Under the fist

Chapter 52 Where is the martial world? It's right before our eyes.

……

"Be careful on the road, and call us when you get home."

In November, the Tarim River is covered in ice and snow.

The frost was as sharp as a knife, and the snow was howling. At the train station, Qin Yuhu and his family were seeing off their son who was about to return home.

Even though Lian Youming didn't feel particularly cold, he still had to put on an act. He couldn't just wear a single shirt, so he wrapped himself in a thick coat and a cotton hat. With his extraordinary physique, he looked like an old bear emerging from its den.

He left half a month later than the other educated youth from Beijing and Shanghai. He took care of some trivial matters, such as mailing things to Yan Lingyun, writing a letter to say that he was going back to the city, giving his home address, and asking about what to do with the tiger bone and the pearl.

I originally wanted to call, but we are in the north and south respectively, and the distance between us is too great. I tried to call five or six times but couldn't get through. In the end, I could only communicate by letter.

"Don't worry." Lian Youming didn't take his luggage back with him, mainly because he had brought too much stuff with him. There were tiger bones, tiger skin, and a whole bunch of other things that he couldn't carry. "Uncle, why don't you come visit us sometime?"

He glanced at Qin Hongxiu, who had returned from her holiday. After half a year apart, the chubby girl had gotten even rounder.

And there's that little baby, Qin Kaixuan, who's not even a year old.

This name is absolutely in line with the mainstream of this era.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, seeing the train approaching in the distance, Lian Youming smiled and said, "It's cold, everyone go back. Sister, don't forget to let me know when you get married, and I'll bring our two little ones over for you to meet."

Qin Hongxiu, still with her carefree personality, said, "Goodbye, Comrade!"

Unlike when he arrived, as soon as Lian Youming boarded the train, he saw that both sides of the carriage were covered with a layer of white frost, and a cloud of cold mist was floating in the carriage. Even the hard wooden seats were frozen like iron, cold and hard, and some were even frozen solid, looking like ice sculptures.

It's so cold.

The passengers in the carriage were also freezing. Most of them had come from Mohe. They were all huddled up, with their hands tucked into their sleeves, their eyelashes covered in white, and their breathing sounded like they were exhaling clouds of smoke.

Fortunately, there weren't many people.

Lian Youming found a seat by the window, wiped the frost off the glass, and waved to Qin Yuhu and the others.

But after just one glance, the rapidly condensing frost quickly obscured the figures of several people.

As the military reclamation war song played in the station, the train slowly started moving.

But once Lian Youming steadied himself, he suddenly felt a little awkward. He thought it was because he had been practicing for a long time and felt uncomfortable when he didn't move.

With no other option, he could only carry his bundle to the connecting area between the carriages, stand with his legs spread out, and practice his kung fu while holding a copy of Journey to the West to pass the time.

The journey was long and silent. The scenery outside the window was covered in frost and snow, offering little to see. Lian Youming focused solely on his own little corner of the world, engrossed in his practice.

The train stopped and started, and the passengers in the carriages were all different kinds, coming and going. The further south they went, the more the frost began to melt into glistening water droplets.

Lian Youming didn't know how long he had been standing there, and the Journey to the West in his hands had been turned to the last page again. Looking at the "True and Wonderful Secrets of the Perfect Integration of Exoteric and Esoteric Teachings," he felt that there was something strange about this thing.

What's strange about that?

With a slight shift in his mind, Lian Youming suddenly realized that this alchemy manual, which was originally at the beginning of the previous text, had now been moved to the end.

Is there any intention behind it?

Lian Youming's eyes showed contemplation. He casually flipped through the pages, only to make another discovery.

"Ok?"

It turns out that you can actually see clearly from the back to the front.

It wasn't the words that connected them, but the seventy-two small paintings.

If this alchemical formula is added, the story presented in the painting will be different. This Sun Wukong seems to have abandoned Buddhism and become a demon, turning from good to evil. His evil aura permeates the heavens and the earth, and his tragic and shocking appearance is as if he has turned away from the Buddhas of the Western Paradise, slaughtered all the demons, wiped out all the evil spirits, and then soared into the sky from under the Five Fingers Mountain, made a great disturbance in the Heavenly Palace, reversed Yin and Yang, changed life and death, and finally escaped into Flower Fruit Mountain, playing with the monkeys and not caring about worldly affairs.

How strange!

Lian Youming frowned deeply, and even his breathing became rapid.

If viewed directly, the monkey in the painting, though menacing, gradually returns to peace. But viewed indirectly, it seems to be born with evil bones and an innate malice, making evil people's scalps tingle, yet in the end, it also shows a return to simplicity and nature.

One is positive, the other negative; one is Buddha, the other demon; one has the appearance of a demon but the heart of a Buddha; one is a heretic but a true Buddha. Although they are different, they are intertwined and interdependent, each containing the other.

"Buddha and demon? Yin and Yang? Hardness and softness?"

Lian Youming seemed to be a god flying beyond the heavens, constantly murmuring softly.

"Imitative Boxing?"

Looking at the ferocious monkey face in the painting, he suddenly slumped his shoulders and shrank his body, raised his arms with his elbows bent and his hands hooked inward, like an ape or a monkey, with a graceful and charming demeanor.

This is not the monkey-style fist technique of Xingyi Quan, but one of the Five Animal Frolics, the Monkey Frolics, which Yan Lingyun sent to him.

The monkey in the painting was so lifelike, its tragic and malevolent aura almost leaping off the paper, that it inspired him to try and imitate it.

But to those passengers, such actions seemed like those of a reckless fool.

Lian Youming felt a little uncomfortable being stared at, so he just grinned at a child holding sesame candy. But perhaps he was too engrossed in looking at the monkey's vicious appearance, because he subconsciously added a bit of his own ferocious grin to the monkey's face. The child shuddered, turned his head, and burst into tears.

Under the unfriendly gaze of the child's mother, Lian Youming felt extremely uneasy, as if he were sitting on pins and needles, or as if he had thorns in his back.

He only breathed a sigh of relief after the other person got off the bus.

"Anger? Imposing manner? So that's what it is."

Lian Youming had no appetite. He felt as if he had grasped something and was close to that spark of inspiration, but he was just a little short of it. He couldn't see or touch it, which made him extremely uncomfortable.

Thinking to himself, he took out Yan Lingyun's letter again, mainly the Five Animal Frolics, and looked at it in comparison with the seventy-two small paintings.

Looking out the window again, I realized that it had already gotten dark.

As dusk fell, the snow, which had been falling in a flurry, suddenly became chaotic. The howling white wind, like a monstrous dragon stirring up trouble, swept across the snow-covered hills and plains, churning the silken snow curtain into a frenzy.

Just thinking about it for a whole night was enough.

Aside from buying three boxed meals when the train stopped in Harbin, he barely moved, as if possessed, muttering to himself, scaring passersby away as if they had encountered a fool.

By the time the train arrived in the capital, it was already the next morning.

Lian Youming, carrying his bundle, squeezed through the crowd. Instead of rushing to buy a ticket, he found a few scalpers and inquired about Sun Duhe's whereabouts.

This person was his benefactor, and more importantly, a good person at that.

When the two met again at the state-run restaurant outside the station, Sun Duhe looked at the boy with suspicion, then turned and ran without saying a word, thinking that someone was going to beat him up.

Lian Youming was dumbfounded and hurriedly shouted, "Hey, why are you running away?"

As he spoke, he quickly took out the old book.

Seeing the familiar old book, Sun Duhe suddenly remembered Lian Youming. He walked back and plopped down on the stool, gulping down a cup of tea. "Damn, I thought it was some thugs hired by those bastards on West Street. With your physique, I almost peed my pants... You've gotten this strong in just one year?"

Seeing that the other party still remembered him, Lian Youming smiled happily. He was afraid that the other party might forget their casual acquaintance.

Just remember.

He couldn't possibly return the martial arts manual in that old book, but he should at least treat the other party to a meal.

Lian Youming casually ordered a few dishes: braised lion's head meatballs, shredded pork with sweet bean sauce, cuttlefish egg soup, braised pork belly, and two cold dishes, splurging on a meal. "How have you been lately?"

Sun Duhe looked somewhat embarrassed, his face contorted with distress. He sighed, "Don't even mention it. I got arrested as soon as I got back that day. If it weren't for my family pulling some strings, I'd still be in jail right now. But they confiscated almost all of my belongings, leaving me with just two watches."

Lian Youming originally wanted to ask Dongzhu if she could help him here, but upon hearing this, he immediately abandoned all such thoughts.

"How are things between you and your family?"

Sun Duhe said with a wry smile, "The old man almost beat me to death, and now he doesn't even recognize me."

Lian Youming was not surprised by this result. If he had dared to tamper with things, his family would probably have reacted the same way, not to mention that he was caught.

"It's okay, you'll get through it."

Sun Duhe chuckled, picked up some food, and said as he ate, "That's right. If you had come any later, we might not have met."

Lian Youming asked in surprise, "What do you mean?"

Sun Duhe said softly, "I plan to take my sweetheart to the south to try my luck. I heard that things are more open there now, and there might be opportunities. I don't want to be stuck in those factories like my brother, never seeing the world, with everything arranged for me... As long as they don't kill me, I'm going to make a name for myself."

By the end, the man's eyes had turned red.

Upon hearing this, Lian Youming couldn't help but take a second look at the other person, only to discover that one of the shoes had a toe sticking out, and the clothes were somewhat dirty, making him look much more disheveled than before.

Outside the restaurant, a quiet and pretty-looking short-haired girl stood nervously, constantly glancing in their direction. She was dressed rather thinly.

"You son of a bitch, people were planning to go south with you, and you just sat inside while they watched you from the outside?"

Sun Duhe turned around in confusion following Lian Youming's gaze, then chuckled and said, "Don't worry, they're not going to beat me up. Come in quickly... I heard someone looking for me earlier, so I told her to run away, but I didn't expect her to sneak back here."

Upon hearing this, the short-haired girl quickly walked in. She looked obedient, and Sun Duhe pulled her to sit down, casually wrapping his coat around her. "This is my future wife, we grew up in the same compound, she's a teacher who graduated from vocational school... After all these years, all my brothers have run away, but this girl is willing to break ties with her family to stay with me wholeheartedly, sigh!"

Upon hearing his wife's name, the short-haired girl blushed and nodded to Lian Youming.

After finishing his introduction with a mix of laughter and sighs, Sun Duhe took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "I'm now universally disliked. Just for this meal, I'll remember you even after I die."

Lian Youming laughed and said, "What you said is giving me the creeps."

After thinking for a moment, he took out two hundred yuan and stuffed it into her hand. "Take this money. Don't think it's too little. Use it to buy some food and drinks on the way, change your clothes, and take good care of your wife."

Sun Duhe initially wanted to refuse, but looking at his girlfriend beside him, whose face was pale from the cold, he couldn't bring himself to say it. He just said with red eyes, "Damn it, you little bastard, all those guys who usually call me brother run away when something happens. I can't believe you're willing to lend me a hand after we've only met once. That's ridiculous... Anyway, I'll remember this, buddy."

Lian Youming took another set of bowls and chopsticks. Seeing that the two looked unwell, he thought they had probably been eating irregularly. "Learn from your mistakes and be more careful in the future."

He glanced at the time, but didn't touch his chopsticks. He then left his home address with the other party.

"Call me when you get to the south, no matter what."

It wasn't out of any conscience, but rather because Lian Youming felt this person had great potential.

These days, only the restless get ahead. Besides, Sun Duhe is a military dependent, has a good character, and values ​​loyalty. He's unlikely to go astray. Who knows, he might even make a name for himself in the south.

Moreover, he would have to go to the south sooner or later.

"Alright, I have to go now. Take care."

Nodding to the two of them, Lian Youming paid the bill, shouldered his bundle, and left.

He was even thinking of getting a train ticket home from Sun Duhe, but he never expected things to turn out so badly.

Things are impermanent.

But when Lian Youming arrived at the ticket office, he felt as if the sky had fallen.

A huge crowd of people stood before me, and it took them more than an hour to buy tickets. By the time they boarded the train, it was almost evening.

At the end of the year, it was absolutely packed with people.

Lian Youming remained huddled in the connecting area between the carriages, sitting in a corner, idly taking out a novel to pass the time.

As the sun sank behind the distant mountains, darkness gradually descended.

After several stops, the aisle in the carriage was finally cleared.

The yellowish light shone on tired and weary faces.

Lian Youming was among them; he held his bundle and closed his eyes to rest.

"Classmate Lian."

A soft laugh suddenly rang out nearby.

Lian Youming looked in the direction of the sound and saw a girl wearing a blue sweater and a scarf standing in front of him, carrying a thermos.

"you are?"

Seeing Lian Youming's confusion, the newcomer removed the scarf from her face. "Me? I'm Zhao Xiaozhi. Don't you remember me?"

Lian Youming looked at the other person carefully before he remembered that this was the female educated youth who had walked in the mountains with Yang Shuang, and who had performed a dance at the forest farm a few days ago.

"Didn't you all return to the city ahead of schedule?"

He remembered that the other party was from Beijing.

Zhao Xiaozhi pointed to another carriage, "Yes, I've been back for several days now, and I'm going to Tianjin with my classmates."

Just as Lian Youming was about to speak, Zhao Xiaozhi lifted the water bottle in her hand again, "Take out your water bottle, I'll pour you some hot water. You must be exhausted from the train ride, my legs were weak when I came back. Oh, and I still have some malted milk powder..."

Lian Youming quickly replied, "Hot water is fine, thank you."

Zhao Xiaozhi smiled with narrowed eyes, seemingly realizing that Lian Youming didn't want to talk, so she didn't continue. After pouring the hot water, she returned to her seat and chatted with a few classmates.

Lian Youming clutched the kettle and leaned back, his mind still replaying the little drawings. He rubbed his throbbing temples, his gaze sweeping over the noisy passengers. He closed his eyes again, but immediately frowned and opened them again.

It was only because someone had a brief argument at the left entrance of the carriage, and two figures walked over.

The two people were on the left and right. On the left was an old lady with a face as withered as tree bark. She was wrapped in an ill-fitting gray coat with tightly cinched trousers and old cloth shoes with many layers of soles. She also had a small basket slung over her right arm, covered with a towel.

There was nothing strange about this person, but he recognized the person on the right; he had even seen him during the day.

She was a girl, not very tall, with short hair, a quiet and pretty appearance, and a scholarly air about her. She was wearing a dirty military overcoat. She was actually Sun Duhe's lover.

Didn't the two of them say they were going south? Why did only one of them come up?
Lian Youming glanced at the girl's unsteady steps and empty, bewildered eyes, and then twitched the corners of his mouth.

Then there was the old lady holding the girl's shoulder with one hand, and her grip was quite strong.

Is he under a spell?
Surely it couldn't be that Sun Duhe sold his wife.

He stretched his limbs and sighed.

Where is the martial arts world now?

So close.

(End of this chapter)