I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 34: Crane Body

"Uncle, aren’t you my father’s only younger brother?"

Hearing his nephew’s question, Xu Jiaotou’s old face, which was as dark as lacquer, couldn’t help but flush with shame. Then, he grew angry and pointed at the incense burner in front of him, saying, “You little troublemaker, making friends so easily, sitting at the door and dragging people into an oath of brotherhood! You’ve ruined the reputation of the Xu family!”

His nephew looked at the incense table behind him, his tone clearly filled with confusion. “Xu family’s… reputation?”

“You—!”

“Exactly, don’t you see who my uncle is and whose disciple I am?” His nephew spoke again, sounding a bit exasperated.

“Alright, alright, he’s just a kid, doesn’t understand these things,” Zheng Fa quickly intervened, standing in front of Xu Jiaotou’s nephew, and gently advised, “Let’s talk things through, no need for violence!”

Xu Jiaotou looked at Zheng Fa, his face growing more awkward. His raised hand slowly lowered, and he muttered in a quieter voice, “Sorry for the embarrassment…”

Zheng Fa knew that if he didn’t offer some comfort now, Xu Jiaotou might never want to see him again in his life.

Looking into Xu Jiaotou’s eyes, Zheng Fa spoke sincerely, “Let’s put aside the fact that you’ve taught me so much, and before this, I heard from Young Master that you wanted to take me as your disciple. I’ve always remembered your kindness.”

When Xu Jiaotou heard this, he hurriedly waved his hand, but his expression softened considerably.

“You were a raw gem, without my…,” he hesitated but then continued, “without my attention, you might not have even had the chance to stay by the Seventh Young Master’s side as a servant, let alone come this far!”

Zheng Fa’s words were mostly comforting, but the sincerity in his tone helped ease the tension.

With a sigh, Xu Jiaotou finally spoke, “Today’s matter… it’s because of the ‘Linghe Body,’ it made me lose my usual composure.”

“‘Linghe Body’?” When Zheng Fa heard that today’s incident had something to do with the martial arts book in front of Xu Jiaotou, he couldn’t help but glance curiously at the few books.

“This is something the Madam asked me to pass on to you. It’s one of the Zhao family’s greatest secrets. Remember, once you learn it, you must never teach it to anyone without the Madam’s permission!” Xu Jiaotou’s face, which had been more relaxed, now took on a stern expression as he spoke.

Zheng Fa nodded, but he still didn’t fully understand. “‘Linghe Body’… is it really that important?”

“It is!” Xu Jiaotou was about to explain further when he saw his nephew eavesdropping behind him. He pointed to the door, saying, “You go outside!”

“Ah?”

“Go outside!”

His nephew, though reluctant, couldn’t ignore Xu Jiaotou’s fierce expression and reluctantly walked out, glancing back at least three times.

Xu Jiaotou stood up and shut the door tightly.

Outside, his little disciple—who was also his nephew—was the one he was still so cautious about.

Clearly, Xu Jiaotou was extremely careful regarding the ‘Linghe Body.’

“You know,” Xu Jiaotou began after a moment of silence, “When I taught you the ‘Songhe Posture,’ do you remember why I looked down on the external martial arts schools?”

“Because our Zhao family’s martial arts are inherited from the Immortal Sect, like the Songhe Posture, which can extend one’s lifespan once mastered,” Zheng Fa recalled what he had said before.

“The inheritance is real, and the lifespan extension is also true,” Xu Jiaotou’s voice grew lower. “But the most important reason is that only martial arts inherited from the Immortal Sect, like those from our Zhao family, can lead one to transcend through martial arts!”

“Transcend through martial arts?” Zheng Fa couldn’t help but look at the ‘Linghe Body’ again.

“What does it mean to transcend through martial arts? I’m not sure either. But there’s always been this legend in the martial world—that by transcending through martial arts, one can enter the Immortal Sect. The most important thing is that our Zhao family comes from the Immortal Sect, so this legend holds some truth!” He turned to look at the ‘Linghe Body.’ “When the Madam gave this to me, she personally told me that it’s the martial art that leads one to transcend through martial arts.”

“I thought, maybe if I mastered this, I could enter the Immortal Sect myself!”

Zheng Fa nodded, understanding the value of the ‘Linghe Body’ and why Xu Jiaotou was so cautious.

“But… didn’t you practice it before, Master? Why then…?”

Zheng Fa didn’t finish his sentence, not wanting to say, “Why are you still trying to please me?”

Xu Jiaotou seemed to understand his implied question and looked a bit embarrassed. After a pause, he gave a self-deprecating laugh, “I thought I had let it go.”

“Hmm?” Zheng Fa had a vague idea of what he meant.

“Zheng Fa, do you know how long I’ve been in the Zhao family?”

“No, I don’t.”

“I’m like you, a born Zhao family child, raised here since childhood. It’s been fifty-five years now. But I was luckier than you. I was appreciated from a young age, and at ten, I started practicing martial arts.”

Xu Jiaotou looked like a middle-aged man, but he was already over fifty, which clearly showed the results of his martial arts training.

A trace of nostalgia appeared on his face as he continued, “I was quite talented. Within ten years, I stood out from the guard ranks and was promoted to the position of a coach. By twenty, I had become a top-tier expert in the martial world. I thought the world was so big, I could go anywhere!”

Zheng Fa remained silent, waiting for Xu Jiaotou to continue.

“At that time, the Madam saw my talent and gave me this ‘Linghe Body.’” Xu Jiaotou’s fingers clenched the edge of the desk tightly, the veins standing out. “Back then, I was full of ambition, and when I heard that this martial art could help me enter the Immortal Sect, I was overjoyed. I made up my mind to master the ‘Linghe Body’ and transcend the mundane world, step into immortality!”

As he spoke, his hand slowly relaxed, and a bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“You can probably guess what happened next—I didn’t succeed.”

Zheng Fa nodded, but Xu Jiaotou’s next words still surprised him.

“Do you know how long I wasted in trying to master the ‘Linghe Body’?”

“Twenty years!”

Xu Jiaotou’s voice was filled with bitterness. “A full twenty years! Every day I studied this ‘Linghe Body.’ I never let go of the books, even while eating or sleeping, it was as if I had gone mad—but I didn’t achieve anything.”

Zheng Fa hadn’t expected the ‘Linghe Body’ to be so difficult to practice, according to Xu Jiaotou’s words.

At this moment, Xu Jiaotou no longer looked like the rough man Zheng Fa had known. His expression was filled with the weight of years.

“When I finally woke up, I realized that time had stolen away twenty years of my life.”

“No wife, no children, nothing accomplished, all my ambitions faded. That’s when I finally decided to give up the ‘Linghe Body’ and return the book to the Madam.”

For a long time, the room was silent, and only Xu Jiaotou’s unspoken regret lingered in the air.

Finally, Xu Jiaotou shook his head, breaking the silence with a complicated smile. “I heard the Madam wanted to pass the ‘Linghe Body’ to you, and I thought you might have better talent than me. Maybe you could succeed in mastering this martial art.”

Zheng Fa knew clearly that, according to Xu Jiaotou, his talent might not be superior to Xu Jiaotou’s.

“I had selfish motives. I thought, if we form a good relationship now, later, if you manage to master it, I could ask you for guidance. Then, perhaps I’d have a chance to succeed in mastering the ‘Linghe Body’ myself. I told myself I had let it go, but deep down, I still had desires,” Xu Jiaotou confessed, bowing to Zheng Fa. “I didn’t expect to make a fool of myself in front of you.”

Zheng Fa didn’t think Xu Jiaotou’s desires were excessive. After all, who wouldn’t have lingering regrets after wasting half a lifetime on the ‘Linghe Body’?

“Alright, take these books and go. The Madam asked me to teach you. To be honest, I don’t think I can teach you much. The little I’ve learned might even mislead you.”

Zheng Fa picked up the books and stood up, but just as he was about to leave, Xu Jiaotou spoke again.

“Zheng Fa, I have one last request…”

“Hmm?”

“This ‘Linghe Body’ is hard to master. I don’t know how many years it will take you, but if you ever become renowned, even if I’m dead, you must tell me at my grave.” Xu Jiaotou turned away, not looking at Zheng Fa, his tone heavy. “Let me know that the

legend of transcending through martial arts is not a fantasy. That my life wasn’t a joke!”

“Alright, if you haven’t mastered it in a few years, then don’t bother.” Zheng Fa nodded, and as he turned to leave, he heard Xu Jiaotou’s slightly somber voice:

“Don’t be like me.”

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