Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Since he is young, he should have fewer cold drinks in a day,” Wang Yao said. “Give him less salad too, especially if you buy it from somewhere. It can be unsanitary.”
He had seen cases more than once in which people bought food from outside for convenience, including meat and salad. Although convenient, in the summer, it was quite unhygienic. People were prone to getting diarrhea after eating those foods.
“Oh, I know.” The old man looking after the child smiled. “How much is it?”
“There’s no need to pay,” Wang Yao said, thinking it wasn’t worth charging anything for just a little medicine.
“Thank you, thank you,” the old man said.
“See you,” Wang Yao said as the man and child left.
He waited for a while and looked at the time. He didn’t think anyone else would come, so he locked the clinic door and went Zhong Liuchuan’s residence.
“Sir, aren’t you work today?” Zhong Liuchuan asked.
“I had no patient in the afternoon, so I closed the clinic and came to talk to you,” Wang Yao replied.
“Mr. Wang, wait a minute,” Zhong Liuchuan said. “I am going to make tea.”
In a moment, a pot of tea was emitting rich fragrance. Zhong Liuchuan returned with the tea and asked, “Do you have something to tell me?”
“Yes. You said before that you wanted to follow me to learn kung fu, so that’s what I’m here about,” Wang Yao said.
“Well, I am listening.” Zhong Liuchuan straightened his clothes and sat properly.
He had seen Wang Yao’s ability with his own eyes. He was simply a land god. Zhong Liuchuan did not expect to learn all of it. Even if he could learn one-tenth, it was enough for his lifetime.
“Don’t be so serious,” Wang Yao said. “I just want to talk first. I want to know more about your situation.”
Zhong Liuchuan told Wang Yao when he had carefully studied kung fu, as well as when he started to engage in his special “profession.” He spoke in great detail, including all the secrets hidden in his heart and experiences.
The things he learned were complicated. He had learned Hong Boxing, fighting, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was not proficient in those things, let alone the integration, but they were practical and easy to use. Additionally, he was very fond of using daggers and the most experience with those.
“Well, let’s go to the yard.” Wang Yao he stood up. Once outside, he said, “Come, attack me with your skills.”
Zhong Liuchuan instantly launched an attack. His speed seemed very fast.
Wang Yao just looked at him. “Your footwork is chaotic. It is practical, but there is no rule.”
In his point of view, Zhong Liuchuan’s attack was very slow. When he had just started his actions, Wang Yao could detect it even without opening his eyes. He could clearly feel the changes in the surrounding air.
At the beginning, Zhong Liuchuan still had some reservations. After all, standing before him was his benefactor and a master of martial arts. He did not want to use insidious means to attack.
“You don’t have to conserve anything,” Wang Yao said, sensing his reservation. “Just display all you know. Let me see all your means.”
At such a close distance, even if Zhong Liuchuan used a firearm to attack, he knew Wang Yao would be able to dodge it or instantly make him lose the ability to act.
“Well, Mr. Wang, be careful!” Zhong Liuchuan shouted
This time, his action was faster than before, and the angle of the attack was even more dazzling. He was trying to attack all of Wang Yao’s vital parts. It was using practical combat tactics, but they encompassed everything he had learned and experienced. His occupation required him to be unstoppable and kill the opponent as the primary purpose. Position and morality were not considered. If he gave consideration to those things, he would have lost his life.
“Do you have a knife?” Wang Yao asked.
“Yes,” Zhong Liuchuan replied.
He had carried a knife for years and continued to do so even in the peaceful mountain village. His particular profession forced him to develop that habit. A crisis could happen anytime.
“Use it,” Wang Yao said.
A knife suddenly reflected the sun’s bright light. With the knife in hand, Zhong Liuchuan’s attack speed was faster, and the angle was more difficult. It was fast and serious, which were the two characteristics of his kung fu. It was attacking more than protecting.
“Enough,” Wang Yao said.
Zhong Liuchuan immediately stopped, put the knife away, and adjusted his breathing. He further understood Wang Yao’s achievement. He did his best and did not hold back, yet he was almost only able to slightly touch his clothes. He could clearly feel Wang Yao move like he was simply walking in the air. The gap between two people was huge. One was in the sky, and one was on the ground.
“It is mixed, not systematic, and the offense and defense are not balanced,” Wang Yao said.
When he started to learn boxing from Zhou Xiong, he just sort of liked it. Once he began studying it himself, he coincidentally came across an ancient book about boxing with the help of Nature Classics. He began to progress dramatically fast. Now, he had reached a position at a very young age that many other people would not achieve in a lifetime.
“Yes, you are right,” Zhong Liuchuan said.
He knew that was his bottleneck. When dealing with slightly stronger opponents he had no problem. In the face of professional masters, he felt it was too difficult and appeared like a lunatic person. He was not only able to use poison, but he also knew some kung fu. It was serious Nanpai Mojia boxing with Yongchun whom he could not match.
“I learned it from Zhou Xiong, and you have seen it,” Wang Yao said.
“Yes, I have seen it,” Zhong Liuchuan said.
“It is Cangzhou’s boxing method,” Wang Yao said. “I will teach you a unique breathing method first, which you must now practice.”
He taught Zhong Liuchuan a simple breathing method. It was a combination based on the guidance of the Natural Classics and the martial arts he learned from Chen Ying. Although it was not very advanced, it was simple and practical.
In Wang Yao’s opinion, it was not a profound experience. That was different for others. If he told the other martial arts people the method, they would regard it as a jewel because the internal breathing method was very rare.
When people started learning kung fu, the first thing touched on was breathing. Although the most basic thing—one could survive without drinking for a day or without meals for three days, but one couldn’t live without breathing for an hour—proper breathing still needed to be practiced.
Wang Yao showed him how to practice and had Zhong Liuchuan practice twice. He obviously could not master the breathing technique in such a short period of time.
“Don’t be anxious,” Wang Yao said. “Take your time.”
“OK,” Zhong Liuchuan said.
“By the way, when you attacked me just now, I found that there were still old wounds in your body that have not been healed,” Wang Yao said.
Zhong Liuchuan nodded. There was indeed hidden damage in his body. A gunshot wound had injured his lungs. Although the wound healed, it left some hidden damage. That was why he had breathing difficulties when he did rapid movements.
“Let me look at you in a minute to heal the damage.” Wang Yao carefully looked him over. “Easy.”
“Ah?!” Zhong Liuchuan was shocked.
He had an old injury that was difficult to treat. He had seen a few doctors, but there had been no way to cure it. Since it didn’t affect his day-to-day life much, he ignored it.
“Well, let’s stop here for today,” Wang Yao said. “Don’t pass on what I teach you to others.”
“Oh, I know,” Zhong Liuchuan said.
When Wang Yao left, it was already dusk.
…
Thousands of miles away from Jing, Hou Shida’s mother invited Li Shengrong, another master, over to check on her son. The results of his treatment were unsuccessful. Her son was injured in his veins, head and abdomen, which were all difficult to treat.
“Mr. Li, do you have any other way?” The woman was anxious to cure her son.
“I have no way,” the old man said.
“What can I do?” The woman was desperate to help her beloved son.
