Taking Zhu Zhuqing as a Disciple (1 / 2)

On Shrek's Back Mountain stood a Wisteria Grove.

A cool night breeze swept through, swaying the clustered blossoms like purple waterfalls cascading from ancient trees, a breathtaking sight.

The distinctive fragrance of wisteria was cloyingly rich, weighing on the chest until it felt stifling.

Tang San strolled into the Wisteria Grove.

He stood beneath the trellis with his back to the path, only turning slowly when Zhu Zhuqing approached.

"Zhu Zhuqing." He smiled. "What did my teacher talk to you about today?"

Zhu Zhuqing stopped and glanced at him. "Teacher Li was only giving me pointers on my movement techniques."

"That's all?"

"Mm... we also had tea."

"Tea, huh." Tang San softly repeated the words, his voice so tender that water could have been wrung from it.

His gaze wandered leisurely over Zhu Zhuqing's face. "I can tell that Teacher seems quite fond of you..."

"So, do you want to become his disciple?"

Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for a moment, pursing her lips, hesitation showing on her face.

If Tang San had asked her this before Li Hanqiu sought her out today...

She would have refused without a moment's hesitation. But after spending time talking with Li Hanqiu today, Zhu Zhuqing had discovered that he seemed rather decent...

The wind swept past, and the wisteria blossoms rustled.

"Teacher has very high standards for his disciples." Tang San tilted his head, his smile sweet and innocent. "Zhu Zhuqing, you... still have a long way to go."

He spoke very lightly, his tone soft, but the wariness in his eyes unmistakably revealed what was in his heart.

At those words, Zhu Zhuqing's eyelashes trembled slightly.

"A long way to go?"

"That's right." Tang San stepped forward twice, clasping his hands behind his back and deliberately imitating Li Hanqiu's usual mannerisms.

"Although we've never sparred, there's no question that, judging by the strength you've shown so far, you probably couldn't even last ten moves against me, could you?"

Tang San gave a lilting laugh. "Don't overthink it, Zhu Zhuqing. I'm only stating the facts. Besides, Teacher is so exceptional. How could he have time to teach someone... who has nothing to do with him?"

Zhu Zhuqing listened, her face as cold and expressionless as ever.

Yet something seemed to sink slowly within those feline eyes.

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head, her small hands clenching into fists, her whole body trembling faintly.

Tang San's beautiful eyes brightened, thinking he had persuaded her.

So he continued, "That's why, if Teacher comes looking for you again, I hope you'll know what's good for you, Zhu Zhuqing. Don't-"

"I won't accept that."

Zhu Zhuqing suddenly interrupted, determination surging in her eyes.

Tang San froze, his expression stiffening. "Wh-what did you say?!"

"You say I have a long way to go. You say I'm not worthy of Li Hanqiu. Then I'm going to try anyway. I'm going to become his disciple."

Zhu Zhuqing raised her head and stared at him, enunciating every word. "I'll make him tell me himself that I'm outstanding, that I'm his finest disciple!"

"I'll make him say with his own mouth that I'm a more gifted disciple than you, Tang San!"

The smile on Tang San's face turned colder little by little. "What did you say!"

Tang San gritted his teeth as he looked at the stubborn girl before him, waves of anger rising in his heart.

He had meant to discourage Zhu Zhuqing, to make her retreat before the difficulties and stop setting her sights on Li Hanqiu.

How had this catgirl ended up digging her heels in instead?

Having said her piece, Zhu Zhuqing ignored Tang San, turned, and slowly walked away beneath the moonlight.

Tang San watched the girl's dark silhouette gradually melt into the deep night, his brows tightly knitted, his mind awash with irritation.

The next day, at the training grounds.

Li Hanqiu was giving Tang San pointers on his Blue Silver Grass's Entanglement technique when he looked up and saw Zhu Zhuqing standing at the edge of the grounds.

Instead of finding a corner to train by herself as usual, she walked straight up to him and tilted her delicate face upward.

"Teacher Li."

"Hmm?"

"I'd like to exchange a few moves with you, so you can point out my shortcomings."

Li Hanqiu set down the teapot in his hand and looked at her in puzzlement.

"Why do you suddenly want to practice with me today?"

"I want to know just how far behind I am, because... you're the finest teacher."

Li Hanqiu scratched his head, doubts stirring within him.

After their in-depth conversation yesterday, Li Hanqiu had expected the girl's attitude toward him to improve somewhat.

But he hadn't expected it to improve this much.

Li Hanqiu instinctively looked back at Tang San. Without even raising his head, Tang San was practicing controlling his Blue Silver Grass, as though he hadn't heard a thing.

But a moment later, Tang San lifted his face, his smile blooming like a flower.

"Since Zhu Zhuqing has come to ask for your guidance, Teacher, please go ahead. There's no rush with me."

Li Hanqiu nodded and told Tang San to practice on his own for now; he would come back to him shortly.

Then he stood and rolled up his sleeves. "Come on, Zhu Zhuqing. Don't hold back."

The two put some distance between them.

Zhu Zhuqing drew a deep breath and attacked first.

Her figure flickered like a phantom, her steps flashing so swiftly that the naked eye could scarcely track her movements.

A smile lingered at the corner of Li Hanqiu's mouth, his feet unmoving.

Yet each time Zhu Zhuqing's claw blades were about to touch him, he shifted half an inch aside.

Never more, never less, he always let her attacks skim the hem of his clothes and miss.

Zhu Zhuqing breathed deeply, her movements growing even more agile.

She twisted at the waist and feinted, taking advantage of Li Hanqiu reaching out to defend.

Zhu Zhuqing feinted again, dropping low and skimming along the ground to attack his lower body, driving straight beneath his ribs.

If this strike landed, it would be a killing blow.

Not a ripple stirred in Li Hanqiu's eyes.

Even Holy Light Ao, beneath the shade of a nearby tree, merely yawned without making the slightest move to help.

Faced with Zhu Zhuqing's successive feints, Li Hanqiu shook his head and ignored them all.

His left palm suddenly shot out, stopping in the path of Zhu Zhuqing's true attack. He lightly caught her wrist, then pushed.

Zhu Zhuqing's entire arm was deflected, and her body tilted two inches to the side.

The next instant, a hand stopped before her throat.

"Zhu Zhuqing, you've improved nicely. It seems you've put quite a bit of private practice into what I taught you yesterday."

Zhu Zhuqing panted, fragrant sweat glistening in the hollow of her neck, her body trembling slightly.

She had used almost all her Soul Skills, yet she hadn't even forced Li Hanqiu to reveal his Martial Soul.

The strength Li Hanqiu displayed left Zhu Zhuqing utterly convinced.

At the same time, her last trace of hesitation crumbled, and she made up her mind.

Just then, Li Hanqiu spoke calmly.

"Zhu Zhuqing, your second Soul Skill has good speed, but you aren't bringing out even half its power." Li Hanqiu withdrew his hand, his tone even.

"Why?"

Zhu Zhuqing looked up and said between breaths, "Because... I'm afraid I won't be able to rein in my strength, and it'll affect my maneuvering."

"So you think it's better to fight while holding back your strength?" Li Hanqiu explained gently.

"You're cutting nearly half the power from your fastest, strongest offensive Soul Skill. What purpose does that serve?"

Zhu Zhuqing froze, listening as Li Hanqiu continued.

"With every claw strike, you unconsciously ease off when you're half an inch from your target." Li Hanqiu turned away. "You're afraid you won't be able to rein in your strength, compromising your posture and movement. That's good."

"But you need to understand, Zhu Zhuqing: you're following the agility attack path. An agility attacker must either subdue the enemy in a single move or counter movement with stillness."

He took two steps, then stopped again.

"I can see that you don't lack ferocity. What you lack is the ability to meld ferocity with precision."

"Your greatest problem right now is precise control of your strength."

Zhu Zhuqing stood where she was, chewing over Li Hanqiu's words again and again.

She suddenly realized that, after only a brief exchange, Li Hanqiu had pinpointed her problem in a single remark.

Li Hanqiu, just how far can those eyes of yours see...

Wind swept through the grounds, stirring fine dust.

Zhu Zhuqing straightened, not a trace of hesitation remaining in her eyes.

Without a word, she took one step forward.

Then she dropped to both knees.

"Teacher!"

Zhu Zhuqing lifted her face, her expression earnest and solemn.

"Please accept me as your disciple!"

With that, Zhu Zhuqing knocked her forehead hard against the ground, resolute and without the slightest hesitation.

Li Hanqiu blinked, looking at Zhu Zhuqing as she remained kneeling on the ground.

For a moment, his head buzzed.

What's going on?

Did I somehow get out of bed wrong today?

As Li Hanqiu understood it, Zhu Zhuqing was cool and aloof, but once she committed to something, she would never change her mind.

Precisely because of that, she wouldn't make decisions lightly; she thought everything over repeatedly before making up her mind.

And precisely because of that, Li Hanqiu had prepared to spend a long time slowly "winning Zhu Zhuqing over."

Yet he had barely settled on his plan when Zhu Zhuqing asked to become his disciple.

Li Hanqiu's expression grew complicated. Only after a long while did he ask tentatively, "Did someone say something to you? Or did you figure things out yourself?"

Zhu Zhuqing fell silent briefly, then, after a little hesitation, answered clearly.

"Last night, after I parted ways with you, Teacher, Tang San... came to see me."

Li Hanqiu drew out a long "Oh," a look of realization dawning on his face.

He had clearly misunderstood something, assuming that Tang San had gone to persuade Zhu Zhuqing to become his disciple on his behalf.

"That boy." Li Hanqiu shook his head, smiling. "Usually so quiet, yet he knows how to play the persuader for me."

He reached out with both hands and helped Zhu Zhuqing up.

"Get up. Since this is what you want, I certainly won't refuse."

"From today onward, you are my disciple!"

The moment his words fell...

That long-absent, icy voice rang out in his mind.

[Disciple accepted successfully: Zhu Zhuqing (female).]

[Manga Grandmaster System: Distributing rewards.]

[Reward: Host's Soul Power +3 levels.]

[Reward: Age of all the host's Soul Rings +500 years.]

[Reward: Netherworld Eyes, greatly enhancing the host's dynamic vision and ability to track rapidly moving targets. Also grants the host night vision!]