Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
âThe method of being self-renewing is the basis of practice,â Wang Yao said. âYou canât give up on it. The boxing technique is a skill and requires practice and internal and external cultivation to become a so-called master.â
âIâve remembered all this,â Zhong Liuchuan said.
The master and student strolled in the mountain for a while before going down it.
Zhong Liuchuan returned home and began to practice the boxing technique that Wang Yao had just taught him. This was also to practice, improve, and deepen the impression while taking advantage of the memory of the boxing technique that was still fresh in his mind.
âThis boxing technique is very profound!â
When an expert struck out, he would know if there was substance to it. Similarly, when an expert began to try it for himself, he would know how profound and deep the boxing technique was.
Zhong Liuchuan had been exposed to a lot of fighting techniques. He was quite involved in this aspect. However, out of those techniques that he had learned, none were like this. It combined footwork, energy skills, and the combination of internal and external skills. The more he practiced, the more he discovered the deep mysteries within it.
Outside, the sky gradually darkened. Zhong Liuchuan looked up at the sky and thought, Time flies!
After practicing all afternoon, he was hungry. He cooked a fish, pot of rice and vegetable dish for dinner, which he devoured.
...
In Jing, thousands of miles away, Su Zhixing had been discharged from the hospital. He had been recuperating at home for several days. He looked healthy.
He told his mother that he was going to return to the army. As a mother, she naturally hoped that her son would stay home long. Plus, he was still injured and had not fully recovered.
âAre you going back already?â Song Ruiping asked. âYouâve just recovered!â
âYes, Iâm going back,â Su Zhixing said. âIâm always stuck at home. I feel restless.â
âOK, go back then,â Song Ruiping said.
âAlright.â Su Zhixing turned to his sister and said, âXiaoxue, Iâm going to visit my brother-in-law before returning to the army. Do you have anything you want me to take him?â
âYes!â Su Xiaoxue happily responded. âI bought a shirt for him. Would you take it to him?â
âSure,â Su Zhixing said. He looked at the exquisite packaging and sighed. âOh, this shirt isnât cheap, right?â
âI bought it with my scholarship money, and I think he will like it,â Su Xiaoxue said.
âTsk tsk, when can I, the older brother, earn a shirt like this?â Su Zhixing asked.
âArenât you in the army?â his sister replied. âYou canât wear anything like this much anyway.â
âOh, come on, Iâm just teasing you,â Su Zhixing said. âDonât worry, I promise to take your present to him.â
âThank you,â Su Xiaoxue said.
If it wasnât for her busy class schedule, she would have gone to Lianshan County in person and given the shirt to Wang Yao herself.
âWeâre all family, so there is no need for thanks,â Su Zhixing said. âBesides, I have to go and thank my brother-in-law. Ah, what does he like?â
âWell, he likes things related to medical skills and Taoism,â Su Xiaoxue said.
âHis hobbies are quite unique,â Su Zhixing said.
Ordinary people would things like cigarettes, wine, antiques, calligraphy, paintings, gold, or jewelry. People who liked things related to Taoism and medicine were the minority.
âOh, he likes drinking tea as well,â Su Xiaoxue said.
âAh, that makes it much easier then,â Su Zhixing said. âI remember our father still has some rock tea from Wuyi Mountain.â
âThat Da Hong Pao?â Su Xiaoxue asked.
âYes,â Su Zhixing replied.
âDad doesnât even bear to drink it,â Su Xiaoxue said.
âTea is meant to be drunk,â Su Zhixing smiled and said. âBesides, what kind of tea canât our dad get if he wants to drink it?â
The next day, Su Zhixing left Jing by car with a high-end shirt and a small box of tea.
âYour older brother is smiling a little impishly,â Song Ruiping whispered to her daughter.
âI think he must have done something behind your back,â Su Xiaoxue said.
âIs that so?â Song Ruiping asked. âHe hasnât stolen anything from your father again, has he?â
âYes, hehe.â Su Xiaoxue grinned.
âYou impish girl, do you know anything about it?â Song Ruiping asked.
âNothing.â Su Xiaoxue shook her head.
The car was speeding along. Inside it was Su Zhixing and a comrade.
âLook at you, you could have taken a good plane, but you wanted to ride in a car,â his comrade said. âYour injury is not completely healed yet.â
âIâm used to sitting in cars,â Su Zhixing said. âI feel uncomfortable flying in the sky.â
âHow did you get the top grades in your airborne practice?â his comrade asked.
âI was forced,â Su Zhixing said. âBesides, Iâm going to Qi Province to see my brother-in-law. This life of mine was saved by him. I have to thank him.â
âIs your sister married?â his comrade asked. âWhen did it happen? How did I not know when it happened?â
âFuture one,â Su Zhixing said.
âOh, I was wondering,â his comrade said.
They reached the village later that afternoon.
âOh, why are you here?â Wang Yao was surprised to see Su Zhixing. âYou havenât recovered, have you?â
âNo, I felt bored and flustered in Jing,â Su Zhixing said. âItâs better to go back to the army. By the way, Xiaoxue asked me to bring you a present. Take a look.â
He took out the shirt that Su Xiaoxue had bought for Wang Yao. It was a casual shirt but very exquisite.
âXiaoxue bought it for me?â Wang Yao asked.
âYes, her recent class schedule is quite tight,â Su Zhixing said. âOtherwise, she would have come here in person. Here, try it on.â
Wang Yao opened the box and put the shirt on. As soon as it was on, he seemed more energetic. Moreover, because of his long-term practice, he had a very good figure, which the shirt emphasized.
âIt looks good,â Wang Yao said. âPeople rely on clothes, and horses rely on dressing up. That is true!â
âGood people, good clothes,â Su Zhixing said.
âXiaoxueâs taste is better indeed,â Wang Yao said with a smile.
âDo you like it?â Su Zhixing asked.
âI like it,â Wang Yao said.
âThis is my gift.â Su Zhixing took out a small box of tea without any labels. It looked quite ordinary.
âTea?â Wang Yao was surprised.
âYes, good tea,â Su Zhixing said.
âWe have to taste it then,â Wang Yao said. âAre you in a hurry?â
âNope, I can even stay the night,â Su Zhixing said. âTo be honest, I havenât tried this tea yet.â
âLetâs try it,â Wang Yao said.
He had a superior tea set, superior spring water, and good rock tea. In an instant, with the hot water brewing the tea, the teaâs fragrance immediately filled their nostrils.
âThis is Da Hong Pao of Wuyi Mountain,â Wang Yao said in surprise.
âYou know the good stuff,â Su Zhixing said.
âYou didnât steal it from Minister Su, did you?â Wang Yao asked.
âWhat steal? Iâm just borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha.â Su Zhixing shrugged and grinned.
âNot much of this tea is produced in a year,â Wang Yao said. âItâs all specially protected.â
âThose are wild camellia trees,â Su Zhixing said. âHow does it taste?â
âMmm, with the aura of the wild mountains infused within, it really is extraordinary,â Wang Yao said.
âWhat aura?â Su Zhixing asked. âDonât make it so mysterious. I just think that itâs fragrant, much more fragrant than ordinary tea.â
âDonât you dislike drinking tea?â Su Zhixingâs comrade asked with a smile.
âWell, Iâll try it occasionally,â Su Zhixing said.
âGood tea canât be enjoyed alone. Iâll call someone else over.â Wang Yao called Zhong Liuchuan.
Once he arrived, Wang Yao poured him a cup. âHave a taste of Wuyi Mountainâs Da Hong Pao. Itâs a superior tea.â
âThank you, Sir,â Zhong Liuchuan said. Even though he didnât know much about tea, it didnât prevent him from tasting the goodness in it. It was a good tea with a fragrant and pure taste, as well as a lingering aftertaste. âGood tea!â
âDo you want to stay here tonight?â Wang Yao asked Su Zhixing.
âSure, itâs dark now,â he replied. âItâs very tiring to drive at night. Plus, Iâm not in a hurry to go back.â
âLiuchuan, please arrange a place for them to stay,â Wang Yao said. âTonight, weâll go to the restaurant at the bottom of the village for dinner.â
âYes, Sir,â Zhong Liuchuan said.
The place he found for them to stay in was the small yard where Zeng Yichuan had stayed not long ago.
During the meal, Su Zhixing poured himself a glass of good wine that Wang Yao had brought from home.
âDonât drink,â Wang Yao said. âYou havenât recovered yet.â
âItâs OK, Iâll just drink this one,â Su Zhixing said.
Wang Yao shook his head.
âGood wine, good wine!â Su Zhixing smiled.
When he was in Jing, someone was always restricting him. He couldnât drink, which suffocated him. He began to drink one cup after another.
âAlright, donât drink anymore.â Wang Yao snatched the glass from his hand as he prepared to drink his third glass. âWhen your injury is healed, drink all you want then.â
âAlright, thatâs all for today,â Su Zhixing said.
After dinner, the group walked back to the village. Su Zhixing and his comrade went back to the little house to sleep. Zhong Liuchuan followed Wang Yao up the mountain and walked around before returning home.