Swagger

Swagger

Zheng Fa's grasp of the Spirit Crane Body was far from ideal. He had basically mastered the Pine Crane Stance, but the martial technique in the fourth manual, the Spirit Crane Cloud-Piercing Hand, was based on the Spirit Crane Heart Scripture—and the Spirit Crane Heart Scripture... he truly could not make head or tail of it.

He had studied the four volumes of the Spirit Crane Body for more than a week. Counting the seven days he spent traveling to the modern world in between, it had been nearly half a month, yet he had figured out nothing.

Training grounds.

"Instructor Xu." Zheng Fa handed the four volumes of the Spirit Crane Body to Instructor Xu.

"What is this?" Instructor Xu took the manuals in a daze.

"Instructor, please return these to Madam for me."

"You... are giving up?"

Instructor Xu had misunderstood.

He truly did not intend to devote all his attention to the Spirit Crane Body any longer. He had too much to learn: Old Man Bai's Mathematics, the College Entrance Exam awaiting him in modern high school, Teacher Shen's teachings in this world, and the Pine Crane Stance.

Even with twice as much time as others, he was still somewhat stretched too thin.

But the main reason he was returning the Spirit Crane Body to Madam was that, over these past dozen or so days of study, he had already memorized all four volumes.

The Spirit Crane Body was an absolutely secret martial art even within the Zhao Residence. Keeping these books in his hands for too long could easily bring trouble.

Before he could explain, Instructor Xu waved a hand. "Giving up is a good thing too. Better than wasting time... it is a good thing."

After saying that, Instructor Xu ignored Zheng Fa and walked back with the Spirit Crane Body in his arms, his retreating figure seeming somewhat forlorn.

His nephew watched him from the training grounds and asked worriedly, "Uncle?"

"Tell me," Instructor Xu said as he stroked the three words Spirit Crane Scripture on the cover, guilt in his voice. "Did I scare Zheng Fa off by telling him about my own experience?"

His nephew knew how much effort his uncle had poured into the Spirit Crane Scripture. He hesitated before saying, "Maybe Zheng Fa simply lacks perseverance..."

"No. He is smarter than I am. He knows how to weigh his choices. As for me... I simply refuse to give up." Instructor Xu sighed. "It is time I gave up."

When Seventh Young Master heard Zheng Fa had returned the Spirit Crane Body to the residence, he merely nodded. "Even a genius like this young master cannot make sense of it. If you cannot, that is perfectly normal!"

He turned and pointed at Gao Yuan. "Look at him. He has not even gotten the chance to read it!"

Looking at Gao Yuan's innocent, helpless face, Zheng Fa felt that Seventh Young Master had suddenly become rather doglike—Gao Yuan had not even laughed this time!

Modern world, Old Man Bai's home.

"Here."

Zheng Fa took a cup of milk tea he had hidden in his backpack and handed it to Tang Lingwu beside him. Tang Lingwu took it, inserted the straw, and took a huge sip.

Their movements had already gained a hint of unspoken coordination.

"I am still here!" Old Man Bai grumbled from the side.

Tang Lingwu blinked and looked at Zheng Fa. "You are his master. Aren't you going to keep him in line?"

"How about... I bring him a cup next time too?" Zheng Fa hesitated, deciding to be a little fairer.

"...Is that what I am talking about?" Old Man Bai looked at the bright and lovely Tang Lingwu, then at Zheng Fa, and found him more unpleasant the longer he looked. "Who said he is my master? He taught me that lousy martial art. I have practiced for so long—why have I not achieved anything at all?"

It was obvious that his three-minute enthusiasm for martial arts had begun to fade. He even seemed to have the urge to betray his master and destroy his ancestors.

Zheng Fa absolutely refused to take the blame. "It is because your aptitude is a little lacking, sir. I estimate it will take you around half a year to get started."

"Get started? How long did it take you?" Old Man Bai asked curiously.

"Me? Ten days, I suppose?" Zheng Fa deliberately added together the time from both worlds, thoughtfully trying not to strike too heavy a blow to the old man.

"Sounds like my aptitude is rather poor." Old Man Bai nodded, looking not the least bit discouraged.

"Grandpa Bai, you are not upset?"

"Why would I be upset?" Old Man Bai waved a hand with a smile. "At my age, why would I still compete over whose aptitude is better or whose cultivation is faster? When it is time to be broad-minded, you have to be broad-minded!"

Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu both nodded, feeling a little admiration in their hearts.

This old man truly was broad-minded and able to let things go.

"Besides, when Zheng Fa studies Mathematics, he is like an unevolved monkey that has not yet opened its mind. He is not discouraged even at his age, so what do I have to be discouraged about?"

"Today, this master will let you experience the might of the Pine Crane Stance!"

"Hah, I will no longer hide it from you today! I possess an ultimate art cultivated for sixty years. Once I make my move, I will surely make you kneel and beg for mercy!"

"What ultimate art?" Zheng Fa asked curiously.

The old man flopped into his chair, clutched his chest, twisted his face into a grimace, and began to howl, "Help! I have been beaten! I cannot move!"

Zheng Fa: ...He wanted to kneel.

"I do not even know whether I can live another half year. If it takes half a year just to get started, that is far too long!"

The old man was truly beginning to lose heart.

This would not do!

It did not matter whether Old Man Bai practiced or not, but Zheng Fa could not lose this free, top-tier tutor!

When Zheng Fa studied Mathematics with Old Man Bai, he genuinely could not understand Topology at first. Later, Old Man Bai simply began sorting through high-school Mathematics with him from the beginning.

Though Old Man Bai had little manners, if one could ignore his insults toward one's intelligence during lessons and pick out a top professor's guidance from a mountain of personal attacks, one would benefit enormously.

It might not have been so effective for others, but Zheng Fa's foundation was already extremely solid. Sometimes, all he lacked was one or two sentences.

He absolutely could not let Old Man Bai's heart, yearning for the martial world, settle down!

"Did you know that the Pine Crane Stance you are learning has the ability to extend one's lifespan?"

Zheng Fa's tone suddenly became a little more profound.

"Extend one's lifespan?" Old Man Bai's expression shifted. He was clearly tempted. At his age, it was difficult to resist such temptation.

"Not only that." Zheng Fa wore a solemn expression. "This Pine Crane Stance is merely the introductory art of my sect's ultimate technique, the Spirit Crane Body. And the Spirit Crane Body is an ultimate art that lets one enter the Dao through martial arts!"

"Enter the Dao through martial arts?"

It was clear Old Man Bai had been somewhat stunned by Zheng Fa's seriousness, though disbelief still outweighed everything else.

"According to my sect's records, the Spirit Crane Body was an ultimate art comprehended by one of our ancestors only after he exhausted his entire life, crossed thousands upon thousands of mountains, learned from nature, and imitated every bird under heaven. Once the Pine Crane Stance is completed, if you can cultivate the Spirit Crane Heart Scripture, you can enter the Dao through martial arts and greatly extend your lifespan!"

Thanks to that ancestor who loved boasting, Zheng Fa found it came naturally to him when he deceived the old man.

"Crossing thousands of mountains, gaining insight from birds beneath heaven before he could comprehend it? That sounds so mystical."

Old Man Bai muttered.

"More than that. I heard that after this ancestor completed the Spirit Crane Heart Scripture, he then ascended in feathered form and had already attained the Dao!"

Zheng Fa was not exaggerating either. The ancestor who created the Spirit Crane Heart Scripture had entered an Immortal Sect. Rounding it off, was that not attaining the Dao?

"So that is entering the Dao through martial arts?" Though Old Man Bai did not believe in ghosts or gods, he still felt some admiration. "This Founder was truly an extraordinary person with immense perseverance and will!"

"Do you want to learn?" Zheng Fa tempted him.

"Yes!" The words "extend one's lifespan" alone were enough to shake Old Man Bai.

"Master the Pine Crane Stance, and I will accept you into the sect and teach you the Spirit Crane Body!"

"Master! This disciple is utterly loyal to the sect. I will certainly study diligently and train hard, then revitalize our sect in the future!"

Beside them, a puzzled look slowly rose on Tang Lingwu's face. "I have a question..."

"Yes?"

"This sect ancestor of yours was indeed amazing. But was comprehending this really that difficult? If we want to look at birds and such—and look at so many of them—would it not be enough to visit a zoo?"

"Huh?"

Zheng Fa and Old Man Bai exchanged a glance, feeling the lofty, awe-inspiring image of that sect ancestor collapse in an instant.

Holding her milk tea cup, Tang Lingwu said timidly, "Did I say something wrong? Then... a flower-and-bird market?"

(End of Chapter)