Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World-Chapter 9 - Martial Arts Aptitude

Huang Yu's mouth was slightly agape as he watched Zheng Fa follow Housekeeper Wu away.

He couldn't quite put his finger on the feeling in his heart.

Thinking back to the words he had just said:

"Maybe a bit better than you..."

"You're not worse than him either..."

Those words were just meant to be comforting.

Could you really not be worse than him?

The feeling of "we are in this together" he had just a moment ago was gone. In fact, he felt the jealousy that his "new friend" had stirred in him was even stronger than before.

Compared to his inexplicable thoughts, the feelings of the others were much simpler: Who is this guy?

It was expected that Gao Yuan would be called away.

Han Cheng also had his own background, one of the three scholar students, just more reserved in personality, hence not as conspicuous among the three.

But Zheng Fa...

"Where did that Zheng Fa come from? Does anyone know him?"

"I seem to remember he was always sitting in the corner."

"I have an impression, he looked very ordinary, not from a wealthy family. I thought he was just here to make up the numbers, but it turns out..."

A few people also saw the way Huang Yu had been speaking with Zheng Fa.

"Huang, are you familiar with Mr. Zheng?"

Huang Yu looked at the person asking him, who was also one of those who had gathered around Gao Yuan earlier.

He remembered even more clearly, the time when he said "I didn't bring money."

The undisguised derision in that person's expression.

Now, seeing the warm smile on the face of the person approaching him, Huang Yu found it somewhat odd.

"Well... I traveled here with him, um, his family probably isn't well off, a bit poorer than mine, I suppose."

"From humble beginnings comes a noble person," the other mused, and contrary to demonstrating the disdain from before, he expressed an unusually sincere admiration: "Mr. Zheng is truly extraordinary."

No, what happened to that shallow, materialistic face from before?

Huang Yu felt he was being greatly discriminated against.

"Huang, it's not that I change quickly." Noticing his dejection, the man pointed at his silk clothes: "Before, we both were attaching ourselves to those above us, and there was only one 'big leg' to cling to. I had money, you didn't, so naturally I would push you out."

This blunt honesty was almost crass, yet it held a kind of alternative sincerity.

"But it's different now, Huang. Perhaps Mr. Zheng is also a 'big leg'. And you, you've already clung to it first."

Huang Yu felt a sudden realization.

Did he, perhaps, actually light a fire under a cold stove?

"But aren't there still three others?" Huang Yu thought again, nothing had been settled.

"Then it's too late!" The man looked at him as if he were a fool: "You were first, so I'm sucking up to you. If I wait until the position of Attendant Student is taken by him, I won't even qualify to suck up."

After saying this, the person nodded towards Huang Yu's back, and turning his head, Huang Yu was startled to see several young men smiling warmly at him.

He finally understood:

This is what it means when one man attains the Tao, his poultry and dogs...

Hmm?

...

When Zheng Fa walked out of the Water Pavilion, he was met with a variety of gazes.

The puzzled and enthusiastic looks from the young men behind him.

The scrutinizing and wary expressions of Gao Yuan and Han Cheng in front of him.

What puzzled Zheng Fa even more was the Housekeeper Wu who had called him out, and the faint coldness towards him in his gaze.

Had he somehow offended this person?

Housekeeper Wu had no intention of speaking with them, simply leading the three of them at a brisk pace.

The three did not dare speak, only burying their heads as they hastened to keep up, with no opportunity to enjoy the scenery by the road.

Zheng Fa felt as though they were headed towards the outer courtyard. By the time Housekeeper Wu stopped, they had arrived at a spacious area.

It was a courtyard in name, but it resembled a generously-sized training ground more.

Half of the ground was paved with large slabs of bluestone, upon which stood a variety of stone locks of different sizes and weights. The originally rough surface of the bluestone appeared polished and shiny as if washed by water due to frequent stepping.

At the end of the paved area was a row of small huts, with several racks placed in front of their doors, each holding various weapons.

The ground not covered with bluestone was covered with grass, leading to a row of archery targets at the far end.

A strong man was riding his horse across the grass, leaping and bounding while drawing his bow.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Zheng Fa barely caught a glimpse of how many arrows the man had fired at once; he only heard Housekeeper Wu beside him clapping and laughing loudly: "Mr. Xu, what a divine archer!"

Upon hearing this, the strong man turned his horse around and charged towards Zheng Fa and his group.

The sound of horse hooves clattering on the bluestone grew nearer and louder.

This man showed no intention of slowing down; instead, he leaned forward, assuming a charging posture.

He had a face full of shaggy, unkempt black beard and a large build; his impressive momentum was daunting as he bore down on Zheng Fa and the others.

"Yah!"

Zheng Fa felt the hot breath of the horse on his face when the strong man abruptly pulled on the reins, and the hooves soared into the air.

The huge black hooves were less than three inches from his forehead!

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Han Cheng, standing next to Zheng Fa, toppled backwards onto the ground with a painful cry.

The strong man dismounted, picked up Han Cheng in one swift motion, expressing dissatisfaction: "This kid won't do, he doesn't have enough courage!"

"That's not for you, Mr. Xu, to decide for your subordinates at the manor." Housekeeper Wu said with a smile, his facial expression unchanged even as Mr. Xu charged in moments before.

"Hm?"

"These are the candidates for the Seventh Young Master's Attendant Student. The lady has said to consult with you."

Only then did Housekeeper Wu explain to the group, "The Seventh Young Master's Attendant Student will not only have to study literature with Mr. Shen but also learn martial arts under you, Mr. Xu. Please assess the potential of these three."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Xu put Han Cheng back on the ground, and squeezed his shoulders, back, and waist a few times.

"No good! This kid has the merest shred of martial arts potential."

Before anyone else could speak, Han Cheng became anxious, knowing that this single comment could ruin his future: "You determined my potential just by pressing a few times, Mr. Xu?"

"Ha!" Mr. Xu actually smiled at him: "At least you have some guts. Are you dissatisfied?"

"Not satisfied!"

Han Cheng clenched his teeth as he spoke.

"I've felt up all of the Protectors in the Zhao Family, and when it comes to potential for martial arts and whether someone has a future in it, I can say I've never been wrong."

Han Cheng still looked unconvinced.

"Tell me then, don't you usually dislike eating? Especially greasy meat?"

Han Cheng's face turned pale, as if hit by the realization.

"The essence of martial arts potential boils down to two things—good birth and good food!"

"From the moment of your birth, whether you have a large skeleton, strong bones, any disabilities, or incoordination, whether your muscles and tendons are strong—all these largely determine your potential! If you've got talent, the most obvious sign is: you can eat!"

Han Cheng was left speechless.

"Of course, having talent alone is not enough; you need to have food to eat!" Mr. Xu, seemingly getting enthusiastic, carried on, "If someone with great talent has nothing to eat—it's an even worse fate than having no talent! Housekeeper Wu, you practice martial arts too, you should understand what I mean."

Housekeeper Wu nodded, "Of course, talent is a double-edged sword. Those with great talent require more food; they naturally burn more energy, and if they don't eat enough, let alone practicing martial arts, even their lifespan would be shorter than normal people."

"Exactly! It's like those precious plants; where weeds thrive, they can't even sprout!"

Zheng Fa felt again that when Housekeeper Wu heard this, he occasionally cast glances at him, as if this was meant for him to hear.

He wasn't wrong.

In Housekeeper Wu's mind, having Zheng Fa and the others come to Xu Zheng was indeed meant as a message to him.