Chapter 10: Discovery of Combat Technique
Suddenly, Lu Qing realized—this might not be just an ordinary world. It could be one where supernatural power truly existed.
His heart surged with both excitement and dread.
He was thrilled—after all, as a Chinese man, there was something deep in his blood that longed for the heroic life of a wandering swordsman, a legend who stood for justice, riding the wind and singing beneath the moon.
But he was also frightened. A world where immense power could be concentrated within a single individual would undoubtedly be far more dangerous than any normal realm.
As the saying went: The hero uses force to defy laws. Once a person gains great strength, they’re prone to disregard rules and authority. A single burst of rage from the powerful could easily end the life of the weak.
And right now, Lu Qing was nothing but a helpless frail.
If he ever stumbled upon a ruthless cultivator—one who knew how to train and wield power—he could be erased with a single flick of the wrist.
The thought sent a chill through him. A sense of urgency crept into his heart.
His original plans would have to change.
Lu Qing fell into deep thought once more, silently pondering in his mind.
The next morning, Lu Qing cooked a pot of river shrimp congee and gently woke Xiao Yan. The two siblings shared the meal together.
“Brother, this shrimp congee is so delicious!” Xiao Yan slurped happily, her face smeared with a tiny grain of rice as she looked up at him with a bright smile.
“Good, then drink slowly. Don’t choke,” Lu Qing said, brushing the rice from her lips with his fingers.
“Brother, can we go fishing today?” Xiao Yan asked.
“No, not today,” Lu Qing replied. “After we eat, we’re going to visit Chen Ye Ye.”
For now, their food situation was stable. There was no need to go fishing. Besides, he’d already caught a lot of fish from the little stream yesterday. It would take time for the fish population to recover.
As for the other two fishing spots, their old, worn-out fishing rod wouldn’t be up to the task. Until he could craft a better one, Lu Qing had no intention of trying to fish there.
There was no choice—poverty was their constant companion. Every scrap of resource was precious. Wasting it was out of the question.
“Visit Chen Ye Ye?” Xiao Yan’s eyes lit up instantly.
She’d been asleep all day yesterday and hadn’t known about Chen Laodaifu and Zhang Da Ye’s visit.
“Do you want to go?” Lu Qing asked, unsure if she’d be afraid of doctors—most children were.
“Of course I want to!” she declared earnestly. “Chen Ye Ye is so kind. He cured your illness. I haven’t even thanked him yet!”
Lu Qing smiled. “Yes, we’ll go thank him together.”
After finishing their meal, Lu Qing locked the door and set off with Xiao Yan.
Chen Laodaifu didn’t live in the village. He resided on the slope of a small hill behind the village.
As they walked, Lu Qing spotted a lone courtyard nestled in the hillside, barely visible through the morning mist—a quiet, serene sight.
When they reached the halfway point, Lu Qing saw a figure moving gracefully in front of the courtyard. He was about to speak—then stopped abruptly.
He gently pulled Xiao Yan back and signaled her to be silent.
Because he realized—Chen Laodaifu was in the middle of training.
He didn’t recognize the style. To Lu Qing, it looked a lot like the slow, gentle movements of Tai Chi practiced by elderly men in parks back home. Gentle, unhurried.
But after watching for a few moments, Lu Qing noticed something strange.
The movements seemed soft, yet each one carried a subtle force—like wind brushing through leaves. The flow was seamless, fluid, breathtakingly elegant.
Just as Lu Qing was getting lost in the rhythm, a message suddenly appeared in his vision.
[Combat Technique Detected. Begin Simulation?]
Huh?
Lu Qing’s pupils narrowed instantly.
His Abilities… had this function too?
He glanced at Chen Laodaifu, still absorbed in his practice. Suppressing the frantic beat of his heart, Lu Qing silently selected Yes in his mind.
[Simulation Activated. Progress: 1%, 2%, 3%…]
Watching the progress bar crawl upward in his mind’s eye, Lu Qing’s pulse quickened again.
He hadn’t expected his Abilities to have a feature like this—simulating another’s Combat Technique.
Just yesterday, he’d been frustrated, wondering how he’d ever gain access to the cultivation methods of this world.
Now, the answer had come like a pillow to a man suffering from sleeplessness.
Lu Qing stared intently at Chen Laodaifu’s movements, his focus sharp, eyes tracking every shift and turn.
[48%, 49%, 50%]
At exactly 50%, the progress bar froze. The message vanished.
Lu Qing glanced up—Chen Laodaifu had just finished his routine and was now lowering his arms, returning to stillness.
A pang of regret hit him.
If he’d arrived just a little earlier, he might’ve captured the entire technique in full.
Now, stuck at half, it left a hollow feeling.
But he didn’t dwell long. He quickly adjusted his mindset.
Even so, discovering this new ability of his was already a massive breakthrough.
As for Chen Laodaifu’s Combat Technique—there would be other chances. He didn’t need to rush.
Chen Laodaifu completed his form, took a deep breath, and finally turned toward Lu Qing and Xiao Yan.
In truth, he’d known they were there all along.
But morning training had become a habit, so he’d chosen to continue rather than stop.
“Ah, you’re here. Did you eat breakfast?” Chen Laodaifu asked kindly.
“Yes, we did,” Lu Qing replied respectfully.
Xiao Yan stepped forward and gripped the old doctor’s hand. “Chen Ye Ye, thank you for healing my brother.”
“Haha, little one,” Chen Laodaifu chuckled, gently patting her head. “You should thank yourself. If you hadn’t cried so loudly that day, I wouldn’t have come in to check.”
He smiled, a hint of emotion in his voice.
That day, he’d been strolling through the village when he heard Xiao Yan’s cries. Moved by compassion, he’d entered the house—and discovered just how gravely ill Lu Qing had been.
“But… why should I thank me?” Xiao Yan frowned. “It was you who cured Brother’s illness.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Chen Laodaifu sighed. “Your brother’s recovery was also due to his good fortune. A lucky soul, destined for survival.”
After returning home, he’d pored over his medical texts again, but still found no record of Lu Qing’s illness. In the end, he could only conclude it was sheer luck—fate had spared him.
Xiao Yan didn’t understand, but she nodded anyway, trusting.
Lu Qing now understood—Chen Laodaifu had treated him for a reason far more personal than just medical duty.
He looked at Xiao Yan with affection, then bowed deeply to the old doctor. “Thank you, Chen Ye Ye. You saved my life.”
“You… ah, never mind,” Chen Laodaifu waved his hand, smiling. “No need to keep thanking me. You’ll always believe I healed you. So why bother explaining?”
It was pointless. If they thought it was him, then let it be.
“Chen Ye Ye,” Xiao Yan suddenly asked, eyes wide with curiosity, “what were you doing just now? Were you practicing martial arts?”
Lu Qing turned to look at the old doctor as well.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
