Chapter 504: The Waking Lion

"Xingyi Quan?" Yao Qing muttered to himself, somewhat surprised to see this. "It’s been so many years... is Sister still insisting on practicing boxing?"

Chen Ling walked to his side, looking at the beautiful figure practicing boxing alone under the willow tree, and asked curiously:

"How do you know?"

"When we were kids, the upbringing at Sister Zhiwei’s home was very strict... Boys had to learn calligraphy and painting, and girls had to learn boxing, saying it was to balance Yin and Yang, combining hardness and softness... Actually, for girls, the most important thing was self-defense, right?" Yao Qing couldn't help but sigh.

"At that time, Sister Zhiwei chose Xingyi Quan, and she had to get up before dawn every day to practice. But that was eight or nine years ago. I didn't expect that now, even though the Su residence has already... she’s still insisting."

Chen Ling then remembered that when he and Yang Xiao found Su Zhiwei, she was wearing a practice suit, seemingly practicing boxing at home as well.

"People with talent aren't scary; people with both talent and perseverance are the scariest." Chen Ling concluded.

The two watched for a few minutes before Su Zhiwei finally finished her practice and rested. Seeing the timing was right, Yao Qing rushed out, handed the tray to Su Zhiwei, and said something with flushed cheeks.

Su Zhiwei froze for a long time, seemingly not expecting Yao Qing to prepare breakfast for her. After hesitating for a moment, she nodded, carried the tray to a stone table nearby, and began to eat seriously, occasionally showing a gentle smile.

Chen Ling stood in front of the glass door with his hands in his pockets, not getting close, just watching quietly.

Just then, as if he had sensed something, he suddenly turned his head to look at the other side of the corridor... An elderly grandmother with graying hair was walking slowly toward them, leaning on a cane.

Xiao Chunping?

Seeing this, Chen Ling’s body subconsciously tensed, his vigilance raised to the extreme.

Now that Yao Qing was in the courtyard with Su Zhiwei and Yang Xiao hadn't woken up yet, only Chen Ling and Xiao Chunping were in this corridor... This was the first time Chen Ling had a face-to-face conversation with a Divine Path possessor of this era.

Xiao Chunping leaned on her cane, approaching Chen Ling while speaking slowly:

"Little friend Chen Ling... did you rest well last night?"

"...It was fine."

"The wind is strong on the roof. If you want to rest, it’s more comfortable inside."

"No need, I can't sleep anyway." Chen Ling paused for a moment. "Only by standing high can one see further."

Xiao Chunping stood still in front of Chen Ling, her hands resting on her cane, and turned her head slightly to look into the courtyard.

In the bright sunshine, Yao Qing sat at the stone table, somewhat awkward, looking at Su Zhiwei, who was eating breakfast seriously, with an expression of wanting to say something but stopping. The slender willows swayed behind them, and it was quiet, with only the sound of a light breeze.

A touch of kindness appeared in Xiao Chunping’s aged eyes, and she said softly:

"Thank you for your trouble, little friend Chen Ling."

"What?"

"Originally, this old one was also wary of you, little friend. But since you guarded the roof all night last night, even if this old one were slow-witted, I would know that you have no malice toward Zhiwei and my dear grandson." Xiao Chunping stretched out a hand, her snow-white hair reflecting slightly in the sun. "I apologize for the offense last night; please don't take it to heart."

Chen Ling didn't expect Xiao Chunping to be so straightforward. After a brief hesitation, he reached out and took the old woman’s hand.

Xiao Chunping’s hand was dry, full of spots and wrinkles, yet as warm as the sun. She looked into Chen Ling’s eyes, a kind smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.

"Little friend Chen Ling, what trade are you in?"

Chen Ling knew that Xiao Chunping wasn't just asking about his job, but testing his Divine Path path, so he replied: "I am... an actor."

"An actor?" A flash of surprise crossed Xiao Chunping’s eyes. "In my early years, I also knew an actor... Unfortunately, he passed away of old age more than a decade ago."

The "actor" Xiao Chunping spoke of naturally wasn't just someone who performed on stage, but someone who belonged to the Theater Divine Path like Chen Ling. However, Xiao Chunping looked to be nearly eighty, and most of the acquaintances she knew from her era were no longer around.

Chen Ling felt a bit of regret hearing this... If possible, he also hoped to see the Theater Divine Path of this era.

"However, a few years ago, I also saw a young man about your age." Xiao Chunping changed the subject. "Although I didn't see him take action, judging by his trade, he should be the same as you."

"About my age, and also an actor?" Chen Ling’s eyes lit up.

"Not an actor... Have you heard of the 'Waking Lion'?"

"Waking Lion?" Chen Ling was thoughtful. "Is it similar to lion dancing?"

"Yes, it originated in Guangdong. Like Su embroidery, it’s also an intangible cultural heritage... The last time I saw him, he was carrying a red lion head, stepping on clouds, and heading toward the horizon."

Stepping on clouds... [Cloud Step]??

In this era, there was still someone who could comprehend [Cloud Step]? Chen Ling was shocked.

"Where is he now?"

"He’s no longer in the country... He’s in the United States now. He said he wanted to go out and see the world, and by the way, let those foreigners see the power of the 'Waking Lion'." Xiao Chunping smiled. "Youth is truly wonderful..."

The United States...

Chen Ling was thoughtful.

Xiao Chunping seemed to remember something and took the initiative to say:

"From today on, little friend, you can rest inside with peace of mind... Someone will do the watching."

"I don't need rest." Chen Ling shook his head. "Besides, I can see further."

Seeing this, Xiao Chunping didn't try to persuade him further.

"In that case, I’ll leave it to you, little friend..."

After Xiao Chunping finished speaking, she tapped the glass door gently with her cane. The crisp sound startled Yao Qing, who was still watching Su Zhiwei eat. Seeing his grandmother standing at the door, he hurried over.

"Grandma, is something the matter?"

"You child, why are you only focused on entertaining Zhiwei? Go prepare breakfast for the two guests as well." Xiao Chunping said, feigning severity.

"I was planning to go in a bit..." Yao Qing scratched his head, wanting to say something else, but seeing Xiao Chunping’s gaze, he took one last lingering look at Su Zhiwei in the courtyard and headed straight to the kitchen.

After Yao Qing left, Su Zhiwei in the courtyard had also finished eating.

She picked up the soy milk bowl and took one last sip before preparing to get up and put it back. Just then, her peripheral vision landed on the corner of the tray;

Su Zhiwei saw that extremely faint heart, froze for a moment, and then a look of panic appeared on her face...

After a long silence, she covered the soy milk bowl with a complex expression, pretending she hadn't seen anything, and got up to walk out of the courtyard.

After everyone finished breakfast, Chen Ling returned to the stone table in the courtyard and closed his eyes slightly...

When the countdown for the era archive reached zero, Chen Ling logged off once again. Waiting for him would be another month of training in the ancient Theater Path.

However, before Chen Ling could return this time, his surroundings dimmed rapidly. A road rising from the abyss carried his body, twisting and turning as it approached the firmament...

Seeing this, Chen Ling’s eyes lit up!

He knew... a new performance was about to begin.