Chapter 25 - 25 25 Two Strokes

Words : 1358 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Two Strokes Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Two Strokes Zheng Fa looked at Seventh Young Master’s face, which bore an expression of amusement. He glanced at the silent Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan, then got up lazily, clapped his hands, and said, “You two discuss it among yourselves, I’ll come back later.” What he said was to discuss, but both Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan understood that he practically meant for them to fight while he watched. Seventh Young Master leisurely walked out of the study. Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan remained standing where they were. No one spoke. Zheng Fa turned his head to look out the window, also contemplating the intentions of Seventh Young Master. One Attendant Student or two Attendant Students, it made no difference to him, but for Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan, the difference could completely tear apart their already shaky relationship. To him, it was probably just like throwing a bone for two dogs to fight over. Merely for his own amusement. “You stay.” Amidst his thoughts, Zheng Fa suddenly heard Gao Yuan say softly. “Hm?” This statement truly surprised Zheng Fa, who turned to look at Gao Yuan, whose face bore an expression of self-mockery and also a hint of gloom. But Gao Yuan was not looking at him; instead, he stared at the bookshelves filled with books. “Actually, if we really have to choose an Attendant Student, it should be you,” he said calmly. “You have better talent than me, both in martial arts and in studying.” Zheng Fa shook his head. To be honest, about talent, without modern times, he couldn’t claim he was better than Gao Yuan. Moreover, would someone like Seventh Young Master care about the talent of an Attendant Student? “I’m injured.” Gao Yuan’s next sentence made Zheng Fa understand why he suddenly gave up. “It’s funny, actually. I wanted to compete with you,” Gao Yuan said with a hint of self-mockery. “You learned the Songhe Stance in three days, while I practiced for three or even four two-hours every day, not heeding my father’s advice. Now, the tendons in my legs are injured, and it will take half a year before I can practice again.” “So, I’m not letting you have it, I just don’t want to humiliate myself further.” Gao Yuan’s gaze finally truly met Zheng Fa’s. There was pain in his eyes, but also a hint of relief. Zheng Fa was about to speak. But Gao Yuan interrupted him: “Don’t pity me. If I go home, my father will make plans for me. If you truly go home, then you will have nothing.” Zheng Fa: ...Well, you are quite persuasive. When Seventh Young Master came in, his eyes curiously shifted between Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan. It seemed he was probing whether they had fought. He seemed a bit disappointed to find both of their faces calm, their clothes neat, and even the atmosphere between them seemed slightly more harmonious than before. “How have you two discussed?” “Seventh Young Master, with my limited skills and knowledge, I voluntarily...” “Wait!” Seventh Young Master held up his palm, interrupting Gao Yuan. “Who said that it’s up to you to decide who stays and who leaves?” “...” “My Attendant Student is, of course, for me to pick!” He looked at them both, his eyes narrowing, seemingly delighting in manipulating people’s hearts: “Actually, if you two had fought earlier, maybe I would have been delighted and kept both of you.” “Now, alas, the drama I wanted to see is gone, and I’m unhappy.” Leaning his leg on the desk, sitting in the chair: “Maybe both of you should just get lost!” “You!” Seventh Young Master squinted at Gao Yuan. “You haven’t mastered Songhe Stance, right? No, your leg is injured?” His gaze swept over Gao Yuan’s legs, noticing the injury in a glance. Gao Yuan whispered, “Yes.” “You seem to have decent talent?” Seventh Young Master turned to Zheng Fa. “You mastered Songhe Stance in just three days.” He usually didn’t say much to Zheng Fa. But when it comes to the two of them, everything is crystal clear. “Even Mr. Xu says you’re talented and wants to take you as his apprentice.” Seventh Young Master tapped on the desk, smiling brightly, “But the Songhe Stance is too weak, and you started martial arts too late, you’re not qualified enough to stay by my side.” Zheng Fa did not even know Mr. Xu had intended to take him as an apprentice. Seventh Young Master stood up and walked around Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan. “One with a leg injury, the other only knows a few moves...” He shook his head, then suddenly said, “Gao Yuan!” “Present!” “I’m not impressed with him, but you, I’ll give you another chance! Didn’t you get that fool’s secretly copied runes? How do they look?” “Seventh Young Master...” Gao Yuan’s face turned pale, not expecting that Seventh Young Master knew even this. Perhaps he even knew before about Attendant Student secretly copying the heavily researched runes. Now, Zheng Fa even suspected that those few diagrams may have been intentionally leaked by Seventh Young Master. “If you can learn something from it, don’t say you have a leg injury, even if you were a lame fool, I would keep you by my side!” Seventh Young Master’s gaze was unusually serious. Zheng Fa knew he was very serious about this matter. Seventh Young Master picked up the rune book that he always carried with him from the desk, flipped it open, and placed the few familiar patterns in front of Gao Yuan. He also set out paper and pen, gesturing to Gao Yuan. “You’ve been looking at this for many days, what have you seen?” Gao Yuan looked at him, his face rich with emotions, some eager, but mostly helpless. He knew that if he could show even a hint of talent here, he could stay. But... “I am dull-witted...” Gao Yuan hadn’t even picked up the pen, but simply bowed his head. “Stupid!” Seventh Young Master shook his head, somewhat deflated: “You two...” Suddenly, Zheng Fa stepped forward, picked up the brush in front of Gao Yuan. “Hmm?” Seventh Young Master frowned at Zheng Fa. He knew very well that Gao Yuan had been studying those diagrams for days. But Zheng Fa... he had only glanced at them a few times! Zheng Fa, on the blank paper in front of him, drew two patterns previously given by Mr. Bai. Gao Yuan watched from the side. Zheng Fa merely made two very simple strokes, which looked completely unrelated to the original complex diagrams. Random scribbles? But seeing Seventh Young Master’s face, he knew it was not! Seventh Young Master furrowed his brow, stared at the tip of Zheng Fa’s brush, as if it revealed something unexpected. After a long while, his gaze moved from the paper to Zheng Fa’s face. “Did you figure this out yourself?” His tone, unexpectedly, was a bit sharp. Even Gao Yuan could see, the two patterns drawn by Zheng Fa must be significant. He bitterly smiled to himself: It seems he was indeed being presumptuous... Zheng Fa probably didn’t need his concessions. “No.” Zheng Fa put down the brush, as if what he had drawn was casual. “Who taught you!” Seventh Young Master quickly asked. “No one taught me, this is something Mr. Gao and I figured out together.” Zheng Fa smiled and looked towards Gao Yuan: “Right?” “Ah?” Gao Yuan looked a bit dumbfounded at Zheng Fa, “Oh?” Seventh Young Master squinted, staring at Zheng Fa for a long time, then suddenly told Gao Yuan: “Go, bring me my lunch, and, give him an extra portion too!” He pointed at Zheng Fa. Gao Yuan hesitantly looked at Zheng Fa, saw him nod, and then got up and left.

Chapter 25 - 25 25 Two Strokes

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