Huang Rong from The Return of the Condor Heroes: Guo'er, calm down.

Yin Zhiping's face was swollen like a steamed bun.

A large lump swelled up on his left cheek, squeezing his eyes into slits, making his once fairly regular features look utterly comical. He sat on a futon, holding a bronze mirror in his hand, grimacing as he applied ointment to his face.

That was the antidote for the Jade Bee Sting. Although I wasn't poisoned, the swelling wouldn't go down anytime soon.

"hiss--"

Yin Zhiping's hand trembled, and he gasped in pain.

"Master, your disciple is here to help you."

Yang Guo, carrying a basin of hot water, came over with a grin. He wrung out a handkerchief, steaming hot, and handed it to him, looking every bit the dutiful son.

Yin Zhiping took the handkerchief, covered his face with it, and said in a muffled voice, "At least you have a conscience."

"Of course." Yang Guo moved a small stool and sat opposite Yin Zhiping, resting his chin on his hand. "Master is so good to me, taking me to the back mountain to broaden my horizons. How could I not repay your kindness?"

Upon hearing the words "back mountain," Yin Zhiping froze, nearly dropping his handkerchief.

He peered warily through his slits, staring at Yang Guo: "I'm going...to practice my skills. You saw it yourself, that place is dangerous, you're not allowed to go there again."

"I understand, I understand, disciple." Yang Guo nodded vigorously. "That's Master's secret training ground. But Master, that fairy sister is really beautiful, even more beautiful than the Guanyin Bodhisattva in the paintings. Is she a relative of one of our Quanzhen Sect's seniors?"

Yin Zhiping's expression changed drastically. He quickly covered Yang Guo's mouth and growled in a low voice, "Shut up! What family members! They are...they are descendants of the Ancient Tomb Sect! They are the mortal enemies of our Quanzhen Sect!"

"A mortal enemy?" Yang Guo blinked innocently. "If they're mortal enemies, why would Master send her osmanthus cakes? And why would he have her perform a sword dance? In plays, only talented scholars and beautiful ladies do that when they're having a secret rendezvous."

Yin Zhiping broke out in a cold sweat.

This kid looks stupid, but how come every word he says hits him right where it hurts?

If that scoundrel Zhao Zhijing found out that he had given gifts to the Ancient Tomb Sect and then acted like a monkey, brandishing his sword and showing off his treasures, he would be finished in the Quanzhen Sect. At best, he would face ten years of solitary confinement; at worst, he would be stripped of his martial arts and expelled from the sect.

"Guo'er!" Yin Zhiping took a deep breath, forcing out a kind smile (though it looked ferocious on his swollen face). "You're young and don't understand the rules of the martial world. I... I endured humiliation to resolve the feud between the two factions. This matter is of great importance, you must never mention it to anyone else, especially your Uncle Zhao, understand?"

"Oh—enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens, huh?" Yang Guo drawled, feigning sudden realization. "Master is truly great! For the sake of the Quanzhen Sect, he even had to sacrifice his looks to please that cold-hearted sister."

Yin Zhiping's lips twitched. Why did the words "sacrifice one's body" sound so jarring?

"However..." Yang Guo changed the subject, sighing with a worried expression, "My mouth isn't always so tight. Especially when I'm not doing well in my training, I get annoyed and tend to talk nonsense. What if I run into Uncle-Master Zhao one day and accidentally let slip that Master is 'enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens'..."

Threat.

This is a blatant threat.

Yin Zhiping glared at Yang Guo. This was no simple, honest disciple; he was clearly a little fox!

But what could he do? They had leverage over him.

"What do you want?" Yin Zhiping asked through gritted teeth.

Yang Guo chuckled and pulled out the book "The Complete Great Dao Song" from his robes: "Master, I recognize all the words in this book, but I don't understand them when they're put together. What's this 'The nine orifices originate in the coccyx'? What's this 'Innate Qi and Acquired Qi'? I really can't comprehend it. Master, you are a scholar of unparalleled learning, could you explain it to me in detail?"

Yin Zhiping breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought the kid wanted some gold and silver treasures, but it turned out he just wanted to learn martial arts.

"What's so difficult about that?" Yin Zhiping waved his hand. "I will explain it during tomorrow's morning lesson."

"No way!" Yang Guo shoved the book onto Yin Zhiping's lap. "There are too many people and too much chatter during morning lessons, and Uncle Zhao and the others are always watching me. What if I ask too many questions and they think I'm stupid and punish me? How about... Master gives me some extra help right now?"

He leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Once I learn it, and I'm in a good mood, my mouth will naturally stay shut. In the future, when Master goes to the back mountain to 'endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens,' I can keep watch for you."

Looking at that smiling face, Yin Zhiping wanted nothing more than to slap it.

But he dared not.

"Okay," Yin Zhiping squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth, "Bring the book here."

……

It was late at night.

The Taoist priests at Chongyang Palace had already gone to sleep, except for a small lamp still burning in Yin Zhiping's room.

Yin Zhiping sat cross-legged on the couch, looking utterly dejected. Yang Guo sat opposite him, full of energy, holding a pen and scribbling in a book.

"This line, 'In the initial cultivation of the Great Dao, the nine orifices are opened,'" Yin Zhiping patiently explained. "The nine orifices do not refer to the eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, but rather to nine key points within the human body. The coccyx point is located at the end of the spine and is the first barrier for the ascent of true qi. When you circulate your qi, you need to focus your mind on this point, and once the qi in your dantian is warm, then guide the qi to rush through the barrier."

Yang Guo listened carefully, but secretly made comparisons in his mind.

The Toad Stance taught by the adoptive father emphasizes using stillness to control movement, accumulating strength at a single point for a sudden burst. In contrast, the internal energy cultivation of the Quanzhen School emphasizes continuous, balanced, and tranquil movements.

The approaches are completely different.

"Master, how do we guide this energy?" Yang Guo interrupted Yin Zhiping. "Is it by forcefully holding our breath and pushing it upwards? Or by visualizing it floating upwards?"

Yin Zhiping rolled his eyes: "Vulgar! What do you mean by holding it in or forcing it? That's using your mind! Your intention guides your energy, making it seem almost imperceptible. If you use too much force, you'll go astray!"

"Oh, it's like it's there but not there." Yang Guo scratched his head. "So, is it 'there' or 'not there'? Master, you're being too vague. Can you be more specific? For example, does this feeling feel like being unable to poop?"

"puff--"

Yin Zhiping spat out the mouthful of tea he had just drunk.

"You bastard!" Yin Zhiping slammed his fist on the table in anger. "This is a method of cultivating immortality and seeking the Dao, how dare you use such foul language to describe it?"

"I don't understand," Yang Guo said, looking aggrieved. "Master, your explanation is too profound. I'm just a simple man, and this is the only way I can understand it. If you don't explain it clearly, I'll go ask Uncle-Master Zhao tomorrow, and while I'm at it, I'll ask him if he knows there are bees on the back mountain..."

"stop!"

Yin Zhiping felt a headache coming on. He realized that the kid was doing it on purpose.

"Listen carefully!" Yin Zhiping took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger. "So-called intention is like holding an extremely thin thread in your hand, trying to pull a cow. You can't pull too hard, or the thread will break; nor can you not pull at all, or the cow won't move. You have to go with its flow, gently guiding it, slowly leading it..."

In order to shut Yang Guo up, Yin Zhiping had to rack his brains and break down those mysterious incantations into the simplest and most straightforward language.

He spoke until his throat was dry, but Yang Guo listened with great interest.

Although the internal energy cultivation method of the Quanzhen School progresses slowly, it is indeed authentically Taoist. It emphasizes a solid foundation, and the power increases the further one progresses.

Although Yang Guo practiced the Toad Stance, it was an unorthodox method with an unstable foundation. Now, with Yin Zhiping's detailed and meticulous explanation, his weak foundation has been perfectly compensated for.

"And what about this line? 'The cauldron is perpetually spring-like throughout the four seasons'?" Yang Guo pointed to a page in the book.

Yin Zhiping glanced out the window; the moon was almost setting. He was preoccupied with hoping to bump into Miss Long at the back mountain the next day, and had no interest in talking further.

"We'll talk about that later, it's too late today..."

"Oh dear, Master," Yang Guo sighed, "I have a problem; I can't keep things to myself. If I don't understand this, I definitely won't be able to sleep tonight. And when I can't sleep, I want to talk to someone, and once I start talking..."

Yin Zhiping's temple throbbed.

"The 'cauldron' refers to the dantian!" Yin Zhiping gritted his teeth, speaking rapidly. "Eternal spring means that the true qi circulates endlessly within the dantian, full of vitality. When you practice, you should visualize a warm sun shining on your entire body within your dantian..."

This lecture went on until dawn.

The rooster crows three times.

Yin Zhiping had dark circles under his eyes, his voice was hoarse, and he looked like he had been drained of his life force by a demon.

"Thank you for your instruction, Master!" Yang Guo closed the book, looking refreshed, and respectfully kowtowed. "Master's explanation was excellent; I understood it all. Shall we continue with the next chapter tonight?"

Yin Zhiping swayed and almost fell headfirst onto the couch.

孽 孽!

Did he take on a disciple, or did he invite an ancestor?

Chapter 27

The days passed by.

The Taoist priests at Chongyang Palace discovered something strange.

Uncle Yin Zhiping, who was usually very particular about his appearance and walked with a brisk pace, had recently become increasingly haggard. His eyes were sunken, his complexion was sallow, and he walked with a limp, as if he had been seriously ill.

On the contrary, the new disciple Yang Guo had a rosy complexion, was full of energy, and was always smiling, greeting everyone he met.

"Guo'er, how's your practice of the Complete Perfection Great Dao Song coming along?"

That afternoon, Zhao Zhijing was patrolling the square with his hands behind his back. He saw Yang Guo sitting cross-legged under a tree, meditating, and came over to question him in a sarcastic tone.

Behind him followed the fat man, Lu Qingdu, who was looking on with a smug expression, waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

Yang Guo opened his eyes, quickly stood up and bowed: "Replying to my senior uncle, this disciple is dull-witted. After practicing for half a month, I have only just begun to feel a little bit of Qi."

"Only half a month to even have a sense of Qi?" Zhao Zhijing scoffed. "Truly hopeless. Qingdu, how long did it take you to achieve a sense of Qi back then?"

Lu Qingdu puffed out his chest, his fat body jiggling as he replied, "Master, it took me three days!"

"Listen to this," Zhao Zhijing glanced at Yang Guo sideways, "Three days versus half a month, that's the difference in talent. Yang Guo, you should go down the mountain as soon as possible, don't waste the Quanzhen Sect's food here."

Yang Guo lowered his head, looking extremely ashamed: "Uncle-Master is right. This disciple will definitely work harder."

But inwardly, he sneered.

Developing a sense of Qi in three days? That's either pure luck or something this fat guy just imagined.

Quanzhen internal martial arts emphasizes gradual accumulation before unleashing its full potential. Without the guidance of a master, relying solely on self-exploration will only result in a meager skill in three days.

In the past two weeks, under Yin Zhiping's "meticulous guidance," although his progress seemed slow, every step he took was extremely steady. Although the true energy in his body was weak, it was incomparably pure, without the slightest impurity.

More importantly, he discovered that this Quanzhen internal energy could actually complement the Toad Stance.

The Toad Style Kung Fu is fierce and domineering, easily causing injury; the Quanzhen Internal Kung Fu is moderate and peaceful, perfectly nourishing the meridians. The two, one yin and one yang, one dynamic and one static, have surprisingly formed a wondrous balance within his body.

"Alright, stop pretending." Zhao Zhijing waved his hand impatiently. "Go chop the firewood in the back hall. If you can't improve your martial arts, then do more chores."

"Yes," Yang Guo replied obediently.

Watching Zhao Zhijing and his apprentice leave arrogantly, Yang Guo's smile deepened.

The Quanzhen School has declined with each generation, and the root of this decline lies here.

A master teaching a disciple never explains things explicitly. He simply tosses down a manual, recites a few incantations, and leaves the disciple to figure it out on their own. If the disciple understands, it's because the master's teaching is excellent; if they don't, it's because the disciple is dull-witted.

People like Zhao Zhijing are preoccupied with power struggles and have no time to think about how to teach their disciples.

In other words, Yang Guo was very clever and seized Yin Zhiping's weakness, forcing this master of the Quanzhen Sect to become his private tutor.

This treatment is unique within the entire Quanzhen Sect.

night.

Yin Zhiping's room.

"Master, what exactly does this 'Golden Gate and Jade Lock' lock?" Yang Guo asked again, bringing the book with him.

Yin Zhiping slumped in his chair, looking at his nightmarish apprentice, too exhausted even to be angry.

He originally planned to go to the back mountain to see Miss Long today, but as soon as he reached the intersection, he remembered Yang Guo's words, "You can't keep your mouth shut," and turned back in fright.

When will this ever end?

"What's being locked is the essence and vital energy," Yin Zhiping said weakly. "Refining essence into vital energy, and then cultivating vital energy into spirit. If the essence isn't locked, the true energy will leak out..."

"Oh, so you can't think about women?" Yang Guo hit the nail on the head.

Yin Zhiping blushed and glared at him: "Vulgar! It's about guarding your mind and not being disturbed by external things!"

"I understand." Yang Guo nodded, then suddenly leaned closer, a mischievous grin on his face. "Master, with you running to the back mountain every day, can the 'Golden Lock' still hold you in place?"

"you!"

Yin Zhiping was so angry he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Guo'er was just concerned about Master's cultivation." Yang Guo quickly took a step back, shaking the book in his hand. "Master, don't be angry, let's continue. This phrase, 'Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown,' does it mean you have to practice until your head explodes?"

Yin Zhiping took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and silently recited the "Qingjing Jing" three times in his mind before he could barely suppress the urge to strangle the kid.

"The Three Flowers refer to essence, energy, and spirit..."

The moonlight outside the window was as clear as water.

As Yang Guo listened to Yin Zhiping's explanation, the true energy within his body slowly circulated.

Although it was slow, he could feel himself getting stronger.

This kind of strengthening is not a hollow castle in the air, but like building a house, it is built brick by brick, making it indestructible.

just wait.

Whether it's Zhao Zhijing or that fatso Lu Qingdu.

When the grand competition takes place inside the sect, I will give you a big surprise.

and also……

Yang Guo touched the small porcelain bottle in his arms, which was still warm from his body.

Sister Rong.

Once I've mastered my skills, I'll come down the mountain to find you.

When the time comes, I'll show you that your Yang Guo is no longer the kid who can only hide behind you.