CHAPTER 137: CHAPTER 123: DO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND INTERNAL BOXING OR NOT?!

Once suspicion arises, it’s like a rolling boulder down a mountain—unstoppable.

After the initial joy, Elder Chen pondered the matter more deeply. The more he thought about it, the more something didn’t sit right with him.

There were simply too many peculiarities in this situation.

Pointing them out explicitly would definitely be inappropriate.

So, after a moment’s thought, Elder Chen turned to Chen Rourou, who wore an expectant look, and said with a chuckle, "Heh heh, Rourou, you’ve truly given your grandpa a big surprise today!"

"To think you taught yourself and mastered our Chen Family’s Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade, and performed it so proficiently at that."

"This truly makes your grandpa feel both joy and regret!"

Saying this, the cunning old Elder Chen put on a remorseful expression, his face full of chagrin.

Seeing him like this, Chen Rourou couldn’t help but feel curious, so she asked, "Joy and regret, Grandpa? Why do you say that?"

Elder Chen sighed and said, "It’s because of your talent!"

"Logically speaking, for our Chen Family to have a phoenix like you, an old man like me should be very happy. But when I think about how your great talent was delayed for so many years because I stubbornly stuck to the old ways, it fills me with regret!"

"Ah, I’m old, I’m old! I’m truly becoming more and more useless!"

"Rourou, Grandpa apologizes to you here. I hope you can forgive your grandfather’s past stubbornness."

Saying this, Elder Chen bowed in apology to Chen Rourou.

Seeing this old stubborn man finally yield, Chen Rourou’s heart bloomed with joy. However, she maintained a look of being overwhelmed by the gesture, quickly stepping forward to help Elder Chen up. "Grandpa, what are you doing? Apologizing to me? You truly honor me too much! Besides, if anyone should be apologizing, it should be me to you. It’s my fault I only discovered today that my talent is so incredible. If I’d known sooner, I’d have watched you practice your forms more, and wouldn’t I have learned it myself by now? Please, get up quickly!"

At this, Elder Chen was filled with a myriad of emotions.

Look at this! Just listen to what my granddaughter is saying! Is that how a normal person talks? The Rourou of the past was never so sarcastic! Who did she learn this from?

He then chatted a bit more with Chen Rourou. Most of it was along the lines of, "You, Chen Rourou, are the future of the Chen Family," and "For a phoenix like you to appear, it must be a sign of our ancestors’ blessing," and so on.

The praise made Chen Rourou feel ecstatic, thoroughly satisfying her desire to put Elder Chen in his place.

Just as Chen Rourou’s ego swelled, to the point where she felt she could almost float up to the heavens, Elder Chen’s next words sent a shiver down her spine, snapping her back to reality.

"Rourou, ah, since your talent is so high that you could teach yourself the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade, you must have an exceptional understanding of it, right? As it happens, I’ve made some new breakthroughs recently. I’ll perform it for you today, and you can critique it. See if it gives you any inspiration. How about it?"

Elder Chen suggested this with a smile, looking at Chen Rourou.

Hearing his words, Chen Rourou was stunned, and the smile on her face froze instantly.

She stared at Elder Chen, completely bewildered. "Huh??"

Wait, what in the world? Your esteemed self is going to perform the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade, and you’re specifically asking *me* to critique it???

"Grandpa, are you serious?" Chen Rourou asked, her face stiff, desperately hoping Elder Chen would reply with, "I’m just kidding, pulling your leg."

But, no such luck! Chen Rourou observed Elder Chen for a long time, only to find his expression completely serious, without the slightest hint of a joke.

It was only because Chen Rourou possessed a certain talent for acting and had excellent control over her expressions. Otherwise, she likely would have completely lost her composure right then.

After all, if she truly possessed such talent, then offering a critique would be simple enough; that wouldn’t be an issue. The problem was, she didn’t have it! Others might not know how she learned this Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade, but how could she not know? It wasn’t a case of being self-taught at all; she had learned it thanks to Zhang Beixing’s guidance!

But now, her grandfather had presented her with such a predicament. Wasn’t this just like holding her over a fire, forcing her to reveal her true self? If you want to make things difficult for me, just say so. Why bother with all these roundabout tactics?

Looking at Elder Chen’s amiable smile, Chen Rourou felt like she was crumbling inside.

But no matter how much she was falling apart internally, she could only feign composure and brace herself to face it.

After all, she’d already made her grand boast. If she were to admit her inability now, or show any sign of unnaturalness, Elder Chen, with his sharp perception, would immediately sense that something was amiss.

At that point, even if she had eight mouths, she likely wouldn’t be able to explain the situation clearly!

She had started this charade, and now she had to see it through, even if it meant doing so with tears in her eyes!

At this moment, Chen Rourou finally understood what it truly meant to be in a dilemma, to be riding a tiger and find it impossible to dismount.

Just as Chen Rourou, her face stiff, maintained an awkward yet polite smile while looking at Elder Chen, Chen Fenghua, who stood to the side, also became very puzzled upon hearing Elder Chen’s words.

He turned his head, about to ask Elder Chen why he was making things so deliberately difficult for Rourou.

Before he could utter a word, Elder Chen silenced him with a sharp glare.

Chen Fenghua obediently shut his mouth.