He fell silent for a moment, then replied one by one in a voice that still had a child's babyish lilt, yet was remarkably steady. "For footwork, you need to train your core first. Get your balance before you move. When you step down, let the ball of your foot touch the ground first, then shift your weight along with your step. That way, you won't wobble. When lifting a stone lock, don't rely on your arms alone. Sink your waist and push off with your legs first, then carry the force through your waist and abdomen into your arms. That way, it won't feel so strenuous. For archery, steady your breathing first. Inhale as you draw the bow and exhale as you release the arrow. Once your breathing is steady, your hands won't shake."
Just a few short sentences were enough to pinpoint the problems that had been troubling all three of them.
Qian Gujue's eyes lit up at once. He crouched down on the spot and tried the initial stance for lifting the stone lock, following Tang San's instructions. Sure enough, the strength in his body flowed much more smoothly. He couldn't help exclaiming, "It really works! This feels so much better than my random practice before! Tang San, you're amazing!"
Oupai immediately picked up his bow and tried the breathing method Tang San had described. He felt the tension in his arms ease almost at once, and nodded repeatedly. "That's it! That's exactly how it should feel! I kept getting stuck right there. I finally understand!"
Seeing how delighted the two of them were, Gui Mengguan took the opportunity to edge half a step closer. He looked at Tang San with a smile in his eyes, his voice brimming with anticipation. "Tang San, you're incredible. The teacher spent days teaching us, but you explained it all in a few sentences. Do you have a set of exercises you came up with yourself, too? Could you teach us?"
As soon as he said that, Qian Gujue and Oupai stopped what they were doing and turned to look at Tang San in unison, their eyes full of hope.
"We're all family to begin with," Gui Mengguan said, swinging his little legs, his voice soft and sweet. Every word struck the tenderest place in Tang San's heart. "My parents are Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. Oupai's grandfather is Guang Ling Douluo, and Qian Gujue's grandfather is Falling Devil Douluo. Elder Bibi Dong, who takes care of you, is someone all of us respect. We're meant to grow up together, train in Spirit Hall together, and become stronger together. So please teach us."
"Yeah, exactly!" Qian Gujue immediately chimed in. "We'll be the best of friends from now on, and we'll all become Titled Douluo of Spirit Hall together! You're so amazing. If you teach us, we'll be able to help you someday!"
Oupai nodded hard, his eyes shining as he looked at Tang San. "We promise we won't tell anyone what you teach us! It'll stay just between the four of us!"
Tang San looked at the three children his age, all gazing at him expectantly. His fingertips paused, and a storm of indecision rose in his heart.
How could he possibly teach them his real cultivation arts?
The Mysterious Heaven Skill, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Purple Demon Eye, and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon were all closely guarded secrets of the Tang Sect, ancestral teachings etched into his very bones.
Having lived two lives, his greatest obsession was to rebuild the Tang Sect here and restore its former glory. The Tang Sect's arts could never be passed on to outsiders. That was the line he would defend to the death.
And yet, he couldn't bring himself to harden his heart and refuse them outright.
Bibi Dong was his mother, the one who had given him all the warmth of this life. Spirit Hall was his home, where he had the safest environment to grow and the finest cultivation resources. These three children were his companions, family who belonged to the same home as him. They would grow up together and protect that home together. A cold, direct refusal would be too heartless, and would betray the lesson his mother had always taught him: to be openhearted and repay kindness.
Besides, they were only three years old. Even if he taught them the most basic methods, they wouldn't be able to see what lay beneath the surface.
Who would believe that a three-year-old child could possess a complete, top-tier cultivation art passed down for a thousand years? At most, they would think he had figured out a few little exercises to strengthen the body.
As for the core techniques, he could simply keep them to himself.
Tang San weighed it over and over for a long while. At last, he looked up at the three of them and gave a slight nod, his voice still steady. "I can teach you some methods I came up with myself. Whether you learn them or not is up to you."
The three children's eyes lit up at once. They nodded repeatedly, like three little chicks pecking at grain, and promised in unison, "We'll work hard! We absolutely won't tell anyone!"
Seeing how excited they were, Tang San felt some of his unease ease. He led the three of them to an open space beneath the corridor and first taught them the most basic breathing method for entering the Mysterious Heaven Skill. He only showed them the simplest breathing technique, telling them how to follow their breath and sense the faint, warm energy between heaven and earth, and how to let it circulate simply through their bodies. He didn't mention circulating it through the full cycle, let alone the words "Mysterious Heaven Skill." He only called it "a little method for practicing qi."
Next, he taught them the most basic balance footwork from the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, showing them how to place their feet, adjust their center of gravity, and shift and maneuver within a limited space. He left out the subtler techniques for evading and pursuing, calling them only "little tricks for practicing footwork."
Finally, he told Oupai only to sit calmly and focus on the rising sun at dawn every day, following it with his eyes without blinking or letting his mind wander. That would train his eyesight. He said nothing at all about the method for cultivating the Purple Demon Eye.
In less than half an hour, Tang San stopped and looked at the three of them. "That's all for now. Practice these first, and once you've mastered them, we can talk about what comes next."
The three transmigrators knew perfectly well that Tang San had held back. He hadn't taught them the real core techniques at all.
But they didn't mind one bit. In fact, they were overjoyed.
They'd never expected to get all of the Tang Sect Secret Arts in one go. Getting these most basic introductory methods was already a tremendous surprise.
After all, these were the foundations that Tang San had relied on in the original story to make his way in the world, cultivation arts he had continued to practice even at the God King level. Even the simplest breathing method was several times better than the basic techniques ordinary Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent used. It was more than enough to give them the firmest possible foundation before their Martial Soul Awakening.
Something was better than nothing. There was plenty of time ahead, and they could take their time working at it.
Not one of them showed the slightest displeasure. Instead, their faces were full of gratitude as they thanked Tang San again and again.
"Thank you so much, Tang San!" Gui Mengguan smiled, his eyes curving into crescents. "I'll practice as soon as I get back! How about we all meet here every morning from now on and practice together? We can keep an eye on each other and make sure nobody slacks off!"
"Yeah, exactly!" Qian Gujue immediately agreed. "The four of us can practice together and grow stronger together!"
Oupai nodded hard. "If you ever need anything, we'll help you, too! We're the best of friends!"
Tang San looked at the three sincere children and gave a slight nod, saying nothing more. He simply picked up the book he had set aside.
But new worries stirred in his heart. His mother and Spirit Hall had given him the very best of everything, treating him as someone they were raising to become a future pillar. He didn't want to let that kindness go unanswered, nor did he want to disappoint his mother.
But rebuilding the Tang Sect was the obsession he had carried across both lives.
It wasn't as if he could set up a Tang Sect division right inside the Spirit Hall, his own home, was it?
He shook his head and pushed the ridiculous thought aside.
There was plenty of time. It was too early to worry about such things. His most urgent task was to improve his strength, make sure he didn't disappoint his mother when his Martial Soul Awakening came at six, and build up enough confidence for the things he wanted to do in the future.
The sun sank gradually in the west, and the golden afterglow stretched the four little figures long across the ground.
"How about this? From now on, I'm the boss. Ghosty, you're number two. Tang San, your name has a San in it, so you're number three. Oupai, you're number four."
Qian Gujue made the suggestion, and Gui Mengguan said he had no objections. This was a step toward building their bond, after all.
"I have no objections."
Tang San naturally had no objections either. His name had a San in it, so wasn't he born to be number three?
"I have no objections either."
"What gives you the right to put me in fourth place?"
Oupai was speechless. They were putting him after Little Scumbag, even though this Little Scumbag wasn't the Little Scumbag from the original story who had been led astray.
"You're a year or two younger than all of us. Just be a good little brother," Gui Mengguan said with a smile.
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