Chapter 35: Spirit Crane Body

"Uncle, aren't I your only younger brother's son?"

Hearing his Chengguang Zhi Zi's question, the Xu Sect head's pitch-black old face couldn't help but flush with shame, and immediately he flew into a rage out of shame, pointing at the incense burner before him and shouting: "You wretch! You act as if we've known each other forever, squatting at the door and trying to swear brotherhood with people! You've ruined the family traditions of the Xu family!"

His Chengguang Zhi Zi looked at the incense table behind him, his tone filled with obvious confusion: "The Xu family's... traditions?"

"You!"

"Exactly. Don't you know whose Chengguang Zhi Zi I am, and who taught me?"

"Ah, ah, forget it, forget it. The child is young and doesn't understand." Zheng Fa stepped in front of the Xu family's good Chengguang Zhi Zi, who was at least five years older than him, and pleaded earnestly to the Xu Sect head: "Speak properly, teach properly, don't use force!"

The Xu Sect head looked at Zheng Fa, his face becoming even more awkward. He let his raised hand drop sheepishly and said in a low voice: "You've seen me make a fool of myself..."

Zheng Fa knew that if he didn't offer some comfort now, the Xu Sect head probably wouldn't want to see him for the rest of his life.

He looked into the Xu Sect head's eyes and said: "Setting aside the fact that you have taught me, I have also heard from the Young Master before that you wanted to take me as your disciple. I have always deeply remembered your kindness."

Hearing him say this, the Xu Sect head hurriedly waved his hand, and his expression became much more natural.

"You are originally a piece of unpolished jade. Without me..."

"Without the Sect Head's approval, I might not even have had the chance to stay by the Seventh Young Master's side as a book boy, let alone reach today!"

When Zheng Fa said this, even though the Xu family uncle and Chengguang Zhi Zi both knew his words were mostly meant to comfort, the sincerity in his tone made the atmosphere less awkward.

"Regarding today's matter," the Xu Sect head sighed, with a hint of... "it is because of this 'Spirit Crane Body' that I lost my ordinary state of mind."

"'Spirit Crane Body'?" Hearing that today's incident was caused by the martial arts manuals before the Xu Sect head, Zheng Fa couldn't help but look curiously at those few books.

"This is something the Lady asked me to teach you. It is one of the Zhao Family's secrets that must not be passed on. Remember, if you learn it, you must absolutely not teach it to anyone without the Lady's permission!" As he spoke these words, the Xu Sect head's previously gentle face took on a solemn expression.

Zheng Fa nodded, but he still felt confused in his heart: "Is this martial art 'Spirit Crane Body' really worth it?"

"It is very much worth it!" The Xu Sect head wanted to say something, but suddenly saw his Chengguang Zhi Zi eavesdropping with his ears perked up nearby. He pointed at the door and said: "You go out first!"

"Ah?"

"Get out!"

Seeing the Xu Sect head's dark face, although somewhat unwilling, his Chengguang Zhi Zi still walked out of the door, looking back every few steps.

The Xu Sect head stood up and closed the door tightly.

Outside the door was his little disciple, and also his Chengguang Zhi Zi, yet he still guarded against him so strictly.

Clearly, he was extremely cautious about matters related to the 'Spirit Crane Body'.

"Do you know why, when I taught you the 'Pine Crane Stance' before, I looked down on the martial arts schools outside?"

"Because the martial arts of our Zhao Family are inherited from the Immortal Sects. For example, once the 'Pine Crane Stance' is mastered, it can extend one's lifespan." Zheng Fa recalled what he had said before.

"The inheritance is real, and the lifespan extension is real too." The Xu Sect head's voice lowered again: "But the most important reason is that only the martial arts of our Zhao Family, which are inherited from the Immortal Sects, can allow one to enter the Dao through martial arts after being mastered!"

"Enter the Dao through martial arts?" Zheng Fa couldn't help but fix his gaze on the 'Spirit Crane Body'.

"I am not clear on exactly what 'entering the Dao through martial arts' means, but there has always been a legend in the Jianghu. The legend says that entering the Dao through martial arts allows one to enter the Immortal Sects. More importantly, our Zhao Family originates from an Immortal Sect, and this saying exists here too!" He turned his head to look at the 'Spirit Crane Body': "When the Lady taught this to me, she personally told me that this is a martial art that allows one to enter the Dao through martial arts."

"At that time, I even thought that if I mastered this, I might be able to enter the Immortal Sects too!"

Zheng Fa nodded, understanding the preciousness of the 'Spirit Crane Body' and the Xu Sect head's caution.

"But... Sect Head, haven't you already practiced it? Why then..."

Zheng Fa didn't finish his sentence. He couldn't very well say, "Why are you still scheming to lick... er, to curry favor with me?"

The Xu Sect head seemed to understand his meaning. His face became a bit awkward again, but after a while, he laughed self-mockingly: "I originally thought I had let it go."

"Hmm?" Zheng Fa vaguely guessed his meaning.

"Zheng Fa, do you know how long I have stayed in the Zhao family?"

"I don't know."

"Like you, I am also a child born into the Zhao household, raised in the Zhao family since childhood, and now it has been fifty-five years. But I was luckier than you; I was in the Zhao Manor since I was young, gained appreciation, and started practicing martial arts at the age of ten."

The Xu Sect head looked like a middle-aged man, but unexpectedly he was already over fifty, obviously having achieved success in martial arts.

A trace of memory appeared on his face as he continued: "My aptitude was good. In ten years, I stood out among the guards and was promoted to Sect Head. In twenty years, I had already become a first-rate expert in the Jianghu. I thought the world was vast and I could go anywhere!"

Zheng Fa said nothing, waiting for the Xu Sect head to continue.

"At that time, the Lady saw that my talent was excellent and rewarded me with this 'Spirit Crane Body'." The Xu Sect head's fingers gripped the edge of the desk very tightly, the veins on his fingers standing out one by one: "At that time, my heart was higher than the sky. Hearing that mastering this martial art could allow one to enter the Immortal Sects, I was naturally overjoyed and made up my mind to master this 'Spirit Crane Body', transcend the mundane world, and ascend to immortality in one step!"

As he spoke these words, his fingers slowly relaxed, and a bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"The subsequent events, you have probably guessed. I did not master it."

Zheng Fa nodded, but the Xu Sect head's next sentence still surprised him a little.

"Do you know how long I wasted trying to master the 'Spirit Crane Body'?"

"Twenty years!"

The Xu Sect head's voice was full of bitterness: "A full twenty years! I studied this 'Spirit Crane Body' day and night. Every day, whether eating or sleeping, these books never left my side. I was like a madman, yet I gained nothing."

Zheng Fa did not expect that the 'Spirit Crane Body' was so difficult to practice according to the Xu Sect head.

At this moment, the Xu Sect head looked completely unlike the rough, bold man Zheng Fa knew before. His expression was full of vicissitudes: "By the time I realized, I found that time was like a thief, and I had wasted twenty years of my life."

"No wife, no children, nothing accomplished, my ambitions scattered. Only then did I finally make up my mind to let go of the 'Spirit Crane Body' and return the book to the Lady."

In the room, neither of them spoke. The only thing echoing was the Xu Sect head's unspeakable regret.

After a long time, it was the Xu Sect head himself who shook his head, a complex smile on his face, breaking the silence: "I heard the Lady was going to teach you the 'Spirit Crane Body'. Thinking that your talent might be better than mine, I thought you might be able to master this martial art."

Zheng Fa knew in his heart that, according to the Xu Sect head's account, he might not necessarily have better talent than the Xu Sect head.

"So I had a selfish thought, thinking to establish a good relationship with you first. If in the future you say you have mastered it, I would ask you for some Gu Yier. There was still hope of mastering this 'Spirit Crane Body'. Although I said I had let it go, my heart was still full of delusions." As he spoke, he even bowed to Zheng Fa: "I didn't expect to make a fool of myself in front of you."

Zheng Fa did not think the Xu Sect head had heavy delusions. Anyone who wasted half their life on the 'Spirit Crane Body' would find it hard not to develop a heart demon.

"Alright, take the 'Spirit Crane Body' back. The Lady asked me to teach you, but to be honest, I cannot teach you anything. The little I have understood might even lead you astray."

Zheng Fa picked up the few books and was just standing up when he heard the Xu Sect head say: "Zheng Fa, I have another request..."

"Hmm?"

"The 'Spirit Crane Body' is difficult to practice. I don't know how many years it will take you to succeed. But if you do achieve something, even if I am dead, you must come to my grave and tell me." The Xu Sect head turned away, not looking at Zheng Fa, his tone heavy: "Let me know that the saying of entering the Dao through martial arts is not false, and that my half-life... was not a joke!"

"Forget it; if you can't master it within a few years, then don't bother practicing." Zheng Fa nodded, and as he turned to leave the room, he heard Xu Jiaotou's voice, somewhat low:

"Don't be like me."