Chapter 82: Disappointment

However, after waiting for a long time, He Tianshu did not see Zhang Xiaohua perform the next move, and he couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's wrong, Zhang Xiaohua? Keep going!"

Zhang Xiaohua turned around and said apologetically, "Captain He, I'm sorry, I forgot."

He Tianshu smiled and said, "It's okay, the Six Harmonies Fist is a very complex boxing technique. It's normal to forget. Just pretend you didn't see it. Today, I'll teach you the simple Luohan Fist. Watch me perform it once."

After saying that, he took a stance and performed the entire set of Luohan Fist with vigor. Then he asked Zhang Xiaohua, "Did you understand?"

Zhang Xiaohua shook his head and said, "You moved too fast, I couldn't see clearly."

He Tianshu smiled and slowly performed the simple Luohan Fist again. Then he said to Zhang Xiaohua, "Can you see clearly now?"

Zhang Xiaohua nodded and said, "I can see clearly."

He Tianshu asked, "Can you perform it for me?"

Zhang Xiaohua shook his head again and said, "I didn't remember."

He Tianshu nodded and said, "Then I'll perform it again, and you follow me."

After saying that, without waiting for Zhang Xiaohua's agreement, he took a stance and slowly performed the Luohan Fist again. Zhang Xiaohua, standing beside him, also slowly followed He Tianshu's movements, learning each move. When He Tianshu finished and retracted his stance, Zhang Xiaohua had also learned it.

He Tianshu asked again, "How about it? Did you remember?"

Zhang Xiaohua closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "Captain He, can I learn it one more time from you?"

He Tianshu said, "Sure."

Then he slowly performed it again, even slower than before. Zhang Xiaohua followed and practiced it again.

Seeing that Zhang Xiaohua had learned it, He Tianshu said, "Zhang Xiaohua, perform it for me to see."

Zhang Xiaohua closed his eyes and recalled for a moment, then took a stance and started performing the Luohan Fist he had just learned. However, halfway through, he couldn't continue. Zhang Xiaohua said awkwardly, "Captain He, I forgot. Can you perform it again?"

He Tianshu frowned slightly but still patiently performed it again, even more slowly. Zhang Xiaohua carefully followed and learned it again. However, when he tried to perform it himself, he only managed a few more moves before forgetting again. He then said to He Tianshu, "Captain He, I forgot. Can you perform it again?"

This time, He Tianshu's frown deepened. He didn't start from the beginning but continued from where Zhang Xiaohua had forgotten, guiding him through each move. Finally, Zhang Xiaohua managed to perform the entire set from beginning to end, making He Tianshu sweat more than he would in a sparring match.

Thinking that Zhang Xiaohua had learned it, He Tianshu asked him to perform it from beginning to end again. However, Zhang Xiaohua stopped halfway, scratching his head awkwardly. Just as he was about to speak, He Tianshu interrupted, "Did you forget again? Let me perform it again?"

Zhang Xiaohua blushed and said, "Yes."

He Tianshu sighed and said, "This is the last time." Then, starting from the move Zhang Xiaohua had forgotten, he taught it again, move by move. He then breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Did you learn it?"

Zhang Xiaohua nodded vigorously, and He Tianshu said, "Then let's start."

So, Zhang Xiaohua took the starting stance of the Luohan Fist and performed it seriously. Fortunately, when he reached the move he had forgotten before, he didn't stop but continued smoothly. However, after a few more moves, he stopped again, looking at He Tianshu and wanting to speak. He Tianshu, driven to the brink, said, "Did you forget again? Let me perform it again?"

Zhang Xiaohua nodded happily.

He Tianshu was so angry he didn't know what to say. Pointing at Zhang Xiaohua, he said, "Zhang Xiaohua, are you a genius or a fool? The Luohan Fist has eighteen moves, the simplest introductory boxing technique. A genius can learn it in one go, a slightly clever person in two, and an average person in three. Even I, who was considered as stupid as an ox by my master, learned it in four. You... you've had five, and you still only know eleven moves?"

Zhang Xiaohua said cautiously, "Captain He, you're wrong. You've performed it six times."

He Tianshu ignored him and continued, "Whether it's six or seven, this is the last time."

After saying that, he performed it as slowly as possible, like a snail, then took a deep breath and looked at Zhang Xiaohua with a pained expression. Zhang Xiaohua closed his eyes and thought for a long time before taking a stance. However, he still didn't bring good news to He Tianshu. When Zhang Xiaohua reached the thirteenth move, he stopped again, unable to continue. Looking at He Tianshu, Zhang Xiaohua opened his mouth but didn't say anything.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua's aggrieved look, He Tianshu felt a thousand grievances in his heart but didn't know how to express them. He stomped his foot and walked away, repeating the old saying: the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.

He Tianshu had placed his hopes on Zhang Xiaohua, and seeing his martial arts potential, he couldn't help but blame himself for his lack of discernment.

In the night, He Tianshu waved his hand and left Zhang Xiaohua standing there, staring at his retreating back. Zhang Xiaohua bit his lip and didn't follow, but instead frowned and recalled for a long time, then practiced the Luohan Fist's starting stance and began to practice. However, after a short while, he stopped again, having forgotten the subsequent moves. He recalled and tried again, but stopped at the end. If He Tianshu had been there, his nose would have been twisted with anger. Zhang Xiaohua first performed thirteen moves, then eleven, then nine, and finally only the first six moves, which he didn't forget.

Such talent, sigh, not only He Tianshu, who had already left, but even Yu Lao, standing far away in the corner, shook his head. Even with a thousand pounds of arm strength, what use is it?

Yu Lao, who had come to secretly watch, sighed and returned to his room.

Zhang Xiaohua continued to practice the six moves of the Luhan Fist, afraid of forgetting any more.

When night fell and Zhang Xiaohua could no longer support himself, he tidied up and went to sleep. The room still had a strong odor, and he shook his head, opening the window as usual.

It was strange, it was already May, and the nights were very stuffy without opening the window, but Ma Jing always kept the window closed, leaving Zhang Xiaohua puzzled.

Lying on the bed, Zhang Xiaohua's mind was still full of moves, repeatedly practicing the six moves of the Luohan Fist until he slowly fell asleep.

At midnight, the flickering in his dreams appeared, but the Zhang Xiaohua in the dream seemed unaware, and his limbs moved imperceptibly with the flickering.

The next morning, Zhang Xiaohua was the first to arrive at the martial arts practice area, naturally taking a stance and performing a set of Luohan Fist, well, not a set, but the first six moves. Zhang Xiaohua was quite satisfied with himself; this time, he didn't forget any moves, which was good.

However, when He Tianshu arrived at the practice area, in his eyes, Zhang Xiaohua was not as satisfactory as he looked to himself.

He Tianshu's eyes were red, probably from lack of sleep. He must have thought about it for a long time, and it seemed that not only excitement but also extreme disappointment could cause insomnia.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua repeatedly performing six moves, no, five and a half, He Tianshu felt itchy, wanting to kick Zhang Xiaohua's butt. Last night, Zhang Xiaohua had learned thirteen moves, but now only five and a half remained. The fifth move should have been a left turn, left arm raised, and right fist punching forward from under the armpit, but Zhang Xiaohua's left arm pressed down, and his right fist punched upward like a rocket. Sigh, it could only be considered half a move.

He Tianshu was speechless. Last night, he had taught him six times, not seven, and he... he had only remembered five and a half moves after a night, and the other five moves were also somewhat different. Such talent was truly one in a thousand.

He Tianshu shook his head and was about to walk away to practice himself, but seeing Zhang Xiaohua's furtive glance and his meticulous boxing, he felt a bit soft-hearted. Fine, since Master Ou asked me to teach him, it doesn't specify that I have to teach him personally. Then, he pointed to a disciple who had just come out of the yard and said, "You, go over and teach Zhang Xiaohua the Luohan Fist."

The disciple was taken aback, turned to look at Zhang Xiaohua's five and a half moves, and couldn't help but laugh. Seeing He Tianshu's glare, he quickly suppressed his laughter, ran over, and stopped Zhang Xiaohua, teaching him the Luohan Fist from beginning to end again.

He Tianshu practiced and watched on the side, but soon stopped paying attention, focusing on his own moves because Zhang Xiaohua's performance was just a repeat of what he had taught him the night before.

By the time breakfast was ready, Zhang Xiaohua had only learned ten moves, and this was only after the disciple had patiently and repeatedly taught him. Seeing the disciple's sweat, Zhang Xiaohua felt embarrassed and said, "Thank you, I'm sorry for the trouble."

The disciple smiled bitterly and said, "It's okay, consider it a review of old times."

However, in his heart, he secretly lamented, "If I keep teaching Zhang Xiaohua for a few more days, the Luohan Fist will become my most proficient technique, and I might be the most familiar with it in the Piaomiao Sect."

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End of the chapter.