Every time Zhang Teng watched Lin Bei perform Tai Chi, he came away with a vastly different impression.
The Tai Chi Lin Bei demonstrated now blended gentleness and strength perfectly.
Every movement seemed born of nature itself.
That dazzling spiritual quality resonated with heaven and earth, revealing an indescribable harmony.
Somewhere in the unseen, Zhang Teng experienced an extraordinarily profound sensation.
It was as though...
There was a wondrous rhythm between heaven and earth and Lin Bei.
At that moment, Lin Bei's voice rang out.
"The Breath-Channeling Method is the process of drawing in the energy of heaven and earth to forge a Dao Body."
"To refine qi, you must comprehend Yin-Yang Power and the Way of Tai Chi. This is the beginning of breath channeling..."
"Exhale the stale and inhale the fresh, take the Dao as your foundation, unite heaven and man, grasp the gateway to myriad wonders, and open the road to heaven. Only then may you practice the method of qi refining..."
As his fabrication reached this point, Lin Bei's heart suddenly lurched.
Oh, no!
The material he had invented was too much of a tongue twister. A moment of nerves, and he had actually forgotten what came next.
What should I do?
In the flash of a spark, inspiration struck Lin Bei, and he bluffed outright.
"The Dao can only be understood, never conveyed in words."
Lin Bei looked at Zhang Teng with a face full of fatherly affection.
"As the saying goes, the master leads you through the door, but cultivation rests with the individual. Teng, you must walk your own Dao. I believe in you."
When Zhang Teng looked into Lin Bei's eyes, something suddenly stirred in his heart.
He could see the trust in Lin Bei's gaze, so radiant it nearly spilled out of his eyes.
"Master, I won't let you down!"
Zhang Teng felt his blood boil with passion.
How long had it been since he had felt this kind of trust?
Ever since his dantian had been destroyed, everyone had looked at him as though he were useless trash.
Only Lin Bei had never regarded him as trash, from beginning to end.
Even though his aptitude was mediocre, Lin Bei still spared no effort in teaching him.
There had been reprimands, too, but those were for his own good!
He understood!
Without realizing it, his reverence for Lin Bei deepened.
Sensing Zhang Teng's trust, Lin Bei breathed an inward sigh of relief.
Finally bluffed my way through that.
However...
After this experience, Lin Bei realized that when inventing things, he absolutely could not invent too much.
Being hard to remember was one thing. More importantly, the more he invented, the easier it was to make mistakes.
More invention, more mistakes.
Thus, he might as well invent a broad introduction and framework.
Judging by Zhang Teng's response, that seemed to work even better?
What if Zhang Teng doesn't understand and comes to ask?
That's easy.
Just give him a good scolding and tell him to go contemplate it properly...
Perfect!
At that moment, everything clicked into place for Lin Bei.
So he casually offered a word of encouragement.
"The road of cultivation stretches far and long. You must seek high and low."
"I will remember your words."
A glimmer flashed in Zhang Teng's eyes, as though he had grasped something.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master. I'll take my leave."
With that, Zhang Teng turned and left.
Watching Zhang Teng's retreating figure, Lin Bei fell into thought.
Guidance?
What guidance did I give him? It was just a casual word of encouragement...
Forget it. Let him be.
Lin Bei came to the courtyard and enjoyed the newly risen morning sun. Its warmth washed over his face, leaving him relaxed and comfortable.
He casually accepted the tea Tieniu offered and watched the village apprentices practice Tai Chi.
The good times were back!
Time passed.
Ever since receiving the Breath-Channeling Method from Lin Bei...
Zhang Teng had become like a cultivation fanatic, contemplating it day and night.
Lin Bei was extremely pleased with Zhang Teng's diligence and had praised him more than once.
In particular, whenever they happened to meet, Lin Bei's approving look, as though Zhang Teng were a Promising Student, made Zhang Teng contemplate even harder, as if he had been pumped full of stimulants.
The reason Lin Bei was so approving...
Was nothing else.
The world... was finally quiet.
At least in Lin Bei's opinion, Zhang Teng probably would not harbor any doubts about him for the time being.
As for comprehending the Breath-Channeling Method? Lin Bei held out no hope for him whatsoever.
After all, the so-called Breath-Channeling Method was something he had made up out of thin air...
However...
The good times did not seem to last long.
Just as Lin Bei was leisurely drinking tea, Tieniu came running over in a panic.
"Something's wrong, Master! Something's wrong!"
"Pah! Your master is perfectly fine. What's wrong with me?" Lin Bei snapped irritably.
"Tell me, what's happened now?"
"Well, it's Old Zhao from our village..."
"What happened to Old Zhao? Did he get beaten up again?" Lin Bei frowned.
He wondered whether Zhang Teng's arrival had ruined the feng shui. Why else were the formerly honest, simple villagers getting into trouble one after another?
"N-no, that's not it. Old Zhao said he heard that Hall Master Cheng Lu of the Six Harmonies Martial Hall has returned."
Tieniu hurriedly explained, looking rather anxious.
"Old Zhao picked a fight with the Six Harmonies Martial Hall?" Lin Bei was utterly baffled.
As far as he remembered, Old Zhao from the village was an honest, simple farmer. How could he possibly have provoked martial artists?
Tieniu shook his head repeatedly.
"No. Didn't Senior Brother Zhang beat up Zhao Bao? Zhao Bao is a martial artist from the Six Harmonies Martial Hall."
Tieniu spoke quickly.
"Old Zhao went to Qingyun Town for the market and heard quite a lot. Hall Master Cheng has already put the word out. He's bringing people to our Martial Arts Grounds to return the courtesy."
"What courtesy?" Lin Bei asked.
"Senior Brother Zhang went to the Six Harmonies Martial Hall and beat up Zhao Bao. According to martial hall rules, that counts as challenging their hall, so... returning the courtesy means coming to challenge our Martial Arts Grounds," Tieniu said with a mournful face.
The smile on Lin Bei's face instantly froze.
However, in front of Tieniu, Lin Bei forcibly restrained his emotions.
On the surface, he remained casual and unconcerned.
Inside, however, he had already furiously cursed Zhang Teng a hundred times!
He had clearly told him over and over to handle things cleanly and efficiently, leave no trouble behind, and win people over with virtue.
And the result?
That brainless fool had not only failed to resolve the matter, but made it more complicated.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
No, I have to vent some anger on Zhang Teng now. While I'm at it, I'll probe him indirectly and see whether the kid can hold his own.
With that thought, Lin Bei stood and headed toward the training room where Zhang Teng was cultivating in seclusion.
As he walked, he questioned Tieniu beside him.
"Do you know how strong that Hall Master Cheng is?"
Tieniu said with great reverence, "I've heard Hall Master Cheng is truly formidable."
"He went hunting on South Mountain and killed a Mutant Tiger."
"What Mutant Tiger?" Lin Bei asked, puzzled.
"Rumor has it that the Mutant Tiger had already become a Spiritual Monster. It liked eating people, and the people it ate would turn into Tiger Ghosts."
Tieniu explained.
"Tiger Ghosts look just as they did before they died. I've heard quite a few people from South Mountain Town were tricked by Tiger Ghosts into entering the mountain and became meals on that Mutant Tiger's plate."
"How strong is he as a martial artist?" Lin Bei continued asking.
"According to Old Zhang, Hall Master Cheng went to South Mountain to hunt the tiger because he was seeking an opportunity to break through."
"Now that he's returned from the tiger hunt, he's probably already become a Great Martial Artist, with the strength of the legendary Dantian Sea Realm."
Dantian Sea Realm?
Oh, no!
Lin Bei's heart lurched.
Zhang Teng had once been an Elixir Sea Realm expert, but his dantian was shattered now. He probably was no match for Hall Master Cheng!
It's over.
Are the Martial Arts Grounds going to get smashed up?
Lin Bei was already considering whether he should find an excuse to leave and lie low for a while.
Just then...
A voice suddenly appeared in his mind.
[Your disciple is comprehending and completing the Breath-Absorbing Art.] [Congratulations! Your disciple Zhang Teng has comprehended the Breath-Absorbing Art (Beginner). Your Breath-Absorbing Art has advanced to (Perfection).]
Before you continue