Chapter 9 Brothers (3)

  He was young and didn't dare to be as deceitful as Liu Zhang, so he knelt for a whole night and was already exhausted. With this one kowtow, he couldn't support himself, his body suddenly fell over, and he actually fainted directly.

  Liu Zhang was shocked and couldn't pretend anymore, he stretched out his hand to help, but saw a flash before his eyes, Zhao Yun's small body had already been picked up by Tong Yuan.

  Liu Zhang was stunned at first, but when he saw the look of comfort in Tong Yuan's eyes as she gazed at Zhao Yun in her arms, he suddenly came to his senses and burst into a fit of wild joy.

  "Ha ha, I knew Master Bodhisattva had a kind heart and wouldn't really abandon Zi Long. Hehe, Master, since you've taken him in, don't be stingy with that wild ginseng you collected last year, slice off a few pieces to help him build up his body."

  "This is the kind of air I've been hearing. Is this my apprentice? He doesn't think about showing respect to me, but instead remembers to take things from me and run away with them. Is there still justice in heaven? Why doesn't heaven strike lightning? Strike lightning and kill this ungrateful disciple."

  Tong Yuan was on the verge of tears, but his beard only quivered slightly. After a brief moment, he took a deep breath, glanced at him, and turned to walk back into the house.

  "Hey, your body doesn't seem too bad, looks like you can still endure more training. Hmph, then kneel for another day." The cold voice, with a hint of gritted teeth, floated into Liu Zhang's ears.

  "Ah?" Liu Zhang's smile froze. After a long while, a mournful cry echoed from the top of Wuyun Peak: "Master, don't...!"

  Time flies, days and months pass by in succession.

  Unconsciously in the mountains, time flies, and another four years have passed.

  "Big brother, where are we going?" A seventeen-year-old Zhao Yun turned his head to ask Liu Zhang, who was riding a cyan flower horse.

  After four years of tempering, Zhao Yun's figure was straight and slender, with a light and agile aura all over his body. His sword-like eyebrows were sharp, his tiger eyes were cold, and the whole person was like a sharp blade that had been unsheathed, with an air of heroism that was intimidating. He was gradually becoming one with the legendary general who never lost in history.

  Watching Zhao Yun's transformation, Liu Zhang was momentarily unsure of what he felt. It seemed to have a kind of pride in watching the work of art he had created with his own hands.

  Yes, if we really talk about it, today's Zhao Yun is indeed created by Liu Zhang.

  Tong Yuan's rules, five years to become a master. But Liu Zhang calculated the time and knew he couldn't wait that long. After some persuasion, coupled with Zhao Yun's extraordinary talent and Liu Zhang's unconventional genius who never played by the rules, feeding him moves every day, after several years, not only did he learn everything Tong Yuan had taught, but also on the basis of what he already knew, innovated and created a new set of spear techniques, finally allowing Tong Yuan to acknowledge him as a master.

  But Liu Zhang, he should have left long ago. When his five-year term was up and Tong Yuan said he could leave, he instead asked with a flattering face if there were any secret techniques of the school that had not been passed on to him.

  Tong Yuan was asked and couldn't make sense of it, until he made a detour and hinted that what he said was the unique skill of his master's ancestor. Tong Yuan still thought it was about playing the flute. Liu Zhang saw that it wasn't working, so he vaguely mentioned having read a certain book that said someone had mastered an extremely powerful kung fu.

  Tong Yuan was stunned for a long time. The immediate result was that he chased and killed the despicable rebel for half a day. In the end, it wasn't until one of the rebels knelt down for a whole day and night that Tong Yuan finally managed to barely suppress him.

  After this incident, however, Tong Yuan began to think deeply. He didn't know what was going on with his junior brother Li Yan, but among his own disciples, it seemed that no one had inherited the flute skills of their master. He felt a deep sense of gratitude towards Master Yu Zhenzi and thought about how he still had some skills that hadn't been passed down, feeling deeply that in the future he would have no face to meet Master Yu in the underworld.

  At that time, he ordered Liu Zhang to stay for a while and pass on the skills of flute music. At the same time, during these two years, he personally inquired about Liu Zhang's study of Mozi's fine meaning. This delay lasted until now, and Liu Zhang was considered to have graduated.

  As for the bamboo slips, Liu Zhang felt something from the elegant handwriting on it and some signs of his master. So when he was about to leave, he returned them to Tong Yuan, just saying that they were left as a memento for his master.

  Tong Yuan took it over, silently. As for Liu Zhang's kindness and filial piety, he was naturally well aware of them in his heart. Therefore, he did not refuse, but instead handed the cloth wrapper with bamboo slips to Liu Zhang, giving him an opportunity to visit the Yan family in Hebei, perhaps gaining unexpected benefits. This could also be considered as the last bit of help for this young apprentice.

  Liu Zhang and Zhao Yun left, leaving only Tong Yuan alone on the top of Wuyun Peak. Zhang Ren and Zhang Hua had returned to their hometowns four years ago. As for them, Liu Zhang let Zhang Ren go back and wait, saying that he would look for him sooner or later. But for Zhang Hua, he gave him an incomprehensible arrangement.

  "If one day you set foot in Wan Cheng Station, don't easily get close to anyone. I will arrange for someone to contact you, and at that time, we brothers will make big plans together!"

  Zhang Xiu didn't understand, Liu Zhang just wouldn't say anything, and had to leave with a belly full of doubts, feeling disgruntled.

  Four years ago, I and Zi Long sent off Zhang Ren and Zhang Yi. Four years later today, it's finally my turn to leave that mountain...

  "On the other side, past the well shaft. We'll go to Jin Yang first and find two people."

  Liu Zhang looked back and gazed in the direction of Wuyun Peak, which had been seven years ago. It seemed as if he could still see the old man standing quietly on the high stone, looking into the distance. A faint bitterness arose in his heart, and with a shake of his head, he cast aside his thoughts of parting. He pointed ahead and replied to Zhao Yun.