Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen: A Classic Moment

Returning quickly to the outskirts east of the city, Duan Mingyu was radiant with excitement—this was his first time actually laying hands on someone, and his face still flushed with exhilaration. He suddenly realized he had a knack for playing the villain. But when it came to people like Zhang Baobao, the only way to deal with them was to confront them head-on each time; reasoning with them was futile and only served to fuel their arrogance.

Xu Zuye arrived at his doorstep, awkwardly fumbling for his keys. Slowly, he tried to unlock the door but kept missing the keyhole. Duan Mingyu watched anxiously, but Xu Zuye, true to the principle of "calm and steady wins the day," didn’t even glance at the keyhole and continued poking blindly with his key.

Ten centuries later...

Deep in concentration on his task, Xu Zuye suddenly heard a childish voice beside him: “Hey, could you hurry up when you open the door?”

Startled, Xu Zuye dropped his keys to the ground. “Who’s there? Who the hell is talking? You scared me!” He turned around to see if Duan Mingyu was behind him, but there was no one else in sight. Yet, where was the voice coming from?

“Hee hee hee, you big dummy, I’m up here!”

Both Duan Mingyu and Xu Zuye looked up in surprise. Lo and behold, two figures stood on the wall—Yang Zhaoniang and Yang Yanguang, an old man and a young girl, both grinning smugly at Xu Zuye’s expense.

Xu Zuye was even more shocked. When had these two appeared? How had he not noticed their presence at all?

Duan Mingyu glanced knowingly at Xu Zuye. “Big Brother Xu, to be silently spied on for so long without realizing it, I think there are only two explanations.”

“First, these two have such formidable skills that they can remain completely undetected. Or second, your martial arts are so poor that it’s beyond description. Between the two, I lean toward the latter. Ha ha ha!” Duan Mingyu laughed heartily. Seeing Xu Zuye’s embarrassed expression was truly amusing.

Xu Zuye furrowed his brows but, aware of the intellectual gap between them, could only resignedly say, “You little brat just love teasing me!” For a grown man to be so rattled by a little girl’s words that he couldn’t even hold his keys properly—his face flushed with embarrassment.

“You’re quite fierce when you fight, Xu Dummy, so why are you so scared now?” Yang Zhaoniang teased with a proud smile.

Xu Zuye’s face reddened. Approaching forty, being mocked like this right at his doorstep was indeed humiliating.

Unlike Xu Zuye, Duan Mingyu’s mind was racing with a new realization: Yang Zhaoniang had inadvertently revealed something—“when you fought?” So, when Xu and he had thrashed Zhang Baobao, these two had been nearby. Even if he had casually mentioned his address, how had they arrived so quickly? More importantly, a young girl and an old man moving faster than two grown men—these were true masters. That old man was definitely a martial arts expert.

Duan Mingyu’s suspicions were soon confirmed. Yang Yanguang leapt down from the four-to-five-meter wall, holding little Zhaoniang, descending as gracefully as a falling leaf. Both Duan Mingyu and Xu Zuye were dumbfounded. Was this the legendary lightness skill? Incredible—absolutely astonishing! This move was far more impressive than his own pathetic monkey-stealing-peach technique.

If Yang Yanguang knew Duan Mingyu was comparing his family’s unique lightness skill to such a lowly trick, he’d probably be so angry he’d spit out blood.

Landing smoothly, the posture was nothing short of classic.

Seeing the two stunned men, Yang Yanguang proudly stroked his beard. “I’ve painstakingly practiced this skill for over forty years and have finally reached some proficiency. Please forgive my showing off, ha ha ha!”

Xu Zuye felt deflated like a popped balloon. Forty years of practice? Damn, this man was older than himself by several years. He had even hoped to become a disciple but now realized that if he ever mastered this art, his own fate would be sealed.

Duan Mingyu, however, had no such petty thoughts. Anyone capable of mastering such skill was undoubtedly remarkable; after all, if everyone were a master, what would become of ordinary men like himself? If everyone were an expert, Duan Mingyu would undoubtedly be the weakest among them. He’d rather be hit by a truck again, be sent back through time, and escape this “living hell.”

Yang Zhaoniang smiled, revealing two little tiger teeth. “Hee hee, my grandpa’s skills are top-notch. If you want to learn martial arts, bring some pretty wooden clogs to trade!” Her eyes gleamed with mischief.

Yang Yanguang angrily tapped her forehead. “Selling out our family’s martial arts like that, you little brat! Don’t ever say such nonsense again.”

Yang Zhaoniang pouted, lowering her head. “Fine, I won’t trade. Why be so mean?”

“If you don’t want to teach, I’m not eager to learn! Training is exhausting—better to chase after beauties instead.” Duan Mingyu thought to himself. Though he appeared noble and dignified, deep down he was quite the lecher.

After learning that Yang Yanguang was a master, Xu Zuye noticeably became more courteous. “Please, Elder Yang, come inside. It’s hot out here. Mingyu, quickly brew a pot of my treasured Tieguanyin tea.”

Duan Mingyu was outraged. “Old Xu, you’re too dishonest! Didn’t you say last time you drank it all? You’re hiding it from me, aren’t you?”

Xu Zuye broke out in a sweat. “Brother, who’s hiding what from whom? This tea just arrived yesterday.”

Duan Mingyu eyed Xu Zuye skeptically but let it go. Xu Zuye finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Elder Yang, please forgive my rudeness.”

“Hee hee, young people understand each other well!” Yang Yanguang seemed quite pleased with Xu Zuye’s attitude, acting as if they were kindred spirits.

“Partners in crime!” was Yang Zhaoniang’s true, silent judgment of the two.

Savoring the fragrant Tieguanyin, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became lively. Yang Yanguang commented, “This tea’s leaves are full-bodied, and it leaves a lingering fragrance on the lips—a true masterpiece among Tieguanyins!”

“Of course. Back in the day, I, Xu Zuye, was quite a figure around Bianliang City. At that time...”

“Speak up! Speak up!” Duan Mingyu’s heart raced with excitement. After knowing Xu Zuye for so long, he had never revealed his past, which had always bothered Duan Mingyu. Finally, the old man was about to tell his story.

“Forget it. Those days are best left unsaid,” Xu Zuye shamelessly glanced at Duan Mingyu and said slowly.

Duan Mingyu felt immensely frustrated. The old man was just teasing him, and it was infuriating.

“Hmph, what’s there to be proud of? If you won’t say, then fine.” Yang Zhaoniang was quick to complain, then drained her cup in one gulp.

“My precious Tieguanyin!” Duan Mingyu’s heart bled. He usually barely allowed himself a sip of good tea, yet this little brat had wasted it all. It was pure money down the drain!