Ace of the Dragon Division

Chapter 249: White-Haired Elder (Part one)

In Shangcheng, under a pavilion in a park sat a white-haired elder. He was in a tunic suit. The white hair was a clear indication of his age, and he was sitting under the pavilion and drinking tea of a moderate temperature.

Beside him stood a guy in a similar tunic suit who was around 30-or-so years old. He stood humbly and respectfully beside the white-haired elder and reported, “I heard that an exceptional elite appeared in this year’s competition. He could face the rest of the top 10 elites and defeat them all with ease. His marksmanship and strength are both top tier, and I’ve seen the video, he can certainly be arranged into the 54 cards. However, the five elders rejected him due to his identity.”

The elder laughed and said, “He’s called Xu Cheng, right?”

The guard beside him was surprised. “Master, you know him?”

The elder smiled. “That old friend of mine really respects this person and told me to come and meet him. So, here I am in Shangcheng.”

The guard was a bit shocked. “Then, Master, you came out this early just to see this Xu Cheng guy? But, even if he’s truly a rare talent, isn’t he still not able to join the Dragon Division due to his sensitive background?”

The elder sighed, “How many years do you think I can still hold on?”

The guard immediately replied, “I don’t know, but I hope Master can live over a hundred years old.”

“I’m already 102, that’s about time then.” The elder faintly smiled.

The guard’s face changed. “Sorry, it was my mistake.”

“No worries.” The elder waved his hand and then said, “I know my own situation. There should be about 4 to 5 years left in my life, but ask yourself this, who can really inherit my legacy? No one, right? Those five elders can still wait, but I cannot anymore. If the Dragon Division still can’t find a successor for me, then I will be a sinner, and I’m afraid that the Dragon Division will really become history. Finding my next successor is my responsibility, and I need to do this to find the next protector for our nation. Otherwise, I will be ashamed to face our country.”

The guard’s heart moved. “Master, you have your eyes on Xu Cheng?”

The elder shook his head. “We will see. Maybe he’s just a really talented genius but still can’t reach the standard of becoming my successor. We will see after we meet him. Alright, for the next two days, you don’t have to follow me. I will come and find you when I’m ready to go back.”

The guard received the command. “Alright, I understand. I will take my leave now.”

The elder nodded.

The guard bowed and left the pavilion, leaving the elder drinking tea and looking off into the distance. Shortly after, a tall burly guy appeared, and the elder saw him and smiled as he walked out of the pavilion and began to practice Tai Chi leisurely.

According to his intel, Xu Cheng would run through the park every morning to exercise, and he would do some more exercises in the park before running back. So, the elder decided to wait for him here.

Indeed, the guy that came over was Xu Cheng, and when he saw an elder this old doing Tai Chi this early in the morning, he was a bit shocked. Mostly it was because he had never seen this elder before and his sudden appearance was a bit strange. He stopped near the pavilion and began stretching while checking out the elder, and the elder was also checking him out.

Xu Cheng squatted down as he gasped for air. Then, he curiously looked at the elder and asked probingly, “Elder, how come I’ve never seen you before?”

The elder ignored him and continued on with his Tai Chi. Xu Cheng saw that there was tea in the pavilion and he was quite thirsty. “Elder, can I have a cup of tea?”

The elder had his eyes slightly closed as he answered, “Pour yourself a cup.”
Xu Cheng walked over, poured himself a cup, and drank it. Then, he slightly smiled at the elder and said, “Elder, wouldn’t you feel bad that I wasted your tea?”

The elder opened his eyes, glanced at Xu Cheng, and faintly smiled. “You guessed what type of tea it is?”

Chapter 249: White-Haired Elder (Part two)

Xu Cheng nodded. “I don’t think there’s a person yet in the city of Shangcheng that can drink Dahongpao(TL Note: the most expensive type of Oolong tea there is). Originally, since I offended too many people in this city, I was a bit cautious by your sudden appearance here. However, after I drank that tea, I realized that I’m overthinking it, because I haven’t offended someone at this high of a level. Someone like you probably wouldn’t lower yourself to my level to teach me a lesson, but I’m sure that you know me and that you came here just for me. From the temperature of the tea, you should have been waiting for me for about 20 minutes now.”

The elder lowered his hand that was practicing Tai Chi and nodded admiringly at Xu Cheng. “A sophisticated mind, I like it.”

Xu Cheng poured himself another cup proudly. He wasn’t treating himself like an outsider at all as he drank one cup after another, despite this tea being specially prepared for the highest class of people in the nation. Then, he wiped his mouth and asked the elder, “So, what are you here for? If you just want to make friends with me, then just for this tea, I accept it, and I will definitely benefit from this friendship in the future.”

The elder smiled, feeling that this kid was pretty interesting, neither haughty nor humble but calm and collected. He said, “My tea isn’t free to drink. I have a set of fist strike techniques, and I will practice them once. If you can remember it, I can give you the rest of the tea leaves in the jar by the teapot. But if you can’t remember… I’m old and my body can’t take it after waiting for you here for too long so I’m afraid that I can’t go back on my own, so how about you carry me back on your back?”

Xu Cheng lifted his eyebrows. “Tai Chi?”

The elder shook his head. “No.”

Xu Cheng: “Then you can demonstrate and I will watch. But even if I win the bet, I will carry you back. It’s just a small favor, just see it as me paying you for those two cups of tea.”

“We will see if you can remember or not first.” The elder slightly smiled and reached out his two hands. “Watch closely.”

Xu Cheng nodded as he put his two hands together. How hard could a set of techniques demonstrated by this old man be? Unless it wasn’t martial arts but some dance moves, in which case he would forfeit immediately.

Then, he stared at the old man’s hands without even blinking. At the next instant, he just felt that his eyes suddenly lost focus as the elder’s hands began moving like shadows. Normal people could only feel that the elder made a few moves with his hands, but Xu Cheng had powerful sensory abilities. Very soon, he realized that the elder’s fist strike techniques were not simple at all. Just that speed alone would make it seem like the elder hands had barely moved in an ordinary guy’s eyes, but in fact, he had already practiced a full set of techniques. Even with his powerful ultrasonic sense, Xu Cheng could barely match the old man’s speed.

Then, Xu Cheng began sweating off his forehead.

After the elder finished his demonstration, he looked at him with a faint smile and asked, “How much do you remember?”

Xu Cheng said awkwardly, “Twe- Twelve strokes.”

The elder’s eyes brightened. “Oh? You really remembered twelve strokes?”

Xu Cheng closed his eyes and recalled what just happened before his eyes and said sincerely, “Yes, twelve strokes.”

The elder faintly smiled. “But I used thirty strokes just now.”

Xu Cheng pouted. “If you practice it again, I promise I can remember them all.”

The elder laughed and said, “It’s fine, I will come again tomorrow. I will leave now for today.”

Then, the elder went to the pavilion to pick up the teapot set.

Xu Cheng became a bit anxious. It was like someone addicted to martial arts suddenly came across a top level hidden technique book and left everything else in his mind behind. He immediately got up, chased after the elder, said, “Let me carry you home.”