood Gao Yuan well; he was the type who liked to compare himself to others, easily influenced and prone to anxiety.
He didn’t think Gao Yuan had any ill intentions; jealousy was far from it.
But from Zheng Fa’s observations, when someone was struggling, no comfort was as effective as a failing test paper from a good friend...
"All in the same boat?" The Seventh Young Master glanced at Gao Yuan. "Have you mastered the Song He Zhuang yet?"
"Not quite."
"If you haven’t mastered the Song He Zhuang and he hasn’t mastered 'Ling He Shen,' it’s like one didn’t pass the elementary exam and the other didn’t pass the top scholar exam." The Seventh Young Master wore a sincere yet piercing expression. "Do you... empathize with him?"
The smile slowly faded from Gao Yuan’s face, only to reappear on the Seventh Young Master’s smug face.
---
Chapter 36: Prestige
Zheng Fa’s understanding of "Ling He Shen" was far from ideal. He had basically learned the Song He Zhuang, but the martial technique "Ling He Chuan Yun Shou" was based on the "Ling He Xin Jing," and the "Ling He Xin Jing"... was truly incomprehensible.
He had studied the four volumes of "Ling He Shen" for over a week, and if you counted the seven days he spent in the modern world, it was nearly half a month, yet he had made no progress.
At the training ground.
"Xu Jiaotou," Zheng Fa handed the four volumes of "Ling He Shen" to Xu Jiaotou.
"What’s this?" Xu Jiaotou took the books in a daze.
"Could you return these to the lady for me?"
"You... are giving up?"
Xu Jiaotou misunderstood.
He indeed wasn’t planning to focus all his energy on "Ling He Shen" anymore. He had too much to learn: the mathematics from Old Bai, the high school curriculum he faced in the modern world, and he needed to study under Mr. Shen while practicing the Song He Zhuang.
Even with double the time, he felt stretched thin.
But the main reason for returning "Ling He Shen" to the lady was that during these past few days of study, he had already memorized the contents of the four volumes.
"Ling He Shen" was considered a top-secret martial art in the Zhao residence, and keeping these books with him was risky.
Before he could explain, Xu Jiaotou waved his hand. "Giving up is a good thing; it saves time... it’s a good thing."
With that, Xu Jiaotou didn’t pay Zheng Fa any more mind and walked away with "Ling He Shen," his back looking somewhat lost.
His nephew, watching him from the training ground, asked with concern, "Uncle?"
"What do you think?" Xu Jiaotou touched the cover of the "Ling He Jing" with a hint of self-reproach. "Did I scare Zheng Fa with my experiences?"
His nephew, aware of how much effort his uncle had put into "Ling He Jing," hesitated before saying, "Maybe it’s just that Zheng Fa lacks perseverance..."
"No, he’s smarter than me; he knows when to let go. I, on the other hand, just can’t give up..." Xu Jiaotou sighed. "I should really let it go."
...
The Seventh Young Master, hearing Zheng Fa say he was returning "Ling He Shen" to the residence, merely nodded and said, "If a genius like me can’t figure it out, it’s normal that you can’t!"
He turned and pointed at Gao Yuan. "Look at him; he hasn’t even had a chance to look at it!"
Seeing Gao Yuan’s innocent and helpless face, Zheng Fa felt the Seventh Young Master’s sudden dog-like behavior was a bit unexpected—this time, he didn’t laugh!
...
In the modern world, at Old Bai’s house.
"Here."
Zheng Fa pulled out a cup of hidden milk tea from his backpack and handed it to Tang Lingwu. She took it, inserted a straw, and took a big sip.
Their movements had developed a certain tacit understanding.
"I’m still here!" Old Bai grumbled from the side.
Tang Lingwu blinked and looked at Zheng Fa. "You’re his master; shouldn’t you say something?"
"How about... I bring him a cup next time?" Zheng Fa hesitated, deciding to be fair.
"...Is that what I’m here for?" Old Bai glanced at the sparkling Tang Lingwu, then looked at Zheng Fa with increasing displeasure. "Who said he’s my master? I’ve been practicing that lousy technique for so long, and I haven’t achieved anything!"
It was clear that his initial enthusiasm for martial arts had waned, and he even seemed to harbor thoughts of betraying his teacher.
Zheng Fa refused to take the blame. "It’s because your talent is a bit lacking. I estimate it’ll take you about six months to get the hang of it."
"Get the hang of it? How long did it take you?" Old Bai asked curiously.
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