Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World-Chapter 45 - Borrowing a Brain
Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Borrowing a Brain
Chapter 45 -45 Borrowing a Brain
(Non-main text: The previous chapter has been covered by the new plot.
For those masters who read the previous chapter before 2 AM yesterday, please flip back to avoid plot discontinuity.)
Staring at the milk tea in front of him, Zheng Fa looked at Tang Lingwu with confusion, “I’ve always known Old Man Bai is afraid of death, but you’re so young…”
“It can whiten.”
Tang Lingwu said softly.
Zheng Fa stared at her delicate face for a long time, not quite understanding, “Does your skin even have that need?”
In his eyes, Tang Lingwu’s skin was even fairer and more delicate than his.
Tang Lingwu’s eyes shone with eagerness, as she nodded seriously, indicating she really needed it.
Zheng Fa shook his head, not understanding.
He turned to look at Old Man Bai beside him.
Old Man Bai also felt Zheng Fa didn’t understand him and explained quietly, “It’s not that I’m afraid of death, it’s that I’m full of nostalgia for this world!”
He sighed and said, “Those young people on the internet, complaining every day about wanting to die.
When you reach my age, you will understand what it means for life to be beautiful and precious; how quickly a lifetime can pass, and only then will you cherish your life.”
Looking at Old Man Bai’s pale hair and deeply wrinkled face, listening to his sigh tinged with reflections on life, Zheng Fa was also somewhat moved.
Tang Lingwu even said with an admiring expression, “Sir Bai, I rarely see someone who loves life as much as you do.”
“You don’t understand!” Old Man Bai waved his hand and said, “When I was young, my Ph.D.
thesis was like a pile of dogshit, afraid I couldn’t graduate.
After starting work, my boss didn’t even treat me as human.
I dreamt of becoming a great mathematician, remembered for ages, but I didn’t have the brains for it, nor did I have the desire to be an academic layabout waiting for death.”
“Back then, every morning I woke up wishing the world would end, dreaming about hanging myself on the crooked tree in front of the office to show that numbskull boss.”
“But now it’s different!
I have a monthly retirement salary of tens of thousands, own a house in Beijing, don’t have to work or take care of grandchildren, can visit the park each morning for exercise, am strong and free of illness or disaster, and don’t even need to be offered a seat on the bus by young people.”
“In the evenings, I go out to watch plaza dancing; some ladies there, only about ten years younger, hear about my conditions and pine for a twilight romance.”
Old Man Bai, gazing at them, said with sentiment, “After decades of paying into social security, the day has finally arrived.
If you were me, would you want to die?”
Tang Lingwu’s eyes widened, “So you’re saying once we reach this age, we’ll understand…”
“Exactly, you’ll understand once you retire.”
Old Man Bai said, as though it were self-evident.
…
“The so-called treasures of martial arts must not be passed on lightly, let alone the unique skills of my cloistered order.
Your dedication to learning martial arts is frankly insincere.”
Even though what the old man said was reasonable and persuasive, Zheng Fa didn’t agree to it readily.
“Master, can you give me another chance?
I will definitely study hard!” Old Man Bai pleaded eagerly looking at Zheng Fa.
“Do you really want to learn?”
“I do want to learn!”
Zheng Fa nodded and said, “Let me be clear in advance, your aptitude is not exceptional.
If you truly want to learn, you must never quit halfway through again.”
“Absolutely not!” Old Man Bai patted the ribs on his chest, making a thumping sound.
“Wait!
First, let me see your sincerity!”
Zheng Fa turned and took several thick stacks of draft papers out of his backpack placed on the chair.
On them were the talismanic diagrams from the “Complete Understanding of Talisman Diagram” that he had recorded from memory, only the first few volumes, to which he had devoted a lot of effort.
Surprisingly, it seemed that after cultivating the “Spiritual Crane Body,” his memory had improved due to enhanced bodily functions.
Old Man Bai, looking at the thick stack of drafts, his lips trembling, had a bad premonition, “How many of these…
drafts of sincerity are there?”
Zheng Fa slowly extended a finger, smilingly, “A whole room’s worth.”
No need to cultivate the “Spiritual Crane Body”; Old Man Bai was already paler than Zheng Fa.
Actually, Zheng Fa hadn’t given too many of the talismanic diagrams to Old Man Bai to analyze recently.
He’d been spending more time learning topology from Old Man Bai.
After all, he preferred to master this knowledge himself.
But he had to admit, his talent in this field was exceedingly modest.
He looked at Old Man Bai, with his head of curly hair.
You keep complaining that I’m not very bright.
Well, you seem pretty clever, so let me borrow your brain.
Old Man Bai was really a slacker before; he wasn’t the type to willingly be someone’s tool.
Now…
isn’t Old Man Bai making a fuss himself?
It was exactly when the other party was feeling guilty that Zheng Fa took the opportunity to bring it up.
“How about I keep teaching you topology?
It’s safest to store this knowledge in your own head,” Old Man Bai said, touching his head, feeling a little cold, obviously still reluctant to be a tool, struggling to speak.
“I never said I wouldn’t learn.
It’s just that I’m slow at learning,” Zheng Fa said with a grin.
Top-notch private tutoring, he wants it.
A tool’s brain, he wants that too.
“Actually…
I’ve suddenly realized that you are an unpolished gem in topology,” Old Man Bai said sincerely.
Zheng Fa sighed softly: “Then I don’t think your heart is really set on learning martial arts.”
Seeing Old Man Bai not getting anywhere, he glanced at the milk tea beside Zheng Fa’s hand.
He had an epiphany, remembering he had a teammate, and with a twitch in his eye, gave Tang Lingwu a meaningful look:
We’re compatriots, don’t you want to learn too?
Help me plead with him!
Tang Lingwu nodded, seemingly understanding, walked over to the table, picked up the cup, and personally inserted the straw.
A smile appeared on Old Man Bai’s face.
Ling Wu really gets it.
To ask for favors, you need to have a service mindset!
The next moment, he watched dumbfounded as Tang Lingwu put her mouth on the straw.
“Feed me with your mouth?” Old Man Bai quickly reached out: “This service is a bit too much!”
After swallowing the milk tea, Tang Lingwu looked at him bewildered, as if she didn’t understand what he was so anxious about.
Old Man Bai stared at her dumbfounded: “You drank it yourself?”
“Yeah!” Tang Lingwu nodded.
“Wasn’t this supposed to be your gift for apprenticing?” Old Man Bai asked further.
“I’m not learning.” Tang Lingwu lowered her head.
“You could become fair-skinned!”
“I was born beautiful.”
“You could become even more beautiful!” Old Man Bai was getting anxious.
“That’d attract too much attention.”
Old Man Bai didn’t expect Tang Lingwu to change her mind so quickly.
Remembering the passion in Tang Lingwu’s eyes when she spoke about becoming fair-skinned, he couldn’t help shaking his head and gave Zheng Fa an even more displeased look.
Zheng Fa looked deeply at Tang Lingwu as well, understanding that she probably didn’t want to trouble him.
After all, convincing a Beijing University professor-level tool for a lifetime’s supply of milk tea probably wouldn’t be enough.
Tang Lingwu, seemingly aware that both were looking at her, let her gaze drift to the side and muttered: “I’m just a bit afraid of pain and tiredness, and I don’t really want to practice martial arts.”
Old Man Bai looked at her, slapped his forehead, and thought to himself that this ally was worse than none!
He looked at the draft notebook Zheng Fa put in front of him, furrowed his brow, pondered for a long time, and finally sighed softly, pushing it away.
This move was somewhat unexpected to Zheng Fa.
Old Man Bai was previously very determined to live a few more years.
“What’s this about?”
“I really don’t have the time; I’ve got to write a book.”
Zheng Fa was taken aback: “Are you actually writing a book?”
“…You thought I was lying to you?”
Zheng Fa nodded.
Old Man Bai looked at Tang Lingwu beside him; Tang Lingwu was also nodding.
“Between the three of us, there’s not a shred of trust, huh!”
