Dad, Please Try a Little Harder

Chapter 62: Chapter 62 A Young Boy with the Demeanor of a Grandmaster (Part 1)1

Translator: Inschain Editor: Inschain

On the third floor in Funing One.

“Dad, what do you think?”

After Qian Quan left, Zhao Chunjia asked his father-in-law, “Is he different from when you were in Riverside Town?”

Huang Pinghu shook his head, “His speech, state of mind, and attitude are just like back in Riverside Town. He was a pure and straightforward young man.”

Zhao Chunjia pondered, “Dad, I remember you once told me the story of Huzi’s

Four Phases. You said he…”

Huang Pinghu smiled and shook his head, “If he were so powerful as to display the Four Phases, then he would be a born sage, a natural immortal.”

The Four Phases they were talking about are from a story about Huzi, Liezi’s master.

The story goes that when Liezi was young and in search of the Way, he met a soothsayer named Ji Xian, who could predict whether people would be alive or dead, being blessed or cursed. Liezi thought Ji Xian’s Taoist practice surpassed even his master Huzi’s.

So Huzi asked Liezi to invite Ji Xian to do a fortune-telling for him.

The first time, Huzi displayed the Earth Phase, soaked and ashy; Ji Xian easily saw through it.

The second time, Huzi revealed the Heaven Phase, a resurgence from the ashy state; Ji Xian still figured it out.

The third time, Huzi showed the Human Phase, concealing worldly desires and transcending limitations; Ji Xian was puzzled and confused, eventually becoming angry and accusing Huzi of trickery before leaving.

The fourth time, Huzi showed the Formless Phase, a pure and original state, deep as a quiet abyss and vast as an endless ocean, harmonious and undistinguished from the world, where Heaven and man become one. Ji Xian realized he had met a true sage and dared not stay any longer. Fearing he would make a fool of himself, he turned and fled.

Liezi, through this experience, gained enlightenment on the way of Nature and achieved immortality.

The original story Huang Pinghu told Zhao Chunjia served as a reminder that those who claimed to have deep insights into the world and the human heart were not necessarily all-knowing. They could perceive only what people willingly revealed about themselves.

It was like those who wore their emotions on their sleeves didn’t need a wise man to read them; anyone could see through them.

“Never let your opponent guess your thoughts or discern your current state.”

Or, always present yourself in a certain state, like being confident, calm, and composed.”

This was what Huang Pinghu originally intended to tell Zhao Chunjia.

“Maybe I’ve been paying too much attention to him lately, leading to unnecessary thoughts,” Zhao Chunjia self-mockingly said upon hearing his father-in-law’s words.

“It’s not necessarily overthinking,” Huang Pinghu said, deep in thought, “His demeanor today was indeed similar to that in Riverside Town, but the context of our meeting today is entirely different from back then.”

In Riverside Town, 1 was just Mr. Huang, the guy next door who watched over the hotel. But today, I’m Huang Pinghu, an important person that he just met, and you are the boss of Funing One,” said Huang Pinghu.

Zhao Chunjia instantly understood his father-in-law’s meaning. “You mean to say, even after knowing our real identities, his attitude toward us remains unchanged!”

Huang Pinghu nodded subtly, a faint smile lacing his words. “In our society, it’s common for people to chase after power, to suck up to the mighty and belittle the weak. People tend to bow to those in power and look down on those who are not.”

“Even if they knew that your influence and wealth have nothing to do with me, they still can’t help but show some subservience.”

Zhao Chunjia added, “People are naturally drawn to strength.”

“But he wasn’t,” said Huang Pinghu, somewhat wistfully. “As a college student, doesn’t he know what it means to operate a club in this area?”

“Yet when he spoke to us, his gaze didn’t waver. To him, I’m still just the guy next door, and you seem like just another local bar owner.”

Zhao Chunjia chuckled, nodding, “Dad, now that you mention it, I felt it too. But what’s he relying on?”

“A fearless, naive outlook? Or Lin Xiaohuang?”

“The heart of an unworldly youth,” Huang Pinghu replied, “or perhaps, a youthful spirit capable of soaring to the heavens.”

Zhao Chunjia smiled, “You described me the same way back in the day.”

“But you two are different. You were the reckless type who knew there was a tiger on the mountain but went up anyway. He has the air of a scholar who knows the world lies at his feet.”

“Well, in the end, it’s all about believing in oneself,” Zhao Chunjia laughed.

“That’s right,” agreed Huang Pinghu.

Just as they were talking, Zhao Chunjia received a call from his wife, Huang Lingyan.

“Hello, Lingyan, what’s up?”

Tears were audible in Huang Lingyan’s voice, “You and Dad need to come home quickly. Something’s happened to Baiyu.”

Zhao Chunjia’s face drained of color, “What exactly happened?”

“You’ll see when you get home! 1 told you not to let her practice martial arts, but you and Dad insisted. Why does a girl need to learn martial arts?”

“Is she hurt?” asked Zhao Chunjia, his tone tinged with urgency.

ii

Just come home. Our daughter is… mentally disturbed,” Huang Lingyan sobbed.

“Okay, wait for us at home. Well be there soon.”

Zhao Chunjia quickly stood up and said to his father-in-law, “It looks like Baiyu has become obsessed with her martial arts training. Lingyan is beside herself.”

Huang Pinghu nodded, “Let’s go home, and call her master.”

“Okay.”

The two men hurriedly left.

When they arrived home, they found that Gong Xuanzhu was already there.

“What happened to Baiyu?” Zhao Chunjia barely managed to greet him.

H

She’s lost in her own martial arts world,” Gong Xuanzhu stated calmly.

Zhao Chunjia saw his daughter sitting on the couch, muttering to herself and occasionally gesturing as if practicing martial arts. Sometimes she seemed deep in thought; other times, she appeared to revel in some newfound insight.

Meanwhile, Huang Lingyan sat beside her, tears streaming down her face, trying to comfort her.

“Master Gong, what should we do?” Zhao Chunjia asked.

“There are two methods. The first is to snap her out of it, which would mean all her prior efforts were in vain, and her martial arts journey would end.”

“The second method is to allow her to break through this obstacle herself. If she can overcome this, she’ll reap all the benefits. Not only will her martial arts skills improve, but she’ll also undergo a significant mental transformation.”

At 75 years old, Gong Xuanzhu bore a few visible wrinkles on his face, yet he didn’t seem old. His eyes were bright, and he stood tall, a man of vitality.

“Wake her up immediately. We’ll stop the training,” Huang Lingyan urgently said.

Zhao Chunjia hesitated, having discerned Gong Xuanzhu’s inclinations from his earlier words. “What if she can’t break through? Will it harm her?”

Gong Xuanzhu replied, “I told you from the first day you brought her here to learn martial arts that it would be tough and perilous.”

Before Zhao Chunjia could say more, Huang Pinghu interjected, “Give her three more days.”

“Dad!” Huang Lingyan exclaimed.

Huang Pinghu raised his hand to stop his daughter, “She’s merely engrossed, not foolish. If we stop her now, she may truly become foolish later on, losing one of life’s greatest joys.”

“But…”

ii

Do you remember your desperate attempts at memorizing English for the college entrance exam?” Huang Pinghu asked Huang Lingyan.

“If your mother and I had stopped you out of pity, and we asked you to give up, how would you feel later?”

“Would you be grateful or regretful?”

Huang Lingyan couldn’t answer. “But Baiyu, she…”

Huang Pinghu waved it off, “Think about it. What if you and Chunjia sold off all your business here at Azure Bay and moved back to Riverside Town? Would you agree?”

Confused, Huang Lingyan asked, “Dad, what do you mean?”

“What 1 mean is, we’re ail living in a fog, unaware,” Huang Pinghu affirmed, “Don’t worry, Baiyu is alright. She’s braver than we think.”

Upon hearing his father-in-law’s confident words, Zhao Chunjia relaxed. “Lingyan, let’s follow Dad and Master Gong. Let’s give Baiyu another three days.”

Just as Huang Lingyan was about to speak, Zhao Baiyu said, “Mom, don’t worry. I’m fine.”

“Baiyu, you…” Huang Lingyan was overjoyed.

“I’m fine,” Zhao Baiyu hugged her mother first, then stood up and acknowledged her teacher before walking over to her grandfather, “Grandpa.”

Though she seemed to be back to normal, a certain solemnity lingered on her face. Her eyes lacked their usual sparkle.

Huang Pinghu nodded with a smile and gently patted her head.

“Baiyu, how much have you figured out?” Gong Xuanzhu suddenly asked.

“Half.”

ii

Not bad,” Gong Xuanzhu nodded approvingly.

“Teacher, Grandpa, Dad, Mom, 1 have a competition tomorrow and need to go back to school.”

“I’ve already gotten you a leave of absence. Your grandfather and your teacher are here, so we don’t need to attend the competition,” said Huang Lingyan.

“Mom, 1 need to take part in the competition!” insisted Zhao Baiyu, “I have an intuition that this competition will give me some inspiration.”

Gong Xuanzhu’s eyes brightened at this, “Then continue to participate.”

When one is engrossed in something, moments of enlightenment often occur. Before that, intuitive flashes may offer some guidance.

In scientific terms, it might be the brain’s underdeveloped cells performing subconscious calculations and extrapolations-perhaps a sixth sense.

In non-scientific terms, everything is interconnected in ways beyond our understanding.

“Go ahead,” said Huang Pinghu, “The breakthrough you need might just be there. Universities are full of hidden talents.”

“A college is a place where masters are concealed; you never know when you might bump into a prodigy from a famous martial arts family or a prized pupil of a renowned master. You have to keep a low profile.”

Xun Liangping, a freshman in the Transportation Engineering Major at Azure Bay Maritime University, confessed his cautious approach to Chang Huan, his senior who had specifically traveled from Peng City to Azure Bay to see him.

Xun Liangping had signed up for this year’s “Freshmen Partner Tournament,” but during the university selection process, he had intentionally downplayed his skills, only managing to scrape through in third place.

ii

So, if you’re opting for a low profile, what rank are you aiming for in this tournament?” Chang Huan asked.

Chang Huan was quite familiar with his junior’s talent and skills, especially in things like Wing Chun Biu Jee and Wing Chun Wooden Dummy, not to mention that Xun Liangping was exceptional in actual combat.

“Whatever rank 1 can get.”

“You mean, you’ll go all out in the actual competition?”

“I aim to win narrowly in each match,” said Xun Liangping, whose tone seemed casual but was filled with confidence.

Chang Huan nodded, “You used to think that among all the schoolmates, the only one who could match you was me. Now that you’ve left Martial Arts School, you’ll find that your only real opponent is still me.”

n

So, Chang Huan, why did you come to Azure Bay? Don’t tell me it’s just to watch me compete.”

“I heard that the top Wing Chun practitioner in the East China region is in Azure Bay. 1 thought I’d come to meet him and see you while I’m at it.”

Chang Huan was none other than “Wing Chun-Chang Huan,” the top Wing Chun practitioner in the South China region, as recognized in Zhang Xiang’er’s group chat.

“Chang, you’re really getting flamboyant, touting yourself as ‘the best in XX’ all the time. Don’t you know there are countless hidden masters in the world? Can’t you be a little more modest?”

“Not convinced? Want to spar?”

“Chang, you are China’s number one Wing Chun practitioner!”