Horizontal and Vertical Splits

"Oh."

Lu Ming had not expected that this withered-looking old man before him would actually be a master who kept his abilities hidden.

He soon felt relieved, though. In Shuofeng City, even a peddler who roamed the streets hawking goods was no ordinary person.

Otherwise, how could one explain the fact that, despite carrying a load weighing over a hundred jin, he could still stride swiftly through the densely packed crowds?

"I didn't expect you to be so skilled, Uncle Zhao."

Lu Ming approached with the buckets of water.

"I'm old."

Old Man Zhao did not say much. He poured the water in his hands into Lu Ming's buckets.

"Thank you, Uncle."

Lu Ming offered his thanks. Old Man Zhao shook out his hands. "All right, hurry back and keep cleaning."

Lu Ming did not stand on ceremony. He gave a hum, then laboriously carried the full buckets of water back.

He discovered that a bucket of water was much heavier than a sack of rice. Carrying it made walking difficult. Still, he believed that if it were a bucket of money instead, then no matter how heavy it was, he could carry it at a brisk pace.

"What an interesting little fellow."

Watching Lu Ming's back, Old Man Zhao smiled and stroked his beard before continuing to draw water.

As soon as Lu Ming returned to the courtyard, he began cleaning the kitchen. First came the pots, bowls, and utensils, followed by the stove, tables, and chairs.

He worked for several hours straight and fetched water several more times before he finally finished cleaning.

By now, he was so hungry that his stomach was stuck to his back. Looking at the clean kitchen, he hurriedly dug out a bowl of rice. He planned to use the cheap meat bones he had bought from the meat stall to cook a pot of congee.

There was also some ready firewood piled behind the stove, which saved him quite a bit of trouble.

After quickly lighting the fire, Lu Ming first boiled the meat bones to blanch them. Then he went to wash the rice. By the time the rice was clean, the meat bones had finished blanching as well. He took them out, and then began cooking the congee.

When it was nearly cooked, Lu Ming put in the blanched meat bones, followed by some salt.

Before long, a rich fragrance filled the air.

"It's finally ready."

While the congee was cooking, Lu Ming had gone to tidy up the room as well. When he smelled the fragrance, he hurried over.

Unable to wait, he filled a large bowl to the brim and began gulping it down.

It was very hot, but he was too hungry to care. Before long, he had finished the entire bowl of congee.

Then he filled another bowl, this time with the meat bones as well.

He did not drink as quickly this time. Instead, he went to the doorway and sat on the threshold, watching the sunset outside while savoring it slowly.

The day passed by in the blink of an eye.

"Little fellow, chewing on bones?"

Suddenly, a voice came from outside. It turned out to be Old Man Zhao, who had walked over with his hands behind his back.

Lu Ming hurriedly rose and replied, "Yes. Have you eaten, Uncle Zhao?"

"I have. I came out for a walk and to aid digestion. Go on and eat."

After passing through the bamboo-fenced courtyard wall, Old Man Zhao shook his hands and vanished around the corner of the right-side room.

Seeing this, Lu Ming sat back down and continued drinking his congee and gnawing on the bones. He did not stop until his stomach was bloated, and even then, he was still reluctant to put the bowl down.

Seeing that it was dark outside, he washed up briefly before eagerly diving into his room.

He planned to continue practicing his cultivation.

Accompanied by the chirping of insects outside, he soon entered a meditative state once again.

Before long, that familiar feeling spread through his abdomen.

He could clearly sense streams of energy continuously being generated.

He did not know how much time had passed before hunger once again forced Lu Ming out of his cultivation state. Fortunately, he had prepared in advance and set aside a bowl of meat congee.

"The congee hasn't even completely cooled. Looks like I didn't cultivate for very long."

Feeling the temperature of the congee, Lu Ming shook his head helplessly.

At this rate of consumption, his sack of rice would not last the month and a half he had estimated earlier.

Still, he felt he could hold out a little longer. Once he practiced the Heavenly Saber Art to a certain level, he would be able to leave the city and hunt demon beasts. Then his days would improve.

After hastily finishing the meat congee, Lu Ming returned to the bed and began examining the results of his cultivation.

After inspecting himself, he discovered that although he had cultivated for only a short time again, his inner qi had grown considerably—roughly three times as much as before.

He could also mobilize it in a simple manner. As the inner qi circulated, he instantly felt filled with power.

"This inner qi really is marvelous. That's enough for today."

Lu Ming did not continue cultivating. His body was still weak, and he could not afford to rush things.

Thus, after testing it for a while, he went straight to sleep.

The next day, Lu Ming woke early. After washing up briefly, he lit the fire and cooked the congee, then came to the courtyard while it was simmering.

He planned to do some recovery exercises from his previous life, such as calisthenics.

As for saber techniques, he was not in a hurry to practice them yet.

After all, this body of his had not recovered to a normal level and was unsuited to strenuous exercise.

It was better to spend some time recuperating first.

In this way, three days quickly passed.

During those three days, apart from cultivating his inner qi, Lu Ming did calisthenics.

After exercising, and with sufficient food and sleep, the sallow color had finally faded from Lu Ming's face, replaced by a trace of healthy color.

Although he had yet to reach a normal person's condition, he could now increase the intensity of his exercise a little.

After thinking it over, Lu Ming decided to practice the Eight Extremes Fist he had learned in his previous life.

In his previous life, he had practiced this fist technique every day after learning it, persevering for more than ten years. It had long since become second nature to him.

It was perfect for training his body now.

"Yo, little fellow. You're not bouncing around anymore. You've switched to practicing fist techniques?"

Just as Lu Ming assumed the starting stance, Old Man Zhao appeared. Lu Ming had long since grown accustomed to the old man wandering around morning and night, so he merely replied:

"A family-inherited Foundation Establishment fist technique, used to strengthen the body."

"Oh? Would you mind letting this old man have a look?"

Old Man Zhao stopped and looked deeply interested.

"Then I'll have to show you my humble skills."

Lu Ming did not mind. The Eight Extremes Fist was merely an ordinary fist technique. Compared to this world's martial arts, it did not even have a qi-circulation route, so he had no fear of anyone coveting it.

Besides, even if he were unwilling, the bamboo fence could not stop Old Man Zhao anyway.

"It's fine. Just practice your own way."

Old Man Zhao waved his hand.

Lu Ming did not delay and began practicing the fist technique.

Gather the spirit and regulate the breath—the Limitless Stance; advance with a crashing hammer that shakes the heavens.

Twin rams butt with elbows, unseen by man; both hands rise together in a fist-embracing salute.

Spread into the hard-training stance, invincible; draw the bow and snap the crown—cannon fire within the nest.

He was familiar with every move, but when he performed them, his movements were crooked and unsteady.

It turned out that this body was extremely stiff. Some movements could not be completed properly. For example, when he took a step across, he could not fully spread his legs apart.

After finally forcing out several more moves, he truly could not continue and stopped.

"Why did you stop?"

Old Man Zhao smiled warmly.

Lu Ming explained helplessly, "My body is too stiff. I plan to stretch my muscles and bones first."

"Not a bad idea. The fist technique is decent as well. It follows a fierce and forceful path, but it seems to be an external-style fist technique without a qi-circulation route."

Old Man Zhao stroked his beard as he offered his assessment.

Lu Ming was not surprised that the other man could see through it. He was just about to speak when Old Man Zhao continued:

"But remember this: stretching your muscles and bones can easily injure the body. You also have no spiritual medicine to aid recovery, so don't overdo it."

Lu Ming had naturally thought of that himself, but he still thanked him. "Thank you for the reminder, Uncle. I'll remember it."

"Mm. Take your time practicing."

Old Man Zhao did not linger. In the blink of an eye, he wandered around the corner.

Seeing this, Lu Ming began carrying out his plan and stretching his muscles and bones.

When practicing martial arts, one had to train one's foundation, and the foundation of one's strength lay in the waist. A stable waist depended on the lower body—in other words, the legs.

That was what the old master who had taught him the Eight Extremes Fist had told him.

Thus, he planned to open his hips first. At the very least, he had to achieve the horizontal and vertical splits.

That would greatly improve his flexibility.

This would not overly injure his body. After all, he had tried it in his previous life. Although it felt as if he were being torn apart for a while, he could naturally recover with time.

With nothing to his name, he could only make do for now.

And so, Lu Ming spent the rest of his time grinding his teeth in agony.