# Chapter One Hundred and Three - The Eagle-Claw General (Part One)

Our group of four disembarked to the sound of jubilant cheers from every other passenger — and indeed, what could be more precious or exhilarating than having one's life restored? After we stepped off the plane, Siya came running down to bid us farewell. She comforted Chu Qitong and Fu Ming, whose complexions had not quite recovered, then drew the two women into a private whispered conversation, so that in the end I managed only a brief goodbye with her.

Outside the airport, I could already see a swarm of reporters rushing toward the terminal. I knew they had come to cover the incident, and I was certain that the co-pilot's face would soon be plastered across every television news broadcast. That was precisely why I had no intention of telling anyone it was I who had repaired the aircraft — journalists were an absolute nightmare as far as I was concerned.

I had no idea what Siya had said to Fu Ming and Chu Qitong, but by the time the two of them settled into a taxi, they had clearly recovered entirely. Their conversation grew livelier by the minute, and even Chu Qitong was noticeably more talkative than she had been before boarding the plane. What puzzled me even more was that both women seemed bewitched — every now and then they would steal a furtive glance in my direction, as though I had something on my face. Could it be that I had dressed particularly well today? I shook my head with a wry smile and immediately dismissed the thought.

Following the arrangements that had been made in advance, we arrived at the National Guest Hotel in the western district of the capital, which had been booked by the Municipal Education Bureau of City C. Since I was the only male, three rooms had been reserved — though in practice, since Fu Ming intended to stay at her family home, it became one room apiece for the rest of us. The National Computer Competition was set to begin formally the following day, running for three days in total, after which the results would be announced and the top three finishers would have the opportunity to meet with the President. Lying comfortably on my bed, I turned over in my mind what technical feats I might employ to impress every judge — and more importantly, to capture the President's attention. It seemed clear that this time I would need to bring out something truly formidable. Meeting the President was an absolute must.

After everyone had settled in, it was nearly noon. We had lunch together, after which Fu Ming suggested we all visit her grandfather's home. Chu Qitong agreed, having nothing better to do, and I was genuinely curious about Fu Ming's grandfather. Teacher Zhang, however, seemed far more eager to tour the capital, and with Fu Ming — a native of the city — to guide us, there was little risk of anything going wrong. She simply reminded us to be careful, then slung her bag over her shoulder and left the hotel. The three of us exchanged helpless smiles. After all, for Teacher Zhang, who so rarely had occasion to visit the capital, what could be more thrilling than climbing the Great Wall and touring the Forbidden City?

After changing our clothes, the three of us hailed a cab. Fu Ming said her grandfather's house was in the Haidian District, some distance from the hotel. I was well aware of how vast the capital was — a casual drive could easily take twenty or thirty minutes, a world apart from City C. But the conversation among the three of us made the time pass quickly, and before long I caught sight of a street sign bearing the name of the Haidian District.

"Fu Ming, if we keep going, won't we be entering a military zone? I think I can see quite a few soldiers on the street." I pointed at a row of uniformed soldiers that had just flashed past the car window.

"Yes, that's right. More than half of the Haidian District belongs to the military zone. This is the garrison closest to the capital — the most elite troops charged with defending it. The Zhongnanhai bodyguards responsible for protecting the country's leadership come from here." Fu Ming explained, then added, "My grandfather spent his whole life commanding troops, so even in his old age he preferred to stay on the base rather than move out. When you meet him later, please don't say anything disparaging about soldiers. My cousin's friend visited once and said something along those lines, and Grandfather gave him a thorough dressing-down."

"I see. It sounds as though your grandfather has a very deep bond with military life." I nodded in understanding, then glanced at Chu Qitong beside me. "Qitong, shall we pick up something to bring to the old gentleman?"

"No, no — please don't bring gifts. Grandfather would be displeased." Fu Ming shook her head quickly, a rueful smile on her face. "He absolutely detests receiving gifts. He enjoys talking with people, but he has no taste for conversations involving money."

I nodded and smiled at her words. "People like your grandfather are truly rare. It seems we've come to the right place — I simply must see this legendary figure of yours in person."

"Senior Fu Ming," said Chu Qitong, her mind working quickly, "if we can't bring a gift for your grandfather, surely we could bring one for your grandmother?"

"My grandmother..." Fu Ming's serene and lovely face seemed to dim at that moment, and her voice grew sorrowful. "I never knew my grandmother. She gave her life during the war — she was a comrade who sacrificed herself for the country."

"I'm sorry — I didn't know..." Chu Qitong was caught completely off guard and became flustered. I quickly changed the subject. "With your father away in City C, doesn't your grandfather get lonely?"

Fu Ming managed a faint smile and shook her head. "Not really. My grandmother had two sons and a daughter. Apart from my father, who was assigned to City C by the military, my aunt and uncle all live here in the capital. I have many cousins who drop by Grandfather's place from time to time."

Hearing this, we both understood, and the idea of buying a gift was quietly abandoned. The taxi moved swiftly, and after roughly another ten minutes, we arrived at the entrance to the military compound.

"Attention! Please present your identification." The sentry at the gate came forward and saluted as we stepped out of the cab, requesting our documents — but the moment he recognized Fu Ming standing among us, he snapped to attention with another salute. "Ah, Miss Fu! Welcome back. It's been a long time — you grow lovelier every time I see you."

"Ha, Big Brother Wang — you're on duty today? It really has been ages!" Fu Ming greeted him warmly, then gestured toward Chu Qitong and me. "These are my classmates, here to visit my grandfather."

The sentry gave Fu Ming a friendly nod and opened the gate to let us through. My curiosity about Fu Ming's grandfather deepened considerably. To be admitted without showing identification, and to receive such courteous treatment from a sentry — that required a very considerable standing indeed. But thinking it over, I found it easy enough to understand. If Fu Ming's own father was already a corps commander, then her grandfather must surely be at the rank of general or higher.

Before long, under Fu Ming's guidance, we made our way along a broad road through the military compound. On either side, squads of soldiers jogged past in formation, chanting cadences; in the distance, others trained in hand-to-hand combat on the drill ground; and from somewhere farther off came the faint, rhythmic crack of gunfire. It gave me the sudden sensation of having stepped onto a battlefield. Surely it was only within the military that one could feel this kind of blood-stirring vitality.

After about five minutes, we crossed an intersection and arrived at the gate of the residential compound. Unlike the fierce, thunderous energy of the training grounds behind us, this place was wrapped in profound quiet. The military residential compound was where senior officers and their families lived, and naturally it bore no resemblance to the barracks. Fu Ming led us briskly through the gate and straight toward a white two-story villa.

Just as we reached the courtyard below the villa, a sharp crack rang out — the sound of tiles shattering — followed by a rapid succession of similar sounds. I watched clearly as a figure moved through the courtyard with breathtaking speed, and those shattering sounds were coming from a row of ceramic vessels along the wall, each one crumbling in turn.

"What extraordinary Eagle Claw technique!" I thought, quietly impressed, watching as each ceramic piece burst apart beneath those five furiously grasping fingers. Eagle Claw was one of the supreme arts of northern Chinese martial traditions — a discipline that trained the hand to become hard as iron, capable of crushing an enemy in an instant with the predatory swiftness of a hawk seizing its prey. Even the knowledge transmitted to me by the extraterrestrials had touched on it only briefly, and yet here was someone who had cultivated it to such a state of consummate mastery.

In the midst of that whirling display, the lightning-swift figure seemed to notice our arrival. In an instant, he flashed across the courtyard and appeared directly before Fu Ming. Fu Ming let out a cry of delight and threw herself toward him. "Grandfather! Fu Ming is back!"

"Ha ha ha! I knew my precious granddaughter had come home. Let Grandfather have a look at you — have you lost any weight these past few months?" Amid a hearty laugh — aged, yet resonant and full of vigor — I finally beheld the legendary figure before me: Fu Ming's grandfather, the old revolutionary, the old soldier. Though his hair had gone white, his complexion was ruddy and radiant, his spirit vigorous and keen. One glance was enough to tell that he was a man who had cultivated martial arts to a high degree. I marveled inwardly at the wonders of the martial arts — this old gentleman looked to be no more than sixty by any reckoning, and yet he was Fu Ming's grandfather. Truly, he seemed to grow younger with every passing year.

"Not bad, not bad — my granddaughter has actually filled out a little. Yes, yes, the mountains and rivers of the south are fine indeed. Life down there must be far better than the bitter cold of the north." Fu Ming's grandfather looked her over approvingly, then turned to regard Chu Qitong and me with a smile. "Mingming, these must be your two classmates, yes? Come now, won't you introduce them to your old grandfather?"

Fu Ming smiled with quiet happiness, took Chu Qitong's hand, and gestured toward each of us in turn. "This is Xiao Qiang, my junior. Grandfather, don't underestimate him — he's a computer prodigy. He took first place in the regional competition, and I'm no match for him at all."

Fu Ming's grandfather gave Chu Qitong and me a slight nod. I hastened to be modest. "Senior Fu Ming flatters me. That was only the regional round — the results of the national competition are still anyone's guess. I've long heard Fu Ming speak of a grandfather who remains vigorous and magnificent in his later years, and seeing you today, that remarkable display just now has earned my deepest admiration."

"Ha — you've got quite a talent for flattery, young man." Fu Ming's grandfather merely smiled and turned his gaze away from me, as though in his eyes I had already become just another smooth-tongued flatterer.

At that moment, Fu Ming smiled and took Chu Qitong's hand again. "Grandfather, this is my junior classmate Chu Qitong. Her grandfather is quite remarkable — he's the chairman of the nationally renowned Western Chu Group."

"Oh?" At those words, Fu Ming's grandfather's eyes brightened at once, and he nodded with a smile. "So you're Old Chu's granddaughter! No wonder you looked somewhat familiar. Your grandfather and I are old acquaintances — though the years have taken their toll on both of us, and we haven't had much contact of late. How is your grandfather keeping? Is he in good health?"

"Yes, thank you for asking, Grandfather Fu. He's very well." Chu Qitong had not expected Fu Ming's grandfather to know her own grandfather, and a flash of surprise crossed her face. It seemed her grandfather had never mentioned it to her — otherwise she surely would have recognized Fu Ming's grandfather the moment she saw him.

"You young people are wonderful. This old man's surname is Fu, given name Rongping — and I've always found formal titles tiresome. Just call me Old Fu. Come now, let's go inside and talk. Your mother is already preparing dinner, and your cousins will be coming to eat as well — it'll be a good occasion to gather together. Ha ha, this house hasn't been this lively in a long time." Old Fu Rongping swept a large hand through the air and ushered us all inside with a smile.

I felt a faint, quiet discomfort — a sense that Old Fu Rongping had been slightly dismissive of me. There was a flicker of something I had to suppress. But after all, this was Fu Ming's home, and it would not do to cause her any embarrassment.