Zhang Teng lowered his head, his fists clenched, resentment and frustration churning in his heart as he glanced toward the direction Zhang Xiaoxiao had left.
There was also a trace of despair toward the Zhang Household.
Only after a long while... did he speak.
"I was cold and heartless, so ruthless toward my own relatives. Master, you must be terribly disappointed in me, right?"
Lin Bei smiled faintly and patted Zhang Teng on the shoulder.
"You're a good child... severing ties with them was also a way of protecting them."
"Besides... those who cultivate the Dao seek an unburdened mind! Remember how you feel right now. If you want to overcome it, you must work even harder at your cultivation."
Then Lin Bei added another remark.
"Whether it's the Zhang Household or the Nanyang Zhou Clan... if they burden your mind, what's wrong with casting them aside like worn-out shoes?"
"Some things must be cut off when the time comes! If your mind remains burdened, tell yourself this is your master's command!"
Zhang Teng could no longer hold himself together, and tears streamed down his face.
"Master... your disciple will obey!"
Seeing Zhang Teng's heartfelt sincerity, Lin Bei felt a little ashamed.
Truthfully, he had partly intended to win the young man's loyalty...
But everything he had said was also what he genuinely believed.
Zhang Teng had clearly cast aside that last trace of guilt in his heart. His mind was now unburdened!
At that moment, Tieniu could not resist asking a question.
"Master... didn't the Central Hall say they would mediate this matter? Why did people from the Zhang Household come to seize him? Did the Central Hall's mediation fail?"
Zhang Teng shook his head.
"Not necessarily. Judging by the timing, Nanyang probably received the news first, before anyone from the Central Hall had time to go there."
"The Central Hall really is unreliable!" Tieniu could not help complaining.
Lin Bei smiled slightly.
"The only person you can ever truly rely on is yourself."
Tieniu and Zhang Teng wholeheartedly agreed.
"Then... Senior Brother Zhang, if Zhang Tao comes, can you beat him?"
"Hard to say," Zhang Teng answered honestly.
"Zhang Tao has already reached the great perfection of the Dantian Sea Realm. He's far stronger than Cheng Lu. The two can't even be mentioned in the same breath."
At this point, a gleam flashed through Zhang Teng's eyes.
"But I'm no soft persimmon for him to squash! Lately, the scene of Master fighting has kept surfacing in my mind."
"I seem to have grasped some of its essence! If I can put it into practice, Zhang Tao will be nothing worth mentioning!"
Tieniu immediately grew curious.
"Senior Brother, what essence did you grasp? Could you explain it? Teach your junior brother a little?"
Zhang Teng glanced at Lin Bei, seemingly embarrassed to display his meager skills before a true master.
"Go on. Let me see how much you've understood."
With Lin Bei's permission, Zhang Teng naturally held nothing back.
"Please guide me, Master."
With that, Zhang Teng turned toward Tieniu and slowly began to speak.
"The essence of defeating the strong with the weak lies in identifying weaknesses!"
"Every enemy, move, action, and martial technique has weaknesses. As long as you seize those weaknesses and apply the profound principles of Tai Chi-using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds, borrowing force to wield force-you can defeat the strong with the weak!"
Zhang Teng continued, "Back then, Master seemed to defeat the strong with the weak when he crushed Hall Master Cheng outright, but that wasn't actually what happened!"
"The instant Master struck, he seized Hall Master Cheng's weakness and used the methods of Tai Chi, deflecting a thousand pounds with four ounces and borrowing force to wield force."
"Master appeared weak, but in reality, he was crushing his opponent with overwhelming strength!"
Tieniu only half understood.
"Master, your disciple has an immature idea, but I don't know whether my reasoning is correct." Zhang Teng immediately sought guidance respectfully.
"Speak!"
Lin Bei nodded in satisfaction.
He had to admit that everything Zhang Teng had said was correct.
At the same time, however, Lin Bei was very curious about what exactly Zhang Teng had comprehended.
"Before engaging an enemy, use their movements to instantly determine the moves and lines of attack they might employ, then rapidly run through dozens of combat scenarios in your mind and choose the best one!"
As soon as those words were spoken...
Tieniu was stunned.
"Senior Brother, is that even possible? When martial artists fight, they clash in an instant... can you think through that much?"
Zhang Teng replied with a smile.
"It is! As I continue Body Tempering, I've discovered that it isn't just my body growing stronger. The speed of my thoughts is increasing too..."
At that moment...
Lin Bei was also stunned by Zhang Teng's words.
This kid was far too heaven-defying!
How could this merely be called correct?
It was absolutely spot-on!
Why had Lin Bei been able to defeat Hall Master Cheng in an instant back then?
Of course, it was not because he had instantly picked up on so many things. He had used his golden finger to simulate the battle, even fighting it countless times before finding the optimal solution.
There was nothing wrong with Zhang Teng's reasoning. In fact... it was a little too monstrous!
There was almost no fundamental difference between this and his own instantaneous simulations.
Such comprehension was simply terrifying!
Although Lin Bei believed in teaching through criticism...
At that moment, he still could not stop a word of praise from slipping out.
"A promising student indeed!"
Having received Lin Bei's approval, Zhang Teng was overjoyed.
Of course...
Even as joy filled his heart, his admiration for Lin Bei deepened!
It even became something close to awe!
Because he understood that, though it sounded simple, actually doing it was far too difficult!
He had tried this approach during his earlier fight with Mu Qingyue.
In his view, if Lin Bei had fought her, he could probably have defeated Mu Qingyue in their very first exchange while using even less strength.
But what about him?
He had actually been forced to dodge... only finding an opening to counterattack and win in the end.
Zhang Teng felt that he was still far, far behind Lin Bei!
What he did not know was that, without his ability to simulate battles, Lin Bei could not compare to him at all.
"Master! Your disciple has a presumptuous request."
Zhang Teng suddenly spoke, looking at Lin Bei with a hint of anticipation.
Lin Bei asked curiously, "What presumptuous request?"
"I still don't understand enough about Master's way of fighting. I'd like... to ask Master for some guidance."
At this point, fighting spirit shone in Zhang Teng's eyes.
"Could I ask Master to spar with me? I want to know just how wide the gap between us really is!"
As soon as he said that...
Lin Bei was dumbfounded.
What was going on?
This kid wanted to fight him?
Before Lin Bei could answer, Tieniu immediately began egging them on.
"Great! That's wonderful! What Senior Brother Zhang Teng said earlier left my head spinning. Maybe I'll understand a little if I see you spar?"
At those words, many people in the Martial Arts Grounds gathered around.
"What's happening?"
"Senior Brother Zhang wants to ask Master for guidance!" Tieniu said. "The kind where he spars with Master."
"Wonderful! Master defeated Hall Master Cheng in an instant back then. He was so powerful! Now we'll get to see Master display his divine might again!"
The apprentices at the Martial Arts Grounds all wore expectant expressions.
Lin Bei felt a headache coming on!
Still, things had reached this point, and everyone's excitement had already been whipped up. Naturally, he would not refuse.
"In that case, regulate your breathing first. Once you're in your best condition, I'll give you some guidance."
Lin Bei deliberately used that high-sounding excuse to stall for time.
After all, simulating a battle took time.
Before you continue