Encountering Again

After chatting with his aunt for a while longer, Wang Anfeng finally left the house. This county town wasn't far from the prefectural city of Wangxian County. Back in the day, when Xuanyuan ascended to the heavens on a dragon, his ministers clung to the dragon's scales to achieve immortality. This county town, adjacent to the prefectural city, could be considered to have "climbed the dragon and attached to the phoenix," hence its prosperity was far beyond that of ordinary county towns, let alone the tiny Great Liang Village. The journey was a tapestry of prosperity, but he merely observed, not lingering.

Wang Anfeng had already asked his aunt for details earlier. He knew that after leaving the city and heading north for about ten miles, a long river flowed, with weeping willows and willows lining its banks, offering many secluded spots. Traveling along with the Shaolin Vigorous Step Technique, he indeed heard the sound of flowing water. Although the scenery here was alluring, it was far from the city, and most residents were busy with their livelihoods, so there were hardly any people here.

He found a secluded spot, took a deep breath, and slowly opened his stance. He executed the thirty-two forms of the Shaolin Long Fist, which he had long since mastered. The forms were rigorous, powerful, and grand. Though a simple introductory martial art, it exuded an extraordinary aura. After completing the forms, he paused, lost in thought for a moment, and then began to practice again. His boxing style changed dramatically, with some peculiar and comical connections between moves, yet occasionally, there were moments of divine inspiration, with sudden and sharp techniques appearing like thunder from a clear sky.

While it lacked in fluidity, it excelled in attack, like a solitary peak rising abruptly from the ground, startling the heart. He practiced like this for several rounds before stopping again, frowning in thought. He then resumed practicing the initial thirty-two forms. Although fluid, something else was subtly brewing within, making it slightly different from the original. As he practiced round after round, his boxing style was powerful, stirring up fallen leaves, his momentum building like a fierce tiger roaring in the deep mountains, powerful and grand.

Suddenly, his boxing style changed again. It was still the sequence of the thirty-two forms, but it now incorporated much more lightness, completely different from before. The contrast between the two made it even more spectacular. A loud exclamation suddenly came from outside the woods:

"Good fist technique! Good fist technique!"

Wang Anfeng was startled and immediately stopped his movements. He turned his head and saw a handsome young man, about his age, stepping out, his face full of joyful admiration. He couldn't help but be slightly taken aback and exclaimed:

"It's you!"

"Isn't it me? Little brother Wang."

The young man was the one he had met at the herbal tea stall. Back then, he was wearing a blue cloth gown, but now he had changed into a silver-grey round-collared robe embroidered with a soaring crane. He lost some of his gentle demeanor but gained an air of nobility. Hearing Wang Anfeng's words, he smiled and replied, then cupped his fists and said seriously, "Sneaking a look at others practicing martial arts is a major taboo in the martial world. I should have left, but seeing your powerful and fluid moves, I couldn't resist the urge to spar with you. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course, since I watched you practice, I shouldn't take advantage of you. I see that although your fist technique is skilled, your footwork seems a bit stiff. I have a Nine Palaces Step here. It's not particularly advanced, but it will be very beneficial for your future martial arts practice. Watch closely."

Wang Anfeng raised his hand to stop him. "Wait, hold on a moment."

The young man raised his eyebrows curiously. "What? Little brother, do you have any advice?" Wang Anfeng shook his head. "No, it's just that you're going to teach me a footwork technique after only watching me practice a few boxing moves. That's too much of a disadvantage for you."

The young man was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "This footwork technique is just a basic Daoist art; many people know it. As for your boxing technique, although it's powerful, it's also perfectly fluid, truly the work of a master, an unbreakable martial art. To glimpse even a part of it is already a great advantage for me. And... hehe, watch this footwork technique."

As he spoke, he lifted the hem of his robe and slowly demonstrated the footwork, saying:

"Heaven and Earth begin and end, avoiding the true; Void and flash advance, posture like the wind. Four images revolve, appearing beyond the heavens; Following and reversing the Nine Palaces, seeking endlessly. The startled bow's step is ultimately profound, Treading through the eight directions, posture like a fortress."

He practiced back and forth a few times. Because it wasn't complicated, and Wang Anfeng had read some books since childhood, he easily memorized it. He recalled and recited it several times in his mind. When he looked up, he saw the handsome young man standing in front of him, smiling and watching him. There was no sign of impatience on his face. He didn't know how long he had been waiting. Wang Anfeng cupped his fists, feeling a little embarrassed, and said, "Thank you."

The young man cupped his fists and replied with a smile, "You're welcome." Then, he crossed his fists and assumed a boxing stance, saying, "I've learned some rough fist techniques. Please let me experience this set of boxing techniques."

Wang Anfeng nodded slightly and didn't hesitate. He gestured and assumed the starting stance of the Shaolin Long Fist, saying:

"This is the Shaolin Long Fist from my Shaolin Temple. Please guide me."

"Please!"

The two faced each other, the atmosphere gradually growing tense. Suddenly, a gust of clear wind blew, and the willow leaves swayed, about to fall but not quite. A sharp glint flashed in Wang Anfeng's eyes. His Inner Qi circulated, and he stomped forward. With a straightforward palm strike, he attacked.

The charging momentum from his feet and the twisting force of his spine were all channeled into his right palm, reaching the fingertips. It was like a steel knife aimed directly at the young man's throat, his aura sharp and fierce. However, the latter remained calm. He retreated his steps, his ten fingers weaving like blooming flowers, or as if gently strumming a zither, landing successively on Wang Anfeng's palm, causing his force to dissipate softly.

Wang Anfeng was surprised by the elegance, casualness, and power of this move. This was supposed to be a sparring session with no distinction between victory and defeat, but for some reason, a spirit of unwillingness to admit defeat surged within him. According to the boxing form, he should have followed up with a counter to break the elbow. However, he felt a slight unwillingness, coupled with the breakthrough of his Inner Qi. The vast feeling from last night, like stars scattered across the plain and the great river surging, had not yet dissipated. His footwork suddenly changed.

His body moved like a surging river. His left foot moved forward smoothly, like a drawn war bow. His right palm, which had lost its force, did not follow the original move but instead curled its five fingers like a tiger's claw, slashing diagonally out, almost brushing the young man's fair neck. This was a feint, while his left hand rotated and struck from under his ribs, aiming for the vital points of his lower abdomen and ribs. This move was the complete opposite of the straightforward and fluid style of his previous boxing, possessing a hint of Yuan Ci's lethal sharpness.

The young man let out a soft "Oh," and stepped out with the Nine Palaces Step he had just learned. His foot landed in the central palace, and he lightly circled behind Wang Anfeng, evading his fierce attack.

At this moment, their energies intertwined. Wang Anfeng's spirit was focused, and he instinctively changed his move. His right foot remained stationary, acting as an axis, and he spun his body to deliver an elbow strike, sharp and powerful. The hem of his short martial arts uniform let out a brief explosive sound. Beside him, the young man gently waved his sleeves. One hard, one soft, like the dance of yin and yang, it was a stroke of genius that blocked the next step of the young man's Nine Palaces Step.

To evade, he could only retreat. But the young man seemed to have been stirred by a heroic spirit. He chuckled, advanced instead of retreating, raised his arm, and his boxing style changed from elegant and casual to heavy and grand. He directly met this punch and then lunged towards Wang Anfeng's throat.

Wang Anfeng was startled. This move was delivered when his new strength had not yet fully manifested. He had pushed his opponent to a dead end, but he himself was also in grave danger. Just as he was almost cornered with no room to retreat, he suddenly remembered his master's actions from yesterday. His body instinctively retreated half a step, and his right hand used a half-step elbow technique to parry the young man's palm. His left hand struck downwards, turning defense into offense. The young man let out another soft "Oh," with a hint of surprise and delight, and said, "Good, good, good! Truly good fist technique."

Amidst his light laughter, his hand techniques were not at all inferior. He launched a strong offense. In this place of winding willows by the riverbank, a quiet and deserted spot, two boys no older than thirteen or fourteen, one in blue martial arts attire, the other in noble clothing, exchanged blows, their boxing techniques clashing with considerable force.