The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

"I'm going to teach you something else today. I'm only teaching you, but don't show off in front of outsiders. You can escape when you get into trouble."

Cheng Youning nodded, and saw the attendant crawling into the cage, "Lock the cage door."

"Ah? If I locked Master in a cage, it would be extremely disrespectful."

"Don't be like Wong Tai Sin and be so slow. Just lock it up when I tell you to."

Cheng Youning had no choice but to do as he was told.

"My disciple, watch carefully. I will only show you once. If you can't learn it, I won't teach you again."

Cheng Youning concentrated, held his breath, and watched carefully. His pounding heart was almost stopped by the follower. He saw the follower crawling out of the cage like a snake, then crawling back in, and crawling out again.

"Apprentice, it's your turn."

His apprentice was already dumbfounded and stunned.

The follower took the key from Cheng Youning, opened the iron lock, grabbed Cheng Youning's collar and threw the dazed man in. When Cheng Youning reacted, there was a click and the lock had been locked by the follower. What frightened Cheng Youning even more was that the follower threw the key far away.

Cheng Youning panicked, "Master, please don't throw it away. What if I can't get out?"

"Then stay inside forever and don't come out."

Cheng Youning was frightened when he thought about his situation. He grabbed the iron cage with his hands and discussed with his followers: "Master, can I not learn this kung fu?"

"Too late." Then the follower disappeared.

Cheng Youning looked up at the trees around him for his followers. The leaves were so thick that he couldn't see where his master was hiding. He was anxious, "Master, you are not really gone, are you? There are wild beasts here, and your disciple will be scared."

He shouted several times but no one responded. He patted the cage and said, "Master, you are so mean. I don't know if that stinky Qiao Rong will come out to look for me." He shouted twice more at the top of his lungs, "Daddy, Daddy—" Where is his dad? It seemed that this place was very far away from his dad's paddy field. He couldn't call his dad even if he shouted at the top of his lungs. If he couldn't call his dad, then he couldn't rely on his mother's ears. The young Cheng Youning sighed.

Cheng Youning shook the cage and pounded it twice, but the cage didn't move at all. He had to find a way to get out. He took off the small short knife from his body and stabbed it into the keyhole. The knife was wide and the keyhole was small, so he couldn't pry open the lock. He had to hold the knife and chop hard at the iron cage. He didn't believe it. This knife was given to him by Cangman, who said it could cut through iron like mud. It must be a lie. The iron cage didn't break at all. Instead, he was exhausted and panting. Finally, he had to give up. He thought that he could get out if he learned the trick his master had just taught him, so he concentrated on practicing repeatedly in the cage.

He gave up several times in a row, and then slapped the cage and shouted for his master, but the only responses he got were the echoes and the calls of animals and birds in the woods. His master didn't come at all. Finally, he sat in the cage and broke down and sobbed. He cried until he was tired, but his followers still didn't show up, and no one else came to save him. He had to wipe his tears and cursed "bad master" before starting to think of a way to escape.

At such a young age, he has already developed an idea that is not appropriate for his age: no one can be trusted except himself.

Fortunately, he was not stupid. After four hours of tossing and turning, he finally got out of the iron cage exhausted. At this time, the follower suddenly stood beside him and said, "You are far worse than I was back then. You kept me waiting for so long."

Cheng Youning's face wrinkled, "Master didn't leave. I was scared to death."

The attendant said, "What are you afraid of? You are much dumber than I thought."

"I am not talented, please teach me, Master."

The attendant pulled the lock on the cage and said, "The cage can only trap you because of your low talent. This broken lock cannot be opened even with a knife or a gun. You are really stupid."

Cheng Youning said with a boastful face: "Master, I don't have any handy tools. A knife is too wide."

"Don't say you are my disciple when you go out. You can't afford to lose face."

Cheng Youning's eyes welled up with tears at the follower's words, "My disciple is stupid and really can't open it."

"Watch this." The attendant picked up the lock and shook it, and it opened.

"How to open it?"

"What did I ask you to watch? You can't concentrate after being locked up in a cage for a whole day?"

Cheng Youning wiped away tears aggrievedly: "My eyes were blurry with tears just now, and I really didn't see the mystery of this lock opening."

"There is nothing mysterious about it. You may not know anything else, but you must know this. Otherwise, you are not worthy of being my disciple."

The attendant took out the key and locked the padlock. Cheng Youning blinked his eyes and said, "Master, didn't you throw away the key?"

“I picked it up again.”

Cheng Youning said: "Master cheated me."

The attendant said, "What's wrong with you? I'm your master, watch out."

With a click, the lock opened again.

Cheng Youning tried to unlock the door under the disgusted gaze of his followers, but failed to do so after dozens of attempts. "Master, please tell me the key. I can't open it."

"How could I accept such a stupid apprentice like you? I will go slower this time, just watch me."

Cheng Youning finally opened the lock while crying.

The attendant said, "Let's go home."

It was already dusk. The attendant was in front, and Cheng Youning followed behind. "Master, don't you want to keep an eye on your disciple? I can't keep up."

"Hmph, you're such a nuisance." The follower had no choice but to turn around and take Cheng Youning home.

It was already dinner time when they arrived at the prefect's mansion. Qiao Rong was already waiting at the door. As soon as his entourage entered the courtyard, they left him at the door and he left alone.

"Young Master, what happened to you? Did your master bully you?"

Cheng Youning nodded: "I haven't been home for a day, and you didn't even go up the mountain to look for me. It would be nice if you could bring me some food."

Qiao Rong said, "My master didn't allow me to follow you today. I went to look for you secretly, but I didn't see you at all."

Cheng Youning said: "It's normal that you can't find it. He took me to the mountain next to the mountain we usually go to."

"Sure enough, we've changed places. Young Master, what's wrong with your face?"

Cheng Youning complained in his heart, what else could it be? It was caught by the iron cage, but his master didn't let him say anything, so he could only say, "It was scratched by the branches."

Qiao Rong took a closer look and said, "It looks like it was clipped, not shaved."

Cheng Youning said, "Don't ask so many questions. I'm sweating all over. Take me to wash up."

"it is good."

"I think everyone is eating in the dining hall."

"Well, everyone guessed that you were punished again today, so they didn't wait for you and are eating now."

"Okay, but it doesn't count as a punishment today."

"But what about pheasants? Didn't you catch any today?"

Cheng Youning said, "Don't ask. I didn't catch any chickens today. I think catching chickens is a good idea."