Physical enlightenment begins with Xingyi Quan

In the front yard, Chen Jianghe had just finished a round of boxing and was wiping his face with a towel when he saw Li Chengyue striding over, followed by Su Derong, who had a bruised and swollen nose.

"Master, Third Senior Brother." Chen Jianghe clasped his hands in greeting.

Li Chengyue didn't say anything, walked up to him, and looked him up and down.

"Did you practice your boxing just now?" Li Chengyue asked.

"Yes."

"Let me try calling again."

Chen Jianghe responded with a "Yes," stepped back a few paces, lowered his waist and hips, and assumed the Three-Body Stance.

Begin with a chopping punch.

This time, he deliberately slowed down, but the flow of his energy became even clearer.

As the fist rose and fell, the faint sound of bones and muscles resonating could be heard, and the air distorted slightly where the fist passed.

After finishing the Five Elements Fist, Chen Jianghe stopped and stood still, his breathing slightly rapid, but his eyes clear.

Li Chengyue stared at him, remaining silent for a long time.

The courtyard was silent, with only the lantern swaying gently under the eaves, casting a flickering shadow.

Su Derong couldn't help but lean closer and whisper, "Master, how is it? I wasn't wrong, was I?"

Li Chengyue remained silent, pacing back and forth for a couple of steps with his hands behind his back. Suddenly, he raised his hand to rub his temples and muttered under his breath, "Damn it, God..."

Su Derong didn't hear clearly: "Master, what did you say?"

Li Chengyue waved his hand, walked up to Chen Jianghe, and extended his hand: "Give me your hand."

Chen Jianghe extended his right hand.

Li Chengyue pinched his wrist, his fingers penetrating deep to examine the tendons, joints, and blood flow. The more he pinched, the more his brows furrowed.

"Your bones..." He released his grip, then moved behind Chen Jianghe and pressed on several key points on his back and hips. "When you first started as a student, I examined your bones. Your aptitude was average, and you were quite old. Logically speaking..."

He paused, then looked at Chen Jianghe: "How have you been training these past two months?"

Chen Jianghe truthfully stated, "Every day I get up at 3 AM and first stand in a stance for an hour, then practice the Five Elements Fist. During the day, apart from eating and helping my mother with chores, I spend the rest of my time practicing the fist in the yard. Before going to bed at night, I stand in a stance for another half hour."

Li Chengyue stared at him: "Is it that simple?"

"It's that simple."

"What about meat?"

"My third senior brother provides a portion, and the martial arts school's regular allowance is ten catties, which is barely enough."

"Where's the tonic?"

"I can't afford it." Chen Jianghe shook his head. "I only gritted my teeth and bought three bottles of Blood Qi Powder when I was at the critical moment of 'changing energy'."

Li Chengyue remained silent for a long time, then suddenly let out a long sigh.

He turned around, his back to Chen Jianghe, and looked at the old locust tree in the courtyard. His voice was filled with an indescribable complexity: "I have practiced boxing for forty years and have seen at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, disciples. Some are exceptionally talented, achieving proficiency in three months; some come from wealthy families and rely on medicine to advance; and some have endured ten years of hardship before finally breaking through the barriers."

He paused, then slowly said, "But I have never seen anyone like this before, with mediocre talent and nothing special, who, through hard work alone, progressed from 'changing energy' to 'manifest energy' in just over half a year."

Li Chengyue turned around, his gaze falling back on Chen Jianghe's face. His eyes held a complex and unfathomable expression, a mixture of surprise, relief, and a hidden burning passion.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "You wait here."

After saying that, he turned around and quickly went back to the backyard.

Before long, Li Chengyue returned, carrying two celadon bottles and several oil paper packages.

He shoved everything into Chen Jianghe's arms, saying, "Here you go."

Chen Jianghe looked down and saw red paper labels on the celadon bottles. One bottle was labeled "Bone Strengthening Powder," and the other "Blood and Qi Powder." The oil paper packets also emitted a faint medicinal fragrance, indicating that they were pre-prepared medicinal herbs.

"Master, this is..." Chen Jianghe was stunned.

"Here you go. The Bone Strengthening Powder is for external application, combined with standing meditation, to strengthen muscles and bones. The Blood and Qi Powder is for internal use, taken with warm water, to replenish qi and blood. Come to me once a week to pick it up."

He paused, looked at Chen Jianghe, and his tone became serious: "You've achieved Ming Jin, which means you've truly stepped into the threshold of martial arts. But the road ahead will be increasingly difficult. Cultivating An Jin requires medicinal baths to unblock the meridians and temper the internal organs. I can't afford that."

Chen Jianghe gripped the medicine bottle tightly in his hand and said in a deep voice, "This disciple understands."

Li Chengyue put his hands behind his back: "Good that you understand. I will naturally teach you the recipe for the internal energy bath when the time comes. But you'll have to find the ingredients yourself. There are many avenues: taking a temporary post, escorting goods, or even guarding the homes of wealthy families... but they are also dangerous. Remember one thing from your master—"

He turned his head, his gaze as deep as an ancient well, and looked directly into Chen Jianghe's eyes: "Martial arts cultivation is like climbing a dangerous peak. Talent, opportunity, and resources are all indispensable. The most fundamental thing is the word 'stability.' Be neither arrogant nor impatient, neither reckless nor impetuous, take one step at a time. The deeper the foundation you lay, the further you can go in the future. You only have one life, so you must be extremely careful."

Chen Jianghe felt a chill run down his spine and bowed deeply: "This disciple will remember Master's teachings!"

"Mm." Li Chengyue nodded.

At this moment, Su Derong, who had been silent all along, came up with a grin and said, "Master, you see... I also deserve a lot of credit for Junior Brother's achievements today! My salary this month..."

Before he could finish speaking, he got kicked in the butt again.

"Rich young master, idling around all day, and you still have the nerve to beg?" Li Chengyue said irritably. "You have money to buy wine but no money to buy medicine? Go to your brothel and listen to music! Don't stand around in the martial arts school, you're an eyesore!"

Su Derong rubbed his backside, not annoyed at all, and chuckled while fanning himself, "Master, you can't say that. Although I'm not poor, money doesn't come from thin air. Besides, I help take care of my fellow disciples at the academy!"

"Take care of things?" Li Chengyue scoffed. "Take care of things in brothels and theaters?"

Su Derong wasn't annoyed; instead, he said confidently, "That's also a form of cultivation! Refining one's heart in the mortal world—Master, you wouldn't understand."

"Get out of here right now." Li Chengyue raised his foot again.

"Alright! Since Master has spoken, this disciple will immediately go and find wives for your future grand-disciples!"

After saying this, Su Derong waved his fan and strode out. As he passed Chen Jianghe, he gently patted his shoulder with the fan rib: "Junior brother, practice hard. I have high hopes for you. Don't forget your senior brother when you succeed in the future."

The courtyard fell silent.

Li Chengyue then looked at Chen Jianghe again, remained silent for a moment, and suddenly asked, "Is your mother getting used to living at the martial arts school?"

Chen Jianghe quickly replied, "I'm used to it. My mother said the martial arts school is quieter and more reassuring than Mudfish Bay."

"Yes." Li Chengyue nodded. "Remember what your master said: when learning martial arts, 'stability' should be the top priority."

"I have noted it down."

"Practice hard." After saying these three words, Li Chengyue put his hands behind his back and sauntered back to the backyard.

Chen Jianghe watched his master's retreating figure and fell into deep thought.

I've reached the Ming Jin level now, but I still need to work harder. Tomorrow I'll ask my third senior brother if I can find a temporary job so I can save up some money and get my mother a house near the martial arts school.