Chapter 160: Thatched Shed
He Tianshu thought about it. If he gave Zhang Xiaohua the Misty Steps, what could he learn by himself? With Zhang Xiaohua's crude brain, how would he understand the mysterious Misty Steps? Given Zhang Xiaohua, there were more than 12 points that he was uneasy with.
Seeing that Zhang Xiaohua was being tactful, He Tianshu said, "It ’s not that I don’t want to practice anymore. I’ve learned the content for a few days. If I continue, I only have to stir up the leftovers. "Moreover…..”, speaking till here, he rolled his eyes and grumbled angrily, "Practicing the Misty Steps in front of you, I'm afraid it will hurt my self-confidence."
Zhang Xiaohua was puzzled. He pulled He Tianshu's shirt and said angrily, "Captain He, how can you say that? I wanted to learn from you. If you don't explain clearly, I may consider going to the Sect Master to slander you."
He Tianshu smiled and said: "Zhang Xiaohua, I really can't see through you. If someone says you are smart, you can't even learn basic Arhat Fist. You can't find the qi sense using such a simple internal strength art like Headstrong Bull Strength. But if someone says you are stupid, look at the horse step that you have, and look at the Misty Steps that you learned now, I don't know what to say. I can only use genius to describe you."
Zhang Xiaohua waved his hand and said, "Captain He has regarded me too highly. This footwork needed no internal strength. Isn't this just a coincidence?"
He Tianshu did not dare to agree, saying, "No, no, the footwork I practised just now, I actually learned it for many days. This Misty Steps is very mysterious, and every step has a lot of details to it. It ’s not easy to notice and show every detail. I learned it carefully. However you, just watch me perform it a few times, and you can imitate it, and practice it a little bit. I am envious of your perception alone."
Zhang Xiaohua was speechless. He has just seen a shadow of the martial arts palace, he still doesn’t know the structure inside, how would he have the right to comment?
He Tianshu scratched his short beard under his jaw, and thoughtfully said, "Actually, what Li Jinfeng said makes sense, you should still study the text with your smart brains. Your hand is not very good now. We don’t know when it will recover, and when you will be able to practice martial arts again. Now that you have the ability to protect yourself using your fist skills, turning into a scholar is also not bad.”
Zhang Xiaohua shook his head like a rattle drum, and said: "I can read books and I am willing to do it. I also like it. However, I prefer the feeling of practicing. There is an old saying, reading 10,000 books is not as good as walking 10,000 li." (1li = 0.5km).
He Tianshu shook his head and said: "Where is it as easy as you think? Things are often easier to think than to do. The days in Jianghu are full of foul wind and bloody rain, you have just seen a harmonious corner of it. Saying that you have a limited view isn’t too much of an overstatement. There is an old saying, doing is the only way of knowing the truth. Only after doing it, would you know the difficulties."
Zhang Xiaohua listened and immediately thought of the second brother's situation.
Afterwards, the two walked out of the woods one after another.
Waiting for the small courtyard, He Tianshu said to Zhang Xiaohua, "Zhang Xiaohua, Nie Xiao’er and others will be in the pharmacy hall for a few days to prepare for the martial arts meeting, and I, too, have to be learn this Misty Steps, and Medicine Field’s work......"
He Tianshu tried to push his duties somewhat reluctantly. Ou Yan had clearly stated that whether Zhang Xiaohua was willing to work in the fields or not, was up to him. Zhang Xiaohua, however, still spent a lot of time in the medicine field. But now when He Tianshu and others from the pharmacy hall got some work, they pushed all their work onto Zhang Xiaohua. He Tianshu also somewhat blushed with shame.
Zhang Xiaohua didn't think much, and said: "It's okay, Captain He. You are busy, I'll cover all the work in the field."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Xiaohua suddenly thought of the practice in the medicine field at night, and immediately added: "Or, Captain He, I will simply build a shed in the Medicine Field and also stay there at night."
Zhang Xiaohua had said it with good intentions, but in He Tianshu's ears, it naturally changed its flavor. He opened his eyes wide and said, "Zhang Xiaohua, you don't have to exaggerate like this. I will go to the medicine field when I have time. Don't think too much, this Martial Arts Competition is a major test that every disciple of the Misty Faction faces every year. It is very important for their future development. Nie Xiao’er and others, they are not really lazy, they just can’t let go."
Zhang Xiaohua is much more mentally mature than before. Earlier he couldn’t have understood He Tianshu’s meaning. He hurriedly said, "Captain He, what I said are my innermost thoughts. When the crops in our Guo Village mature, we set up a hut by the field, to take good care of the crops. This is a custom. I wasn’t being mean to you."
He Tianshu didn’t have experience of farming, so he didn’t know it, but he also believed that Zhang Xiaohua wouldn’t demean him. So, he waved his hand and said, "You can do it. I still think you exaggerated a little anyway."
The two went their own way and returned to their rooms.
This morning, it was a very cloudy day, and the sun was not visible.
But it did not affect Zhang Xiaohua’s good mood.
To be honest, there is really not much work in the medicine field, weeding, watering the plants, and removing insects. For some reason, here there are not too many insects. These weeds also do not grow too much. It is very different from the farms in Guo Village. There a lot of weeds would grow up if you don’t clean for even a day. However, here, these tasks can be easily done by Zhang Xiaohua alone. Sometimes, Zhang Xiaohua can't help but suspect that the Medicine Hall has put so many people in this medicine field, because there are too many people in the Misty Faction, and the cost is high. So, they let them work in Huanxi Mountain Villa to earn.
Zhang Xiaohua finished his work with ease, and practiced his Serene Heart Sutra. This medicine field is a good place, not only can he easily find the sensation of qi, and draw the qi into his body, this place is Huanxi Mountain Villa’s forbidden area. The common guards and servants cannot come near it, otherwise, when Zhang Xiaohua meditated next to the medicine field last night, he would have already been discovered.
Zhang Xiaohua drew qi into his body, he was able to do it quite easily, but when the qi disappeared in his body, Zhang Xiaohua's heart moved. When he noticed that he could not feel the qi in his body again, he couldn’t help but wonder what was happening in the last two days. He tried to think of something to explain it, but could find no explanation, it was really mysterious.
Just wondering, he suddenly thought of another thing. The matter of building a shed had to be told to Villa Master Ou. If they disagreed, how could he make it by his own decision? Wouldn’t it be an illegal building?
Thinking of this, Zhang Xiaohua stopped his exercises, stood up, and quickly walked towards the inner courtyard.
Zhang Xiaohua is now a favorite of the Villa Master. This fact is known to everyone in the inner court, because Zhang Xiaohua does not need to give notice to enter the inner courtyard. As long as the owner is in the hall, someone can just bring him in. But very few of them know the inside story. However, this does not affect their impression of Zhang Xiaohua. Qiu Ju took Zhang Xiaohua into the inner courtyard, blushing while walking and secretly glancing at Zhang Xiaohua.
Zhang Xiaohua noticed her and thought to himself, "Is it because I just washed my face just now?"
This guy had forgotten that he had come to the inner courtyard for the first time after doing something good in other people's eyes.
Inside the hall, Ou Yan and Elder Yu were sitting, discussing something.
Ou Yan saw Zhang Xiaohua come, asked warmly, “Xiaohua, why are you looking for me today?”
Zhang Xiaohua said with a smile, "I came today just to take a look at Sister Ou."
Ou Yan said, "Who would believe you? You think I don’t know what's happening in the medicine field? Currently Nie Xiao’er and others are practicing martial arts in Medicine Hall, they don’t have extra energy to put here. Depending on your character, you won’t let go, so you must be busy in the medicine field. Where can you find time to get some leisure?"
Zhang Xiaohua smiled hehe. He didn't realize that the lie would be pierced so easily. He said: "Sister Ou really has the mental perception like a torch, you can easily look through these small thoughts."
Elder Yu said with a smile beside him, "Zhang Xiaohua, how simple you were when you first came here, and just a few days later, you have also gotten glib."
Zhang Xiaohua said with a slightly red face, "Elder Yu, look at what you are saying, I was just speaking like a mature person."
Ou Yan said, "Forget it, in the future, do not spend too much time Ma Jing and others, or you will learn their speech. By the way, what’s the matter?"
Zhang Xiaohua said seriously, "Sister Ou, didn't you say a few days ago that there was not enough manpower in the medicine field? I think I am idle most of the time. I was thinking of building a shed next to the medicine field, so that I can also watch the fields at night. What do you think?"
Elder Yu and Ou Yan looked at each other with a strange look. Ou Yan said, "Zhang Xiaohua, I know you are wholeheartedly committed to the villa, but no matter how much work is required in the Medicine Field, you don’t have to work all night. You are exaggerating too much."
Elder Yu also shook his head.
Zhang Xiaohua explained in a low voice: "Elder Sister Ou, the thing is, in our countryside, when the time of summer or autumn harvest comes, we all build a grass shed in the field. I also felt a little homesick, so I thought of this way."
Ou Yan relaxed and said, "Zhang Xiaohua, how long have you been away from home?"
Zhang Xiaohua said without hesitation, "One year and four months."
Ou Yan said: "Uh, for a young child like you, why wouldn’t you miss home after such a long time. Why don’t we do this, I'll let you take a vacation for a while, so you can go home?"
"Really?" Zhang Xiaohua stood up in surprise and asked, "Then, will you deduct the monthly salary?"
Ou Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry, said, "No, no , consider it a paid new year vacation!"
Zhang Xiaohua thought for a while and said, "It's good. But If Elder Sister Ou were to send me to Lu Town for business, that would be the best."
Ou Yan said: "Why is that?"
Zhang Xiaohua said with a chuckle: "Isn't there a subsidy?"
Old Master Yu used his one arm to touch his forehead, his face helpless. It seems he trusted the wrong person with his ultimate sword move.
Ou Yan said: "Okay, I will let you go to Lu Town for business. You don't need to set up that grass shed."
Zhang Xiaohua tilted his head and said after thinking for a while, "It’s not a good time Elder Sister Ou, let alone Captain He and others, they have something to do now. There is no one in the medicine field and I don't feel comfortable going away. Moreover, I can't go home alone. I have to go with my second brother, but he would have to ask for leave as soon as he entered the school, which is very inappropriate. In the end, I still have something to ask Sister Ou, I am afraid this time there is no chance to go back."
Ou Yan stared at him saying, "What else do you have? Why didn't you say it together?"
Zhang Xiaohua said, "After Sister Ou promises me the first thing, then I will talk about the rest."
Ou Yan smiled, as if looking at her mischievous younger brother, saying, "Okay, okay, building a shed is not too big a matter. I comply with that and that’s the end. But presently the weather is still cold, do not get frozen at night."
Zhang Xiaohua said with great joy: "Thank you Elder Sister Ou."
Ou Yan smiled and said: "Why don’t you speak the other matter quickly?"
Zhang Xiaohua hurriedly said, "Elder Sister Ou, the Misty faction is now holding a Martial Arts Competition. I heard from Captain He that when he was young, he seemed to have seen people from Huanxi Mountain Villa participate. I wanted to ask if our Huanxi Mountain Villa can participate this time? "
Ou Yan listened with a stunned expression and said, "Yes, not only our Huanxi Mountain Villa, but the Lotus Bodyguard Agency can also participate. When I was a kid, I also participated with the representatives of Huanxi Mountain Villa. But…..."
As soon as Zhang Xiaohua heard ‘can participate’, he said with great joy, "It's good to be able to participate. Elder Sister Ou, I want to participate in this martial arts conference. I don't know if it's possible?"
Not only Ou Yan but even Elder Yu felt bewildered on hearing his request. Elder Yu asked, "Zhang Xiaohua, in this Martial Arts Competition, people compete with their martial arts. Is your martial arts good? Even if you once killed the black clothed martial arts expert using a sword move, you can’t use that sword move in this competition. It will be difficult for you if it gets out. You can't use that sword move on the brothers of the sect."
Zhang Xiaohua said with a smile: "Elder Yu, look at what you are saying, how can I not know about this? I certainly won’t use a sword to attend the Martial Arts Competition."
Elder Yu said, "What will you use without a sword? Do you have anything else?"
Zhang Xiaohua said innocently, "Elder Yu, haven't you ever seen me shadowbox, I always use a set of fist arts."
Elder Yu felt a little funny, but he wasn’t cruel enough to laugh. He just said, "Oh, I have seen your boxing technique , piecing together incomplete styles. I have seen it before, and it looks very common."
Ou Yan next to him, kindly reminded, "Zhang Xiaohua, it's not that I don't agree with you participating in the competition, but our villa hasn't been attending for a long time. And our participation in the Martial Arts Competition is different from the Misty Faction’s disciples. The competition is an advancement test for them, they can have new cultivation arts, high level Fist Arts, etc. and learn them. The representatives of our villa participate purely for the exchange of martial arts. Winning is of course glorious, but there is no benefit if you lose. You just drag down your honour."
Zhang Xiaohua understood her meaning, and said, "I know, Elder Sister Ou. I just want to compare notes with others. I don’t wish for any other advantage. You also understand my talent, I have been practicing inner strength but I can’t find the qi sense till now. With just my fist arts I don’t have the expectation of winning over others."
Ou Yan listened and said, "But Zhang Xiaohua, you must know that if you participate in the Martial Arts Competition, because you are not a disciple of the Misty Faction, you can only compare and learn with the disciples of the first order. If....."
Even before Ou Yan finished, Zhang Xiaohua interjected, "I know, Elder Sister Ou, I'm just a beginner, it's okay to lose to anyone."
Ou Yan listened and said, "Well, since you understand everything and are still willing to participate, I will send someone to ask how to participate in this Martial Arts meeting, after all our Huanxi Mountain Villa has not sent participants for a long time. I don’t know the customs in it. However, Zhang Xiaohua, the spirit of adversity you have shown is commendable. I have no alternative but to help you."
At this time, Elder Yu asked softly, "Zhang Xiaohua, you just said that you didn't find Qi Sense while practicing Inner Strength? Which Internal Cultivation Art are you practising? Who teaches you?"
When Zhang Xiaohua heard it, he took out the book Headstrong Bull Strength from his arms and handed it to Elder Yu, telling him that he was learning it by himself.
Elder Yu took over the book Headstrong Bull Strength, looked it over carefully, and then handed it back to Zhang Xiaohua, beckoning him to close it, and said with a smile, "I will say this, you have got good luck. I thought that you would develop your Inner Strength Art by yourself. It turns out that you are practicing this book."
Zhang Xiaohua was moved, but didn’t say anything.
However, Ou Yan was also clever, and immediately thought of something, and asked, "Zhang Xiaohua, tell me the truth. Are you really building the shed next to the medicine field for looking after the fields at night?"
Zhang Xiaohua opened his mouth but didn't know how to say it. Could he say that it was because it would help him draw Qi into his body.
At this time, Elder Yu opened his mouth and said very kindly, "Zhang Xiaohua, did you find any sense of Qi while practicing the Headstrong Bull Strength?"
Zhang Xiaohua nodded.
Elder Yu asked again: "Did you ask He Tianshu, and he advised you to try it in the open area at night?"
Zhang Xiaohua listened, and was secretly rejoiced in his heart. It seems that Old Man Yu had some misunderstanding. However, he was unable to find a good reason. Why not push this onto He Tianshu?
Zhang Xiaohua again nodded.
Elder Yu sighed and said, "Zhang Xiaohua, I have paid attention to you since you started practicing boxing, and know that you are a resilient child who can endure hardships and is not afraid of hardships, so I like you. However, this martial art needs talent, and in many cases, diligence can't make up for it. You are thinking of setting up a grass shed in the medicine field, when it is quiet at night, you can feel the atmosphere more intently. I really admire you. I didn’t have to put in as much effort as you when I was a child, but Zhang Xiaohua, sometimes life demands something from us, we can't always demand something from life. Many things still have to be seen..."
Elder said several “but’s” in his speech while Zhang Xiaohua’s complexion continuously changed.
Thanks for the chapter :)
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