Twenty thousand yuan!
Three months of training.
Did I encounter a scam?
Standing at the entrance, staring at the tightly closed doors in front of him, Fang Zheng looked skeptical.
Twenty thousand yuan, just gone like that?
All they did was have him move around, practice arm swings, leg presses, and splits, then he was told to leave and come back in two days to see his progress.
These...
Aren't they just basic dance exercises?
What I'm learning is martial arts, not dance. Do they really think I know nothing?
Suppressing the urge to call Elder Lu to ask, Fang Zheng took a deep breath, his mind full of doubts as he returned to Seven Miles.
Two days later.
"Have you mastered it?"
Guo Ziran, who was weeding in the fields, put down his hoe and looked on with disbelief:
"Do a split first!"
Fang Zheng sneered, his legs gently sliding to the sides, his upper body smoothly touching the ground, performing an almost perfect split.
Then he stood up, kicked his right leg upward, his legs forming a straight line.
Horizontal split, vertical split, high kick, all done in one fluid motion, demonstrating flexibility that even exceeds many female dance students.
"Hmm..." Guo Ziran squinted his eyes, scrutinizing back and forth:
"Have you practiced before?"
"Yes." Fang Zheng nodded:
"Learned dance for a while from someone."
Though he did practice, he had long forgotten, and now that he's older, his joints are set, making it hard to replicate childhood flexibility.
This time he mastered it in two days thanks to the Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment Method.
With this practice, Fang Zheng's body was like going through a second development, pliable as a baby, with joints and muscles feeling unrestricted, allowing him to achieve this level in just two days.
Of course,
Guo Ziran didn't know this.
He only remembered that the last time Fang Zheng came, his muscles and bones were stiff, completely unsuitable for martial arts. This time's performance was way beyond his expectations.
"Looks like that twenty thousand yuan of yours wasn't easily earned."
Shaking his head, Guo Ziran, with a hint of helplessness, put down the hoe and clapped his hands:
"Come over here!"
Many people want to practice martial arts, but most can't endure the initial hardships. He thought this would be the same, quitting after a few days.
In this way, the twenty thousand would be easily pocketed.
Unexpectedly, Fang Zheng had some foundation. Had he known earlier, he would have charged more.
Feeling secretly annoyed, Guo Ziran didn't show a good face, set himself in a horse stance on the courtyard clear ground, slightly adjusted his body, and said:
"Xingyi Fist starts with Pile Technique, first practice this Three-Body Form."
"Don't underestimate stance training, a well-held pile can produce Dantian Qi, integrate whole-body Power, without a proper stance all else is in vain."
Fang Zheng watched Guo Ziran's movements: one hand reaching forward, the other retracting, body slightly hunched, legs one forward and one backward, called Xingyi Three-Body.
From beginning to end, the entire process was smooth, filled with a certain special grace.
But in terms of power...
I couldn't see it!
"Don't just stand there, try to follow along." Guo Ziran retracted his movements, indicating Fang Zheng should copy him:
"Have you watched kung fu movies?"
"Yes, I have."
Fang Zheng nodded, trying to mimic Guo Ziran's stance, but he couldn't shake the feeling of awkwardness, his body either leaning forward or tilting back uncontrollably.
Even when forcing himself to hold the position, it was uncomfortable.
"If you've seen them, you should know that when two martial artists are about to fight, they usually assume a stance first." Guo Ziran stepped forward, adjusting his stance, then asked:
"Do you know why?"
"Why?" Fang Zheng never really thought about it. While watching, he merely found the moves cool, and so he guessed:
"For looks? For the camera?"
"Slap!" Guo Ziran slapped him on the shoulder, scolding:
"What looks?"
"When you fight, you must exert power, manipulate force. Those movements are for integrating whole-body power so you can hurt someone when you strike."
"Master stance training, and with just a pose you can emit force. This is true for both Xingyi Fist and others."
"That's why they say, 'All methods stem from a single stance!'"
Fang Zheng suddenly realized, nodding repeatedly:
"Then Master Guo, what should I pay attention to with this Three-Body Form?"
"The so-called Three-Body refers to the head, hands, and feet, also known as the three sections." Guo Ziran stroked his chin, pacing the field:
"Some divide the Three-Body Pile's stance into proportions like three-seven, four-six, or even one-nine. Here, I don't emphasize that, as long as it feels right."
"Feels right" is a colloquial term from the Central Plains Region.
Feels right!
Doesn't feel right!
It describes comfort, but when applied to the Three-Body Form, it perfectly fits. Actually, many colloquial expressions align closely with martial arts.
Seeing Fang Zheng's unstable stance, Guo Ziran gently shook his head but didn't make further adjustments, continuing:
"Xingyi Fist is also called Heart Intent Six Harmonies Fist, divided into inner harmonies and outer harmonies: hand and foot, elbow and knee, shoulder and hip—these are outer harmonies."
"Heart with intent, intent with qi, qi with power—these are the inner harmonies."
"Regardless of outer or inner harmonies, heart intent comes first. So, in stance training, the primary focus is on heart intent, not posture."
After a pause, he added:
"Everyone's body type and constitution are different, so even in stance, there are variations. The stance seen in photos of past Xingyi masters are all different. Does that mean their stance training was poor?"
"Master Guo." Fang Zheng smiled wryly:
"You've said so much, yet haven't told me how to know I'm doing it right? Any specific indicators or the like?"
"Idiot!" Guo Ziran rolled his eyes:
"Heart Intent, Heart Intent, I couldn't be more straightforward. Practice until your thoughts trigger movements and you act with ease. Only then is your Pile Technique initiated."
"There are no specific standards."
Then waved him off:
"Go back, and come again in two days."
"Ah!"
Fang Zheng was dazed.
Really?
Just a few words and moves, and then dismissed for two days?
"Don't look at me like that."
Seeing Fang Zheng's odd expression, Guo Ziran remained nonchalant:
"Pile Technique is the most crucial part of Xingyi Fist, a true inheritance. If you master stance training, your investment of twenty thousand yuan wouldn't be wasted."
Fang Zheng was doubtful.
*
*
*
Two days later.
Guo Ziran frowned tightly, watching as Fang Zheng stood in the Three-Body Form.
Though the movements weren't very smooth, there was a rhythm, his spine resembling a great dragon, subtly shifting with his stance.
The Pile Technique is initiated!
This...
How is it possible!
When I reached this level, it took over a month, with expert guidance, earning me the title of martial arts genius. By what right does surname Fang achieve this?
Guo Ziran knew two days ago, Fang Zheng hadn't practiced the Three-Body Form, his movements were stiff and awkward, no falsity there.
In just two days...
He managed to initiate stance training?
Though not yet able to integrate power with a single breath at any time, he already touched the threshold of martial arts, qualified to learn further.
"You..."
Staring at Fang Zheng, Guo Ziran hesitated to speak:
"How did you practice?"
"Just like Master Guo taught." Fang Zheng scratched the back of his head, giving a simple smile:
"Did it in whatever way felt comfortable and natural, and it turned out like this."
Guo Ziran looked skeptical.
The Pile Technique contains many subtleties. Without a mentor's guidance, self-exploration rarely leads to success, or at least, it's highly unlikely.
Unless you're a once-in-a-century martial arts prodigy.
He...
Definitely isn't!
The surprise in Guo Ziran's eyes didn't escape Fang Zheng, who secretly chuckled.
The integration of power in the Three-Body Form is akin to the manipulation of Qi and Blood. While elite stance training can create Dantian Qi, there's a Dharma Gate in the Otherworld that allows clear perception of Qi and Blood.
Without knowing the answer, deducing the process is difficult, but once the answer is known, retracing the process becomes easy.
Understanding this, Fang Zheng, stimulated by the Great Medicine affecting his Qi and Blood, experimented with stance practice, finding his way after a few adjustments.
"Master Guo."
He rubbed his hands together, inquiring:
"What should I learn next?"
"Five Elements!" Guo Ziran snorted, saying:
"The Three-Body stance integrates power, but standing still won't let you hit anyone. Five Elements of Splitting, Crushing, Drilling, Shooting, and Crossing are about movement."
"I'll practice it once, watch carefully."
This time, let's see how long it takes you to master!