Early in the morning on my second day back at Qingyang Temple, I went to practice with my master right on time again.
While I had been away, I had already experienced the benefits of training.
When I took Li Ruyue home, someone attacked me outside her door. In the past, I would have taken at least a couple of knife wounds.
This time, though, not only had I managed to put up some resistance, I had even scared the man off. I felt rather pleased with myself.
With that positive feedback, I naturally felt even more motivated to train.
Zhang Rong, however, had been recuperating at the Daoist temple lately. Probably out of boredom, he sat there playing games while I trained, occasionally showing off that he did not have to practice.
Today, my master had to teach the young senior disciples, both boys and girls, so he had no time to supervise me. He called Zhang Rong over.
"Zhang Rong, supervise your junior brother for me."
"If he slacks off, whip him."
With that, my master handed Zhang Rong the whip and left.
Zhang Rong held the whip and grinned at me.
"Junior brother, this was what I went through as a kid."
"But now Master doesn't have to force me to train anymore. Heh-heh."
"That move of yours-let me tell you, your form still isn't quite right."
"Yeah, that's it. You need to squat a little lower."
He crossed his legs, glanced around, then took out a cigarette and lit it.
I thought he must have been born with a rebellious streak. He had been caught over a hundred times, yet he still dared to smoke here.
"Senior brother, would it kill you not to smoke?"
"Yes."
He grew solemn and righteous. "Making a man quit smoking-what