The three children discussed for a while and secretly planned a little play to look forward to performing the next day. After playing for an afternoon, the children returned to their respective branches and families at the hour of shen.
Lin Xiaolu also brought Xiao Yuer back to the small courtyard and immediately started today's training. He ran to the mountaintop and jogged outside Li Mingru's cave for half a shichen, then went into the mountain cave to practice breathing exercises. He let Li Mingru beat him up fiercely for half a shichen, making sure every inch of his body was reasonably thrashed before going back for dinner.
After dinner, he practiced horse stance in the small courtyard for half a shichen, then trained Ba Ji Quan for a full shichen, hitting the willow tree over a hundred times in between. With that, the day's training was thoroughly completed. Exhausted and sore all over, he went back to rest.
This was his life now - various exercises from the hour of shen in the afternoon to the hour of hai at night, a full three shichen without stopping, very regular.
Early next morning, he jumped out of bed and after washing up, put on his little Daoist robe. He and Xiao Yuer excitedly went out the mountain gate.
"Brother, you seem a little different than before," said Xiao Yuer, holding Lin Xiaolu's hand.
On the bright, translucent Bridge of Seeking the Dao, Lin Xiaolu smiled evilly, "I've noticed too. I already have abs now. My whole body has become very sturdy."
Saying this, Lin Xiaolu deliberately showed off to his sister. Putting his hands on his waist, he took a deep breath, flexed his muscles and said, "Xiao Yuer, come, hit me!"
"Ah?" Xiao Yuer looked at him in surprise.
"Don't be afraid, hit me, I won't hurt."
"Oh, okay." Xiao Yuer raised her little hand and slapped him - "Pop!"
The sound was crisp and pleasing.
Lin Xiaolu: ???
He looked at his sister in confusion, his slapped face still dazed: "Why did you slap me?"
Xiao Yuer was puzzled: "Didn't brother tell me to hit you?"
Lin Xiaolu: ...
Well, she really was his sister after all.
After crossing the Bridge of Seeking the Dao, the siblings waited for a while at the midpoint of Emei Peak. Soon, the chubby Dongfang Dan came over swinging his bag.
Seeing Lin Xiaolu, he greeted the two cheerfully, "Brother Lu, Xiao Yuer."
Xiao Yuer cutely waved at him, and Lin Xiaolu nodded with folded arms.
"Come, Egg," said Lin Xiaolu mysteriously after seeing Dongfang Dan. "I discovered something."
"What is it, Brother Lu?"
"Come, hit me," said Lin Xiaolu, putting his hands on his waist.
Dongfang Dan was a little confused.
"Don't worry, hit me, come on!" Lin Xiaolu urged.
Dongfang Dan raised his chubby fist and tapped Lin Xiaolu's chest.
Lin Xiaolu didn't move an inch, showing off, "See, it doesn't hurt at all. Know why? Because I found that when I tense all the muscles in my body, it increases my defenses." Having said that, he eagerly asked, "Egg, do you want to try it?"
"Hehe, okay." The silly Dongfang Dan also started tensing all his fat body, clenching his teeth till his fat face turned red.
Lin Xiaolu encouraged him from the side, clapping his hands, "Come on, flex your muscles! Flex your muscles!"
"Ahhhhhhh!" The little fatso shouted angrily, eyes bulging as he strained with all his might.
"Ready?"
"Ready, Brother Lu!"
"Really ready?"
"Really ready!"
"Ready, here I come?"
"Come on, Brother Lu! Ahhhhhh!"
"Slap!" Lin Xiaolu raised his hand and gave him a slap.
Dongfang Dan was confused again.
"Hahahahaha, ah hahahahaha!" After slapping him, Lin Xiaolu held his belly and laughed so hard he jumped in place.
Dongfang Dan resentfully covered his face: "Brother Lu, that's so mean!"
The three joked and fooled around for a while by the roadside. After a while, the late little novice Tang Hanqing finally arrived.
"Dumpling, hurry up," Lin Xiaolu urged.
Dumpling was Tang Hanqing's nickname at school.
"Coming, Brother Lu," Tang Hanqing said, jogging over to them. Lin Xiaolu eagerly asked, "Did you bring the medicine?"
"I did, Brother Lu." Tang Hanqing took out two nice little brocade boxes and presented them to Lin Xiaolu as treasures.
Lin Xiaolu looked at the boxes and praised, "Not bad packaging, looks quite elegant."
"Hehe~" Tang Hanqing stood haughtily, swinging his nasal mucus and laughing, "As the saying goes, man depends on clothing, horse on saddle. Making the pill's exterior look nice highlights its extraordinaryness. Chen Nianyun will fall for it even better later."
"Mm, not bad." Lin Xiaolu patted his little shoulder and gave a thumbs up, "Truly worthy of being the strategist of our gang Virtuous Persuasion, great wisdom!"
As they walked, they discussed the plot arrangement for a while. Lin Xiaolu said they must cooperate well and absolutely not make mistakes.
Soon they arrived at Literacy Hall and entered the study.
Many students had already arrived, including Chen Nianyun. As the three entered the school one after another, they immediately began acting according to the script.
"Dumpling, Dumpling, do you still have the immortal pills you picked up?" Lin Xiaolu chased after Tang Hanqing and asked.
"I do, Brother Lu, what's up?" Tang Hanqing replied.
"Can you give me some more?" Lin Xiaolu said agitatedly. "After eating that immortal pill yesterday, I immediately felt much stronger. When I got up this morning, I could even split bricks!"
Hearing this, everyone in the study curiously looked at Lin Xiaolu, even Chen Nianyun couldn't help but glance over.
Lin Xiaolu deliberately showed off, lifting his Daoist robe to reveal his little belly to all the children.
The girls in the study cried out and covered their faces, while the boys cried out in surprise. Lin Xiaolu's little belly actually had abs!
Lin Xiaolu smirked, "Hehe," and continued loudly to Tang Hanqing, "After eating the immortal pill you gave me, my body changed a lot. My master even specifically checked my body for me and said I've become very strong. He also said the immortal pill you picked up should be the legendary one that makes you stronger with one pill. Can you give me two more?"
Tang Hanqing looked troubled: "It's not that I won't give you, Brother Lu, but I only found three pills in total. I've given you one, and I want to keep the other two to sell for a good price."
"Sell to me, sell to me!" Dongfang Dan said excitedly on the side. "Dumpling, sell to me!"
Seeing this, the children in the study also became interested. One by one they cried in surprise and delight:
"Dumpling, Dumpling, sell to me!"
"Dumpling, how much is your pill, give me a price!"
"Dumpling, Dumpling, sell to me!"
Seeing his clamoring classmates, Tang Hanqing yelled, "You bid! I'll sell to whoever bids the highest!"
"I bid ten skewers of candied haws!"
"Get out of here! This is an immortal pill! Ten skewers of candied haws and you want to buy an immortal pill? Are you crazy... Dumpling! I bid twenty, plus a woodblock!"
"Dumpling, I bid a pair of tiger head shoes! My master just made them for me, they're so nice."
"Dumpling, Dumpling, I bid a clay figurine, my senior brother made it for me, it's so fun."