Chapter 5: Practicing a Set of Tai Chi

Li Jing withdrew his gaze from left and right, then looked up to see Lady Scarlet Whisk, who was laughing coquettishly. He knew she was deliberately keeping him in suspense. Filled with confusion, Li Jing rose from his seat and searched the hall thoroughly, circling several times. Yet, no matter how hard he looked, he could not find the mysterious master’s figure.

At once, Li Jing halted, his heart burning with anxiety as he looked pleadingly at Lady Scarlet Whisk, his voice urgent, “Chen’er, stop teasing me—tell me quickly, where is this great master now?”

This time, Li Jing was truly anxious. He understood the importance of this set of Taiji—both for himself and for the entire Tang Dynasty, it was of great significance. He could not help but worry. Lady Scarlet Whisk was his wife; they had shared life and death for many years. Li Jing was certain she could not have created this herself. As for Sanlang, Li Yi, who stood to one side, he was a notorious idler and spendthrift—not someone capable of such a feat!

Thus, Li Jing was desperate to hear the truth from Lady Scarlet Whisk and meet the master in person.

“My lord, don’t be impatient,” Lady Scarlet Whisk replied with a gentle smile, still withholding her answer. Instead, her gaze turned meaningfully toward Li Yi.

Li Yi immediately understood her look. He bowed respectfully and said, “Father, if you do not believe me, allow me to demonstrate. This Taiji was taught to me by my master in a dream.”

Lady Scarlet Whisk seemed pleased with his answer, nodding with a smile. But upon hearing this, Li Jing was momentarily stunned, then frowned in slight anger. “Sanlang, don’t talk nonsense. How could you, of all people, acquire Taiji so easily?”

Li Jing had always been disappointed with Li Yi’s behavior, and now, seeing him claim credit for this, he was naturally displeased.

Li Yi could only roll his eyes inwardly, speechless. How lacking was his predecessor that his father would dismiss him so completely?

He decided to remain silent.

Lady Scarlet Whisk stepped forward and faced Li Jing, nodding earnestly. “My lord, Sanlang speaks the truth. This Taiji was indeed passed to him by his master in a dream. I can attest to it myself.”

Li Jing sighed deeply, his brows drawn, and shook his head. “Chen’er, I know you have always doted on Sanlang, but I am his father—how could I not know his abilities?”

His meaning was clear: he did not believe Li Yi’s words and thought Lady Scarlet Whisk was merely covering for him. This set of Taiji was no ordinary art, not something an average person could master.

Li Yi, known as a wastrel, could not possibly have learned it, Li Jing thought.

Witnessing this, Li Yi could only laugh bitterly to himself. He knew that unless he could make his father see him in a new light, Li Jing’s attitude would remain as cold and disappointed as ever.

Thus, Li Yi resolved to prove himself. “If Father does not believe me, please watch me perform,” he announced solemnly. Regardless of Li Jing’s response, Li Yi began to demonstrate the Taiji in the hall.

He took a deep breath, lowered his hands slowly, and assumed the posture of Taiji. Then, he moved gracefully into the sequence. Each movement matched perfectly with the diagrams on the scroll—nothing more, nothing less. His fists and feet moved with great flourish, bearing the air of a true master.

In his previous life, Li Yi had practiced Taiji and had even received personal instruction from a Daoist priest on Mount Wudang. Thus, he executed each move with ease and confidence. Dressed in white robes, his every motion seemed to flow like the wind, transforming him into a figure of ethereal spirit, brimming with energy and poise—nothing like the dissolute youth he had been.

“Hmph, this rascal dares to show off his skills before me?” Li Jing snorted inwardly, shaking his head, curious to see what Li Yi was up to.

At first, he was indifferent, but as Li Yi earnestly performed the Taiji, Li Jing’s eyes suddenly narrowed, and he was struck motionless in astonishment.

“This is... it really is Taiji!” Li Jing exclaimed in shock, his face filled with disbelief.

Li Yi, immersed in the sequence, did not notice his father’s reaction. He poured his heart into every move. With his solid foundation in martial arts, the more seriously he practiced, the more he sensed the profound power of this Taiji.

Soon, beads of sweat began to form on his brow. After a while, the set came to its conclusion.

As Li Yi was about to finish, Li Jing’s astonished expression gradually softened. He glanced back and forth between Li Yi and the Taiji manual in his hand, his face a kaleidoscope of emotions.

“Well, my lord, did Sanlang lie?” Lady Scarlet Whisk asked with a gentle smile, having closely observed Li Jing’s changing expressions. She knew her husband was truly impressed by Li Yi’s performance—she herself felt the same wonder.

“It’s... passable, he barely does it justice,” Li Jing replied, his face unreadable, though inwardly he was overjoyed. At last, he had to admit, perhaps Sanlang truly had learned Taiji from a master in his dreams. Still, Li Jing would not admit it openly.

Lady Scarlet Whisk shook her head with a wry smile—how well she understood her husband’s thoughts.

Finally, as Li Yi completed the set, he let out a long breath and stood quietly to one side, saying nothing more.

At this moment, Lady Scarlet Whisk called out toward the hall, “Yue’er, bring a silk kerchief and wipe the sweat from Sanlang’s brow.”

“Yes, madam.” Yue’er hurried in, drawing a handkerchief from her sash and, almost on instinct, reached up to wipe Li Yi’s forehead.

Noticing Li Yi’s quickened breath, and seeing his smiling gaze, Yue’er’s cheeks suddenly flushed. Her hand froze in place, and her heart pounded wildly.

“What’s the matter?” Li Yi teased, seeing her pause. “Did I frighten you?”

Yue’er came to her senses, lowered her head, and stepped back in embarrassment. “Forgive me, young master, for my rudeness. Please punish me.”

Li Yi grinned at her bashfulness, reaching out to lift her chin.

Just then, a cough sounded from inside the hall, abruptly cutting short his playful gesture. Li Yi withdrew his hand awkwardly.