Taiyi Three Talents Stance

"Settle down, all of you. Little Meng, was it? I can answer that. Strictly speaking, the Guoyi Fist does belong to Xingyi Fist. Its moves and forms incorporate the Daoist Five-Element Fire Attribute Thought found in Xingyi Fist."

Meng Chuan nodded thoughtfully. He focused, and the panel appeared before his eyes. Could the last 1% he needed to break through be hidden in the Stake Technique?

[Martial Dao Limit-Breaking Panel]

[Martial Arts]

[National Compulsory Basic Fist Technique: Perfected (99%) — Awaiting Limit Break]

[Limit-Breaking Trait: One Proof Eternal Proof (Super)]

Seeing that Meng Chuan had no more questions, Liu Ru continued:

"Pay no attention to anything around you. Focus on your body and remain aware of its condition at all times. That is what it means to keep your spirit within. All right, it isn't hard to understand. Follow my movements. I'll repeat the explanation as we go, so pay close attention to how it feels."

With that, Liu Ru began demonstrating while repeating her explanation. Meng Chuan followed her movements and settled into the stance.

Because of Meng Chuan's earlier question, Liu Ru kept an eye on him. Seeing that he was doing well, she praised him. "Not bad. This is the key stance for getting started with the Sancai Stance. Remember to come to me for an Illustrated Guide later. Practice more when you get home, and I'm sure you'll master the basics soon."

Meng Chuan gave her a shy smile. He practiced with Liu Ru a few more times, then, once he had memorized the movements, found an open spot to practice on his own.

Blend the solid with the empty. Let movement and stillness come naturally. Breathe evenly. Find strength within the stance.

He practiced for a long time, but still failed to master the basics. The panel showed no sign of recording the [Taiyi Three Talents Stance], either.

Meng Chuan was not discouraged. He would take it step by step and build a firm foundation. What he was meant to gain would come sooner or later.

He sat down to rest for a moment. Then a thought struck him: could he try weaving the Sancai Stance into the Guoyi Fist?

Meng Chuan put the idea into practice at once, but the results were less than ideal.

His footwork could not keep pace with the stance. He nearly tripped over his own feet. Only his punches had any rhythm to them.

After all, he had practiced the Guoyi Fist for more than ten years. It was practically etched into his DNA.

Liu Ru was making her rounds through the training ground, looking for students who needed guidance. When she reached Meng Chuan and saw him trying to throw punches while holding the stance, she frowned. "It's best to practice fist techniques and the Stake Technique together, but you're rushing, Little Meng. You haven't grasped the fundamentals of the stance yet. How can you coordinate it with a fist form? Master the basics of the Sancai Stance first, then try combining the two."

Meng Chuan nodded. He understood that himself, but with a breakthrough seemingly right before his eyes, he had grown impatient.

Not wanting to dampen his enthusiasm, Liu Ru added, "I read your student file. You and I both have a lower-middle bone root. It took me three days to master the basics. I just watched your movements—keep practicing hard, and I'm sure you can do it too."

At noon, Meng Chuan was surprised to learn that the Infinite Martial Arts Hall provided meals.

They served high-protein foods like beef, fish, and shrimp for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He had simply missed breakfast.

After lunch, Meng Chuan felt his energy return. Skipping his midday rest, he went straight back to the training ground to practice the stance, hoping to master the basics of the [Sancai Stance] as soon as possible.

Time slipped quietly by amid the sweat, and the sky began to darken.

"Brother Chuan, Mengya and I are heading out. Don't stay too late once you're done practicing."

Wang Yue had wanted to leave ages ago, but staying with Qin Mengya had made the wait bearable.

"Bye, Brother Chuan. We're off!"

Qin Mengya waved goodbye too. She had seen how hard Meng Chuan worked, and she was starting to believe what Wang Yue had said.

"I'm a damn good judge of people. My brother Meng Chuan is going to become a martial artist someday!"

The other students gradually left as well, and Liu Ru's shift came to an end.

After a while, Meng Chuan prepared to leave. Before going, he decided to run through the Guoyi Fist a few more times to get a feel for it.

It was Saturday, and plenty of students had come for membership classes. After teaching his final class, Luo Guanyun stepped outside for some air before closing the hall.

It's so late that even the instructors have gone. Why is someone still on the training ground?

He came closer and saw that it was the new student who had met his eyes that morning.

Meng Chuan was utterly focused when he practiced. His mind and body were absorbed in his fists and feet, and he did not notice anyone approaching from behind.

"Kid, it isn't safe after dark. Head home early and come back tomorrow."

"When you're done, you can just leave. No need to lock up."

Luo Guanyun did not look closely at Meng Chuan. He tossed out those words and left first.

The martial arts hall had security cameras, and no fool would dare come looking for easy pickings. Qianyuan Thunder Movement was no self-proclaimed title—it was one Luo Guanyun had earned through his mastery of the Thunder Method True Art!

Meng Chuan finished his form and drew his movements to a close. By then, he was the only person left in the Infinite Martial Arts Hall. As Luo Guanyun had instructed, he switched off the lights and left.

As he walked, he thought, The martial arts hall Uncle signed me up for is worth every penny. School won't teach us stances until we choose our tracks in our second year.

If his current guess was right, that last 1% was hidden in the Stake Technique. Learning it now would save him a whole year.

At home, Xue Na and her husband, Meng Yongzhi, sat on the sofa chatting while their dinner settled.

Meng Chuan had called at noon to tell them the martial arts hall provided meals and that he would come home after eating there.

"Call Chuan again and see where he is."

Meng Yongzhi urged her.

"I just called. He said he'd be home soon. Why are you so anxious?"

Meng Yongzhi explained, "It's not that I'm anxious. Something might happen in the city soon. I'm worried it isn't safe for him to be out this late."

"What kind of thing? I haven't seen anything about danger on the news. Is it something inside your bureau?"

"Don't jump to conclusions. I was in a meeting all night yesterday, remember? The higher-ups didn't tell us outright, but I could hear it between the lines."

"Don't go telling people about it. They'll accuse you of disturbing the peace. When Chuan gets back, make sure you tell him again. It's enough that our own family knows."

Xue Na rolled her eyes at her husband.

"Do I look like someone who'd spread it around? You don't need to remind me. And you'd better not wander around after work lately. Come straight home."

As they spoke, Meng Chuan opened the door and came in.

"Uncle, Auntie."

Meng Chuan greeted them.

"You're back, Chuan. Don't practice so late from now on. Come home early. It isn't safe outside lately."

Meng Chuan knew his uncle worked at the police bureau. Since he had been away all night yesterday, something really must be going on.

"Got it, Uncle. I'll definitely come home earlier next time."

Meng Chuan did not press for details. He was only a student; what could he do even if he knew? He just had to listen to his uncle.

"Not just next time. Come home early for the time being. Here, sit down and tell me—how was the martial arts hall today? Did you learn anything?"

Meng Yongzhi beckoned Meng Chuan over to sit and have some water.