Give me a bath first.

The Fire Monk was a man true to his word; he said he would feed Li Dan Niu, and feed him he did. However, the water to drink came from splashes beaten up with vines, and the food was wild fruit, mashed into pulp by the same vines.

Taste? To have anything to eat or drink at all was a blessing; who could afford to fuss over flavor?

"Boy, you've been lying here for seven days now. Are you still unwilling to agree?" The Fire Monk had been in a state of great excitement these past seven days—after all, he had not spoken to anyone for years.

"No," Li Dan Niu replied.

From the despair of total paralysis at the beginning, Li Dan Niu had now come to understand: this Fire Monk did not truly intend to kill him, nor even to leave him permanently paralyzed. It was all a means to an end. After all, a man living at the bottom of a cliff for so many years, having finally found someone to talk to, would hardly kill that person so easily.

"Is it really so difficult for you to curse Zhang Sanfeng?" The Fire Monk could scarcely believe it. How could there be such a person in the world? A mere menial disciple of Wudang, with no proper master and endless chores—why was he unwilling to curse Zhang Sanfeng?

"Yes," Li Dan Niu replied, now as sparing with words as gold, for he was truly hungry. Each day, the food the Fire Monk gave him was barely enough to keep him from starving. If he had the strength, he would have explained: cursing Zhang Sanfeng was not the hard part; the real difficulty was in serving as the Fire Monk's lackey.

"Such backbone—you truly have backbone!" The Fire Monk laughed heartily. In his view, as a menial disciple, Li Dan Niu could not possibly refuse him out of fear of hard work; it must be because of his integrity.

Li Dan Niu remained silent. He was quite content with the Fire Monk's misunderstanding. After all, being praised for integrity was far better than being called lazy. He had crossed into this world a month and a half ago, and half the time remained. Li Dan Niu silently counted the days in his heart, planning to remain lying down a while longer. When it was almost time to return to his own world, he would agree to the Fire Monk's terms, thus saving himself much trouble.

Isn't the most luxurious treatment in life to lie still and be waited upon? Especially when one's attendant is a martial master on par with Zhang Sanfeng. If he got up, he would have to serve the Fire Monk. Even from five meters away, Li Dan Niu could smell the monk's stench—how could he possibly serve him?

"Don't you really want to learn the Nine Yang Divine Skill?" The Fire Monk began his daily temptation. In his mind, the Nine Yang Divine Skill—coveted even by Zhang Sanfeng—was an irresistible lure; who could refuse?

"Yes," Li Dan Niu answered. Of course he wanted to learn it; only a fool wouldn't.

"As long as you obey me, I will teach you when I am near death. Moreover, I will use my own inner power to open your meridians, guiding you to immediately master the ninth level of Nine Yang Divine Skill." To the Fire Monk, this was a most advantageous bargain. He knew his own circumstances; at best, he could live another decade or so. With such grave injuries—paralyzed at the bottom of a cliff—no matter how accomplished his Nine Yang Divine Skill, it could not grant him a normal lifespan.

If word of this deal spread through the martial world, the Fire Monk believed all but the aged and infirm would flock here. Even if one possessed the Nine Yang Divine Skill manual, it might take more than a decade to reach the ninth level by self-study.

"No," Li Dan Niu replied. He agreed it was a good bargain, but only for everyone else. He could only stay three months in this movie world; he would leave long before the Fire Monk passed on his skill. Who knew when he would next cross over? Besides, he knew that eight years later, Zhang Wuji would fall into this very chasm, and who could predict what changes might occur then? Since he was destined not to learn martial arts, why serve as the monk's lackey?

"Stubborn boy, do you know that people with backbone seldom come to a good end?" The Fire Monk, unable to tempt him, resorted to threats. "Do you really wish to spend your whole life like this? Don't you want to master Nine Yang Divine Skill and enjoy the pleasures of the outside world? I tell you, if you remain in this state for a year, not even I will be able to restore you."

A year? It wouldn't take that long. Li Dan Niu planned to lie down for another month or so before betraying his principles and agreeing, responding again with silence.

"Haha..." The Fire Monk laughed loudly.

"Boy, you can refuse the temptation of Nine Yang Divine Skill out of gratitude for a small favor from your sect—I like you."

The Fire Monk had survived in this cliff only to find a disciple, one who could defeat Zhang Sanfeng for him. Yet after so many years, only Li Dan Niu had arrived. In the monk's eyes, Li Dan Niu's martial talent was unremarkable, even below average. But the Fire Monk didn't care, for his own talent was ordinary as well; otherwise, he would not have spent his life as a fire monk in Shaolin.

Moreover, he obtained the Nine Yang Divine Skill manual in middle age, and still managed to reach the ninth level. For this skill, talent was not especially important.

The Fire Monk's only worry was Li Dan Niu's character.

How many have died in the martial world over martial arts manuals? If Li Dan Niu were a treacherous sort, not only would he refuse to avenge the monk, but once he learned the skill and could defeat his master, he might kill the monk and make Nine Yang Divine Skill the world's sole martial art.

It was not impossible. The more profound a martial skill, the fewer who possessed it. Some would rather let a skill be lost than let others learn. Such is the martial world: men may risk their lives for loyalty, but martial skills, except for legacy, are never lightly passed on.

In this movie, the Nine Yang Divine Skill had been lost for three centuries—not because no one could master it, but because no one could obtain the manual. Without the manual, how could one study?

This happens because no one wishes others to possess power equal to their own.

Why cultivate martial arts? The fundamental aim is to gain strength beyond the ordinary. Profound skills may grant invincible power, and power brings luxury, whether founding a sect or joining the imperial court. If manuals were widespread, who would be number one? With the same manual, those with greater talent would achieve more, and among billions, who can guarantee their talent is supreme?

Thus, in the martial world, the inheritance of martial arts values character above talent.

The Fire Monk, wary of Li Dan Niu, began his tests. By now, he was quite satisfied.

Grateful and loyal—only because Wudang was his sect, and had shown him some kindness, Li Dan Niu would not even curse Zhang Sanfeng.

Integrity—under threat of death, he stood by his principles.

Most importantly, under the greater threat of lifelong paralysis and the temptation of the ninth level of Nine Yang Divine Skill, Li Dan Niu still refused the monk's terms.

What kind of person was this? A model disciple for the ages.

"Boy, get up," the Fire Monk said, a little dejected. He had finished testing Li Dan Niu's character, but still felt aggrieved—how could even a menial disciple under Zhang Sanfeng possess such character?

Get up? Li Dan Niu was about to say he would love to, but couldn't—then suddenly realized he could feel his body again.

He sat up at once, raised his hand, kicked his leg—it was as if nothing had changed. There was no sense of sluggish blood from long immobility; it was as if he had just awoken from a nap.

The only discomfort was a sudden, long-lost pang of hunger from his stomach.

"Senior?" Li Dan Niu could not understand the Fire Monk's thinking. Wasn't he supposed to wait on me until I agreed? Why the sudden change of heart? The thought of giving the Fire Monk a bath made him feel nauseated.

"Boy, you have kept your heart true, refusing even to curse Zhang Sanfeng under threat of death and temptation of supreme martial arts. I believe you will fulfill my wish." The Fire Monk sighed to the heavens. If not for his body being wedged in a giant stone, clothed in rags, he would have had the bearing of a master.

I don't refuse to curse Zhang Sanfeng—I just wanted to be lazy for a while!

"In my life, I drifted through my early years; in middle age, I stumbled upon the Nine Yang Divine Skill manual, mastered a peerless art, and was unmatched in the world. I should have no regrets. But ten years ago, I was defeated by Zhang Sanfeng, and because of my overconfidence, ended up like this," the Fire Monk roared. "I am not reconciled!"

Weren't you a deranged lunatic? How could you suddenly speak so rationally? Li Dan Niu was surprised that the Fire Monk admitted his downfall was due to his own arrogance, rather than blaming Zhang Sanfeng.

"I have clung to life at the bottom of this cliff only to find a disciple who can defeat Zhang Sanfeng and all the Wudang sect," the Fire Monk said, looking at Li Dan Niu. "Although your martial talent is mediocre, your character is good. At least, after learning my skill, you won't turn against me. So I have decided to teach you Nine Yang Divine Skill."

When did laziness become a sign of good character? Li Dan Niu truly felt that sometimes, misunderstanding was no bad thing.

"Senior, even if you teach me Nine Yang Divine Skill, I will never curse the founder of my sect," Li Dan Niu decided to play the role of a good man until the movie ended. "Even if, in fulfilling your wish, I one day challenge my sect's founder, it will be an open contest. If I lose, I'll continue training; if I win, I'll proclaim to the world that my skill was taught by you."

"You still call him founder?" The Fire Monk glared. "If I teach you martial arts, shouldn't you acknowledge me as your master?"

'Once a teacher, forever a father,' Li Dan Niu responded with these virtuous words, feeling no pressure at all. "Since I have already entered Wudang, even as a menial disciple, I should see it through. In future, I will inform the founder. If he consents to let me change allegiance, I will formally become your disciple. If the founder disagrees, I beg your pardon, and will not learn the skill."

"Good, very good." The Fire Monk was now even more satisfied. Though he lost to Zhang Sanfeng in martial arts, he trusted his character. Besides, Li Dan Niu was only a menial disciple at Wudang, having gained little real benefit from the sect.

Moreover, the Fire Monk was a solitary man, a discarded disciple of Shaolin with no followers. As long as Li Dan Niu was willing to challenge Zhang Sanfeng, he would be content.

"Boy, from today I will teach you Nine Yang Divine Skill." The Fire Monk nodded. "Have you ever practiced any martial arts before?"

"Replying to Senior: I previously trained in Wudang Long Fist and Pine Crane Heart Scripture, but started late and have only just begun to sense qi." Li Dan Niu answered fluidly, though inwardly he could not fathom why the Fire Monk was acting this way. Whether in the film, or when meeting Zhang Wuji, he always appeared as a madman.

Was it a matter of timing?

At this point, the Fire Monk had been at the bottom of the cliff for ten years; it would be eight more before he met Zhang Wuji. Li Dan Niu could only surmise that the monk, shocked by defeat, adjusted his mindset in this period, and after eight years of solitary confinement, reverted to madness.

"Very good. For the Nine Yang Divine Skill, it is best to begin without any inner power; then it is easier to reach mastery." The Fire Monk himself had learned the skill with no prior inner training.

"Senior, when shall we begin?" Li Dan Niu tried to remain calm, but the temptation of Nine Yang Divine Skill overcame him and he couldn't help but ask.

"No rush," the Fire Monk smiled. "I haven't had a proper bath in years. Wash me thoroughly first, and tell me your story."

Li Dan Niu: "..."