Coincidental Opportunity

This night, Yuan Ci, for the first time ever, didn't have Wang Anfeng smash trees. Instead, he had the boy practice the thirty-two forms of Shaolin Long Fist over and over again. He practiced from the starry night until the golden sun rose, until the mountains awoke from their slumber, birds chirped, insects buzzed, and all living things stirred. During this time, Yuan Ci didn't offer any guidance, merely watching the young man figure out the movements and connections himself.

Although during these five hours, the boy's once-familiar Shaolin Long Fist became intermittent and extremely peculiar, like a child imitating the steps of the Handan walk, Yuan Ci found this somewhat messy martial art more commendable than the previously rigid Shaolin Long Fist. The master and disciple continued practicing until the time was up. Before Wang Anfeng's eyes, the Shaolin mountains shattered into fragments, and he returned to the back room of the pharmacy in Wangxian County.

Lying on the soft bed, the county town was still pitch black. Occasionally, the sound of the night watchman could be heard, but Wang Anfeng was still full of spirit, his eyes shining brightly. The thirty-two forms of the fist, which had almost become an instinctive theorem in his mind, were now scattered but constantly recombining. It was as if he had entered a new realm, and the joy in his heart was more than ten times greater than defeating an enemy.

Unable to contain himself, he got out of bed. The room was dim. The boy, wearing his clothes, paced to the window and slowly pushed it open. With a soft creak, a faint, clear light flooded the room, illuminating the darkness. Looking up, he saw a sky full of stars and a bright, clear moon. The world between heaven and earth felt vast.

This scene perfectly matched the joy in his heart. His chest couldn't help but open up. A sense of bold heroism inexplicably rose in his calm heart, and he softly recited:

"Stars hang low over the vast plains, the moon surges like a great river..."

This was a poem his father had taught him when he was still alive. He only vaguely remembered this line now. Looking out the window, there were no plains, nor could he see a great river. Yet, he loved it deeply in his heart. All things and phenomena arise from the heart. When the heart is open, even in a bustling place, one can see the vastness of the plains; though his eyes couldn't see the flow of a single drop of water, he could feel the ceaseless waves of a great river.

He stood by the bed for a long time, still feeling no sleepiness. He simply sat cross-legged on the bed and began to meditate and circulate his Inner Qi. Wang Anfeng felt that his practice of the One Zen Skill today was extremely smooth. Rushing heat flowed vigorously within his body like surging water, again and again, as if tireless. Only when the cool moonlight transformed into warm morning light did he slowly conclude his practice.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the rising sun outside the window. He instinctively inhaled, and it seemed a faint wisp of heat entered his nose and mouth before slowly dissipating, not being absorbed. However, it stirred the thick Inner Qi of the One Zen Skill, accumulated over a hundred days of arduous training, to tremble and cross the last small threshold.

These bottlenecks were the most arduous, and small ones could trap a martial artist for years, even decades. Wang Anfeng had been training tirelessly every day for a hundred days, taking elixirs internally and strengthening his body externally to activate his Inner Qi. Coupled with his excellent state last night, his Inner Qi had just reached the first level bottleneck.

His foundation was not yet sufficient for a breakthrough, but the accumulation of these factors, plus that wisp of air that circled his nose and mouth, became the last straw that broke the camel's back. The Inner Qi, which was considered robust compared to before, rolled down like snow on a mountain peak, breaking through all his meridians like a bamboo, then using that momentum to rapidly change course and enter the second level pathway. Streams of heat radiated into the meridians and muscles throughout his body, slowly opening up the subtle channels. In the future, when he reached the third level and achieved mastery of the One Zen Skill, he would be able to circulate his Qi throughout his body, becoming one with it.

Wang Anfeng finished circulating his Inner Qi and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. The white mist shot out three inches like an arrow. He clenched his fist, feeling the surge of Inner Qi, which was clearly abundant. Normally, after finishing his practice, the feeling of abundant Inner Qi would slowly dissipate, becoming like a stream. But now, not only had the Inner Qi not dissipated at all, it was still slowly increasing, making him even happier.

Just then, his aunt's voice calling him to eat came from outside the door. He quickly got out of bed, washed up perfunctorily, tidied his bedding, and then left the room. His aunt was already waiting for him with a smile at the door. Glancing through the crack in the door at the tidy room, she became even more fond of this well-mannered young man. She reached out and tidied Wang Anfeng's hair, smiling and saying:

"Did Feng'er sleep well last night?"

Wang Anfeng scratched his head, showing a hint of youthful demeanor, and replied with a smile, "The bed was so soft, I slept very soundly."

"That's good. You've been away in the mountains for a long time. Come and try my cooking. See if it suits your taste."

The woman smiled kindly. In just a few steps, they entered the main hall. Some dishes were laid out on a large round rosewood table. Li Kangsheng was seated at the head of the table. A hint of awkwardness flashed across his refined face. He coughed and said, "Nephew, you're here. Come to the table quickly. Your aunt's scalded dried tofu shreds have a unique flavor, and the pastries from the Old Gu family are also very delicious."

Wang Anfeng nodded and sat down at the table. The aroma of the food on the table was enticing. He couldn't help but think, "Are there so many subtleties to simply eating? Judging by this, what I used to eat wasn't really food." His gaze fell on the table. Li Kangsheng smiled and said:

"Nephew, you can try it. These scalded dried tofu shreds are a specialty from my wife's hometown. Special dried tofu is cut into fine shreds, repeatedly washed and blanched to remove the bean flavor, then drizzled with refined gravy, sesame oil from a small mill, and garnished with ginger shreds, dried shrimp, etc. The taste is excellent and cannot be found elsewhere." Wang Anfeng heard that he was ostensibly introducing the dish, but in reality, he was clearly trying to appease and beg forgiveness from his aunt. He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, but maintained his composure and did not lose face.

After the meal, he offered to help clean up, but his aunt politely declined. Wang Anfeng felt a bit idle. He thought to himself, "Inner Qi cultivation requires diligence, but one cannot be too greedy. Why not find an open space and practice some fist techniques?" Having made up his mind, he prepared to inform Li Kangsheng. The latter naturally had no objections, only reminding him that he had to return for lunch. Then, he busied himself with his own affairs.

However, just as he was about to leave, the woman called him back. Wang Anfeng was a little curious. The woman took out some money from her embrace and handed it to him, saying, "You spent money for us yesterday. Please take this ten taels of silver."

Wang Anfeng took a step back, not taking the silver. He thought that if he refused directly, it would be difficult to persuade her, so he smiled and asked, "I heard from the neighbors yesterday that Uncle and Auntie often treat the poor without charging consultation fees?"

The woman first nodded, then shook her head:

"We just do what we can. That's no reason for us to keep your silver."

Wang Anfeng waved his hands repeatedly and said, "Nephew doesn't mean that. It's just that Prime Minister Lü once said, 'Those who do good deeds will surely receive blessings; those who accumulate hidden virtues will have prosperous descendants.' These ten taels of silver can allow Uncle and Auntie to help more people. More or less, it can also be considered sharing some hidden virtue with me, after all... I am the only descendant in my family right now..."

The woman was stunned. As a woman and a mother, she had a peculiar affection for her descendants. Hearing that Wang Anfeng was the only child in his family, she felt great pity. After thinking for a moment, she put away the silver and gently comforted him:

"Then Auntie will keep it for you, Feng'er. Don't worry. You are handsome and know etiquette. In the future, many women will be infatuated with you, ensuring your descendants will prosper. How about Auntie introduce you to a couple of good girls?"

Wang Anfeng's expression remained unchanged. He cupped his fists and said warmly, "Nephew currently has no such thoughts. Moreover, I must ask Master and Uncle Li before making such a decision."

"Indeed... A master for a day is a father for life. Great hero Li is heroic, but your master..."

Wang Anfeng smiled and replied, "Master is a very, very good person."

But when it comes to marriage, Auntie, you'll never convince him.

Then there are some poems and literature, so we'll assume this world has them too... I just can't write them (ノ=Д=)ノ┻━┻