Zheng Mingshan kept his thoughts hidden, but Cao Yanhua was already excited. “Master! Great… Senior Uncle, let’s go inside!”
He eagerly tried to step forward. The moment he lifted his leg—
Clang.
Zheng Mingshan picked up the sea bowl and placed it directly in the middle of the doorway, right under the lightbulb. Then he slowly placed his chopsticks across the top.
There was still half a bowl of rice inside, along with slices of pig head meat and a few peanuts.
He said calmly, “This isn’t a door you walk through just because you want to. If you want to go inside, knock that bowl over first.”
Cao Yanhua grew tense but excited. Sure enough, this was a true martial family, full of strict rules. This must be the test. The moment to show his true skills and earn a few pointers.
He took a deep breath, his face turning red. Then he swung his leg and kicked hard at the bowl.
Zheng Mingshan leaned against the doorframe and calmly twisted the bottle cap of the liquor. Without even looking up, he kicked out casually and precisely at Cao Yanhua’s leg, about three inches below the knee.
Cao Yanhua stumbled backward several steps.
Taking a sip of liquor, Zheng Mingshan said, “Come on, don’t be shy like a little bride. Any move you’ve got—use it.”
Any move?
Cao Yanhua rolled up his sleeves. Senior Uncle Zheng, don’t blame me for being ruthless.
To hell with it. Fight!
He lunged, grabbed, hugged the waist, tried to sweep the leg, slid along the ground, headbutted… At one point, he even feinted and shouted, “Senior Uncle! Master’s behind you!”
Zheng Mingshan couldn’t be bothered. He grabbed Cao Yanhua by the head, spun him like a top, and then added a quick kick. Cao Yanhua went flying.
At the side, Luo Ren covered his face with one hand. Mu Dai covered her eyes. Their body language said the same thing:
We can’t bear to watch anymore.
Cao Yanhua, filled with grief, lay on the ground and didn’t want to move. When he lifted his head, he saw the bowl still standing in the middle of the threshold.
It really looked like a shameless little temptress, flaunting itself.
Zheng Mingshan looked at Luo Ren. “This chubby kid is useless. Your turn.”
Luo Ren smiled faintly and nodded, stepping forward two steps.
Cao Yanhua pushed himself up on his elbows, silently cheering him on:
Hit him! Brother Luo! Hit him for me!
Zheng Mingshan stared at him with a deep, unreadable gaze. Luo Ren, on the other hand, smiled openly and calmly. After a moment, he squatted down and, using both hands, lifted the sea bowl from the ground.
He said, “It’s my first time visiting. Not bringing a gift is already rude enough. How could I kick over my senior brother’s rice bowl?”
Mu Dai held her breath, looking at Zheng Mingshan, then at Luo Ren.
Zheng Mingshan lowered his gaze, expression blank, looking at the bowl in Luo Ren’s hands. After a moment, he reached out and took it.
“Good manners,” he said.
Then, holding the bowl, his slippers slapping the ground, he walked inside.
Mu Dai let out a long breath. She grabbed Luo Ren’s hand. “It’s okay now. Let’s go in.”
The two of them walked down the corridor connecting the outer and inner gates. From behind, they started out holding hands. Halfway through, Luo Ren slipped an arm around her, and the two leaned into each other, inseparable and sweet.
Only after they entered the inner gate did Mu Dai remember Cao Yanhua. “Cao Yanhua, keep up!”
Her voice drifted gently, passing over the gate tower, over the horse-head walls, and into the deepening night. It startled a cat perched on the wall, a pair of geese by a pond, and several birds fluttering in the woods.
Cao Yanhua sat on the ground and didn’t move. Two raging waterfalls of tears crushed his heart.
Damn it. This whole life of mine is ruined by being too honest and simple-minded.
So it wasn’t about testing kung fu at all—it was testing manners?! You could’ve said so earlier!
Is there any trust left between people anymore?!
Almost at the same time, Yan Hongsha and Yi Wan San also returned to Lijiang.
Standing at the entrance to “Gather and Part at Will,” it felt like another lifetime. Inside was the same old bustle, though the faces had changed over and over again. The name of the place really fit—people who gathered today would scatter to the ends of the earth tomorrow.
A voice by the ear feigned surprise. “Well, who’s this? The wanderer from the borderlands?”
As usual. Every time he came back, he would get stabbed by Uncle Zhang’s words—whether he stuck his head out or not. Luckily, he was prepared this time.
With a glance, Yan Hongsha immediately caught on and said brightly, “Uncle Zhang, look at Yi Wan San’s arm—it’s in a cast. He hurt it all for Mu Dai’s sake. He fell.”
In any case, just blame everything on Mu Dai. She was the little boss lady. As long as Huo Zihong didn’t get angry, nobody else dared to get mad at her.
Sure enough, Uncle Zhang didn’t know what to say. He glanced at Yi Wan San’s arm, then at the chicken in his arms. His face was still stern, but his voice softened.
“At least this time you were smart enough to bring a chicken back as an apology. What breed is it? Meat chicken? Why’s it so colorful? Can it lay eggs?”
As he spoke, he reached out smoothly, hooked both wings together in one practiced move, and lifted it up to inspect it.
Cao Jiefang was furious. Its claws kicked in the air as it shouted:
“Heh… do… luo! Heh… do… luo!”
It probably meant:
Lay eggs, my ass! I’m a male!
Meow meow On TPH Chapter 26.1