Chapter 763: Chapter 599: Not Hot After Reading
"I just want these three kids to come a few days earlier and stay at your residence for a few days, so they can learn about etiquette from your steward. What do you think?"
Gu Chengyu initially wondered what kind of matter could be so hard for Ye Clan Leader to express.
It turns out it was merely this; how could this be troublesome?
"Ye Clan Leader, youâre too polite. Brother Zhonghuai and I are classmates and friends, having passed the exams in the same year. Weâre both serving at the Hanlin Academy now, and we share a good friendship. This is no trouble at all, just send them over!"
Ye Clan Leader sighed in relief upon hearing this. It seemed like Brother Qiu and Mr. Gu were indeed on excellent terms.
"Then I must trouble you, sir, but as for their food and lodging, it would still be a bother to your residence."
As he spoke, Ye Clan Leader couldnât help blushing, knowing he couldnât possibly ask Mr. Gu to take money from Brother Qiu.
But the Ye Family really couldnât spare any money, so they had no choice but to thicken their skin and ask for help.
Gu Chengyu felt even more that Ye Clan Leader was a considerate and sensible person, not greedy in the least.
"Ye Clan Leader, you are overthinking it; you can send them over at any time. When they arrive, just look for my followers Ming Mo or Ming Yan."
The weather at the end of July was unbearably hot. Gu Chengyu had already been on the boat for nearly half a month.
"Jinyu! Itâs so unbearably hot today."
Zhu Pang complained aloud the moment he pushed open the door to Gu Chengyuâs room.
Looking at Zhu Pang with a fan in hand, fanning himself vigorously, Gu Chengyu couldnât help but find it amusing.
Zhu Pang looked somewhat like a certain animal now, with his collar pulled open and his head and face covered in sticky sweat.
As soon as he got inside, he slumped onto a chair, breathing heavily, as if he could no longer endure it.
Gu Chengyu put down the book he was holding and replied with a smile, "Youâre exaggerating too much; how can it be that hot?"
Seeing Gu Chengyu all neat and tidy, without a drop of sweat on his forehead, Zhu Pang couldnât help but feel envious.
"Youâre the lucky one. Your inner strength is so pure; you must be enjoying winter warmth and summer coolness!"
Gu Chengyu pulled out a book from the table and tossed it over to Zhu Pang.
"Take a look! Maybe reading it will cool you off."
As Gu Chengyu tossed a book over, Zhu Pang immediately raised his hand in dislike to block it.
"Stop teasing me; you know I get a headache whenever I read. I wasnât seasick, but reading surely makes me feel dizzy. Plus, thereâs no ice on this boat; itâs scorching."
Zhu Pang thought Gu Chengyu was teasing him, and he felt quite vexed.
Seeing the book fall to the ground, Gu Chengyu could only shake his head and chuckle.
"Are you sure you donât want to read it? You might regret missing out."
"Spare me! Even if my father beats me, I wonât read it. No matter how enticingly you speak... "
Zhu Pang initially dismissed it, but as he spoke, he glanced at the book on the ground.
And with that glance, he fell silent.
Throwing the fan onto the table, Zhu Pang bent down to pick up the book.
"Supreme Technique? Whatâs this?"
Although Zhu Pang asked cynically, his sparkling eyes betrayed him.
Seeing Zhu Pangâs eager eyes, Gu Chengyu replied, "Canât you tell? If you donât want to read it, give it back. Itâs a treasure; I obtained it with difficulty."
Zhu Pang quickly flipped open the book, and seeing the slogans and moves inside, he could hardly contain his joy.
"Jinyu! This is..." Zhu Pang beamed at Gu Chengyu, about to utter the words "secret martial arts manual."
Gu Chengyu quickly gestured for silence, "Shh! Careful, ears could be listening behind walls."
Indeed, what Gu Chengyu handed to Zhu Pang was a secret martial arts manual combining moves and inner strength.
However, this "Supreme Technique" was not considered an advanced cultivation technique within the space, quite ordinary indeed.
Upon hearing Gu Chengyuâs words, Zhu Pang quickly covered his mouth, his large eyes narrowing into slits with joy.
"Jinyu, youâre so good to me!" Zhu Pang stepped forward and embraced Gu Chengyu, overwhelmed with gratitude.
Gu Chengyu felt goosebumps rising all over and hurriedly pushed Zhu Pang away, "Ahem! Donât think a secret martial arts manual can make you invincible in the world."
Hearing this, Zhu Pang chuckled, "Of course! Jinyu, youâve been practicing longer than I have. The worldâs number one must be you!"
Seeing Zhu Pangâs fawning expression, Gu Chengyu couldnât help but dampen his spirits.
"Such internal cultivation methods and martial arts moves should have been practiced since childhood; youâre approaching the age of twenty. Even if you had a good foundation, it might be too late."
Zhu Pang became anxious, "What does that mean? So I canât train?"
"Donât be anxious; it all depends on your understanding and aptitude. Even if youâve missed the best age to learn martial arts, you might still manage since you have some basics. Though itâll surely require more effort for less progress, you should approach it calmly."
The reason Gu Chengyu didnât take it out earlier was that he was still observing Zhu Pang.
Though Zhu Pang was his friend, there was a family behind him.
Besides, Zhu Pang hadnât decided to pursue the military examination path before, so inner strength wouldnât have mattered.
Zhu Pang, uncharacteristically earnest, said, "I understand this, but Iâm not afraid of hardship. As long as I can practice according to the technique. However, this manual, did it come from your master? Such precious things must be a treasure of your sect. If you give it to me, your master wonât..."
Zhu Pang thought of Gu Chengyuâs mention of the master, not Liang Zhirui, but a reclusive expert, as Gu Chengyu personally told him.
He secretly speculated that Gu Chengyuâs master was an expert from a martial arts family. Although envious of Gu Chengyuâs skills, he never asked Gu Chengyu to teach him anything.
After all, sect inheritances have strict rules, and since he was not Gu Chengyuâs sect disciple, if Gu Chengyu casually passed on the manual to an outsider like him, wouldnât that mean Gu Chengyu was betraying his sect?
Gu Chengyu was momentarily stunned, recalling he had previously come up with an excuse about a master.
Still, he felt touched that Zhu Pang, despite his love for the manual, still cared about him.
"Donât worry! I got this from my master, not from my sect. However, since itâs something from the martial world, it shouldnât appear at court. If you learn this martial art, remember not to bully the weak, and this skill should not be known to outsiders, only for your practice."
Zhu Pang, having realized Gu Chengyu had specially acquired a manual for him, felt his eyes well up with emotion.
"Rest assured, I wonât spread this martial art. Once Iâve learned it, Iâll return the manual to you. I promise not to tell my parents and brother; Iâll just say I hired a master to teach me martial arts."
Gu Chengyu knew Zhu Pangâs character; though Zhu Pang seemed unreliable on the surface, it was merely a facade, as Zhu Pang was astute indeed!
"How could I not trust you? Guard this manual carefully so that ill-intentioned people wonât get a glance. Still, in case you canât cultivate, return it to me immediately."
With Gu Chengyuâs words, Zhu Pang immediately flared up.
"Just wait, Iâll go to my room and practice now!" Zhu Pang stormed out, heading to his room.