Chapter 47: Changed

To prove himself, Bai Lao took Zheng Fa and the other two to another room.

The door to this room had been kept tightly shut for years; neither Zheng Fa nor the others had ever entered.

The room was not large, about ten square meters, with a row of tall bookshelves lining the walls. The books on the shelves were arranged in extreme disorder, and several half-open books were spread out on the floor and chairs as well.

One glance made it clear that this sloppy study belonged to this lazy old man.

The only difference in style was the desk in the corner by the window; aside from a thick stack of paper and a pen holder filled with brushes, there were no other items on it.

Most peculiar of all, that stack of draft paper was piled up neatly, like a block of tofu cut very smoothly.

"Is this your new book, old sir?" Tang Lingwu also noticed this special pile of drafts.

Bai Lao was actually being humble now: "It's just a thought of my own; I've been writing it for several years."

He turned to Zheng Fa and said, "I really don't have that much time. I had promised someone to write this book before I retired, yet it's been five or six years since retirement and I still haven't finished it."

"The publishing house really called to urge me; I'm not bragging..." Facing the suspicious gazes of Zheng Fa and the other, he stammered, "I only bragged a Gu Yier... five, six, seven, eight sentences."

Zheng Fa looked at the obviously different desk and nodded: "You really truly value this book."

"To say I truly value it would be an overstatement. As I said before, I'm not that great at mathematics." Bai Lao touched the draft paper on the table, thought for a moment, and asked Zheng Fa, "Do you know why I've always been unwilling to teach you?"

"Because I learn slowly?"

"Uh, being stupid counts as one reason." Bai Lao was always straightforward when it came to looking down on Zheng Fa's intelligence.

"Because I have to take the college entrance exam now?" Zheng Fa guessed again.

"That's a reason too, but the main reason is that you are not the type of person to do mathematics."

Zheng Fa was stunned; he didn't quite understand why the old man said that.

"I'm not saying your character is problematic, but doing mathematics shouldn't be too goal-oriented. And you..." Zheng Fa glanced at Zheng Fa: "Do you want to learn topology? Or is it for those strange and bizarre patterns?"

Zheng Fa frowned.

"Isn't being practical better?" Tang Lingwu muttered.

"What is mathematics?" Bai Lao suddenly asked.

"Huh?"

"The fundamental object of mathematical research is things that do not exist." Bai Lao said to the two of them, "Do imaginary numbers exist? Are natural numbers even found in nature? Can you find points, lines, and planes from geometry in nature?"

Zheng Fa said nothing; he still didn't understand what the old man was trying to say, but Bai Lao seemed to have found the feeling of being a university professor again:

"Mathematics is essentially an abstract, non-existent axiomatic system. To some extent, you can view it as a set of purposeless rules of a game invented by humanity; it just so happens that these rules can explain some things in this world." He spoke on and on.

"So many theoretical mathematicians look down on applied mathematicians, saying, 'We agreed to be the mother of science together, how did you become as soft as a...' Looking at the young faces of Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu, the excited Bai Lao forcibly swallowed the indecent word on the tip of his tongue and changed it to: 'a fallen woman.'"

Seeing that Zheng Fa still didn't understand, Bai Lao explained more clearly: "If you are learning topology for those patterns, then let me ask you, have you ever considered whether topology can truly analyze all these patterns?"

Zheng Fa nodded.

"This is the subtlety of science; even if you are right ten thousand times, you cannot be certain you are right. If you are wrong once, you are truly wrong. At that moment, would you still want to learn topology from me?"

Zheng Fa understood his meaning; the old man was beating around the bush, still advising him not to mistake the trivial for the essential.

"I want to learn; even if I learn slowly, I still want to learn." Zheng Fa said slowly; even without these symbol patterns, he was very interested in the knowledge of this world.

"Then I suggest you study hard with me." Seeing Zheng Fa's determined expression, which didn't seem like a lie, Bai Lao's expression was slightly gratified, and he comforted Zheng Fa in a rare manner: "It's fine to be slow; you haven't fully mastered high school knowledge yet. Topology is a second-year undergraduate course at Jingcheng University; you need at least the knowledge reserve of a first-year undergraduate to truly get started. Being slow now is actually normal."

Bai Lao meant well, but Zheng Fa still refused:

"But I still want you, old sir, to help me analyze those patterns."

Zheng Fa thought it through clearly; he was interested in mathematics, but only as a tool.

Just like Bai Lao's brain.

"I really don't have that time!"

Zheng Fa turned to look at Tang Lingwu beside him and pointed at her, asking, "I remember you, old sir, said she has already reached university-level courses?"

"Hmm?"

"Since I have to start from high school, wouldn't it be better if I learned from her?"

There was no problem that borrowing a brain couldn't solve; if that didn't work, then borrow another one.

Tang Lingwu was stunned for a moment beside them, pointing at herself: "Me?"

"I will teach you Wu Gong; you teach me mathematics, is that okay?"

Tang Lingwu looked at Bai Lao with some hesitation.

Bai Lao frowned but didn't deny Tang Lingwu's ability: "That is indeed a method. If there's anything you can't teach, just bring it to me to ask. Actually, if you teach him, it will greatly improve your own understanding of those knowledge points, even if it wastes your time..."

"I'll teach! I want to learn Wu Gong!"

"Didn't you say you didn't want to?" Bai Lao grunted.

Tang Lingwu said nothing, just pressed her lips together and smiled.

Zheng Fa smiled brightly and took out those draft notebooks: "Then today, which one shall we start with?"

Bai Lao was stunned.

He pointed at Tang Lingwu: "She becomes your teacher, and you can still practice martial arts."

"Yes."

"In the future, she won't scold you, I can't scold you; not only will you not get scolded, but you'll also have a pretty young Miss as a teacher, and me, your employee."

Zheng Fa smiled brightly: "It seems so."

"And I, not only have to work for you, but also lose the joy of scolding you?"

This reasoning process was so flawless that it left Bai Lao with a desperate expression.

"At least you got a lesson." Zheng Fa patted Bai Lao's shoulder: "Next time, don't threaten to drop out every time you get upset."

Because he had to teach Tang Lingwu to practice martial arts, Bai Lao's home was no longer spacious enough.

Several people arrived at the small open space where Bai Lao had previously witnessed Zheng Fa entering the Pine and Crane Stance.

Bai Lao continued practicing the Pine-Crane Post nearby, his expression far more serious than before.

Zheng Fa stood before Tang Lingwu, guiding her in the stance; they stood very close, their noses tickled by each other's hair, a faint, subtle fragrance drifting from the young lady.

He was not affected, quickly gathering his thoughts, and then discovered the difference in this world—after mastering the Spirit Crane Body, whenever he circulated the qi within him, he felt a power in the void of the Xuanwei Realm responding to him.

But this world did not have it!

This difference made Zheng Fa unable to help but form some conjectures.

"Zheng Fa, you... smell so good!"

Hm?

Tang Lingwu seemed to feel her words were too lewd, her eyes darting about.

Zheng Fa's gaze fell solemnly upon her, inquisitive, as if trying to see another old acquaintance in her face:

... Gao Yuan, is that you?

"Zheng Fa! I found something strange!" Gao Yuan saw Zheng Fa, ran over to his side, stuck his head in front of Zheng Fa, as if wanting to whisper something to him.

"Stop, stay away from me." Zheng Fa closed his eyes.

"?"

"I haven't gotten used to you suddenly becoming so ugly."

Gao Yuan touched his face, which was covered in confusion, quickly set aside his puzzlement, and said quietly: "I haven't changed; the Seventh Young Master has changed!"

"Changed? Changed into what?" Zheng Fa heard this and felt a bit curious.

"Changed to..." Gao Yuan seemed unable to describe it well, scratching his head: "Changed to... a bit like me."

... What a coincidence, I also know someone who has changed to look a bit like you.