Chapter Seven: Becoming an Apprentice

  Yue Fei was startled to see Zhou Langzhong suddenly transform from a slender figure into a giant robust man. He then saw Zhou Langzhong slap the large bluestone slab with his palm, exuding an intimidating aura. However, upon closer inspection, the stone slab didn't budge, leaving only a puddle of water behind. Yue Fei's childlike innocence remained. "Heh" - he burst out laughing.

  "Little rabbit, what are you laughing at? Come here and touch it quickly!" Zhou Langzhong shouted.

  Yue Fei was slightly puzzled and walked closer to the stone slab, touching the water mark on it.

  Where his hand touched, it was extremely soft, like powder. As soon as he applied force, "Boom" dust flew everywhere, and a circular hole suddenly appeared on the stone slab. Zhou Langzhong had slapped the stone slab with one palm!!!

  Yue Fei stared blankly at the stone tablet, suddenly at a loss for what to do.

  Zhou Lang burst out laughing and patted Yue Fei's shoulder, asking: "Am I more formidable or is that Zhang instructor of yours more formidable?"

  Yue Fei felt a sharp pain and let out an "ah" of surprise.

  "Look who's still daring to talk nonsense." Zhou Lang massaged the left arm of Yue Fei, with his left hand supporting and right hand pulling, "crack" sound, Yue Fei's left arm was already restored, all better.

  "How are you feeling?" Zhou Lang asked:

  Yue Fei came back to his senses and hastily replied: "Sir, I'm fine."

  "But," Yue Fei hesitated a little, wanting to ask questions but fearing that Zhou Lang would get angry.

  "But whatever it is, let it rip." Zhou Lang looked at Yue Fei with encouraging eyes.

  "But sir, why did you just turn into a giant ape?" Yue Fei said quickly.

  "Turn into a giant ape?" Zhou Lang was stunned for a moment, then came back to his senses and replied: "Oh, that's not turning into a giant ape. Cultivators of martial arts need to change their tendons, refine their bones, and wash their marrow and replace their blood. Those who have achieved success in their cultivation can accelerate the flow of qi and blood, causing the tendons and bones inside their body to become thicker, longer, and larger, changing their body shape and gaining greater strength. Do you understand?"

  Yue Fei shook his head and said, "I don't understand."

  Zhou Lang gently patted the back of Yue Fei's head with his left hand, and stretched out his right hand, saying: "Take a closer look, Little Flying."

  Yue Fei looked at Zhou Lang's hand, his fingers were slender and long, his skin was dark but smooth and delicate, it didn't look like a middle-aged man's hand at all.

  Suddenly, the entire palm gradually became larger and thicker, fingers lengthened and thickened, the muscles in the center of the palm slowly tensed up, the whole palm began to become scorching hot, and the color also changed from its original light brown to dark brown.

  All that could be seen was the palm of his hand flipping over, revealing thick, dark veins like worms crawling all over the back of his hand, looking ferocious. A voice came from Zhou Lang's ear: "Look at the tip of your finger:"

  Yue Fei hastily looked at his fingertips. He saw that as soon as his palm relaxed, the five fingernails suddenly retracted by more than half, and with a sudden burst of force, the small muscles on the tips of his fingers tightly contracted, and the nails popped out in an instant. The scene was just like a wild cat's claws, usually hidden inside the soft and fluffy paw pads, only to pop out fiercely when pouncing on prey, grasping onto food.

  It's really too amazing, too incredible.

  After all, he was still a child, Yue Fei jumped up excitedly and shouted loudly.

  Zhou Langzhong was about to explain, when Yue Fei suddenly appeared in front of him, knelt down and said: "Sir is truly a divine person, far surpassing Zhang Jiao's hundred times. I want to worship you as my master, practice martial arts well, and protect the family and country."

  Zhou Lang let out a sigh of relief and thought: "Finally, you've spoken up."

  To maintain a dignified image, Zhou Lang merely smiled and patted Yue Fei's head, saying: "You go back first and tell your mother that Zhou will visit at a later time."

  Yue Fei responded with a single "oh", and Diagnosing Jin also forgot to give it, and quickly ran back home.

  Zhou Yuang looked at Yue Fei's back and thought it was time.

  Just at the time of Shen, Zhou Langzhong came to the front of Yue Fei's small courtyard, and Yue Anren had already been waiting at the door.

  Yue Anren invited Zhou Langzhong to enter the mansion, and they sat down as host and guest. After serving national tea, Zhou Langzhong immediately drove Yue Fei out of the door, stood up, and sang a fat vow to Yue Anren, saying: "A disciple of Mr. Xi Yi under Mount Hua, Zhou Tong has met Princess Yao, an outsider who does not follow worldly etiquette, I hope Your Highness will not be offended."

  Ladies and gentlemen: The title "Xi Yi" was given to Chen Tuan by Emperor Taizong of Song. "Xi" means seeing without being seen, and "Yi" means hearing without being heard. Mr. Xi Yi is actually a secret praise for Chen Tuan's excellent sleep skills.

  Yu An listened, as if struck by thunder. All these years, he had been thinking about it every day, suffering alone. Suddenly someone mentioned the past, and Yu An was at a loss for a moment, completely losing his composure.

  Zhou Cong called out several times, and only then did Yao Fei come back to her senses. Tears streaming down her face, she let out a long sigh and said: "Mr. Zhou, please, don't be polite. I've lost my composure. Don't blame me, sir."

  Zhou Tong hastily replied: "I don't dare"

  Yao Fei calmed down and asked: "How is the Emperor's condition now?"

  "The Emperor's dragon body is safe and sound, but he has been deceived by the treacherous officials Cai Jing, Gao Fu, and Tong Guan, which has led to chaos in the imperial court. Now the national power is declining, bandits are rising everywhere, and foreigners are eyeing us covetously; the Song Dynasty is in danger."

  "Then, sir, what brings you here this time?"

  Zhou Tong replied, "The Wang Chongyang who accompanied the empress on the Yellow River was Zhou Tong's junior fellow apprentice. This time, I have come to fulfill my promise to teach the prince various literary and martial arts, so that the prince can learn and revive the Song dynasty, save the people from water and fire, and Zhou Tong will have achieved great merit."

  The princess replied: "That's very good"

  The two fell silent for a while, and then the empress asked again: "Sir, in your opinion, when can I return to the capital?"

  Zhou Tong cupped his hands and said: "Your Ladyship, Master Xi Yi had calculated that within ten years, Grand Tutor Cai Jing will be captured by the barbarians."

  Honorable officials, Mount Hua is well-versed in the art of divination and has long foreseen the changes in the world. However, heavenly secrets cannot be lightly revealed. Moreover, Mount Hua is a place outside the world, and both the Liao and Song dynasties belong to the same Chinese lineage, returning to the Central Plains. Therefore, the people of Mount Hua rarely intervene in worldly affairs.

  Yao Fei heard this and thought that there was hope for her to return to the capital, and she was greatly encouraged. But little did she know that Zhou Cong had an ulterior motive. Yao Fei and Emperor Huizong were already on opposite sides of the world, with no chance of reuniting. Moreover, Emperor Huizong's immoral behavior led to his downfall, resulting in the shame of "Jingkang" and being taken captive along with Emperor Qinzong to Liao State, where they suffered all sorts of humiliation, even having to eat raw meat and drink blood like savages. Cai Fei was sent to a brothel in Liao State, where she was tortured to death by the Liao people. In comparison, Yao Fei's fate was relatively better. This is a later story.

  Yao Fei Niang and Zhou Cong chatted for a long time, talking about everything under the sun. The princess almost asked all the questions she had in mind, and Zhou Cong answered them one by one. Before they knew it, the sky had already darkened.

  Madam Yao called out for Yue Fei to return and let him formally offer tea and kowtow to Zhou Tong, performing the ritual of becoming a disciple.

  The next day, Yue Fei went to Wang Shanren's home to bid farewell to Zhang Jiao and the other young friends, saying he was going to study medicine with Mr. Zhou. His classmates thought that Yue Fei had been intimidated by the beating and jeered at him.

  Want to know what happens next? Please listen to the next episode.