Hua Qing returned to the restaurant once he finished organising everything for the event. “Are you sure this is going to work?”
“Yes.” Ming Feizhen added, “If my assumption is right.”
Ever since Ming Feizhen told Hua Qing the first important lesson for success in the pugilistic world was “run after fighting”, Hua Qing didn’t want to hear Ming Feizhen’s opinions again. This plan, however, didn’t make any sense to Hua Qing.
“For the last two days, I’ve been trying a variety of methods to probe Zhuo Fengru, but… he won’t bat an eye at my Shaolin skills.”
“You call that Shaolin skills? At max, you know five moves, none of which are complete. I was the one who taught you Black Tiger Steals Heart.”
“Still, he shouldn’t be indifferent, should he? He just cursed when I used it eight times on him.”
“… Just be glad he hasn’t turned antagonistic after all that.”
“I even had Liu Shan Men check his ledger, baited him with your sarira as well as told him people were accusing him of colluding with Miguo Branch, yet he still hasn’t budged. Honestly, if I don’t reckon he’s shameless old schemer, I’d suspect I have the wrong person.”
“And this is going to work?”
“Yes, if my assumption is right.”
Su Li came back with Xu Yanran, who still had roses for cheeks. “Sister Yanran caught the bouquet. The people outside are still congratulating her. Why did Young Master Zhuo bolt off in tears, though? I thought he likes Sister Yanran.”
Xu Yanran queried, “I thought I was supposed to throw it. Brother Mieba, why did I have to catch it?”
“Eh, don’t worry about it, not that the knowledge would be of any use to you. Just enjoy the show,” Ming Feizhen replied.
When the two maidens’ inquisitive gazes found their way to him, Hua Qing pinched his chin. “Frankly, I don’t really get it, either. Let’s say you two do duke it out, and you do win, what difference does it make? It’s not like losing to you makes him a bad person.”
Su Li and Xu Yanran sat down next to Hua Qing: “Exactly. Winning and losing is part of competing. Losing doesn’t make you wrong.”
“There’s an enormous difference.” Ming Feizhen rested his face on a hand, then drawled, “Heard of Repository Theory?”
Su Li and Hua Qing: “Nope.”
Ming Feizhen cast his gaze to the only one who didn’t answer. “So you know, then.”
Xu Yanran bobbed her head. “I’ve heard my father mention my family was originally a family of martial arts practitioners, and the discipline they practiced was the name you just mentioned. He also told me he could pass it on to my future husband… but that is the extent of my knowledge on the topic.”
Ming Feizhen assumed a most peculiar sitting posture, squeezing his cheeks between his hands. “I can’t tell if I should grade you as right or wrong. Repository Theory isn’t one discipline but a collection of six disciplines, each emphasising different perspectives. The six families that inherit the six disciplines are referred to as Repository Six Branches. Your family inherited Abyss Theory and is Intelligence branch.”
Hua Qing: “I heard Master Xu say that they practice some Seal something or whatever you call it, not what you just referred to it as.”
“Martial arts theories aren’t synonymous with the martial arts manuals you know of. These theories aren’t technique manuals. They’re guiding principles; in essence, they’re the mechanics of martial arts. Xu Clan’s discipline is systemised on the foundation of Abyss Theory. Plenty of disciplines these days have an origin of some sort. Having said that, there’s no need to find out the origin of a discipline. My shifu once said, ‘It’s difficult to pinpoint the origin of some disciplines, and it’s a pointless endeavour.’”
If they were to be honest, they sort of understood the idea, but they weren’t so confident they truly understood what Ming Feizhen meant, either.
“So… what does this have to do with fighting Hero Zhuo?”
Ming Feizhen grinned. “What do you think?”
Hua Qing still couldn’t catch Ming Feizhen’s drift, but he and the other three caught an ominous noose around their necks. Casting their gazes to the entrance revealed the source of the hostility belonged to Zhuo Fengru.
Wearing a fanged-smile, Zhuo Fengru demanded, “Young Hero Ming, may this old one borrow the sheet in your hand?”
“This one? Of course,” Ming Feizhen waved the sheet in the air, “not.”
“In that case, this old one apologises in advance!”
Zhuo Fengru executed a sword thrust with his left hand, only for Ming Feizhen to catch the exposed wrist his own right hand through a circular parry. As a result, Ming Feizhen killed all of Zhuo Fengru’s forward momentum. As Zhuo Fengru’s left thrust decelerated, he uncorked a right palm attack at Ming Feizhen’s face to counter whilst covering his exposed left side. Effectively, Zhuo Fengru’s shut down Ming Feizhen’s offence while working his own.
Once again, Ming Feizhen performed a circular motion with his right hand, leaving Zhuo Fengru’s left hand to catch Zhuo Fengru’s right wrist, then returned it to its chamber in one motion. As soon as he resolved the troublesome right, he seized Zhuo Fengru’s left hand again.
Using approximately 70% of his full power, Zhuo Fengru uncoiled a dual palm strike without aiming for a specific target, thereby reducing Ming Feizhen’s space. At the same time, the field of energy would prohibit anyone from interfering in their scrap. Alas, before the energy could take form, Ming Feizhen pushed him back seven steps, nullifying the attack despite Zhuo Fengru’s arms still being in an extended position. Zhuo Fengru subsequently whipped his arms to disperse the accumulated energy.
“Tai Chi! I knew you’re a Wudang disciple!”
Ming Feizhen, still brazenly sitting at the table, smirked to himself as he laid the sheet onto the table, folded it up, then stuffed it into his shirt. “Gale Swordplay and Conqueror Palms live up to their name. You can definitely build a respected resume out of them. As separate things, though, it won’t be enough to beat me.”
“Young Hero Ming, what are you trying to get at?”
“Just wanted to see the legendary disciplines for myself. If you don’t use ‘Aerial Flower Divine Seal’ now, you won’t get another chance.”
