The next day, Zhou Qi sat cross-legged on his bed, meditating.
Footsteps sounded outside again, and a voice had just begun to call, "Senior, your meal..."
Before the words were finished, the door opened. Zhou Qi took the tray and set it on the table.
Little Douzi froze, just about to leave.
Then a voice came from behind him, stopping him in his tracks.
"You watched me practice my fist technique before. How many moves did you learn?"
Little Douzi stiffened, a flicker of panic crossing his face.
"I... I wasn't watching... I just..."
Zhou Qi cut him off. "Mountain-Splitting Fist, first form. Show me."
Little Douzi stood there blankly for a moment, then assumed the opening stance.
He threw a punch.
It looked fairly convincing.
Zhou Qi nodded. "Second form."
Another punch.
The force was weaker, but the movement was still fairly standard.
"Third form."
Little Douzi hesitated, then gritted his teeth and threw another punch.
This punch was clearly awkward, and his exertion of force was wrong as well, but the stance itself was correct.
A trace of surprise flashed through Zhou Qi's eyes.
This kid really had some talent.
He rose to his feet and walked over to Little Douzi.
"Starting tomorrow, stay for half an hour after delivering the food each day."
He looked at Little Douzi and spoke each word with deliberate clarity.
"I'll only teach it once. How much you learn will depend on your own fortune."
Little Douzi froze for an instant, then was overjoyed. He was about to kneel and kowtow again.
Zhou Qi grabbed him.
"I'm not taking a disciple. I'm only giving you some pointers."
Little Douzi nodded hard, tears welling up in his eyes again.
"I understand! I understand! Thank you, Senior!"
He turned and ran. At the doorway,