Awakened Lion
"Xingyi Quan?" Seeing this scene, Yao Qing muttered to himself in some surprise, "After all these years... Sister is still persistently practicing boxing?"
Chen Ling walked up to his side. Looking at the beautiful figure practicing boxing alone under the willow tree, he asked in confusion, "You know about this too?"
"When we were kids, the upbringing in Sister Zhiwei's family was very strict... Boys had to learn calligraphy and painting, while girls had to learn boxing. It was said to harmonize Yin and Yang, balancing hardness and softness... Actually, for a girl, the most important thing is self-defense." Yao Qing couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"At that time, Sister Zhiwei chose Xingyi Quan, and then she had to wake up before dawn every day to practice. But that was eight or nine years ago. I didn't expect that the Su Estate has already... yet she is still persisting."
Only then did Chen Ling remember that when he and Yang Xiao found Su Zhiwei, she was wearing a martial arts uniform, seemingly also practicing boxing at home.
"People with talent aren't terrifying. People who have both talent and perseverance are the most terrifying," Chen Ling concluded.
The two watched like this for several minutes until Su Zhiwei finally finished her practice and rested. Seeing the time was ripe, Yao Qing darted out with a whoosh. He handed the plate to Su Zhiwei, saying something with a flushed face.
Su Zhiwei was stunned for a long while, seemingly not expecting Yao Qing to prepare breakfast for her. After hesitating for a moment, she nodded, carried the plate to a nearby stone table, and started eating seriously, occasionally displaying a gentle smile.
Right at this moment, as if he sensed something, he suddenly turned his head to look at the other side of the corridor... A white-haired old grandmother leaning on a walking stick was slowly walking over here.
Xiao Chunping?
Seeing this scene, Chen Ling's body instinctively tensed up, his vigilance instantly elevated to the maximum.
Right now, Yao Qing and Su Zhiwei were in the courtyard, and Yang Xiao hadn't woken up yet. There were only Chen Ling and Xiao Chunping in this corridor... This was Chen Ling's first time having a face-to-face conversation with a Divine Path Possessor of this era.
Leaning on her walking stick, Xiao Chunping slowly spoke as she approached Chen Ling.
"Little friend Chen Ling... did you rest well last night?"
"...Alright."
"The wind is strong on the roof. If you want to rest, it's still more comfortable indoors."
"No need, I couldn't sleep anyway." Chen Ling paused for a moment. "Only by standing high can one see further."
Xiao Chunping came to a halt in front of Chen Ling. With both hands resting on the walking stick, she turned her head slightly to look into the courtyard.
Under the bright sunlight, Yao Qing sat somewhat awkwardly at the stone table, looking at Su Zhiwei who was earnestly eating breakfast in front of him, with an expression of wanting to speak but stopping. The slender willow branches swayed gently behind them, and it was so quiet that only the faint sound of the wind could be heard.
A loving expression surfaced in Xiao Chunping's old eyes, and she spoke softly.
"Thank you for your trouble, little friend Chen Ling."
"What?"
"Originally, this old one was also wary of you, little friend. However, you kept watch on the roof all night last night. No matter how slow-witted this old one is, I know you harbor no ill will toward Zhiwei and my good grandson." Xiao Chunping extended a hand, her snow-white hair reflecting slightly under the sunlight. "There were many offenses last night. Please don't take them to heart, little friend."
Chen Ling hadn't expected Xiao Chunping to bring this up so straightforwardly. After a slight hesitation, he reached out and held the elderly woman's hand.
Xiao Chunping's hand was very dry, covered in spots and wrinkles, yet it was as warm as sunlight. She looked into Chen Ling's eyes, an amiable smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.
"Little friend Chen Ling, what line of work are you in?"
Chen Ling knew that Xiao Chunping wasn't simply asking about his job, but probing the Divine Path he belonged to. He immediately replied, "I am... a thespian."
"A thespian?" A hint of surprise flashed in Xiao Chunping's eyes. "In my early years, I also knew a thespian... It's a pity that he passed away of old age over a decade ago."
The "thespian" Xiao Chunping spoke of naturally couldn't be a simple opera singer, but referred to an existence belonging to the Path of the Actor, just like Chen Ling. However, Xiao Chunping looked to be almost eighty years old. The vast majority of the acquaintances she knew from her era were already gone by now.
Hearing this, Chen Ling also felt a bit of regret... If possible, he also hoped to witness the Path of the Actor of this era.
"However, a few years ago, I also met a young man about your age." Yao Chunping changed the subject. "Although I've never seen him make a move, judging from his line of work, he should be the same as you."
"About my age, and also a thespian?" Chen Ling's eyes lit up.
"Not a thespian... Have you heard of 'Awakened Lion'?"
"Awakened Lion?" Chen Ling was deep in thought. "Is it similar to lion dancing?"
"Yes, it originated in Guangdong and, like Su Embroidery, is also an intangible cultural heritage... The last time I saw him, he was carrying a red lion head on his shoulders. He stepped on the clouds all by himself and headed toward the horizon."
Stepping on the clouds... Cloud Steps??
In this era, there was actually still someone who could comprehend Cloud Steps? Chen Ling was startled inwardly.
"Where is he now?"
"He's no longer in the country... He is currently in the United States. He said he wanted to go out and take a look, and incidentally let those foreigners witness the formidable power of the 'Awakened Lion'." Xiao Chunping smiled. "It's so good to be young..."
The United States...
Chen Ling was deep in thought.
As if recalling something, Xiao Chunping proactively said, "From today onwards, little friend, you can rest assured indoors... There will be someone to handle the lookout."
"I don't need to rest." Chen Ling shook his head. "Moreover, I can see further."
Seeing this, Xiao Chunping didn't try to persuade him anymore.
"Since that is the case, I will have to trouble you, little friend..."
After saying that, Xiao Chunping lightly tapped the glass door with her hand. The crisp sound startled Yao Qing, who was still watching Su Zhiwei eat. After seeing his grandmother standing at the door, he hurriedly walked over.
"Grandma, is something the matter?"
"You child, how can you only focus on entertaining Zhiwei? Go prepare breakfast for the two guests as well," Xiao Chunping said with feigned strictness.
"I was planning to go in a bit..." Yao Qing scratched his head and wanted to say something more, but seeing Xiao Chunping's gaze, he still cast a reluctant look at Su Zhiwei in the courtyard and walked straight to the kitchen.
After Yao Qing left, Su Zhiwei in the courtyard was also almost done eating.
She picked up the soy milk bowl. After taking a final sip, she prepared to get up and put the soy milk away. Right at this moment, her peripheral vision suddenly fell on the corner of the plate.
When Su Zhiwei saw that extremely faint heart, she was stunned for a moment, and then panic surfaced on her face...
After a long silence, she covered the soy milk bowl back up with a complex expression, pretending not to have seen anything, and got up to walk out of the courtyard.
After everyone finished breakfast together, Chen Ling returned to the stone table in the courtyard, sat down, and gently closed his eyes...
When the countdown for the Timeline Save File reached zero, Chen Ling went offline once again. Waiting for him would be another month of cultivation in the Ancient Vault of the Drama Path.
However, this time, before Chen Ling could return, the environment around him rapidly dimmed. A road rising from the abyss supported his body, twisting and turning as it approached the sky dome...
Seeing this scene, Chen Ling's eyes lit up!
He knew... a new performance was about to arrive.