Chapter 62: The Master Returns

After spending the morning teaching Yang Sheng this set of Qigong exercises, Yang Sheng was a little out of breath, but it was clear that he was very excited. He asked me, “Sanwa, this set of Qigong exercises is so good, why hasn’t it spread? If it had spread, it would have been very beneficial.”

I looked at Yang Sheng with a strange expression on my face and said, “Brother Sheng, who says it hasn’t spread? Do you know the elementary and middle school radio gymnastics? It was based on this set of exercises. It’s a simplified version, but unfortunately, who among today’s students would do it seriously? The difficulty is not in the movements, but in the degree of force. A little bit of thinking is involved here, and it is necessary to imagine coordinating the movements so that the force is just right.

“I…” Yang Sheng was stunned. He didn’t expect that the radio gymnastics for primary and secondary school students actually came from this.

“This set of guided exercises is not dangerous for ordinary people to practice because it is not qigong. I am not explaining the movements to you, but rather breaking down each movement and explaining what kind of force should be used to match it in order to achieve the desired effect. Of course, in terms of breathing, there is only one simple method, which is to hold your breath when exerting force and not let it dissipate. When you dissipate the force, just exhale the breath as long as possible.” I said simply.

“It turns out that the state values these things, and even has students practice them from a young age. I said that these movements look familiar, but why didn’t you explain them?” Yang Sheng scratched his head.

“It’s simple. The Four Olds were abolished long ago. How can these things be explained?” I think Yang Sheng understood what I meant.

Yang Sheng nodded. He was just a life idiot, but his IQ was extremely high.

It was already getting late, so I said to Yang Sheng, “Brother Sheng, the best time to practice is in the morning, right after you’ve just woken up. Your body needs to stretch, but before you practice, do some light warm-up exercises first. The effect will be better. Keep doing it. This is the simplest way to practice, but it’s not simple or perfunctory. In a year or two, you’ll find that your body is more flexible and your physique will improve.”

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed.

Su Rou had already returned home the day before, and now it was just me, Ling Ruyue, and Yang Sheng left on the mountain.

The three of us had a simple time during these three days. Yang Sheng often asked Ling Ruyue questions about insects and Taoist teachings, while Ling Ruyue and I enjoyed listening to him talk about the secrets of science.

This kind of exchange is very meaningful, and the feelings of the three of us slowly sublimate in this kind of exchange.

I found that Yang Sheng, in addition to his habits, which were almost childlike, was very impressive in terms of his character: sincere, upright, serious, and honest.

As for Ling Ruyue, I have a new understanding of her. Although she is somewhat willful and eccentric, she is not bad at all, and she is very loyal. I have experienced life and death with her in the tomb, and I consider her my sister in my heart.

“Brother San, Brother Sheng, Grandma is back, and I’m going back to the village. Grandpa Jiang said we’ll meet again in the future. When do you think that will be?” At this time, Ling Ruyue was sitting on the railing of the bamboo forest hut, her two little feet dangling, very cute, but a worried look on her little face.

Yang Sheng put his glasses back on and said seriously, “My research project is destined to take me to many dangerous places in the legends. Sanwa, Ruyue, you should grow up quickly. I also hope that I can have one or two mysterious masters by my side to help me, just like my teacher.”

I threw a peanut in my mouth and honestly, I don’t have any plans for my future. I’m just following my master’s arrangements. I understand what Yang Sheng meant. He meant that when I grow up, I can join certain departments and become his best partner. But my master never mentioned any plans in this regard.

“In a short while, I will be going to Beijing. Fate is something that cannot be forced, but if we are destined to be together, what is the distance between the north and the south? We will always be together.” I said lazily, the roasted aroma of the peanut filling my mouth. Just like the atmosphere at the moment, it was quiet and peaceful, but it made people feel incredibly happy and at peace.

This is the comfort brought by like-minded friends.

“Going to Beijing? Unfortunately, after finishing things here, I’ll be going to Xinjiang to work on a project with one of my teachers, otherwise I could have seen you again in Beijing.” Yang Sheng also peeled a peanut, but unfortunately the shell was all messed up by his teeth.

“I’m going back to Yunnan, and Brother Fatso will stay in Sichuan, right? Brother San, I suddenly feel that we are so far apart.” Ling Ruyue dragged her chin and sighed.

“Haha, I said it before, there is something called fate, and the distance between the north and the south is nothing. We will see each other again.” Perhaps the upcoming separation will make people sad, but I won’t be reluctant. The road ahead will be supported by feelings, so I won’t be lonely. For example, my parents, my brothers and sisters, and my friends.

“Brother San, Brother Sheng, I’ll sing you a song,” Ling Ruyue said, dangling her little feet.

“Good!” Yang Sheng led the applause, and I followed happily.

Ling Ruyue looked at the bamboo forest in the distance and began to sing slowly: “Sunrise in Songshan, the morning bell scares the birds…”

It was the song from the movie Shaolin Temple that I liked. Ling Ruyue sang it very well. I didn’t expect this little girl to sing so well. Yang Sheng and I were both enchanted by her singing. After the song was over, Yang Sheng and I were still in a daze.

“It’s really amazing, it’s not much different from the original!” Yang Sheng said in surprise.

“Yes, little girl, you can become a singer.” I was also surprised.

Ling Ruyue’s rare blush said, “No, my sister sings much better than me. My sister is the best and the most amazing.”

“Your sister is…” I had heard this little girl mention her sister more than once, and just as I was about to ask, suddenly Yang Sheng stood up with a “swish.” I was startled, and when I looked in the direction of his gaze, I discovered that four people had walked out of the bamboo forest.

It was my master and they were back. Master, Huijue, Grandma Lingqing, and Hu Xueman were also following. It was really them.

“Ruoyue, look, they’re back, and so is your grandma.” I couldn’t help but shout out in excitement.

Ling Ruyue jumped down from the railing in excitement. Upon seeing them, she exclaimed, “Isn’t it them?

On the table were the leftovers from our lunch, which I had heated up for Master and the others. I had of course not forgotten to cook two eggs for Grandpa Huijue. The food was simple, but it was also some wild mountain delicacies, fresh and delicious. However, I found that the four of them had no appetite and had not eaten more than a few bites.

Something was wrong with the atmosphere. Since they came back, they had only greeted us three briefly and had not spoken much. They looked very tired and heavy.

I had a lot of questions, but I didn’t dare to ask them. Seeing that no one was eating, I started to clean up quietly.

Ling Ruyue was honestly massaging Ling Qing’s back. From the look on her face, she was also afraid to say anything, and she was very depressed.

Only Yang Sheng, who probably doesn’t have a high emotional intelligence quotient and doesn’t know how to read people’s expressions, asked after they finished eating, “Master Jiang, can I take a look at the report on the ancient tomb? Are there any zombies? And what kind of being is the ghost mother?”

I was sweating. I had never met anyone so direct. There was no tact at all. In this situation, it was strange that Yang Sheng didn’t hit a wall.

But unexpectedly, my master spoke up. He said, “We came straight from the tomb. The action report hasn’t been written yet. As for what kind of existence the ghost mother is, Ling Qing, you show him.”

The bowl in my hand fell to the ground with a crash. What were my master and his friends doing, bringing the ghost mother out directly?

Ling Ruyue was also stunned, and her hands were hammering into the air without realizing it. Obviously, she didn’t expect that my master, who usually likes to hide things, would be so direct.

“I knew it. With your single-minded personality, Yang Sheng, you would definitely tell these kids that there are zombies in the tomb. I really admire you. You can even get into the secret research group. Your mouth is really tight. You’re not afraid that you’ll accidentally become a spy.” My master suddenly sighed.

But I was already too distracted to listen. I really wanted to know what the ghost mother looked like.