Chapter 28 Martial Arts Competition for Stars
Tang Wanbai, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, was so intimidated by the three-way standoff that she took three steps back. Each of the three men had a distinctive posture. Tang Wanbai swallowed hard, feeling as if she were in a prehistoric park.
"..."
He walked up behind Fu Yanle and carefully poked Fu Yanle's buttocks, which were sticking up to the sky, with the same blue magic wand he had in his hand, just like the one in the movie "The Fairy Tale".
What are you doing?
"Martial Arts Competition to Seize the Star!" An Shigou was terrified, but his manly pride wouldn't allow him to back down. He took a deep breath, braced himself with his hands on the ground, and rose to his feet with a cool and swift backflip. Then, gathering his energy in his dantian, he unleashed a powerful shout:
"Your inner energy is powerful. Everyone else, retreat to avoid being caught in the crossfire!"
Tang Wanbai quickly pulled Fu Yanle up and hid in the stone pavilion. They sat on a futon and began to watch the first martial arts match. "Yanle, let's make a bet! Let's bet on who wins!"
Fu Yanle looked puzzled. "Does this even need to bet?"
Tang Wanbai thought Fu Yanle's questioning made sense, so she said, "Then let's bet on how long it will take for Shi Gou to lose? I bet one minute, and the loser treats everyone to dinner!"
"I'll bet half a minute," Fu Yanle said with a wicked smile. "Let's see how fast this man is."
As soon as they finished speaking, Newbiko transformed back into a human. The longsword in his hand resembled a fan, capable of not only creating airflow but also making people dizzy.
"What a vicious and natural illusion!" Shi Gouzi closed her eyes for a second, and the next second she drew her belt without hesitation and struck Niu Bizi with fierce power.
As their weapons clashed, the two simultaneously increased their speed, while the film crew circled around them, intently recording this clash of masters.
"Wow!" Tang Wanbai clapped her hands. "This is a duel between masters! I'm dazzled and dare not blink!"
"Wow!" Fu Yanle clapped his hands. "This is the clash of soft and hard weapons! I'm so excited, I almost can't breathe!"
Tokiko's whip technique was natural and arrogant, possessing a whimsical quality that even its master could not control, blocking all of Newbiko's sword winds and preventing Newbiko from getting close.
Newbee's swordsmanship was agile and superb, possessing a ferocity that even its master feared. It kept Shigoko's whip shadows at bay, preventing Shigoko from getting close.
The two fought for about ten seconds when Newbee suddenly let out a sharp shout and, taking advantage of the moment An Shigou's wrist twitched, thrust out her sword. The sword strike was as precise as spearing a fish, passing through the gaps in the whip's shadow and striking An Shigou squarely in the stomach.
"Damn it—ah!" An Shigou's belt buckled, and he clutched his stomach, backing away in panic. "My abs..."
It was supposed to be six pieces, but now a seventh piece has been poked out!
Newbiko sheathed her sword, calmly stroking her chin. "Young friend, you have lost."
"Young friend, you have also been defeated." Fu Yanle patted Tang Wanbai's shoulder, stood up and walked out of the stone pavilion. "Senior, please enlighten me."
Newbitch felt that there was an indescribable sense of mystery about this young man. He regarded this as the unique aura of a master and quickly and skillfully used a set of self-created sword techniques.
"Wow!" Tang Wanbai exclaimed, "It flows like clouds and water, as if the sword blade is not grazing the air, but rather the clouds!"
“Yes,” An Shigou agreed. “The upper part is spirited, the lower part is stable, as if the sword’s edge is piercing stars, not dust!”
The two men anxiously clung to each other's arms, as if facing a drunken Fu Hudie, and asked in unison, "Can Yanle win?"
Facing Newbiko's powerful sword move, Fu Yanle calmly stepped forward, stopping 0.01 millimeters away from Newbiko's sword tip. Then, he slashed with his right leg, touched the ground with his toes, focused his energy in his dantian, and his palms moved as gently and simply as the Tai Chi Bagua.
Seeing this, Niu Bizi was on high alert. She let out another sharp shout and thrust her sword at Fu Yanle.
Tang Wanbai: "What a tricky, familiar direction!"
An Shigou: "Fu Yanle, quickly cover your stomach!"
Amidst the two men's urgent shouts, Fu Yanle deftly tilted his buttocks to the upper right, dodging the sword with a cunning move. Then, he instantly struck out with his right palm, which was placed in front of his chest, hitting Newbie's stomach squarely. As he withdrew his hand, he roughly ripped Xingxing off.
"Ouch—!" Newbiko's wrists went weak, and she clutched her stomach, backing away in panic. "My abs..."
"I wonder if you've ever heard the saying, senior?" Fu Yanle calmly stopped his attack, "The stranger the move, the faster you die."
Newbitch clasped her hands in regret, "Young friend, you win. This star is yours!"
"Hehe, thanks." Fu Yanle's expression changed instantly. He put his arm around Newbizzi and faced the camera, saying with a smile, "Grandpa, looking at your physique, your strength, and your lower body, you definitely have something special. You're a professional, right?"
Newbee said, "You noticed that, young man. When I was young, I won several national sword competition championships. Now I work in the Nandu Children's Sword Team, wiping swords, sweeping the floor, and sometimes giving pointers."
"This is the Sweeping Monk!" Fu Yanle clasped his hands in a fist salute across the air. "May I ask your name?"
Niu Bizi said, "My name is Niu Bizi."
"What a coincidence!" Fu Yanle exclaimed in amazement. "It seems this Niubi Pavilion was built just for you."
Newbitch said, "I bought a house here because I heard that the square here is called Newbitch Square."
"What a coincidence," Fu Yanle said. "Senior, since you're here, could you show our audience a few moves and broaden their horizons?"
Newbee readily agreed, "Okay, then I'll use my self-created Cloud Wanderer Sword Technique. If anyone is willing, they can practice it too; it's good for improving health."
Fu Yanle released Niu Bizi and said to the camera, "I hope everyone can pay more attention to our traditional swordsmanship. Next up is Brother Niu's show."
*
Ten minutes later, the guests received three messages.
The first star has been recaptured. Location: Center Stage; Recaptured by: Fu Yanle.
The second star has been recaptured. Location of recapture: Newpit; Recaptured by: Fu Yanle.
The third star has been recaptured. Location: Kaqiandao Milk Tea Shop; Recaptured by: Meng Xinqiu.
“Someone has found another star.” Tang Wanbai sighed. “I’m just a useless piece of trash; I can’t even see a shadow of a star.”
"Here!" Fu Yanle took a star out of his pocket and handed it over.
"Huh?" Tang Wanbai blinked in disbelief. "For me?"
“Yes, that’s right,” Fu Yanle said matter-of-factly. “Let me touch it.”
"Tch!" Tang Wanbai frowned, but still reached out and took the star, blew on it in her palm, and prayed softly, "Oh star, star, please guide me to your companions, please please please!"
"What's the use of finding it?" An Shigou shrugged, a complete waste of space. "We might not even be able to get it."
Tang Wanbai said, "But we have Yanle! Yanle is so talented, he's a natural star catcher!"
"Have you forgotten?" An Shigou said quietly, "Which team is he on?"
The air was silent for three seconds. Tang Wanbai solemnly returned the star to Fu Yanle. "Yanle, I hate you! I'm going to wear a dragon robe, style my bangs, and smile ruthlessly with tears in my eyes. I've turned evil!"
"It's alright, I'll repay your kindness with kindness and take care of you." Fu Yanle reached out and pulled Tang Wanbai under his arm. "There are stars where the square dancing aunties and grandpas are, and there might be some where there are lots of kids. There's one in the Kaqiandao milk tea shop, and there's probably one in that row of barbecue snack shops and DIY craft stalls too."
Tang Wanbai felt a hazy sensation in his ears. His face flushed from the fragrance emanating from Fu Yanle's neck. He looked up at Fu Yanle's face and said, "Yanle."
He swallowed softly, "You smell so good."
An Shigou's ears burned when he heard this, because he also thought that Fu Yanle smelled a little bit nice.
"No matter how delicious I am, I won't feed it to you." Fu Yanle casually grabbed a handful of Tang Wanbai's hair, his tone serious. "Eating human flesh is illegal. Even if you're sentenced to death, don't even think about it, understand?"
Tang Wanbai instantly lost all worldly desires, and after leaving behind an angry "I hate you," she stormed off.
The force and power of those steps were as if they wanted to stomp the ground through.
"Go easy on him!" Fu Yanle exclaimed in admiration. "This kid has guts when it comes to competing with the ground."
“I’m leaving too. If I stay with you any longer, I’m sure I won’t get a single star.” An Shigou patted Fu Yanle on the shoulder and quickly headed towards their destination.
"Oh, does separating from me guarantee you'll get a star?" Fu Yanle felt that An Shigou didn't properly recognize how useless he was, sighed in disappointment, and walked away with the old man's hands behind his back.
Yellow, withered leaves fall on the path, making a dull thud when you step on them. When the wind blows, the withered leaves swirl around you, making your breathing softer.
Fu Yanle strolled leisurely, took out his phone and snapped a picture of the white flower clusters beside the path. He didn't know what kind of flowers they were, but he thought they were pure white, delicate, and very cute.
Strangely, he thought of Yu Jingchen.
Yu Jingchen is neither charming nor cute.
Flowers and plants in public places cannot be picked. Fu Yanle decided to buy a bouquet of flowers after work and give it to Yu Jingchen on her way home.
After all, Yu Jingchen had been sending him roses for half a month, so it was only natural for him to return the favor.
*
Lin Qingtong finally found a star in the small square.
The star is on a little girl in a white dance costume. She is drawing and looks very quiet, out of place among the noisy group of children around her.
Lin Qingtong breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward to talk to the girl, "Hello, could you give me this rainbow star?"
The girl looked up at Lin Qingtong and said, "No." Then she continued to draw.
Lin Qingtong knew the production team would definitely teach the little girl some tricks, so she sat down next to her and pointed to the little figure in the drawing, "Is this you?"
The little girl said, "Yes."
"It's really well drawn," Lin Qingtong said gently. "But why are you drawing here in a dance costume?"
"I don't want to dance, I want to come down and play for a while." The little girl glanced at Lin Qingtong, her tone becoming more forceful, "I don't like dancing!"
What does this have to do with me?
Lin Qingtong said without changing her expression, "If you don't like it, then don't go dance."
The little girl lowered her head. "No."
So what do you want?
Lin Qingtong felt that although the little girl seemed quiet, she was still quite troublesome.
He suppressed his impatience and said, "Then keep jumping. Maybe you'll like it after a few more tries. When you jump really well, Mom and Dad will be cheering for you from the audience."
The little girl turned the pencil upside down and pressed it heavily on the paper, saying, "Uncle, please don't disturb my drawing."
"you--"
"Brother Qingtong." Gu Jiming walked in from the group of children. "What's wrong?"
Lin Qingtong suppressed her anger and impatience, and said helplessly, "I was chatting with the little girl, but it seems I disturbed her."
"Oh, I see." Gu Jiming walked up to the little girl and squatted down. "Sweetie, could you give your brother a minute?"
“You are Gu Jiming,” the little girl said. “I’ve seen you dance. You’re very good. Many of my classmates like you.”
There's hope!
Gu Jiming was secretly pleased, "Then can I give the star to my brother?"
"Um...no." The little girl shook her head. "The stars are mine, I won't give them to anyone."
Damn, how heartless!
Gu Jiming had never coaxed a child in his life, and seeing the little girl's momentary joy followed by a long period of indifference, he couldn't help but feel a little heartbroken.
Meng Xinqiu got one, and Yanle got two. From Qingtong's perspective, he lost to Meng Xinqiu; from Yanle's perspective, he lost to himself!
He's a complete and utter loser!
Just as Gu Jiming was reflecting on his life, a voice interrupted.
"Whose baby swan is this?"
Fu Yanle stepped forward and pushed Gu Jiming aside, completely ignoring the fact that Gu Jiming had fallen on his bottom. He squatted down, smiled at the little girl, and reached out his hand.
"Little swan, I wonder if I have the honor of dancing with you?"
Author's Note:
Da Yu: The little swans are here! (Thirsty)
Goodnight, my darlings~(˙˙)
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