The Grandmaster’s Request for Leave

Having settled the little girl, Ye Di made his way to Lei’s Martial Arts Academy, intending to request a leave of absence.

Yet, as he neared the entrance of the martial arts academy, Lei Ling’s thunderous roar suddenly reached his ears.

“How can we, practitioners of martial arts, take leave for every minor ailment or misfortune? If you ever step out again, don’t you dare claim to be a disciple taught by old Lei!”

‘Why does this scene feel so familiar?’ Ye Di mused.

A male disciple’s voice then spoke up.

“Master, it is precisely because we are martial artists, with better physiques, that we can still barely move now. To be honest, my younger siblings at home are both running high fevers and haven’t been able to leave their beds since last night.”

Lei Ling’s voice, brimming with fury, resounded once more.

“Even if your eighty-year-old mother were burning with fever, it wouldn’t matter! Either hurry home to care for your siblings and be expelled from here, or stay! My Lei’s Martial Arts Academy does not accept sickly weaklings!”

The disciple requesting leave couldn’t help but feel a pang of dejection.

As he looked up, his gaze suddenly caught sight of a tall, slender figure stepping through the entrance.

His eyes instantly lit up.

“Greetings, Grandmaster!”

In the courtyard, those who had been gloating, those idly munching on sunflower seeds, and those merely watching the spectacle—

—even those who had been planning to tuck their ‘mother has a high fever, requesting one day of leave to care for her’ notes back into their pockets,

—all rose to their feet the moment they saw Ye Di arrive.

Their voices boomed in unison.

“Greetings, Grandmaster!!!”

Ye Di observed the disciples, each with their own hidden agenda.

While their mouths shouted “Greetings, Grandmaster,”

Their cunning eyes were all desperately darting behind him.

Their eyeballs seemed almost ready to pop out of their sockets.

Though Ye Di knew exactly who these people were so eager to see,

He was still surprised by the little girl’s undeniable charm.

‘Were they all fans of Xu Niantang’s beauty, or her storytelling?’ he wondered.

‘The former would be understandable, but if it were the latter…’

According to her honest confession last time,

‘The Flying Bandit’s Thousand-Mile Pursuit of His Wife’ had only just reached its fifth act.

Because she hadn’t managed to buy her favorite *xiaolongbao*, Young Miss Xu had stormed off in a huff.

The bandit had then embarked on a long journey, traversing thousands of miles to pursue his wife, just as the prelude to the climax was about to unfold.

‘If these disciples knew that today’s installment would be interrupted,’ Ye Di thought to himself.

‘I wonder what their expressions would be like.’

He walked up to Lei Ling, who was still reprimanding his disciples, and spoke.

“Guild Master Lei…”

“Did you hear me? Since you’re learning kung fu under old Lei, there’s never been such a thing as ‘taking leave’! My Lei’s Martial Arts Academy upholds a strict and upright code. From now on, anyone who dares mention taking leave again will have their damned head dunked directly into that pool over there!”

Lei Ling had originally been scolding with great fervor, his words echoing grandly.

However, the disciples had immediately started shouting “Greetings, Grandmaster” upon Ye Di’s arrival.

He had initially intended to greet Ye Di as well.

Then, a thought suddenly struck him.

‘The young hero’s master has martial arts prowess unlike any I’ve ever seen in my life.’

‘To achieve such divine skill, he must have endured countless hardships.’

‘If I continue to play the part of a strict master, and the master is pleased with my performance,’

‘—believing me to be a teachable child, and imparts even a single move or technique, wouldn’t that be wonderful?’

With this thought in mind, Lei Ling not only did not stop his tirade,

But instead, he started spewing even more spittle as he ranted.

He got so deeply into character that he almost forgot he was merely putting on a show.

It took a pat on the shoulder from Ye Di to snap him out of it.

“Guild Master Lei,” Ye Di said, “reprimanding disciples can wait a moment. I have something to discuss with you.”

Lei Ling immediately snapped back to reality.

He instantly straightened his posture and forcefully patted his chest.

“Young Hero Master,” he declared, “why are you alone today? Where is the Grand-Aunt? Don’t worry, whatever you need, old Lei will brave fire and brimstone for you!”

Ye Di cleared his throat, his expression peculiar.

“Er, I’m here to request a leave of absence for her.”

Lei Ling’s entire body stiffened.

From a corner, one disciple loudly declared.

“Oh no, Grandmaster’s kung fu must be quite formidable. If we want to dunk him in the pool, we’ll probably have to gang up on him!”

Another disciple piped up.

“No, that’s wrong! Master is requesting leave for the Grand-Mistress. If anyone’s getting dunked, it should be the Grand-Mistress in the water… Mmph! Mmph-mmph…”

Immediately, several disciples pounced on him, pinning him down beneath them, clearly intending to silence him.

They roared angrily.

“You brat, how dare you disrespect the Grand-Mistress, whom even Grandmaster struggles to win over! This day next year will be your death anniversary! Prepare to die!”

Only when another person saw that he was nearly suffocating,

Did they finally spit in annoyance before speaking.

“Next time Grand-Mistress holds a class to impart her invincible, world-best love secrets, you won’t be allowed to listen in!”

‘Is this really Lei’s Martial Arts Academy?’ Ye Di wondered. ‘Why does it look more like a circus troupe?’

He turned to Lei Ling and spoke.

“She’s showing some fever symptoms and didn’t get up this morning. So, I thought I’d request a day of sick leave for her. Would Guild Master Lei grant it?”

Ever since Xu Niantang’s arrival,

The disciples under Lei Ling had caused him no small amount of embarrassment.

He had grown quite accustomed to it, so he immediately responded.

“The Grand-Aunt is ill? And with a fever, no less? This is a serious matter! How can we trouble the Grand-Aunt’s precious health any further? She must rest well at once!”

The brawling disciples suddenly fell silent.

Lei Ling felt thousands of gazes prickling him like needles.

Yet, he remained unmoving, his demeanor righteous and awe-inspiring as he declared.

“As martial artists, we must pay even more attention to our physical well-being. Never underestimate minor illnesses or misfortunes, lest they lead to great disaster in the future!”

Ye Di nodded.

“You are right…”

Seeing the master about to leave, Lei Ling quickly stepped forward a few paces and spoke.

“If the Grand-Aunt still doesn’t improve, old Lei can recommend a renowned physician in the city. His surname is Luo, and his given name is…”

However, several disciples were even quicker. They rushed forward and clung to Ye Di’s legs.

They rustled and bustled, stuffing all sorts of items into his pockets.

“Grandmaster, these are tokens of respect from us youngsters to you both! Grand-Mistress must take good care of her health! We’re still waiting to hear her next installment of ‘The Bandit in the Den, Heart with Xu, Battling Through Five Passes and Slaying Six Generals’!”

“Alright, alright, I get it! Stop stuffing things in! My pockets are overflowing; if it doesn’t fit, don’t force it! And stop pulling at my trousers!”

Lei Ling was just feeling relieved by his disciples’ filial piety.

When two or three disciples suddenly appeared beside him.

They hoisted him onto their shoulders and began carrying him towards the pool behind the courtyard.

****

Even after Ye Di had left and walked through two or three streets,

He could still faintly hear Lei Ling’s voice echoing from afar.

“You rebellious disciples, how dare you disrespect your master… Mmph! Glug-glug… glug…”

****

Back at the inn, the little girl was still asleep.

Ye Di checked on her condition from the bedside.

Her small face remained slightly flushed, and tiny beads of sweat dotted her fair forehead.

Her brows were tightly furrowed, as if she were caught in a nightmare.

From time to time, she let out pained whimpers.

Yet, the moment Ye Di held her small hand beneath the covers,

Her furrowed brows immediately relaxed.

Her breathing gradually became steady, as if she had peacefully drifted deeper into sleep.

Outside the window, the sun slowly began to set.

Ye Di stayed by her side for nearly three hours.

Only then did he see the little girl slowly open her eyes.

Still a bit dazed, she stared blankly at Ye Di by the bed.

Seeing her groggy, sleep-addled expression, Ye Di smiled faintly.

“How are you feeling?”

Once Xu Niantang recognized the “bad guy,” her previously tense little face immediately softened.

Her hand, still held by his, instinctively burrowed deeper into his palm.

“Mm… I’m a little thirsty.”

“Alright, I’ll go get you some.”

As Ye Di was about to stand up,

Xu Niantang, however, refused to let go. She gazed at him with pleading eyes, brimming with affection and reluctance to part.

Ye Di sighed.

“Xu Niantang, if you don’t let me go, how am I supposed to get you water?”

Xu Niantang had only just thought of wanting water because she hadn’t considered this point.

Now that the “bad guy” was about to leave, she was no longer thirsty.

“Mm… I’m fine. I already drank a lot in my dream just now.”

Ye Di said.

“Xu Niantang, I’ve only heard of people dreaming they went to the toilet and unfortunately doing so in bed. Can you actually drink water in your dreams?”

The little girl completely ignored him.

She maintained an expression that clearly said, ‘I’m just being unreasonable, don’t you dare leave me.’

Feeling helpless, Ye Di suddenly remembered the offerings from the martial arts academy disciples.

He reached into his pocket and indeed pulled out a cube of rock sugar.

He held it to Xu Niantang’s lips.

She obediently accepted it and, after eating, her lips curved into an irrepressible, sweet smile.

Ye Di chuckled.

“Xu Niantang, this piece of sugar seems to be an offering from a certain disciple. I remember when he was tugging at my trousers, he seemed to say something like, ‘Grandmaster, please remember to tell the Grand-Mistress that A’si sent this!’ Do you remember this person?”

Xu Niantang blinked, pondering for a moment.

Then, she slowly shook her head.

Ye Di didn’t dwell on it. He reached into his pocket again and pulled out a piece of floral pastry.

“This one seems to be from a ‘Little Long’. He shouted, ‘Grandmaster, once the Grand-Mistress eats this pastry, please ask her to share more love secrets!’ Do you have any impression of him?”

This time, Xu Niantang reacted. She nodded intelligently.

“I remember this one. He’s the disciple who runs the betting games.”

“So that’s it.”

Ye Di then pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds.

“What about this Little Zhao?”

Xu Niantang was almost fully awake now, and her thoughts were remarkably clear.

She confidently answered without missing a beat.

“This must be a female disciple. She once asked me how to confess to someone she had a crush on.”

Ye Di thought to himself that the little girl wasn’t dumb after all.

She had recognized all the martial arts academy disciples so quickly.

He said with a touch of relief.

“Xu Niantang, everyone will be very happy to know how much you think of them.”