Luzhou-Mond - Kapitel 31
"Master, please teach us as quickly as possible. We don't want to hold you back, and we will try our best to learn," I said.
Jiang Ming laughed and said, "I won't suffer if you follow Master. You'll surpass them very quickly."
In the afternoon, Jiang Ming taught us a set of boxing techniques. He demonstrated it a few times and we memorized the moves. However, we were unsure about the force and the way we punched was not quite right. He sat aside and told us to practice more. Song Zhixuan and I obediently practiced again and again until dark.
In the evening, after most of the others had gone back to their rooms to rest, I fetched some hot water from the kitchen and took a short shower in a corner of the bathhouse. It was really inconvenient in ancient times, and even more inconvenient to live among men.
After showering and returning to the room, Lin Zhao and Song Zhixuan were already lying down. Everyone must be suffering from backaches and pains.
Hearing the noise, Lin Zhao asked, "Where did you go? Why are you only just coming back?"
I closed the door, climbed into bed, and lazily replied, "I was sweating, so I took a shower."
"Hmph," Lin Zhao said disdainfully, "You've washed away all the sweat, where's the manly scent?"
I ignored him, but Song Zhixuan spoke up: "Lin En, are you in pain?"
I hummed in agreement, and Song Zhixuan crawled over and said, "Let me give you a massage too, otherwise you might not be able to get up tomorrow."
I nodded gratefully and lay down on the blanket.
Song Zhixuan massaged me for about half an hour. I felt he was also very tired, so I told him to stop and lie down so I could massage him instead.
Lin Zhao spoke up unhappily: "Why is nobody taking care of me?"
"Why don't you come over and help us knead it, and then we'll knead it for you?" I suggested.
"No, I want to sleep today," Lin Zhao replied and then fell silent.
As I was massaging Song Zhixuan, I fell asleep without realizing it. When I woke up the next day, I found that Song Zhixuan and I were both sleeping in my bed. He must have fallen asleep without me noticing yesterday as well.
That morning, Jiang Ming checked on my and Song Zhixuan's studies and smiled with satisfaction, "Truly, a great teacher produces outstanding students."
"How come I've never heard of you being mentioned in the martial arts world?" It was Mr. Qi, who had walked in gracefully, who spoke.
"Can't I indulge in a little self-admiration?" Jiang Ming said with a grin.
Mr. Qi looked at me and Song Zhixuan and said, "These two children are probably the most talented among these eighteen people. That's why I asked Brother Kong to arrange for you to teach them. Don't let them down."
“They are indeed smart,” Jiang Ming said.
Mr. Qi nodded and said, "I didn't expect that two more children would show up at the end. Why don't you have them practice for me now?"
Since we had just finished practicing our boxing techniques, Jiang Ming stopped letting us practice and instead made me spar with Song Zhixuan. Although we had sparred before at the Marquis of Qiyun's residence, everyone always let me win. Would Song Zhixuan let me win? I'm afraid of getting hurt!
"Just keep fighting and see who can beat whom. It will get even worse later. Others won't let you off the hook, and the enemy certainly won't," Mr. Qi encouraged us when he saw that Song Zhixuan and I were hesitant to make a move.
We had no choice but to bow to them and begin our attack.
At first, Song Zhixuan and I knew the moves Jiang Ming taught us, but the more we learned, the more confused we became. Song Zhixuan had learned some miscellaneous things before, and I had also practiced some at the Qi Yun Marquis's residence. Jiang Ming and Mr. Qi always looked at us with smiles on their faces.
Finally, seeing that I was running out of strength, I used a Taekwondo "single-leg combination kick" followed by a "back spinning kick" to finally knock Song Zhixuan to the ground, and then quickly helped him up.
“From now on, it should be like this,” Mr. Qi said approvingly as he walked over. “You played very well.” Then he left, probably to do some spot checks elsewhere.
Jiang Ming also walked over and laughed, "I didn't realize you two kids had some skills."
I chuckled and said, "It's human instinct. I only kicked those few times because I didn't have the strength to hit anymore." Then I checked Song Zhixuan and asked, "Does it hurt a lot?"
"It doesn't hurt. I really didn't have the strength to kick. I couldn't stop such a fast foot and that's why I fell." Song Zhixuan said embarrassedly, patting the dust off his face. "Although Lin En is the youngest, he is the most powerful."
Jiang Ming told us to rest for a while and that he would teach us new boxing techniques later. So the three of us sat down in the shade of a tree.
"Master, do you know how well Lin Zhao is learning?" I thought of what Mr. Qi had said. Judging from his tone, Jiang Ming, who seemed a bit cunning, was probably the best among the four martial arts masters. Shen Haojue was naturally taught by Master Kong and Meng Yue, with Mr. Qi giving him pointers from the side.
"Is his master Kong Wu? He seems quite good too," Jiang Ming said after thinking for a moment.
I said happily, "Then Master, can we ask him to come and train with us? Me, Brother Zhixuan, and Lin Zhao live together. If the three of us are together, we might learn even better, and Master will be very proud."
Jiang Ming sneered, "Whether it's to make me look better or to make yourself more amused, you know better than anyone else."
"Wouldn't that be better for everyone?" I muttered.
"Alright, I'll go ask. Don't blame me for not trying my best if their master is unwilling to release them," Jiang Ming compromised.
"Thank you, Master! Please teach us the new style of boxing." I stood up happily and said.
Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 023
Chapter word count: 3870 Update time: 09-07-27 10:59
The clear autumn sky is like a pure blue crystal, clean and transparent. The occasional cry of a wild goose across the sky adds a touch of poetry.
Shen Haoyu took me, Zinuo, Yinyan, Yuying, and the four of them who moved to Qiufeng Garden yesterday—Song Zhixuan, Lin Zhao, Zhao Ming, and Shi Nan—out together. I think I was the most excited of them all, not only because we could go out, but also because I could be with Song Zhixuan and Lin Zhao again. I still remember seeing them last night; they were both wearing the same blue robes, but one was a gentle and refined gentleman, and the other a spirited and dashing young man. They both stood in the courtyard, smiling at me with bright eyes.
Perhaps I had been staring at them for too long, because Lin Zhao raised his hand and slapped me on the head: "What, don't you recognize your two older brothers?"
I swallowed hard, looked up at myself and saw that I was only up to their shoulders. I complained a little, "Everyone says that girls change a lot as they grow up. I think my two brothers have changed a lot too. I can hardly recognize them anymore."
They both just smiled and led me to their room.
All the Yuwei members have moved to Qiufengyuan, but they can only live in the outer courtyard, which is still good news for me. I lingered in their room for a long time, chatting and occasionally asking them to give me some pointers on my kung fu, until Zinuo came to find me, and I reluctantly returned to Yixinzhai.
After picking up Yunshang and Yunruo, Yinyan and Yuying helped them into the carriage, while Shen Haoyu led the six of us on horseback. The sound of hooves echoed on the wide, flat streets of the capital, the crisp sound making my heart leap with joy. It was still early, and there weren't many people on the streets, but our outstanding group still frequently attracted the attention of passersby.
Once outside the north gate, everyone quickened their pace on horseback. Shen Haoyu spurred his horse forward, his purple robes and jade belt fluttering in the wind, a truly beautiful sight. Zhao Ming and Shi Nan followed closely behind, their blue outfits billowing slightly in the wind. Zinuo, Song Zhixuan, Lin Zhao, and I followed behind the carriage, chatting and laughing, our voices carried away by the wind.