Extraordinary Realm from Persuasion System

Chapter 104: Chapter 100: The Truth is Revealed, Is it Selling Looks?

”I was going to teach you the Eight Pieces of Brocade, and you still didn’t come?”

Practicing martial arts without enthusiasm, something must be wrong with your brain.

Zhang Beixing couldn’t understand the situation with Chen Rourou and Liu Yi, so he simply gave up trying. He just took off his jacket, stuffed it into his bag, then adjusted his internal circulation, gathering a mouthful of ’qi’ in his lungs. Controlling the ’qi’ to move continuously within his body, he began to practice the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade.

However, while Zhang Beixing was deeply engrossed in practicing the Eight Pieces of Brocade.

「Outside the small grove.」

After parting ways with Chen Fenghua, Liu Yi had also made his way here. Looking at the small grove that had once brought him such bitter memories, Liu Yi sighed, then stepped forward and walked into it.

The small grove at Shi University was fairly large, filled with dense trees, their branches and leaves lush. Liu Yi wandered around for a while before he heard a RUSTLING sound coming from not too far away.

Considering that the grove has been sealed off, the only one in here making that noise at this time should be Zhang Beixing.

Liu Yi’s pace immediately quickened. Soon, after pushing aside some obstructive branches, the scene inside the grove came into view.

The setting sun cast its lingering glow, reflecting off the nearby lake. A gentle breeze blew past, creating ripples on the surface. The ripples undulated, sky and water merging into one color. With the orange-red sunset at his back, a young man stood amidst it all, his features obscured. He was accompanied by the breeze, leisurely practicing his forms. Each move was graceful, fully displaying the demeanor of a master. The wind occasionally lifted his hair, adding a touch of ethereal elegance.

”This brat really knows how to pose!” Liu Yi exclaimed quietly, a look of doubt on his face. His voice was very low, even fainter than the RUSTLING sound of leaves colliding. Such a minor disturbance naturally didn’t catch the attention of the engrossed Zhang Beixing.

Zhang Beixing’s movements didn’t stop. Liu Yi, not wanting to disturb him, just stood there, silently watching. He watched Zhang Beixing’s figure move agilely and fluidly under the sunset’s light, his posture relaxed and effortless. He watched him complete each movement, regulating his breath. He watched Zhang Beixing hold his fists at his waist, then shift his hands into palms, stretching them out to the front, back, left, and right.

Wait a minute... Why does this scene seem so familiar?

Liu Yi’s brow furrowed, sensing that something was off. He thought carefully and realized—wasn’t this the fourth form of the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade, ’Gazing Back to Dispel the Five Strains and Seven Stresses,’ which Chen Rourou had previously performed?

Why are you, kid, also performing it, and so convincingly at that? Could it be that when you said on WeChat you’d learned the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade, you meant this specific form?

Thinking this, Liu Yi found it rather intriguing. He then dropped his previously indifferent attitude and began watching with great interest.

The more he watched, the more astonished Liu Yi became. He discovered one thing: Zhang Beixing’s execution of the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade was exceedingly fluid. So fluid, it was like he’d dropped his pants and was done in an instant—no unnecessary gestures, no cumbersome movements. Simple, unadorned, natural!

No wonder his posture and demeanor seemed so flashy earlier; there was a reason for it. His execution of the forms possessed a distinct rhythmic quality. Just in terms of fluidity, it’s already very captivating to watch! Liu Yi internally evaluated. After all, he hadn’t practiced the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade, nor did he understand the intricacies of Internal Boxing. He could only judge its quality through such a superficial and crude method.

To learn it to this extent just by watching a sparring session once... This kid’s talent is truly enviable!

Watching Zhang Beixing’s martial arts practice, Liu Yi felt a wave of complex emotions, lamenting the vast differences between people! If Zhang Beixing had learned the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade by watching Elder Chen perform the entire set from start to finish, Liu Yi could have understood him picking up a move or two. He wouldn’t be sighing with such mixed emotions now.

But the problem was, Zhang Beixing had sneakily learned it while Elder Chen was sparring with him. During that spar, most of the Eight Pieces of Brocade Elder Chen used were simplified; only one or two moves were complete. Liu Yi had even been considering taking Zhang Beixing to visit again someday, to brazenly ask Elder Chen to demonstrate the complete set. But now...

Liu Yi murmured softly, ”I’ve underestimated Zhang Beixing’s talent! Unfortunately, he only has the form, not the essence. It’s ultimately not the core of Internal Boxing. No matter how beautifully he performs, it’s useless. What a pity for his talent. If someone were willing to teach him the true essence of Internal Boxing, he could definitely do much better!”

He planned to wait until Zhang Beixing completed his routine, then go over and ask if he wanted to make another trip to the Chen Family to secretly learn a few more moves.

And so, he waited. Half an hour passed.

Watching Zhang Beixing still performing the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade, even nearing the completion of the entire set, Liu Yi stood not far away, as if he had just been struck by lightning. Frozen in place, he looked utterly dumbfounded.

Liu Yi knew the moves of the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade. However, because he couldn’t grasp its essence and had no one to teach him, he couldn’t truly perform them. Even if he tried, they would only be empty forms without intent, utterly useless.

But that wasn’t the issue right now. The problem now was...

How did this kid manage to perform the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade so flawlessly, without missing a single move? Elder Chen had only demonstrated simplified versions. How had this kid managed to extrapolate the complete forms from those? Even if it’s just the form, his talent is still glaringly obvious!

Watching Zhang Beixing complete the closing sequence, Liu Yi was completely wooden.

This is just too incredible! He had only watched them spar once, yet he had replicated their Cultivation Technique move for move. His learning ability is terrifying. No wonder he could decipher the Yue Family’s combination punches from a mere manual. Truly a genius!

As Zhang Beixing finally finished his Martial Arts Training, Liu Yi couldn’t help but call out, asking the question that was burning in his mind, ”Zhang Beixing, are you even human?”

Hearing the voice, Zhang Beixing was momentarily stunned before he quickly reacted, his face showing a look of utter bewilderment. ”Teacher Liu, is that something a human being would say?”

Teacher Liu, in no mood to banter with Zhang Beixing, hurriedly asked, ”Have you mastered the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade?”

”Yeah,” Zhang Beixing confirmed. Otherwise? If I hadn’t mastered the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade, why would I have specially called you here? For two clueless outsiders to stand around commiserating?

”No, that’s not what I mean,” Liu Yi clarified. ”I mean, you can perform all of the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade, but does it have any effect? Even a tiny bit would be something.”

The effect, that’s the crucial part! You, Zhang Beixing, can indeed perform the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade from start to finish without a single mistake. But if there’s not even a tiny bit of effect after doing so, what’s the use?

”I told you before, when practicing this Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade, you have to focus on its intent. Don’t tell me you were just watching the...”

Liu Yi hadn’t finished his questioning when—

WHOOSH!

Zhang Beixing suddenly exhaled a long, turbid breath. Streaks of white vapor then gently steamed off his body, seemingly blurring the sunlight. His skin also took on a visible rosy glow, and his spirits also seemed much more invigorated.

Finishing his cool-down, Zhang Beixing finally looked at Liu Yi and asked, ”Teacher Liu, what were you saying just now?”

Seeing this, Liu Yi was speechless for a long moment, ultimately swallowing the words he was about to say. ”Nothing... It’s nothing now!”

Liu Yi gulped, his face a mask of astonishment. He had nothing more to say. Damn, his mind was buzzing!

As someone closely associated with the Chen Family, on brotherly terms with its head, Chen Hongguo, what was happening to Zhang Beixing was not unfamiliar to Liu Yi. This was exactly how members of the Chen Family looked after practicing the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade. In their words, this indicated unobstructed meridians and vigorous Qi and Blood.

So the question arose. How could this be happening to you, Zhang Beixing? I did indeed tell you to go and learn secretly, but I only expected you to pick up a move or two at most. I never intended for you to master the whole thing!

Liu Yi felt overwhelmed and bewildered. He stood rooted to the spot, unable to comprehend it. Even if a person is a genius, they can’t be *this* much of a genius, can they? Could it be... my disciple has the makings of a martial god?

As Liu Yi stood there baffled, doubting life itself, RUSTLE—

A light sound suddenly came from behind him, interrupting his thoughts. He and Zhang Beixing turned their heads simultaneously. They saw a girl, about 1.7 meters tall and dressed in a white, loose-fitting training uniform, sneaking out from the trees.

”Anyone here? I’ve arrived!”

”Chen Rourou?” Liu Yi exclaimed, clearly surprised. Why is she here?

The small grove was currently sealed off by the university. As far as Liu Yi knew, apart from Zhang Beixing, a Martial Artist who needed a quiet place for Martial Arts Training, hardly anyone came here. But now, Chen Rourou had appeared? And she was clearly heading for Zhang Beixing...

Since when had they become so close? And why would they meet in such a secluded place? Something is off!

Liu Yi frowned. Subconsciously, the image of Chen Rourou performing the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade at the Karate club flashed through his mind. He had felt something was amiss back then, but Chen Fenghua’s explanation had temporarily put his suspicions to rest.

But now, with Chen Rourou’s sudden appearance in the grove, coupled with the fact that both she and Zhang Beixing had suddenly learned the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade... Liu Yi mulled it over, and the more he thought, the more suspicious it all seemed!

Firstly, the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade was the Chen Family’s secret ancestral technique, traditionally passed only to males, not females. Chen Rourou shouldn’t have been able to perform it at all, no matter how haphazardly. Secondly, when he had initially asked Chen Fenghua about it, he’d had to ask twice before Chen Fenghua finally responded, and even then, the answer was vague and unclear, obviously hiding something. And now, connecting all this with the current situation where both Zhang Beixing and Chen Rourou had learned the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade...

I get it now! It turns out Chen Rourou broke the family rules, learned the Chen Family’s Eight Pieces of Brocade, and then secretly taught it to you, kid!

Liu Yi looked at Zhang Beixing, his eyes wide. ”Good heavens, boy, stooping to use your looks, are you? You’d really do anything for martial arts training!”

Zhang Beixing, Chen Rourou: ”???”