Chasing You Like a Tenacious Falcon

Kong Mingze and Zhuge Ying were laughing so hard they were practically lying on the table when a shout came from below the steps: “Master’s back!”

Quan Zhisui immediately rushed over, excited: “Master!!!”

Wei Shixu and the other two also stood up to look.

An old Taoist ascended the steps, taking two or three strides to reach the courtyard.

He wore simple, even somewhat tattered, coarse hemp clothing and carried a hoe with dirt still clinging to it.

He looked thin but full of vitality, his eyes sharp and bright, his forehead glowing. The way he climbed the steps showed agility and strength in his legs.

The old Taoist gave off a strange impression—when moving, he seemed like a man in his forties, but when standing still, he resembled a seventy-year-old.

In short, it was hard to pin down his exact age!

Kong Mingze was so stunned that his mind went blank, unsure whether to call him “uncle” or “grandpa.”

Zhuge Ying opened his mouth several times but also got stuck.

Wei Shixu, however, obediently followed Quan Zhisui’s lead and greeted, “Hello, Master.”

Fan Shiliu had clearly hurried back. Upon seeing Quan Zhisui, he smiled gently, then went to wash his hands before returning to pat her head: “You’ve grown taller, almost 1.7 meters now, right?”

“Let’s measure later!” Quan Zhisui’s eyes sparkled.

Fan Shiliu nodded, smiling as he glanced around the courtyard.

Quan Zhisui: “Master, I brought my friends from the city to visit!”

Zhuge Ying and the other two stepped forward again to greet him, their curiosity palpable.

Fan Shiliu’s gaze swept over their faces, lingering slightly when it landed on Wei Shixu.

“Why does this young man have such a fiery temper?” Fan Shiliu remarked, then glanced at Quan Zhisui and shook his head with a smile. “Just like you.”

Quan Zhisui’s face instantly twisted in indignation, stomping her feet and shouting, “I don’t have a fiery temper!”

Zhuge Ying exclaimed, “Wow! You could tell with just one look? You’re amazing!”

Kong Mingze puffed out his chest: “I told you, they’re so alike! Guess I’m amazing too!”

Zhuge Ying rolled his eyes at him.

Wei Shixu stayed silent. He wanted to argue that he wasn’t hot-tempered either!

When Master Fan Shiliu returned, Zi Ling seemed to have found his pillar of support.

He ran over and stood nearby, complaining, “Master, you need to discipline her properly! She’s been in the city for months without calming down, and as soon as she’s back, she gave me a chokehold!”

Quan Zhisui immediately retorted, “Master, since Zi Ling is so easily subdued, it seems he hasn’t been practicing properly.”

Zi Ling: “???”

Why are you turning this on me?!

Wait, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‍how did you shift the topic so quickly?!

Fan Shiliu let out a hearty laugh and pushed open the tea room door: “Let’s talk inside.”

Zi Ling: “Dinner’s almost ready, I’ll go help in the kitchen!”

The four followed Fan Shiliu into the room, where it was much warmer.

The tea room was lit with a stick of incense, creating a serene atmosphere.

Fan Shiliu began pouring tea for the four: “Dinner’s almost ready, so let’s have something gentle on the stomach.”

With that, he handed the first cup to Wei Shixu.

Wei Shixu was taken aback, surprised.

Quan Zhisui pouted, a little jealous. The second and third cups still didn’t go to her; she got the last one.

Well, that’s fine too.

Zhuge Ying, who had been curious all along, asked, “Sir, how did you tell that my classmate has a fiery temper?”

Kong Mingze: “Yes, yes, it’s so mysterious! You could tell with just one look?”

Fan Shiliu poured himself a cup of tea and said slowly, “Everyone has their own aura, a unique feeling. You sense it.”

Quan Zhisui leaned in, chattering away: “Master, let me tell you, his temper is terrible, bad and irritable, and he loves to talk smack…”

She went on and on!

So smug, like a little kid.

Fan Shiliu couldn’t stop laughing.

Quan Zhisui pouted again. Seeing her master’s reaction, she knew he wasn’t taking it seriously.

So frustrating!

Wei Shixu glanced at her with a smile, then turned to Fan Shiliu and asked, “And how did you know my stomach is weak?”

He had noticed the subtle behaviors and details.

Fan Shiliu stroked his beard and chuckled, “Hmm, not only fiery-tempered and weak-stomached, but also meticulous and petty!”

Kong Mingze was so shocked he almost knelt down: “Old Master! You’re truly incredible!”

Zhuge Ying also nodded vigorously, thoroughly impressed.

Wei Shixu retorted, “I’m not petty.”

Fan Shiliu raised an eyebrow: “Denying it even when it’s pointed out? Add stubborn and extreme to the list.”

Quan Zhisui slammed the table and burst out laughing: “Hahaha! Yes! Hahaha!”

Fan Shiliu glanced at her: “What are you laughing at? You’re just like him, even worse when you were younger.”

Quan Zhisui’s laughter stopped abruptly!

“Hahaha!” This time, it was Kong Mingze’s turn to laugh.

Zhuge Ying also joined in.

The master was truly a magical and humorous person!

Even Wei Shixu lowered his eyes and smiled lightly. What an interesting old man.

Fan Shiliu beckoned to Wei Shixu, signaling him to roll up his sleeve: “Come, let me check your pulse and see what’s really going on with you.”

Wei Shixu obediently complied, not being stubborn at all this time.

Kong Mingze was a bit nervous, instinctively grabbing Zhuge Ying’s sleeve.

Zhuge Ying patted the back of his hand, signaling him to stay calm.

The tea room was quiet, with only the sound of breathing filling the space.

Quan Zhisui kept observing her master’s expression, trying to catch any key details.

But in the end, the old fox was too crafty—she couldn’t figure anything out!

After a while.

Fan Shiliu withdrew his hand and began writing a prescription: “Nothing too serious. You went hungry as a child, didn’t you? Starved so badly that your intestines stuck together, and now eating makes you nauseous, right?”

Wei Shixu was stunned, then nodded: “Yes.”

Kong Mingze almost bowed to the master on the spot: “Amazing! A miracle doctor! You even figured out his past experiences!”

Quan Zhisui pushed him back, proudly lifting her chin: “My master is not just a martial artist, but also a Taoist healer!”

Fan Shiliu raised his hand to stop him and continued, “Don’t bow yet, we’re not done. Just treating the stomach won’t fix it.”

Kong Mingze grew nervous again.

Wei Shixu, however, remained calm, quietly watching as the master wrote the prescription.

Fan Shiliu added, “It’s not just a stomach issue. You also have emotional problems—suppressed anger, to put it simply. Who made you so angry? You’ve been holding it in for years, haven’t you? It’s affecting your internal organs, so just treating the stomach won’t work.”

Kong Mingze looked utterly confused.

Zhuge Ying asked fearfully, “Depression?”

Fan Shiliu waved his hand: “Not that severe, but if left untreated, it could get there in a few years.”

Wei Shixu slowly exhaled and smiled: “Can it be cured, sir?”

Fan Shiliu nodded: “It’s manageable. Take this prescription to a traditional medicine shop and have it filled. Also, get more sun and exercise—exercise is crucial. It not only improves your physical health but also helps with your temper, releasing pent-up negativity.”

Wei Shixu carefully tucked away the prescription.

Quan Zhisui suddenly jumped up and shouted, “Pay up!”

Kong Mingze: “Of course, of course! If this cures him, any amount is worth it!”

Zhuge Ying asked, “How much?”

Wei Shixu took out his phone and looked up.

Fan Shiliu gave him a mysterious smile: “As you wish.”

Zhuge Ying was puzzled: “As you wish? You mean, pay whatever you want?”

Fan Shiliu smiled and nodded: “Just a little, as a token.”

Kong Mingze was shocked: “Do you always accept whatever people offer? Or is it because we’re Quan Zhisui’s classmates?”

Fan Shiliu put away the paper and pen: “It’s always as you wish. Ten yuan, a hundred, or even fifty cents—whatever you give is fine.”

Zhuge Ying was amazed: “So casual? What if someone doesn’t pay at all, just takes advantage?”

Quan Zhisui nodded: “Of course, there are plenty like that.”

Kong Mingze: “What?!”

Zhuge Ying was baffled: “But… doesn’t that put you at a disadvantage, sir?”

Fan Shiliu smiled kindly, exuding magnanimity and wisdom: “I accumulate my own good deeds; they accumulate their own lack of virtue.”

Quan Zhisui also smiled: “Each to their own fate!”

Zhuge Ying and Kong Mingze both felt their minds clear, as if washed clean, suddenly enlightened!

Wei Shixu paused for a moment, then scanned the payment code and transferred the money.

Soon after, Fan Shiliu’s phone lit up. He glanced at it, raised an eyebrow, and smiled without saying a word.