Based on his understanding of Chen Rourou, coupled with her previous actions which completely defied the norm, Chen Fenghua grew increasingly certain that sothing wasn’t right. Just as he was trying to pinpoint exactly where the problem lay, Liu Yi, who was next to him, frowned slightly upon seeing that Chen Fenghua was not paying him any attention. He patted Chen Fenghua on the shoulder and asked again, "Fenghua, was Chen Rourou taught the Northern Eight Pieces of Brocade by you, or was it taught by Elder Chen?"
Interrupted by Liu Yi, Chen Fenghua suddenly rembered that he wasn’t alone. Considering that admitting ’I’m not sure either’ would be sowhat embarrassing, and also that a woman practicing martial arts severely broke their Chen Family rules, which wouldn’t sound good if word got out, Chen Fenghua couldn’t help feeling a bit embarrassed. After a brief mont of thought, Chen Fenghua could only manage a hesitant and vague chuckle. "Teacher Liu, you’re joking. As you know, the Chen Family’s ultimate skills have always been passed down to males, not females. There’s no question of teaching. Just look at the way she’s practicing her punches; it’s clearly just childish mischief, haphazardly playing around. Please don’t take it seriously... um, don’t take it seriously."
"Really?" Liu Yi raised an eyebrow, sowhat suspicious. He felt that sothing was amiss.
"Of course, absolutely true!" Chen Fenghua smiled back. Fearing Liu Yi wouldn’t believe him, he hurriedly added, "Teacher Liu, Rourou is a descendant of the Chen Family, after all. She’s watched us practice Martial Arts since she was young, so it’s completely reasonable that she’s familiar with the Northern Eight Pieces of Brocade from such exposure."
"That does make sense!" Liu Yi nodded. He has a point, but why do I still feel sowhat unconvinced? However, he didn’t press the issue. Although his status in the pugilist world was high and he was respected by the Chen Family, he was still an outsider. He didn’t know the internal affairs of the Chen Family, let alone the specifics of the Eight Pieces of Brocade. Even though he felt that sothing was strange, what could he say since Chen Fenghua, the professional, had spoken? He certainly couldn’t argue with him, could he?
Afterward, Liu Yi exchanged a few words with Chen Fenghua. Seeing that it was getting late and almost ti for his appointnt with Zhang Beixing, he bade farewell and left. Chen Fenghua, with a friendly smile, watched Liu Yi leave, secretly wiping cold sweat from his brow. Only after Liu Yi had gone and closed the door, leaving just Chen Rourou and Chen Fenghua in the karate club, did Chen Fenghua’s expression suddenly change. He quickly approached Chen Rourou.
"Dad." Seeing her father approach, Chen Rourou was initially happy. But then she imdiately realized sothing, and her expression tensed; she beca visibly nervous.
"Tell , who taught you?"
"Ah?" Hearing Chen Fenghua’s question, Chen Rourou pretended to be puzzled.
"Now is not the ti to play dumb with ! Tell honestly, who taught you this Northern Eight Pieces of Brocade? Was it your second uncle? Or your cousin!" Chen Fenghua stared into Chen Rourou’s eyes, his gaze piercing, as if trying to see right through to her heart. This was a stark contrast to the usually amiable and fatherly persona he displayed.
It wasn’t surprising that he reacted this way; the matter at hand was far too significant! At the very least, it was rely soone breaking a family rule. At worst, it was about defying ancestral teachings and shaking the very foundation of their Chen Family!
What does it take to beco a martial arts aristocratic family? Fa, connections, power, wealth, and an exclusive secret manual! The first four can be achieved with effort, albeit a bit idealistically. But compared to the last condition, those are relatively straightforward. Because that exclusive secret manual... it cannot simply be attained with re effort.
Either you possess the intelligence and natural talent to draw upon the strengths of various schools and develop a formidable martial art that everyone covets, one exclusive to you alone. But if soone truly had that ability, they would undoubtedly be a Great Grandmaster, a level above even Grandmasters. How many such figures have there been throughout history? Or, you’re exceptionally lucky, receiving personal tutelage from so legend. Or, to put it more mysteriously, you stumble into a cave, discover an incredible martial arts secret manual, and then actually manage to master it...
The ancestors of the Chen Family were just lucky. They chanced upon a secret manual of the Northern Eight Pieces of Brocade left behind by General Yue Fei. Thanks to this, after considerable effort and ti, they used the Northern Eight Pieces of Brocade to develop the Chen Family into a martial arts aristocratic family over more than three hundred years. For this reason, they valued the Northern Eight Pieces of Brocade extrely highly. Various rules were laid down to restrain the Chen Family descendants and disciples, ensuring this technique was not easily passed on to outsiders. This is what has allowed their Chen Family to endure to this very day. But now, Chen Rourou has obviously broken those rules! A tradition passed down for three hundred years, broken today—what a montous matter this is!
"Chen Rourou, I’ll ask you one more ti: from whom did you learn the Northern Eight Pieces of Brocade?" Chen Fenghua’s expression was very serious.
Seeing him like this, Chen Rourou’s heart skipped a beat. Although, when practicing with Zhang Beixing this morning, she had anticipated this day would co. But she never expected it to arrive so swiftly. It’s only been a few hours!
"Uh... well, Dad," Chen Rourou ventured, looking at Chen Fenghua, "is it possible that I taught myself our family’s Northern Eight Pieces of Brocade?"
Despite her heart pounding wildly, her innocent-looking face showed no sign of guilt. It has to be said, after spending so much ti with Zhang Beixing, I almost feel like a prodigy myself.
Upon hearing her words, Chen Fenghua was taken aback. He looked her up and down, his gaze seemingly conveying, You? You’re kidding, right?
Chen Fenghua waved his hand dismissively. "Rourou, I’m being serious with you right now. Don’t try to amuse ! You? Worthy?"
"Dad, who talks about their own daughter like that? I’m not trying to make fun of you—it’s you who don’t believe !" Chen Rourou replied earnestly, clearly infuriated. Do I really not seem like a genius?
Seeing her like this, Chen Fenghua furrowed his brows and stared straight at his daughter. Chen Rourou, however, didn’t show the slightest sign of backing down, stubbornly and defiantly eting his gaze. I might be intimidated by Zhang Beixing, but I’m not intimidated by my dad. Zhang Beixing really dares to hit , but would Dad?
Their eyes locked, staring at each other for a long ti. Eventually, Chen Fenghua relented first. Because during their stare-down, he had failed to see even a trace of guilt on Chen Rourou’s face! This is utterly ridiculous!
"Rourou, did you really figure this out all by yourself?" Gradually, a shocked expression erged on Chen Fenghua’s face as he sought final confirmation.
At this point, Chen Rourou had no way out. She simply nodded in admission, I’ll stick to this story no matter what!
This ti, Chen Fenghua stood stunned for a long while, silent for a long while too. His mind was flooded with a myriad of thoughts.
Indeed, when he first discovered Chen Rourou had learned the Northern Eight Pieces of Brocade, he did consider if soone in the family had secretly taught her. But he quickly discarded that thought—it was simply impossible. In the Chen Family, family rules were sacrosanct. Even the oldest, most formidable patriarch wouldn’t dare defy ancestral teachings, let alone anyone else. Anyone who dared violate ancestral edicts genuinely risked being expelled from the family register and banished from the Chen Family! That was no joke. So, no one ever had the audacity. After all, wasn’t it wonderful to live under the protection of the prestigious Chen Family na?
As for why he’d asked Chen Rourou despite knowing this, it was a precaution. If her Northern Eight Pieces of Brocade truly ca from a family mber, his questioning might have revealed it. But now, it seed that wasn’t the case.
That left only one possibility: could my daughter’s talent truly be this incredible? There were no other explanations!
This idea flashed through his mind, causing Chen Fenghua’s breathing to quicken and an unnatural flush to appear on his face!
He strode quickly to Chen Rourou. Gone was any trace of worry from Chen Fenghua’s face, replaced only by pure excitent. He patted Chen Rourou’s shoulder. "Good! Excellent! Worthy of being my daughter, to actually comprehend the true essence of our Northern Eight Pieces of Brocade! Truly, the bearing of a Grandmaster!"
"In ancient tis, General Yue founded the Yue Family Fist, and today, we have Chen Rourou comprehending the Eight Pieces of Brocade! Wonderful, wonderful!"
"From now on, our Chen Family will no longer distinguish between n and won! Go tell your grandfather! Let him have a good look!"
With that, he excitedly grabbed Chen Rourou’s shoulder, intending to take her out.
Seeing his action, Chen Rourou was startled. She hastily broke free and asked, "Dad, what are you doing?"
"What else? Going ho to tell your grandfather, of course! To share this great news! After so many years, the Chen Family has produced another genius—and one with the bearing of a Grandmaster, the likes of which our lineage has never seen! If your grandfather hears about this, he’ll be too happy to sleep! He might even change the family rules to allow you to learn all the martial arts secret manuals recorded by our Chen Family!" As Chen Fenghua spoke, his face was flushed, almost beside himself with excitent. The more he thought about it, the more pride he felt. With this level of genius, if she doesn’t beco a Grandmaster in the future, then what else could she be?
However, as soon as these words were spoken, Chen Rourou panicked. What the—? How did things escalate to eting Grandpa? With my ager skills, if we et and Grandpa casually asks a few questions, won’t everything be exposed? Thinking about what I might face once exposed... No, no way! I absolutely cannot et Grandpa!
Chen Rourou hastily shook her head. "I don’t want to! I don’t want to see Grandfather!"
"Why... Why not?"
"Because... because I still have school! Dad, you can’t make neglect my studies. Besides... besides, I want to give Grandpa a surprise. I’ve only just begun to grasp the Northern Eight Pieces of Brocade and I’m not yet proficient. Let practice until I’ve mastered it, then I’ll go see Grandfather." Chen Rourou continued, "At that ti, I’ll really show him! I’ll let the old man know that even if the Chen Family traditionally doesn’t teach won, none of that matters in the face of extraordinary aptitude!"
Quick-witted, Chen Rourou spun her newly concocted lie. As she spoke, she even began to believe it herself, excitedly waving her small fists.
Chen Fenghua clearly didn’t realize what a good actor his daughter could be. Hearing her words and seeing her composed deanor, he found it a bit strange but didn’t dwell on it. Extraordinary aptitude! Truly worthy of being my daughter.
"Fine! Should I let your grandfather know in advance, to give him a heads-up?"
"No need, absolutely not! I already said it’s a surprise. What kind of surprise is it if people know beforehand? Dad, what you need to do now is keep this a secret, as if today never happened. Before I’ve mastered the Northern Eight Pieces of Brocade, absolutely do not tell Grandpa!"
"Alright then," Chen Fenghua conceded. "I’ll indulge you this once. I hope you won’t make your grandfather and wait too long. When the ti cos, you must show him what the bearing of a Grandmaster truly ans!"
"Definitely, definitely! Don’t you trust , Dad? Just wait for my news!"
「...」
anwhile, as Chen Rourou was earnestly trying to deceive Chen Fenghua.
「Elsewhere, in the university’s teaching building.」
The final class of the day had ended, and Zhang Beixing had also finished watching his movie. After packing his things, Zhang Beixing left, carrying his bag. He first walked with Lin Siqi to the cafeteria for a al. After they parted ways on the sports field, he ventured alone into the small grove.
The grove was very quiet at this mont. Looking around, Zhang Beixing noted that Teacher Liu wasn’t there, which was one thing, but Chen Rourou hadn’t shown up either.
What are those two up to?
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