Chapter 87

Dixia smiled as he pocketed the check. Giving it directly to the stubborn old man Hao Yang would be much harder than letting this outstanding young man take it.

The group walked down the tree-lined path, stepping on the large blue stones that paved the way. Chen Xian noticed monkeys perched on the branches, holding fruits and looking down, while the treetops were filled with flocks of birds, brimming with the vibrant life of nature.

After walking for about three hundred meters, a wooden house in the forest came into view. In front of the house, a small square paved with blue stone slabs featured a traditional Chinese pavilion. An elderly man with a youthful face and white hair, dressed in a simple dark gray Zhongshan suit, sat on a square stool in the pavilion, playing chess with another elderly man. The man was of average height and build, and despite his age, his clear and handsome features were accentuated by a pair of silver eyebrows. His eyes, beneath the silver brows, lacked the gentleness of an elderly person and instead radiated a resilience like a seasoned warrior.

The other elderly man he was playing with was much more kind and benevolent. Beside them, Lei Jiuxiao, dressed in a military uniform, sat with his legs sprawled out, looking rather bored. Occasionally, he would interject, "You should have played here, you fool! See, you lost a piece because you didn't listen to me!" Then he would laugh heartily, completely ignoring the rule that a true gentleman should remain silent while watching a game.

"Lei Dazhuang, can't you keep your mouth shut?" the elderly man with silver eyebrows and white hair said irritably. He was one of the founders of the Qianlong team, the first commander of the Qianlong team, and the former strongest person in China, respectfully known as "Red Sword Immortal" Ji Haoyang.

"I'm just bored," Lei Jiuxiao stretched and turned his face toward the group approaching them, raising his thick eyebrows with interest. "At least Xiao Wang finally brought them here."

Ji Haoyang put down the chess piece and looked at the newcomers with a complex expression. His gaze swept past his grandson and landed directly on Chen Tianxin.

"Tianxin, why did you wait until today to come and see me?" Ji Haoyang's gaze softened, as if he were looking at his own daughter. "Your mother and I were life-and-death friends. Sigh, fire, wind, thunder, lightning, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and the founding principles of this school also have her contribution. If it weren't for the fact that I couldn't beat Mr. Duan, you would have been my adopted daughter. How could all these things have happened?"

"Uncle Haoyang, after so many years, are you still blaming Teacher Duan?" Chen Tianxin led her daughter over, a delicate and charming smile appearing on her beautiful face, mixed with a hint of nostalgia, as if she had returned to her carefree girlhood.

"Hmph, Old Duan was indeed the true number one in the world back then. Most of the fourteen national protectors were compiled with his help, drawing on his extensive knowledge. I'm just a rough man, how could I blame him?" Ji Haoyang stroked his beard and sighed, mentioning Chen Tianxin's teacher, Mr. Duan. "Besides, he's been dead for so many years, and I'm still alive. In that sense, I've won, hahahaha."

After laughing for a while, his gaze turned to the girl Chen Tianxin was holding by the hand. He praised, "This must be your daughter. Is her name Chen Xian? How old is she?"

" Fifteen (since Chen Xian has lived abroad for a long time, she is accustomed to using the age system where one year is added on each birthday)," the girl politely nodded and said softly, "Grandpa Haoyang, you can call me Xiao Xian."

"Good girl, Grandpa has a gift for you." Ji Haoyang smiled and turned to enter the house, retrieving a box containing dough, pigments, and small carving knives. He then began to work with incredible speed, occasionally using the carving knife to add details.

Throughout this process, he did not greet Dixia at all. However, Dixia remained calm and composed, quietly watching Ji Haoyang create a handmade gift for his daughter. Soon, a hint of awe flashed in his deep purple eyes.

Even though his master had always been a step ahead, this old man's swordsmanship had indeed reached the pinnacle. In the language of martial arts novels, it was beyond the stage of "sword and man as one" and "forgetting the sword," reaching a realm where the sword could be present or absent, at will, blending seamlessly with nature.

—The former commander of the Qianlong team, once the strongest person in China, was still as sharp as ever.

Ji Haoyang's creation was soon complete, a delicate and lifelike colored dough figure appeared in his palm. He wiped his hand and said, "Go." The dough figure rose in a puff of smoke, somehow removing the residual heat that made it soft, quickly cooling and hardening.

The completed dough figure depicted Chen Xian in a cute Han-style dress, dancing with a small jade rabbit. The details, down to a hundredth of a millimeter, were artistically softened, with her starry eyes, delicate nose, and cherry lips perfectly captured. The natural posture seemed ready to leap and dance, imbued with a subtle charm that transcended the realm of mere craftsmanship, evoking the essence of true art.

Just like the difference between the Mona Lisa's smile and a regular oil painting, the traditional dough figure created by the old man had reached a high level of artistic achievement, enhanced by his supreme swordsmanship and his mastery of traditional crafts.

"Hahahaha, I may not be the best in the world, but when it comes to making dough figures, I'm the best!" Ji Haoyang was clearly satisfied with his work. He beckoned Chen Xian over and handed her the small dough figure.

Chen Xian stared intently at the "dough figurine" made with traditional Chinese craftsmanship. She remembered seeing people making these on the streets when she and Li Pu used to wander around. But the skill of the old man in front of her was incomparable.

I remember these can be eaten. Li Pu and I each bought one, but on the way, the silly Li Pu ate his! Thinking of this, a gentle smile spread across Chen Xian's lips, and her cheeks turned slightly pink as she said to Ji Haoyang, "Thank you! I like it very much. I'll put this little one on my desk, yes, next to my pencil holder, so I can see her every day."

"As long as you like it, old man isn't as rich as your father. I could only come up with this little thing," Ji Haoyang stroked his beard and smiled. Only then did he turn to Dixia.

"Dixia, you're now the Phoenix Duke of the Serpent of Wisdom, huh? Hmph, quite impressive." His voice turned cold, his eyes sharp like swords. "Although I've always had conflicts with your teacher Duan Qian Shan, you really know how to sell your teacher out. I told you from the beginning that you couldn't trust a foreigner, a wolf in sheep's clothing!"

Little Moriarty almost stopped breathing and involuntarily took a few steps back. "Flayer" Brad's face also darkened. The previously kind and benevolent Chinese elder, with just a few words, gave them a strange feeling, as if a sword was pointing at them from every direction, ready to spill their blood at any moment.

—A mental confrontation, as real as a physical one.

Dixia, who was the first to face this, remained calm and even smiled, "Mr. Haoyang, I don't remember you saying that back then. You said there were such fine talents among the foreigners. My memory isn't wrong, is it, Tianxin?"

"…Thick-skinned, really shameless," Chen Tianxin lowered her eyelids and said irritably. However, she couldn't deny that Ji Haoyang had indeed said that, and more than once...

"That's an American trait," Dixia shrugged, "Although I'm not American, I always try to absorb the best qualities from people around the world. Hahahaha."

"Hey, this kid is quite a talker, suits my taste," Lei Jiuxiao looked at Dixia with interest and winked at Ji Haoyang.

"Go away, you know nothing! Stand guard and keep quiet," Ji Haoyang glared at Lei Jiuxiao, "Dixia is a wolf in sheep's clothing, very cunning. But he's better than you, you little brat. He has more presence. You're still a kid."

"Boss, this Chinese old man really doesn't give you any face…" Brad whispered to Dixia in the Lakota language, a language used by the Wind Talkers that even Dixia couldn't understand. But they were so familiar that they could understand each other. Dixia could only smile bitterly.

After scolding Lei Jiuxiao, Ji Haoyang frowned and turned to Dixia, "I don't care about your internal conflicts with the Raven King. But I will protect Tianxin's daughter. As for the rest, I have no interest in working with a white-eyed wolf like you." He glanced at the little Moriarty beside Dixia, his gaze softening slightly, "Hmph, if I hadn't heard that you would bring this great scientist, I wouldn't even bother to see you."

"Hey, respected old man, no need to refuse so quickly, right?" Little Moriarty, speaking with a London accent, spread his hands, "I believe if you understand the details, you will see that this is a very beneficial cooperation. We, the Serpent of Wisdom, possess many technologies that your country urgently needs. Believe me, in applied science, whether it's materials science, advanced weapon systems, genetic engineering, or other technologies, NASA can't compare to my team. All we ask for is to join your 'Legacy' research, yes, just to share the research."

"What did he say?" Ji Haoyang blinked. He was skilled in martial arts, but as an old Red Army soldier from the founding war, he had killed many English speakers but couldn't understand English. He only remembered that the American soldiers he saw on the Korean battlefield often shouted "Chinese-monster! NO~~~" with distorted faces...

"Hey, Old Brother Haoyang, let me handle this." The old man who had been playing chess with Ji Haoyang stepped forward and asked Little Moriarty in accented English, "Mr. Frank, I am Qin Guyang. Are you really willing to exchange your technology for a chance to join our 'Legacy' research?"

Qin Guyang's name represented a highly influential old leader in both the military and political circles of China. His question indicated a certain attitude. China was also in a deadlock in 'Legacy' research, and inviting some external help could be considered.

Moreover, Frank Moriarty's name was a shining star in the field of applied science. Although he had only won two Nobel Prizes, it was because his team's research was almost entirely applied. Each achievement would bring about a revolution in its respective field.

—And the Chinese loved practical applications the most.

"Without a doubt," Little Moriarty smiled, "Old man, I believe this is a win-win situation."

"May I ask, the Americans also have 'Legacy' and their technology is more advanced than ours. Why didn't you seek cooperation with them?" Qin Guyang pondered for a moment. The conditions offered were good, but the reputation of the Serpent of Wisdom was too dangerous, making him hesitant.

"Yes, the Americans have the most 'Legacy'," Little Moriarty shrugged, "If I had to choose, I might have chosen the Americans. But there's one reason, my dearest friend, my soul brother, Gar Felix, strongly advised me to come to China. I don't know the reason yet, but he always surprises me."

Hearing Frank Moriarty's words, everyone's gaze turned to the composed Dixia.

"Dixia, tell me the reason," Ji Haoyang demanded.

"Mr. Haoyang, you may not trust me, but I trust you. Or rather, in some aspects, I trust China more than America," Dixia smiled and turned to Little Moriarty, "Dear soul brother, I have a surprise for you."

"I can't wait, hey, I was less excited waiting for my first love's answer in high school than I am now," Little Moriarty adjusted his tie and put on a serious expression.

Chen Tianxin also looked at Dixia with a furrowed brow, finding her childhood friend increasingly inscrutable.

"I believe we have a good grasp on the understanding of 'Legacy' texts," Dixia suddenly winked at his daughter, "And the one who understands it is my daughter with Tianxin, Ellie (Chen Xian's English name, Elloanita Phoenix, is nicknamed Ellie)."

Chen Xian was playing with the small dough figure, trying to suppress her excitement about reuniting with her best childhood friend, Li Pu, and sharing the world's greatest secret. But Dixia's light words made her look up sharply, her starry eyes filled with panic.

Dad, does he already know about my secret with him?

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