Return to the City: The Strongest King
Chapter 506 - 507: Legacy

Chapter 506: Chapter 507: Legacy

The Ding family’s elderly patriarch was also advanced in years and weak in body, but that was just due to old age and physical decline. When Song Xiaodong applied acupuncture, he was definitely tired, but it was somewhat better.

However, Elder Fang’s body had accumulated many years of cold energy, and on top of being elderly, it was more troublesome.

This was because Elder Fang had practiced martial arts since childhood, and he was a martial arts master. In his youth, he was definitely not someone who could be defeated by a dozen individuals; that was also the reason he survived on the battlefield.

The benefit of practicing martial arts was that it gave him a better constitution than ordinary people, allowing him to hold on until now. Otherwise, he might have long gone to meet his old comrades-in-arms.

Song Xiaodong spent a full hour administering acupuncture this time, with Lin Su’er constantly wiping his sweat at his side. Her heart ached for him, but she dared not speak much, silently being an excellent helper.

After Song Xiaodong removed all the needles, he was nearly exhausted. Elder Fang knew this would happen and had arranged a room nearby in advance; immediately, a servant helped Lin Su’er escort Song Xiaodong there to rest.

When Song Xiaodong woke up, it was already past ten at night. As he opened his eyes, he saw Lin Su’er sitting beside him, her face full of concern.

"You’ve been with me the whole time?" Song Xiaodong reached out and took Lin Su’er’s hand.

Lin Su’er immediately smiled and said, "I don’t know anyone here, and I dare not wander around, so I thought it best to stay with you."

"I forgot to have them take care of you. It’s already past ten; you must be very bored."

Lin Su’er immediately said sweetly, "No, it’s fine. Just sitting beside you and watching you, I feel very happy."

"Su’er, you are so kind; you don’t know what to make me say."

"I am your lover, after all. It’s only right for me to be good to you. Besides, Brother Dongzi, with such a great ability, you even know a Founding General. To be your little lover, I really feel so blessed now. It’s an immense honor for me, otherwise, I might never have a chance to meet dignitaries like Elder Fang in my lifetime."

"Hehe, in the future, I will take you to meet even more dignitaries," Song Xiaodong said as he gripped Lin Su’er’s hand and sat up. "Let’s go have something to eat."

"Okay, okay, they specifically mentioned that you could go downstairs to eat whenever you wake up; the chef has been waiting. Or we could ask them to send the food up."

"Let’s go downstairs to eat. When at someone else’s place, it’s better to be polite."

If it had been at the Ding family’s house, Song Xiaodong really wouldn’t have cared about such matters. Even though both were prominent families, the head of the Ding family didn’t command the same respect from him as Elder Fang did.

The two went downstairs, and to their surprise, Elder Fang hadn’t gone to sleep either; at the time, he was in the living room practicing Tai Chi.

"Elder Fang, such high spirits," Song Xiaodong greeted with a smile.

"Haha, my body feels incredibly light today. I feel as if I’ve rejuvenated by decades, and if I don’t move around, it would actually be quite uncomfortable."

"Hehe, then keep moving around. I’m starving; I’ll go eat something first."

"Haha, go ahead, don’t be shy. Whatever you want to eat, just ask the chef to make it."

Song Xiaodong and Lin Su’er ate together. The girl had also been waiting for him, only having dinner at this late hour, which made Song Xiaodong feel both heartache and touched. She was truly too good to him.

After the meal, Elder Fang invited Song Xiaodong to his study, while Lin Su’er went back to her room first.

"Mr. Song, come have some tea," Elder Fang poured a cup of tea for Song Xiaodong and said with a smile.

Song Xiaodong laughed, "Elder Fang, please call me Little Song. It makes me uneasy to be addressed with such formality when I am before you."

Elder Fang laughed, "Alright, Little Song it is. By the way, I have something I want to give you."

"What is it?" Song Xiaodong’s curiosity was piqued; knowing Elder Fang’s status, whatever he had to offer must be quite special.

Elder Fang opened a safe in the study and took out a package wrapped in oiled paper, handling it with utmost care.

Song Xiaodong became even more curious, his gaze fixed on the oiled paper package in Elder Fang’s hands.

When Elder Fang unwrapped the package, it revealed a small booklet. "This is a classic from my mentor’s lineage, recording the finest martial arts of our sect, and it also includes a few formulas for concocting medicines."

"A martial arts secret manual?" Song Xiaodong’s eyes widened.

"More or less. Nowadays, people don’t value such things much anymore. The advent of firearms has progressively lowered the demand for martial arts, and practicing martial arts is hard work. Without many years of hard training, one simply won’t achieve much. The Fang family has many descendants, but sadly none who can truly carry on our legacy. Just a few learned a smattering of skills, but the outside world’s temptations are vast, preventing them from truly committing to training."

As Elder Fang spoke, he couldn’t help but shake his head.

While others might not believe in such things, Song Xiaodong certainly did. It was by practicing the secret techniques passed down to him that he had acquired his profound martial arts and miraculous medical skill. Right now, he urgently wanted to improve himself in preparation for the decisive battle in two years’ time.

Elder Fang continued, "Your martial arts are strong, and you have a talent for it. Moreover, your medical skill is extremely powerful, so passing this knowledge to you should be helpful. In the future, if you meet the right person, pass these techniques on so that our treasures don’t get lost."

Song Xiaodong stood up and respectfully bowed to Elder Fang, saying, "Thank you, Elder Fang!"

"What’s there to thank me for? At my age, I’ve come to see through many things, but what still concerns me is the heritage of many of China’s treasures. If lost, it would be very difficult to retrieve them. This secret manual represents the efforts of multiple generations from our sect."

Carefully, Song Xiaodong accepted the small booklet. Made of sheepskin and adorned with calligraphy that whirled and danced across the pages, it had obviously survived several centuries. Such an object, simply as a historical artifact, was immensely valuable.

"Alright, you can take your time to look through it at home. If you can achieve something in this area and look after the Fang Family as you rise in prominence, that would be wonderful."

Song Xiaodong said, "Elder Fang, the Fang family is already a top-tier, grand family. What ability does a young man like me have to look after the Fang family?"

"Our family may seem well off now, but that’s just how it is. My son’s generation still sees some exceptional individuals, but with my grandchildren’s generation, sigh..." Elder Fang heaved a sigh, appearing rather helpless. His implication was clear: amongst those of the third generation, there were none who were sufficiently capable, and it was feared they would prove the old adage true that wealth does not survive beyond three generations.