Chapter 115

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Chapter 115: The Northern Dipper

Zhang Xiaohua gazed at the twinkling stars above, lost in thought. Suddenly, he felt that this twinkling sight was really familiar, but after thinking about it carefully, he still couldn’t remember why.

Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Recently, things had indeed been strange. Occasionally, he encountered things that felt familiar, but upon closer inspection, he had no idea. What connection did the distant stars in the sky have with him, and how could they evoke such familiar feelings?

As he gazed at the sky, Zhang Xiaohua suddenly noticed the dazzling Northern Dipper, which resembled a ladle. He remembered a passage from a book: “In February, the elm leaves fall, and the Kwei star aligns with the Rabbit constellation; in August, the wheat ripens, and the Heavenly Stems Star settles in the Rooster constellation”. He recalled that the text also mentioned, “The Seven Stars of the Big Dipper represent the ‘Kwei’ that covers the head and the ‘Stems’ point forward’. In the lunar calendar, the first three stars of the Big Dipper are known as the ‘Heavenly Stems Stars’, while the latter three are the Kwei Stars. The ‘Heavenly Stems’ refers to the handle of the Big Dipper, and within the Big Dipper are thirty-six ‘Heavenly Stems’ stars, which align with his thirty-six defensive stances.

[TL_Note: Explanation of terms:

Northern Dipper: This refers to the Big Dipper constellation in Western terms, which is known as the Northern Dipper in Chinese.

Kwei Star (魁星): This star is associated with auspicious guidance and is part of traditional Chinese astrology. It is linked to the idea of a guiding or protective star.

Heavenly Stems: These are part of a traditional Chinese system used for timekeeping and astrology. They are often used to refer to the stars in the handle of the Big Dipper.

River Stars (河魁): Refers to stars associated with the River (or Milky Way) in traditional Chinese astronomy.]

Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but feel delighted. He had come up with a name for his fist technique, the Big Dipper Fist.

However, he ignored the seventy-two offensive techniques that corresponded to the Earthly Fiends. The name of the Big Dipper Fist was so impressive that it sounded like a high-level technique. Who would care where the techniques originated from? If Zhang Xiaohua doesn’t explain, no matter how they rack their brains, they would never guess that this technique was pieced together from various fist styles. They thought that these moves had been forgotten by Zhang Xiaohua and were full of mistakes.

Having settled on the name of the fist technique, Zhang Xiaohua jumped up from the ground, regained his fighting spirit, and continued to practice his Big Dipper Fist.

After an unknown number of repetitions, Zhang Xiaohua began to feel tired. Just as he was about to practice one final time, an unexpected situation arose.

As Zhang Xiaohua took his stance and began the first move, he suddenly felt a faint, slightly cool sensation starting from his toes, flowing up from the soles of his feet to his legs. Zhang Xiaohua was so startled that he immediately stopped and focused on the sensation, which quickly disappeared. He found it strange, could it be his imagination?

He moved to a drier place and tried again. Indeed, every time he began practicing the fist technique, the chilling sensation would reappear, flowing from his toes to the sole of his feet and then up his legs.

Zhang Xiaohua thought for a moment and decided to stop practicing. The inexplicable occurrence frightened him. What if he fell into a state of deviation?

Sigh, self-learning is indeed difficult. Zhang Xiaohua hadn’t practiced any internal energy techniques, so where could this deviation come from? Perhaps he had just heard the term too often and remembered it.

Yet, despite thinking for a long time, Zhang Xiaohua had no clue. His fist technique was finally complete, but he couldn’t practice it. It was quite frustrating. Besides, he had been practicing for a long time just a moment ago, why had this problem only now appeared?

How about practicing swordsmanship instead? Thinking of swordsmanship, Zhang Xiaohua remembered the warm flow in his left-hand sword practice, and an idea struck him. Could this cool sensation be something similar to that warm flow?

With this realization, Zhang Xiaohua began to understand, and his fear began to dissipate. He was determined to see what this sensation was all about and what it might do to him!

With renewed resolve, Zhang Xiaohua took a deep breath, assumed his stance, and started from the first move. In his experience, the cool sensation changed with each move, starting from his left toes, flowing up through his left calf, moving across his left side, and reaching his head by the time he completed the fifty-fourth move. Then the sensation continued down through the right side of his body, disappearing under his right foot with the conclusion of the last one hundred and eight moves.

After finishing his martial arts practice, Zhang Xiaohua carefully checked his body. He felt no discomfort, it seemed that no cool current even passed through his body. Recalling the sensation of the cool current flowing through his body just now, he remembered it was smooth and without any particular feeling, except for some sluggishness when it passed through his right hand. Zhang Xiaohua was perplexed but couldn’t ask anyone about it.

Could he really go up to He Tianshu and ask: “Captain He, when I practice my fist techniques, I feel a cool sensation in my toes?

He Tianshu might first ask: “Are your shoes and socks leaking?”

Perhaps this is what inner energy feels like? Zhang Xiaohua had a fleeting thought.

If it is indeed inner energy, that would be awesome. His fist technique could actually cultivate inner energy. Hmm, the name “Big Dipper Fist” might not be fitting for such an impressive fist technique. What should it be renamed to?

Zhang Xiaohua was torn over the decision.

Suddenly, a thought struck him. He decided on the name, “Big Dipper Divine Fist.”

What a grand name! Zhang Xiaohua admired his own creativity.

As for whether that cool sensation was truly inner energy, he would need to ask his second brother the next time they met about how he practices his inner energy cultivation method. Zhang Xiaohua made up his mind to head back. After all, it was already late, and he had work to do the next day.

However, the cool sensation prompted Zhang Xiaohua to set his stance once more, preparing to experience it one last time.

But when Zhang Xiaohua started practicing his fist techniques, he was stunned. The cool flow did not appear! Zhang Xiaohua completed all one hundred and eight moves from beginning to end, but it did not show up.

Zhang Xiaohua was utterly baffled and speechless. He picked up his lantern and headed back. He was relieved that he hadn’t planned to discuss this inconsistent sensation with He Tianshu, how could he even explain something so unreliable?

As Zhang Xiaohua walked home, he continued to ponder the issue. Why did the sensation sometimes appear and sometimes not?

He remained puzzled throughout the night and, when Zhang Xiaohua fell asleep, he still found no answers.

The next morning, Zhang Xiaohua arrived early at the clearing in the forest. He first practiced the sword with his left hand. Nowadays, the warm flow in his left arm appears consistently during Zhang Xiaohua’s practice. Although he no longer used the branch to stab the tree, Zhang Xiaohua felt that this warm flow was beneficial for him. He then practiced the sword technique with his right hand and felt that, after several days of practice, his right fingers seemed a bit more nimble, though he wasn’t entirely sure.

After finishing practicing the sword technique, Zhang Xiaohua began practicing his Big Dipper Divine Fist again.

After several repetitions, the cool flow did not appear. Zhang Xiaohua was quite disappointed. Although he knew it wasn’t his imagination, it simply did not reappear, and he was at a loss for what to do.

Seeing that it was still early, the servants in blue robes were probably still asleep, and He Tianshu and his group were likely just beginning their practice, so Zhang Xiaohua decided to continue practicing his fist technique. He had no choice, besides the sword technique, this was the only set of techniques he knew. Practicing the sword moves for too long made his fingers ache, so he had to practice this.

While Zhang Xiaohua was immersed in the pleasure of practicing his fist technique, suddenly, the sensation reappeared. However, this time it was not cool but somewhat warm. Zhang Xiaohua immediately felt a surge of joy. He carefully studied each move, afraid to miss anything. Yet, everything seemed “like yesterday”, there was nothing unusual. When Zhang Xiaohua finished his practice and tried to replicate the sensation, it disappeared again.

Immediately, Zhang Xiaohua understood that the appearance of both the warm and cool flows was related to the number of repetitions of his fist technique. The sensation would appear after he completed a certain number of repetitions, and then he would need to start counting again. Once he accumulated to a specific number, the sensation would reappear.

Zhang Xiaohua reflected carefully and realized that this morning, he had practiced ten times, and it was during the ninth round that the warm sensation appeared!

With this discovery, Zhang Xiaohua understood that for his Big Dipper Divine Fist, practicing nine times, waiting for the warm and cool sensations to flow through his body signaled that he had achieved the best effect. However, Zhang Xiaohua practiced martial arts in the morning and evening every day. For practicing this technique, it took a long time to complete a set of a hundred and eight moves. It was already time-consuming to practice it nine times, so how could he practice a second nine times? The practice beyond nove times may be ineffective.

Of course, these were just Zhang Xiaohua’s speculations.

In the following days, Zhang Xiaohua continued to practice his Big Dipper Divine Fist hidden in the forest. To improve his practice, he even used his afternoon rest time for additional training in the forest. Through several experiments, Zhang Xiaohua discovered that the sensation in his toes during morning practice was neither hot nor cold, in the afternoon it was somewhat warm, and by evening it was cool. The sensation varied throughout the day, which puzzled Zhang Xiaohua.

Initially, Zhang Xiaohua was somewhat apprehensive, after all, it was something that came from the heavens, how could he be sure of its effects? However, after several days of practice with no adverse effects on his body, Zhang Xiaohua concluded that it was safe and he felt reassured.

Elder Yu, after initially teaching Zhang Xiaohua the sword technique, would occasionally observe his practice from a distance. He didn’t get close but watched from afar, and he was quite approving of Zhang Xiaohua’s diligence. However, he eventually stopped coming around. Recently, Elder Yu noticed that Zhang Xiaohua was practicing even during midday without taking a break, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit concerned.

At first, Elder Yu’s impression of Zhang Xiaohua was rather average. He saw the boy as down-to-earth, diligent, and hardworking but with poor innate talent and an unusual obsession with martial arts. He didn’t think much of it beyond that. It wasn’t until he saw Zhang Xiaohua’s right hand, which had been injured and its bones shattered by internal energy, that he began to see things differently. Despite his injury, Zhang Xiaohua continued practicing his fist techniques with unwavering dedication, even without a master to guide him.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s persistence and comparing it to his own experience of losing his left arm, he felt a sense of sympathy and kinship. Moved by this shared sense of hardship, he decided to impart to Zhang Xiaohua the nameless sword technique he had mastered. Although Zhang Xiaohua, due to his limited talent, was unable to learn the technique in full, Elder Yu came to appreciate this stubbornly determined “foolish” child and felt a sense of affection for him.

Seeing that Zhang Xiaohua was practicing martial arts even at noon, Elder Yu naturally understood that the boy wanted to improve his swordsmanship or martial skills. However, Elder Yu was well aware of the principle of moderation. He was concerned that excessive practice might harm Zhang Xiaohua’s health. So, one noon, while Zhang Xiaohua was practicing his right-hand sword techniques, Elder Yu quietly appeared.

At the moment Elder Yu showed up, Zhang Xiaohua was in the middle of a practice session with the sword in his right hand. Noticing Elder Yu’s sudden appearance, Zhang Xiaohua was momentarily taken aback but then smiled. He didn’t stop his practice. Instead, he held his branch and aimed a thrust at Elder Yu. Elder Yu was momentarily surprised by the attack but quickly evaded it by shifting his position. Zhang Xiaohua did not relent, he took a step forward and changed his attack to another variation, continuing to thrust. The sword technique was one that Elder Yu had taught him, and he was familiar with its intricacies. As Zhang Xiaohua practiced against him, Elder Yu was very pleased. He didn’t retaliate but instead moved in accordance with Zhang Xiaohua’s strikes, avoiding them effortlessly. By the time Zhang Xiaohua completed all sixteen variations, the branch had not touched Elder Yu even slightly.

Once Zhang Xiaohua finished and put away the branch, Elder Yu also stopped and smiled, saying: “Zhang Xiaohua, you’ve done quite well. Your use of these dozen or so variations is quite sharp. If I weren’t so familiar with this sword technique, I might have been caught by your branch.”

Then he added: “Recently, your right fingers have become much more agile. Many variations of the sword technique are being performed quite proficiently. However, the power is still lacking, and your fingers might still be lacking strength.”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and nodded, saying: “Yes, Elder Yu. Over this period, my fingers have become quite nimble due to practicing the sword techniques. Before, my fingers would ache after one or two repetitions, but now they feel much better.”

Elder Yu continued: “But don’t be complacent. Have you not yet mastered the last three variations?”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua’s face turned bitter. Elder Yu had hit the nail on the head. No matter how much Zhang Xiaohua practiced, he couldn’t seem to master the final three variations. Either his steps didn’t keep up, or when the steps were in place, he couldn’t make the branch thrust properly. In short, his entire body felt out of coordination.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua in this state, Elder Yu said: “Even if you can’t master it, there’s no need to practice it day and night. Haven’t I told you that moderation is key? Sometimes, rest is the best form of training.”

Zhang Xiaohua was deeply moved and opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words to express his gratitude.

Elder Yu then kindly asked: “How’s your recitation of the sword formula?”

Following Elder Yu’s instructions, Zhang Xiaohua recited the sword formula word for word. Elder Yu listened attentively, and seeing that Zhang Xiaohua had memorized it perfectly, he felt even more pleased. He patted Zhang Xiaohua’s shoulder and said: “Very good, you recited it without missing a word. You must have put in a lot of hard work. That’s enough practice for today. Rest well and don’t overdo it. Come on, let’s go back together.”

In truth, Zhang Xiaohua wanted to say: “Elder Yu, please let me go. I still have the Big Dipper Divine Fist to practice. Could I continue for a bit longer?”

But seeing the old man’s concerned expression, Zhang Xiaohua lowered his head and obediently followed him back.

In the following period, Zhang Xiaohua became accustomed to this routine: practicing martial arts three times a day, morning, noon, and night, while working in the medicinal herb fields during the day. For someone like Zhang Xiaohua, who grew up in the countryside, the work was incredibly simple, it was easy to perform perfectly with just a bit of attention. As for the concerns of He Tianshu and the others regarding the cultivation of medicinal herbs, Zhang Xiaohua had no insights to offer. He only knew that seeds would sprout if sown, how could he know why they will not sprout?

At this time, Zhang Xiaohua began to understand the dedication his second brother, Zhang Xiaohu, had toward mastering a single fist technique. The familiar movements were at his fingertips, flowing like drifting clouds and flowing water. It was within the powerful wind of the movements of his fist and feet that Zhang Xiaohua felt a sense of true self, and he cherished this dynamic feeling.

In the late evenings, under the oil lamp, Zhang Xiaohua often read various notes and classic texts. From between the lines, he encountered lives and places he had never known or visited. It felt as though there was another world within those books, slowly opening his horizons and he gradually fell in love with such a way of life.

Although Zhang Xiaohua had always believed that his practice of the Big Dipper Divine Fist might be generating internal energy, he had no clear idea of what this internal energy actually was. He had wanted to ask He Tianshu about it, but seeing He Tianshu’s furrowed brows every day, Zhang Xiaohua didn’t dare disturb him. As for asking Nie Xiao’er, he was reluctant, it was fine if it was generating internal energy, if not, wouldn’t he be laughed to death?

After much consideration, Zhang Xiaohua decided to visit the Lotus Escort Agency to seek his second brother Zhang Xiaohu’s opinion.

He first requested leave from He Tianshu and collected a waist token from the gatekeeper. Then, he leisurely left the Huanxi Villa.

On the road, Zhang Xiaohua’s initial thought was naturally about the “where there’s a road, there’s a way. And where there’s a road, there must be a Jichi Carriage” saying regarding the use of a horse-drawn carriage. Although Zhang Xiaohua really wanted to ride in one, he restrained his desire considering the money he had and his parents in the countryside. In reality, Zhang Xiaohua could easily run to the escort agency, and his wish to ride in a carriage was merely a childish fantasy.

Once Zhang Xiaohua overcame this thought, he alternated between walking and running and quickly arrived at the Lotus Escort Agency.

It seemed that the escort agency was not busy that day. The front yard was quite empty, and the guards recognized Zhang Xiaohua. Noticing that he resembled Zhang Xiaohu more and more these days, they greeted him and let him in.

When Zhang Xiaohua arrived at his second brother’s room, he found that Zhang Xiaohu was not there. Fortunately, the door was not locked, so he assumed Zhang Xiaohu was still at the escort agency and walked in.

The room was very tidy, which Zhang Xiaohua guessed was due to Zhang Xiaohu’s daily cleaning. Thinking about the mess in his own room, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed. The room looked largely unchanged, but there was a stack of books on the desk. Zhang Xiaohua was surprised. When did his second brother start reading so much?

As he approached, he realized that the books were about herbal medicine cultivation and some thick historical texts. Zhang Xiaohua was taken aback, realizing that Li Jinfeng really took what he said the last time seriously. He must have been too busy to find him, so he left the books here with his second brother for now.

With some free time on his hands, Zhang Xiaohua casually picked up one of the books and began reading with great interest. The book contained extensive information on how to cultivate and manage various herbs, which was directly related to his daily work. Comparing his experiences with the book’s content, Zhang Xiaohua identified many mistakes he had previously overlooked. This made him even more focused on reading.

While Zhang Xiaohua was engrossed in his reading, Zhang Xiaohu came in. Seeing Zhang Xiaohua in the room, he was delighted and called out: “Xiaohua, when did you arrive?”

Zhang Xiaohua looked at the sky and said: “I’ve been here for a while. Since you weren’t in the room, I decided to read some books.”

Zhang Xiaohu smiled and said: “Oh, those books were brought by Young Master Li. He mentioned that he would bring them next time we met, but since you’re here now, you can take them with you when you leave. It saves us the trouble.”
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