Six Character Mantra

The sudden kick left the whole class dumbfounded.

The others had all been kicked by Tie Kuang, more or less, but none of them had ever been kicked that hard.

With a BOOM, Xian Wu was plastered against the whitewashed wall of the Trial Grounds, limbs spread wide.

"Why'd you kick me?" Xian Wu dropped to one knee and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his left hand.

If he didn't get a reasonable explanation today, he'd make Tie Kuang pay with his life.

You couldn't just bully people like this!

He didn't go looking for trouble, but he wasn't afraid of it either. What kind of law let people pick on him for no reason?

Unexpectedly, Tie Kuang suddenly clapped his hands and laughed. "Good! You haven't even reached Bronze Rank, yet you managed to block one of my kicks. You're impressive."

What did he mean? Xian Wu couldn't make head or tail of Tie Kuang's intentions.

"From now on, Xian Wu is my class representative. Anyone who dares bully him is going against me. Understood?"

Tie Kuang turned and announced his decision to the students.

Class representative???

The students in the junior martial arts class wore expressions of envy, jealousy, surprise, admiration, and resentment.

That "Pants-Stripping Fiend" had actually become the class representative? That had to be a joke.

How could a good-for-nothing with a Soul Force of only 1 be qualified to represent them? Was Instructor Tie Kuang blind?

If Xiao Ning'er had become the class representative, they wouldn't have complained at all. Her talent spoke for itself.

But what gave that commoner kid the right?

Some students were unhappy with Instructor Tie Kuang's decision, while others were pleased.

Lu Piao: Brother Wu, well done! You've really made us proud.

Nie Li: I... I want to be as impressive as Xian Wu, too.

Du Ze: Heaven rewards hard work. As long as I keep at it, I'm sure I can surpass Xian Wu.

Zhang Ming: How come all the good things happen to Xian Wu? When will one of them happen to me?

Zhu Jun Xiang: Big Brother, you're my role model.

Xiao Ning'er: Xian Wu, I'll reach Bronze Rank before you. I, Xiao Ning'er, won't be worse than anyone!

"Thank you, Instructor Tie Kuang!" Xian Wu clasped his hands in salute.

He really wanted to ask Instructor Tie Kuang to take him as his sworn son, but with so many people watching, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Instructor Tie Kuang nodded. "Get back in line."

He'd done it partly to protect Xian Wu.

Xian Wu had offended so many people that he'd probably be targeted afterward. If a student got hurt, his instructor would surely be held responsible.

He could lose his bonus, and might even be dismissed from the instructor corps.

Tie Kuang didn't want that to happen. Even if the odds were low, he wanted to nip the possibility in the bud.

The class representative spoke for the instructor. If you wanted to beat a dog, you had to consider its master. Those noble kids ought to understand that.

At Instructor Tie Kuang's signal, Xian Wu went to the front of the line and demonstrated the horse stance for his classmates.

By an unlucky coincidence, Xian Wu ended up facing Xiao Ning'er.

He was so embarrassed he could've dug out a three-bedroom apartment with his toes.

He had to admit, Xiao Ning'er was really beautiful—the same type as the girl he'd had his first (secret) crush on.

One word described her perfectly: cool.

Xiao Ning'er had a slender figure and wore a fitted pale-yellow miniskirt and a pair of black knee-high boots.

Her long, dark hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, and beneath her wispy bangs, her bright eyes were clear and sparkling.

Her skin was flawless and fair, touched with a faint blush, and her full lips were as tender and tempting as rose petals.

She was stunning even in women's clothes. If she ever dressed like a man, who knew how many young girls she'd charm?

"Why are you closing your eyes? Tired?" Instructor Tie Kuang SMACKED Xian Wu on the back of the head.

Xian Wu had no choice but to obey and admire the girls.

Xiao Ning'er furrowed her brows. Xian Wu's lively, sparkling eyes made her feel distinctly uncomfortable.

While Xian Wu silently admired the beauty, the boys in the junior martial arts class were also staring at him with envy and resentment.

They were wondering whether they should "Aruba" Xian Wu after class.

He was shamelessly ogling their Goddess Ning'er like that. It was so... enviable!

After an hour in the horse stance, Instructor Tie Kuang began teaching the second half of the practical lesson.

The troublemaking noble students were still running laps around the Training Ground. One of them was so exhausted he was spitting foam.

They probably wouldn't dare mock Xian Wu during martial arts class again.

Instructor Tie Kuang patted Xian Wu's sturdy back and sent him back to the line.

After reshaping the scattered students into a tight formation, he continued the lesson.

"Martial artists must train both inside and out. The horse stance is external training. Next, I'll teach you internal training."

"This technique is called the Six Character Mantra. It's Sacred Orchid Academy's most basic body-tempering technique, and it can greatly increase your strength."

"As the name suggests, the Six Character Mantra consists of six characters: xu, he, hu, xi, chui, and xi."

"The Hoo Skill calms the liver qi, the Ha Skill nourishes the heart qi, the Hu Skill strengthens the spleen qi, the Si Skill nourishes the lung qi, the Chui Skill nourishes the kidney qi, and the Xi Skill regulates the triple burner."

"Come on, follow along." Instructor Tie Kuang began demonstrating.

"First is the starting posture. No matter which technique you practice, you have to get into the starting posture first. Follow my movements."

"Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your head level and your neck straight. Draw in your chest and straighten your back. Relax your waist and hips, bend your knees slightly, and relax your whole body. Breathe naturally."

"The Six Character Mantra uses natural abdominal breathing, which is just normal breathing. As you inhale, your lower abdomen gradually expands; as you exhale, it gradually draws in. Reverse abdominal breathing is the opposite."

"When practicing, exhale before you inhale. Speak the character as you exhale, while tightening your pelvic floor and lower abdomen and shifting your weight to your heels."

"After repeating each character six times, take a break, then move on to the next one."

"Come on, I'll demonstrate the Hoo Skill first." Instructor Tie Kuang cleared his throat.

"Breathe... out... hoo... hoo..."

Instructor Tie Kuang slowly raised both hands from in front of his lower abdomen, with the backs of his hands facing each other, until they reached shoulder height beside his ribs.

His arms rose like a bird spreading its wings, then opened to either side, palms tilted upward. At the same time, he widened his eyes as he exhaled.

"Inhale..." Instructor Tie Kuang bent his arms and lowered his hands slowly past his face and chest, letting them hang at his sides.

"Six repetitions make one cycle. Got it? Now spread out in exercise formation and follow along."

The tight formation scattered again, and everyone assumed the starting posture.

"Breathe... out... hoo... hoo..."

Everyone followed Instructor Tie Kuang's movements.

As Xian Wu went on making the Hoo sound, he started to feel like he needed to pee. The other boys felt the same way.

Instructor Tie Kuang then demonstrated the other five skills in turn, before letting everyone practice on their own.

"Reporting to the instructor, I need to use the restroom!" Lu Piao suddenly raised his hand.

Enough with the Hoo sounds, damn it! If I do it any longer, I'm gonna piss my pants.