Swords emerge from the human world

Chapter 10, Section 10: The Beginner's Guide, The Uninvited Guest

After Wang Fu left, Chen Jin pondered the matter, weighing the pros and cons, and considered whether he should go down the mountain.

Then I saw my uncle Chen Tan, wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, hurrying over.

"Uncle, has something happened?"

Chen Jin asked.

Chen Tan walked quickly and was a little out of breath. He wiped the water off his face and said in a deep voice, "Young man, you must stay in the mountains and do not go home during this time. I heard that the government is recruiting soldiers and starting a labor service, and has sent soldiers and officers to the countryside to supervise the work."

Chen Jin's eyes narrowed. He had only heard Wang Fu mention the recruitment notice two days ago, but he hadn't expected it to spread to the countryside so quickly: "Are they already arresting people indiscriminately?"

"No, not really... but it's always good to be prepared for the worst. There's a saying that goes, 'A scholar encountering a soldier is like trying to reason with someone who can't win...'"

At this point, I quickly stopped, afraid that the word "scholar" would touch a sore spot for Chen Jin.

However, Chen Jin remained calm and asked directly, "If it's corvée labor, our family can't escape it either, can we?"

Chen Tan nodded: "With the corvée labor system, every household has to send someone out. I've decided to take the job, join the army, and fight on the battlefield. Maybe I can earn military merits, which is a way out."

"Uncle!"

“Young man, you don’t need to say anything. I’ve already discussed this with your uncle, and this is the best arrangement. We’re educated and have practiced martial arts, and we’re not willing to be slaves for the rest of our lives. This is a good opportunity for us to go out and make our own way.”

The Chen family has three branches. The eldest branch, Chen Yuan, married and had children; the second branch has only one son, Chen Jin, who is a weak and scholarly man.

In contrast, Chen Tan was in his prime, without the burdens of a wife and children. He stepped forward without hesitation.

But everyone knows that enlisting at this time is fraught with hardship and danger, which goes without saying.

Chen Jin's eyes flickered, and he suddenly said, "Uncle, please wait a moment."

He immediately laid out his writing implements and began to write furiously.

About 15 minutes later, he finished writing, blew the ink dry, and handed over the paper: "This is an introductory exercise for health preservation. Practicing it can strengthen your body. Take it and practice it when you have time; it may be of some use."

Chen Tan was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Health cultivation exercises? Where did you get them?"

Chen Jin had an excuse: "My classmate Wang Fu from the county school built a thatched cottage over there. He is a martial artist and has many books on martial arts techniques. When I went to borrow them, I accidentally saw this method and copied it back, intending to practice it myself."

This explanation was reasonable, and Chen Tan no longer had any doubts.

Martial arts skills and health preservation techniques are not uncommon in the market. Various versions circulate, with good and bad mixed together, making it difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake.

Incomplete copies, rare copies, original copies, handwritten copies...

Different versions, different values.

It's not that you can learn something just by having the text and copying it exactly.

How can it be?

For beginners, without a teacher to guide them, they cannot even distinguish basic mistakes and omissions. If they rush into practice, they will either fail to get started and waste their time, or they will practice incorrectly and may even ruin their skills.

As someone who had once practiced martial arts, Chen Tan knew the difficulty involved.

He didn't think anything that could be freely lent out and copied could be some profound secret manual. But since it was his nephew's heartfelt gift and written in his own hand, its significance and value were different.

He immediately folded it up, put it close to his body, gave some more instructions, and then turned and went down the mountain.

"Uncle, take care!"

Chen Jin couldn't help but shout.

Chen Tan turned around and gave a bright smile: "Young man, take care of yourself too. You're too burdened with worries, that's not good. Don't worry, the sky won't fall, smile more, good days will come eventually."

He strode away.

Watching his retreating figure, Chen Jin sighed.

Life is a constant flow, and we are often powerless to control our own destiny. Many things are simply unstoppable, and it's impossible to predict when they will befall us.

What he gave to his uncle was the "Six Qi Correct Position Method".

To be precise, it's an introductory version of the "Six Qi Correct Position Method." Compared to the original, it's much simpler and easier to practice. Chen Jin himself was able to learn it in a short time only after receiving instruction from the God of Literature, Kui Xing, in a dream. If it were copied verbatim, Chen Tan would find it like a book written in heaven, completely incomprehensible. Practicing it haphazardly would be ineffective and harmful.

Therefore, a beginner's version is necessary.

This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather something I had planned for a long time, and I had spent a lot of time and effort organizing it and had a draft in mind, which is why I was able to write it so quickly.

This is the beginner's version, with very detailed steps and instructions, plus various notes and comments...

Given Chen Tan's abilities, he should be able to learn it. With persistent practice, he can improve his health and boost his energy. Once he has a solid foundation, he will have a significant advantage in future military campaigns.

……

As dusk fell, the rain intensified, pattering down relentlessly.

The sky quickly darkened.

Chen Jin lit the copper lamp and cooked under it.

"Brother Chen, don't bother with your work. Come to the thatched cottage and let's eat together. The servant brought up a pot of chicken soup today, which is quite delicious."

Wang Fu returned, holding an oil-paper umbrella, and stood at the temple gate calling out.

Chen Jin looked over, scrutinized his expression, and said calmly, "No need. I've already cooked the rice, and it's inconvenient for me to disturb your cultivation with the fox spirit."

Wang Fu laughed and said, "Meiniang is not here. She has gone out and we don't know when she will return."

"Oh, she does this often?"

"Occasionally, perhaps. The actions of immortals are always ethereal and unpredictable."

As Wang Fu spoke, his gaze was drawn to the lights on the altar, and he couldn't help but step inside to observe them closely.

Chen Jin's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively came over: "Brother Wang, what's wrong?"

Wang Fu examined the antique lamp: "Your Kui Xing kicking the Dipper lamp is quite nice, with a lustrous patina and a protective glow... Where did you buy it?"

"This is a family heirloom."

“No wonder… Hehe, I was thinking of asking Brother Chen if he would be willing to part with this lamp and sell it to me. Just name your price.”

Chen Jin flatly refused: "It's a family heirloom, how could it be sold or lent out?"

"understand."

Wang Fu said repeatedly, "Just like my Qingyun Sword, I cherish it as much as my own life, and I would never let anyone else touch it."

Chen Jin immediately dismissed him, saying, "Brother Wang, it's getting late. You should go back now. I'll have dinner and then go to bed."

"Fine, since you don't want to eat, then I'll take my leave."

Wang Fu didn't linger, but as he was leaving, he couldn't help but turn back and glance at the ancient lamp, his eyes filled with reluctance.

He was also a scholar, and his family had three Kui Xing kicking the Dipper lamps.

Some are made of copper, some of iron, and some of silver; the materials alone make them quite valuable.

Different materials result in different shapes.

However, compared to Chen Jin's lamp, it paled in comparison and paled in comparison.

I couldn't quite put my finger on what exactly meant by "difference".

He shook his head, walked straight into the rain, and returned to his thatched cottage.

Chen Jin stood guard by the ancient lamp, thinking to himself: "Kui Xing has appeared; logically, He is already bound to my family and cannot be easily taken away..."

Then I thought again: the "Yellow Court Nourishing Sword" and "Six Qi Correct Position Method" that the other party taught me in the dream are the real means to secure my life. Mastering the two is the foundation.

After finishing our meal, as we were about to close the temple gate, we suddenly saw a person standing outside, appearing silently like a ghost.

(End of this chapter)