Chasing You Like a Tenacious Falcon

The next morning.

Zhuge Ying, full of energy, arrived in the courtyard just as Kong Mingze from the opposite room stepped out.

"I slept incredibly well last night! How about you?" Zhuge Ying asked.

That half-hour of kneeling and stretching had been nothing short of miraculous!

She had expected her legs to feel sore after nearly an hour of hiking yesterday, but to her surprise, she felt completely fine—even refreshed.

Kong Mingze scratched his head. "I think I sleep pretty well every day."

He hadn’t even managed to kneel properly yesterday, yet he still slept soundly.

Zhuge Ying’s lips twitched. "I forgot you’re the carefree type, no worries, no burdens."

Kong Mingze glanced around the courtyard and asked, "Has Quan Zhisui not gotten up yet? It’s already bright out."

Zhuge Ying shook her head. "It’s strange. She usually doesn’t sleep in. Has Wei Shixu not gotten up either?"

"Nope," Kong Mingze replied. "Weird. He doesn’t usually sleep in either. He likes to get up early to study."

Zhuge Ying casually asked, "Does he study during the holidays too? Doesn’t he just wake up early to watch horror movies?"

Kong Mingze thought for a moment and said, "That’s only now that he’s already mastered everything. Back in middle school, he loved studying so much that he finished the entire middle school curriculum early and then started learning high school material just to pass the time."

Zhuge Ying was shocked. "Are you saying Wei Shixu finished high school material while still in middle school?"

Kong Mingze shrugged. "I’m not sure about that, but recently I saw him studying college-level calculus."

Zhuge Ying: "…"

"The air up here is amazing!" Kong Mingze said eagerly. "What should we do now?"

Zhuge Ying waved her small food container. "Breakfast."

The two had a hearty appetite and, after eating, strolled leisurely around the Martial Arts School.

The students were already practicing, divided into groups led by different instructors. The older ones had made significant progress, while the younger ones were still struggling with their stretches.

By ten in the morning, when they returned to the courtyard, Wei Shixu was chatting with Zi Ling, while Quan Zhisui was still in her room.

Quan Zhisui rarely slept this late. She had woken up but was reluctant to leave her bed, snuggling under the covers until Zi Ling’s scolding voice outside forced her to get up.

After washing up and opening the door, she saw Wei Shixu, Kong Mingze, and Zhuge Ying sitting by the stone table, with Zi Ling roasting sweet potatoes and brewing tea over a small stove.

As soon as Zi Ling saw Quan Zhisui, he turned and scolded, "You’re so lazy! You haven’t even had breakfast, and now I’m here roasting sweet potatoes for you!"

Quan Zhisui retorted, "Did I ask you to roast them?"

Zi Ling shot back, "Yeah, yeah! If I didn’t roast them… ha! Who knows what kind of disaster you’d create in the kitchen! I’m just thinking about everyone’s lunch here!"

Quan Zhisui rolled up her sleeves and charged at him.

Zi Ling jumped up, pointing at her. "I’m warning you! Master is here!"

Wei Shixu picked up a sweet potato and handed it to Quan Zhisui, smiling as he tried to mediate. "Don’t scold her. I couldn’t sleep last night, so I kept her up chatting."

Zi Ling rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right! Since when does she chat with anyone?"

Just then, the door to the tea room opened.

Fan Shiliu waved at Quan Zhisui. "Zi Nian, come in."

Zi Ling bumped her aside. "Go on, go on! Annoying!"

Quan Zhisui quickly finished her sweet potato and ran inside.

As the tea room door closed, Zhuge Ying smiled mysteriously. "They’re having a private talk. Master and the senior disciples must be really worried about Quan Zhisui, especially since she’s gone to such a faraway town."

Zi Ling waved his hand. "Nah, no one’s worried about her!"

Kong Mingze was surprised. "You’re not worried? Not even her master?"

Zi Ling gave them a strange look. "What are you talking about? Do you think she’s been holding back in Liangxi Town? Getting bullied? No way!"

Kong Mingze recalled everything that had happened since Quan Zhisui transferred to Liang Secondary School: beating up bullies, taking down Zuo Zichen, becoming the school’s top fighter, running, challenging Wei Shixu, playing basketball, and becoming a school celebrity.

Hmm…

Yeah, there really was no need to worry.

Zi Ling continued, "I’m not worried at all. She’s more than capable of taking care of herself! Besides, she’s sharp as a tack. She’s the one who bullies others, not the other way around. Honestly, there aren’t many people who can even stand up to her."

Zhuge Ying and Kong Mingze both nodded. As her childhood senior disciple, Zi Ling knew Quan Zhisui all too well.

Wei Shixu asked, "Do you miss her?"

This time, Zi Ling nodded. "Of course we do. We grew up together, and even though she’s a troublemaker, both Master and we senior disciples really miss her. The Martial Arts School just isn’t as lively without her."

Wei Shixu smiled. "Worry and longing are two different emotions."

Those who practice martial arts tend to be very clear-headed.

Zi Ling glanced at the three of them and chuckled. "Besides, just seeing you three here tells me she’s doing well over there—probably more than just well. She’s living her best life!"

Kong Mingze was curious. "Why? How can you tell?"

Zi Ling scanned their faces. "A noble young master, a top student, and someone blessed with good fortune—all hanging out with her. How could she possibly be doing poorly?"

Zhuge Ying was astonished. "How can you tell all that?"

Zi Ling lifted his chin proudly. "While martial arts are our main focus, we also study the five arts of metaphysics as part of our basic curriculum. Coincidentally, I have a bit of a knack for divination and physiognomy."

Kong Mingze got excited. "So, I’m the noble young master, right? Am I? Am I?"

Zhuge Ying elbowed him, exasperated.

Even Wei Shixu couldn’t help but chuckle.

Zi Ling’s expression cracked for a moment before he replied, "Yeah, sure, whatever."

Zhuge Ying, recalling yesterday’s "pay-what-you-want" incident, asked, "Your master’s fees are so flexible. Is the tuition for the Martial Arts School also low?"

Zi Ling laughed. "Not exactly. He only does the pay-what-you-want thing for medical consultations. Tuition fees are pretty standard across all Martial Arts Schools. Master does make money, you know."

Kong ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‍Mingze was puzzled. "But the walls are peeling. Why not renovate?"

Zhuge Ying added, "Yeah, if he’s making money, why not fix the place up?"

Zi Ling thought for a moment and explained, "Master treats his disciples like his own children. When I was young, I was always sick—a real medicine pot. I grew up drinking expensive herbal remedies."

"Even the healthy disciples get regular meals with premium medicinal ingredients. They’re not cheap."

He grinned. "We might not have had fancy snacks or luxurious meals as kids, but the amount Master spent on nourishing our bodies could’ve rebuilt this entire Martial Arts School."

Zhuge Ying was deeply moved. "Your master is truly…"

Kong Mingze’s eyes welled up with tears. "Master is so kind! He’s like a saint, a truly extraordinary person!"

"Low profile, high virtue," Wei Shixu remarked.

Such a benevolent soul is rare in this world.

No wonder the aura of this Martial Arts School feels so pure. Hidden deep in the mountains, it has nurtured disciples of pure hearts, capable of raising someone like Zi Ling and shaping Quan Zhisui into the remarkable person she is.