Chapter 114: Playing Both Sides
Early morning, a biting chill filled the air. Outside, a breath exhaled would instantly form a misty white fog.
“Morning.”
“Morning.”
On the training platform, Fang Yue and Bai Taoru greeted each other.
Both wore simple blue uniforms of the martial arts school, their appearances harmonizing well.
Bai Taoru clasped her hands behind her back, attempting a stern expression. “Senior sister taught you the Long Wind Fist. How is your practice coming along?”
Her youthful face and petite frame made her feigned seriousness lack any real authority, instead emphasizing the uprightness of her chest.
“I’ve mastered it,” Fang Yue replied.
With a foundation in boxing, and Long Wind Fist not being an excessively complex style, three days of study had already allowed him to grasp its essentials.
Last night, using the Merit System, he had deduced the first level of the Long Wind Fist. After the system’s transmission, his proficiency felt tempered as if he had trained for years.
Bai Taoru said, “Junior brother, learning martial arts and mastering a fist style is no overnight feat. Pride and complacency are the greatest pitfalls. I’ve practiced Long Wind Fist for years and wouldn’t dare claim mastery. You’ve only studied for a few days; how can you boast so shamelessly?”
Seeing that she was about to lecture endlessly, Fang Yue interrupted, “I truly have mastered it. If you don’t believe me, let’s spar and test it out.”
Bai Taoru was somewhat displeased. As a novice instructor, having a junior brother to train was rare and enjoyable, and she hadn’t yet had her fill of reprimanding him.
Within the martial arts school, excluding the elderly steward Bai Fu and two other servants from the Qiu family, the true disciples numbered six: the senior sister Qiu Shiyan, Bai Taoru who had ascended through connections as the second senior sister, and Fang Yue, the last to join as junior brother.
The other three disciples, who remained at the school, were not out of loyalty but because they were misfits with nowhere else to go, merely passing time.
They rarely practiced martial arts.
Only Fang Yue, since joining, rose every morning to train without fail.
“All right, then senior sister will spar with you.”
Bai Taoru agreed.
She found this junior brother admirable in many ways: wealthy, elegant, kind, without bad habits, and reportedly single...
But that was not the point.
The key was his dedication to martial arts—since entering the school, he trained relentlessly and studied the martial classics during his free time.
If he didn’t understand something, he would inquire everywhere, despite his cultivation being the highest in Fengyang Martial Arts School, except for Qiu Rubai.
However, geniuses often share a flaw: blind confidence. After only a few days practicing Long Wind Fist, he already believed he had fully mastered it.
Bai Taoru resolved to teach him another lesson, to make him understand that martial skills require years of hard practice to truly grasp their essence; they cannot be conquered in an instant.
Long Wind Fist was not as simple as he thought. Merely skimming the surface was no true mastery.
Bai Taoru flexed her embroidered fists, then said hastily, “No internal energy allowed.”
If Fang Yue used internal energy, there would be no point in sparring.
“Fine,” Fang Yue agreed. He had intended only to test the Long Wind Fist, and using internal energy would be an overwhelming advantage.
---
Only then did Bai Taoru relax.
They stood ready, and the petite Bai Taoru moved, launching a punch toward Fang Yue.
The essence of the Long Wind Fist lay in striking with the swiftness of the wind.
Having practiced alongside Qiu Shiyan for years, Bai Taoru had a thorough grasp of the style’s essentials.
One punch followed another, eleven strikes in an instant.
The shadow of her fists was like the wind.
Yet Fang Yue was faster. After easily evading her first punch, he countered with fifteen strikes in even less time.
Ten punches met Bai Taoru’s fists, while five landed on her body.
Of course, those that struck her were light, barely touching before passing through.
In mere breaths, he delivered fifteen punches, varying from light to heavy, with masterful control of force.
As their figures separated, the outcome was clear.
Bai Taoru stood dumbfounded, massaging her aching fists, finally muttering, “How are you so tough!”
...
The morning training session ended prematurely, for Bai Taoru was left questioning her life.
How was it possible that after years of practice, she was outperformed in Long Wind Fist mastery by a junior brother who had only studied for days?
Moreover, he had learned from her.
Could the difference in talent between people truly be so vast?
Fang Yue stood quietly, reflecting on his recent strikes.
Every piece of martial knowledge and understanding could be converted into material for the Merit System to further refine his techniques—nothing to be taken lightly.
After a pause, Fang Yue noticed Bai Taoru standing with reddened eyes.
“Senior sister Bai, is it necessary to cry just because you lost in a spar?”
“You’re the one crying,” Bai Taoru retorted, turning away.
She felt her dignity as senior sister utterly shattered, unable to continue.
“All right, that’s enough training for today. I’ll take you to Aunt Wang’s bun shop on the corner.”
At Fang Yue’s mention of food, Bai Taoru’s eyes brightened as she turned back. “I want the all-meat filling.”
...
As they prepared to leave the school, they saw Niu Chuming, the school’s disciple and chef, yawning as he approached.
Bai Taoru asked, “Senior brother Niu, why have you been so listless lately?”
“Senior sister Bai, Master Fang,” Niu Chuming greeted them with a simple smile, then fell silent.
Bai Taoru knew he was a taciturn character, not one to say much, so she didn’t press further.
---
Fang Yue said, “We’re going to Aunt Wang’s bun shop on the corner. Senior brother Niu, come with us. It’s on me.”
Niu Chuming waved his hands quickly. “No need, you go ahead. I have business preparing breakfast for everyone.”
...
At Aunt Wang’s bun shop,
The cold weather steamed the baskets, filling the air with misty warmth.
Fang Yue and Bai Taoru sat inside, waiting for their buns.
The buns here were thin-skinned and fragrant with meat, quite delicious, and well-known on this street.
After trying them once, Fang Yue liked them and brought Bai Taoru along again.
“Alice, it’s been a while since you came,” Aunt Wang greeted Bai Taoru warmly as she set a small basket of buns before them.
Bai Taoru smiled awkwardly. “Been busy lately.”
She had been a regular customer before, but with the martial arts school’s worsening finances, she lacked money to eat out and had to settle for porridge inside the school.
Opening the small basket revealed five steaming white buns.
...
As they ate, several familiar faces entered.
Yu Haoyuan of the Qingyan Sect arrived with two junior brothers, also coming to the bun shop.
“No seats left. Mind sharing a table?” Yu Haoyuan asked.
Fang Yue glanced around; indeed, the shop was full—Aunt Wang’s buns were very popular.
“Please,” Fang Yue replied.
Yu Haoyuan and his two companions sat with Fang Yue.
Bai Taoru glared at the three from Qingyan Sect; after all, the relationship between Qingyan Sect and Fengyang Martial Arts School was tense.
“I didn’t expect this young man to choose to join Fengyang Martial Arts School,” Yu Haoyuan remarked, eyeing Fang Yue’s plain blue uniform.
“If you choose, choose the best. Fengyang Martial Arts School produced the remarkable Master Qiu, worthy of selection,” Fang Yue replied calmly.
His words implied that Qingyan Sect’s Mingyang Martial Arts School was no match for Fengyang.
Yu Haoyuan did not take offense but sighed. “Indeed, Master Qiu was an extraordinary genius, a pride of our martial world. I idolized him as a child.”