Sha Lu, owner of the Red Snake Martial Arts Gym, was a man of coiled tension. Short and stocky, his flamboyant red robes seemed to mock his otherwise unassuming frame. But it was his eyes, cold and reptilian, that truly unsettled those who met his gaze. They glinted with a predatory intelligence, like a venomous snake sizing up its prey. When he walked, a sense of unease settled over those around him, a feeling of being watched by a predator.
Feeling the weight of Sha Lu's gaze, David cleared his throat, facing the viperine owner. "Master Lu, this situation with Lei Shen... well, let's just say it's regrettable."
"Regrettable?" Sha Lu rasped, his voice rough as sandpaper. "Then perhaps you should simply release Shen Lei and forget this ever happened."
David darted a helpless look towards Canglong Mu, who had taken his money to be the mediator. Canglong Mu cleared his throat. "Lu Sha," he began with authority, "this unfortunate incident arose due to a lapse in judgment on your school's part. We are simply here to ensure your reputation remains intact."
Canglong Mu's voice was firm as he laid out the terms. "A full refund of all tuition fees collected by Red Snake. That's the first order of business. Additionally, Master Dragonheart deserves compensation for the distress caused by your instructor's actions.”
Sha Lu's face contorted, his eyes narrowing into slits. "So, Baiyun Martial Arts is ze puppeteer behind this little show, is it?" he accused, his voice dripping with venom.
Canglong Mu met Sha Lu's gaze with unwavering composure. "Believe what you will, Masteh Lu. The past cannot be changed. While Masteh Dragonheart can no longer train at your school, he has, unfortunately, already learned your Red Snake Legs technique. Perhaps a day spent studying your school's Essence Script would suffice as compensation?”
"Essence Script?!" Sha Lu's voice rose an octave, his short stature seeming to inflate with outrage. The muscles in his legs pulsed, and his skin flushed a worrying shade of crimson. A clear warning that disagreement could turn violent.
"Now, now, Mastah Lu," Canglong Mu raised a placating hand. "It's just a script. Surely, with so many students having laid eyes on it, a single viewing by Mastah Dragonheart wouldn't cause the heavens to fall." He couldn't help but suspect Sha Lu was simply trying to drive up the price.
David, sensing an opportunity, interjected smoothly. "Master Lu, I only require half a day to study the Essence Script. To demonstrate my sincerity and compensate for any inconvenience, I'm willing to offer an additional thousand taels of silver!”
A stunned silence filled the room. Sha Lu's eyes widened, the anger momentarily replaced by a flicker of greed. He finally understood why his instructor, Lei Shen, had been so tempted to betray his own student.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
After a beat of silence, Sha Lu cleared his throat, forcing dry chuckle. "Deal," he rasped. Not that he wouldn't have loved to haggle, but a thousand taels had already far exceeded his expectations.
---
"Red Snake Legs Essence Script," David murmured, his brow furrowed as he examined the animal skin in the dimly lit room. The parchment depicted an abstract scene – a chaotic blend of colors and lines that hinted at a dense mountain forest. Upon closer inspection, however, menacing serpentine shapes emerged from the chaos, their sinuous forms slithering amidst the trees. A shiver ran down David's spine as he tried to decipher the deeper meaning hidden within the artwork.
"Only those who've mastered the third transformation of qi and blood in the Eight Snake Walks can truly comprehend the Essence Script," he recalled, the words echoing in his mind. The script, passed down through generations of Red Snake practitioners, was more than just a visual representation; it was a key to unlocking hidden knowledge and power.
David's gaze lingered on the unusual artwork. Every nuance of line and shade held meaning, crucial to unlocking its secrets, impossible to replicate through simple copying.
"Ordinary artists wouldn't stand a chance," he thought. "The true power lies within, unlocked through dedicated practice – a privilege reserved for the Red Snake Martial Arts School's core disciples."
With a swift movement, David flipped his hand, revealing a blank jade slip. He pressed it against his forehead, channeling his spiritual energy. The Red Snake Essence Script, with its intricate forms and colors, began to transfer onto the jade, detail by detail.
This was the method mages used to preserve secrets. Ancient texts, illustrations, any form of knowledge could be replicated with flawless precision, capturing the essence and every nuance of the original.
"Since the script was created by a human hand," David mused, "it can be recreated. Ordinary artists lack the power and understanding, but a mage's psychic abilities can bridge the gap. "
He finished transferring the script and studied the glowing image within the jade. In this world of the Three Kingdoms, perhaps only a master of Red Snake Legs could even attempt to depict such a thing. Yet, he had accomplished it with ease.
"Sha Lu must have assumed I wouldn't be able to memorize the script in such a short time," David thought, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "A costly miscalculation on his part."
A smug satisfaction settled over David as he relinquished the copied Essence Script. He even went the extra mile with a thank-you gift, further solidifying his image as a naive, wealthy outsider. Sha Lu, for his part, scrutinized the script with a practiced eye. Relief, barely concealed by feigned courtesy, washed over him as he confirmed its authenticity.
"May your journey be smooth and your path clear," Sha Lu offered a curt farewell, the forced pleasantries barely masking the resentment simmering beneath the surface.
"Until next time," David echoed, feigning ignorance of the underlying animosity. He knew Sha Lu likely harbored a grudge, but that was a bridge he'd cross when he came to it. For now, he possessed the true legacy of Red Snake Legs, a treasure trove of knowledge and techniques that would propel him towards his goals. The future held endless possibilities, and dependence on the Red Snake Martial Arts School was a thing of the past.