Cangmang Asks the Way 1: Guardian of the Lamp

Morning light streamed through the tall glass windows of the training hall, casting clear beams of light onto the dust-covered floor. Tiny dust particles danced slowly within the beams of light, like sprites awakened by the commotion.

Cang Tianci arrived at the empty training hall early. He didn't start training immediately, but stood quietly at the sidelines, closed his eyes, and slowly circulated the Hidden Dragon Technique. Warm and mellow energy flowed through his body, like a revitalized stream, washing over his meridians and nourishing every corner that had been marked by pain. Deep within his right knee, he felt a slight itch and a sense of relief, like new buds breaking through a hard shell. That was the life imprint left by more than twenty days and nights of tempering at Eagle Cliff, the "texture" that had quietly changed deep within his bones and blood.

The gymnasium wasn't fully awake yet, with only the occasional muffled groans of morning exercisers drifting from the distant equipment area. But the air was already thick with the salty, pungent smell of sweat seeping in over the years, the slightly acrid odor of the rubber mats, and a restless, vibrant energy characteristic of a young arena. This atmosphere was completely different from the astringent scent of the vegetation at Eagle Cliff, the tranquil aroma of herbs, or the pure, biting wind after a snowfall. Tianci took a deep breath, a strange sense of detachment and clarity washing over him. Like a traveler returning from a long journey, he surveyed this familiar "city" with his newly refined senses.

The team members arrived one after another. Chen Gang, Wu Bin, Li Qiang… their faces lit up with surprise and inquiry when they saw him. Chen Gang strode forward, his large, fan-like hand tentatively patting his shoulder, then his eyes flashed with astonishment: “Good lad! This physique…did you eat some magic pill in the mountains? You’re so much more robust!”

Tianci merely nodded slightly. His attention remained more focused on Sun Peng, who entered a little later. The moment Sun Peng stepped into the training hall, Tianci's Hidden Dragon Technique, which he was activating, brought a subtle sensation—a restless, scorching "qi" subtly targeting him, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, disrupting the surrounding energy field. Sun Peng's gaze, like a hook tempered with ice, scraped over him, then he deliberately increased the intensity of his warm-up exercises, his neck and shoulder muscles bulging, carrying a defiant force.

As Zhou Zhenhua strode into the training hall, his sharp gaze immediately locked onto Tianci. He didn't immediately assemble the team, but instead stood with his hands behind his back, observing him discreetly for a moment. He noticed that when Tianci performed basic stretches, his movements possessed a restraint and control beyond his years; his breathing was deep and steady, his eyes calm and focused. It wasn't merely a display of flexibility; his posture exuded a restrained, almost "sinking" stability, subtly contrasting with the outward, restless "power" of most of the other trainees. Coach Zhou's heart stirred slightly.

"Assemble!" A sharp shout broke the noise inside the hall.

The team quickly lined up. Zhou Zhenhua walked up to Tianci, his gaze like a searchlight: "I looked at yesterday's test data; the recovery is beyond expectations. But data is static, feeling is dynamic. Starting today, we'll gradually resume specialized technical training. We'll begin with the most basic footwork and shadowboxing, to find muscle memory and the feeling of power generation. Chen Gang, you'll lead the overall warm-up, then organize the basic target kicking. Tianci, you come with me first."

Zhou Zhenhua led Tianci to the side of the arena and personally instructed him on slow, decomposed shadowboxing combinations. "Slow, slow down. Feel the shift in your center of gravity, feel the power rising from your feet, passing through your waist and hips, and being transmitted to your fists and toes. What you need now is not power and speed, but 'control' and 'feeling'. Find back those details that you neglected before your injury because you were pursuing speed and ruthlessness, little by little."

Tianci did as instructed. He cleared his mind of all distractions and completely immersed himself in his body. The Hidden Dragon Technique flowed naturally, and in conjunction with the slow movements, he gained an unprecedentedly clear "internal observation" of the coordination between his internal energy and muscles, and the precise role of his tendons and joints in the power chain. Every punch, every kick, was like tracing the trajectory of power in silence. Sweat gradually seeped out, but his breathing remained steady.

At the other end of the field, Sun Peng finished a set of high-intensity target practice and walked to the sidelines, gulping down several mouthfuls of water. His gaze never left Tianci. Watching the kid meticulously carrying out the seemingly tedious and slow training under Coach Zhou's personal guidance, especially the occasional focused attention and nods in Coach Zhou's eyes, the anger in Sun Peng's chest burned even brighter. Why was this stutterer given more attention after returning with a broken leg? That calm demeanor was a silent mockery of his desperate sweating and pursuit of a powerful effect! He subconsciously touched his neck—beneath the now smooth skin, he could still feel the cold fear and immense humiliation of being cut by sharp teeth. He had to do something; he couldn't let him "return" so easily.

A thought coiled around me like a poisonous vine.

As Zhou Zhenhua stepped away to correct the other team members' movements, Sun Peng adjusted his expression, putting on a seemingly cheerful and concerned smile, and strode over, saying, "Coach, Tianci's recovery progress is truly commendable. Just practicing shadowboxing is still a step away from real combat experience. The provincial competition is fast approaching; shouldn't you also pick up your 'courage' and 'sense of distance' in sparring as soon as possible?"

Zhou Zhenhua turned his head and asked, "What are you trying to say?"

Sun Peng leaned forward slightly, exuding an aura of positivity and consideration for the team. However, when Tianci was slightly distracted by their conversation, he sensed a frivolous heat and a cold, calculating undercurrent beneath.

"How about this?" Sun Peng pointed to himself and Tianci, "My junior brother and I will put on full protective gear, and without exerting any force, we'll just do a few rounds of 'light contact' to practice the footwork and rhythm. I promise, we absolutely won't touch his injured leg. We'll just help him find the feeling of judging distance and controlling rhythm while moving. It's also a way for us brothers to learn from each other and improve our teamwork! You can just watch from the side; it's absolutely safe!"

Zhou Zhenhua remained silent for a moment, his gaze shifting between Sun Peng's seemingly sincere face and Tianci, who had stopped moving and was quietly watching him. He understood Sun Peng's competitive nature and pettiness; this suggestion was far from simple. On the other hand, Tianci's recovery had indeed exceeded expectations, and his composure and sense of control needed to be tested under the pressure of more realistic combat. Under absolutely controllable conditions, letting Tianci experience the atmosphere of confrontation in advance might be more beneficial than harmful? Sun Peng, this "sharpening stone," though rough, could still test whether a blade feared fire. As long as he kept a close eye on him, he doubted Sun Peng would dare to go too far.

After a moment's hesitation, Zhou Zhenhua's eyes sharpened as he stared at Sun Peng, his tone becoming more stern: "Sun Peng, remember your words! 'Light contact'! Only use footwork and rhythm to guide and dodge, absolutely no force applied, and focus on avoiding Tianci's right leg! This is recovery and adaptation, not confrontation! If you dare to violate this rule even slightly, I will immediately stop you and punish you severely! Do you understand?"

"Understood. Coach, you can rest assured. I know what I'm doing." Sun Peng straightened his back and replied loudly, but a glint of triumph flashed quickly in the depths of his eyes.

Zhou Zhenhua then looked at Tianci: "Tianci, what do you think? If you're not sure, or if you feel unwell, you can refuse."

Tianci met Coach Zhou's gaze and also sensed the increasingly clear and sharp targeted "aura" emanating from Sun Peng's direction. He remained silent for a few seconds, the Hidden Dragon Technique slowly circulating within his body, bringing his mind into a state of "observing the situation calmly." He needed to know just how effective his new "perception" and "control" would be when facing genuine hostility.

"You can... give it a try," he replied calmly.

"Okay, go put on your protective gear." Zhou Zhenhua nodded. Tianci turned and walked towards the equipment area, took the head protector, chest protector, and leg protectors from the shelf, and put them on one by one. The buckles of the protective gear made a soft "click" sound in the quiet venue, like the prelude to some kind of ritual.

"Everyone, stop training and move aside to observe and learn. The focus should be on footwork and distance control."

The atmosphere in the training hall changed instantly. The sounds of kicking targets and shouting stopped abruptly, and all the team members consciously retreated to the sidelines, their eyes focused on the center of the field. The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the heavy breathing and the soft "click" of the protective gear buckles tightening.

Cang Tianci and Sun Peng stood facing each other, three steps apart. Head guards concealed part of their expressions, but their gazes met in the air, seemingly colliding to create invisible sparks. Sun Peng assumed a fighting stance, his steps becoming rhythmically light and quick, his lead jab pointing forward with a clear intent to exert pressure. Cang Tianci, on the other hand, lowered his waist and hips, his center of gravity stable, his arms protectively positioned in front of him, his gaze calmly fixed on his opponent's shoulders, hips, and knees—the very points where power originates. The Hidden Dragon Technique flowed silently and rapidly within his body, elevating his senses to their peak. All the surrounding noise faded away; the world seemed to consist only of the moving, menacing target before him, and his own heartbeat and breath, as steady as an ancient well.

Zhou Zhenhua stood at the closest point on the sidelines, his lips pressed into a hard, straight line.

"start!"