That strange man did not speak, but slammed another palm towards Zhang Chengling’s back. With a loud yelp, Zhang Chengling pounced at Yu Qiufeng. Gaze hardening, Yu Qiufeng pulled a long sword out of nowhere, and met him head-on. It looked as if Zhang Chengling was about to be impaled on his sword, and the youth was greatly frightened, his legs carrying him forward of their own accord as he yipped, “Shifu, save me!”

The voice by his ear spoke once more. “Since the tip of his sword is trembling slightly, he must have another move following on the heels of this one. Retreat with the Nine Palaces Steps[12], and strike the side of his arm.”

Finding great reason in these words, Zhang Chengling involuntarily took a sideways step forward and whirled away from the tip of Yu Qiufeng’s sword. Instantly, Yu Qiufeng’s sword trembled, and plagued him once more like a shadow. Without faltering, Zhang Chengling brought his right leg another step forward. The posture was awkward, extremely odd and clumsy, but somehow, he dodged Yu Qiufeng’s blow. Then, respectfully following his shifu’s instructions to “strike the side of his arm”, he shut his eyes, gritted his teeth, and headbutted his target.

The one who was snacking on walnuts was none other than Wen Kexing, who was thrilled upon witnessing this sight: what Zhou Zishu had taught Zhang Chengling was none other than one of the top qinggong techniques, the Drifting Clouds Nine Palaces Steps. It sought movement as light as drifting clouds and flying willow catkin, and when it was applied, a person would truly look like a gliding immortal. It was elegantly genteel and very nice to look at, and Wen Kexing knew, for the first time, that someone could perform this Drifting Clouds Nine Palaces Steps like a black bear performing a dance.

Beside him, however, Zhou Zishu’s brow relaxed. He discovered that although this child’s movements were clumsy, he had not misstepped once, and knew that Zhang Chengling took his studies seriously--had learnt the mantra and practiced the same steps innumerable times, over and over, that despite being this panicked, his feet did not mess up the steps in the face of danger.

Yu Qiufeng had suffered great injuries to his core when he had slammed palms with Wen Kexing that day; now, upon absorbing the impact of Zhang Chengling’s skull, the weapon he had just armed himself with instantly slipped out of his grasp. Furious, he shouted, “Don’t let them escape!”

At this, the crowd immediately surrounded Zhang Chengling. This was not something that Zhang Chengling could handle, so Wen Kexing stuffed the half-eaten packet of walnuts at Zhou Zishu as he said, “Hold this for me, granddaddy is going to discipline this bunch of grandsons!” and charged into the fray, laughing uproariously.