Granddaughter

Eighth District, Ankang Oncology Specialist Hospital.

The old man in a hospital gown simply walked out. No one stepped forward to stop him; a hospital was not a prison, and no one cared where patients came or went.

In fact, plenty of patients shamelessly begged to stay.

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

"So, where should I go now?"

Zhang Fusheng was somewhat troubled.

And was that girl really Zhong Yue, his granddaughter?

Headache.

"Go back to the hospital?" Zhang Fusheng muttered to himself, then decisively rejected the idea. It would look far too strange—someone who had been sent to the Quasi-Morgue in the hospital records suddenly bursting with life.

He considered whether he had left behind any loose ends.

All the surveillance cameras had been shut down, and he had kept his face covered the entire time. Only Dean Long was still alive.

But he did not know who Zhang Fusheng was either.

He checked the time. It was only five in the afternoon. As long as he reached the clinic before eleven, it would be fine. That was when the dark alley began to bustle, and when the regular tribute was handed over.

Zhang Fusheng bought a cheap wooden cane from a roadside shop and headed toward the Snake Fist Gym.

"True name, appearance, identity."

"Actually, appearance alone should be enough. A true name and identity aren't necessary, but better safe than sorry."

Along the way, Zhang Fusheng's thoughts churned like a thousand waves. This world's "level" was likely very high.

The mere top martial artists of the Twelve Refinements possessed strength exceeding ten thousand jin, while a Great Accomplishment Visualization Method already had the ability to affect reality.

And above the Twelve Refinements of Martial Artists, Martial Arts Masters were said to have become "no longer human."

Online, it was said that martial artists and Martial Arts Masters alike were "superhumans" who could spit white light, unleash thunder from their five viscera, manifest their qi and blood like a tide, and glare out divine radiance from their eyes.

Zhang Fusheng did not know what realms lay beyond Martial Arts Masters.

But there had to be a road ahead—perhaps a very long one.

"In a world like this, there might be methods involving karma. Or abilities that trace someone through their true name."

Watching the scenery beyond the taxi window, Zhang Fusheng, wearing the guise of an old man, sank into thought.

In that case, if people or things at that level truly existed, and if he truly encountered them, then when they investigated "Zhong Shan," all they would find would be "Zhong Shan."

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

He planned to conduct all future transactions under Zhong Shan's identity. That way, if he was exposed, he could simply abandon this face.

"[Tiger Roar Fist progress] is unclear for now. There's roughly fifty years of body tempering, while the Breathing Technique and Visualization Method have both been practiced for around sixty years."

"Those 'years' weren't spent practicing without rest all year round. In truth, Zhong Shan spent about two hours a day on each."

Zhang Fusheng silently calculated. The Tiger Roar Fist progress and body-tempering time could be fused directly, but the other two needed to wait.

Even if those sixty years of Breathing Technique cultivation were used on himself, they might not be enough to push the Spring Thunder Technique to Perfection. The Visualization Method was the same.

His aptitude was still terrible, after all. Using them now would be somewhat wasteful.

Those two could be kept as "trading chips" for now.

Of course, there was another point. To complete the transaction with Zhong Shan within a month, that girl named Zhong Yue had to get started in the Visualization Method.

Zhang Fusheng planned to first see whether he could guide her into the basics himself. If that failed, he would have no choice but to "sell" her Contemplation Time.

And, of course, there was [Clearing the Sect].

That was Zhang Fusheng's gift to Zhong Shan.

"Borrowing your body, I bear your karma."

"According to the Contract Book's feedback, if this kind of delayed transaction is not fulfilled, everything gained from the trade will be reclaimed. Fortunately, there's no punishment."

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

"Sir, we're at the Snake Fist Gym. 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 the little girl named Zhong Yue.

Zhang Fusheng did not actually know whether she was Zhong Shan's granddaughter, but there was no harm in trying.

If she was not, he would sneak back into the hospital and pull the records again. Fine.

She was Zhong Shan's granddaughter.

He saw Zhong Yue spot him and freeze where she stood.

"G-Grandpa?"

Like a gust of wind, the girl rushed over and threw herself fiercely into the old man's arms. Without the slightest care for the eyes of passersby, she burst into loud sobs.

"Grandpa!!"

"Good girl, don't cry." The old man gently patted the girl's back. In truth, he did not know what to do either; after all, this was his first time being a "grandfather."

Zhong Yue sniffled and raised her head. Staring at her grandfather's familiar, rosy face, her eyes reddened even more.

"They said you were already dead. They said your ashes had even been scattered into the Jiangzhou River."

The old man did not answer, merely lightly patting her head.

Zhong Yue wiped away her tears.

"I'll go ask for leave!"

She ran back to the Martial Arts Academy. Before long, she hurried back in a fluster, grabbed Zhang Fusheng's hand, and said,

"Grandpa, let's go home!"

"I'm going to ask that bitch. I'm going to ask her to her face!"

Zhang Fusheng stopped her and said calmly,

"Xiao Yue."

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

Zhong Yue froze, her eyes reddening again.

"It's okay, Grandpa. I moved out too. I work at the gym now, and the benefits are great. I can even learn martial arts for free. But Senior Brother Wang, who teaches us, isn't as good at boxing as Grandpa."

Holding Zhang Fusheng's hand, she walked and chattered endlessly, telling him about every little thing that had happened around her.

From her college entrance exam scores, to the two jobs she had changed recently, then last night's crescent moon and the butterfly from this morning.

Then there was the mysterious customer she had just met—smelly and stubborn, yet capable of throwing a punch with two thousand jin of force.

She told him everything, poured out everything, like anyone reunited after a long separation.

They walked all the way to an old noodle shop.

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

"Coming right up! Xiao Yue, off work already? Oh, Old Zhong?" The owner was taken aback. "You... you're better now?"

Zhang Fusheng smiled.

"Heaven has watched over me. I'm mostly recovered."

"I knew it!" The owner clicked his tongue in amazement. "A good man like you is bound to be rewarded well. I'll get the noodles going!"

Before long, two steaming bowls of noodles were brought over.

"Free today, it's on me!" The owner patted his chest in a grand manner, then tactfully walked away.

"Grandpa, this noodle shop is your favorite."

Zhang Fusheng tried a small bite. There was a little too much chili, and it did not suit his palate very well, but he did not show it and slowly ate his noodles.

Zhong Yue also lowered her head and slurped her noodles. The freshly cooked hot noodles sent steam rushing into her face, making her eyes redden once more.

"Xiao Yue, have you gotten started in the Visualization Method yet?"

"Not yet, Grandpa. I've been too busy lately. I'll work hard over the next month or so and try to get started in the Visualization Method before school begins. Then I'll see if I can transfer into the Martial Arts Department."

As she ate, she continued recounting all those little bits and pieces in a muffled voice. Zhang Fusheng listened patiently.

After finishing their noodles, grandfather and granddaughter strolled side by side down the street. It was already past seven, and the sky was gradually darkening. Sunset light spilled across the long street, while the summer breeze nearing night had turned cool.

Zhong Yue held her grandfather's hand as they walked from one end of the street to the other, then from the other end back to the first.

"Xiao Yue, Grandpa still has some matters to handle later." Zhang Fusheng stroked her head.

"While lying in that hospital bed, Grandpa had a few moments of enlightenment. I made great breakthroughs in the Visualization Method. In a few days, I'll see if I can guide you into the basics."

"Mm!"

Zhong Yue nodded hard, then fiercely embraced the old man once more.

For a long time.

She softly said,

"Grandpa... really died, didn't he?"

Zhang Fusheng's pupils suddenly shrank. Just as he was about to say something, he heard the girl sobbing.

"Grandpa never called me Xiao Yue. He always called me his good girl."

"When I hugged Grandpa, his body was so soft, so soft. It wouldn't be this stiff."

"And Grandpa hated this noodle shop most of all."

"But... thank you anyway."

The words at Zhang Fusheng's lips stalled.

She did not ask who Zhang Fusheng really was. Nor did she ask why he looked exactly like her grandfather, or why he was pretending to be him.

She simply held "Grandpa" quietly.

After another long while.

"Grandpa was very sick and forgot many things, but he still remembers you." Zhang Fusheng said softly. "Grandpa is still Grandpa."

The girl did not answer. She only whispered,

"Grandpa, will you come again tomorrow?"

"Grandpa has some things to do. I'll come back in a few days."

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

She turned and ran away. This was the true dividing line between day and night: only half the sun remained, while the moon had already risen on the other side.

She ran toward the moon without looking back.

The old man felt his nose sting, his eyes redden, and his heart clog up tight.

These were not his emotions. They belonged to Zhong Shan.

Zhang Fusheng let out a soft sigh.