"Young Xu, would you be willing to call me Master?"
Xu Ning was taken aback, roughly understanding Zhao Datou's meaning. A master and disciple were like father and son. This was also a way to alleviate the regret that Xu Ning wasn't his son.
Without any hesitation, Xu Ning knelt down. "I am deeply grateful for Master's kindness in taking me in and teaching me martial arts. I have no way to repay this kindness, and I am willing to become your disciple and strive to repay all your kindness."
Zhao Datou nodded gently. "Good, good! Disciple, please rise!"
There was no formal apprenticeship ceremony, but the affection between them surpassed everything.
Winter arrived, heavy snow fell, and the roads were closed.
Besides practicing his martial arts, Xu Ning had nothing else to do.
This suited Xu Ning perfectly, because his three martial arts were almost at the first level. He could use the winter's cold to stimulate his practice and believed that he would reach the first level by spring.
Snowflakes fell, landing on Xu Ning's bare upper body.
Xu Ning remained unmoved, standing firmly in a horse stance amidst the snow, which was already above his calves.
Tie Dan was frolicking and rolling around in the snow, leaving a mess behind.
At that moment, a graceful figure slowly approached through the white snow, her red robe standing out starkly against the white backdrop.
Upon seeing her, Tie Dan immediately took off running towards her.
Indeed, it was Lin Lu.
Reaching out to pat Tie Dan's head, Lin Lu subconsciously turned to look at Xu Ning, her eyes immediately flashing with surprise.
This was the first time she knew Xu Ning practiced martial arts. She had always assumed he was a scholar.
After all, Xu Ning's appearance was so deceptive, and his penchant for white made him seem like a scholar.
"Xu Ning, aren't you cold?" Lin Lu couldn't help but ask as she approached.
Xu Ning finished her practice. "It's alright!"
At this moment, Xu Ning's bare upper body was even more clearly displayed in front of Lin Lu, causing her to blush involuntarily.
Seeing that Lin Lu didn't speak, Xu Ning couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing here in this snowy weather?"
Lin Lu wanted to say that she came to see Tie Dan, but she felt that this excuse was too unconvincing after using it so many times.
After thinking for a while, she finally spoke. "It's like this. I heard that your firewood burns particularly well, and my family didn't prepare much firewood this winter, so I wanted to come and ask you to buy some!"
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
How could she refuse money that was offered to her? Xu Ning quickly said, "This way, I'll take you to see it!"
Lin Lu was a little uncomfortable with Xu Ning's sudden attentiveness, but she still quickly followed Xu Ning to the mountain of firewood.
Xu Ning began his introduction. "These small ones are fifty coins."
Lin Lu looked at the tree root that was more than twice the size and asked, "What about the big ones?"
Xu Ning shook his head. "These aren't for sale!"
Of course, those were roots from top-grade trees, cultivated by Xu Ning recently. They were exceptionally durable. Xu Ning had tested them, and even a single small root could burn for two hours.
This stuff was far beyond ordinary comprehension, so Xu Ning naturally wouldn't dare sell it.
If he weren't worried about not having enough small ones for the winter and keeping them as a backup, Xu Ning would have been swallowed by the manure bucket.
Lin Lu was also puzzled. "Why not sell them?"
Xu Ning said, "Of course, I'm keeping them for myself!"
Lin Lu finally had no choice but to nod. "Alright! Then give me two small ones. I'll take them home and try them out!"
Xu Ning said, "Okay, buddy, come help Miss Lin carry them back!"
Upon hearing Xu Ning's call, Tie Dan immediately ran over.
Xu Ning, carrying one tree root in each hand, placed them on Tie Dan's back and tied them securely. Then, he looked at Lin Lu and rubbed his hands together, saying, "Um, the money..."
Lin Lu wasn't in a hurry, but instead looked at Xu Ning and asked, "Are you really short of money?"
Xu Ning nodded. "Yes, extremely short!"
Lin Lu's eyes lit up. "My dad said I'm an only child, and whoever marries me will have all the money in my family!"
Xu Ning was immediately surprised. "Ah! I wonder who will be so lucky!"
Lin Lu said, "Don't you want to be that person?"
Xu Ning was stunned for a moment, then his face immediately turned angry. "Miss Lin, you don't mean you don't want to pay, do you?"
Lin Lu's mouth gaped open, unable to recover for a long time.
Finally, she angrily pulled a handful of copper coins from her pocket and threw them at Xu Ning. "Consider the rest a gift!"
With that, she took Tie Dan and left.
Xu Ning quickly started counting, and after a while, he looked up and said, "Miss Lin, you're still two coins short!"
Lin Lu turned around, glared at Xu Ning, and walked away.
Xu Ning was speechless. "You're even short two coins!"
"You're the same way, you want two coins too!" The axe standing by the woodpile couldn't help but say.
It was exasperated with Xu Ning's cluelessness. The girl had already explained things so clearly, yet he still didn't understand her feelings.
Xu Ning glared at the axe. "If you're so capable, upgrade it yourself next time! Is pig iron free? You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're in charge of the household."
The axe immediately shut up, afraid that next time it would be like the iron pot, it wouldn't get a share.
For the next few days, with nothing to do, Xu Ning immersed himself in practicing his skills.
And on this day, Lin Lu came again, braving the heavy snow.
"Xu Ning, could you sell me some more firewood?" Lin Lu couldn't help but ask as soon as she arrived.
Buying firewood last time was just an excuse. However, after bringing it home, she discovered it burned exceptionally well.
Her parents, seeing this, asked Lin Lu to come and buy some more.
Xu Ning said, "Sure! How many?"
Lin Lu said, "Five!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Ning immediately called out to Tie Dan, who was playing nearby. "Old Tie, come and get to work!"
After Tie Dan ran over, Xu Ning placed five tree roots on Tie Dan and tied them up.
On the way, Lin Lu said hesitantly, "Xu Ning, my mom says you're a nice person! She likes you a lot."
Xu Ning nodded earnestly. "I think so too!"
Lin Lu asked in surprise, "Don't you have any other thoughts?"
Xu Ning said, "It's a pity I was born too late, otherwise I might be your father!"
Lin Lu immediately turned ashen with anger. "You bastard!"
With that, she stormed off with Tie Dan.
Xu Ning quickly said, "Brother, you haven't paid yet!"
Lin Lu turned his head. "Can I pay you later?"
They were neighbors, so Xu Ning didn't say anything and could only nod. "Okay!"
Lin Lu didn't come over again after that, which worried Xu Ning terribly—his two hundred and fifty coins!
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
One day, while Xu Ning was practicing outside, a series of muffled thuds suddenly came from his body.
This immediately startled Zhao Datou inside the house, who quickly opened the door and looked at Xu Ning. "You've broken through?"
Xu Ning felt the changes in his body and nodded. "Yes, I've finally reached the first level."
Zhao Datou said, "Great! The first level!"
Xu Ning asked expectantly, "How do I compare to those martial arts masters now?"