"No," Shang Xiulin shook his head and said, "You won’t have to smash rocks anymore."
"Really?" Little Fatty’s face lit up with surprise. "Then what will I learn in the future?"
"Beside Luoxia Lake, there is a small mountain called Black Dragon Mountain. Below Black Dragon Mountain, there is a pond called Black Dragon Pond. The water from Black Dragon Mountain flows into Black Dragon Pond, creating a waterfall called Black Dragon Waterfall..." Shang Xiulin looked at Little Fatty and said, "Starting tomorrow, you will practice striking water at Black Dragon Pond."
"Yes, striking water. Use a hammer to strike the pond’s water."
"How long do I have to do this?" Little Fatty asked.
"One swing of the hammer, and the Dragon Pond’s water shall split."
Tang Fei’s eyes widened as he looked at Shang Xiulin.
Could it be that his expectations for Little Fatty were so high, so great?
He thought of his own master Xuanyuan Mingjing’s sword strike that split the clouds in two with one blow. The Sword Qi soared to the sky, disappearing only a week later.
This was not a Cultivation Technique, it was a path.
It was the first lesson that Xuanyuan Mingjing had taught him, the path he was to find.
Could it be that Shang Xiulin ... was also guiding Little Fatty to find his own path?
Although Little Fatty was reluctant, feeling this was as tedious as smashing rocks,
he knew his master meant well, so he nodded, agreeing and said, "Master, I understand. Starting tomorrow, I will strike water at Black Dragon Pond every day."
"Good," Shang Xiulin nodded.
He understood Little Fatty’s character well—he would either not agree, or if he agreed, he would earnestly complete the task.
The training path he had designed did not require mental exertion, but if he were willing to ponder it...
That would be an excellent thing.
Shang Xiulin looked at Tang Fei and Ran Ran, saying, "Today’s assessment is over. If there’s nothing else, I won’t keep you here for dinner..."
He then said to Little Fatty, "You stay, your Lady Master has gone to buy groceries..."
Tang Fei and Ran Ran left the Dean’s house. Ran Ran, deep in thought, looked at Tang Fei and asked, "Did you offend the Dean somewhere?"
"Why do you ask?" Tang Fei asked.
"I feel like the Dean doesn’t seem to like you, and... he never keeps us both for meals at home. I am a teacher at the school, shouldn’t he show me some respect? Could it be that I’m affected by you?"
"Never mind, if he doesn’t keep us, then he doesn’t." Ran Ran graciously waved his hand and said, "You’re not in a hurry to go back to the Academy, right? Since it’s dinner time, shall I treat you to dinner?"
"No need," Tang Fei declined, saying, "I still have things to do."
"Then I’ve saved a meal. You get busy with your work, I’m going to eat," Ran Ran touched his stomach and said, "I don’t know why, but I was incredibly tense at the Dean’s house... I get hungry easily when I’m nervous. Never mind you; I’m going to eat myself."
"Go ahead, don’t starve yourself," Tang Fei said with a smile. "Next time I come back, I’ll treat you to dinner."
"I won’t hold my breath. We’ve known each other so long, when have you ever treated me to a meal? Every time we go to the cafeteria, you use my card..."
"You have a teacher’s card, it gives more discounts..." Tang Fei said matter-of-factly.
After parting from Ran Ran, Tang Fei walked towards the Mechanical Engineering building.
He was delighted that he had been admitted to White Crane Academy, yet his card still opened the gate, allowing him unimpeded access.
He walked straight to his former classroom, only to find that most of his classmates had already left for home, except for one person who sat in the corner, soundly asleep.
Tang Fei sat down beside her, silently contemplating his thoughts.
After who knows how long, Lu Siyu finally lifted her head and stretched lazily.
Startled to see Tang Fei beside her, Lu Siyu said discontentedly, "What are you doing here? Weren’t you at White Crane?"
"White Crane Academy is nice, but without Teacher Lu’s guidance, so I decided to come back." Tang Fei said, smiling.
"How long have you been here?"
"Just got here." Tang Fei checked his watch and said, "Only about two or three hours."
"Do you think I’m stupid? I slept for less than two hours."
"Oh, then maybe I saw it wrong. I’ve been here for a bit over an hour," Tang Fei said.
Lu Siyu sized up Tang Fei, who was close at hand, still unable to believe that this guy from the Old Land had been admitted to White Crane Academy.
He’d been at New Star less than a year, and he’d already ranked first in the whole school. Did that mean the other students weren’t up to par?
Or did it mean that the old man had taught him too much while he was still in the Old Land?
Thinking of that man, Lu Siyu felt a wave of irritation.
Even now, she wasn’t sure how to face him; she wanted to both draw close and distance herself...
Thinking about his deeds over the years, the hatred in her heart was difficult to diminish; she couldn’t act as if nothing had ever happened.
"Am I handsome?" Tang Fei noticed Lu Siyu staring intently at his face, and couldn’t help but ask.
"Don’t deny it. Your expression gives you away," Tang Fei said.
"Speak up. What are you here for?" Lu Siyu asked. "Surely not just to show off your face?"
"Mainly to seek apprenticeship and learn," Tang Fei said.
"You’ve already gotten into White Crane Academy... What do you need to learn from me?"
"White Crane Academy is a place for practicing Martial Arts, but when it comes to mechanical technology, who can surpass the Lu Family?"
"You want to learn mechanical technology?"
"A man can never have too many skills," Tang Fei said. "I aim to excel in both literature and martial arts..."
"What do you want to learn?" Lu Siyu asked.
This time, she didn’t refuse; for one thing, she had indeed promised to answer Tang Fei’s questions as long as it didn’t disturb her sleep.
Besides, what if this guy really was her long-lost brother?
Although she harbored hatred for the old man, what did that have to do with her brother?
The bond of blood made her unable to resist the urge to grow closer to him.
Tang Fei, not aware that Lu Siyu mistook him to be her brother, recounted the Heavenly Path Conference that Bai Lu Academy was organizing, saying, "In terms of Martial Arts exchanges, it’s very difficult and nearly impossible for me to claim the first place, considering Shen Xinglan’s exceptional talents..."
"No backbone," Lu Siyu snapped. "What about Shen Xinglan? He’s just a person with a nose and two eyes. Does he have three heads and six arms?"
"You make a lot of sense," Tang Fei responded, giving Lu Siyu a thumbs up. "But I’ll let him have his moment of glory for now. Just wait a few more years, and you’ll see..."
"See what? How he stomps you into the ground?"
"...That’s a bit hurtful. You owe me one," Tang Fei said. "I’m going to participate in the school’s mechanical contest. You have to help me create something that will make a splash..."
"What are your ideas?"
"My first idea was to ask for your help; I have no other ideas yet..."
"How about it? Will you agree?"
"I can help you." Lu Siyu nodded and extended her watch, adding, "I don’t have any specific ideas either. Let’s add each other as friends and we can exchange thoughts anytime..."
"Thank you, Teacher Lu. I’m eternally grateful..."
"Alright, I’ll listen to Teacher Lu."
Tang Fei added Lu Siyu’s information as a friend and then stood up to say goodbye.
After a moment’s thought, he sat back down next to Lu Siyu and asked, "What exactly is your relationship with the old man? Although I have some guesses, I still want to hear it from you to be sure..."