There, in the reception room, Zhang Beixing and Chen Fenghua were sparring.

To call it sparring, however, was an overstatement; it was more like Chen Fenghua being unilaterally pummeled.

Under Zhang Beixing's relentless onslaught.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Chen Fenghua was hit repeatedly.

It wasn't long before he was beaten black and blue. He hastily retreated several paces to create distance from Zhang Beixing.

Seeing Zhang Beixing still keen and eager to advance for a few more punches, Chen Fenghua quickly exclaimed,

"Stop! Stop!"

"No more, no more! I give up! Didn't we agree to stop once contact was made? Why are you getting more fired up and serious the longer we fight?"

"Ouch! It hurts so much! Beating up your father-in-law... what kind of prospective son-in-law are you?"

The slightest movement pulled at his injuries, causing Chen Fenghua to grimace in pain, inwardly cursing his misfortune!

Hearing this, Zhang Beixing felt quite helpless. "Brother Fenghua, you're wronging me. I truly wasn't using much strength, nor was I being serious. I was already holding back as much as possible. I also didn't expect..."

I also didn't expect you to be so incredibly weak!

Looking at Chen Fenghua, Zhang Beixing felt a wave of speechlessness.

Previously, when Zhang Beixing heard Chen Fenghua claim his proficiency in the Northern Sect's Eight Pieces of Brocade was second only to Elder Chen, he had taken it quite seriously. He thought he would have to go all out to face him. He never imagined Chen Fenghua would fall before he even began to exert real effort.

Just as Zhang Beixing was helping Chen Fenghua to his feet, Elder Chen, who had watched their spar conclude, couldn't hide his bewilderment. He looked at Zhang Beixing and hurriedly asked, "Nephew Zhang, how exactly did you train your Northern Sect's Eight Pieces of Brocade?"

It was truly strange.

Zhang Beixing's execution of the Northern Sect's Eight Pieces of Brocade seemed perfectly normal. Every move and every stance was flawless. So why did he exhibit such a dramatically different transformation after practicing?

Elder Chen's brows furrowed, completely puzzled.

It was like everyone working at the same company, in the same position, doing the same job daily. Then one day, you arrived at work and—hey!—that colleague next to you had suddenly branched out on their own and become incredibly successful! It was utterly baffling and strange, leaving one completely bewildered.

Elder Chen felt exactly like that now.

He watched Zhang Beixing, his eyes full of incomprehension, seeking an explanation.

After hearing Elder Chen's question, Zhang Beixing pondered for a moment before replying, "I just... practiced normally. It just sort of happened!"

"That's impossible! Normal practice absolutely wouldn't lead to this!" Elder Chen flatly denied it without hesitation.

He had been practicing for decades. If normal practice could achieve what Zhang Beixing had, he would have reached that level long ago. He wouldn't be so astounded now by the Northern Sect's Eight Pieces of Brocade that Zhang Beixing demonstrated!

There absolutely must be something different about it!

With this in mind, Elder Chen said decisively, "How about this, Nephew Zhang: I'll perform it once for you. You can see for yourself where the problem might be. What do you say?"

"Ah, this... Alright!"

Upon hearing that Elder Chen himself would demonstrate the Northern Sect's Eight Pieces of Brocade, Zhang Beixing thought for a moment and agreed.

Although Zhang Beixing wasn't sure what his own issue was, he readily accepted. After all, the chance for Elder Chen, a master of the Northern Sect's Eight Pieces of Brocade, to personally demonstrate and offer guidance was a rare privilege.

Not everyone gets such an opportunity!

With this thought, Zhang Beixing watched intently.

He watched as Elder Chen, after speaking, moved to the side and composed his breathing. Soon after, Elder Chen adopted the starting stance of the Northern Sect's Eight Pieces of Brocade, his breathing becoming long and deep. Then, slowly, he performed the first form: Holding Up the Heavens to Regulate the San Jiao.

PURR PURR~~ PURR PURR~~

A sound like a cat purring emanated from Elder Chen's body.

Hearing this, the anticipation on Zhang Beixing's face vanished, replaced by stunned disbelief.

He stared blankly at Elder Chen, momentarily bewildered.

Didn't Elder Chen say he was going to demonstrate the correct way to perform the Northern Sect's Eight Pieces of Brocade? So why is the sound he's making not even a tenth of mine? What's this 'PURR PURR' sound? Is he a kitten purring playfully?

No, that's impossible! Absolutely impossible! Elder Chen is, after all, a great master of the Northern Sect's Eight Pieces of Brocade. He shouldn't be weaker than me!

Is he starting subdued and planning to build up gradually?

Zhang Beixing thought this was a possibility and watched with renewed anticipation.

Ten minutes later, Elder Chen completed the entire set of the Northern Sect's Eight Pieces of Brocade and assumed the closing stance.

Only then did Zhang Beixing snap back to reality, utterly bewildered. "That's... it? You're finished?"

"Yes, what else? Nephew Zhang, what did you think of my performance of the Northern Sect's Eight Pieces of Brocade?" Elder Chen asked, wiping the fine beads of sweat from his forehead as he looked at Zhang Beixing.

At these words, Zhang Beixing's expression immediately turned peculiar.

A question was caught in his throat, and he didn't know if he should ask it.

Seeing Zhang Beixing's hesitation, Elder Chen's brows knitted together. "Nephew Zhang, if you have something to say, just say it. Why are you hesitating? What did you think of my performance?"

Pressed by Elder Chen, Zhang Beixing finally voiced the thought that had been forming as he meticulously observed every detail of the elder's practice: "This... Are you perhaps holding back your true skill?"

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