I Can Replicate Martial Arts

"Go up?"

Zhao Rui raised an eyebrow.

"Mhm!"

Miao Miaomiao nodded.

"Alright, let’s go buy some food. I’ll have a few drinks with your dad!"

Zhao Rui chuckled and beckoned to her.

Miao Miaomiao pouted. "So you’re just doing this to drink with my dad! Hmph!"

"It’s all the same, all the same."

Zhao Rui chuckled again, helped her into the passenger seat, and stepped on the gas, driving out of the residential complex.

About an hour later, the two returned, laden with bags of all sizes, and went upstairs.

"Hello, ma’am!"

The person who opened the door was Mrs. Miao. This was the second time Zhao Rui had met her, and he was still struck by how stunning she was.

To look so young and beautiful at her age was probably something every woman dreamed of.

Thinking of his own mother’s face, etched with the marks of time, Zhao Rui made a secret resolution. ’I need to earn more money so I can take Mom for some beauty treatments.’

"Welcome, Xiaozhao."

"You shouldn’t have brought anything! Come in, have a seat."

"Just some fruit."

Zhao Rui smiled. He didn’t stand on ceremony, since it wasn’t his first time visiting.

"Mom, is Dad home from work yet?"

Miao Miaomiao asked, peeking into the kitchen.

"Oh, him? He’ll be back any minute. I told him you were coming."

Mrs. Miao poured a glass of water for Zhao Rui, then went back into the kitchen to cook.

"Where does your dad work?"

Zhao Rui asked Miao Miaomiao curiously.

"He works at the Provincial Martial Arts Association," Miao Miaomiao said casually.

"Oh!"

’Father Miao’s position must be quite high,’ Zhao Rui realized.

"Do you think my mom and I look alike?"

Miao Miaomiao asked playfully after handing Zhao Rui a slice of watermelon.

"You do!"

"Then who do you think is prettier?"

"Uh!"

Zhao Rui was stunned. ’What kind of question is that? That’s going too far!’

"When you’re forty, you’ll be even more beautiful than your mom!"

"Hmph, what a cop-out!"

Miao Miaomiao rolled her eyes, clearly dissatisfied with Zhao Rui’s answer.

"Anyway, you still haven’t reflected on your match! You clearly had a chance to win, so how did you lose? Is your Thousand Illusionary Phantom just for show?"

Afraid she would ask another impossible question, Zhao Rui quickly changed the subject.

"I didn’t want to use that technique in front of so many people!"

Miao Miaomiao’s face reddened as she said, a little defensively.

"Uh!"

Zhao Rui didn’t expect that answer and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The Thousand Illusionary Phantom was one of the six arts of the Six Yi Charm Immortal Technique. It emphasized "Sleeve-Drawn Sentimental Threads" and "Eyes Capturing Seven Emotions."

Those affected would see all sorts of captivating illusions of the user, a powerful deterrent to the Divine Soul.

However, this technique also required the user to perform enchanting dance steps, taking on a sort of Fox Demon Charm. It was true that it would have been quite awkward for Miao Miaomiao to suddenly perform it in front of a large crowd.

"Alright, but don’t you have other techniques?"

"I got distracted!"

"..."

Just as Zhao Rui reached out to tap her on the head, the door creaked open from the outside.

Father Miao’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked over, catching them in the act.

"Should I give you two some space?"

Father Miao said, pretending to back away.

"Dad!"

Miao Miaomiao’s face flushed crimson as she protested.

Hearing this, Father Miao chuckled and came inside.

Zhao Rui quickly stood up and greeted him.

"Sit, sit. No need to be so formal in our home. The competition must have been tough, right? Miaomiao never tells us anything about her matches."

Father Miao smiled at his daughter. Ever since the Martial Dao tournament began, Miao Miaomiao had refused to reveal her progress.

Her main principle was secrecy.

"But I have faith in my daughter. What place did you get?"

Father Miao said with a laugh.

"You couldn’t even guess that I won first place!"

"You don’t have the aura of a champion!"

"Hmph... Twenty-eighth!"

"Not bad, that’s a pretty high rank. Just keep working hard for the nationals."

Father Miao nodded nonchalantly, then turned to Zhao Rui and asked, "What about you, Xiaozhao? You should be stronger than Miaomiao. Did you make the top ten?"

"Um, I didn’t participate!"

Zhao Rui said, scratching his head.

Father Miao was taken aback. Before he could ask why, Miao Miaomiao spoke up with a hint of pride, "Zhao Rui has already advanced to the Grandmaster Realm."

"Grandmaster?"

Stunned, Father Miao suddenly struck out at Zhao Rui with his palm.

Zhao Rui blocked with his forearm, then smoothly countered with a backhand strike, aiming for a vital point on his arm.

The two exchanged blows, techniques flowing one after another, as they both rose to their feet and moved toward the more open space near the doorway while fighting.

"Dad! Zhao Rui! What are you two doing?!"

Miao Miaomiao cried out anxiously from the side. Her voice startled Mrs. Miao, who came rushing out of the kitchen.

Seeing the two of them trading blows, she was momentarily stunned, but she quickly calmed down and soothed her daughter, "It’s fine, it’s fine! Your dad knows his limits."

Miao Miaomiao shook her head vigorously. "I’m afraid Zhao Rui doesn’t know *his* limits."

"..."

"A daughter’s loyalty really does lie outside the family. Your dad isn’t that old yet!"

After speaking, Father Miao expelled a breath of True Qi and sent out a palm strike. He clashed palms with Zhao Rui, then retreated.

"Not bad, kid!"

"You’re still the more skilled one, sir. My arm is still aching!"

"Your Inner Strength is pure. That’s the foundation of the Daoist School’s Seven-Star Divine Skill. Not bad, not bad at all!"

Father Miao sat back down with a smile.

"Dad, can you please give a warning next time?"

Miao Miaomiao complained.

"Got it!"

"Sir, you suddenly tested my foundation just now. Has something happened recently?"

A thought struck Zhao Rui, and he voiced his question.

"We’ll talk about that in a bit! Let’s eat first! I really didn’t expect you to improve so quickly!"

Father Miao said with a laugh. Although he felt a bit down that his daughter had a boy she liked, ’at least Zhao Rui is outstanding. It’s much better than her finding some good-for-nothing punk!’

’When the time comes, a family of four Grandmasters would be quite a remarkable story!’

A short while later, Mrs. Miao brought the food to the table—a truly sumptuous spread.

Today was already the day of Miao Miaomiao’s long-awaited return home, and now Zhao Rui was visiting as well.

The large dining table was almost completely covered.

"It’s a happy occasion today, let’s have some baijiu!"

Father Miao rummaged around the bottom of the liquor cabinet behind him for a while before pulling out two bottles of what was clearly fine, treasured liquor.

"A twenty-year vintage. I put it away ten years ago. It was made back when Miaomiao wasn’t even born!"

Seeing this, Zhao Rui quickly took the bottle and filled a glass for him.

"Pour some for your auntie, too. She made this whole feast, so she gets the most credit! Thank you for your hard work, dear!"

Father Miao said with a smile, pointing to his wife’s glass.

"You and your sweet talk!"

Mrs. Miao shot him a playful glare.

"Mom! Dad! Can you not be so lovey-dovey in front of people!"

Miao Miaomiao glanced at Zhao Rui, a little embarrassed.

’My dad is really not treating Zhao Rui like a guest at all.’

’We’re not in *that* kind of relationship yet!’

"It’s fine. Your parents are setting a great example for our generation! Right, Miaomiao?"

Zhao Rui’s sharp brows arched slightly, a warm smile on his face.

"Haha, Zhao Rui’s right! In a relationship, it’s not about who loves whom more, but about cherishing each other and understanding each other’s struggles..."

"Stop embarrassing yourself! Just drink!"

"Right, right!"

Hearing that, Father Miao quickly proposed a toast, and the four of them raised their glasses and began to eat and drink.

After they had been drinking for a while, Father Miao finally said, "The higher-ups recently issued a notice. Someone is dabbling in the Evil Dao again, and it seems to be related to the Holy Lotus Sect!"

Hearing this, Miao Miaomiao was surprised. "Zhao Rui just reminded me to be wary of strange people!"

"Zhao Rui? Do you know people from the relevant departments?"

Father Miao asked, looking at Zhao Rui.

"I was acting as a good Samaritan before..."

Zhao Rui briefly recounted his pursuit of Nie Bin. It wasn’t a secret.

"Oh, no wonder! These are truly troubled times! I don’t know what these people are thinking, ruining a perfectly stable and peaceful life to stir up all this nonsense."

Father Miao couldn’t help but shake his head.

The world had been at peace for a long time, and the people lived and worked in contentment. But there were always some who, unwilling to remain in obscurity, sought to stir up trouble.

As a Provincial Martial Arts Association, they not only managed registered Martial Artists but also coordinated with various Court organizations to maintain political stability.

It had been many years since they’d had to deal with this kind of mess.

Seeing that Father Miao didn’t seem to know about the Old Demon, Zhao Rui didn’t say more. ’This is probably not something a mere Grandmaster Realm practitioner could solve, anyway.’

"But let’s not talk about that. Since you two have embarked on the Martial Dao, a life without turmoil would be a lonely one. To experience a grander, more magnificent life makes the path of cultivation worthwhile!"

"Come, drink up!"

The night deepened, and a pleasant buzz from the alcohol settled in.

Zhao Rui stayed at Miao Miaomiao’s home until ten at night before driving back to his place.