The weather gradually turned cooler. It was a fine autumn indeed.
By now, Zhang Xiaohua had long since finished reading all the boxing manuals at the Lotus Escort Agency. Yet he had not touched a single saber or sword manual. Once, after Zhang Xiaohu helped him return the last boxing manual, he casually picked up a sword manual as well. Only when the library steward registered it did Zhang Xiaohu remember that he had merely asked Third Master Qu for permission to borrow the library's boxing manuals. He watched the steward make the entry with his heart in his throat. Who would have thought that the man would not ask any further questions? He was only surprised that they were borrowing just one book this time. Only then did Zhang Xiaohu let out a breath.
However, Zhang Xiaohua seemed to have no talent for learning sword manuals. He flipped through one no fewer than ten times, front to back, yet still could not understand its contents. This puzzled him greatly. He recognized all the words, and he could understand the sword stances themselves, but somehow he simply could not grasp it or commit it to memory. With no other choice, he tossed it aside.
From then on, Zhang Xiaohu stopped going to the library to borrow books. This left the busy steward quite baffled. His suddenly idle days made him feel immensely uncomfortable instead.
As for Zhang Xiaohua, he devoted most of his time to studying with Li Jinfeng, only closing his eyes in the evenings to recall his boxing techniques.
That day, Zhang Xiaohua sat on the kang, idly leafing through some books Li Jinfeng had brought him. Just as he was absorbed in what he was reading, Zhang Xiaohu pushed open the door and came in.
Zhang Xiaohua