Chapter 9: A Dangerous World
Translator: 9inetales
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“Strong aren’t they?”
Hearing Xu Qing’s question, Jiang He’s agape mouth finally closed to formulate a reply, “I wouldn’t doubt you if you told me they were immortals.”
It’s hard to imagine that embroidery needles could be so powerful...even being able to reduce sturdy houses to ruins.
Jiang He stared down at her slender hands. At most, she would be able to use them as hidden projectile weapons to harass enemies. If she was lucky, she might be able to deal some superficial damage to the target. It was difficult to even penetrate bone with embroidery needles much less directly killing a person.
“What about this one?”
Xu Qing clicked on another video, shocking Jiang He once again. This time, Kung Fu was being showcased.
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“In the world of martial arts, speed defines the winner! Hya~”
On the screen, a man dodged a bullet shot from a pistol before kicking the assailant in the chest, sending him flying into a wooden chair. The chair smashed against a wall with the gunman's body sitting limply in it—it was unknown whether he was dead or alive.
Xu Qing explained from the side, “That black thing the man was holding is called a gun. It’s a super-powerful weapon that’s more dangerous than your dart.”
Different clips continued to play on the screen. Some were fast-paced and brutal; others were slow and suspenseful. However, Jiang He’s eyes were unwilling to blink for even a second, afraid of missing a single scene. Her mind lingered on the skillful use of darts and needles as well as the flamboyant footwork that enabled experts to glide in the sky.
If Second Master uses his pair of heavy hammers to go all out, he may be able to shatter boulders and rocks. But here, this person got smashed into thick slabs of stone but managed to recover and stand back up, despite having received prior injuries. How horrifying...
Boom!
Zhou Xingchi struck his palm. The air heated and compressed, blasting a huge handprint towards a foe.
Jiang He was terrified, hopping two steps back subconsciously. She arched her body into a combative stance like that of a cat’s and glared cautiously at the screen. After a while, she turned her head to look at Xu Qing.
“Is this...your world’s strength?”
“No no! It’s all fake!”
Seeing Jiang He’s serious expression, Xu Qing hurried to wipe the mischievous grin from his face. He feared that she’d get violent again.
“But I just saw it.”
“Ah...that’s just something we created from our imaginations. We used modern tools to create fictional plays for our enjoyment. It’s all fake.”
“Really?” Jiang He was more inclined to believe it was real.
“It’s fake, really.”
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“True or false?”
“Truly...the levels of Kung Fu you saw aren’t real.” Xu Qing wanted to slap himself in the forehead. Knowing how volatile she was, he shouldn’t have teased her to this extent.
He moved the mouse, searching for a specific video he edited some time ago. The cursor hovered over a clip titled ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ before clicking on it.
While it played, he explained, “Look how the style of clothing differs from what you see outside. In some areas, it even differs from the traditional style of your time period. All you’ve been seeing is our fanatical representation of ancient people that we brewed in our minds.”
“I see…”
“It’s alright if you don’t understand. When you get more acquainted with this world, you’ll learn what a movies are and the methods we use to create them: through props, art, and imitative backgrounds.”
Xu Qing couldn’t wait to teach Jiang He about all the wonders of the world. After he receives the remaining computer components, it would only be a matter of time to show her how to operate a computer and use a keyboard. Anyhow, there was also a voice-command option if she found it difficult.
However, before all of that, he wanted to understand some more things about Jiang He’s world.
A stunning showdown between Yu Jiaolong and Yu Xiulian flashed on the computer screen, but Jiang He wasn’t as invested as before.
When the battleground shifted into that of a bamboo forest, Xu Qing asked, “Hmm...I heard you talking about your master before. Is his skill level high?”
“He’s very strong,” Jiang He replied casually, gazing at the two people dancing atop the swaying bamboo on the screen, “Only his movement technique is lacking.”
“Oh, no footwork?”
Xu Qing felt regretful. In his opinion, the most fascinating part of martial arts is the elegant and lithe footwork. Today’s society was mostly peaceful where killing and fighting were illegal. Consequently, practicing offensive techniques was of little use, unlike cool movement techniques which could elevate his handsomeness.
“Most people are specialized in just a few techniques. Erniang is probably the only one with decent footwork in the village, but it’s incomparable to that of these two people.”
At the end of the movie clip, Jiang He was mesmerized by the palm techniques of Xingchi’s Tathagata[1], unable to look away.
Inhuman!
Even if it was all fake, just the thought of someone being able to practice martial arts to such heights was mind-blowing. Could it even be called martial arts anymore? No, more like spells!
Xu Qing ended the current video. He pondered for a while before searching ‘Wudang Daochang Chen’ on the web. He fast-forwarded through the clip until he reached the scene where the ‘Eagle Claw Skill’ was used.
“Do you know this one?”
“What?”
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“Didn’t you see it? Just like this…” Xu Qing rewound the video and imitated the actions a few time times, “Clench your fist tight but before you strike, open your palm into a claw. Ah yeah, there should also be a popping sound.”
After accepting Jiang He’s identity, his curiosity and excitement were overwhelming. Sadly, the only stunt that impressed him so far was the dart throw from yesterday. All the other aspects he had high hopes for were mediocre.
Jiang He studied the computer screen for a while, analyzing the posture and movements in the video. Taking a few steps back, she took a similar pose and sprang forth. She channeled the momentum gathered from her feet through her spine and into her arms:
Crack!
A crisp noise resounded and a faintly discernible breeze wafted through the room.
“Was it like this?”
“Yes yes yes!” Xu Qing nodded fervently, his eyes gleaming.
Jiang He smiled and relaxed her posture, “Tell me when you’re ready to learn and I’ll teach you.”
After that, she pulled on her collar to loosen it a bit before returning to her room.
“Nyaow~”
The fat cat lay lazily at the corner of the living room, lifting its furry tail from time to time. She gave it a simple look before closing the door behind her.
There is indeed no free lunch in this world.
Regarding Xu Qing’s desire to help her, Jiang He had always held a reserved attitude. It wasn’t as simple as what he said: ‘Winter Melon was homeless and lonely too but I also picked him up’.
A kind person with seemingly no ulterior motives would generally come off as suspicious— at least to her.
However, Xu Qing’s strange enthusiasm today brought light to his desires— not that it was bad in any way. Now, the stone weighing her heart could finally be cast aside. It turned out that he was only interested in learning martial arts.
Everything is clearer now.
Jiang He retrieved and unsheathed her long sword. The blade’s silver sheen reflected her black pupils. Slowly, the scenes from the videos she watched replayed in her mind.
Is this world really so dangerous…?
She measured the size of the small room with her eyes before taking a position in the center. With willowy steps, she practiced a graceful sword dance.
...
Xu Qing didn’t sneak up to Jiang He’s door to listen to the movements in her room. Such actions were too wretched and he considered his life too valuable.
He continued to browse the recent news, scouring the internet for any supernatural incidents. Naturally, he didn’t discover anything.
“Yawn.”
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I didn’t sleep until late last night.
Drowsiness clouded Xu Qing’s mind. He powered off his computer, took it back to his bedroom, and flung himself into the cozy embrace of the bed.
In the other room, a woman also surrendered to a nap. With her heart and mind finally more relaxed, she sunk into a wonderful dream.
The sun gradually sunk, rinsing the land in the afterglow of dusk.
Its soft warmth shone through the window, painting the room a dim orange. Xu Qing soon woke up. He rubbed one eye and glanced at the time through the other, his vision a little blurry.
It’s time.
Getting up, he went to freshen up and grab a change of clothes, preparing to take Jiang He out for a stroll to see the outside world.
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