A Thread for the New Art

"What problem?" Tian Buyi asked, somewhat curious.

After Zhang Xiaofan explained, Tian Buyi sighed. "That is precisely why there are no arts like movement techniques. Besides, flying by controlling a magic treasure is faster, so no one has bothered to ponder such a thing as movement technique."

"Little Junior Brother seems to have thought of something. When I was carrying him on my back, he kept muttering things, only I didn't understand a single word." Zhang Xiaofan smiled with a hint of pride.

"What are you so proud of! Even if the technique is created, you won't be the one who created it." Tian Buyi looked at Zhang Xiaofan in amusement and scolded him with a laugh.

"But! It's Little Junior Brother! I knew Little Junior Brother has always been amazing!" Zhang Xiaofan did not take Tian Buyi's teasing to heart at all, and still wore a proud expression.

"All right! Go on, get out!" Tian Buyi waved his hand, somewhat speechless. "Silly boy!"

The next day, everyone sat in the dining hall, waiting and waiting, yet no food was served. Old Sixth, who had gone out to check, came running in in a rush.

Before Tian Buyi could speak, Old Sixth lowered his voice with a strange look on his face and shouted, "Master! Something happened to Little Junior Brother again!"

"Something happened again?" Everyone was curious.

"The whole room is full of paper!"

"Speak clearly! What do you mean, the whole room is full of paper?" Tian Buyi glared at Old Sixth, both anxious and irritated.

"I went to the kitchen and didn't see Seventh Junior Brother, so I went to their room to look for him. I found the whole room was full of paper. Seventh Junior Brother was tucked into the corner of the bed, and apart from where he was, every other place was paper! Little Junior Brother was writing something nonstop there, throwing sheet after sheet all over the room. I originally wanted to go in, but Seventh Junior Brother signaled me not to enter. I knew Master and the rest of you were waiting for news, so I came back," Old Sixth said quickly.

"What is that little brat messing with now?" With a sweep of his broad sleeve, Tian Buyi rose and walked toward the two little ones' room.

"This..." Arriving before the room, seeing that beyond the already open door the inside was completely occupied by paper, Old Fourth stooped down and picked up a sheet from the doorway. He saw that it was covered in Eight Trigrams symbols, along with some broken, disjointed words and phrases.

"Can you make anything out?" Tian Buyi swept a glance over the paper in He Dazhi's hand and instantly shifted his gaze away.

"Ghost-drawn talismans"! Who knew whether it tested one's intelligence or one's eyesight!

"It seems to be something like positions and directions. What is Little Junior Brother trying to do?" After furrowing his brow and thinking for a moment, Old Fourth replied.

As for the so-called words and phrases on those sheets, He the Fourth had only guessed at them. If he could actually understand his little junior brother's handwriting, then there would be ghosts.

Even the directions were something he had guessed by looking at those symbols on the paper that resembled the Eight Trigrams.

"It seems he's taken me on, saying he's going to create a movement technique!" Tian Buyi said, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

"A movement technique? Isn't there that contradictory problem? Can Little Junior Brother solve it?" Old Fourth turned his head sharply in surprise to look at Tian Buyi, hoping to receive an affirmative answer.

"Oh! You know about this problem too?" Tian Buyi looked curiously at his fourth disciple.

"Master! You know this. I like reading most in ordinary times. So I have also read some miscellaneous books full of strange thoughts and wild ideas. I remember there were some records like this on a certain scroll," Old Fourth replied with a smile.

After hearing this, Tian Buyi did not ask any further. Instead, through the window, he saw Zhang Xiaofan repeatedly signaling to them not to come in, or they would disturb Luo Yunji.

Tian Buyi waved his hand and let everyone disperse.

"Old Sixth, let's go to the kitchen." Eldest dragged Old Sixth toward the kitchen.

Another two days passed like this. During that time, the little fatty was actually able to think while walking up to Zhang Xiaofan, opening his mouth to ask for food.

Fortunately, there was enough food Luo Yunji had hidden in the secret compartment, so the two of them were not starved.

"How is it?" Tian Buyi asked Old Sixth, who had returned from gathering news.

"It still seems about the same, but I saw Seventh Junior Brother come out!" As he spoke, they saw Zhang Xiaofan walk in.

"How is your little junior brother now?" Tian Buyi looked at Zhang Xiaofan and asked with some worry.

"The technique seems to have gained some direction. This morning I saw Little Junior Brother smile. I think it should be soon!" Zhang Xiaofan replied respectfully.

"Then what did you come out for? Hurry back and keep watch over your little junior brother!" Tian Buyi was startled inwardly, but what he felt more was worry for the health of this little disciple of his, who was muddleheaded at times and monstrous at others.

"Master... I came to look for some food!" Zhang Xiaofan replied rather awkwardly.

"Then remember to take plenty back with you." Tian Buyi coughed and then hurriedly reminded him.

"Yes!" With that, Zhang Xiaofan went to the kitchen and busied himself for a long time before carrying a basket of food back.

Old Sixth then slipped into the kitchen afterward. Seeing that there was still some food left in the pots and bowls that had not been packed away, he tasted it, and tears streamed down his face.

"Mother of mine, Seventh Junior Brother's cooking skills have improved again!"

It was too delicious, and he had not even left a little more!

Another two days passed. The little fatty who was the "focus of countless eyes" finally came out of the room, pulled Zhang Xiaofan along, and ran straight into the kitchen.

By the time everyone received the news and hurried over, only some clean pots, bowls, ladles, and basins were left behind. The two of them had vanished to who knew where.

"The stove is still warm!" Old Fourth said after placing his hand on the stove to test it.

"Too disloyal! They only left this little!" Old Sixth swept all the remaining food from the pots and bowls into his mouth and complained.

Everyone drooped their eyes one after another and looked at him with contempt!

They had not eaten Zhang Xiaofan's delicious cooking for many days already.

They had not felt it before, but now, eating Old Sixth's cooking again...

Damn it! What difference was there between this and pig slop? Even Big Yellow disdained it!

"Like this?" At the secret stronghold, on the open ground before the bamboo hut, Zhang Xiaofan followed the key points Luo Yunji had described, stepping forward, each step more awkward than the last, each step harder to take than the one before.

Within five steps, he was bound to fall!

"Senior Brother!" Seeing that Zhang Xiaofan kept failing to walk properly, the little fatty grew anxious. Somewhat angry, he shouted loudly at Zhang Xiaofan, who had fallen onto his backside on the ground.

"Sorry! I... I'll try again!" Zhang Xiaofan said, somewhat embarrassed, hurriedly putting on a fawning smile as he climbed to his feet and continued stepping through the footwork.

The little fatty puffed out his cheeks and looked unhappily at Zhang Xiaofan, whose figure was still clumsy.

"Wrong! That step was half an inch too far!" the little fatty shouted angrily.

"Junior Brother! Is this really a movement technique? But I keep falling down!" Zhang Xiaofan scratched the back of his head and asked, somewhat troubled.

"Are you doubting my technique?" Luo Yunji widened his big eyes and glared at Zhang Xiaofan.

"No... no! I... I'll keep practicing!"

Time slowly flowed by as Zhang Xiaofan kept falling down and climbing back up.

After a full month, Zhang Xiaofan was finally able to take the eighth step according to Luo Yunji's requirements, but even so, the little fatty was still dissatisfied. Because this beginner movement technique had twelve steps in total, and this was only the footwork!

During that time, Zhang Xiaofan had asked Luo Yunji why he did not practice it himself. Luo Yunji looked down at his own body, his face full of gloom, and muttered, "Too tiring!"

Zhang Xiaofan smiled and rubbed his head. "I'll definitely help you catch that monkey!"

The little fatty instantly became happy.