Eccentric Fu Yibai
The sarcophagus hanged suspended in an antiquated house of blue limestone, it stood as if it were an ancient palace, blue green limestone paved the floors, the whole building surrounded with vicissitudes of an olden era.
The layout is extremely simple, only some wooden tablets of Du Clan’s ancestors were placed, and the blue limestone walls on four sides were carved with some mystical runes, profound and extremely complicated, primeval traces surrounds the place; in short, this blue limestone antique house is an ancestral shrine.
"Again inside this."
Organizing his thoughts, Du Shaofu did not feel strange, in these ten years, he had already lost count the times he woke up within the sarcophagus inside the ancestral shrine.
Du Shaofu remembered roughly ten years ago, the first time he realized that he woke up in the ancestral shrine hall’s sarcophagus, he was scared out of his wits. Thereafter, almost every other morning he will find himself waking up in the sarcophagus, it terrified him so much that he went to look for his Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle about it.
But since he was already saddled with 'fool young master' nickname first, none of the Clan members believed him, and some even reprimanded him for being naughty, inane till climbing inside the sarcophagus within the ancestral and fell asleep.
Some of the family elders specifically warned Du Shaofu the sarcophagus is something inherited from Du Clan ancestors, that it’s sacred in nature and if he crawls inside the sarcophagus again severe family punishment awaits.
During these years, though waking up in the sarcophagus was not a daily occurrence, but every month there will be a quite a few days he wakes up in the sarcophagus within the ancestral hall. As for how he ended there, he had never been able to figure it out.
To find out how, Du Shaofu even went without sleep for a few nights or pretended to be asleep, but all tricks were useless. In the morning he would appear inside the sarcophagus, as for how and when remains a mystery.
In the end Du Shaofu got used to it and no longer discussed it with the family, either way, Du Shaofu is clear, even if the matter is brought up, it is impossible for anyone to believe him, worse still he might bring upon himself the family’s punishment.
Waking up from the sarcophagus for so many times, from his initial shock and fear at the beginning turned to excitement and anticipation at the end, because every time Du Shaofu wakes up from the sarcophagus, he could feel a difference, noticing his physique improved, receiving great benefits.
In the beginning, each time Du Shaofu wakes up from inside the sarcophagus, his body, and his clothes will be wet covered with muddy black sweat and horrible stench.
After several times later, the sweat became cleaner and clearer and the smell no longer there.
During this period, Du Shaofu naturally felt his body getting better each time as if the body had gone through quenching marrow pulp-washing. Even comprehending the ancient stone tablet the first style had gotten easier while it also speeds up mending the martial veins among other benefits.
Du Shaofu can feel the changes in his body’s waste martial pulse, seemingly differ from the general martial pulse, but specifically as to what changes and difference Du Shaofu is unable to describe in details.
"Xuanqi is fuller and more condense, this sarcophagus must be a treasure."
Du Shaofu jumped down from the suspended sarcophagus, sensing the improvement inside his body turned back to look at the sarcophagus, traces of suspicion in the bright eyes for he is certain this sarcophagus is absolutely a treasure.
"Time to go to Martial Collection Building to look for an exercise law."
Du Shaofu muttered lightly, his body’s xuanqi is fuller and more condensed that it feels like it’s about to burst anytime if xuanqi in his body really explodes it definitely will not something pleasant.
Quickening his steps, Du Shaofu left the Du Clan ancestral shrine which is inside a mountain. The site of the ancestral shrine is quite hidden, unknown of which of the Du ancestors built it therefore, and usually no one noticed the ancestral building.
Martial Collection Building is where Du Clan keeps its’ collection of martial arts and precious items, one of the most important places in Du Clan compound. Even Du Clan Elders cannot freely enter, whereas the juniors need permission every time they want to search for martial exercises or skills.
However, even though permission is granted for juniors to enter the Martial Collection Building, mishaps may happen as the one guarding over the Martial Collection Building is Fu Lao[1].
To get pass Fu Lao, unless Fu Lao is in excellent mood or all effort will be fruitless, without something delicious or fun they would not get any martial skills or exercises. Normal tricks don't work on Fu Lao cause he’s not an ordinary old man, if he does not allow anyone to enter the Martial Collection Building, one can only obediently wait.
Fu Lao’s real name is Fu Yibai. The entire Du Clan knows that even the Patriarch has to be respectful and bows in greeting when Fu Lao is in front of him thus Fu Lao’s status is very high within the Du Clan.
Many said that Fu Lao has been with the Du Clan for a very long time, even when the previous two generations’ of Patriarch was alive, Fu Lao was already in Du Clan, in short, Fu Lao could be referred as a three generations’ Elder.
According to some people, Fu Lao have martial cultivation whereas there are others that say he doesn’t and even some that say he have a little. No one truly knows whether Fu Lao have any martial cultivation or not since no one has seen him use it however, this doesn’t affect his status in Du Clan as a three generations’ Elder as well as the keeper of the Martial Collection Building which only serve to solidify his status in the Clan.
The Martial Collection Building located at the center of the Du Clan compound, and divided into three floors, the area is not large, absent of grand decorations, in truth, it’s a little bit dilapidated nonetheless still charming.
When Du Shaofu arrived at the Martial Collection Building, he saw a dirty old man in shabby clothing with a few straws of weed in his white hair, holding an old ramshackle broom swaying left and right sweeping the ground, dust flying everywhere.
The old man senses someone coming thus looked up to see Du Shaofu’s figure, his expression immediately changed, turned around to leave without any intention to look back.
"Cough……"
Du Shaofu deliberately faked a cough, looked at the white-haired old man that was about to leave, opened his mouth conversationally and quite affectionately, said: "Bai Lao, are you sweeping?"
Hearing Du Shaofu’s voice, the old man immediately turned back awkwardly towards Du Shaofu, his wrinkly face forcefully squeezing out a smile, chuckled and shamelessly said: "Big Brother, I did not see you just now. What brings you here?”