Prestige

Zheng Fa's understanding of the Crane Body Technique wasn't ideal. He had basically mastered the Crane Pine Stance. The Crane Piercing Cloud Hand from the fourth manual was based on the Crane Heart Sutra, but the Crane Heart Sutra itself... he truly couldn't understand it.

He spent over a week studying the four volumes of the Crane Body Technique. If you include the seven days he spent in modern times, it's been about half a month, and he hadn't figured anything out.

Training grounds.

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

"What is this?" Instructor Xu took the manuals dazedly.

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

"You... gave up?"

Instructor Xu misunderstood.

He wasn't planning to focus all his energy on the Crane Body Technique anymore. There was too much he needed to learn: Old Man Bai's mathematics, the college entrance exams he faced in modern high school, and in this world, he needed to study under Mr. Shen and practice the Crane Pine Stance.

Even with double the time of others, he was stretched thin.

But the main reason he was returning the Crane Body Technique to Madam was that during the past ten-plus days of studying, he had already memorized all four volumes.

The Crane Body Technique was a top-secret martial art even within the Zhao Manor. If he kept these books with him, it could lead to trouble.

Before he could speak, Instructor Xu waved his hand, "It's good that you gave up, saves you wasting time... It's a good thing."

With that, Instructor Xu didn't pay Zheng Fa any mind and walked back with the Crane Body Technique, his retreating figure looking somewhat lost.

His nephew, watching him from the training grounds, asked with concern, "Uncle?"

"You know," Instructor Xu touched the words 'Crane Scripture' on the book cover and asked with some self-reproach, "did I scare him by telling him about my experiences?"

His nephew also knew how much effort his uncle had put into the Crane Scripture, but he hesitated and said, "Maybe Zheng Fa just doesn't have the perseverance..."

"No, he's smarter than me. He knows what to prioritize. Me? I still haven't given up..." Instructor Xu sighed, "I should give up."

The Seventh Young Master, upon hearing Zheng Fa say he had returned the Crane Body Technique to the manor, simply nodded and said, "Even a genius like myself, Young Master, couldn't figure it out. It's normal for you not to be able to!"

He turned and pointed at Gao Yuan, "Look at him, he hasn't even had a chance to see it yet!"

Looking at Gao Yuan's innocent and helpless face, Zheng Fa felt that the Seventh Young Master was being a bit of a jerk—he hadn't even laughed this time!

Modern times, Old Man Bai's house.

"Here."

Zheng Fa took out a hidden cup of milk tea from his backpack and handed it to Tang Lingwu, who was beside him. Tang Lingwu took it, inserted a straw, and took a big gulp.

A certain tacit understanding had developed between their actions.

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

Tang Lingwu blinked and looked at Zheng Fa, "You're his master, aren't you going to manage him?"

"Or... should I bring him a cup next time?" Zheng Fa hesitated for a moment, deciding to be fair.

"...Is that why I'm here?" Old Man Bai looked at the bright-eyed Tang Lingwu, then at Zheng Fa, and found him increasingly displeasing. "Who says he's my master? I've been practicing the useless skill he taught me for so long, why haven't I achieved anything?"

It was clear that his initial enthusiasm for martial arts had waned, and he was even showing signs of wanting to betray his master.

Zheng Fa absolutely refused to take the blame. "It's because your aptitude is a bit poor. I estimate it will take you about half a year to even get started."

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

"Me? Ten days, I guess?" Zheng Fa deliberately added the time from both worlds, speaking considerately so as not to overly discourage the old man.

"It sounds like my aptitude is indeed very poor," Old Man Bai nodded, appearing not the least bit dejected.

"Grandpa Bai, aren't you discouraged?"

"Why should I be discouraged?" Old Man Bai waved his hand with a smile. "At my age, why should I care about good or bad aptitude, or how fast I cultivate? When it's time to be open-minded, one must be open-minded!"

Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu nodded, feeling a sense of admiration.

This old man truly had a broad mind and a positive outlook.

"Besides, when Zheng Fa learns mathematics, he's like a monkey that hasn't evolved properly, completely clueless. If he's not discouraged at his age, why should I be?"

"As your master, I will let you experience the power of the Crane Pine Stance today!"

"Heh, I won't hide it from you today! I have a ultimate skill that I've cultivated for sixty years. Once I unleash it, you'll definitely be begging for mercy on your knees!"

"What ultimate skill?" Zheng Fa asked curiously.

The old man then lay back on the chair, clutching his chest, his face contorted. He began to wail, "Help! Someone's attacking me! I can't move!"

Zheng Fa: ...I want to kneel.

"I don't even know if I can live for another six months. It'll take half a year just to get started, that's too long!"

This old man was really starting to have second thoughts.

This wouldn't do!

It doesn't matter if he practices or not, but this free top-tier tutor, Zheng Fa, can't be lost!

When Zheng Fa first started learning topology with Old Man Bai, he genuinely didn't understand. So, Old Man Bai decided to start from high school math.

Although Old Man Bai lacked manners, if you could ignore the insults to your intelligence during his lessons and discern the teachings of a top professor amidst the personal attacks, you would benefit greatly.

It might not be as effective for others, but Zheng Fa's foundation was already very solid; sometimes, all he needed was a word or two.

He couldn't let Old Man Bai's yearning for the martial world settle down!

"Do you know that the Crane Pine Stance you're learning has the ability to prolong life?"

Zheng Fa's tone suddenly deepened a little.

"Prolong life?" Old Man Bai's expression shifted slightly; he was clearly tempted. At his age, it was hard to resist such a lure.

"More than that," Zheng Fa said with a solemn expression. "This Crane Pine Stance is merely an introductory technique for my sect's ultimate skill, the Crane Body Technique. And the Crane Body Technique is a supreme art that allows one to achieve enlightenment through martial arts!"

"Achieve enlightenment through martial arts?"

It was evident that Old Man Bai was somewhat stunned by Zheng Fa's seriousness, but more than that, he was skeptical.

"According to my sect's ancient texts, this Crane Body Technique was an ultimate art comprehended by an ancestor who spent his entire life traversing countless mountains, learning from nature, and imitating all the birds in the world. After mastering the Crane Pine Stance, if you can master the Crane Heart Sutra, you will be able to achieve enlightenment through martial arts and greatly increase your lifespan!"

Thanks to that boastful senior, Zheng Fa found it effortless to trick the old man.

"Traversing countless mountains, comprehending from all the birds in the world? It sounds so mystical?"

Old Man Bai murmured.

"Even more so. I've heard that after this ancestor mastered the Crane Heart Sutra, he ascended and attained the Dao!"

Zheng Fa wasn't exaggerating. The ancestor who created the Crane Heart Sutra had entered the Immortal Sect. Rounding it up, wasn't that basically attaining the Dao?

"Is this achieving enlightenment through martial arts?" Although Old Man Bai didn't believe in ghosts and spirits, he still felt a sense of admiration. "This patriarch was a master with great perseverance and willpower!"

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

"Yes!" The mere mention of prolonging life was enough to sway Old Man Bai.

"If you practice the Crane Pine Stance well, I will accept you as a disciple and teach you the Crane Body Technique!"

"Master! Your disciple is loyal to the sect. I will definitely study diligently and work hard to revitalize our sect in the future!"

Beside them, Tang Lingwu's face gradually showed a look of confusion. "I have a question..."

"Hm?"

"Your sect's ancestor was indeed very impressive. But was it that difficult to comprehend? If we want to see birds or things like that, we have to observe so much. Can't we just go to the zoo?"

"Ah?"

Zheng Fa and Old Man Bai exchanged a glance, feeling that the image of the high-and-mighty sect ancestor they had just built had instantly collapsed.

Tang Lingwu held her milk tea cup and said weakly, "Did I say something wrong? Then... the flower and bird market?"