Chapter One: Perplexity

  Gao Huaiyuan was taken aback, thinking to himself that people in this era are so quick to call others "big brother". By doing so, isn't he just randomly gaining a younger brother? He then reached out and pulled him up, laughing as he said: "Alright, stop talking about it. Hurry back home now, I'll look for you another day when I'm free! I have to go too!"

  After Zhao and Ju expressed their gratitude, they took a step back, turned around three times with tears in their eyes, and walked towards home. Gao Huaiyuan himself also brushed off the dust and dirt on his body, saw that there was a small tear on his sleeve, and felt a little heartache, thinking that he would have to ask Liu'er to mend it for him again! As soon as he thought of Liu'er, Gao Huaiyuan's heart ached.

  Actually, Liu'er didn't look ugly at all. It's just that she had been living in fear for a long time, eating poorly and dressing shabbily, her body was slightly malnourished, and her spirit was also somewhat depressed. After these days of better life, she changed into new clothes, ate much better, and her complexion became rosier than before. After grooming herself, she looked quite pretty. In the past, it was all because of him that Liu'er had suffered so much. Gao Hua Yuan felt that from now on, he must repay Liu'er well.

  He walked and thought, when suddenly someone in front of him said: "Watch your step!"

  Gao Huaiyuan only then discovered that a straight-backed, spirited old man was standing in front of him. He had been too preoccupied with thoughts of Liu'er to notice the old man and almost bumped into him. Hurriedly stopping himself, he habitually said: "Sorry, I didn't see you!"

  The old man stroked his goatee with a smile in his eyes, looking at Gao Huaiyuan and said: "This young man is teachable! He's still very polite, not bad!"

  Gao Huaiyuan was confused by the old man's words, looked around and saw that there were not many people at this time, so he stepped aside to let the old man pass first.

  The old man took a step forward and walked to Gao Huaiyuan's side, suddenly stretched out his hand and grabbed Gao Huaiyuan's wrist, twisted it, and turned Gao Huaiyuan's arm behind his back.

  The old man's movements were swift and agile, and Gao Huaiyuan was not prepared at all. As a result, he was caught off guard and was immediately subdued by the old man. Gao Huaiyuan was startled and didn't know why the old man had suddenly attacked him. Out of self-defense instinct, he immediately made a standard counter-rotation movement to break free from the old man's grasp and counter-grab his arm.

  Gao Huaiyuan's strength was great, and the old man obviously didn't expect it. With a sudden burst of energy, he almost managed to break free from the old man's grip. The old man quickly added force to his wrist, leaned in close, and grabbed Gao Huaiyuan's other wrist with his teeth. With a light lift, he neutralized Gao Huaiyuan's counterattack and firmly controlled him.

  Gao Huaiyuan's arms were locked, and he was suddenly unable to move. He immediately shouted in anger: "You old man, why did you sneak up on me? Let go quickly! Otherwise, I won't be polite to you!"

  The old man laughed behind Gao Huaiyuan's back, "I have no malice towards you, I just wanted to test your skills. First, tell me who taught you this grappling technique?"

  Gao Huaiyuan immediately understood that this old man should also know martial arts, and earlier when he was fighting with Huang Yan and his gang, this old man must have seen him use grappling techniques, so he came out to test himself. However, he couldn't answer the old man's words, and felt that the old man's actions were very rude!

  "What business is it of yours? Let go! How can you bully me, a young child? Don't you know shame? If you don't let go, I'll really get angry and hurt you, don't blame me!" Gaohuaiyuan shouted, bending his waist.

  The old man didn't put his words in his eyes at all, shook his head and said: "Today you don't say who taught you this capture technique, I won't let go! See what you can do to me?"

  Gao Huaiyuan was so angry that he jumped up straight and shouted: "I don't know any capturing skills, this is what I figured out myself when fighting! Now can you let go of me?"

  "Oh? You still have this skill? Then I'd like to see what other skills you have, aren't you going to be rude to me? Let me see how you're going to be rude to me!" The old man clearly didn't believe his words and said so behind his back, while also adding a bit more force to his grip, tightening his control over Gao Huaiyuan.

  Gao Huaiyuan was at a loss, so he couldn't care about respecting the elderly or loving the young anymore. He suddenly lifted his foot and used his heel to heavily stomp on the old man's right foot toe. Normally, people wouldn't think of this move in such a situation. Moreover, as soon as one's toes are kicked, they will feel unbearable pain, making it hard for them to let go.

  But the old man's movements were quick, and with a lift of his foot, he let out a cry, his right foot slightly retracting. Gao Huaiyuan used all his strength, but instead of kicking the old man's foot, he ended up stomping his own foot on the stone floor, causing it to throb in pain. He cried out in surprise, still unable to escape the old man's control.

  The old man laughed and said: "Is that all you've got? Stepping on toes? That's actually a pretty good method!"

  Gao Huaiyuan snarled and shouted: "Don't be smug! I just didn't want to hurt you, so you'd better know your place and let go quickly!"

  The old man continued laughing: "I won't let you go, I want to see what other tricks you have up your sleeve, you little scamp!"

  Gao Weiyan was so angry, how did he run into such a strange old man today? It seems that if he didn't use his real skills, the old man wouldn't let go easily. Moreover, when the old man called him "little guy", he felt even more uncomfortable, thinking to himself that he was an adult and it felt good to be called that way. So, with a sudden burst of strength in both arms, he used his legs to propel himself into a flip, doing a backflip in mid-air, which loosened the grip on his arm. Then, with a swift motion, he delivered a headbutt to the old man's stomach. The movement was very quick and agile; if it were Huang Zhan's body from his past life, he definitely wouldn't have been able to pull off this move. This wasn't one of the grappling moves he had learned before; it was completely an improvisation born out of desperation.

  The old man was clearly a master, seeing Gao Huaiyuan so nimble, he lightly pushed and pulled, instantly dissolving Gao Huaiyuan's attack. No one knew how he did it, but in an instant, he had grabbed Gao Huaiyuan again and turned him over. This time, he pulled one of Gao Huaiyuan's arms from his neck to his back, with his knee on Gao Huaiyuan's waist. Gao Huaiyuan was completely helpless, unable to move. In his heart, he thought, "Today I'm done for, I've met a master!"

  "Ah! Don't use force, your hand will break off! I admit defeat! Can't I just admit defeat?! Honestly, no one has ever taught me any grappling techniques. If I'm lying, may I be struck by five thunderbolts and may the person who taught me not rest in peace!"

  He swore, but still played a slippery head. Anyway, he had already been struck by thunder five times and it was nothing serious. As for the person who taught him, he didn't get a good death either. That was his intention to bury the hatchet with that hateful instructor from back then, during the grappling class, that guy made him suffer a lot, cursing him once would relieve his anger!

  The old man looked at him and said, "So you really figured it out yourself? Then you can be called a genius! Your foundation is very good, it's a pity that you didn't learn martial arts. Why don't you become my apprentice?"

  Gao Hua Yuan rubbed his sore shoulders and retorted, "What's the big deal? You just ambushed me, if we really fought, you wouldn't be able to do anything to me!"

  The old man looked around and saw that there was no one else, so he waved his hand and said: "Well, you can try again if you want. If I can't stop you, then just go ahead!"

  Gao Weiyan was furious, the consequences were severe, this old man was too arrogant. Since you ambushed me just now, I won't be polite either. Without saying a word, he stepped forward and threw a fake punch, then took a straight line with his left hand and struck the old man's chest. He wanted to give the old man a sneak attack as well, at least let him suffer a loss.

  All he heard was a loud "ah", the old man didn't even shout, but Gao Huaiyuan himself let out a cry. After punching out with one fist, before he could figure out what had happened, his left hand had already fallen into the old man's hands, and with another blow, he was pressed to the ground again. This time he understood - this old man was absolutely a master, and he had run into a steel plate! It turned out that ancient people really did have true kung fu after all!

  "Where on earth can you find a master like this?! You're being too outrageous!" Gao Hua Yuan was pinned to the ground, but his mouth refused to yield, protesting against the old man.

  "You should be content, there are countless people who want to be my apprentice, and you still dare to say that. I'm asking you, will you agree or not?" The old man sat on Gao Huailiang's back, knocking on his head.

  Gao Huai thought for a moment and then asked: "I don't even know who you are! You tell me what you can teach me first?"

  The old man replied: "Who I am can't be told now, but there are many things that will be learned. What do you want to learn, young one?"

  Gao Huailiang heard this and was slightly pleased, it seemed that today's luck wasn't too bad after all. Maybe he could even learn some of the things he saw in wuxia novels himself. Flying eaves and walking on walls, flying flowers to hurt people? Not bad! He'd learn this!

  "I want to learn the lightness skill that can fly over eaves and walk on walls! I also want to learn some acupoints! Can you teach me?" Gao Huaiyuan asked, lying on the ground with a look of extreme enthusiasm.

  The old man pulled out a black line on his face, stunned for a while and knocked on Gao Huaiyuan's head, asking: "I said, what kind of stuff is in this little brain of yours? How come there are so many strange things? If I knew as much as you do, wouldn't I be a god?"

  "Cut! You don't even know this? And you still have the nerve to say you want to take me as your apprentice? What can you possibly teach me?" Gao Hua Yuan was very disappointed, it turned out that those so-called martial arts he had been thinking about were just the product of those wuxia authors' fantasies! It was really too disappointing!

  "What you call qinggong, flying on the roof and walking on walls is still possible, but as for things like acupuncture points and flying flowers that hurt people, don't even think about it. I've never heard of anyone who can do that sort of thing. Flying knives are something I can teach you, and I can also teach you the footwork of a swift step. As for knife techniques, gun techniques, staff techniques, and archery, let's not waste words. From now on, every morning at 5 am, as soon as the city gate opens, go to the forest five miles outside the south gate and find me. If you dare not go, just wait and see how I'll deal with you! I know you're the third young master of the Gao family, but I don't care if your father is an official or not. I think you have potential, so I'll reluctantly take you on as my apprentice!" The old man patted Gao Huiran's head and then let him go, floating away and leaving behind these words!