Lesson 95: Teaching One’s Husband to Become a Man of Talent, Part Two

Xiao Yun’er understood immediately—it must have been Ninth Miss who, seeing him nodding off, used her internal energy to flick pine needles at him. Because the needles were infused with her energy, the prick on his face was so painful.

Realizing this, Xiao Yun’er became excited. He held up two pine needles, as if brandishing the emperor’s sacred sword, and proudly approached Ninth Miss. “I know it was you who pierced me with these two needles. You can’t deny it.”

Ninth Miss replied casually, “What’s the fuss about? You were dozing off while practicing, sitting like a worm. Who trains like that?”

Xiao Yun’er, seeing her defend herself after pricking him, grew angry. “Who teaches like you? I don’t think you even know how to teach me. You’d be better off instructing monks in meditation.”

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. “With teaching like yours, who wouldn’t fall asleep? You were just dozing off yourself! Damn it, learning martial arts this way is pointless. I should have quit long ago. At worst, you could have just kicked me out.”

Ninth Miss was taken aback by his childish outburst but softened her tone. “Alright, it was wrong of me to prick you with the needles just now, but you’re too unfocused in your breathing exercises. Honestly, practicing internal energy without concentration can easily lead to disaster. I was only trying to help you.”

Xiao Yun’er still grumbled, “You say pricking me was for my own good, and pulling me out of a warm bed is also for my own good? Damn, you’re too good to me—better than my own mother! Ah, Little Jade was right—whoever marries the wrong woman is doomed. Looks like I’m about to become an unlucky man.”

Ninth Miss retorted, “Hey! You’re still a big kid now. In a few years, you’ll say, ‘Back then, Long Lengyue was right. Without mastering martial arts, wandering the world only brings misfortune.’”

Xiao Yun’er protested, “I’m not a big kid! I can marry now. If you married me right now, maybe I’d even help you have a son!” Xiao Jing and Xiao Lan, overhearing this, nearly laughed but bit their lips to hold it in.

“What!” Ninth Miss was itching to slap the brat but knew it would only make things worse. Instead, she said, “Remember the martial arts mantra I taught you? ‘Move like the wind, stand like a pine...’”

Xiao Yun’er laughed. “I get it. To master internal energy, you must practice breathing exercises well. Why not just say, to become a master, you must perfect meditation? What’s with ‘move like the wind, stand like a pine, sit like a bowl, lie like a bow’? Is there no such thing as ‘move like a worm, stand like a bow, sit like an old man, lie like a cocoon’—a worm master?”

Nearby, Xiao Jing almost burst out laughing. “Young Master Yun, then teach me to be a worm master! That sounds easy and fun.”

Ninth Miss had wanted to say that even the most elusive masters achieve their skills through painstaking internal training, but she knew explaining it to Xiao Yun’er was pointless. “If you want to learn advanced moves, I’ll teach you the sword technique ‘Dragon at the Horizon.’ Though it’s called one move, it contains twelve visible variations and twenty-four hidden ones.”

She demonstrated the move with her long sword. After he watched, she explained each of the thirty-six variations, both overt and subtle. The technique was profoundly complex. Not only was Xiao Yun’er a complete novice, even seasoned martial artists would struggle to comprehend it all at once. Yet, with his remarkable memory, he managed to memorize the variations, though mastering them was another matter entirely.

After practicing the move dozens of times, Xiao Yun’er had only grasped the surface. The deeper he delved, the more profound and difficult it seemed. After more than thirty repetitions, he could no longer hold back, throwing down the sword. “I can’t learn this. I’m done.”

Seeing his dejected expression, Xiao Jing couldn’t help but chuckle. “Young Master Yun, now you understand how hard it is to learn advanced techniques, don’t you?”

Xiao Yun’er retorted with a grin, “Why are you laughing? Just wait until I master my skills—I’ll be the first to challenge you.”

Ninth Miss smiled. “Good, Yun’er. Now you see I wasn’t lying to you.”

Xiao Yun’er laughed. “Alright, you’re right. Start teaching me from the beginning.”

Ninth Miss smiled. “Very well. But remember, this was your choice. Don’t claim later that I bullied you.”