Chapter 25: Taking a Master (Part One)

Since learning the guided regimen of health from Sun Simiao, Zheng Yanqing’s martial skills had not made any particularly remarkable leaps, but his six senses had become noticeably sharper than before. As he passed through a small grove, he vaguely sensed a looming danger. He considered fleeing, but on second thought, realized that escape was unlikely.

From the woods emerged five or six youths, all about thirteen or fourteen years old. The leader was the very boy whose ribs Zheng Yanqing had struck earlier that day. Judging by his aggressive demeanor, he had clearly recovered. The group quickly surrounded Zheng Yanqing, trapping him in their midst, their expressions fierce and hostile.

“So, you’ve finally dared to show yourself, brat?” the leader snarled menacingly. “At midday, you had the teacher to shield you in the academy. Who will help you now?”

Zheng Yanqing glanced over the group and suddenly smiled.

“What are you laughing at?” one of them demanded.

“Is it because you think I shouldn’t have helped Fengjie at noon?” Zheng Yanqing asked calmly.

“We were dealing with Dou Fengjie; what does that have to do with you?” another snapped. “And who do you think you are, meddling in our business? We’ve waited long enough for you. You like playing the hero? Time you learned what that costs.”

Zheng Yanqing sighed. “You lot are truly reckless and ignorant of consequence. At noon I intervened for your own sake. Fengjie’s family may no longer be as it once was, but he is still the legitimate heir. Yes, he may be timid, but if word got out in Luoyang that he was bullied, do you understand what would happen? The main branch will never turn a blind eye to a legitimate son being harassed by the likes of you. If they choose to take this seriously, do you really think your parents could withstand their wrath? Such childishness.”

The boys were startled, exchanging uneasy glances. Indeed, in their eagerness for petty revenge, they had forgotten that Dou Fengjie was of legitimate birth—a status far beyond theirs, whether they were sons of concubines or commoners. Fengjie’s mother was gone, and his father no longer in Luoyang, but that did not mean others of the main branch would tolerate seeing him bullied. Should they intervene, not only the boys but even their parents would face ruin.

Fear began to take root in the boys’ hearts. Only the leader, though clearly shaken, kept a ferocious facade. “Don’t let him fool you!” he barked. “Dou Fengjie is too much of a coward to tell anyone at home. He’s just trying to scare us… Zheng Yanqing, you made a fool of me today. If I don’t teach you a lesson, how could I ever show my face in the academy again?”

His bluster seemed to steady the others. Even children have their pride, and these boys were clearly accustomed to ruling the roost at the academy. Being stopped by Zheng Yanqing had already stung their egos, and for the leader, defeated by Yanqing’s blow, the humiliation was even greater.

Zheng Yanqing could read their thoughts. He stretched his limbs and smiled. “So, all of you plan to take me on at once?”

“To deal with the likes of you, one of us is more than enough!” the leader, enraged, shouted. “You caught me off guard at noon and took advantage. Now, I’ll teach you what a real fight is!” He gestured to the others. “Stay out of this and watch how I handle him.”

It seemed the leader commanded considerable authority, for the others quickly agreed. He loosened up, poised like a predator about to pounce, and roared, “Zheng Yanqing, here I come!”

“Wait!” Yanqing interjected. “Let’s agree: no matter who wins, there will be no more trouble afterward.”

The leader halted. “Fine! I, Dou Xiaowen, give my word—once spoken, it cannot be taken back. If you lose, you’ll kneel before me and kowtow three times before everyone tomorrow, and I’ll never bother you or your friends again. If I lose, I’ll kowtow to you and call you big brother, and from then on, you’ll be the top dog in the academy. I’ll also never trouble Dou Fengjie again.”

“Very well,” Zheng Yanqing nodded and stepped back. As Dou Xiaowen readied himself to strike, Yanqing raised his hand. “Wait!”

“What now?” Dou Xiaowen snapped.

“Do you mean what you say?”

Dou Xiaowen’s anger flared. “Absolutely! Everyone here can bear witness. My word is my bond—I never go back on it.”

“In that case… here I come!”

Zheng Yanqing could tell that Dou Xiaowen had some training. His confidence was high, eager to regain his dignity. Yanqing was sure he could handle him, but why expend unnecessary effort? Twice he had interrupted Dou Xiaowen’s momentum—once to make the agreement, and again to verify his word. According to the old saying: the first charge is strong, the second weaker, the third spent. By breaking the rhythm twice, Dou Xiaowen’s spirit was all but exhausted, saving Yanqing considerable trouble.

Without further ado, Zheng Yanqing leapt forward, body arched for attack, arms and legs coordinated, pouncing like an eagle upon a rabbit.

The bystanders gasped in awe. “He can really jump!” one exclaimed.

Dou Xiaowen, caught off guard, was seized by Yanqing mid-air, both shoulders gripped by hands like iron claws. Even through his clothes, the pain shot through his bones, making Dou Xiaowen cry out. At the same time, Yanqing’s feet struck hard into Dou Xiaowen’s chest, folding him up and slamming him to the ground. The force of the flying tackle, combined with Yanqing’s weight, created a tremendous momentum. Dou Xiaowen, his stance already loosened, was hurled several meters away and crashed to the ground.

With a dull thud, the watching boys felt their hearts tremble. They saw Zheng Yanqing spring up, plant his hands on the ground, flip in midair, and land steadily on his feet. Dou Xiaowen, by contrast, lay crumpled like a shrimp, groaning and unable to stand.

“I win!” Yanqing declared.

Zheng Yanqing, calm and composed, glanced at the crowd with a faint smile. “May I leave now?”

His earlier words had already filled the boys with dread. Now, with the once-dominant Dou Xiaowen so easily defeated, their fear grew. Despite their numbers, none dared open their mouth.

Dou Xiaowen, regaining his breath, looked at Yanqing with a complicated expression. “You win. I admit it.”

Yanqing chuckled. “You’re a man of your word, at least.” Draping his outer robe over his shoulders, he knelt beside Dou Xiaowen. “Honestly, you’re not bad. If this had been a real fight, I wouldn’t have beaten you in just a few moves… But do you know why you lost so badly?”

Dou Xiaowen spat to the side. “Why?”

“Ask your teacher about the story of Cao Gui discussing strategy. Your name is Xiaowen—whether you’re filial, I cannot say, but as for ‘wen’—learning—you’ve a ways to go. Once you understand that story, you’ll know why you lost so thoroughly. Remember—don’t bully the weak at the academy anymore.”

With that, Zheng Yanqing picked up his book satchel and walked home through the golden glow of the setting sun.

“Xiaowen, are you all right?” someone asked.

“I’m fine!”

“Are we just going to let that brat go?”

“What else can we do? He’s a real fighter. Even if we all went at him, I doubt we’d win… By the way, who’s this Cao Gui? Is he famous?”

The group exchanged blank looks, each shaking his head.

How humiliating…

Dou Xiaowen gritted his teeth, watching Zheng Yanqing’s receding figure, and spat again. “Damn, even his back looks so arrogant!”

But in his heart, he wondered: Who exactly is Cao Gui?