Zhang Beixing looked at Liu Yi quizzically. Liu Yi naturally understood his aning and, taking a deep drag from his cigarette, said, "I know what you’re thinking, but I have to tell you, you’re thinking too idealistically.
"Not all martial arts are available to the public, especially those that cultivate the body.
"Let’s not even discuss what the martial arts successors think. I’ll ask you a simple question: if one day, all luxury goods suddenly beca as cheap as cabbage, affordable by everyone, would you still buy them? Look at it from another perspective. If you were one of the people who had bought these luxury items and were their loyal custor, would you allow such a thing to happen?"
Zhang Beixing fell silent. He wasn’t a fool. Liu Yi’s words were so clear. If he still didn’t understand, he was better off finding a block of tofu to knock himself out with and starting over.
CLICK!
With a crisp sound, an intense fla flared up and lit the tobacco.
Zhang Beixing took a deep drag and then exhaled, smoke swirling around him. "Teacher Liu," he said, "if they make it so difficult to access martial arts, aren’t they afraid that soone might try to profit from it by stealing the techniques and then reselling them cheaply to many people?"
Liu Yi shook his head with an amused smile and countered, "Why be afraid?
"Those who don’t have access to this level, even if they learn sothing, learn only the most superficial aspects. They won’t know if they’re practicing it right or wrong, or if what they’ve learned is genuine or fake. Perhaps they might stumble upon the correct way by accident and achieve so results, but do you think they’ll share that? Even if they do, will people believe them? And even if people believe them, will they be able to understand it properly?
"And as for those who do have access to this level, do you think they would recklessly try sothing just based on soone else’s words? These people value their lives the most. They practice martial arts for various reasons, so they will only choose the most reliable thod: seeking out the great martial arts masters.
"As for the unknown, they wouldn’t even be given a second glance.
"Even if soone truly learns from an unknown practitioner, everyone is in the sa circle. Eventually, soone will ask, ’Hey, aren’t you practicing martial arts? Who are you learning from?’ If you na your master and others have never heard of him, and can’t find any information about him after asking around, what would they think of you? How would they ridicule you? Could you still survive in this circle?
"This is the foundation that allows those established martial arts aristocratic families to continue developing to this day, remaining confident and unchallenged. This circle is very small; it values seniority and hierarchy!"
He explained this matter to Zhang Beixing in detail. Before they knew it, Liu Yi’s cigarette had burned to its end.
Zhang Beixing understood.
Then he felt sothing was amiss and asked, "Wait a minute, Teacher Liu. According to your logic, our Yue Family’s Continuous Boxing has developed to the point of having a martial arts hall and even recruits publicly. Doesn’t that an..."
"You brat, what are you thinking?" Liu Yi interrupted. "I was just making an analogy, alright? Our Yue Family’s Continuous Boxing isn’t part of that analogy. Let’s just say... we’re a bit special. Half of what’s in our bowl is ’official rice’—the legitimate kind, you understand?"
Liu Yi slapped Zhang Beixing on the back of his head, speaking in an exasperated tone. This little rascal really knew how to push his luck. I was only a bit vague, and this kid seized on it, running with it and even using our Yue Family’s Continuous Boxing as an example! It sowhat smacked of flagrant defiance! Good thing my older brother doesn’t know about this. Otherwise, with his temper, he wouldn’t be surnad Liu if he didn’t beat this troublemaker Zhang Beixing until he couldn’t tell north from south!
Zhang Beixing, having just been slapped, felt very wronged. But seeing Liu Yi’s annoyed expression, he didn’t dare say anything. He could only purse his lips. With a sullen face, he looked at Liu Yi and said, "So, Teacher Liu, since you said those martial arts are not easily passed on, why did you keep ntioning the Eight Pieces of Brocade when you talked about bringing here?
"You even hinted that the Eight Pieces of Brocade has a restorative effect beneficial for practitioners of Yue Family’s Continuous Boxing, and you said our two families’ fist techniques co from the sa lineage.
"Does that an this Eight Pieces of Brocade, like ours, can be taught to outsiders? Or do they not pass it on at all, and we’re actually going there to steal the techniques?"
As he said this, Zhang Beixing suddenly realized sothing, and his gaze towards Liu Yi turned peculiar. It was as if he were thinking, ’Well now, I didn’t expect soone who looks so upright and honest to be capable of such underhanded tricks.’
It’s no wonder Liu Yi was a martial artist. Aside from his considerable strength, his skin was also incredibly thick. Being stared at with such a peculiar look, anyone else would have felt uncomfortable long ago. But Liu Yi remained completely unfazed.
Liu Yi, driving with calm composure and eyes fixed on the road, said, "Zhang Beixing, I’m warning you, don’t let your imagination run wild, and don’t spout nonsense. We’re just going for a simple visit to pay our respects and ask for so pointers, that’s all. It’s absolutely not what you’re thinking!"
Zhang Beixing started, drawing out his words, "Ohhhhhh... Riiiiight... We’re juuuust here to pay a visit and seek guiiidance... Not what I thoooought... Hey, Teacher Liu, why did you smack again? That’s too much!"
Liu Yi glared at him. "What’s wrong? You got a problem with that?" he snapped. "Why are you drawing out your words like that? And what’s with that look in your eyes? If I weren’t driving right now, I’d teach you a lesson or two and see if you still dared to be so cheeky!"
Turning his head to glare at Zhang Beixing, even Liu Yi, despite his usually good temper, was thoroughly irritated now, curses slipping out frequently. It wasn’t that Liu Yi lacked manners; it was just that this brat Zhang Beixing was too damn infuriating! You draw out your words, and then you put on that infuriatingly smug expression. Are you trying to mock , your teacher?
Liu Yi was now seriously suspicious. If one were to dissect Zhang Beixing for analysis, out of his one hundred fifty pounds, at least one hundred forty would be pure shalessness! Of the remaining ten pounds, eight would be rebellious bones and two would be crap!
"You’ve already guessed it, so why are you still asking ?" Liu Yi finally burst out. "Do you really need to lose all face and spell out the truth to make you happy? Fine! I’ll tell you plainly: you’re going there to steal their techniques! When we get there, you watch carefully and learn diligently!
"It would be best if you could learn a move or two. That will be very useful for you in the future!
"I didn’t learn it back then, and that’s why I’m in this damn ss now. If I work for even a slightly extended period, my shoulder feels completely wrecked. The crucial thing is, I’ve taken tons of dicine and seen countless doctors, but none of them can fix it. I can only let it heal slowly.
"I’m regretting it to death now, but regret is useless. There was only that one chance. Once missed, it’s gone forever. There are no second chances. You can’t end up like , repeating my mistakes. Understand?"
Liu Yi’s voice reverberated inside the A8 sedan. Hearing this, Zhang Beixing paused. He then dropped his flippant deanor, his expression turning serious as he nodded. "Yes, Teacher. I understand, Teacher!"
"Alright, alright, enough with the sentintal crap," Liu Yi said. "When we’re there, make sure you learn a few movents of the Eight Pieces of Brocade. Rember, don’t just observe its form; you must perceive its intent. Only when you understand the intent, truly internalize it, will you have genuinely grasped this cultivation technique. Even learning just a small segnt will be sufficient for you at your current stage."
Liu Yi, still worried, reiterated his instructions. Zhang Beixing nodded repeatedly, assuring him he would. Seeing this, Liu Yi didn’t say much more. After all, he understood the principles that excessive worry leads to muddle-headedness, and haste makes waste. Appropriately urging Zhang Beixing, pushing him forward a bit, was fine. However, constantly rushing him could easily lead to negative consequences. If his own overeagerness affected Zhang Beixing and prevented him from learning anything, Liu Yi would have to consider finding a different cultivation technique for him. After all, Yue Family’s Continuous Boxing was indeed too damaging to the body.
But he also knew that the Eight Pieces of Brocade wasn’t that easy to learn. If it were truly so simple, he himself would have bloody well mastered it by stealth years ago. Zhang Beixing could only go and try his luck. Learning even a little would be sothing; either way, it wouldn’t be a loss.
The vehicle traveled along the dilapidated roads of Shishi. Soon, they left the urban area. After another half hour’s journey, the sight of a familiar bus station ca into view.
Zhang Beixing was baffled. What’s going on? How did I end up back at my hotown?
"Teacher Liu, this Elder Chen you ntioned, does he also live in Shishi’s Talltree District?" Zhang Beixing asked, looking completely puzzled.
Hearing this, Liu Yi nodded. "Yes, he does. Wait, what do you an by ’also’? You an to say your ho is in Talltree District?"
"Yeah. Otherwise?" Zhang Beixing replied.
"No, Zhang Beixing, you live in Talltree District, and you don’t know Elder Chen? I heard about him more than ten years ago when I was still in the Capital City."
"Why should I know him? I wasn’t a martial artist before," Zhang Beixing retorted.
"But you’re a resident of Talltree District! You’ve grown up here; how could you not know of Elder Chen?" Liu Yi pressed.
"I... Argh, yes, yes, you’re absolutely right. It’s my ignorance!" Zhang Beixing conceded, giving up.
Zhang Beixing shut his mouth and sat in the passenger seat, an expression of helpless frustration on his face. Whatever Teacher Liu wants to say, let him say it. I’m not going to argue with him anymore.
Under Zhang Beixing’s silence, about ten minutes later, the car stopped beside a retro, traditional Chinese-style manor.
A tall steward in a black suit approached. He respectfully opened the car door for Liu Yi and Zhang Beixing, welcoming them out. Then he said, "Mr. Liu, Mr. Zhang, Mr. Thompson was delighted to hear you were coming today and has been waiting in the reception hall for so ti. Please, co in!"
With that, the steward bowed slightly, then extended his hand towards a small cart parked near the entrance, gesturing for the two of them to board it.
This level of high-class treatnt truly stunned Zhang Beixing, a country boy who had grown up in a rural village. He froze for a mont. Then, with his clear yet seemingly naive eyes, he looked at Liu Yi. He saw Liu Yi calmly say "Alright" to the steward and then confidently walk over to the cart and sit down.
Liu Yi patted the seat beside him and turned to Zhang Beixing. "Beixing, what are you standing there stunned for? Co on over."
"Ah? Oh, oh, alright!" Zhang Beixing snapped back to his senses and climbed onto the cart.
Once both were seated, the steward also ca over and thoughtfully fastened their seatbelts. He then sat in the passenger seat, nodded to the driver, and the driver gently pressed the accelerator, smoothly driving the cart forward.
"Elder Chen is a highly respected martial artist. But back in the day, he killed ’devils’ (enemy soldiers) and fought on the battlefield, so he also has so military connections, and quite significant ones at that. Therefore, don’t be surprised by this manor; it’s quite normal," Liu Yi explained.
Zhang Beixing finally understood. So that’s how deep his connections are. No wonder.
Throughout the ride, while observing the surroundings, Zhang Beixing appeared outwardly calm, but inwardly, he was green with envy! Who could have imagined that such an ordinary-looking, unpretentious manor from the outside could be so damn incredible on the inside! Let’s not even talk about how magnificently it was decorated or how grand it was. The main thing was one word: BIG! Freaking huge! A martial arts training ground, an open-air swimming pool, a gym... It had everything one could possibly want! The scale was so enormous that if you told Zhang Beixing this was a small school, he would believe it! No wonder they had to take a cart to get in. If they didn’t, wouldn’t it take at least ten minutes to walk from the entrance to the reception hall? Amazing! Being rich is just so damn good!
"So, Teacher Liu, is this why you asked earlier why I didn’t know about Elder Chen?" Zhang Beixing suddenly understood.
"Exactly!" Liu Yi confird, voicing his own bewildernt. "I was quite puzzled. Such a huge manor is located here, and then you tell you don’t even know who lives in it. Does that seem right to you?"
Zhang Beixing fell silent for a mont, then lowered his voice and said slowly, "Could it be that soone like , a poor schmuck, isn’t worthy of even knowing about this place? And the people in my previous social circle were even less worthy?"
Liu Yi was speechless.
Sick! Zhang Beixing thought.
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