The Fitter Master in the Courtyard: Surrounded by Dead Men

"No need."

Yang Ping shook her head. "I already have one."

However… I cannot yet display such grandeur as you.”

Yang Ping picked up a tea leaf from the table, moved his fingertips slightly, and circulated his inner energy, causing the tea leaf to tremble gently.

As for Yan Hancheng's claim that a flying leaf can penetrate wood, he is not yet able to do that.

Without years of hard work and rigorous training, it is ultimately difficult to condense that kind of power.

"A prodigy!"

A look of surprise flashed across Yan Hancheng's eyes.

When he awakened his innate internal energy, he was already over thirty and had missed the best time to establish his foundation.

The young man before them, barely in his early twenties, had already stepped into this threshold.

"Master Yan, could you please teach me the method of wielding internal energy?"

"Of course."

Yan Hancheng readily agreed.

This mental technique has no effect on his memory, so there's no harm in sharing it.

"What a pity. If you had practiced martial arts from a young age and laid a solid foundation, I'm afraid even I wouldn't be your match now."

His tone revealed a hint of regret.

"It's never too late to start."

Yang Ping simply smiled calmly.

"Too."

Yan Hancheng nodded in agreement.

To be able to comprehend innate internal energy at such a young age already far surpasses my own past achievements; my future accomplishments will surely be limitless.

***

"Indeed mysterious."

Yang Ping closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, there was a layer of understanding in his eyes.

What I just learned from Yan Hancheng was not only the secret to the circulation of internal energy, but also the complete principles of Wing Chun.

The secret to prolonging life lies in the continuous circulation of internal energy.

Various mental techniques and principles of martial arts merged and permeated his mind, as if he had been immersed in this path for many years.

What's lacking now is simply the integration of body and memory, and the daily tempering.

"Mr. Yang, remember not to be impatient for quick success."

The application of internal strength must proceed gradually, from slow to fast, to avoid damaging the fundamental meridians.

Yan Hancheng solemnly instructed.

He knew that although Yang Ping had exceptional comprehension, he did not have the physical physique of a martial artist honed from childhood.

If one suddenly unleashes their full power, the backlash of internal energy can easily injure themselves.

Yan Hancheng nodded slowly.

Yang Ping got up and began practicing his boxing techniques in the cramped space.

At first, the movements were slow and gentle, like testing the water temperature. Then the rhythm gradually quickened, and the limbs drew dense trajectories in the air, eventually becoming so fast that only a flowing afterimage remained.

The edges and corners of the old furniture in the room seemed to automatically make way for him, allowing him to move freely within that small space.

The old man watched silently, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

But seeing that the young man's breathing was as steady as a deep pool, he suppressed the urge to interrupt.

Time passed quietly with the force of the punches, and his fingers holding the teacup tightened slightly—the moves passed down through memory were being rewoven, and some of the transitions even revealed a fluidity that surpassed the originals.

This is not just a reproduction of knowledge, but more like a seed falling into more fertile soil, sprouting different branches.

As Yang Ping finished his move, he exhaled lightly, the airflow causing the scattered papers on the table to flutter.

He sat back in his chair, his skin glowing with the healthy sheen of exercise, as if he had just finished a pleasant stroll.

"My muscles and bones feel much more relaxed."

He said, rotating his wrist.

Yan Hancheng placed the cooled teacup back on the table, the wooden base tapping softly against the surface. "If Mr. Yang continues down this path, he will surely achieve great things in time."

His voice was tinged with emotion and a sense of distant melancholy.

He recalled that when he was twenty years old, he was still struggling in the monotonous cycle of practicing horse stance. Once, when his master used a bamboo stick to tap his back to correct his posture, his eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.

"The road in Yanlaopu is sturdy."

Yang Ping looked at the sky as seen through the window panes.

The setting sun was gilding the clouds, making them look like some kind of slowly burning flame.

He knew he was standing at a higher starting point, but that height itself stemmed from the foundation laid by his predecessors.

Yan Hancheng shook his head slightly: "Even if you acquire my memories, without the comprehension, it will be no easy task to grasp the essence of Wing Chun immediately."

Yang Ping simply smiled and remained silent.

The enhancement in comprehension granted by the system was truly extraordinary, allowing him to demonstrate amazing talent in many fields.

He took a sip of tea, put down the cup, and said, "Elder Yan, it's getting late, I should go outside and take a look."

"Come visit sometime when you have time."

Yan Hancheng said sincerely, "We can discuss the principles of boxing and exchange our insights on the application of internal energy."

He vaguely sensed that Yang Ping's cultivation might be above his own. If he could take this opportunity to learn from him, he might be able to break through his stagnant cultivation level, which had been stuck for many years, and even extend his fading life for a while longer.

"must."

Yang Ping responded and then turned to walk outside.

Upon arriving at the front hall, Lou Xiao'e was still lingering in front of the shelves.

He silently sat down in a chair to the side.

"Yang Ping, let's go."

Lou Xiao'e saw him come out and said softly.

"Aren't you going to choose anything?"

Yang Ping asked.

"No need."

She shook her head.

"Don't worry, if you like anything, just buy it, and I'll pay for it."

Yang Ping spoke in a calm tone.

Today, I am in a good mood. I have not only learned Wing Chun, but also glimpsed the way to longevity. Spending some money on Lou Xiao'e is really nothing.

"Really, you don't need to."

Lou Xiao'e refused again.

She had not yet paid off her previous debts and was unwilling to accept any more favors.

Moreover, there was no special relationship between the two, and she could not accept his gift so casually.

Even if such a relationship truly existed, Lou Xiao'e would be reluctant to use it lightly.

Every penny Yang Ping earns is hard-earned, and she can't spend it so extravagantly, nor does she want to put the entire burden of life on his shoulders.

Yang Ping wanted to say something more, but then he saw Yan Hancheng come out from the inner room.

The old gentleman carried a velvet box in his hands, walked straight to Lou Xiao'e, and handed it to her with a smile.

"I was delighted to have a long and pleasant conversation with Mr. Yang today, as if I had met a kindred spirit."

Yan Hancheng's tone was gentle yet solemn. "This small gift is a ruby ​​necklace for your wife, as a token of our shared destiny. Please accept it."

Lou Xiao'e was stunned.

She subconsciously turned to look at Yang Ping, her eyes filled with questioning and helplessness—should she accept such a valuable gift or not?

"Take it."

Yang Ping nodded slightly to her.

Since it was a gift from Elder Yan, he accepted the kindness.

There's plenty of time; there will always be a reward.

"This...this is too much trouble!"

Lou Xiao'e was still somewhat hesitant.

She fell in love with the ruby ​​necklace at first sight.

However, I felt it was inappropriate to accept such a generous gift for no reason.

"Xiao Liao, please put it on this lady."

Yan Hancheng said no more and turned to instruct the shop assistant next to him.

The two female shop assistants couldn't help but look envious when they saw that the boss was going to give them the ruby ​​necklace as a gift.

Working in the shop, they naturally understood the significance of this chain—ordinary customers weren't even qualified to glance at it; it had always been carefully kept in the back room and never easily shown to others.

"Okay!"

The girl named Xiao Liao quickly responded.

She quickly walked around from behind the counter, carefully took out the necklace, and gently put it around Lou Xiao'e's neck.

"It's so beautiful!"

Xiao Liao couldn't help but sigh softly in admiration.

The other person nodded in agreement.

Lou Xiao'e, who was already wearing a cheongsam, now had a deep red, lustrous embellishment around her neck, which made her skin look even whiter and her appearance even more radiant.

"Thank you, Professor Yan."

Yang Ping expressed his gratitude sincerely.

A faint smile flickered across Yan Hancheng's lips, but he didn't say anything more.

"Xiao'e, it's time to go."

Yang Ping spoke up.

Lou Xiao'e was looking at the ruby ​​necklace around her neck in front of the mirror, her eyes brimming with undisguised joy.

Hearing Yang Ping call her, she turned around and bowed slightly to Yan Hancheng in thanks, then followed him out of the Sequoia Jewelry store.

Once seated on the back of the bicycle, she couldn't help but turn her head and ask, "What did you and Mr. Yan talk about just now?"

"It's nothing serious."

Yang Ping pedaled, his voice tinged with laughter, "We just casually shared some insights, and Elder Yan felt a strong connection with us, even expressing a sense of regret that we met too late."

"I see."

Lou Xiao'e nodded in realization.

In her mind, this was probably similar to the kindness she received from Chen Xueru when she visited her shop.

"Let's go buy some snacks and bring them to Sister Xue Ru's place on the way."

She also loves candied peach shortbread.

Lou Xiao'e made the suggestion.

"become."

Yang Ping readily agreed.

The two then went to a pastry shop and bought some pastries and a few dishes—it was almost noon, and it was time to eat.

Before long, they arrived at the entrance of Xue Ru Silk Shop.

Upon seeing the two figures, Chen Xueru quickly greeted them with a smile: "Xiao'e, Yang Ping, please come in and sit down."

With Lou Xiao'e present, she naturally couldn't address him as "little man" as she usually did.

Call him "younger brother".

Feeling that this was inappropriate, they simply addressed him by his name.

"Sister Xue Ru, we brought food to eat with you."

Lou Xiao'e held up the pastries and food box wrapped in oil paper in her hand, "I also bought your favorite candied peach shortbread."

"Oh, why are you being so polite?"

Chen Xueru took the items, her eyes sparkling, "Next time, just come over directly."

"Just tell me what you want to eat, and I'll take care of it. You don't need to go to all this trouble."

She's never been one to hold grudges over these things.

Lou Xiao'e placed the package she had brought on the table.

Chen Xueru immediately noticed the ruby ​​pendant around the other person's neck. Its rich color and unique cut made it clearly no ordinary object.

She couldn't help but lean closer and whispered in admiration, "This necklace suits you perfectly; you look absolutely radiant."

"It was Yang Ping who took me to the jewelry store, and the manager insisted on giving it to me."

Lou Xiao'e stroked the pendant, a smile spreading across her eyes. "The boss said he got along very well with Yang Ping, and felt as if they were old friends who had just met."

Chen Xueru turned and walked behind the counter to get something, just as Yang Ping came out of the inner room carrying a kettle.

She turned her head to the side and teased in a low voice, "You're quite willing to spend money."

Having run the shop for many years, she had seen this kind of scenario many times—it was simply that the man would first make arrangements privately, and then the shopkeeper would present the gift, which both saved the woman's face and made the affection seem natural.

Yang Ping just smiled and didn't reply.

Chen Xueru naturally didn't know, but this time it was different.

The silver shop owner, Yan Hancheng, was a trusted confidant personally cultivated by Yang Ping. Yang Ping hoped to learn a higher level of internal martial arts from him in order to prolong his life, which is why he generously offered up his treasured possessions.

"Yang Ping, Sister Xue Ru, the food is getting cold."

Lou Xiao'e called out from inside the hall.

"Coming!"

Chen Xueru responded.

Yang Ping strolled over unhurriedly.

When the three of them sat down around the table, the shop was quiet and undisturbed.

The meal was enjoyed leisurely, with occasional casual conversations exchanged between the clinking of bowls and chopsticks.

After the meal, Lou Xiao'e sat for a short while before getting up to say goodbye, saying she was afraid of delaying the shop's business.

Yang Ping followed her out the door, and the streetlights slanted in, casting a pale golden edge on the threshold.

Yang Ping, we've been walking around the yard for too long today, our legs are tired, let's go back and rest.

She said softly as she stepped across the threshold.

it is good.

Yang Ping responded.

He rode the bicycle, carrying Lou Xiao'e back home.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Lou Xiao'e took off the chain around her neck and looked around for a place to put it away.

Yang Ping was slightly puzzled.

My parents told me that I shouldn't flaunt my wealth, especially since things are tense outside right now, and overly flashy jewelry would easily attract attention.

Lou Xiao'e explained.

Yang Ping listened and nodded slightly.

Indeed, the Lou family is currently in a very favorable position.

On the day of the blind date, when the three members of the Lou family came to the compound, they didn't wear any decent jewelry—not because they didn't have any, but because they dared not wear any, lest they attract attention and be noticed.

Lou Bancheng's nickname comes from the fact that he controls half of the city's businesses, so you can imagine how wealthy he is. He must have amassed a lot of jewelry and antiques.

Keep it safe and remember to take it with you when you visit your parents' home in the future.

Yang Ping gave instructions.

Yang Ping, I will.