Chapter 52 Lin Pingzhi Is an Utter Simpleton

After changing into clean robes, Zheng Jian leisurely made his way back. He now felt a nearly inexhaustible stream of vital energy within him. Although he had only just completed the first level of the "Innate Skill," the newly formed true energy was exceptionally pure.

"External breath is not yet present, but internal energy arises on its own. At last, I've reached this threshold..." Zheng Jian sensed that even if he were to hold his breath, he could now rely on his inner energy to sustain himself. Of course, he was still far from surviving without breathing at all; only by truly reaching the innate realm could he depend entirely on absorbing the primordial energy of heaven and earth, perhaps even abstaining from food for long periods.

Spurred by a sudden impulse, Zheng Jian casually drew his sword and slashed at the small river nearby. The sword light cleaved the water in two, splitting the flow cleanly down the middle. Only when the sword light dissipated did the waters merge again.

"At this point, I suppose I've finally stepped onto the threshold of becoming a peerless master..." Zheng Jian was a bit pleased with himself. Although he had yet to face off against the most powerful figures in the martial world, he felt that even if he wasn't quite their equal, he was not far off.

In other words, even if experts of the likes of Zuo Lengchan or Ren Woxing attacked him now, Zheng Jian could hold his own against them.

"Senior brother, you—you've finished your seclusion?" A delighted voice rang out, interrupting Zheng Jian's train of thought.

Looking up, Zheng Jian saw Yue Lingshan, radiant with a bright smile and sparkling eyes.

"Oh, junior sister, yes, I've just come out of seclusion," Zheng Jian replied with a smile.

Yue Lingshan stared at him in a daze, then took a few steps closer, her eyes filled with wonder. "Senior brother, you seem to have changed a lot!"

She thought to herself, "Senior brother has become so attractive... There’s something about him now that’s hard to describe, making me want to get closer... And his skin is so nice! Hmph, even better than mine..."

Then, catching herself, she scolded inwardly, "Ah, what am I thinking? How could I have such embarrassing thoughts? How shameless..."

Suddenly, a blush swept across Yue Lingshan's face. She covered her cheeks with both hands, stamped her foot in a fluster, spun around, and ran off... ran off... and was gone...

"...?" What was that about?

Zheng Jian was somewhat bewildered.

He was just thinking it had been a while since he had drawn on Yue Lingshan's resentment value, and he’d been about to try when she suddenly turned and ran off...

"Could it be... junior sister sensed I was about to take advantage?" Zheng Jian scratched his backside, puzzled.

...

When Zheng Jian returned to the Cliff of Reflection, he saw Lin Pingzhi eagerly waiting for him.

"Senior brother, you’ve finished your seclusion?" Lin Pingzhi beamed with delight upon seeing him approach.

"What else? I was only in seclusion, not in a death trance, and certainly not in a coffin. What's so remarkable about coming out of seclusion?" Zheng Jian responded with a curl of his lip.

Lin Pingzhi's mouth twitched. He immediately wondered if he had somehow offended his senior brother. Why was his tone so sharp all of a sudden?

"Uh... No, senior brother, I just mean I'm glad to see you back," Lin Pingzhi replied carefully after thinking it over—he didn’t think he’d said anything wrong.

"Glad? Come now, tell me just how glad you are," said Zheng Jian.

"...This conversation is dead. I give up."

"Resentment value from Lin Pingzhi +200."

Hearing the system notification, Zheng Jian was not quite satisfied—too little, really. At this moment, he actually felt a bit nostalgic for Lao Denuo. If it had been Lao Denuo, surely the starting value would have been at least 666?

Ah, Pingzhi, you are the worst of all my students!

Lin Pingzhi stammered for ages, his handsome face flushed red with anxiety. He’d long heard rumors that his senior brother’s tongue was poisonous, but he’d never truly experienced it—until now.

After struggling for a long while, Lin Pingzhi finally cupped his fists in desperation and said, "If I have displeased you, senior brother, the fault is mine. Please punish me..."

"...?" Now Zheng Jian was the bewildered one. He blurted out, "You’re wrong? Good, then tell me, what exactly did you do wrong?"

Lin Pingzhi was utterly at a loss. Zheng Jian’s words echoed endlessly in his mind, "What did you do wrong? What did you do wrong? What did you do wrong?..."

"I—I don’t know..." Lin Pingzhi was on the verge of tears.

Watching Lin Pingzhi’s terrified expression, Zheng Jian finally understood, laughed, and scolded him, "You utter simpleton! If you haven’t done anything wrong, then you haven’t! Why keep insisting you have, and when I ask, you can’t even say what it is?"

Lin Pingzhi now felt at a loss whether he spoke or kept silent.

"Enough, enough, I won’t tease you anymore. So, how has your martial arts practice been lately?" Realizing there was no more resentment to be had, Zheng Jian decided this fellow really was a fool and changed the subject.

Lin Pingzhi stole a glance to make sure Zheng Jian wasn’t angry, then grinned with relief and gathered his courage to say, "I have a few doubts about my swordsmanship, and as for my internal energy cultivation, I’ve been feeling a warmth running about in my body these days—I don’t quite understand it and was hoping to ask you, senior brother."

Zheng Jian placed a hand on Lin Pingzhi's shoulder, sending his vital energy probing inside. He quickly smiled and said, "Not bad! You’ve already begun to master your internal skills so quickly. It seems that being a simpleton has its advantages: at least you can stay calm and focused."

Lin Pingzhi was overjoyed to gain Zheng Jian’s approval.

"That warmth you feel is actually the first current of internal energy you’ve cultivated. There’s no need to worry. Next time you meditate, just guide it along the prescribed route of your internal skill. As for swordsmanship, talk is useless without practice. Come, I’ll be your sparring partner."

After a few exchanges, Zheng Jian understood Lin Pingzhi’s problem—it was much like Linghu Chong’s before. He advised, "Brother Lin, sword techniques are dead, but people are alive. While you should train according to the sword manual, when you perform the techniques, you need not strictly follow the sequence. Instead, adapt and change moves based on your understanding. Otherwise, if the sequence is always the same, where is the subtlety? When you can blend the Huashan sword technique with your family’s Evil-Resisting Sword, using them flexibly, that’s when your swordsmanship will have truly matured."

Lin Pingzhi was struck with sudden enlightenment. He’d vaguely sensed this during practice, but it had always been shrouded in fog. Now, with Zheng Jian’s guidance, it was as if the clouds had parted and the sun shone through.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior brother!" Lin Pingzhi said excitedly.

"Enough thanks. If you can stop being such a simpleton, that would be the best thanks you could give me. Go on, keep practicing—I’m off for a walk." Waving his hand, Zheng Jian turned and left.

Lin Pingzhi was bewildered again. What did that mean...?

Strolling along the mountain slopes, Zheng Jian grew bored. Lin Pingzhi was still a fool—no more resentment to be had! How dull.

Ah, there are always those looking to fleece the sheep, but so few sheep worth fleecing...

Without Lao Denuo, it was as if Guo Degang had lost Yu Qian—the daily life at Huashan had become truly dull and tedious...

...

(End of this chapter)