Crane Body Technique

"Uncle, aren't you my dad's only brother?"

Hearing his nephew's question, Instructor Xu's dark, old face couldn't help but flush with embarrassment. He then became angry and pointed at the incense burner in front of him, saying, "You scoundrel, you're making friends with people you just met, like you've known them forever. You've ruined the family reputation of the Xu family!"

His nephew looked at the incense table behind him, his tone filled with obvious confusion: "The Xu family's... family reputation?"

"You!"

"Exactly, who do you think I am the nephew of, and who taught me... "

"Sigh, sigh, forget it, forget it. The child is young and doesn't understand." Zheng Fa stood in front of his good nephew, Xu, who was at least five years older than him, and said earnestly to Instructor Xu, "Talk nicely, teach him well, don't hit him!"

Instructor Xu looked at Zheng Fa, his face even more embarrassed. He lowered his raised palm sheepishly and whispered, "You've seen a joke..."

Zheng Fa knew that if he didn't comfort him at this moment, Instructor Xu would probably never want to see him again in his life.

He looked into Instructor Xu's eyes and said, "Not to mention that Instructor Xu, you have the kindness of teaching me. Before, I also heard the Young Master say that you wanted to take me as a disciple. I have always kept your high regard in my heart."

Hearing this, Instructor Xu quickly waved his hand, his expression becoming much more natural.

"You were originally an uncut gem, without me..."

"Without Instructor's watchful eye, I might not even have had the chance to be a Page by the Seventh Young Master's side. How could I be here today!"

Zheng Fa's words, even though both Uncle and nephew Xu knew he was mostly trying to comfort him, still eased the awkward atmosphere with the sincerity in his tone.

"What happened today," Instructor Xu sighed, with some emotion, "was because I lost my composure over this Crane Body Technique."

"Crane Body Technique?" Zheng Fa heard that today's encounter was due to the martial arts texts in front of Instructor Xu, and he couldn't help but look at those books with curiosity.

"Madam asked me to teach this to you. It is one of the secret techniques of the Zhao Manor. Remember, if you learn it, you absolutely cannot teach it to anyone without Madam's permission!" At this point, Instructor Xu's usually gentle face also became stern.

Zheng Fa nodded, but he was still confused: "Is the Crane Body Technique martial art really that important?"

"Very important!" Instructor Xu wanted to say something, but suddenly saw his nephew eavesdropping beside them. He pointed to the door and said, "You go out first!"

"Ah?"

"Get out!"

Seeing Instructor Xu's dark face, although reluctant, his nephew still walked out the door, looking back three times.

Instructor Xu stood up and closed the door tightly.

Outside the door was his young disciple, and also his nephew, yet he was still so guarded.

It was clear that he was extremely cautious about matters related to the Crane Body Technique.

"Do you know why I looked down on outside martial arts schools when I taught you the Crane Pine Stance before?"

"Because the martial arts of our Zhao Manor are inherited from the Immortal Sect. For example, the Crane Pine Stance can prolong life when mastered," Zheng Fa recalled his previous words.

"The inheritance is real, and prolonging life is also real," Instructor Xu's voice lowered again. "But the most important reason is that only martial arts inherited from the Immortal Sect, like those of our Zhao Manor, can allow one to enter the Dao through Martial Arts after mastery!"

"Entering the Dao through Martial Arts?" Zheng Fa couldn't help but cast his gaze upon the Crane Body Technique.

"I'm not clear about the specifics of Entering the Dao through Martial Arts, but there have always been legends in the martial world. In legends, one can enter the Immortal Sect by Entering the Dao through Martial Arts. More importantly, our Zhao Manor originates from the Immortal Sect, and there is also this saying!" He turned to look at the Crane Body Technique. "When Madam passed this to me, she personally told me that this is a martial art for Entering the Dao through Martial Arts."

"At that time, I was thinking, maybe if I master this, I can also enter the Immortal Sect!"

Zheng Fa nodded, understanding the preciousness of the Crane Body Technique and Instructor Xu's caution.

"But... haven't you practiced it, Instructor? Why are you still..."

Zheng Fa's words were cut off. He couldn't very well say, why are you still scheming to flatter... uh, curry favor with me?

Instructor Xu seemed to understand what he meant, and his face became a little embarrassed again. But after a moment, he laughed self-deprecatingly, "I thought I had let go."

"Hmm?" Zheng Fa vaguely guessed his meaning.

"Zheng Fa, do you know how long I've been in the Zhao family?"

"I don't know."

"Like you, I am also a born servant of the Zhao family. I grew up in the Zhao family since childhood, and it has been fifty-five years now. But fortunately for me, I was in the Zhao Manor since I was young and was appreciated. I started practicing martial arts at the age of ten."

Instructor Xu looked like a middle-aged man, but he was already over fifty, which clearly indicated his success in martial arts.

A hint of recollection appeared on his face, and he continued, "My Aptitude was good. Within ten years, I stood out from the guards and was promoted to instructor. Within twenty years, I had become a top master in the martial world, thinking that the world was vast and I could go anywhere!"

Zheng Fa remained silent, waiting for Instructor Xu to continue.

"At that time, Madam saw that my talent was excellent and bestowed this Crane Body Technique upon me." Instructor Xu's fingers gripped the edge of the desk, very forcefully, the veins on his fingers bulging. "At that time, my ambition was sky-high. Hearing that this martial art could lead to the Immortal Sect upon mastery, I was naturally overjoyed and determined to master this Crane Body Technique, transcend the mundane, and ascend to immortality in one step!"

Speaking to this point, his fingers slowly relaxed, and a bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"You can probably guess what happened next. I didn't succeed."

Zheng Fa nodded, but Instructor Xu's next sentence still surprised him a little.

"Do you know how long I wasted trying to practice the Crane Body Technique?"

"Twenty years!"

Instructor Xu's voice was filled with bitterness. "A full twenty years! I studied the Crane Body Technique day and night, and these books were never far from me when I ate or slept. I was like a madman, yet I gained nothing."

Zheng Fa hadn't expected the Crane Body Technique to be so difficult to practice, according to Instructor Xu.

Instructor Xu at this moment looked nothing like the rough, heroic man Zheng Fa knew before. His expression was full of vicissitudes. "By the time I realized it, I found that time was like a thief, and I had wasted twenty years of my life."

"No wife, no children, nothing achieved, my ambitions scattered, I finally resolved to put down the Crane Body Technique and return the book to Madam."

Inside, neither of them spoke; the only sound echoing was Instructor Xu's unspeakable regret.

After a long while, Instructor Xu shook his head, a complex smile on his face breaking the silence. "I heard Madam wanted to teach you the Crane Body Technique. I thought your talent was better than mine, and perhaps you could succeed in practicing this martial art."

Zheng Fa knew clearly that, according to Instructor Xu's words, he might not actually be more talented than Instructor Xu.

"So, I harbored selfish intentions, thinking of forging a good connection with you first. If you were to succeed in practicing it later, and I could ask you for guidance, there would still be hope of practicing the Crane Body Technique. To say I put it down was still filled with vain hopes." As he spoke, he cupped his hands towards Zheng Fa. "I didn't expect you to witness my foolishness."

Zheng Fa didn't think Instructor Xu was being overly ambitious. Anyone who wasted half their life on the Crane Body Technique would struggle not to develop inner demons.

"Alright, take the Crane Body Technique back. Madam asked me to teach you, but honestly, I can't teach you much. What little I've grasped might even lead you astray."

Zheng Fa picked up a few books and had just stood up when he heard Instructor Xu say, "Zheng Fa, I have a presumptuous request…"

"Hm?"

"The Crane Body Technique is difficult to practice. I don't know how many years it will take you. But if you do achieve something, even if I am dead, you must tell me before my grave." Instructor Xu turned away, not looking at Zheng Fa, his tone heavy. "Let me know that the saying of Entering the Dao through Martial Arts is not an illusion, and that my half-life… is not a joke!"

"Forget it. If you can't master it within a few years, then don't practice it." Zheng Fa nodded. As he turned to leave, he heard Instructor Xu's somewhat subdued voice again:

"Don't be like me."