Granddaughter

Eighth District, Ankang Oncology Specialist Hospital.

The old man in the hospital gown walked out just like that, and no one tried to stop him. The hospital wasn't a prison, after all; no one managed the patients' comings and goings.

In fact, many patients desperately wanted to stay.

The spirited old man stood on the street, lost in thought.

"So, where should I go now?"

Zhang Fusheng was a little troubled.

Was his granddaughter really that Zhong Yue?

Headache.

"Go back to the hospital?" Zhang Fusheng muttered to himself, then immediately rejected the idea. It would look too strange, someone who was supposed to be in the morgue according to hospital records suddenly being alive and well.

He pondered if he had left any traces.

All surveillance was shut down, he wore a mask the entire time. Only Dean Long was still alive.

But Dean Long didn't know who he was.

He glanced at the time. It was only five in the afternoon. He had until eleven to get to the clinic; that's when the back alleys started to get lively, and it was time to pay the protection money.

Zhang Fusheng bought a cheap wooden cane from a small shop on the street and headed in the direction of the Snake Fist Gym.

"Real name, appearance, identity."

"Actually, appearance is enough. Real name and identity aren't that necessary, but just in case."

On the way, Zhang Fusheng's mind raced. The 'hierarchy' of this world was probably very high.

The top Martial Artists of the Twelve Refinements alone possessed immense strength exceeding ten thousand jin. The perfected meditation technique already had the ability to influence reality.

And above the Twelve Refinements of Martial Artists, the [Martial Arts Masters] were rumored to be 'beyond human.'

The internet said that Martial Artists and Martial Arts Masters were 'superhumans' who could exhale white light, have their internal organs erupt with thunder, their Blood Essence manifest like tides, and their eyes gleam with divine light.

Zhang Fusheng didn't know what levels existed above Martial Arts Masters.

But there had to be a path, perhaps a very long one.

"In a world like this, perhaps there are methods related to karma, or abilities that can track someone through their real name."

Looking at the scenery outside the taxi window, the elderly-looking Zhang Fusheng mused.

If that was the case, then if he encountered people and things of that caliber, and they were investigating 'Zhong Shan,' they would only find 'Zhong Shan.'

Because he had bought Zhong Shan's identity, or rather, his karma.

He planned to conduct all future transactions using Zhong Shan's identity. That way, if he was exposed, he could simply abandon that persona.

"[Tiger Roar Fist progress] is currently unknown. Body tempering has been done for about fifty years. The Breathing Technique and meditation technique have also been practiced for about sixty years."

"These 'years' were not spent practicing nonstop. In reality, Zhong Shan spent about two hours each day on various practices."

Zhang Fusheng calculated silently. The Tiger Roar Fist progress and body tempering time could be directly integrated, but the other two needed to be put on hold for now.

He estimated that sixty years of practice of the Breathing Technique wouldn't necessarily advance the Spring Thunder Technique to Perfection even if applied to himself. The same applied to the meditation technique.

His own aptitude was still quite poor. Using them now would be somewhat wasteful.

These two could be kept as 'trading chips' for now.

Of course, there was one more thing: the transaction with Zhong Shan had to be completed within a month. This meant that the girl named Zhong Yue had to achieve entry-level in the meditation technique.

Zhang Fusheng planned to first try guiding her himself. If that didn't work, he would have to 'sell' her some Contemplation Time.

And then there was [Clearing the Sect].

This was something Zhang Fusheng had gifted to Zhong Shan.

"Using your body to bear your karma."

"According to the feedback from the pact, if this delayed transaction is not completed, the transaction gains will be reclaimed. Fortunately, there are no penalties."

As his thoughts swirled, the taxi slowly came to a stop.

"Old man, we're here at the Snake Fist Gym. It's twenty-one yuan, but twenty is fine."

He paid and got out.

Outside the Snake Fist Gym, several salespeople were still handing out flyers. Among them was that little girl named Zhong Yue.

Zhang Fusheng didn't actually know if this was Zhong Shan's granddaughter, but he decided to try.

If not, he would have to sneak back into the hospital and check the records again. Oh well.

It was Zhong Shan's granddaughter.

He saw Zhong Yue looking at him and freezing in place.

"G-Grandpa?"

The little girl rushed over like a gust of wind and threw herself into the old man's arms, heedless of the onlookers, sobbing loudly.

"Grandpa!!"

"Good, don't cry." The old man gently patted the girl's back. He didn't know what to do either; after all, this was his first time being a 'Grandpa'.

Zhong Yue sobbed and looked up, staring at Grandpa's familiar, ruddy face, her eyes turning redder.

"They said you were already dead, and your ashes were scattered into the Jiangzhou River."

The old man didn't answer, gently patting her head.

Zhong Yue wiped her tears.

"I'm going to ask for leave!"

She ran back to the Martial Arts Academy and soon returned in a hurry, pulling Zhang Fusheng's hand.

"Grandpa, let's go home!"

"I want to ask that bitch, face to face!"

Zhang Fusheng stopped her and said calmly, "Xiao Yue."

"We're not going back. That's not Grandpa's home."

Zhong Yue was stunned, her eyes turning red again.

"It's okay, Grandpa. I've moved out too. I'm working at the gym now, and the benefits are great. I can even learn boxing for free, but Senior Brother Wang, who teaches, isn't as good at boxing as Grandpa."

She held Zhang Fusheng's hand as they walked, chattering about everything that had happened in her life.

From her college entrance exam results to her two recent jobs, then to the crescent moon last night and the butterfly this morning.

And then to the mysterious guest she'd just met, who was stubborn and tough but could deliver a two-thousand-jin force.

She told him everything, poured out her heart, like someone reuniting after a long separation.

They walked until they reached an old noodle shop.

"Boss, two bowls of noodles, the usual!"

"Coming right up, Xiao Yue is off work. Oh, Old Zhong?" The boss was surprised. "Are you... recovered?"

Zhang Fusheng smiled.

"Heaven has been kind. I'm almost fully recovered."

"I knew it!" The boss exclaimed in amazement. "A good person like you must have good karma. I'll go get them!"

A moment later, two steaming bowls of noodles were served.

"On the house, my treat today!" The boss said heartily, then knowingly walked away.

"Grandpa, you love this noodle shop the most."

Zhang Fusheng tried a small bite. There was a bit too much chili, and it wasn't quite to his taste, but he didn't show it, slowly eating the noodles.

Zhong Yue also buried her head, slurping the noodles. The freshly cooked hot noodles made her eyes water again from the steam.

"Xiao Yue, have you started the meditation technique?"

"Not yet, Grandpa. I've been too busy lately. I'll work hard for this next month and try to get started with the meditation technique before school starts. Then, I'll see if I can transfer to the Martial Arts Department."

While eating, she continued to mumble her stories, and Zhang Fusheng listened patiently.

After finishing their noodles, the grandfather and granddaughter walked side-by-side on the street. It was past seven o'clock, and the sky was getting dark. The setting sun cast its glow on the long street, and the summer breeze, nearing night, had become cool.

Zhong Yue held her Grandpa's hand, walking from one end of the street to the other, and then back again.

"Xiao Yue, Grandpa has some things to take care of later." Zhang Fusheng stroked her head.

"On my sickbed, Grandpa had several epiphanies. I made great progress with the meditation technique. In a few days, I'll try to guide you into it."

"En!"

Zhong Yue nodded vigorously, then fiercely hugged the old man once more.

After a long while.

She whispered, "Grandpa. He's really dead, isn't he?"

Zhang Fusheng's pupils constricted sharply. Just as he was about to say something, he heard the little girl sobbing.

"Grandpa never calls me Xiao Yue, he always calls me Good Girl."

"When I hugged Grandpa, his body was so soft and warm, not so stiff."

"Grandpa also hated that noodle shop the most."

"But... thank you anyway."

The words on Zhang Fusheng's lips froze.

She didn't ask who Zhang Fusheng was, nor why he looked exactly like Grandpa and was impersonating him.

She just quietly hugged 'Grandpa' like this.

After another long while.

"Grandpa is too sick and has forgotten many things, but he still remembers you," Zhang Fusheng said softly. "Grandpa is still Grandpa."

The little girl didn't answer, only softly asking, "Grandpa, are you coming again tomorrow?"

"Grandpa has some things to attend to, I'll come in a few days."

"Okay, Grandpa, I'll wait for you."

She turned and ran off. At this moment, it was the true boundary between day and night. Only half of the sun remained, and the moon had already appeared on the other side.

She ran towards the moon, not looking back.

The old man felt a sting in his nose and his eyes reddened. His heart felt heavy.

These weren't his emotions; they belonged to Zhong Shan.

Zhang Fusheng sighed softly.