Guidance from a Renowned Master

Xie An followed the swordsman through the steps, past the two massive stone lions at the entrance, and into the martial arts school's main gate.

After circling a screen wall carved with dragons and tigers, a vast training ground came into view.

Dozens of young, strong apprentices, their upper bodies bare, were grunting and punching. Other apprentices, under the guidance of instructors, were practicing broadswords and spears, the clanging of weapons creating a harsh "ping-pong" sound.

Xie An couldn't help but stop, mesmerized.

A wave of youthful vigor and hot-blooded passion washed over him, making his heart race.

This was the scent of youth and fire!

"What are you looking at? This is for martial arts training. Health Cultivation Techniques aren't here."

The swordsman frowned and reminded him.

Xie An snapped back to reality and hurried to catch up.

They walked through a winding corridor, making eighteen turns, and finally arrived at a secluded courtyard. The stone walls were covered in climbing ivy, and a simple wooden plaque hung above the gate, bearing three large characters: Hundred Herbs Garden.

From the Hundred Herbs Garden to the Three Flavors Study?

"This is it," the swordsman pointed inside the gate. "Master Tang is a friend of the school head and a master skilled in Health Cultivation Techniques. He's visiting the school to promote these techniques. For the next month, you can use this plaque to come here for lessons. Please refrain from making noise on your way here."

Xie An thanked him and entered the Hundred Herbs Garden with the wooden plaque.

Compared to the grand training ground they had just passed, this courtyard was much smaller, perhaps around 400 square meters. A total of seven apprentices stood scattered in the center of the yard, while under the eaves in front, a grand tutor's chair was placed, occupied by a middle-aged man with a buzz cut.

He wore a gray scholarly robe. Despite his age, he was robust and upright, exuding an air of refined elegance that was quite extraordinary.

Since Xie An's arrival, no one else had come.

The buzz-cut man glanced at the sundial. The sun was already high in the sky, and he couldn't help but frown and mutter, "Why are there so few people? Is the price of two taels of silver too expensive?"

In these times of war and chaos, it was difficult for people to survive. Anyone with the means would go to practice martial arts.

Health Cultivation Techniques were considered too impractical, so few practiced them... The buzz-cut man had mentally prepared himself for this. But out of the more than 20,000 people in Wuqiao Town, only eight had come to practice Health Cultivation Techniques... This was far too few.

Collecting his thoughts, the buzz-cut man spoke, "My surname is Tang, my given name is Qingfeng, and my courtesy name is Wenyuan. I used to teach at the Martial Arts Hall in Qingwu County. Now that I'm old, I've retired and am helping my master promote some Health Cultivation Techniques. I hope the people of Qingwu County will be strong and healthy, unafraid of the cold or heat, and live long lives. You can call me Master Tang."

Everyone found the buzz-cut man amiable and approachable, so they began calling him Master Tang.

Xie An, however, felt that Tang Qingfeng's conversation was elegant and that he was clearly an educated man.

"Actually, during the prosperous period of the previous dynasty, Health Cultivation Techniques were very popular. From royalty and officials to common folk, everyone practiced them. Now that the world is in turmoil, people have lost that inclination. But as long as you practice diligently, it will greatly benefit your health."

Master Tang spoke eloquently, "There are many types of Health Cultivation Techniques. The most basic ones include the Five Animal Play, Eight Brocades, and Fetal Breathing Technique. Higher-level ones include Guidance Technique, Breathing Method, and Meditation Technique. Even further up are Tai Chi and Yi Jin Jing..."

Xie An listened, secretly astonished.

The Eight Brocades and Fetal Breathing Technique were easy to understand.

But Tai Chi and Yi Jin Jing were no longer considered Health Cultivation Techniques, were they? They were top-tier martial arts that also incorporated combat applications.

Could it be... that practicing Health Cultivation Techniques to the extreme could also allow one to master combat?

However, Xie An felt relieved after thinking about it.

They say medicine and martial arts are not separate. Health Cultivation Techniques were originally martial arts.

If martial arts cultivation reached its peak, how could one not understand combat?

"Now, I will primarily explain the Eight Brocades and the Five Animal Play to you..."

Xie An listened very attentively.

Especially when Tang Qingfeng spoke about the Five Animal Play, Xie An's eyes shone with a peculiar light. As Tang Qingfeng demonstrated the Five Animal Play, Xie An compared it and indeed found that his own practice had problems.

He immediately followed Tang Qingfeng's movements, imitating them, and corrected his wrong stances and power application techniques one by one.

Indeed, the effect was much better, and his body felt more coordinated and comfortable.

Two hours later.

His muscles and bones felt warm, and his limbs were agile.

[Five Animal Play: Integration of Movement and Stillness (14/100)]

He was truly a professional.

Although Xie An had a cheat, he could increase his progress by grinding. However, if he could master the correct techniques and absorb the successful experiences of predecessors, it would undoubtedly speed up his progress.

"That's all for today. I will be giving lessons here every morning for the next month." Seeing that it was past noon, Tang Qingfeng told everyone to go back and rest.

Most of them left listlessly, clearly feeling that it wasn't very interesting and that their two taels of silver had been wasted. Some of them were even deliberately brought in by the owner to support Master Tang, to avoid the scene looking too desolate.

Xie An, however, was excited as he left, as if he had found a treasure.

"What's your name? How old are you?"

As Xie An reached the doorway, he heard Tang Qingfeng's voice from behind. He quickly turned back and cupped his hands, "I am Xie An. Just turned fifty."

Tang Qingfeng nodded slightly, "To be so spirited after fifty, this is the benefit of practicing Health Cultivation Techniques. Have you practiced the Five Animal Play before?"

After practicing all morning, Xie An was the only one who practiced diligently and with focus, and his Five Animal Play was quite skillful. Tang Qingfeng had naturally noticed. At first, he thought Chen Lei had brought someone to make up the numbers, but later he realized this old man was not simple...

Xie An did not hide it, "I have practiced."

"Which Health Cultivation master in Qingwu County did you study under?" Tang Qingfeng almost instinctively assumed Xie An had formally learned the art.

Xie An didn't want Master Tang to think he was exceptionally talented, so he found an excuse, "Earlier, when I was working outside, I met a kind old master. He taught me a couple of moves."

Tang Qingfeng showed an expression of "As expected," and took the opportunity to encourage him, "The world's understanding of Health Cultivation Techniques is too superficial, only seeing them as mere fancy forms like the Five Animal Play or Eight Brocades. They don't realize the power of Guidance Techniques and Breathing Methods. Heaven rewards diligence; even though you are older, as long as you persist, you will surely achieve something."

Xie An wanted to ask about the intricacies of Guidance Techniques and Breathing Methods, but thinking he wasn't familiar with Tang Qingfeng, he didn't pry further. After thanking him, he turned and left.

The next morning, two fewer people came to the Hundred Herbs Garden to learn Health Cultivation Techniques, leaving only six.

Tang Qingfeng's face showed unconcealed disappointment.

Meanwhile, Xie An was always the first to arrive, listening attentively to the lectures, and proactively seeking clarification from Tang Qingfeng on any difficult points.

Tang Qingfeng's original intention was to teach more talented young people, and if any showed exceptional performance, he might even recommend them to his master, thereby expanding the family's prestige. However, the young people weren't interested in Health Cultivation Techniques. It was the half-century-old Xie An who gave him an unexpected pleasant surprise.

Every time Xie An came to ask, he explained in detail.

Unknowingly, a month passed, and only two people still persisted in coming to the Hundred Herbs Garden to learn Health Cultivation Techniques.

One was Xie An, who had persevered from the beginning, and the other was Chen He, who joined midway. As for Chen Lei's recruits, due to their improper attitude, Tang Qingfeng, in anger, drove them away...

Initially, Chen He didn't take Health Cultivation Techniques very seriously, but every time Xie An went to the pharmacy to pick up herbs, his vitality and spirit improved significantly.

Chen He, who was over 49, couldn't stand such a stimulus.

So, he joined in.

What's more, after more than half a month of guidance from a renowned master, Chen He clearly felt a significant improvement in his body. However, compared to Xie An, the difference in results was too great... This made Chen He extremely envious.

At noon that day, after finishing his lesson, Tang Qingfeng observed Xie An for a long time, and finally, as if having made a decision, said, "Come to my room with me."