Physical enlightenment begins with Xingyi Quan

Chapter 67 Memories (Please subscribe!!! Striving for 10,000 words a day!!!)

Dusk was falling in the backyard of the Xingyi Martial Arts School.

Chen Jianghe placed the three lucky items he was carrying on the stone table one by one.

Su Derong was helped by Zhou Yong and Wang Gui to the inner room to treat his injuries.

The left arm was fractured and the internal organs were injured. Although there was no danger to his life, he would need to rest for at least two or three months.

Li Chengyue remained leaning back in the bamboo recliner, covered with a thin blanket.

"The goods are quite good." Li Chengyue's gaze swept over the stone table, and he smirked. "The Zhao family is quite generous this time."

Chen Jianghe poured a bowl of warm water and handed it to his master, then sat down on the stone bench opposite him: "Master, the actions of the Green Dragon Gang today..."

'

"As expected."

Li Chengyue took the bowl, took a sip, and said in a low voice, "Xiao Qing is extremely ambitious. Monopolizing Black Wind Ridge is just the first step; what he wants is the entire Yilin County."

Zhao Wuji, shrewd and calculating, knew that the Zhao family alone could not suppress the Qian, Sun, and Li families, much less my Xingyi Martial Arts School. Joining forces with the Qinglong Gang and the Zhou family, using the guise of the "Merchant Association" to carry out a takeover, was a shortcut.

He paused, then looked at Chen Jianghe: "As for you, you fought a brilliant battle today."

Chen Jianghe bowed slightly: "This disciple was fortunate."

He shook his head, his eyes becoming more serious: "Jiang He, your Hua Jin (化劲) is extremely solid. Your Five Elements Fist is perfected, and your strength is harmonious. In actual combat, you are calm and ruthless, knowing when to retreat, when to advance, and when to cripple someone without hesitation. Many seasoned veterans who have been immersed in Hua Jin for many years may not be able to do this."

Chen Jianghe listened in silence.

Li Chengyue suddenly changed the subject: "But don't be too smug. Today you crippled Lei Xiao, and that old bastard Lei Zhenshan will never let this go. Lei Xiao is his most prized disciple, and now that his cultivation has been crippled, it's equivalent to cutting off his Zhenlei Martial Arts School's hope for the next twenty years. This feud—is now sealed."

Chen Jianghe raised his eyes: "Disciple understands."

"Good that you understand." Li Chengyue said slowly, "Be more careful when you go out in the future. It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. Lei Zhenshan may admit defeat on the surface, but who knows what tricks he might use behind the scenes? After all, there are many underhanded methods in the martial arts world."

He paused, his gaze becoming distant: "Moreover, the strength you displayed today has probably aroused the apprehension of many. An eighteen-year-old at the Transformation Realm, fighting Zhao Litian head-on without defeat—such talent is seen as genius by some, but by others as a threat that must be suppressed."

Chen Jianghe nodded emphatically: "This disciple will remember."

Li Chengyue gave a satisfied "hmm," leaned back in his chair, and gazed at the darkening clouds on the horizon, remaining silent for a moment.

"Now that the Transformation Realm is complete, it's time to consider the罡劲 (Gang Jin)." He suddenly spoke.

Chen Jianghe was startled and looked up at his master.

"Gang Jin..." Li Chengyue said slowly, "is a realm above Hua Jin. Hua Jin practitioners have perfectly integrated strength, and can generate power from any part of their body. If they can penetrate ten steps through the body, they have already entered the inner sanctum. But Gang Jin is different."

He raised his left hand, his five fingers loosely clenched.

Without exerting any force or gathering any momentum, Chen Jianghe could still feel that the air within three inches of his master's palm seemed to freeze for a moment.

Li Chengyue's voice was deep, "Transforming energy is about refining qi and blood strength to a state of complete harmony and clarity, while Gang energy is about further condensing, compressing, and transforming this complete and harmonious strength."

"After being condensed, the force can be released outwards from the body to injure people from a distance, or it can be condensed on the body surface to form a protective aura."

Ordinary swords and blades cannot harm it, nor can it be penetrated by water or fire. Furthermore, its protective energy can flow at will, sometimes hard, sometimes soft, sometimes offensive, sometimes defensive—its uses are endless.

Chen Jianghe was deeply moved by what he heard.

He recalled the scene at the martial arts competition where his master, despite being severely injured, deflected Lei Zhenshan's full-force palm strike with a single spear thrust.

Li Chengyue looked at Chen Jianghe and continued, "But to enter the Gang Jin realm, two conditions must be met. First, one's foundation must be honed to its extreme, with qi and blood as pure as mercury, tendons and bones as strong as iron, and internal organs as powerful as a furnace. Second, one needs a corresponding internal cultivation method to guide qi, blood, and strength to complete that qualitative leap."

He paused, then continued, "You have perfected the Five Elements Fist, achieving a harmonious and unified power, reaching the level of Transformation Force. If you continue to hone your skills step by step, it will not be difficult to reach the pinnacle of Transformation Force in time. However, if you wish to advance further and unlock the gate of罡劲 (Gang Jin), you will need a higher level of technique."

Chen Jianghe understood: "Master means—the Twelve Forms?"

"Not bad." A hint of approval flashed in Li Chengyue's eyes. "The Five Elements Fist is the foundation; it trains chopping, striking, and..."

The five types of force—drilling, cannoning, and horizontal—correspond to the five internal organs, laying the foundation for internal training. The twelve forms—dragon, tiger, and...

The true essence of Xingyi Quan lies in the monkey, horse, alligator, chicken, hawk, swallow, snake, swift, eagle, and bear.

He paused and said, "The internal training method of the 'Twelve Lines Fist' can stimulate the corresponding internal organs and blood, gradually open the acupoints throughout the body, and finally condense the vital energy."

As dusk deepened, oil lamps were lit in the courtyard.

Li Chengyue leaned back in his recliner, watching the flickering lamplight, as if lost in memories.

"Jiang He, do you know what are the main ways that martial arts sects in the world take on disciples and pass on their skills?" Li Chengyue suddenly asked.

Chen Jianghe pondered for a moment and replied, "I have heard that some people establish their own schools and accept disciples, while others secretly pass on their lineages and do not reveal them to the world."

"That's well said, but not comprehensive enough," Li Chengyue said slowly. "Taking my Xingyi School as an example, we generally divide the acceptance of disciples into three types."

"Firstly, rigorous training in the outer sect." He extended his left index finger. "The Xingyi School has thirty-six branch schools scattered throughout various prefectures and counties. These branch schools accept disciples regardless of background, focusing solely on temperament and innate talent. After entering, disciples are taught basic stance training and the Five Elements Fist, with their progress observed. If, before the age of twenty, they can break through to the Transformation Realm through their own rigorous training, they can take a recommendation letter from the branch school's head to the main gate to participate in the entrance examination." Those who pass are accepted into the inner sect and receive the true teachings of the Twelve Forms.

Chen Jianghe listened quietly.

Li Chengyue held up a second finger. "The second option is family recommendation. The relatives of the sect's elders and true disciples can directly enter the outer sect with a letter of recommendation, bypassing the initial screening. However, if they cannot break through to the Inner Strength level within three years, they will still be sent back."

"Thirdly—" He paused, a dark glint in his eyes, "it's resource exchange. Large families and powerful forces exchange massive amounts of resources and rare treasures for a spot as an inner disciple in a sect. These disciples are often of mediocre talent, but have powerful backgrounds, and they receive preferential treatment after entering the inner sect."

He looked at Chen Jianghe, "However, there is another way in our Xingyi Sect—that is, if you break through to the Transformation Realm before the age of twenty, you can go to the Xingyi Sect with a recommendation letter given by an elder or the sect leader. The sect will then give you the status of an inner disciple, teach you the Twelve Forms Fist, and instruct you in the methods of internal cultivation."

The night wind blew through the courtyard wall, carrying the faint sound of a wooden clapper from afar.

Li Chengyue remained silent for a moment before speaking again, his voice hoarse: "Back then, I was a direct disciple of the sect."

Chen Jianghe's pupils contracted.

"At twenty-two, I broke through the Qi Refining Realm—" Li Chengyue's lips twitched, but there was no pride in his smile, only an indescribable weariness. "At thirty, I had already touched the threshold of the True Qi Realm. My sect placed high hopes on me and allowed me to go down the mountain for training."

True Essence Realm!

"At that time, my master said that although my talent was not top-notch, I had a strong will and good comprehension. I was expected to condense my true essence before the age of forty and become an elder in the sect."

Li Chengyue's lips twitched. "Unfortunately, the martial world is not just about fighting and killing, but also about human relationships, scheming and conspiracies."

He closed his eyes, as if he could see the bloodshed of yesteryear once more.

He paused, his voice even lower: "During a training trip, my fellow disciples and I were ambushed—the other side dispatched one True Yuan Realm expert and five peak Gang Jin experts."

"In that battle, of the seven fellow disciples who went out with me, five died and one was crippled."

Chen Jianghe's heart tightened.

Li Chengyue opened his eyes, which were now filled with a cold, lifeless stillness. "I fought my way out of the encirclement to protect my only surviving junior brother, but I myself was poisoned by the Bone-Corroding Poison." His foundation of internal energy was damaged, and his path to true essence was severed.

It's broken. His cultivation level has also plummeted to this point.

"And then?" Chen Jianghe asked softly.

"later?"

Li Chengyue scoffed, "I dragged my half-crippled body back to the sect, hoping to beg my master to stand up for us. But the other side was too powerful, and the evidence had already been destroyed—in the end, all I got was a statement that there was no evidence," and a few bottles of healing pills."

He paused, his voice filled with deep weariness and self-mockery: "I was disheartened and felt ashamed to face my master again, and ashamed to remain in the sect. So I asked to leave the mountain and came to my hometown, Yilin County, where I opened this Xingyi Martial Arts School, and have stayed here for twenty years."

Twenty years.

He guarded this dilapidated martial arts school, guarded that "Hidden Dragon Spear," and guarded that unbearable past.

Chen Jianghe suddenly understood why his master always looked so drunk.

That wasn't true drunkenness; it was a heart that was mostly dead, yet stubbornly refused to die completely.

"That token I gave you," Li Chengyue said, looking at the iron plaque on the table, "was secretly given to me by my master when I left the mountain. He said—if I encounter any promising talents in the future, I can use this token to recommend them to the mountain gate."

He looked at Chen Jianghe with a complicated expression: "Entering the inner sect means getting involved in sect conflicts and inheriting the karma of my past. This path may not be as carefree as being outside. The choice is yours to make."

Chen Jianghe remained silent for a long time before bowing and saying, "Master, this disciple will go to the Xingyi Sect. But not now."

Li Chengyue was taken aback.

"The martial arts school is still in crisis, the escort agency is in turmoil, Master's injuries have not healed, and Senior Brother's severed arm needs treatment." Chen Jianghe said, enunciating each word clearly, "If I were to leave now, I would be betraying my sect and my fellow disciples."

He paused, carefully putting away the iron plaque: "Once this matter is settled, the martial arts school and the escort agency are stable, and Master's injuries have improved—this disciple will set off for the Xingyi Sect."

Li Chengyue stared at Chen Jianghe for a long time.

Then he smiled.

This time, the laughter felt much more genuine, carrying a sense of relief and acceptance.

"Okay." He only said one word.

At the same time, the Chen family in the inner city.

The main hall was brightly lit, but the light couldn't illuminate those pale faces.

Chen Qingyi sat in the main seat, his hands gripping the armrests of the armchair tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Below, Chen Fu knelt on the ground, trembling all over, his forehead pressed against the floor tiles.

"Master, head of the family—" Chen Fu's voice was hoarse, "The Zhao family—the Zhao family sent someone to say that the medicinal materials needed to treat Young Master Wanglong are temporarily out of stock, and we should wait a little longer."

"Wait?" Chen Qingyi spat out the word through gritted teeth, his voice terribly hoarse. "Wang Long's injury has been dragging on for over half a month! If we wait any longer, his tendons and veins will atrophy, and his internal energy foundation will completely collapse. He'll be truly crippled!"

Chen Fu lowered his head even further, not daring to respond.

The main hall was deathly silent.

No one expected that the Zhao family would turn against them at this time.

Chen Wanglong suffered a severe arm injury, and the Zhao family initially promised to help him with treatment, even hinting that they could use the Zhao family's secret elixirs to help him rebuild his internal strength foundation.

But now?

"Out of stock"? Even a three-year-old wouldn't believe that nonsense!

"Zhao Wuji—" Chen Qingyi muttered to himself, his eyes bloodshot, "What a Zhao Wuji—he used my Chen family and then kicked them aside—"

He suddenly recalled the kind and amiable manner of the Zhao family when they personally visited him half a month ago.

"Patriarch Chen, rest assured, my nephew Wanglong is a man of extraordinary talent, and this is merely a temporary setback. My Zhao family will do everything in our power to help him regain his former glory. In the future, the Chen family and the Zhao family will be the strongest allies."

ally?

Now that Chen Wanglong is crippled, Chen Jianghe has soared to great heights, and the Zhao family has immediately changed their tune!

In order to save Chen Wanglong, he had already sold off most of the Chen family's property, and now the treasury was empty, and he would not even be able to pay next month's wages.

"Grandpa, the Zhao family—the Zhao family is really trying to kick us while we're down!" Sitting to the side, Madam Wang's eyes were red from crying. "Wanglong did all this for the Zhao family—and now he's injured like this, and they actually—"

"Shut up!" Chen Qingyi slammed his hand on the table, his chest heaving violently.

How could he not know?

But what good will it do to know?

Money gone, life ruined, reputation destroyed.

Meanwhile, the illegitimate grandson whom he had discarded like trash soared to great heights and became a genius admired by the entire city.

Satire.

What a huge irony.

Chen Qingyi slowly closed his eyes.

If—if only I had shown a little kindness back then?

If only we had taken that mother and child into our household back then, even if it was just to give them a small courtyard to live in.

If—if only I hadn't been so opportunistic, hadn't placed all my hopes on Chen Wanglong, and had treated all my other descendants equally.

Today, the Chen family has a son who has reached the Eighteenth Level of Strength and is famous throughout Yilin. What a glorious moment that must be!

Why should the Chen family have to worry about the Zhao family's feelings or depend on others?

Unfortunately, no if.

Chen Qingyi opened his eyes, which were bloodshot, but he no longer had the majesty of the former head of the family, only a dejected and gloomy look.

He slowly got up and staggered to the window.

"I, Chen Qingyi—have been in charge of the Chen family for thirty years—" he muttered to himself, his voice hoarse, "My father entrusted the family business to me before he passed away, instructing me to bring glory to the Chen family—and now—and now we've fallen to this state—"

He suddenly remembered his father's words from years ago: "Qingyi, managing a family is like managing water; it is better to dredge than to block. Although there is a difference between legitimate and illegitimate children, they are all of the Chen bloodline. You must remember that the prosperity of the family depends on a large population and the emergence of outstanding talents. Never let your own likes and dislikes ruin the family's fortune."

What was my answer at the time?

"Father, rest assured, I understand. I will certainly do my best to cultivate our children and recruit talented individuals to bring honor to our Chen family."

Carefully cultivate —

Recruiting outstanding talents —

Chen Qingyi gave a bitter laugh.

Over the past thirty years, who have I nurtured? And which outstanding talents have I recruited?

The legitimate son is mediocre, while the illegitimate son is ignored.

The only person I valued, Chen Wanglong, is now a cripple.

The truly talented, however, were pushed aside by their own hands and placed on the opposite side.

"Father—son—I am so ashamed of you—" Chen Qingyi murmured, tears streaming down his face.

Chen Qingyi stood by the window, his back hunched, as if he had aged twenty years overnight.

He knew that from now on, the Chen family in Yilin County was likely to truly decline.

All of this stemmed from that one look of contempt and that one resolute remark I made back then.

Do you regret it?

How can I not regret it?

But in this world, there's no going back.

Chen Qingyi slowly closed his eyes, and two streams of turbid tears silently slid down his cheeks.