Chapter 157
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Zhang Xiaohu saw that Zhang Xiaohua was getting anxious and smiled as he said to He Tianshu: “I’m just a new disciple and still know little about our sect. Uncle Master He, could you explain it for us?”
He Tianshu thought for a moment, then said to Zhang Xiaohua; “This is some common knowledge in the martial world, so it’s fine to tell you. In our sect, disciples are divided into two categories: cloth-robed disciples and brocade-robed disciples.”
At this point, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but interrupt, saying: “That’s not fair, Captain He! Why is the Piaomiao Sect also practicing discrimination? If you’re rich, you get to be a brocade-robed disciple, and if you’re poor, you’re stuck being a cloth-robed disciple?”
He Tianshu glared at him and said: “Can you let me finish? Don’t you know it’s rude to interrupt someone?”
Li Jinfeng smiled as he watched Zhang Xiaohua. After all, he was still a teenager, and with his second brother by his side and He Tianshu, who was like a mentor, it was clear Zhang Xiaohua’s youthful nature was shining through.
Zhang Xiaohua stuck out his tongue and didn’t dare to speak again.
He Tianshu continued: “The difference between cloth-robed and brocade-robed disciples has nothing to do with money. Disciples of our sect are brought in at the age of four or five and trained by specialized people. They don’t engage in business, and with no parents around, where would they get money? The real distinction lies in martial arts skills and contributions to the sect. Every disciple starts as a cloth-robed disciple, and there are ten ranks of cloth-robed disciples. Each rank has its own set of training requirements, including fist techniques, sword techniques, palm techniques, and internal energy cultivation. Cloth-robed disciples can’t skip ahead in their training. Once they’ve mastered all the skills at their current rank and passed tests conducted by specialists, they can advance to the next rank. Many internal energy methods, palm techniques, and sword techniques are also divided into layers. For each rank of cloth-robed disciples, there are corresponding techniques. Only after advancing can they gain the opportunity to learn the next level of skills.”
Zhang Xiaohua was puzzled and asked: “Captain He, what does this have to do with the martial arts tournament?”
Right after asking, it seemed like Zhang Xiaohua understood something, and he muttered to himself: “Could it be that this martial arts tournament is the test you’re talking about?”
He Tianshu, with a pleased expression, said: “Zhang Xiaohua, you’re quite sharp. You’re right; the martial arts tournament is the test for disciples to advance in rank, and it’s held once every year.”
Zhang Xiaohua, feeling proud of himself, asked: “So does that mean disciples can only advance once a year?”
He Tianshu smiled and replied: “That’s right. Those who can enter our Piaomiao Sect are naturally outstanding talents, and with personalized instruction, most disciples are able to advance once a year.”
Li Jinfeng, realizing something, burst into laughter and said: “Captain He, this sounds just like the students in my academy. Every year, the students take exams, and if their scores are good, they can move on to higher levels of study.”
He Tianshu was momentarily surprised and said: “I suppose it’s similar. After all, the essence of both martial arts and academic studies are about progress. If there’s progress, there needs to be a standard for assessment. Though the standards differ, the principle is the same.”
At this point, Zhang Xiaohu spoke up and asked: “Uncle Master He, earlier you were talking about cloth-robed disciples. What about the brocade-robed disciples?”
He Tianshu took a sip of tea and continued: “Once a disciple completes all ten levels of cloth-robed training and passes the test, they can become a brocade-robed disciple. Brocade-robed disciples are divided in five ranks and are tested through the martial arts tournament every year. However, the training for brocade-robed disciples differs from that of cloth-robed ones. Cloth-robed disciples all train in the same content at each level, but brocade-robed disciples are taught different techniques according to their individual talents. For example, if Zhang Xiaohu advances to become a brocade-robed disciple and has a unique interest or insight in fist techniques, he might be trained in the advanced fist techniques of our Piaomiao Sect.”
Li Jinfeng nodded and said: “The ancients said it well: ‘There’s no end to learning, but life is limited’. Only by specializing in one field can you achieve great success. I suppose the brocade-robed disciples of your sect focus on mastering their specialties.”
He Tianshu smiled and said: “Those who study literature always speak so elegantly, and you’re absolutely right. The rules established by our predecessors likely follow that same reasoning. However, there are some differences in the way brocade-robed and cloth-robed disciples are assessed. Cloth-robed disciples are tested through martial arts competition, and while the winners naturally advance, even the losers can advance if their abilities are deemed sufficient by the judges. Brocade-robed disciples, on the other hand, face stricter standards. Even if they win in competition, they cannot advance unless they gain the approval of the judges.”
Afterward, with a somewhat odd tone, He Tianshu said: “Moreover, there is no limit to the number of times a brocade-robed disciple can take the test. If you fail the test, you keep retaking it until you pass. If you never pass, no matter how many years you train, you won’t advance.”
At this point, He Tianshu noticed that Zhang Xiaohua had been staring at him the whole time. He asked curiously: “Zhang Xiaohua, why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?”
Zhang Xiaohua giggled and said: “I was wondering, Captain He, what rank are you now?”
He Tianshu raised an eyebrow and became serious: “Well, Zhang Xiaohua, what I just told you is common knowledge about our Piaomiao Sect that many people in the martial world are aware of, so it’s fine to share. However, my rank involves the secrets of the Piaomiao Sect. I can’t casually reveal that, and you shouldn’t ask too many questions about it either. It wouldn’t be good.”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua felt a chill in his heart. He didn’t know much about the Piaomiao Sect, so he quickly said: “Understood, Captain He. Please continue.”
He Tianshu nodded: “It’s good that you understand, but there’s not much left to say.”
Li Jinfeng then asked: “Captain He, can you tell us how cloth-robed and brocade-robed disciples are distinguished? I’ve heard that many sects in the Jianghu use the color of clothing to signify rank, or markings on the cuffs to show the level of a disciple.”
After hearing this, He Tianshu sneered and said: “Those methods are extremely crude. I think our Piaomiao Sect used to do something like that a long time ago, but it was abolished later.”
Zhang Xiaohua, now more curious, quickly asked: “Why? Isn’t that a good system?”
He Tianshu replied: “First of all, think about it. The Piaomiao Sect is vast, with many disciples and levels. If every rank required different colored clothing, wouldn’t our sect look like a rainbow? How could we still be considered a prestigious sect? We’d look more like a theatrical troupe! Moreover, if we used markings on the cuffs, it would create too much distinction, which goes against the standardized approach our sect now promotes. And there’s one more thing…”
He Tianshu leaned in and said in a low voice: “In my opinion, marking every piece of clothing would be too costly. While our sect is wealthy, there’s an old saying: even a landlord might run out of food. It’s better to be frugal. After all, martial strength and financial resources are the two key factors in a sect’s growth. Wasting money on minor details isn’t wise, right?”
Zhang Xiaohua, feeling quite aligned with his thoughts, clapped his hands and said: “Captain He, you speak straight to my heart. Money should be spent on what truly matters.”
The other two also came to a sudden understanding.
He Tianshu went on to say: “Also, if someone’s strength could be determined just by their clothing, from the perfective of the sect, there will be an obvious difference in superiority and inferiority. This would not be conductive for unity and harmony and could easily lead to the formation of cliques, which would hinder disciples’ competition and development. Most importantly, think about it—if the enemies of the Piaomiao Sect could gauge your strength just by looking at your clothes, why would they need to gather intelligence? If a group of us wore different outfits with various insignias, they would immediately know your level of skill and ability. They’d simply send someone stronger to deal with you, and you’d always be at their mercy, with no privacy at all.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, and He Tianshu proudly added: “That’s why the ancestors of our sect wisely abolished the practice of distinguishing rank through clothing. Now, the attire of ordinary disciples is largely uniform.”
Zhang Xiaohua then asked: “Captain He, when is this year’s martial arts tournament?”
He Tianshu replied: “It’s likely about a month from now. It’s a grand event for our sect, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Xiaohua asked: “Captain He, are you ready for it?”
He Tianshu laughed confidently: “I wasn’t confident before, but now that I’ve just learned the Piaomiao Step’, I have…”
He suddenly caught himself and said: “That’s a sect secret. It’s better not to ask too much about it.”
Zhang Xiaohua laughed awkwardly, and asked: “Then, can I come watch the tournament?”
He Tianshu smiled and said: “Huanxi Villa is an affiliate of the Piaomiao Sect, so with your villa’s token, you can enter the sect on ordinary days. Though security will be tighter during those days, you should still be able to get in.”
Overjoyed, Zhang Xiaohua eagerly asked: “Can I participate in the martial arts competition?”
He Tianshu frowned: “This martial arts tournament is specifically for testing our disciples. Why would you want to join in? Hey, now that I think about it, I vaguely remember hearing that people from Huanxi Villa and the Lotus Escort Agency used to participate. That was a long time ago, when I was just a child, and I only have a faint memory of it. But nowadays, no outsiders are participating.”
Zhang Xiaohua asked curiously: “Why is that? How can I participate then?”
He Tianshu chuckled and replied: “How would I know? If you’re serious about participating, you should ask Villa Onwer Ou later.”
Zhang Xiaohu, concerned, asked: “Xiaohua, do you really want to participate? You only know that one martial technique, and you haven’t even practiced any internal martial arts.”
Zhang Xiaohua looked at his older brother and reassured him: “Second Brother, I was just joking. I only want to watch the excitement. Besides, my boxing skills aren’t bad. I even taught a group of street thugs a lesson last time.”
The others smiled wryly. As the saying goes, ‘Newborn calves are unafraid of tigers’. This Zhang Xiaohua truly didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth.
However, if a young boy lacked this kind of spirit, would he still be called a youth?
Even if he was a boy from the countryside.
After chatting with Zhang Xiaohu for a while longer, the group finally said their goodbyes. Zhang Xiaohua carefully tucked the <Wild Ox Strength> manual into his chest before reluctantly bidding farewell to his second brother at the courtyard gate, still unwilling to part.
Although he had already begun practicing the <Carefree Heart Sutra>, his limited talent meant he had made no progress. The <Wild Ox Strength> had been obtained through Zhang Xiaohu’s efforts from Great Hero Wen, and it was filled with his brother’s deep affection. There was no way Zhang Xiaohua would not treasure it.
He Tianshu led them to the archway but didn’t accompany them outside. He had matters to attend to back at the sect and needed to visit the Medicine Hall.
After saying their farewells to He Tianshu, Zhang Xiaohua and Li Jinfeng headed to the “Jichi” Carriage Company together. Li Jinfeng, being a frail scholar, unlike the energetic and frugal Zhang Xiaohua, naturally chose to take a carriage.
By the time Zhang Xiaohua returned to Huanxi Villa after sending off Li Jinfeng, it was nearly noon. The medicine fields were deserted. The Piaomiao Sect’s martial arts tournament was just around the corner, and since it greatly impacted the disciples’ futures, even Captain He Tianshu was concerned. Naturally, Nie Xiao’er and the others spent less time in the fields.
Fortunately, the herbs in the fields continued to grow robustly. Other than occasional weeding and minor tasks, it wasn’t too much trouble for Zhang Xiaohua, who didn’t mind doing a little extra work.
Zhang Xiaohua finished his work in the medicinal field in a short time and sat down on the edge of the field, carefully taking out the <Wild Ox Strength> manual that Zhang Xiaohu had given him.
The <Wild Ox Strength> was a thin manual for cultivating internal energy. Zhang Xiaohua was no longer a novice, so a quick glance was enough for him to grasp its basic concepts. The technique was similar to what Zhang Xiaohu had explained earlier, with a simple flow of internal energy in the body. Compared to the first level of the <Carefree Heart Sutra>, it was much more rudimentary—no wonder it was one of the easiest internal energy cultivation methods to acquire in the martial world!
After thoroughly reviewing the <Wild Ox Strength> manual, Zhang Xiaohua mentally recited the method once, then compared it with the manual to ensure there were no mistakes. Only then did he follow the instructions, sitting cross-legged, with his five hearts facing the sky and his mind calm. He had practiced this posture countless times before, so he was quite familiar with it by now.
Zhang Xiaohua closed his eyes, visualizing a warm current entering his forehead and guiding it downward, mimicking the swallowing motion as described in the manual. He repeated the process over and over again.
Until Zhang Xiaohua’s forehead was sweating, and his heart was restless, he still couldn’t feel any trace of qi.
Zhang Xiaohua grew restless for no reason. Irritated, he swallowed hard and opened his eyes.
Staring at the growing herbs in front of him and glancing at the nearby patch of barren land where nothing had sprouted yet, Zhang Xiaohua thought to himself: “Am I like that unsprouted seed? Will I never have a chance to break through?”
With a bitter smile, Zhang Xiaohua mocked himself. Perhaps he really was just too slow-witted.
Zhang Xiaohua looked up at the sky. There was still time before lunch, so he calmed himself, sat cross-legged again, closed his eyes, and began practicing the “Nine Shallow, One Deep” breathing technique.
At first, Zhang Xiaohua struggled to recover from his earlier failure with the <Wild Ox Strength> technique, his breath unsteady and unable to enter a meditative state. Yet, while Zhang Xiaohua might be foolish at times, he was never lacking in persistence. His resilience—the ability to rise stronger from every failure—was his greatest strength. Before long, he entered a strange state. His “Nine Shallow, One Deep” breathing gradually synchronized with the natural rhythm of the night, gradually stimulating his entire body. His pores began to open naturally, and Zhang Xiaohua then began to use the methods from the Heart Sutra to sense the Yuan Qi of the world.
At first, there was no response, but Zhang Xiaohua felt neither discouraged nor frustrated. His mind was calm, neither joyful nor sorrowful. He understood that only through endless exploration of the boundless emptiness outside could he find even the faintest result.
Time passed unknowingly, and then suddenly, Zhang Xiaohua sensed a faint wisp of energy, similar to what had been described in the Heart Sutra as the Yuan Qi. Elated, he was just about to use the method in the Heart Sutra to absorb it when his excitement broke his concentration, and the sensation disappeared.
Zhang Xiaohua opened his eyes, but a smile lingered on his lips. Although his first attempt at absorbing energy had failed, sensing the Yuan Qi for the first time was an enormous breakthrough for him.
This was a milestone of progress.
He, Zhang Xiaohua, had finally, sensed qi!
Excited, Zhang Xiaohua wanted to continue practicing but glanced at the sky and was startled. “Oh no!” he exclaimed, jumping up from the ground. It was past noon, would there still be any lunch left?
Before long, Zhang Xiaohua was seen coming back with a few buns in his hands, eating one of them. His meals were still the same as before, unlike Elder Yu who had special attendants. Naturally, no one waited for him, so the table of food, under the envy of Ma Jing and the others, had gone cold and been cleared away. The only thing left for Zhang Xiaohua was a few cold buns. When Zhang Xiaohua realized that Nie Xiao’er and the others hadn’t gone to eat either, he couldn’t help but stamp his feet in frustration. If he had gone earlier, wouldn’t he have had the chance to enjoy a whole table of delicacies by himself?
As he ate, Zhang Xiaohua’s thoughts still lingered on the sensation he had felt earlier. Unable to suppress his urge to try again, he ate the buns while heading back to the medicinal field.
Sitting back down on the ridge of the field, Zhang Xiaohua took a deep breath to calm his mind. The recent experience had given him some insight, and he knew that guiding energy into the body required a peaceful state of mind, as calm as an ancient well—unperturbed and still—for it to be successful.
After a while, Zhang Xiaohua felt his surroundings gradually quiet down. Knowing it was the right moment, he sat cross-legged again, five hearts facing the sky, and began practicing the “Nine Shallow, One Deep” breathing technique. Sure enough, this time he smoothly entered a state of tranquility, and once again, Zhang Xiaohua followed the Heart Sutra’s teachings to sense the Yuan Qi.
Soon, Zhang Xiaohua had a new sensation. He felt his consciousness was like a fish swimming in the world outside his body, seemingly searching for something delicious.
Zhang Xiaohua enjoyed this feeling—a sort of free, searching, and soaring experience.
After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Xiaohua sensed a wisp of Yuan Qi once more. This time, he did not feel overly excited; it was as if it was exactly what he had expected. He followed the Heart Sutra’s guidance, letting his awareness act as if it were a swimming fish, gently drawing the Yuan Qi towards himself.
The Yuan Qi was originally flowing downward, but with Zhang Xiaohua’s conscious guidance, it immediately changed direction and slowly floated toward him. As it came closer, before Zhang Xiaohua could think of anything else, the Yuan Qi seemed to be attracted by something and rapidly surged into his body, though it was unclear through which pore it entered. At this moment, Zhang Xiaohua was too focused on observing how the Yuan Qi circulated within him to consider anything else, eager to explore the mysteries of his inner energy cultivation technique.
Unfortunately, the wisp of Yuan Qi that entered his body did not behave as described in the heart sutra. Zhang Xiaohua could not sense where it went or what it was doing inside him!
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