Chapter 62: A Young Boy with the Deanor of a Grandmaster (Part 1)1
Translator: Inschain Editor: Inschain
On the third floor in Funing One.
“Dad, what do you think?”
After Qian Quan left, Zhao Chunjia asked his father-in-law, “Is he different from when you were in Riverside Town?”
Huang Pinghu shook his head, “His speech, state of mind, and attitude are just like back in Riverside Town. He was a pure and straightforward young man.”
Zhao Chunjia pondered, “Dad, I rember you once told the story of Huzi’s
Four Phases. You said he…”
Huang Pinghu smiled and shook his head, “If he were so powerful as to display the Four Phases, then he would be a born sage, a natural immortal.”
The Four Phases they were talking about are from a story about Huzi, Liezi’s master.
The story goes that when Liezi was young and in search of the Way, he t a soothsayer nad Ji Xian, who could predict whether people would be alive or dead, being blessed or cursed. Liezi thought Ji Xian’s Taoist practice surpassed even his master Huzi’s.
So Huzi asked Liezi to invite Ji Xian to do a fortune-telling for him.
The first ti, Huzi displayed the Earth Phase, soaked and ashy; Ji Xian easily saw through it.
The second ti, Huzi revealed the Heaven Phase, a resurgence from the ashy state; Ji Xian still figured it out.
The third ti, Huzi showed the Human Phase, concealing worldly desires and transcending limitations; Ji Xian was puzzled and confused, eventually becoming angry and accusing Huzi of trickery before leaving.
The fourth ti, Huzi showed the Formless Phase, a pure and original state, deep as a quiet abyss and vast as an endless ocean, harmonious and undistinguished from the world, where Heaven and man beco one. Ji Xian realized he had t a true sage and dared not stay any longer. Fearing he would make a fool of himself, he turned and fled.
Liezi, through this experience, gained enlightennt on the way of Nature and achieved immortality.
The original story Huang Pinghu told Zhao Chunjia served as a reminder that those who claid to have deep insights into the world and the human heart were not necessarily all-knowing. They could perceive only what people willingly revealed about themselves.
It was like those who wore their emotions on their sleeves didn’t need a wise man to read them; anyone could see through them.
“Never let your opponent guess your thoughts or discern your current state.”
Or, always present yourself in a certain state, like being confident, calm, and composed.”
This was what Huang Pinghu originally intended to tell Zhao Chunjia.
“Maybe I’ve been paying too much attention to him lately, leading to unnecessary thoughts,” Zhao Chunjia self-mockingly said upon hearing his father-in-law’s words.
“It’s not necessarily overthinking,” Huang Pinghu said, deep in thought, “His deanor today was indeed similar to that in Riverside Town, but the context of our eting today is entirely different from back then.”
In Riverside Town, 1 was just Mr. Huang, the guy next door who watched over the hotel. But today, I’m Huang Pinghu, an important person that he just t, and you are the boss of Funing One,” said Huang Pinghu.
Zhao Chunjia instantly understood his father-in-law’s aning. “You an to say, even after knowing our real identities, his attitude toward us remains unchanged!”
Huang Pinghu nodded subtly, a faint smile lacing his words. “In our society, it’s common for people to chase after power, to suck up to the mighty and belittle the weak. People tend to bow to those in power and look down on those who are not.”
“Even if they knew that your influence and wealth have nothing to do with , they still can’t help but show so subservience.”
Zhao Chunjia added, “People are naturally drawn to strength.”
“But he wasn’t,” said Huang Pinghu, sowhat wistfully. “As a college student, doesn’t he know what it ans to operate a club in this area?”
“Yet when he spoke to us, his gaze didn’t waver. To him, I’m still just the guy next door, and you seem like just another local bar owner.”
Zhao Chunjia chuckled, nodding, “Dad, now that you ntion it, I felt it too. But what’s he relying on?”
“A fearless, naive outlook? Or Lin Xiaohuang?”
“The heart of an unworldly youth,” Huang Pinghu replied, “or perhaps, a youthful spirit capable of soaring to the heavens.”
Zhao Chunjia smiled, “You described the sa way back in the day.”
“But you two are different. You were the reckless type who knew there was a tiger on the mountain but went up anyway. He has the air of a scholar who knows the world lies at his feet.”
“Well, in the end, it’s all about believing in oneself,” Zhao Chunjia laughed.
“That’s right,” agreed Huang Pinghu.
Just as they were talking, Zhao Chunjia received a call from his wife, Huang Lingyan.
“Hello, Lingyan, what’s up?”
Tears were audible in Huang Lingyan’s voice, “You and Dad need to co ho quickly. Sothing’s happened to Baiyu.”
Zhao Chunjia’s face drained of color, “What exactly happened?”
“You’ll see when you get ho! 1 told you not to let her practice martial arts, but you and Dad insisted. Why does a girl need to learn martial arts?”
“Is she hurt?” asked Zhao Chunjia, his tone tinged with urgency.
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Just co ho. Our daughter is… ntally disturbed,” Huang Lingyan sobbed.
“Okay, wait for us at ho. Well be there soon.”
Zhao Chunjia quickly stood up and said to his father-in-law, “It looks like Baiyu has beco obsessed with her martial arts training. Lingyan is beside herself.”
Huang Pinghu nodded, “Let’s go ho, and call her master.”
“Okay.”
The two n hurriedly left.
When they arrived ho, they found that Gong Xuanzhu was already there.
“What happened to Baiyu?” Zhao Chunjia barely managed to greet him.
H
She’s lost in her own martial arts world,” Gong Xuanzhu stated calmly.
Zhao Chunjia saw his daughter sitting on the couch, muttering to herself and occasionally gesturing as if practicing martial arts. Sotis she seed deep in thought; other tis, she appeared to revel in so newfound insight.
anwhile, Huang Lingyan sat beside her, tears streaming down her face, trying to comfort her.
“Master Gong, what should we do?” Zhao Chunjia asked.
“There are two thods. The first is to snap her out of it, which would an all her prior efforts were in vain, and her martial arts journey would end.”
“The second thod is to allow her to break through this obstacle herself. If she can overco this, she’ll reap all the benefits. Not only will her martial arts skills improve, but she’ll also undergo a significant ntal transformation.”
At 75 years old, Gong Xuanzhu bore a few visible wrinkles on his face, yet he didn’t seem old. His eyes were bright, and he stood tall, a man of vitality.
“Wake her up imdiately. We’ll stop the training,” Huang Lingyan urgently said.
Zhao Chunjia hesitated, having discerned Gong Xuanzhu’s inclinations from his earlier words. “What if she can’t break through? Will it harm her?”
Gong Xuanzhu replied, “I told you from the first day you brought her here to learn martial arts that it would be tough and perilous.”
Before Zhao Chunjia could say more, Huang Pinghu interjected, “Give her three more days.”
“Dad!” Huang Lingyan exclaid.
Huang Pinghu raised his hand to stop his daughter, “She’s rely engrossed, not foolish. If we stop her now, she may truly beco foolish later on, losing one of life’s greatest joys.”
“But…”
ii
Do you rember your desperate attempts at morizing English for the college entrance exam?” Huang Pinghu asked Huang Lingyan.
“If your mother and I had stopped you out of pity, and we asked you to give up, how would you feel later?”
“Would you be grateful or regretful?”
Huang Lingyan couldn’t answer. “But Baiyu, she…”
Huang Pinghu waved it off, “Think about it. What if you and Chunjia sold off all your business here at Azure Bay and moved back to Riverside Town? Would you agree?”
Confused, Huang Lingyan asked, “Dad, what do you an?”
“What 1 an is, we’re ail living in a fog, unaware,” Huang Pinghu affird, “Don’t worry, Baiyu is alright. She’s braver than we think.”
Upon hearing his father-in-law’s confident words, Zhao Chunjia relaxed. “Lingyan, let’s follow Dad and Master Gong. Let’s give Baiyu another three days.”
Just as Huang Lingyan was about to speak, Zhao Baiyu said, “Mom, don’t worry. I’m fine.”
“Baiyu, you…” Huang Lingyan was overjoyed.
“I’m fine,” Zhao Baiyu hugged her mother first, then stood up and acknowledged her teacher before walking over to her grandfather, “Grandpa.”
Though she seed to be back to normal, a certain solemnity lingered on her face. Her eyes lacked their usual sparkle.
Huang Pinghu nodded with a smile and gently patted her head.
“Baiyu, how much have you figured out?” Gong Xuanzhu suddenly asked.
“Half.”
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Not bad,” Gong Xuanzhu nodded approvingly.
“Teacher, Grandpa, Dad, Mom, 1 have a competition tomorrow and need to go back to school.”
“I’ve already gotten you a leave of absence. Your grandfather and your teacher are here, so we don’t need to attend the competition,” said Huang Lingyan.
“Mom, 1 need to take part in the competition!” insisted Zhao Baiyu, “I have an intuition that this competition will give so inspiration.”
Gong Xuanzhu’s eyes brightened at this, “Then continue to participate.”
When one is engrossed in sothing, monts of enlightennt often occur. Before that, intuitive flashes may offer so guidance.
In scientific terms, it might be the brain’s underdeveloped cells performing subconscious calculations and extrapolations-perhaps a sixth sense.
In non-scientific terms, everything is interconnected in ways beyond our understanding.
“Go ahead,” said Huang Pinghu, “The breakthrough you need might just be there. Universities are full of hidden talents.”
“A college is a place where masters are concealed; you never know when you might bump into a prodigy from a famous martial arts family or a prized pupil of a renowned master. You have to keep a low profile.”
Xun Liangping, a freshman in the Transportation Engineering Major at Azure Bay Mariti University, confessed his cautious approach to Chang Huan, his senior who had specifically traveled from Peng City to Azure Bay to see him.
Xun Liangping had signed up for this year’s “Freshn Partner Tournant,” but during the university selection process, he had intentionally downplayed his skills, only managing to scrape through in third place.
ii
So, if you’re opting for a low profile, what rank are you aiming for in this tournant?” Chang Huan asked.
Chang Huan was quite familiar with his junior’s talent and skills, especially in things like Wing Chun Biu Jee and Wing Chun Wooden Dummy, not to ntion that Xun Liangping was exceptional in actual combat.
“Whatever rank 1 can get.”
“You an, you’ll go all out in the actual competition?”
“I aim to win narrowly in each match,” said Xun Liangping, whose tone seed casual but was filled with confidence.
Chang Huan nodded, “You used to think that among all the schoolmates, the only one who could match you was . Now that you’ve left Martial Arts School, you’ll find that your only real opponent is still .”
n
So, Chang Huan, why did you co to Azure Bay? Don’t tell it’s just to watch compete.”
“I heard that the top Wing Chun practitioner in the East China region is in Azure Bay. 1 thought I’d co to et him and see you while I’m at it.”
Chang Huan was none other than “Wing Chun-Chang Huan,” the top Wing Chun practitioner in the South China region, as recognized in Zhang Xiang’er’s group chat.
“Chang, you’re really getting flamboyant, touting yourself as ‘the best in XX’ all the ti. Don’t you know there are countless hidden masters in the world? Can’t you be a little more modest?”
“Not convinced? Want to spar?”
“Chang, you are China’s number one Wing Chun practitioner!”
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