Chapter Twenty-Six: The Manor

  On this day, Zhao Fei got up early. He came to the place where he practiced martial arts and started practicing Wuqin fist. Before long, Zhao Yun and Xiahou Lan also arrived one after another. Seeing Zhao Fei practicing, Zhao Yun and the others were also used to it. Because for more than a month, Zhao Fei was always the earliest to arrive, his hard work made these two people who had been practicing martial arts all year round feel ashamed. Even Tong Yuan felt relieved by Zhao Fei's diligence.

  The two of them symbolically nodded at Zhao Fei and began to stand guard. Of course, this was thanks to Zhao Fei's "blessing". The two people didn't blame Zhao Fei because through the month-long standing guard, their marksmanship had clearly improved. Even Xia Houlan's shooting skills were full of spirituality, no longer as stiff as before. For this, Xia Houlan was still very grateful to Zhao Fei.

  The three of them practiced for a while, and then Tong Yuan slowly walked up. Seeing Tong Yuan approaching, Zhao Fei immediately stopped his movements. He bowed to Tong Yuan, who seemed unsurprised and simply waved his hand at Zhao Fei. But instead of continuing to practice his fist techniques, Zhao Fei stood aside, hesitating for a moment.

  Seeing Zhao Fei's hesitation, Tong Yuan was somewhat puzzled and asked with interest: "What's wrong, Little Fly? Is there something on your mind? Are you having trouble practicing boxing again?"

  "No, there's no problem, it's just...just." Zhao Fei was somewhat hesitant, unsure of whether to speak or not.

  "Just say what it is, don't beat around the bush." Tong Yuan waited for half a day, but Zhao Fei still hadn't said anything. He couldn't help but feel anxious.

  "It's just that I've been out for a long time, so...so." Zhao Fei still seemed a bit awkward as he spoke.

  When Zhao Fei said this, Tong Yuan chuckled and said, "Haha, I thought it was something big, but it turns out you just miss home. If you want to go back, then just go back. Besides, you've already learned all the fist techniques, so you don't need me to guide you anymore."

  "But I don't want to leave this place." Zhao Fei looked around, his expression showing that he was reluctant to part with it.

  "It's normal for people to come and go, what's there to be reluctant about? If you can't bear to leave here, do you think you can bear to leave your own home? Go back home, you've been out for a long time, the people at home must be missing you. Besides, if you miss this place, you can always come again." Tong Yuan comforted Zhao Fei as he looked at his expression.

  "Alright, I've learned my lesson. I'll go prepare now." Zhao Fei turned around to leave, but was pulled back by Tong Yuan.

  "Just a moment ago, you were slow and hesitant. How did you suddenly become so impatient?" Tong Yuan pulled Zhao Fei back. "After lunch, let Xiao Yun send you back. You went down the mountain by yourself, aren't you afraid of encountering some danger? Let's go practice boxing first." Tong Yuan smiled sweetly, but this smile was extremely terrifying in Zhao Fei's eyes. And Zhao Fei's cold sweat instantly broke out.

  "It seems that young man is too impatient." Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he looked at Tong Yuan weakly. "I'll go and train that young man first."

  One morning, Zhao Fei was absent-minded. His fist practice also made frequent mistakes. Tong Yuan knew that Zhao Fei's heart was like an arrow, so he didn't criticize him and just let him be. Time passed bit by bit, but Zhao Fei felt it was going very slowly. After all, for someone who missed home, a month was still a long time. Finally, when lunchtime arrived, Zhao Fei hastily finished his meal and couldn't bear the homesick feeling anymore. He quickly packed up his belongings - actually just the few clothes he brought with him when he came. After packing, he went to find Tong Yuan to bid farewell. When he arrived at Tong Yuan's place, both Zhao Yun and Xia Houlan were there.

  "Master, I have come to bid farewell. These days, thank you for your care. Please accept my bow." After finishing speaking, Zhao Fei bent his knees and was about to kowtow to Tong Yuanchen.

  "It's not possible for you to kowtow to me." Only then did Tong Yuan hastily stretch out his hand to grab and prop up Zhao Fei's knees with his feet. Meanwhile, the two of them also supported Zhao Fei on either side. Tong Yuan glared at Zhao Fei and said: "You can kowtow to Heaven, Earth, or your parents, but I am neither Heaven nor Earth, nor am I your parent. How can I accept this bow from you?"

  "The Master has taught me martial arts, although he hasn't accepted me as a disciple, but it's more like a master-disciple relationship, so the Master should accept my bow." Zhao Fei didn't listen to Tong Yuan's words, his expression was resolute, and he insisted on giving Tong Yuan a kneeling bow.

  Looking at Zhao Fei's resolute expression, Tong Yuan didn't know what to say either. Through such a long time of understanding, Tong Yuan already knew that once he made up his mind, even if it was impossible to change it with a horse whip, let alone his own persuasion. Taking another look at Zhao Fei, Tong Yuan could only helplessly withdraw his hands and legs. "Alas... forget it, forget it." Tong Yuan let out a long sigh, shook his sleeves and turned around. And Zhao Yun also released Zhao Fei.

  "Please accept my respects, Master." Having said that, Zhao Fei very formally performed a kneeling bow to Tong Yuan.

  "Alright, let's get going. We've said our goodbyes, now let Xiaoyun see you off down the mountain." Tong Yuan waved his hand to signal Zhao Fei and the others to leave. Zhao Fei stood up, brushed off the dirt on his pants, and followed Zhao Yun and Xia Houlan out.

  The mountain road is still bumpy, and I'm walking on it again. Zhao Fei has a lot of feelings, thinking about what kind of mood he was in when he climbed the mountain back then, what kind of mood he had when he encountered a tiger deep in the mountains, what kind of mood he had when he escaped from the tiger's mouth, and what kind of mood he had when he learned his skills on the mountain. Every detail is still etched in Zhao Fei's mind, although the process was tortuous, but the result is not bad after all. Thinking about this, Zhao Fei's mood has improved a lot.

  At the foot of the mountain, Zhao Fei looked back at the mountains behind him. Then he turned around and said to Zhao Yun and Xiahou Lan: "Alright, two brothers, I'll send you off here, and I'll walk the rest of the way myself."

  "Can you really handle it yourself? You've never even left the village before." Zhao Yun was somewhat worried, he didn't want Zhao Fei to encounter any unexpected situations.

  "No problem, Cloud Brother, although I've never been out of the village, I can still remember the way back home." Zhao Fei said with a solemn expression, and patted his own chest to prove himself.

  "Are you really all right?" Zhao Yun still didn't feel at ease.

  "Don't worry, Cloud Ge, I can really do it. You can go back with Lan Ge." Zhao Fei said confidently.

  "Alright, let's just trust Xiao Fei this once." Seeing Zhao Yun wanting to say more, Xiahou Lan stretched out his hand to stop him. Zhao Yun looked at Xiahou Lan and then at Zhao Fei, who kept nodding his head. Zhao Yun could only helplessly nod his head as well. "Alright, following this road will be fine."

  "I'm leaving, Cloud and Orchid brothers, you guys go back." After finishing speaking, Zhao Fei tightened the backpack behind him. He embarked on his first solo journey in life.

  Watching Zhao Fei's departing figure, Zhao Yun couldn't help but turn his head and ask Xiahou Lan, "Can Little Cloud really do it?"

  "It should be okay. Looking at his solemn expression, it should be fine." Xiahou Lan was also uncertain in her heart, but seeing Zhao Yun's worried expression, she didn't dare to say anything either.

  Zhao Fei was drinking a small wine, walking happily on the way home. "I really don't know how my parents and Duer are doing, nor do I know what's going on at home these days. Forget it, let's not think about it. Hurry up and rush on the road." After that, Zhao Fei tightened his luggage and quickened his pace.

  The sky was getting darker and darker, and Zhao Fei's expression was also becoming more and more bewildered. As he looked at the increasingly dark sky, his heart sank to the bottom of the valley. Looking around at the desolate wilderness, Zhao Fei couldn't stop regretting in his heart. "Damn it, why did I pretend to be something I'm not back then? They say that pretending to be something you're not will get you struck by lightning, and now I'm facing the consequences." In this remote wilderness, there wasn't even a single person around. "Forget it, I'll just take things one step at a time," Zhao Fei thought to himself as he continued walking forward, unsure of where he was headed.

  "Huh? It seems like there's some light up ahead, there should be someone there." As he looked ahead, he saw a fire burning and Zhao Fei's heart immediately came alive. He quickened his pace, walking towards the light in front of him. The closer he got, the brighter the lights became, and Zhao Fei's mood also became more and more excited. Finally, he had found someone.

  With the faint light, Zhao Fei seemed to see a manor, a huge manor.