Book 15: Chapter 46

It was just Zizi and I under the paG.o.da tree after I told Yuan Kou to leave. Zizi felt refreshed after running three rounds of the mental cultivation and was continuing. Before we knew it, night had fallen. While I was waiting, I finally finished reading Pure Yang One Qi.

Initially, I just wanted Yuan Kou and Zhao Tiankuis versions to summarise into a version I could teach Zizi. That way, Zizi wouldnt have called me s.h.i.+fu for nothing. After seeing him beat the four men, however, I felt it wouldve been a waste to not teach him, giving me an itch to teach him some more. Even if I didnt teach him, his mother would ask someone to teach him in the future, and hed still go somewhere. Of course, his brothers still wouldnt spare him. What harm was there in showing some generosity to the young Prince who was bound to suffer plenty in the future? Besides, it wasnt illegal to teach him some martial arts even if I didnt plan on taking him on as my disciple. To that end, I tried to edit Pure Yang One Qi.

I combed through both versions, picking out every single mistake. Once I was done, I let out a long exhale and solemnly set them down beside me. My s.h.i.+fu truly was a genius. I didnt understand squat. Forget the contents that resembled gobbledygook for a moment. Why did they have to practice upside down? Why, in summer, did they have to wear six layers of clothing and train under a blanket? Why, in winter, did they have to bury themselves naked in snow to train their qi? The author was clearly trying to prank readers.

I was stupefied from the first pages to the last pages. There wasnt a single commonality between the two manuals. They were two completely different books! From what I saw, their execution was virtually identical, and their internal energy attributes were the product of the same discipline. Although their gains were different, they werent as drastically different as the manuals. How in the world did they learn something so similar when there was basically not a single identical page in the manuals? I finally understood why s.h.i.+fu didnt let me learn it back then. Forget practicing it. I couldnt even understand what I read.

The moment I opened them, I felt as if I was sitting in an exam room. I never did the homework s.h.i.+fu set me. The subject lines themselves were incomprehensible to me.

How the heck did those two gruff guys understand it? Doesnt this mean that Im even stop, stop, there must be something amiss. I need to re-read.

I opened the two manuals again, turned to the second page, stared for a long while and nearly fell asleep.

s.h.i.+fu, does this mean that I should continue practicing the next part? Zizi asked whilst pointing at the second page.

It means for you to

h.e.l.l as if I knew. I was going to fool him first to buy myself a few days time, only to realise something.

You can understand this?

It says that the pract.i.tioner should push on and not stop, does it not? It says that here, as well.

Arent these two different books?

What are you saying, s.h.i.+fu? They are saying the same thing.

Uh Zizi, who teaches you to read and write?

Princ.i.p.al Huang and Prime Minister Li.

No wonder! Doesnt that mean youre levels above m-, you rival me?

I tapped Zizis chest with the manuals. Youre right. Keep training. Youre winning.

***

Lord Zi! General Manager Bai looked as if her soul left her body when she saw a man come back instead of a boy. As she held him in her arms, she asked him what happened.

Zizi was on the cusp of crying when I patted him on the shoulder to signal he had to keep it a secret and to not cry. His growth was evident. He didnt cry.

Haha, its all thanks to me. Youre welcome. No need for thanks.

Zizi and I were given warm welcomes as expected. However, General Manager Bai dotingly sent him to be treated, while she chased me down with a blade!

Why are you angry with me when I taught him cool stuff that would make his ancestors proud?!

Look at his wounds!

Its just twenty-odd injuries. Theyre medals of honour for men.

Let me give you some medals of honour, then! Dont move!

I finally understood her sentiments. Medals of honour needed to be earned in a certain way, and this wasnt one of them.

After receiving a beating, I managed to make some time to visit Feng Qizhi. I couldnt mistreat my Brother Fengs cousin now, right? Before I even knocked, I saw Sir Sui come out with his head hung down and shout, He is hopeless!

Feng Qizhi soon came out afterwards carrying a flower pot and shaking his head. When he saw me, though, he warmly greeted me. Brother Ming, Sir Sui really does have unique knowledge on cultivating flowers.

I think youre the one whos unique. Youre the first person to make Sir Sui give up on someone.

I feel inspired after spending some time learning about flowers from him. I have blended it into my swordplay and vice versa. One begets two. Two begets three. Three begets all things.

And thats why you slashed up his flowerbed like this?

What do you think? Artistic?

Keep it up. Ill go ask Brother Feng for compensation.

Feng Qizhi staying at Liu Shan Men saved me the trouble of worrying about him doing stupid things, and I couldnt be bothered with him. Since Brother Feng didnt complain, I had no reason to.

I made my way to Daren Academy, where I had an appointment. As always, he beamed and skipped over when he saw me.

Big Brother Ming!

For quite some time now, I had been intermittently teaching Su Xiao some martial arts, and he had grown rapidly. He didnt need me to teach him to begin with, but

I caressed Su Xiaos small head and asked, Do you still remember what I taught you?

I do!

Get started, then.

Su Xiao repeated back what I taught him while I listened in with a smile. As time quietly flowed by, the negative feelings welled up inside me gradually disappeared.