Chapter 27: Learning the art of listening to words and calling snakes

Brother Shi came with a bunch of braised dishes and went into the kitchen without saying a word.

Master and Shi Yanfeng went to the study to chat. I hurriedly made tea and served fruit. Suddenly, I heard a noise in the living room outside and went out. A young man saw me and said with a smile:

"Is the Master home?"

I thought he looked familiar, so I asked, "Are you looking for a fortune teller?"

"My name is Xiao Liming, and the master once gave me a fortune telling."

I suddenly realized: "Oh - I gave you a 'Li' character in the fortune telling, which means you will rise to a high position."

He put down a bag and said, "I'm going back to my hometown to fish, and I'll bring some fish to the master."

"You're so polite. Please sit down. My master is meeting guests in the study."

"Don't bother me anymore."

I brought the fish to the kitchen and said to Brother Shi, "Aunt Chen has gone to visit relatives with Master's wife. Do you want my help?"

Brother Shi said with a look of disgust: "Go away, your skills are all in your mouth."

I laughed and said, "Can you find oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea?"

"Chefs all have a sixth sense." Brother Shi waved at me, signaling me not to stand here and get in the way.

I went into the study to pour water and serve tea. Shi Yanfeng was talking about his experiences in the six years since he had been separated from his master.

He talked eloquently about the strange stories in the martial arts world, the duels between masters, the sword fights on Mount Huashan, the admiration of heroes, and the competition of skills among peers... I couldn't stop talking.

I didn't expect him to have so many skills. I was itching to do so and couldn't help but interrupt with a drooling face:

"Master Yanfeng, my master often told me that you possess unique skills, and I admire you very much. Could you teach me a few moves?"

The master said, "Shanhong is smart and eager to learn. He should have a bright future. Teach him a few of your moves. After all, a kung fu skill is always a good thing when traveling the world."

Yan Feng clasped his fists and said, "Since the Taoist priest has spoken, let me play a game - listen to the words with my ears."

When I heard that it was "listening to words with ears", I hurried to the kitchen to call Brother Shi.

When Brother Shi heard this, he put down his work and went to the study.

Master Yanfeng said, "You two each write one character."

I immediately cut the paper, one for each person.

I ran to the living room and wrote: Is this possible?

As for what words Brother Shi wrote, it is unknown.

We placed the folded pieces of paper on the table. Master Yanfeng picked up a random piece of paper, put it to his ear, and said, "Four words: I am a chef."

I saw Master Yanfeng open the ball of paper I had written on it, put it to his ear, and said, "It's still four words written on it - is this possible?"

After saying that, Brother Shi and I were both stunned.

Brother Shi kept saying it was amazing and went back to the kitchen.

I asked, "Master, you should be able to break his magical skill, right?"

The master pointed out, "Shanhong, our profession used to be called the Three Religions and Nine Streams. The Three Religions have their own principles, while the Nine Streams are just for making a living. But whether it's the Three Religions or the Nine Streams, we inevitably have to learn some unorthodox methods to protect ourselves."

I bowed to Shi Yanfeng and said, "Master, please teach me."

Shi Yanfeng smiled and said, "Listening to the words is not difficult. This trick can be divided into two situations. One is with a proxy, and the other is without a proxy. If there is a proxy, it is necessary to negotiate with the proxy first. The performer picks up a piece of paper at random and listens. If it says it is a certain word, the proxy will answer: Yes, you heard it.

In reality, the slip of paper he was holding was the next word he wanted to hear. He unfolded it and said, "Just say a random word." The toddler said he heard it right. Actually, he had just looked at another word. Then came the third, fourth, and so on.

I was concerned about not having a proxy, so I hurriedly asked, "What if there is no proxy?"

Shi Yanfeng smiled and said, "First, put an identical piece of paper in your pocket. When you perform, pick up the piece of paper with the words on it. With your right hand, hold the blank piece of paper to your ear and listen. With your left hand, hold the written piece of paper in your palm and open it. Then you'll be able to hear it. This trick depends on practice. When you've mastered it, no one else will be able to tell."

After that, he performed it twice in public. Even under my close scrutiny, Shi Yanfeng couldn't spot any flaws when he peeked at the contents.

I said, "Your technique is so fast that it can be described as lightning fast."

He clasped his hands together and said, "It's just a trifle, only playable among ordinary people. It would be embarrassing in front of your master."

At this time, Brother Shi came in and said, "It's time to eat."

The lunch was naturally sumptuous, and the guests and hosts had a great time chatting and drinking to their heart's content.

Shi Yanfeng has a routine of meditating for an hour at noon and then taking a nap.

When he went to the guest room to meditate, the master said, "Ask him to teach you the art of snake calling this afternoon."

"Calling snakes?"

"Yes, sometimes when competing with others, if you exhale a few snakes, they will lose confidence. This is called defeating the enemy without fighting."

My heart was boiling with excitement. If I could learn the art of summoning snakes, I wouldn't have to use "immobilization powder" to deal with a character like Qiang Si last time. I could just summon a few snakes and say my helpers are here. Wouldn't that scare him half to death?

"Please help me, I really want to learn."

The master pondered for a moment and said, "Wait a minute, I'll talk to him alone."

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Shi Yanfeng got up. Master and he chatted for a while in the study, and then they came out.

Shi Yanfeng said, "Shanhong, there are no gods or ghosts in the world, only medicinal skills. Since you want to learn, remember one thing: you can't hit snakes in the future."

I nodded cautiously.

So Shi Yanfeng walked into the yard.

I have been at Youranju for more than two years and have never seen a snake in this yard. Master Yanfeng squatted down, clapped his hands together three times, and moments later, two green snakes emerged from nowhere.

The two green snakes seemed to understand and moved straight towards him.

Master Yanfeng patted the snake's head and the snake stopped moving.

After a while, he waved his hand, and the snakes actually crawled into the sewer and left.

This move left me stunned.

After returning to the house, Master Yanfeng wrote a line of words on the paper without saying a word.

XX50 grams, XX100 grams, XX200 grams, grind into powder.

Then he burned the paper in the teacup, split it in two, and said to me:

"Drink, drink to your heart's content."

The next day, no matter how much his master tried to persuade him to stay, Master Yanfeng insisted on leaving. Before leaving, he bowed to his master and said goodbye, "I want to go to Zhongnan Mountain to find a master. We will meet again later."

The always strong master actually had tears in his eyes that day and said with a fist:

"Take care on your journey, bro."

Yanfeng turned around. In the morning sun and breeze, I saw a long sword on his back. His wide clothes spread out in the wind like a giant black spider. After a while, his figure became smaller and smaller.

The master sighed, "Every time we met, he was always in a hurry. His unorthodox methods were merely self-defense. His lifelong search was for the ultimate truth of harmony between man and nature. He roamed the world, making the four corners his home. Now, I'm going to Mount Zhongnan, hoping he will achieve enlightenment."

Today you are going on a long journey again, the wind and rain are strong, you are strong, I am strong, our love is even stronger, when will we meet again...

Thinking of Master Yanfeng who selflessly taught me the art of listening to words and the art of calling snakes, I kept my fists clasped together until he disappeared from my sight.

In the wind and rain, I will always remember you.

Master, goodbye!

I bowed deeply in the direction he left.