Chapter 86: Two Sentences That Fried My CPU
"What on earth are you babbling about?"
Looking at the dead-serious Zhang Beixing, Liu Yi was completely dumbfounded.
Tiger Leopard Thunder Sound used for DJing? Hidden Weapons to take someone's head from a kilometer away? Is that even human language! Why don't you just step on your left foot with your right and ascend to heaven?
At this moment, he desperately wanted to pry open Zhang Beixing's skull to see what exactly it was filled with, to make him spout such illogical and utterly preposterous words.
"It's exactly as it sounds. Don't you think it's incredibly cool?" Zhang Beixing retorted.
Seeing him like this, Liu Yi's expression returned to calm.
Based on his understanding of Zhang Beixing, this kid's train of thought is completely derailed right now. Coincidentally, as Zhang Beixing's teacher, I do have a trick up my sleeve for this kind of situation!
Quietly putting down his chopsticks, he raised his palm.
Sensing Liu Yi's movement, Zhang Beixing had a premonition, as if the word 'Danger' had materialized above his head.
Before Zhang Beixing could react—
WHOOSH—
A gust of wind rushed towards his face.
The fan-sized palm, carrying an irresistible and unavoidable force, swept past Zhang Beixing's ear with the speed of lightning, angling upwards from below at forty-five degrees...
However, Zhang Beixing was much improved now; he reacted quickly and dodged. He wanted to gloat but thought better of it, so he quietly stopped talking and looked down, continuing to ponder his suggestions.
Liu Yi was also somewhat surprised at Zhang Beixing's quick reaction. He felt a bit awkward, but not wanting to abuse his seniority, he pretended nothing had happened and casually added a piece of crispy sweet-and-sour pork to Zhang Beixing's bowl.
"Eat!"
"Oh!" Zhang Beixing responded.
Then he picked up his bowl and continued eating.
Liu Yi sat there, eating his own meal, occasionally adding a slice or two of meat to Zhang Beixing's bowl.
The two remained silent for about seven or eight minutes.
Liu Yi picked up some pickled cabbage and white meat with his chopsticks and placed it in Zhang Beixing's bowl. Then he looked at Zhang Beixing and asked, "How's your Eight Pieces of Brocade practice coming along? Any results yet?"
"No... I was just about to start when you messaged me," Zhang Beixing admitted honestly, then shoveled the pickled cabbage, white meat, and rice into his mouth.
"Oh..." Liu Yi responded, then fell silent again.
The main reason was that he really didn't know what else to say.
Should I teach Zhang Beixing some martial arts techniques? But the kid is already close to achieving Great Accomplishment in the Yue Family Fist; he doesn't lack my minor tips. As for Yue's Army-Breaking Fist, he's already learned it. Damn, looking at it this way, it seems I, as a master, really have nothing much left to teach. If I had to name something, it would only be my Hidden Force cultivation. But that sort of thing can't be taught through words or example. Each person has their own way of cultivating it, relying on their own feeling to slowly explore and accumulate it over time.
Damn, thinking about this is really giving me a headache. I can't just become this brat's master and then immediately have nothing to teach him! If that's the case, I might as well not have taken him as my disciple in the first place. Tsk, how about training his actual combat skills? Yes! I remember this kid hasn't had much actual combat experience since he started martial arts. That won't do! If he fights someone in the future, he'll suffer a great loss!
Liu Yi's eyes lit up. Looking at Zhang Beixing, a plan had already formed in his mind.
Noticing his gaze, Zhang Beixing raised an eyebrow slightly.
Although it's a bit impolite to think this, why do I get the feeling this old fatty is up to no good? Something's off. Very, very off!
「Later that evening」
After Zhang Beixing finished eating and Liu Yi escorted him back to school, it was already nine o'clock at night. The world was pitch-black. It was clearly unrealistic to go to the small grove and tie up the steel wire at this hour. So Zhang Beixing thought for a moment and decided to leave it for today; he would deal with the steel wire and the Eight Pieces of Brocade tomorrow.
After all, today hadn't been entirely fruitless. At least he had gained 0.5 Ability Points and the new move, Yue's Army-Breaking Fist.
It has been a very demanding day!
With this thought, Zhang Beixing returned to his dorm to find about a dozen beer bottles on the floor. Zheng Jituo and Dong Guoning were sitting beside Jin Linyu, whose face was flushed from drinking. They looked at Jin Linyu with complicated expressions.
Jin Linyu, on the other hand, wore a bitter face, looking utterly dejected.
"What's going on here? What happened?" Zhang Beixing asked.
Everything had been fine, so why had they started drinking in the dorm? And even if they were drinking, why were they all silent afterwards, looking like they wanted to say something but were hesitating?
"This... Sigh! Old Jin, you tell Old Zhang," Zheng Jituo said, patting Jin Linyu's shoulder, indicating that he found it too difficult to explain.
Hearing this, Zhang Beixing turned his gaze to Jin Linyu.
Jin Linyu picked up a beer bottle and took a large swig.
As the bitter beer went down his throat, his heart ached. With a pained expression, Jin Linyu looked at Zhang Beixing and said, "Old Zhang, you know I have a girlfriend from outside school, right? She... she has really broken my heart!"
"Her boyfriend cheated on her *with* her best friend. Last night, she was crying at her boss's house, telling me that back then, she should have married *my* boyfriend instead."
Zhang Beixing: "??? Damn, just two sentences from you were enough to fry my CPU."
Saying this, Zhang Beixing looked at Zheng Jituo and the others. "Can someone translate that into something that makes sense?"
Dong Guoning: "To be honest, my brain short-circuited long ago."
Zheng Jituo threw up his hands, his face a mask of confusion and pain. "My brain's encountering an error. Can someone reboot me?"
「The next day, May 10th.」
Six in the morning.
Early in the morning, Master Zhang was already busy in the small grove. Because the steel wire had fallen once before, to prevent a repeat of the previous accident, Zhang Beixing simply took all the steel wires down. He selected two sturdier trees as supports and, standing on a mat, used tools to secure the steel wire.
Considering this would be his primary source of Ability Points from now on, Zhang Beixing tied the steel wire exceptionally tight this time. He only stopped when the wire had sunk a centimeter into the tree bark. Simultaneously, he paid great attention to the clasps, ensuring they wouldn't suddenly break underfoot as they had before. Only then did he climb onto the steel wire and begin his day's training.
Although it wasn't as easy as the first time, after an hour of fumbling and struggling, Zhang Beixing finally managed to complete the Yue Family Fist routine on the steel wire.
[System Notification: Host has completed the suggestion: Steel Wire Martial Arts Training, Walking Like a Dragon.]
[Suggestion reward issued. Current Ability Points: 5.8]
[Steel Wire Martial Arts Training, Walking Like a Dragon progress refreshed. Current progress: 0/1]
[System Notification: Host has completed the suggestion: Walking on Steel Wire.]
[Suggestion reward issued. Current Ability Points: 6.4]
[Walking on Steel Wire progress refreshed. Current progress: 4:56/30:00 min.]
Hearing the System's prompts, Zhang Beixing leaped down from the tree. He rested for a moment while mentally reviewing the Northern Sect Eight Pieces of Brocade he had witnessed at the Chen Family's residence two days prior. After reviewing it several times and feeling confident, Zhang Beixing took a deep breath.
Then he stood up, patted the dust off his backside, and attempted to practice the Northern Sect Eight Pieces of Brocade.
Because he had learned it by observing during a fight, the Northern Sect Eight Pieces of Brocade he'd pieced together lacked any discernible pattern. The difficulty of self-study was many times greater than that of the Yue Family Fist he had learned previously. After all, for the Yue Family Fist, he at least had a manual to reference.
Even though Zhang Beixing's Mental Attribute had reached a formidable 105 and he possessed exceptional talent, he still had no idea how to begin practicing it. He could only sense that something felt off, but if asked to pinpoint the exact problem... he couldn't articulate it.
After thinking for a long time, Zhang Beixing finally came to one conclusion: "I watched it too hastily!"
If only I had been able to observe it more meticulously, perhaps with my Mental Attribute of 105, I might have grasped the intricacies of the Northern Sect Eight Pieces of Brocade. But alas, I had only seen it that one time. Should I go and talk to Teacher Liu again, maybe swallow my pride and ask him to take me to the Chen Family once more? Forget it. The fact that I left the Chen Family unscathed two days ago was all thanks to Teacher Liu protecting me. If I go again this time, judging by Elder Chen's demeanor, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to leave the Chen Family's gates without getting engaged! Dude, I'm only twenty-one this year, not even at the legal age for marriage yet! I don't want to dive into the tomb of matrimony so soon! Besides, there aren't many age-appropriate people in the Chen Family. Apart from Chen Rourou, there's only... Wait a minute, Chen Rourou?
Zhang Beixing froze, then his face lit up with elation!
That's right! How could I have forgotten Chen Rourou! Indeed, it wouldn't be right for me to go to the Chen Family again and ask Elder Chen to demonstrate the Northern Sect Eight Pieces of Brocade. However, just because I couldn't ask, didn't mean Chen Rourou couldn't! That was Chen Rourou's home, and Elder Chen was her biological grandfather. If I could get Chen Rourou to film a video of the Northern Sect Eight Pieces of Brocade practice, wouldn't that simplify things immensely!
With this in mind, Zhang Beixing didn't delay. He headed straight to the Karate club to find Chen Rourou.
Honestly, Zhang Beixing wasn't sure if Chen Rourou would be there. However, he knew that people who *did* know Chen Rourou's whereabouts could definitely be found in the Karate club.
Sure enough, after arriving at the Karate club and having a 'cordial and friendly exchange' with its members, it wasn't long before Chen Rourou's timid and skittish figure appeared. She peeked around the doorway, looking furtively. When her eyes met Zhang Beixing's, an awkward yet not entirely ungraceful smile appeared on Chen Rourou's face.
Zhang Beixing said, "You're here?"
Chen Rourou replied, "Mhm, I'm here, Uncle."
"You're here, so come in and sit down. What are you standing there for? You don't need to call me 'Uncle' at school. My relationship with your father is separate from ours."
"Oh, oh, alright!" Chen Rourou hurriedly agreed and quickly entered the room. She sat down obediently opposite Zhang Beixing, her back straight, the very picture of a well-behaved and adorable girl.
Seeing her act this way, Zhang Beixing nodded with satisfaction and then waved his hand at the other Karate club members. Those individuals looked as if they'd received a pardon; they couldn't care less about decorum and bolted. The last person to leave even thoughtfully closed the door for Zhang Beixing, so as not to disturb his conversation with Chen Rourou.
Witnessing this, Zhang Beixing silently nodded. Not bad, very much in the style of a sycophant!
Then he looked at Chen Rourou and said directly, "I need your help with something!"