Whitewashing the Breathing Method

Several days later, the sun had already passed its zenith over the training ground, and the shouts of those practicing their punches gradually died down.

Seeing Xu Li heading out,

Wang Yue raised an eyebrow but didn't ask anything. He simply watched Xu Li's figure disappear through the doorway before turning and leaving.

Xu Li hurried along, his expression tense and uneasy. He didn't stop until he stood before an antique, secluded courtyard.

A wooden plaque hung above the gate, engraved with the words "Tiger Roar Residence." Red lanterns beneath the eaves swayed gently in the wind, while the faint sound of turning pages came from within.

"Come in."

Wang Hu's deep voice came from inside. Xu Li took a deep breath, gently pushed open the courtyard gate, and hurried into the room.

The room was simply furnished: a rosewood table, two wooden chairs, and an ink-wash painting of a fist hanging on the wall. Wang Hu sat behind the table, flipping through a yellowed booklet. Only when Xu Li entered did he raise his eyes. "Speak. What do you want from me?"

Xu Li walked up to the table, nervously clutching the hem of his clothes with both hands. In a low voice, he said, "Godfather, a few days ago, I spoke with Wang Yue... He said that if I taught him the Breathing Method you taught me before, he'd teach me the secrets of boxing and help me get started with the Harmonious Flow Fist as soon as possible."

The moment he finished speaking, Wang Hu's face darkened. His formerly calm gaze suddenly turned sharp, carrying an oppressive force that frightened Xu Li into lowering his head at once. His hands hung stiffly at his sides, and he didn't even dare breathe too hard.

The room fell into brief silence.

Wang Hu lightly tapped the tabletop with his fingers, calculating inwardly. That brat Wang Yue—when he'd seen him practicing on the training ground last time, his movements had been steady and forceful, already carrying the essence of someone who had gotten started. He had some comprehension. And he even knew about the Breathing Method, daring to propose trading boxing instruction for it.

Remembering how Xu Li's father had risked his life to save him, and his dying wish that Xu Li enter the Martial Academy and learn real skills, Wang Hu's expression gradually softened. He said in a deep voice, "Go tell Wang Yue that if anyone asks about his Breathing Method in the future, he is to say that I taught it to him.

"The condition is that he privately teaches you the boxing coordination techniques corresponding to the Breathing Method!"

Wang Hu thought to himself, he couldn't openly break the rules, nor could he guide Xu Li every day. That boy with decent comprehension was a good choice to teach Xu Li boxing.

If he didn't know his place and refused to teach properly, Wang Hu had plenty of ways to make him regret it.

Then he reached into a drawer and took out a sheet of yellowed rice paper. Picking up a brush and dipping it in ink, he wrote the character "Fist" stroke by stroke. The calligraphy was vigorous and powerful, revealing the hard strength of the martial path.

He handed the paper to Xu Li. "Take this to Wang Yue. And tell him that once he reaches Blood Condensation, bring him to see me."

Xu Li accepted the rice paper with both hands. Looking at the character "Fist," he still didn't understand. "Godfather, why do you want him to see you only after he reaches Blood Condensation?"

"Don't ask what you shouldn't." Wang Hu cut him off, his tone returning to its usual majesty. "You only need to deliver the message. Remember, don't mention this matter to anyone else."

"Yes, Godfather." Xu Li nodded hurriedly, carefully folded the rice paper and tucked it into his clothes. After bowing, he quietly withdrew from the room.

Meanwhile, in the open space behind the residence.

Wang Yue was rubbing his sore waist and abdomen, his brow tightly furrowed.

These past few days of boxing practice had consumed more and more Blood Qi. Yet his daily meals consisted only of corn buns, millet porridge, a little greens, and a bit of oil and meat. It simply couldn't keep up with the needs of condensing Blood Qi. Recently, he could clearly feel his progress slowing, and even the force of his punches wasn't as substantial as it had been a few days ago.

"Poor scholars, rich martial artists. Without food supplements, it really won't do."

Wang Yue sighed inwardly. If he had meat or medicinal soup to replenish Blood Qi, his Blood Condensation progress would definitely speed up considerably.

"Wang Yue!"

Xu Li's voice came from the distance. Wang Yue looked up and saw Xu Li striding over with a sheet of paper in hand.

Xu Li walked up to Wang Yue, took out the rice paper bearing the character "Fist," and handed it over. In a low voice, he said, "My godfather said that if anyone asks about your Breathing Method in the future, say he taught it to you. The condition is that you privately teach me the boxing coordination techniques corresponding to the Breathing Method. He also told me to tell you that once you reach Blood Condensation, bring you to see him."

Wang Yue took the rice paper and unfolded it. The moment he saw the character "Fist," his heart skipped a beat, and he sighed inwardly. I was careless!

Now Wang Hu had him in his grip. He couldn't act so recklessly in the future.

Wang Hu had satisfied his condition for whitewashing the origin of his Breathing Method. What room did he have to refuse Wang Hu now? He could only accept the paper.

But staring at the character "Fist" on the paper, Wang Yue began to wonder. Was Wang Hu merely telling him to teach boxing properly?

Then why specifically ask him to visit Wang Hu's private residence after reaching Blood Condensation?

Blood Condensation was the key threshold for entering the Martial Academy. Wang Hu had deliberately named that point in time; there was probably another purpose behind it.

Seeing that he had accepted the paper, Xu Li added, "I'll find a chance to tell you the Breathing Method's formula tonight."

Wang Yue nodded and said nothing more. Watching Xu Li's departing back, he calculated inwardly. Blood Condensation wasn't difficult for him. Once his training reached the right point, it would naturally form. But did Wang Hu want to see him afterward to assess his strength, or did he have other arrangements?

No matter what, he had to reach Blood Condensation as soon as possible to sound out Wang Hu's intentions.

By the time moonlight crept over the stone wall of the rear courtyard, Wang Yue was still repeatedly studying the paper with the character "Fist." His fingertips brushed over the vigorous strokes as he made up his mind. First, focus on reaching Blood Condensation. Once I see Wang Hu, I'll adapt to the situation.

When he returned to the room, Wang Shun and the others were already fast asleep. Xu Li was also lying in bed with his eyes closed, seemingly pondering boxing moves.

Wang Yue quietly walked over to Xu Li's bed and reached out to nudge his arm. "Wake up. Tell me the Breathing Method now."

Xu Li's eyes flew open. Seeing it was Wang Yue, he hurriedly sat up and lowered his voice. "Now? Won't they hear us?"

"Come to the courtyard." After saying that, Wang Yue pushed open the door and went out first. Xu Li hesitated briefly, then threw on a short shirt and followed him.

In the shadows beneath the rear courtyard's stone wall, Wang Yue looked at Xu Li. "Go on. The Breathing Method's formula and essentials."

Xu Li took a deep breath, recalling what Wang Hu had taught him, and recited word by word, "When inhaling, sink the shoulders and drop the abdomen; guide the breath into the Dantian and circle it three times. When exhaling, lift the waist and gather the fist; let the force follow the Blood Qi to the fingertips... Godfather said the key is to make the breath move with the motions. They can't become disconnected."

Wang Yue listened carefully, comparing it inwardly. Xu Li's formula matched the core of the Breathing Method within his Martial Soul, only phrased more plainly. It was perfect for whitewashing the source of his own Breathing Method.

"I understand." Wang Yue nodded, then stepped back two paces and assumed the opening stance of the Harmonious Flow Fist. "Now I'll teach you boxing. Follow my movements and pay attention to how your breathing coordinates with them."

Since Wang Hu was willing to let him teach Xu Li, Wang Yue intended to teach him well. It would avoid displeasing Wang Hu, and he could use the opportunity to verify his understanding of the Mastered Harmonious Flow Fist, thoroughly transforming the Martial Soul's experience into his own skill.

Xu Li hurriedly copied the opening stance, but the moment he raised his hand, the arc of the Splitting Wave Hand went crooked, and his wrist unconsciously curled inward.

Seeing this, Wang Yue stepped forward directly. He grabbed Xu Li's wrist and, with a slight application of force, bent his arm into the correct angle. His movements were crisp and decisive, even carrying a hint of roughness.

Xu Li clicked his tongue inwardly from the pain, but he was unconvinced. He had practiced boxing longer than Wang Yue and wasn't weak either, so how had Wang Yue bent his arm so easily?

When they moved on to the Wave-Stacking Fist, Xu Li deliberately exerted force in secret, intending to use the force of his step to contend with Wang Yue and test his true strength.

Wang Yue gave a faint inward snort, noticing Xu Li's little trick. The Blood Qi within him condensed slightly and flowed along his arm to his fingertips. With only a light push, he pressed Xu Li's arm back onto the correct path, carrying a clever force that instantly dispersed more than half of Xu Li's strength.

Xu Li was utterly shocked. He staggered back half a step, staring at Wang Yue with disbelief. He hadn't expected the gap between their strength to be so great. Moreover, Wang Yue's strength seemed to carry a kind of "force" that could easily disrupt his rhythm of exertion.

Wang Yue ignored Xu Li's shock and continued explaining, "With the Wave-Stacking Fist, land on your heel first, then transition to the ball of your foot. When exerting force, your waist and abdomen must sink first, otherwise the punch force will float..."

As he spoke, he corrected Xu Li's footwork. From time to time, his fingers touched Xu Li's waist and abdomen, reminding him how to brace his waist.

Yet amid the pauses in his instruction, Wang Yue's thoughts quietly drifted to the Martial Soul panel in his consciousness. Its cooldown had long since passed, but ever since he had extracted the Mastered Harmonious Flow Fist last time, he had never again seen a prompt for an extractable item.

What kind of thing can trigger extraction? Is it an object like the Black Wooden Stake, one bearing traces of the martial path, or another vessel containing special energy?

Wang Yue pondered inwardly, anticipation rising in his eyes. He didn't know when he would next encounter something extractable, nor what kind of martial arts experience—or something else—he might obtain.

Under the moonlight, the two figures practiced boxing one before the other in the courtyard. Wang Yue's movements were steady and precise, while Xu Li's were still somewhat unpolished, yet far more orderly than before. This instruction was also a form of cultivation for him.