Physical enlightenment begins with Xingyi Quan

That day, Chen Jianghe stood under the old locust tree, having practiced the Three-Body Stance for nearly an hour. His Qi and blood flowed slowly through his body with each breath, and his muscles and bones stretched slightly like a bowstring.

[Destiny: Diligence is rewarded by Heaven; success is inevitable]

[Current Skill: Three-Body Stance (Minor Success)]

Progress: 30%

Current skill: Five Elements Fist (Beginner)

Progress: 85%

[Effect: None]

"At this rate, I should be able to master the Five Elements Fist in another two months," Chen Jianghe thought to himself. "Although it's a bit slow, I have the destiny of 'Heaven rewards diligence,' so as long as I study and practice diligently, I will surely succeed. In that case, I should prioritize stability. I should avoid risky and dangerous things if possible."

When he first started, he had to take risks to successfully "change his energy". Now that he is on the right track, he should take it one step at a time and slowly work his way up with perseverance.

Just then, familiar footsteps came from the direction of the kitchen.

Lin walked over carrying a rough earthenware bowl containing freshly cooked rice porridge with a few vegetable leaves floating on top.

She handed the bowl to Chen Jianghe, stood aside and watched him drink, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

"Mother, is something the matter?" Chen Jianghe put down his bowl.

Madam Lin rubbed her hands together and whispered, "Jianghe, I'm thinking that now that you're a formal disciple of the martial arts school, you need resources to practice. Your father served his corvée labor in place of your eldest uncle. The Chen family should at least offer some help with this."

Chen Jianghe frowned slightly: "Mother, what's the use of going to the Chen family? If they truly cared about our relationship, they would have taken care of us all these years ago. In this world, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, and between superior and inferior, is more important than life itself."

"Mother knows." Madam Lin's eyes were a little red. "But your father's life can't just be wasted... Jiang He, just come with me this once, whether you like it or not, I've given up hope."

He knew that his mother's words were partly to ask for resources and partly to seek justice—her husband had died for someone else, yet her son couldn't even get a full meal; this world was too unfair.

But when has this world ever been fair?

Chen Jianghe took a deep breath and grasped his mother's hand: "If you insist on going, Mother, I will go with you."

......

The Chen family ancestors had distinguished themselves in battle and were granted a hundred acres of fertile land, which allowed them to purchase a residence in the western part of the outer city of Yilin County. Although they were not extremely wealthy, they managed to squeeze into the ranks of "landlords".

Back then, when the government conscripted laborers to repair the canal, each family was required to contribute one able-bodied man. When the government called out the names, the eldest son of the Chen family, Chen Yuanhe, was supposed to go.

However, Chen Jianghe's father, Chen Yuanshan, was only a son born out of wedlock.

Grandfather Chen Qingyi couldn't bear to see his eldest son suffer, so he used money to bribe the officials and changed his name to Chen Yuanshan. His other eldest son, Chen Yuanhu, was the wife of his aunt Han, whose husband died young, leaving behind a widow to remain in the Chen family.

Everyone in the Chen family knows about this, but no one dares to mention it.

At the entrance of the Chen family mansion, two black lacquered wooden doors were ajar. The gold paint on the plaque above the door, bearing the words "Chen Residence," was mostly faded and peeling.

Lin took a deep breath and went to knock on the door.

After a while, the door opened a crack, and a servant's head peeked out; he looked to be about forty years old.

"Who are you looking for?" The servant glanced at Lin's faded coarse cloth clothes, his tone impatient.

Lin hurriedly said, "I am a family member of Chen Yuanshan, and I wish to see the old man."

"Chen Yuanshan?" The servant frowned, thought for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Oh, is that the second master born out of wedlock? Wasn't he forced into corvée labor and his fate unknown?"

Lin's face turned pale.

Chen Jianghe stepped forward, blocking his mother's path: "Please inform him that Chen Jianghe, along with his mother, Lin, requests an audience with his grandfather."

The servant then noticed Chen Jianghe. Seeing that he was dressed in martial arts shorts, had a sturdy build, and a calm gaze, he didn't dare to be too negligent and just pursed his lips: "Wait."

It's closed again.

Lin stood outside the door, her fingers tightly gripping the hem of her clothes. Chen Jianghe took her hand and whispered, "Mother, don't be afraid."

About fifteen minutes later, the door opened again.

The servant stepped aside, his tone still languid: "Come in. The old master is in the main hall."

The mother and son entered the house.

Passing the screen wall, there was a small courtyard with blue bricks paving the ground and a few clumps of half-withered bamboo growing in the corner. The main hall door was open, and the light inside was somewhat dim.

Lin paused, and Chen Jianghe gently nudged her back.

As Chen Jianghe entered the main hall, he glanced at the people inside.

Seated in the grand chair at the head of the table was an elderly man with gray hair and beard, none other than my grandfather, Chen Qingyi. He wore a silk robe, held a teacup in his hand, and had his eyelids half-closed, revealing no emotion.

Standing on the left was a middle-aged man whose face resembled Chen Qingyi's by about five or six points, but whose eyes and brows showed a more worldly and shrewd side. This was his uncle, Chen Yuanhe.

Beside Chen Yuanhe was a plump woman wearing a crimson floral jacket and a gilded bracelet on her wrist; she was his aunt, Madam Wang.

Sitting on the right was a younger woman, about thirty years old, with a thin face, wearing a plain dress, and only a silver hairpin in her hair. This was Han, the widow of her uncle Chen Yuanhu.

Lin pulled Chen Jianghe to kneel down: "Father, your daughter-in-law has brought Jianghe to pay his respects to you."

Chen Qingyi grunted in agreement: "Get up. Get to the point."

Lin stood up, still with her head bowed, her voice strained: "Father, Jianghe is now practicing martial arts at the Xingyi Martial Arts School and has become a formal disciple. However... practicing martial arts is very expensive; meat, tonics, everything costs money. I'm thinking that Yuanshan went to perform corvée labor in place of my elder brother and never returned. Jianghe is also of the Chen family bloodline. I beg you... I beg you to help Jianghe for Yuanshan's sake."

After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

Chen Qingyi didn't speak, he just watched quietly.

Han couldn't contain herself any longer. She flung her handkerchief at them and shrieked, "Oh, what are you saying! What do you mean by 'substitute'? Back then, corvée labor was a quota set by the government, and everyone had to accept their fate! How come in your mouth it's like we owe you something?"

She stood up, walked over to Madam Lin, and looked her up and down: "Besides, Yuanshan is born of a concubine, so he should naturally share the burdens of the family. What, does a concubine's son have to ask for a reward for doing his duty?"

Lin's face turned deathly pale, her lips trembling: "Sister-in-law, that's not what I meant..."

"Then what do you mean?" Madam Han interrupted her, her voice rising slightly. "Yuanhu left early, leaving me, a widow, to guard this place. I'm not like you, constantly coming here to plead poverty and beg! The Chen family's resources should be reserved for the legitimate descendants! Don't you agree, sister-in-law?"

Madam Wang put down her teacup and said slowly, "Sister Han is right. Although the Chen family is not extremely wealthy or noble, the rules cannot be broken. There is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children; this was established by our ancestors."

She paused, looked at Chen Qingyi, and smiled, "Oh, right, Father, there's some good news I haven't had a chance to tell you yet. Wanglong wrote to me a few days ago."

Chen Qingyi finally raised his head: "What's wrong with Wang Long?"

Chen Yuanhe quickly chimed in, proudly saying, "Father, Wanglong has been training diligently at the 'Zhenlei Martial Arts School' for half a year, and he finally broke through to the Ming Jin level the day before yesterday!"

"Really?" Chen Qingyi's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Absolutely true!" Chen Yuanhe straightened his back. "The letter said that the martial arts instructor praised him as a once-in-a-decade talent. Now several families in the inner city are inquiring about him, including the Zhao family, the Qian family, and the Li family, all of whom have expressed interest in recruiting him."

Madam Wang chimed in, "Father, think about it! If Wanglong passes the martial arts exam and becomes a scholar, our whole family will benefit. Then we can move into the inner city – that would truly bring glory to our ancestors!"

Chen Qingyi's wrinkles smoothed out, and he exclaimed repeatedly, "Good! Good! Wanglong is promising! This is the kind of fine son of the Chen family!"

He looked at Chen Yuanhe: "Yuanhe, just tell us what Wanglong needs! Even if we have to sell everything we own, we'll support him!"

Chen Yuanhe smiled and said, "Father, don't worry. Wang Long said in his letter that he needs some rare medicinal herbs to temper his body right now. I have already asked someone to go to the inner city to purchase them, so it will definitely not delay his cultivation."

The atmosphere in the hall immediately became lively. Madam Han and Madam Wang chatted back and forth, talking about Chen Wanglong's future prospects, as if they could already see the Chen family moving into the inner city and living a life of luxury.

Lin stood there, like an outsider.

Chen Jianghe had been silent until now, when he finally stepped forward and took his mother's slightly trembling arm.

He stopped looking at the people in the hall, lowered his head and whispered to his mother, "Mother, let's go."

Lin raised her head blankly, her eyes empty.

Chen Jianghe helped her turn around and walk towards the door.

"Stop." Chen Qingyi's voice suddenly came from behind.

Chen Jianghe paused, but didn't turn around.

"Jiang He," Chen Qingyi's tone softened, "now that you've joined the martial arts school and become a formal disciple, you've taken the right path. Although the family can't provide you with resources, if you truly make a name for yourself in the future, the Chen family won't disown you. Blood ties can never be severed."

Chen Jianghe slowly turned around.

He looked at the elderly man with gray hair and beard in the hall, and at the faces that were indifferent, mocking, or hypocritical.

Then he smiled.

"Old Master," he said calmly, "since you all distinguish so clearly, a son born out of wedlock is a son born out of wedlock, a son born out of wedlock is a son born out of wedlock, a blessing is a blessing, and a duty is a duty."

He paused, then said, word by word, "From this day forward, my mother and I will have no further connection with the Chen family. We will never step through this door again, and please, don't mention any more blood ties."

After saying that, he looked at no one else, helped his mother, and turned to walk out of the main hall.

The sunlight streamed in from outside, somewhat dazzling.

Lin leaned on her son's shoulder, her steps unsteady, but she did not turn back.

Behind him, the hall fell silent for a moment.

Then came Wang's slightly sarcastic whisper: "Ungrateful..."