Chapter 34: A Jade Scroll

“The match isn’t over yet. Let’s keep going—you can keep giving me pointers and see if I’ve understood,” Chen Fengyun grinned, then lunged forward, launching into an attack with the Eight Trigrams Step and Eight Trigrams Palm.

“What? How does this kid know the Eight Trigrams Step and Palm?” The goateed elder was stunned, hurriedly defending himself, though the confusion in his heart only deepened.

“Strange, so he knows martial arts—why didn’t he show it earlier?” Zhao Jianguo thought, bewildered.

“No, something’s off. This kid’s moves are exactly the same as Old Yang’s. Could they be from the same school? But just before, he didn’t know martial arts at all. Did he just pick it up now?” On the other side, Han Dequan was shaken by the thought.

“Kid, where did you learn the Eight Trigrams Step and Palm?” the goateed elder exclaimed, his face drained of color. Because it was Chen Fengyun’s first time using these techniques, he was still a bit clumsy, which allowed the elder to fend him off with ease and even ask questions.

“Didn’t you just teach me yourself? Why not give me a little more guidance and see if I’m doing it right?” Chen Fengyun laughed as he spoke, his hands never ceasing their assault.

Moreover, his movements became smoother and more polished at an astonishing rate. At first, the goateed elder could parry with ease, but as Chen Fengyun grew more adept, the pressure on the elder mounted and he had to exert himself fully just to keep up.

“What? He just learned those moves during the bout, and is already this proficient?” The crowd below, having heard their exchange, was shocked.

“Could this boy be one of those legendary martial prodigies—able to master any technique at a glance?” The goateed elder was aghast, feeling the mounting pressure.

To hone himself, Chen Fengyun refrained from using his spiritual energy, relying solely on his mind to anticipate his opponent’s actions while applying the Eight Trigrams Step and Palm he had just learned, fighting the elder to a standstill.

He deliberately withheld his full strength and speed, focusing instead on perfecting the techniques through actual combat, only stopping once he had fully internalized them.

After another five or six minutes, Chen Fengyun had thoroughly mastered the Eight Trigrams Step and Palm. Sensing the faint flicker of spiritual energy from the elder again, he no longer held back. Exploding with power, he struck, sending the goateed elder flying off the platform with a single palm.

The elder cried out in alarm, stumbling back several steps. Though the spot where he was hit ached, it was clear no real harm had been done—Chen Fengyun had gone easy on him.

“I concede,” the elder announced, cupping his hands in resignation. He could not bring himself to continue hassling Chen Fengyun after this.

“Old Yang, you haven’t lost yet!” Han Dequan protested anxiously.

“Han, you can keep your money. A loss is a loss. If the young man hadn’t shown mercy, I’d have come off much worse. My apologies,” the elder, surnamed Yang, shook his head.

“You may yield, but first tell me—have you trained in any techniques from an ancient tomb? And do you carry any relics from such a place?” Chen Fengyun nodded, then asked.

“I did practice a technique from an ancient tomb, but aside from strengthening the body, it was of little use. I’m not even sure where I misplaced the manual. As for old relics, I do have one piece with me—I’ll gift it to you,” replied Old Yang after some thought. He didn’t know why the young man was so certain, but facing such talent and potential power, he decided it was best to befriend him. He retrieved an item from his person and tossed it over.

Catching it, Chen Fengyun saw that it was a milky-white jade slip about two fingers wide. Joy surged in his heart, for this was no ordinary jade—this was a cultivator’s jade tablet.

He pocketed it without betraying his excitement, then smiled and said, “My name is Chen Fengyun. I’m about to enroll in the Archaeology Department at Capital University. I love studying old relics. Thank you, Old Yang, for this gift. If you ever need anything, you can always find me. And if you come across similar artifacts, I’d be happy to trade for them.”

“My name is Yang Wanshi. I’m also a student of old relics. Perhaps we’ll exchange ideas in the future,” the goateed elder replied with a nod and a smile.

The two, who had just fought fiercely, now chatted animatedly. Meanwhile, Zhao Jianguo, with a smile on his face, led his group over to Han Dequan.

“Han, you said before that if you lost, you’d hand over all your shares. Does that still stand?” Zhao Jianguo asked coldly. He had worked with Han Dequan for years; though rivalry was not new, being schemed against so openly was a first.

“Zhao Jianguo, luck’s on your side today, thanks to that boy. You can have all my shares in the Ancient Garden, and I’ll sell you all my assets in Lin C County at a low price—just give me thirty million,” Han Dequan replied, his face grim as he glanced at Chen Fengyun.

“For old times’ sake, I’ll agree. But from now on, you’re not to set foot in Lin C County again. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless,” Zhao Jianguo nodded, his tone turning severe.

Han Dequan slunk away with his followers. Yang Wanshi also departed, though not with Han Dequan—he told Chen Fengyun he was returning to Guilin.

Zhao Jianguo arranged for someone to escort Zeng Yiyue, Chen Fengyun, Geng Chunming, and Xu Dalin back to their hotel to rest, agreeing they could come to the Ancient Garden the next day to pick out stones at their leisure. Then he left to settle accounts with Han Dequan.

“Chen Fengyun, are you really a martial arts master? Even that white-bearded old man couldn’t defeat you—you’re amazing!” Zeng Yiyue exclaimed in admiration as they made their way back.

“Boss, are you really going to attend Capital University?” Geng Chunming asked.

“I’m confident in my exam results, so yes—I’ll be enrolling in the archaeology department at Capital University this fall,” Chen Fengyun replied earnestly.

“Then take me as your disciple! Teach me a few moves, will you?” Geng Chunming pleaded.

“Boss, I’m at Capital University, too. Take me as your disciple—if you ever need anything on campus, I can help,” Xu Dalin chimed in enthusiastically.

“What’s this supposed to mean, Xu Dalin? You want to compete with me? Didn’t your family want you to practice martial arts, but you refused? Now you want to compete with me?” Geng Chunming protested at once.