Water Margin: Gao Yanei is actually a Gal Genius

When Lu Zhishen followed the armored soldiers to the small training ground of the flower hall, Chen Zhenxi was feeding Gao Jin with training techniques.

Although the old Taoist priest was disrespectful for his age, he was quite skilled at teaching. After demonstrating a set of moves to Gao Jin, he began to imitate various situations and make moves against Gao Jin, gradually increasing the speed from slow to fast. When the speed reached the limit that Gao Jin could react to, he began to add various variables.

Gao Jin was focused on dealing with Chen Laodao's attack when he caught a glimpse of Lu Zhishen out of the corner of his eye. He immediately leaped back out of the battle and called out to the big monk, "Brother, you've come at the right time. Come and sit down at the table over there..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Laodao struck his left arm hard, causing Gao Jin to gasp in pain. The old Taoist priest said leisurely, "You dare to look away from your opponent while you're still fighting. Consider this a lesson learned. If you dare to be distracted like this on the battlefield, you'll lose this arm."

"Ouch... Uncle Chen, you went too far with that!" Gao Jin complained in pain. "Besides, this isn't a real battlefield. If we were on a real battlefield, I certainly wouldn't be careless."

"I know what I'm doing. The force I used just now won't cause any serious injury. I'll just apply some medicated wine to reduce swelling and clear bruising, and massage it in a bit." Chen Xizhen was getting on in years and didn't rely on his physical strength. He abandoned the stick and walked straight to the table. "Let's call it a day."

Gao Jin followed the old Taoist priest, grimacing, his left arm indeed swollen. The two arrived at the table, where Lu Zhishen was already seated, waiting for them to take their seats.

After Chen Xizhen took his seat, he glanced at Lu Zhishen a few times and then looked surprised and suspicious. It turned out that Lu Zhishen's appearance had also changed. Although he had been blessed with good fortune before, he was destined to have a short lifespan. But today, he seemed to have lived ten more years.

The old Taoist priest clicked his tongue inwardly in amazement. This fortunate man was indeed extraordinary; he must have spent a day somewhere and his lifespan had been extended. No wonder the ever-changing Gao Jin was willing to associate with this monk.

"What is the master's Dharma name? Which temple did he become a monk in?" Chen Xizhen wanted to try her luck and struck up a conversation.

"My Buddhist name is Zhishen. I work as a vegetable vendor at the Xiangguo Temple. I'm quite good with Taoist staffs. Do you dare to have a match with me?" Lu Zhishen was half a martial arts fanatic and half a wine fanatic. Seeing that his brother had been hit with a stick, he decided to vent his brother's anger and satisfy his martial arts fanaticism.

Chen Xizhen said, "This old Taoist priest is getting old and his stamina is not as good as it used to be. He needs to rest before he has the strength to fight again. Why don't you two young people have a go first?"

Gao Jin looked up and met Lu Zhishen's eager gaze, and hurriedly said, "Brother, it's not that I don't want to fight you, but my left arm is so swollen and painful that I've lost some of my strength."

Lu Zhishen found this to be reasonable. Apart from his strength, his brother's martial arts skills were rather mediocre. Now that his left arm was injured, there was no point in fighting him. It would be better to drink.

The senior monk raised his wine cup, offering a toast to the two men. Old Chen and Gao Jin exchanged a smile, then also raised their cups and clinked them together with Lu Zhishen's. "Drink!"

As the three men toasted each other, Old Man Chen and Lu Zhishen discussed metaphysics and Buddhism, while Gao Jin occasionally chimed in with a witty remark, creating a rather harmonious atmosphere.

Old Master Chen was the most experienced, having diligently studied Taoist classics and gained some insights. Therefore, he spoke the most among the three and often led the conversation. Although Lu Zhishen was unfamiliar with the classics of both religions, he often managed to offer a unique and insightful proverb that even Chen Xizhen had to ponder for a moment.

What surprised Chen Xizhen the most was Gao Yanei. This man knew all sorts of stories from somewhere, and when he told them, they seemed absurd and unrestrained at first, but upon closer reflection, they contained some profound truths about life.

This made the old Taoist priest increasingly annoyed. He secretly beat his chest and stamped his feet, deeply regretting that he had spoiled his daughter too much, and that she couldn't even find such a good son-in-law suitable. He wondered if she had fallen for some deity.

Gao Jin looked at the favorability indicator on Old Chen's head, which increased by 1 point every time he told a joke about his past life. He wasn't in a hurry; this gradual increase in favorability was normal.

After all, this is a philosophical anecdote from later generations, and its impact on these Taoist priests is just as expected. Moreover, this old Taoist priest is no less powerful than Lu Zhishen. Once his favorability rating reaches 70 points, I'll have to think of a way to trick him into calling me "brother."

The sudden surge in favorability before was definitely abnormal. Gao Jin still couldn't understand what other reason Old Chen could have for such a dramatic increase in favorability on the second meeting, besides that reason.

"It can't be the father-in-law looking at the son-in-law, can it?" Gao Jin laughed to death. Although he was a bit slow-witted, after listening to the conversation between Old Taoist Chen and Old Deng, he understood that they had come to refuse the marriage. If the old Taoist didn't want to marry his daughter to you, where would you get any goodwill?

As Gao Jin drank his wine, a thought suddenly occurred to him: if this old Taoist priest was indeed a good person who didn't want his daughter to be a burden to him, but had also taken a liking to him... then everything would make sense.

Realizing this, Gao Jin awkwardly glanced across the table at the old Taoist priest, who was chatting animatedly with Lu Zhishen. Had he somehow implicated the old priest in a scandalous affair? Surely Old Deng wasn't the type to gossip?

Fine, I'll just have to be a little nicer to his daughter next time I see her.

As for marrying Chen Liqing, Gao Jin didn't want to marry her regardless of whether the old Taoist priest refused or not. The reason was different now.

Calling someone an idiot is wrong.

The old Taoist priest and Lu Zhishen chatted for a while before coming to the arena to spar. Both of them wielded sticks, but Lu Zhishen used his stick as a monk's staff, and the two began to fight.

Indeed, even a stick fears an old man. The old Taoist priest's staff, when attacking, could be used to chop, sweep, stab, strike, or flick with ease. When defending, his staff danced so skillfully that it was impossible to move.

After a hundred or so rounds, Lu Zhishen gradually fell into a disadvantageous position because he had no suitable weapon.

Gao Jin watched from the side, occasionally seeming to have an epiphany, and was deeply inspired.

Taking advantage of an opening, Chen Xizhen jumped out of the fray without waiting for a clear winner, muttering to himself, "When you get old, your strength just won't keep up."

Lu Zhishen also stopped using his staff, exclaiming how satisfying it was. The two laughed heartily and returned to their seats together, where they drank with Gao Jin again.

Lu Zhishen seized a moment to ask Gao Jin, "Brother, you called me over saying there was something urgent? But all we've got is drinking and fighting."

"Hey, brother, you don't know this. My father insists I learn martial arts from this old Taoist Chen, and he won't let me leave the manor. I really missed you, so I found an excuse to ask you to come and keep me company. You won't blame me, will you?"

"How could I blame my brother? It's good that he's alright. Drinking and fighting are enjoyable. It's just that staying in this deep mansion is not as comfortable as the courtyard outside the Dongyue Temple."

"Don't worry, that old Taoist Chen will only teach me for a few days. After these few days, we'll go to that courtyard for a drink."

"That's good."

In the following days, Chen Xizhen came every day to teach Gao Jin how to use a staff, and Lu Zhishen also came to accompany the two of them every day.

If the month spent practicing martial arts in the dilapidated courtyard honed Gao Jin's resilience, then in these few short days, Chen Xizhen taught Gao Jin the wisdom of combat.

In the end, Chen Xizhen left the Gao residence with a favorability rating of 62 points.

It's a pity it didn't reach 70 points, otherwise I would have definitely made the old Taoist call me "brother".