Chapter 37: Prestige

Zheng Fa's comprehension of the "Spirit Crane Body" was not ideal; he had basically mastered the Pine-Crane Stake, and the martial technique "Spirit Crane Piercing Cloud Hand" in the fourth manual was based on the "Spirit Crane Heart Sutra," but the "Spirit Crane Heart Sutra"... this thing was truly incomprehensible.

He studied the four volumes of "Spirit Crane Body" for over a week; if adding the seven days of crossing to the modern era, it was nearly half a month, and he had figured out nothing.

The drill ground.

"Xu Jiaotou." Zheng Fa handed the four volumes of "Spirit Crane Body" to Xu Jiaotou.

"What is this?" Xu Jiaotou took the manual in a daze.

"Instructor, please return this to the Lady for me."

"You... gave up?"

Xu Jiaotou misunderstood.

He indeed did not intend to focus all his mind on "Spirit Crane Body" anymore; he had quite a lot to learn: Old Bai's mathematics, the college entrance exam he still faced in modern high school, and in this world, he needed to study with Mr. Shen and also practice the Pine-Crane Stake.

Even with twice the time of others, he was somewhat unable to attend to everything.

But the main reason for returning "Spirit Crane Body" to the Lady was that during these ten-plus days of study, he had already memorized these four volumes in his mind.

"Spirit Crane Body" was classified as top-secret martial arts even within the Zhao Manor; keeping these books in his hands for so long was prone to causing trouble.

Before he could speak, Xu Jiaotou waved his hand: "Giving up is also a good thing, saving time... it is a good thing."

After speaking, Xu Jiaotou ignored Zheng Fa, took "Spirit Crane Body," and walked back, his silhouette looking somewhat lost.

His Chengguang Zhi Zi, watching him from inside the drill ground, asked with some worry: "Uncle?"

"Tell me," Xu Jiaotou touched the three characters "Spirit Crane Sutra" on the book cover and asked with some self-reproach: "Did I scare him by telling Zheng Fa about my experiences?"

His Chengguang Zhi Zi also knew how much effort his uncle had spent on the "Spirit Crane Sutra," but hesitated before saying: "Perhaps Zheng Fa just lacks perseverance..."

"No, he is smarter than me, knowing what to choose and what to discard; as for me, I still cannot let go..." Xu Jiaotou sighed: "I should let go."

The Seventh Young Master, hearing Zheng Fa say he had returned "Spirit Crane Body" to the manor, merely nodded and said: "Even a genius like me, the Young Master, cannot figure it out; if you can't, it's normal!"

He turned and pointed at Gao Yuan: "Look at him, he hasn't even seen it yet!"

Glancing at Gao Yuan's innocent and helpless face, Zheng Fa also felt the Seventh Young Master's dog-like behavior was a bit sudden—this time the person didn't laugh!

Modern era, Old Bai's home.

"Here."

Zheng Fa took a cup of hidden milk tea from his backpack and handed it to Tang Lingwu beside him; Tang Lingwu took it, inserted the straw, and sucked a huge mouthful.

The two's actions already showed a hint of tacit understanding.

"I am still here!" Old Bai beside them grunted.

Tang Lingwu blinked, looking at Zheng Fa: "You are his master; won't you manage him?"

"How about... next time I bring one for him too?" Zheng Fa hesitated for a moment and decided to be fair.

"... Is that what I'm asking about?" Old Bai looked at the fresh and lively Tang Lingwu, then looked at Zheng Fa and found him more and more unpleasant: "Who said he is my master? Teaching me that broken kung fu; I've practiced for so long, yet how have I achieved nothing?"

It was clear that his three-minute passion for learning martial arts had begun to fade, even showing signs of wanting to betray his master and destroy his ancestor.

Zheng Fa absolutely refused to take the blame: "It is because your old talent is a bit poor; I estimate it will take about half a year for you to enter the door."

"Enter the door? How long did it take you?" Old Bai asked curiously.

"Me? Ten days, perhaps?" Zheng Fa specifically added the time from both worlds and said considerately, to avoid crushing the old man too much.

"Sounds like my talent is very poor." Old Bai nodded, looking not discouraged at all.

"Grandpa Bai doesn't feel discouraged?"

"Why should I be discouraged?" Old Bai waved his hand with a smile: "At my age, what is there to fight over regarding good or bad talent, or fast or slow cultivation? When one should be open-minded, one must be open-minded!"

Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu nodded, feeling somewhat admiring in their hearts.

This old man truly had an open mind and could think things through.

"Besides, Zheng Fa learning mathematics is like an unevolved monkey with no enlightenment; at his age he isn't discouraged, so why should I be?"

"Today, this master will make you experience the power of the Pine-Crane Stake!"

"Heh, today I won't hide it from you! I have a supreme technique practiced for sixty years; once I strike, I will surely make you, young one, kneel on the ground begging for mercy!"

"What supreme technique?" Zheng Fa asked curiously.

The old man was seen lying down on a chair, clutching his chest, his face contorted, and he began to wail: "Someone! Help! Someone is hitting me! I can't move!"

Zheng Fa:... Wanted to kneel.

"It's not even certain I can live for half a year; needing half a year just to enter the door is too long!"

This old man really gave up.

This won't do!

Whether he practiced or not didn't matter, but Zheng Fa could not lose this free top-tier tutor!

Learning mathematics with Old Bai, Zheng Fa truly couldn't understand topology at the beginning, so Old Bai simply started reviewing high school mathematics for him.

Although Old Bai had no quality as a person, if one ignored the insults to one's intelligence during his teaching process and distinguished the teachings from a top professor amidst a barrage of personal attacks, one would benefit greatly.

For others, it might not be so effective, but Zheng Fa's foundation was actually very solid; sometimes all that was missing was one or two sentences.

We absolutely cannot let Old Bai's heart yearning for the Jianghu settle down!

"Do you know that the 'Pine-Crane Stake' you are learning has the ability to extend life?"

Zheng Fa suddenly spoke with a deeper tone.

"Extend life?" Old Bai's face shifted slightly, obviously tempted; at his age, it was hard to resist this temptation.

"Not only that." Zheng Fa's face was solemn: "This 'Pine-Crane Stake' is merely the introductory skill of my sect's supreme technique 'Spirit Crane Body,' and 'Spirit Crane Body' is a supreme technique that can enter the Dao through martial arts!"

"Enter the Dao through martial arts?"

It was clear that Bai Lao was somewhat stunned by Zheng Fa's seriousness, but mostly he just didn't believe it.

"According to the classics of my sect, this art, 'Spiritual Crane Body,' was realized by an ancestor who, exhausting his entire life, trekked across a thousand mountains, modeled himself on nature, and imitated every bird under heaven; once you master 'Pine and Crane Stance,' if you can then cultivate the 'Spiritual Crane Heart Sutra,' you will enter the Dao through martial arts and greatly increase your lifespan!"

Thanks to that boastful ancestor, Zheng Fa found bluffing the old man to be effortless.

"Trekking across a thousand mountains, realizing it only by imitating every flying bird under heaven? That sounds so mystical?"

Bai Lao murmured.

"Not only that; it is said that after mastering the 'Spiritual Crane Heart Sutra,' this ancestor subsequently shed his mortal coil and attained the Dao!"

Zheng Fa wasn't exaggerating; the ancestor who created the 'Spiritual Crane Heart Sutra' had already entered an immortal sect, which, rounding up, amounted to attaining the Dao, didn't it?

"So this is entering the Dao through martial arts?" Although Bai Lao did not believe in ghosts and gods, he still felt a touch of admiration: "This founding ancestor was truly a master of great constancy and tremendous perseverance!"

"Want to learn?" Zheng Fa tempted.

"Yes!" Just the two words 'extend life' were enough to shake Bai Lao's resolve.

"Master the Pine and Crane Stance, and I will accept you as my disciple, transmitting the 'Spiritual Crane Body' to you!"

"Master! This disciple is utterly loyal to the sect; I will certainly study diligently and practice hard, and in the future, revive our sect!"

To the side, Tang Lingwu's face slowly rose with a look of confusion: "I have a question..."

"Hmm?"

"This ancestral master of your sect is indeed very powerful, but is realizing this so difficult? If we want to watch birds or whatever, and need to see so many, couldn't we just go to the zoo?"

"Eh?"

Zheng Fa and Bai Lao exchanged a glance, feeling that the high-prestige image of that sect ancestor they had just constructed had collapsed in an instant.

Clutching her milk tea cup, Tang Lingwu said weakly, "Did I say something wrong? Then... what about the flower and bird market?"