Overwhelming Memory

Steward Fang's expression shifted from casual at first, to slightly surprised, and then to grave.

Had he really remembered it?!

He performed all twenty movements from the first two forms of Tiger Python Force without a single mistake. Some of the movements were just a little off.

The young master wasn't just a martial arts prodigy—his memory was astonishing, too?!

The third form...

The more Steward Fang watched, the more shocked he became.

In the middle of the courtyard.

Chu Ming strained to kick out his left leg, but a wave of weakness immediately swept through his body.

I can't go on. I remember all the movements, but I don't have the strength to keep going.

He lowered his leg and wiped the sweat from his brow.

Steward Fang's taut face relaxed at once.

He'd made it to the third form. It seemed the young master had forgotten the movements after that.

But to remember three forms after only watching them twice in such a short time—the young master's memory was truly remarkable...

Thinking back to when he first learned Tiger Python Force, he'd spent two whole months practicing diligently every day before he could barely remember and perform twelve forms.

Tiger Python Force grew harder the further one went. At the young master's current pace, he might remember the entire set within a month. With daily practice after that to correct his movements, he might really be able to lay a foundation within half a year and cultivate a body-forging method.

The odds were slim, but there was hope.

He walked to the middle of the courtyard with a smile. "The young master has an excellent memory. Being able to remember three forms and perform them more or less correctly already puts you far ahead of this old servant at your age."

Xiao Shan ran over, too. "Young master, are you all right? Let me help you inside to rest."

Help him again?

Steward Fang's face twitched slightly.

"Fine." This time, Chu Ming didn't refuse. He really had no strength left.

Once inside, he didn't actually rest. He still had to grind away at [Reading].

Reading consumed his energy, but he could sit down and recover his strength while doing it.

[Reading (Minor Mastery): Unforgettable Memory]

[Progress: 52/100]

[Progress: 53/100]

"The young master hasn't rested. He's reading poetry and books again."

"Alas... if only the young master had been this diligent in the past. How could he have ended up like this?" Steward Fang gazed into the distance, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Grandpa Fang, you can stop pretending to be some great master." Xiao Shan didn't spare Steward Fang's pose the slightest consideration. Biting her lip, she said, "The young master is frail. The physician said he has at most half a year to live. How can you still have him practicing martial arts?"

"Is that any way to speak to your elders?" Steward Fang said with an amused laugh. "The Tiger Python Force I taught the young master is the introductory foundation of a body-forging method. If he can master it, he might be able to repair his body..."

"I don't believe it. If that Tiger Python Force is really so useful, why does Grandpa Fang practice it every day, yet your legs keep getting worse?"

Xiao Shan had often watched Steward Fang practice that set of movements.

"..."

"There's no explaining things to a little girl like you."

"By the way, stop offering to help people all the time. Grandpa Fang's legs are perfectly fine!"

Yesterday, he'd said his legs were unsteady only because he'd been too embarrassed to admit the real reason. How could this little girl have taken him seriously?

The next day.

Chu Ming rose early, ate his meat porridge, and began practicing [Wind-Slapping Palm].

[Progress (Minor Mastery): 11/100]

[Progress: 12/100]

After practicing for two and a half hours, his progress reached 35.

During a break, Steward Fang stepped over and asked, "Is the young master not practicing Tiger Python Force anymore?"

"I'll practice it now."

A few days ago, after every half hour of practicing [Wind-Slapping Palm], he'd had to stop and rest for another half hour.

But when he got up this morning, he'd found that both his mental and physical stamina seemed to have improved quite a bit. He'd practiced continuously for an hour, stopping for just a quarter of an hour halfway through.

It was probably because the Tiger Python Force Steward Fang had taught him was starting to work. It really did live up to its reputation as a method for strengthening the body.

Mulling it over, he got up to practice Tiger Python Force.

"This old servant will demonstrate it once more for the young master."

Although the young master had performed three forms yesterday, he might have forgotten some of them overnight.

"No need."

Chu Ming waved his hand and went straight into the opening stance.

Steward Fang remained composed and chuckled softly. "Then this old servant will demonstrate once the young master reaches the fourth form."

Chu Ming performed the movements one by one.

[Tiger Python Body-Forging Technique (Entry Level)]

[Progress: 11/100]

[Progress: 12/100]

As Chu Ming neared the movements where he'd stopped yesterday because he'd run out of strength, Steward Fang slowly rose to his feet. "Young master, this old servant will demonstrate them for you now..."

Before he could finish speaking, the old steward saw the fourth form's movements come one after another from his young master, each one precise, as if he'd practiced them many times.

Then came the fifth form, the sixth, and the seventh...

Gulp...

Only after Chu Ming had performed all twelve forms did Steward Fang's mouth fall slightly open. The wrinkles on his face bunched together, and his once-deep eyes now looked dazed.

"Young master, yesterday didn't you only perform three forms...?"

Chu Ming let both arms hang loose. Performing Tiger Python Force had been tiring, but after completing all twelve forms, he wasn't as exhausted as he'd expected.

It seemed he could do it once more.

At the same time, he'd ground his Tiger Python Force progress up to 36.

A single set of movements could grind out about thirty progress points. If he did it a few times a day, he'd probably advance soon.

"I was out of strength yesterday. I remembered the movements," he replied absentmindedly. After drinking a large bowl of water, he continued practicing.

Tiger Python Force could improve his physical constitution. It was far more worth prioritizing than [Reading] and [Wind-Slapping Palm].

Watching Chu Ming practice Tiger Python Force again, Steward Fang felt his mind reel.

After just two demonstrations, the young master had remembered twelve forms—no fewer than a hundred and twenty complex movements?!

And today, he'd performed them all smoothly on his very first try!

That meant the young master had done in two days... no, one day, what had taken him two whole months?!

He quietly left the small courtyard and went to his room. From beneath the bedboard, he took out some silver and a book bearing the words Tiger Python Body-Forging Technique.

"I'd planned to take Xiao Shan and this silver with me after the young master passed away, leave Willow Town, and spend the rest of my days somewhere no one knew me..."

Steward Fang murmured, "But the young master's talent is so astonishing. If I pretend not to notice, how could I ever repay the madam for saving my life back then..."

"The young master is weak right now and can't withstand medicinal baths to temper his body. I can use this time to find a way to earn some more silver..."

"I hope the young master really can strengthen his body and cultivate Tiger Python Body-Forging Technique."

Willow Town, the Catching Yamen.

"Brother Fang Xiao, you've been here for over a year. I've invited you at least ten times. What finally changed your mind?" asked a middle-aged man in a black constable's uniform, a long saber at his waist.

Fang Xiao lifted his teacup and took a small sip, smiling. "Well, I was moved by Chief Constable Hou's unflagging persistence..."

"No, I mean it. You're really joining us?" Chief Constable Hou asked solemnly.

This old man, though his hair was turning gray and he was getting on in years, had no ordinary background. His fist technique had been extraordinarily skillful back in the day. Even now, there were few in all of Willow Town who could stand against him.

If he really joined the Catching Yamen, things would get a lot easier for him.

Fang Xiao sipped his tea without replying.

"Haha, good, good. Brother Fang Xiao, have some tea, have some tea."