Chapter 173

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The ancient saying goes: What you fear is what comes.

As soon as Zhang Xiaohu heard that voice, his heart immediately sank: “Oh no.”

How could he let this person see him in such an embarrassing state? What should he do?

While he was still pondering, the person had already arrived beside him—it was none other than Junior Sister Changge, whom he had met just last night.

Changge was still dressed in her usual heroic attire, looking as valiant as ever. Beside her was a petite girl with round, large eyes and a chubby face with baby fat, which made her look very endearing. At this moment, her round, expressive eyes were curiously staring at Zhang Xiaohu, her confusion written all over her face.

Zhang Xiaohu wanted to make up a lie, but facing Changge, he couldn’t manage to say anything false. In fact, he had forgotten that in this square full of little carrot heads, his actions had been seen by many. Changge had already observed everything from a distance, so lying would only cause more trouble.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Xiaohu calmly said: “It’s nothing, I was just helping my younger brother onto the platform.”

The round-faced girl asked in a soft voice: “You need to help to get onto the platform? Wouldn’t a small leap using Qinggong be enough?”

Zhang Xiaohu glanced at Zhang Xiaohua, who had just stood firmly on the platform, and replied: “My younger brother doesn’t know Qinggong yet.”

The round-faced girl immediately retorted: “That’s nonsense! Did you see the way he flipped onto the platform just now? How could he not know Qinggong? And that night by the river…”

Her words sounded rather ambiguous, and Zhang Xiaohu couldn’t help but squint. Could it be that this girl was acquainted with his brother?

At that moment, Changge quickly interrupted, cutting off the girl’s words: “Chen Chen!”

The round-faced Chen Chen seemed to realize she had let something slip, and instinctively stuck out her tongue and covered her mouth with her hand, looking mischievous and playful. Changge then introduced her: “Senior Brother, this is my junior sister, Chen Chen. Last time, she went out with Hall Master Qin and me.”

“Oh.” Zhang Xiaohu suddenly understood. She was one of the companions who had traveled south with Zhang Xiaohua.

He immediately cupped his fists and greeted her: “Junior Sister Chen Chen, I am Zhang Xiaohu, the second elder brother of Zhang Xiaohua.”

Chen Chen quickly returned the gesture, cupping her fists: “I am Chen Chen. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Senior Brother.”

Then, still skeptical, she asked: “Zhang Xiaohua really doesn’t know Qinggong?”

Zhang Xiaohu smiled wryly and said: “Yes, he really doesn’t know Qinggong. Yesterday, it was Group Leader Chang who used his internal strength to toss him onto the platform.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhang Xiaohu regretted it. Why did he have to explain so much? He should have just said that his brother didn’t know Qinggong—there was no need to mention what happened yesterday.

Sure enough, as soon as Chen Chen heard that, she immediately said: “Senior Brother, then why didn’t you use your internal strength to toss him up?”

It truly was what you fear is what comes.

Zhang Xiaohu felt a little embarrassed, his face reddening, and said: “Well, my internal energy is not very strong yet, so I couldn’t toss him up.”

Chen Chen was even more confused and said: “Senior Brother, it seems like you’re not telling the truth. You’re older than us and have been training in internal energy for longer. Surely you have more than enough strength for something like this. I can even do it.”

Zhang Xiaohu was extremely embarrassed and was about to explain when Changge spoke up: “Chen Chen, shut your mouth. If you don’t speak, no one will mistake you for a mute. If you ask one more question, I’ll send you back to Ming Cui Hall immediately, and I won’t bring you out again.”

The old saying is true: Brine touches tofu—one thing overcomes another.

Chen Chen immediately shut her mouth, adopting the look of an obedient child.

Zhang Xiaohu was moved to the brink of tears. She truly understood him, stepping in to save him at just the right moment. If this went on, he wouldn’t know how to answer. The more he looked at Changge, the more pleasing she seemed—a truly considerate and understanding girl.

Changge smiled at Zhang Xiaohu and apologized: “Senior Brother, Junior Sister Chen Chen is always like this—she likes to dig for the root of everything. Please don’t take offense.”

Zhang Xiaohu waved his hand repeatedly, indicating he didn’t mind at all.

But then, Changge asked: “The way Zhang Xiaohua stepped on your shoulders just now seemed very practiced. You must have acted as his human ladder quite a few times, right?”

Zhang Xiaohu chuckled when he heard this and began recounting how, as children, he and his brother would go into the forest to steal bird eggs. Changge listened, her face full of curiosity and her eyes filled with longing, while Chen Chen stood to the side, her small face flushed red, clearly eager to ask something.

It was somewhat pitiful—despite the Piaomiao Sect disciples like Changge being seen as the favored children of heaven, enjoying wealth and privilege in every way, their lives revolved around martial arts training. As a result, they had never experienced the kind of childhood fun that Zhang Xiaohua had. How could Zhang Xiaohu’s stories not arouse Changge and Chen Chen’s curiosity?

Just as Zhang Xiaohu was in the middle of his story, he suddenly stopped, remembering something important. He quickly turned around, and sure enough, Zhang Xiaohua was already exchanging blows with his opponent on the platform.

Zhang Xiaohu hurriedly said: “Junior Sister Changge, let’s hold off on the other stories for now. Once Xiaohua finishes his match, we can talk more.”

Changge nodded quickly: “Yes, Senior Brother, let’s watch Zhang Xiaohua’s match first.”

Zhang Xiaohu nodded in agreement, then added: “Alright, Junior Sister, you stay here, and I’ll go over there.”

Changge, puzzled, asked: “Why don’t we stay together?”

Zhang Xiaohu explained: “If you stay here and I stay there, in case Xiaohua gets knocked off the platform, we’ll be ready to catch him. He doesn’t know Qinggong, so he might get hurt if he falls.”

“Knocked off the platform?” Changge exclaimed in surprise. “How is that possible? I’ve seen Zhang Xiaohua’s skills. Even if he was lucky last time, as he said, surely he can handle a first-level Cloth-Robe disciple?”

“Impossible!” Zhang Xiaohu said firmly. “Yesterday, he told me he hadn’t won a single match yet. He’s definitely been knocked off the platform but was just too embarrassed to admit it.”

Both of them realized their views were completely different, and neither knew whom to believe. At that moment, Chen Chen, standing nearby, waved her hand, indicating she had something to say.

Changge, slightly annoyed, nodded and said: “If you have something to say, spit it out quickly. Don’t dawdle.”

“Let’s watch Zhang Xiaohua’s performance on the platform first, and then decide what to do.” Chen Chen blurted out in one breath before tightly closing her mouth again.

Zhang Xiaohu and Changge both nodded at her suggestion. After exchanging a glance, they turned their attention to the platform.

On the platform, Zhang Xiaohua was fiercely battling his opponent—and it was rather amusing to watch.

Yesterday, Zhang Xiaohua’s opponent in the first round was Mu Tangchun. Among the nine kids, Mu Tangchun’s internal strength ranked near the top. According to him, during the final three punches of their match, he had used his full strength without holding back at all. Even so, he didn’t gain any advantage against Zhang Xiaohua. In fact, when Mu Tangchun shared his experience with the others later that night, he emphasized that Zhang Xiaohua likely hadn’t used his full strength—he felt that Zhang Xiaohua had at least thirty percent of his power still untapped.

This observation was confirmed by the other two children who had fought Zhang Xiaohua. Every time they exchanged head-on blows with Zhang Xiaohua, they were left with numb arms and sore wrists from Zhang Xiaohua’s powerful strikes.

Thus, today, when they faced Zhang Xiaohua again, they were fully focused and fought him with one hundred percent effort. But whenever Zhang Xiaohua seemed to use his full strength to meet them head-on, they would immediately dodge and avoid direct confrontation.

As a result, what transpired on the platform was quite amusing.

First, it was not as Zhang Xiaohu had imagined—Zhang Xiaohua was not without the ability to fight back. On the contrary, the scene on the platform was lively, with Zhang Xiaohua and his opponent exchanging punches and kicks. When Zhang Xiaohua got angry and used all his might, his opponents would dodge and avoid his strikes, never daring to meet his power head-on. However, it also wasn’t like what Changge had envisioned either—Zhang Xiaohua wasn’t an overwhelming force dominating his opponent. While Zhang Xiaohua was indeed very strong and had hard fists, his moves were limited compared to the vast repertoire of the Piaomiao Sect disciples. But Zhang Xiaohua had his own way of defending himself—whenever his opponent used a clever move that he couldn’t counter, he would simply rely on his Piaomiao Steps to dodge and evade, leaving his opponent’s brilliant moves completely wasted.

Thus, the match on the platform became a comical situation: whenever Zhang Xiaohua forced his opponent into a corner, they would immediately use their Qinggong techniques to easily dodge, and whenever Zhang Xiaohua was cornered by his opponent’s skillful moves, he would likewise use Piaomiao Steps to effortlessly avoid them.

In the end, when the time for one incense stick had passed, the match concluded in a draw.

The bizarre and amusing scene unfolding on the stage was a first for both Changge and Chen Chen. They were utterly astonished, their faces full of curiosity and their hearts full of questions. Though the young boy displayed solid boxing skills and advanced footwork, there was no internal energy surging between his moves, and his moves seemed repetitive. If either of them stepped forward with a sword, they were confident they could end his life within a few moves. Was this boy really the same Zhang Xiaohua, the one who, on that dark night, saved countless lives with a single sword strike and killed a martial arts expert?

Zhang Xiaohu was even more baffled—how could this be possible? As his older brother, how could he not know Zhang Xiaohua’s capabilities? Just last year, Zhang Xiaohua had been recovering in his room at the escort agency, his finger bones shattered by Yu Deyi’s internal strength. It had only been a few days since they last saw each other, so how had he become this powerful? Although Zhang Xiaohu wasn’t very skilled himself, he had trained alongside Yu Deyi in the martial arts hall and knew Yu Deyi’s level. None of the Piaomiao Sect disciples were any less capable than Yu Deyi, yet Zhang Xiaohua was somehow holding his own against them. Was this young man really the same younger brother who used to stand on his shoulders to steal bird eggs?

When Zhang Xiaohua gracefully leaped down from the platform and walked over to greet Changge, the three of them finally snapped out of their daze.

Changge, as if awakening from a dream, quickly introduced Chen Chen to Zhang Xiaohua. Zhang Xiaohua naturally remembered Chen Chen from their trip to the south, though at the time, she was a disciple of Ming Cui Hall and followed to protect Ou Yan. How could she have had any contact with someone like Zhang Xiaohua, who was treated like a servant? Now, seeing her here, Zhang Xiaohua was genuinely happy and quickly stepped forward to greet her with a salute.

Chen Chen’s eyes were full of little stars, her face flushed red as she shyly returned the greeting, her hands clasped in front of her. Yet, despite her excitement, she kept her mouth tightly shut and said nothing. Her admiration was understandable. That night, Chen Chen had stood beside Changge, sword in hand, and stabbed at the black-clad elder. However, her sword hadn’t penetrated at all—instead, the elder had grabbed her sword and snapped the tip off. In that moment of despair, Zhang Xiaohua stepped forward and, with a single sword strike, pierced the elder’s throat, saving Ou Yan and everyone else. Although it had been dark and Chen Chen hadn’t seen everything clearly, the fact remained that Zhang Xiaohua had performed this heroic act right in front of her. How could such bravery not stir admiration in a young girl’s heart?

Seeing this, Changge smiled and said: “Chen Chen, you can speak now.”

To Changge’s surprise, Chen Chen didn’t start chirping like a baby swallow as expected. Instead, she remained silent, smiling without saying a word.

Zhang Xiaohu hadn’t noticed any of these exchanges. As soon as Zhang Xiaohua came over and greeted Changge and Chen Chen, he immediately pulled Zhang Xiaohua aside and asked: “Xiaohua, since when did you become this powerful? That boxing technique of yours, isn’t it just a mix of moves you put together? Why are others so afraid to fight you head-on? And what’s with that footwork you were using to dodge?”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and replied: “Second Brother, don’t you already know what I’m like? Didn’t we spar last night? It’s just that I have a lot of strength now, and they’re still young with underdeveloped internal energy, so they don’t dare to confront me directly. As for that footwork, well, you can ask Great Hero Wen about it when you get the chance.”

Changge, standing nearby, wasn’t pleased and said: “Zhang Xiaohua, that’s not very fair of you. It’s just footwork, why can’t you tell us?”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled wryly and whispered: “Sect Master Ou told me not to speak of it. You’ll have to figure it out yourselves.”

Hearing this, Changge and Chen Chen’s smiles quickly faded, and they didn’t dare press further.

Seeing their reaction, Zhang Xiaohua quickly added in a low voice: “Well, if you really want to know, Sister Changge, you can ask Hall Master Qin sometime—she knows about it too.”

Changge and Chen Chen exchanged glances and both nodded in understanding.

Zhang Xiaohua then asked: “Sister Changge, why did you come so early today? I thought you’d only arrive in the afternoon.”

Changge laughed and said: “This year, I’m competing in the seventh-level Cloth-Robe matches. There aren’t many female disciples in our Ming Cui Hall, so we don’t have too many rounds. I pretty much earned the points I needed to advance yesterday. After winning another match this morning, I’m sure to advance, so I asked Hall Master Qin for leave. When she heard I wanted to come watch your match, she gladly agreed. And look—when Chen Chen heard I was coming to watch you, she pestered me to bring her along.”

Chen Chen blushed a bit and said: “I just wanted to see how strong you really are. Last time it was too dark, and I couldn’t see clearly.”

Zhang Xiaohua grinned and asked: “So after seeing me today, are you disappointed?”

Chen Chen, always quick to speak her mind, responded: “Yes, I am. From the looks of it, you probably couldn’t even beat me, and I’m only at the Cloth-Robe’s fifth level.”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled bitterly: “Exactly. I just got lucky that day—really!”

At this moment, Zhang Xiaohu’s expression was somewhat unusual, his thoughts racing: “Changge looks younger than me, yet she’s already at the seventh level of the Cloth-Robe rank. I haven’t even started training in internal energy, and I’m not even a match for those at the first level. Now, it seems even my younger brother could easily defeat me. When will I ever catch up to Changge and reach the Cloth-Robe’s seventh level? By the time I get there, Changge will probably have advanced to the Brocade-Robe rank already.”

Noticing Zhang Xiaohua and Chen Chen chatting happily, Changge smiled, but then she saw Zhang Xiaohu, head down and silent. Curious, she asked: “Senior Brother, what are you thinking about?”

Zhang Xiaohu looked up, forcing a smile. “Oh, nothing much. I was just thinking about when I’ll be able to participate in the martial arts competition and advance to the seventh level of the Cloth-Robe rank. You’re so much younger than me, Junior Sister Changge, yet your martial arts are far superior. I wonder when I’ll ever catch up. It’s embarrassing to hold the title of ‘Senior Brother’ in front of you.”

Changge laughed and said: “Everyone’s path is different. If you had dedicated yourself to martial arts like we have, you wouldn’t have those fun childhood memories you just shared. Since you’ve already had those experiences, and now you want to covet our martial arts skills, then what would we have left to be proud of? We each have our own differences and things to be proud of—that’s what real life is all about.”

Zhang Xiaohu understood her meaning and said: “Junior Sister Changge, that’s a very wise thought.”

Changge smiled softly and said: “That’s actually something our Hall Master Qin often says. I just tweaked it a bit. And now that you’re studying under Uncle Master Wen, if you focus on your training, you’ll surely see progress in time.”

Zhang Xiaohu nodded, agreeing: “That’s true, but I still feel uneasy when you call me Senior Brother, knowing your martial arts are far superior.”

Changge thought for a moment and replied: “You have a point. To be honest, when you keep calling me ‘Junior Sister Changge’, it does feel a bit cumbersome. How about this—let’s just call each other by our names. What do you think?”

Zhang Xiaohu clapped his hands in agreement: “That’s a great idea. I’ll call you Changge, and once my martial skills are on par with yours, it won’t be too late to start calling you Junior Sister again.”

Changge smiled: “Since you’ve said so, I’ll be waiting for the day your martial arts catch up to mine, Zhang Xiaohu.”

Zhang Xiaohu nodded resolutely: “That day will come, Changge. Just wait and see.”

The four of them chatted idly beneath the platform, all the while keeping an eye on the matches taking place. Both Changge and Chen Chen had progressed from the first level of the Cloth-Robe rank, so their keen eyes could easily appraise each bout. They offered occasional comments, expressing their admiration for the disciples’ skills. Although the male and female disciples of the Piaomiao Sect were taught separately—with young female disciples training at Ming Cui Hall and not the Young Eagle Hall—Changge was still highly impressed by the talent she saw. She even admitted that, at their age, she hadn’t been as skilled as these disciples.

The matches on the platform, even those without Zhang Xiaohua, were captivating. Each of the eight matches had its unique flair, and Changge couldn’t help but marvel at how the younger generation seemed to be surpassing the old. She reflected that she couldn’t have competed at this level back in her day.

Not long after the afternoon began, it was time for Zhang Xiaohua to step onto the platform again. This time, with Changge present, there was no need for Zhang Xiaohu to act as a human ladder. After discussing it with Changge, they were about to have her toss Zhang Xiaohua onto the platform when Group Leader Chang arrived. He stopped Changge and, smiling, said to Zhang Xiaohua: “Number 250, no need to trouble others this time. I had someone bring a ladder over. You can just use it to get up from the side. This tossing business doesn’t look good, and if Manager Xu sees it, he’ll surely scold you.”

Zhang Xiaohua was overjoyed upon hearing this. Who wouldn’t prefer using a proper ladder instead of being grabbed by the neck and thrown into the air? He quickly thanked Group Leader Chang and climbed onto the platform using the ladder from the side.

PS: Many readers have said that the traditional martial arts flavor of this novel is too strong. I must admit, Brother Duan is secretly pleased—this feels like praise to me! After all, this is the first volume titled [Forgetting Each Other in the Jianghu]. Without the traditional martial arts atmosphere, how could it still be called Jianghu? I know what many of you are eagerly waiting for, but I’d like to remind you that this novel follows a developmental approach. Isn’t it better to watch Zhang Xiaohua grow into the figure we all hope for, together? Whether it’s good or bad isn’t the point. The point is—we’ll raise him up together!

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