Chapter 8: Very Strong
Translator: 9inetales
Sponsor(s): n/a
“What about internal strength? Eighteen Palms of Dragon’s Descent? Longevity formula? Heavenly Demon Dafa[1]?” Xu Qing asked in succession.
Jiang He blanked, “What are those?”
“What about Kong Fu? Do you know Kong Fu?”
“Yes. I’ve been practicing since childhood.”
“Oh! Do you think I can learn it?”
Xu Qing straightened his posture while gazing at her expectantly.
“You are too old,” Jiang He studied him for a while before shaking her head, “Even if you are determined and manage to persevere, you won’t achieve much.”
“That’s no problem! I don’t ask for much. As long as I can learn a little, I’ll acknowledge you as my teacher.”
“...”
“Ah, sorry if I’m being too pushy,” Xu Qing scratched his head, “Kong Fu is obviously a strict discipline that can’t be adopted so abruptly.”
“No, it’s fine. As long as it’s the basics, you can still learn.”
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Jiang He looked at his disappointed expression and couldn’t bear to refuse. Inhaling a deep breath, she retreated two steps and lowered her body into a squatting position, “When practicing martial arts, it’s essential to first train your waste. To do this, start with low pile squats...”
“Wait, wait...is this really how you start?” Xu Qing was struck dumb.
Where are the fancy techniques and flexible footwork?
“You are already too old. Martial arts training is a long-term endeavor which is accumulated bit by bit.”
“Uhm, will it work if I don’t practice?”
“How can one practice martial arts without actually practicing?” Jiang He’s brow twitched.
“...”
A cloud of gloom suffocated Xu Qing, “Then...how long would this pile exercise last?”
“Three years.”
“Well, aren’t you gonna try on that dress I gave you? If it doesn’t fit, I’ll take it back to the store and get a replacement,” Xu Qing turned on his heels, picked up the bag from the sofa, and handed it to Jiang He, “As for the other stuff...try figuring it out first. If you really can’t understand, I’ll find some way to teach you.”
“No more martial arts?”
“Ha-ha...maybe next time...”
Three years?! If I wanted to spend so many years training, I would’ve joined the army.
Xu Qing’s gaze fell on the sword leaning against the table, reigniting a glimmer of hope, “What about swordsmanship? Can I learn it directly?”
“The hand cannot keep up with the eye, and the eye cannot keep up with the sword. Without fundamental training, it’s useless.”
“Fine…”
Jiang He went inside her room to try on the new clothes, closing the door behind her. In the meantime, Xu Qing collapsed into the sofa with renewed disappointment and boredom. He took up the sword on a whim, pulling it out of its sheath— it was quite heavy. He stood up and struck two casual poses before putting it back.
He sighed, My martial arts dream is gone.
No, I have to at least learn something!
After a while of waiting, Jiang He came out of the room. She dawned a white, neatly knitted long-sleeved jacket with jeans, and her hair was tied in a ponytail using the old ribbon. The clean and simple feel caused Xu Qing’s eyes to brighten.
Who knew that an ancient girl could exhibit such beauty while wearing ordinary women’s clothing?
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“I’ve tried them all and they fit well. Thank you...junior[2].” Jiang He, however, still felt that the clothes were a little awkward, using her slender fingers to pull at the corners. Having to address Xu Qing in such a manner didn’t aid her mood.
Xu Qing squinted happily, “Hehe! A little more effort!”
After a quick chuckle, he gave Jiang He another glance before rubbing his chin thoughtfully, “Hmm, I’ll have to take a look around later.”
“I forgot to buy you a proper hair tie. The ribbon that ties your hair doesn’t fit in too naturally with your current clothes. Let’s untie your hair first.”
Jiang He removed the ribbon, causing her hair to scatter across her shoulders and upper back. Xu Qing nodded in satisfaction after the sense of disharmony disappeared.
If she goes out like this, there is basically no major flaw as long as she acts normally and doesn’t speak.
“When we go out tonight, remind me to buy a new hair tie for you." He told her while organizing the papers he wrote yesterday.
She’s being very understanding and cooperative so far. If things continue like this, it’ll save me a lot of trouble.
Xu Qing liked dealing with smart people as complicated messes could be easily avoided, saving much-needed energy. Fortunately, the girl only lacked knowledge and not IQ.
…
Afternoon soon arrived.
“What are you doing?”
Hearing some sounds from the living room, Jiang He opened her room door to take a look. Her eyes were soon attracted by a strange-looking thing. She walked up behind Xu Qing to get a better look.
“This is a computer.”
Xu Qing took a small defensive step in front of the device, his mind lingering on the poor fate of his TV. He gave her a serious introduction about its functions as to not repeat the events of last night.
The TV was only worth a few hundred yuan, but the computer was ten times more valuable. He couldn’t manage to lose such an expensive item.
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“The books...were they difficult to read?” He couldn’t help but ask upon seeing Jiang He’s glum look.
“Well, it’s difficult,” Jiang He nodded, “I’ll try my best and learn slowly.”
“Yes, just take your time; there’s no need to rush. If I were in your situation, I might’ve not adapted as well as you did.” Xu Qing comforted.
At the same time, he resumed his video while ensuring that Jiang He didn't attack the computer.
“What is this?” Jiang He asked.
“It’s very difficult to explain. For now, you can think of it as a type of clairvoyance. Whatever that’s happening thousands of miles away, I can see from here.”
Xu Qing held a pen and notebook while watching the screen. It was displaying a rebroadcast of yesterday’s news feed. Because the TV was broken by Jiang He at that time, he had no time to watch it.
Speaking of computers, although Xu Qing had yet to find a job, he edited various movies and videos when he was idle or bored in college. His occasional hobby soon developed into him becoming a small-time uploader, earning him a steady income each month.
Although he didn’t use the news as direct editing material, it was a useful medium for learning the latest trends and viral sensations. As long as the footage was popular, he would gather decent hits on his videos.
Because of the benefits, the habit of watching TV at 7 o’clock every night was ingrained in him.
Jiang didn’t bother him anymore, only standing by the side to watch silently. After ten minutes, the broadcast ended. Xu Qing sorted the few pieces of writing in the notebook and put away the pen.
Seeing that he was done, Jiang he asked, “Do you do this every day?”
“This is work,” Xu Qing smiled and said, “It takes brain to make money in this world.”
“Businessman?”
“Well...your interpretation is not really accurate but it can be understood this way. You’ll understand when you become more familiar with this world.”
He skillfully moved his hands across the keyboard and mouse, logging into his main account. Looking at the background clips, he said, “At present, you have a lot you need to understand. Starting from the basics, you need to look at ancient history as well as the history of modern development. It won’t help if I toss you into a sea of information without giving you a general understanding first.”
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Jiang He was silent, solidifying her thoughts that Xu Qing was indeed a wealthy landlord— a rich young man.
“By the way, what do you think of their martial arts?” Xu Qing suddenly asked, looking at the movie clips playing on the screen.
“Very strong.”
“Very strong, uh?” Xu Qing nodded. He shook the mouse, clicking on a video of Jet Li’s version of Swordsman which caused Jiang He’s eyes to widen in surprise.
The edited clip showcased six minutes of climactic fighting scenes. The nimble embroidery needles in Brigitte Lin’s hand parted rivers and cut rocks, filling Jiang He with endless shock.
Is this really clairvoyance...something that’s actually happening thousands of miles away?
Xu Qing was greatly amused by her expressions. Suppressing a giggle, he asked, pretending to be serious, “Strong aren’t they?”
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