From Under One Person: Sincere Journey Through the Heavens

At least for now, Jiang Liu doesn't have that kind of confidence.

Therefore, he needs to plan ahead.

"Yes, we don't know when the world will be at peace. Beset by internal and external troubles, we can only try our best to improve our strength so that we can protect ourselves while also helping others."

Boss Cha also understands the situation. Internal troubles are easy to deal with; throughout history, talented and ambitious people on this land have always pursued unification.

It just takes time.

External threats—

The former barbarians, with the help of foreign guns and cannons, have become an advanced country, while China seems to have become a synonym for ignorance and backwardness in their mouths.

However, through his interactions with Jiang Liu and his understanding of the ideas contained in Buddhist scriptures, Taoist scriptures, and other Confucian texts, Boss Cha came to the same conclusion as Jiang Liu: China's concepts in social, humanistic, and cultural aspects are far more advanced than those in the West, but those profound theories require a much longer period of accumulation to be grounded in reality.

Just like the Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains, it requires endless generations of his descendants to succeed... but under the "test" of external threats, simply digging rocks with hoes and shovels will have a very low margin for error.

Be pragmatic and avoid empty talk.

These are virtues from their homeland, but in reality, very few people can abide by them; it seems to be just a "virtue" in the literal sense.

Since ancient times, high-ranking officials and nobles have liked to engage in such "empty" practices. For example, scholars and literati have a particular fondness for "plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums," and even like their derivative products. They often keep related items in their studies to show off their elegance, purity, and integrity, but in the end, it is just for show.

Jiang Liu established the Confucian Society to change this "formalism." Isn't this exactly what it means to overthrow the Confucian shop and rescue Confucius?

The term "Confucian" should not be merely a synonym for literate scholars and high-ranking officials; it should be a hallmark of all people who possess gentleness and humility at their core.

A long way to go.

Boss Cha knew that Jiang Liu was indeed doing this in person, and was even constantly poaching people, and now he was even trying to poach him.

Therefore.

He agreed.

As for the frequent meetings with Peng Qizi that followed, the atmosphere was delicate—

After a while, you naturally get used to it...

···

In the blink of an eye.

Half a month passed quietly.

As the date of the "Martial Arts Tournament" approaches, many Taoist priests, monks, and wandering cultivators from other places have appeared in Yuhang City.

"Is this the cultural street that Jiang Liu spearheaded the construction of?"

Upon entering the cultural street, Zhang Zhiwei rubbed his chin and grinned, saying, "It really is just like the rumors. Most of the shop owners are people with supernatural abilities, openly using their powers to run businesses on the street."

"That is indeed a bit of an exaggeration."

Zhang Huaiyi nodded hesitantly.

Before he went up Longhu Mountain, he had seen some people with supernatural abilities disguised as magic tricks to make a living and perform on the street. There was even a sect in the world of supernatural beings that made a living mainly through magic tricks - Jiyun Society.

But the shop owners on this cultural street have diverse businesses, including carpentry, blacksmithing, catering, and clothing, and none of them are disguised as magic tricks.

Especially the one selling steamed buns, he actually kneaded the dough with the force of Tai Chi!

Won't the Taoist priests of Wudang be angry if they find out about this?

However, it must be said that the buns made with the kneading technique of Tai Chi were quite delicious, so Zhang Huaiyi couldn't resist buying eight, but five of them ended up in Zhang Zhiwei's stomach.

"Senior brother, can't you buy them yourself?" Zhang Huaiyi licked the remaining three buns with his tongue, afraid that Zhang Zhiwei would snatch them away again.

Zhang Zhiwei munched on a steamed bun and chuckled, "Junior brother, it's not my fault. Who told me I didn't save a single penny?"

Zhang Huaiyi wanted to cry but had no tears.

Because of his experiences before going up the mountain, Zhang Huaiyi had been hiding his cultivation level and his money, especially the latter. He secretly hid enough money to treat all his fellow disciples on the mountain to a three-day, three-night feast at a high-end tavern down the mountain.

This is not!

After descending the mountain, Zhang Huaiyi's bulge containing his secret stash of money visibly deflated!

This led Zhang Huaiyi to suspect that his master had sent him down the mountain with Zhang Zhiwei so that Zhang Zhiwei would go hungry and that he would act as the other party's wallet.

Perhaps this is the price I've paid for always "hiding" myself.

But it really breaks my heart!

After finishing his steamed bun, Zhang Zhiwei asked the vendor, "What is your surname, sir?"

"My surname is Wang, and my name is Wang Baozhi. You can just call me Boss Wang." Wang Baozhi smiled and looked at the two young Taoist priests in front of him, asking, "Which sect do you two come from?"

"The Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain".

Zhang Zhiwei bowed and asked, "Brother Dao, you're from Wudang, aren't you?"

"Yes, I used to. I couldn't stand the loneliness on the mountain, so I ran down to inherit the family business. But because of the war, I came here and finally settled down completely," Wang Baozhi said, bowing in return.

"Can't stand being alone?"

This surprised Zhang Zhiwei. "Judging from your exquisite Tai Chi strength, you must have put in a lot of hard work!"

To be able to control one's strength so exquisitely, how could one be someone who cannot bear loneliness?

"You two might not believe it, but after I came down from the mountain, I discovered that Tai Chi could help me knead dough better. Plus, I also enjoy this profession, so my skills have improved to where they are today. But when it comes to fighting, I'm not very good at it," Wang Baozhi chuckled and explained to the two of them.

"Such a thing is true?"

Since ancient times, the only way to practice martial arts is to go to a quiet place in the mountains and forests, free from worldly affairs, so that one can calm the mind and cultivate profound skills.

But it was unexpected that Wang Baozhi could use Tai Chi energy to knead dough and improve his Tai Chi strength without realizing it.

Are all the strange people on this street like this?

Master often said:

Tigers and leopards lurk in the deep mountains, and unicorns are buried in the fields.

But now that he's come to this big city, Zhang Zhiwei has discovered that even the tigers and leopards of the mountains and forests, and the unicorns of the fields, are no match for the reclusive masters in this city.

Just like the owner of this steamed bun stall in front of him, with his skill in kneading dough using Tai Chi techniques, if he knew how to fight, Zhang Zhiwei was sure that the other party could go toe-to-toe with Zhang Huaiyi for about fifty rounds.

and--

The idea of ​​combining superpowers with making a living must have come from Jiang Liu!

and so--

Jiang Liu, how much progress have you made in the past two years?

I can't wait!

# Chapter 263 Zhang Zhiwei's Arrival

"Leaving aside me, the two of you are top disciples of Longhu Mountain, so your kung fu must be even more impressive."

Wang Baozhi kneaded the dough with Tai Chi-like force, making it fly up and down, and said with a smile, "Would you two like another new product?"

The words fell.

Wang Baozhi's daughter, Wang Baoling, brought out a steamer. The moment the lid was opened, white steam rose up, followed by a faint aroma of meat.

The bun was the size of a human head!

Ordinary steamed buns made this big would inevitably be soggy, but these buns were plump and the pleats were clearly visible. Just looking at them made Zhang Zhiwei's mouth water.

One serving, please!

Zhang Zhiwei couldn't wait any longer and urged Zhang Huaiyi, who was staring in disbelief, "Junior brother, what are you waiting for? Pay up quickly, consider this a loan from your senior brother!"

Zhang Huaiyi: "..."

Just this once?

It wasn't considered a loan before, right?

In the end, he paid the money.

Because he also wanted to try just how delicious this big steamed bun really was!

Zhang Zhiwei covered his hands with a faint, imperceptible golden light as he held the bun to prevent it from getting burned.

Hiss!

The whole bun was torn open, and the meat filling inside was also divided in two.

The meat inside the steamed buns is tender and juicy, and the bun skin is thick, yet it has a faint pinkish hue and a delicate meaty aroma.

Looking at Wang Baozhi, when kneading the dough, he directly poured in a bowl of minced meat and mixed it into the dough. With the exquisite control of Tai Chi, he flipped, turned and pressed the meat and dough together completely, turning it into a light red color. Only the bottom layer of the dough remained white.

[You can make steamed buns like this?]

Zhang Zhiwei has learned a lot.

"good to eat!"

Zhang Zhiwei exclaimed in surprise as he took a bite.

The meat filling is fresh and tender, while the dough is thick yet chewy. The combination of the two truly embodies the principle of the balance of strength and softness in Tai Chi.

"I've never eaten a bun like this before." Zhang Huaiyi took a big bite of the bun and wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes. "It's just like the ones my mother makes."

It wasn't that Zhang Huaiyi's mother had the same culinary skills as Wang Baozhi, but rather that the delicious taste reminded him of the happiness and warmth he felt when his family was still alive.

Wang Baozhi paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "I'm glad the guest likes it."

Afterwards, Zhang Huaiyi bought two more, while Zhang Zhiwei asked Wang Baozhi about the location of the Confucian Association.

"You'll see it after walking about 100 meters along this street. The words 'Ruhui' are written on the gate."

Wang Baozhi gave the two directions, "However, under normal circumstances, apart from the eight apprentices of the Ghost Hand Wang Cai Opera Troupe who take turns on duty there, most members are busy with their own things. If you are looking for the chairman, you probably won't be able to find him."

"Where is that Ghost Hand Wang Cai opera troupe?" Zhang Zhiwei asked again.

"It's about two miles from Cultural Street."

Wang Baozhi pointed in a direction, "The area near West Lake."

Thank you.