Chapter 106: When Will the Engagement Take Place?

After the two children left, Chen Ding’an and Dong Jianguo sat down again. They faced each other across the stone table, yet neither took the initiative to speak.

Finally, the impatient Dong Jianguo could no longer bear the atmosphere. “Hey! Don’t just smirk in your heart—if you want to mock me, laugh out loud! I’m used to it by now!”

“Heh,” Chen Ding’an replied in his usual slow manner, first lifting his teacup and taking a small sip. “Tsk tsk~ Your tea leaves really don’t compare to Old Sect Leader Murong’s.”

“Hmph!”

“All right, no more joking,” Chen Ding’an suddenly grew serious. “What do you think of Chen Hao?”

Though Dong Jianguo disliked seeing Chen Ding’an’s smug expression, he could not deny Chen Hao’s brilliance. He nodded earnestly. “He is undoubtedly the most talented young genius of the new generation.”

“Oh?” Chen Ding’an raised an eyebrow. “You actually describe him that way? For someone like you, a cripple, to say such things, it seems you have a good impression of Chen Hao after all.”

Chen Ding’an’s words were a jab at Dong Jianguo. When they were both about Chen Hao’s age, Chen Ding’an had made a similar assessment, though Dong Jianguo had never admitted it, even after repeatedly losing to Chen Ding’an. Their duels did not always end with Dong Jianguo’s defeat.

“I know what you mean,” Dong Jianguo said. “Our rivalry really ended the day I got injured, with your victory. But I’m not conceding defeat to you—I just haven’t had the time. Give me a few more years, and you might find you’re no match for me.”

Surprisingly, Chen Ding’an nodded in agreement. “You’re right. If you hadn’t been so badly hurt, then in ten or eight years, I might very well be surpassed by you and left far behind.”

Then Chen Ding’an said something that nearly made Dong Jianguo furious: “After all, I’m not like you, a cripple whose lifelong goal is to revitalize the family’s martial arts. Your whole day is spent practicing and studying martial arts, without a worry in the world.

“But me? I don’t have your luxury of time. Managing the family business keeps me swamped every day. Honestly, I haven’t improved a bit in years.

“Compared to the last time we fought, I haven’t gotten better—I’ve actually regressed due to my recent laziness. You should have noticed this during our duel yesterday, right?”

Although irritated by Chen Ding’an’s arrogance, Dong Jianguo had to agree with the truth of his words. “Yesterday I thought maybe you held back because I was injured. Turns out, it’s your own skill that has declined.”

“Of course I held back,” Chen Ding’an boasted shamelessly. “Even if I’ve slipped, I don’t need to use my full strength against a cripple like you!”

Dong Jianguo waved his hand dismissively, cutting off Chen Ding’an’s bragging. “Enough about us—I don’t care about you. Let’s talk about Chen Hao.”

Chen Ding’an smiled. “What? Seeing how outstanding Chen Hao is, can’t wait to make him your son-in-law, huh?”

Dong Jianguo rolled his eyes. “Tell me—before today, did you ever teach Chen Hao any of the Dong family’s martial arts?”

“Heh! Looks like you’ve caught onto something important!” Chen Ding’an laughed. “Are you suspicious because of that perfect ‘Mountain Cling’ move Chen Hao used today? Thinking I secretly taught him your family’s martial arts?”

“Bah! You call that secretly learning our martial arts? That was blatant and open learning!” Dong Jianguo spat fiercely. “When we were kids, you tried everything to steal our techniques to beat me, even trading things with me. Foolish little me fell for your tricks. If not for that, you’d never have been my match!”

“Weren’t we supposed to drop the childhood stuff?” Chen Ding’an slyly asked.

“Damn it! You’re the one who brought it up!” Dong Jianguo cursed. “Just answer me—did you teach Chen Hao our martial arts or not?”

Chen Ding’an didn’t answer directly but instead asked, “What do you think? Do you believe I taught him? If I say I didn’t, where do you think he learned it from?”

Dong Jianguo frowned. “Honestly, that’s exactly what puzzles me.

“First, I’m sure Chen Hao didn’t learn from me or Ya Tou. We’ve only known each other for two days.

“Also, the ‘Mountain Cling’ move isn’t something you can master overnight. It requires long practice and conditioning.

“None of my disciples can perform it, let alone with Chen Hao’s precision and timing.

“So he couldn’t have learned it from them.

“Since it’s not from me, Ya Tou, or my disciples—and certainly not from my useless relatives—it can’t have leaked from inside the Dong family.

“The only other possibility is from you. After all, apart from me, Ya Tou, and my disciples, you know the Dong family’s martial arts best.

“Though you never formally studied our style, having fought me so many times and known me for years, your talent and Chen family’s martial arts foundation make it not too difficult to study and imitate ‘Mountain Cling.’ Even if you don’t fully understand it, mimicking it shouldn’t be a problem.

“Besides, the ‘Mountain Cling’ Chen Hao used today had some slight differences from the Dong family version, which is why I came to ask you.”

“That’s not asking—you’ve already made up your mind!” Chen Ding’an shrugged.

Dong Jianguo shook his head. “No! I can’t be sure. Though my reasoning sounds reasonable, there’s a big problem.

“Whether it’s your Chen family’s martial arts or ours, both are quite advanced. Average practitioners take a long time to see any progress.

“Even talented ones like Ya Tou or Chen Hao need to work hard. Yet Chen Hao…

“Watching how he dodged Ya Tou’s attacks today, he used the Chen family’s second form—‘Crescent Moon.’ Judging by his angles and timing, he must have practiced a great deal.

“What’s interesting is that ‘Mountain Cling’ is also a move that requires extensive practice. Moreover, these two techniques contradict each other in nature.

“One relies on brute strength to attack, while the other depends on speed and agility to dance around the opponent. I don’t believe a child under ten can distinguish these differences so clearly. It’s a contradiction.

“But Chen Hao can easily perform both and used them to defeat Ya Tou.

“If he didn’t have an excellent teacher, it just doesn’t add up. And yet the contradiction remains—how could a child under ten reach this level even with a great teacher?”

“Oh, that’s why!” Chen Ding’an nodded knowingly. “I didn’t think you, the cripple, would analyze things so well!”

“Enough chatter! Answer my question!” Dong Jianguo waved his hand impatiently.

Chen Ding’an scratched his ear casually and took a sip of tea. “What if I told you I never taught Chen Hao the ‘Mountain Cling’ technique or its execution method? I only briefly described the move’s general idea. He grasped and learned it purely through his own talent.

“Before seeing Ya Tou’s martial arts today, he knew nothing about the Dong family’s style. He observed and studied on the spot, then integrated it with his own understanding to perform the move. How would you react to that?”

...

Dong Jianguo squinted, staring at Chen Ding’an. “Is it fun to brag and lie for your son?”

Chen Ding’an stood with hands on hips, glaring back. “Do I need to lie to a cripple like you who’s half-buried already?”

“Are you sure you’re not lying?” Dong Jianguo asked suspiciously. “You’re just trying to flatter me so I’ll marry my daughter to your son, right?”

“Damn it!” Chen Ding’an feigned anger. “Do I look like that kind of shameless scoundrel?”

“Very much so!” Dong Jianguo answered without hesitation.

“You—damn you!” Chen Ding’an emphasized every word. “After all these years, when have I ever lied to you?”

“Countless times!” Dong Jianguo was certain.

“Uh...” Chen Ding’an scratched his head awkwardly. “I really haven’t lied. Though I’m not sure how Chen Hao learned ‘Mountain Cling,’ I admit I exaggerated before, but I swear I never taught him that move. You know my style—I dislike such direct, forceful techniques.

“And even if I did teach him, what then? You analyzed it yourself—someone who can master both ‘Crescent Moon’ and ‘Mountain Cling,’ and use two opposing styles in combat, that alone proves how remarkable he is.”

Dong Jianguo suddenly understood and slammed his hand on the table, raising a new question: “When are we going to arrange the engagement between Chen Hao and Ya Tou?”