Chapter 39. The Difference in Rank (5)

After Yan Hozheng returned to the family, the atmosphere in the Yan household changed.

To put it nicely, it became more intense; to put it bluntly, it became more brutal. The reason for this was entirely due to Yan Hozheng.

The day after his return, Yan Hozheng appeared at the grand training ground of the Yan family.

The grand training ground was an outdoor area designed for anyone to use. It was also where parades and family celebrations were held, so it was quite vast.

Yan Hozheng ran around the perimeter of the vast training ground without any particular purpose.

He ran tirelessly around the area, which was over two hundred zhang in circumference. This was his morning training.

After warming up with running, he had a hearty lunch and, for the afternoon training, alternated between full-speed sprints and slow jogging.

The martial artists of the Yan family were puzzled.

The Young Master's training was literally physical training. While the importance of physical strength was undeniable, each trained martial artist had their own suitable training method.

The Young Master's martial arts must be lacking, the martial artists thought.

The next day.

Yan Hozheng woke up early and started running. However, it was different from the previous day.

He wore a padded vest (坎肩, kanjian) weighing thirty catties, with chains attached.

The martial artists were shocked. This padded vest was a training item used only during the hellish training sessions of the Yan family's troops.

Wearing the heavy chains, Yan Hozheng collapsed before noon.

It was to be expected. Without using his inner strength and repeatedly sprinting, even a well-trained person would struggle to endure.

The martial artists clicked their tongues and moved Yan Hozheng to his quarters.

The next day.

Yan Hozheng appeared at the grand training ground again. He looked more human after eating well and resting thoroughly.

However, he still collapsed that day. But he seemed to have run a bit longer than the previous day.

Five days passed like this.

Yan Hozheng finally collapsed, spitting blood. No matter how well he rested and nourished himself, pushing his limits like this would inevitably lead to illness.

The martial artists clicked their tongues but couldn't help but admire Yan Hozheng's determination. Regardless of his efforts, running to the point of losing consciousness required a level of determination that was not easily achieved.

Ten days later.

After reconditioning his body, Yan Hozheng returned to the grand training ground. However, this time, he was completely different from before he collapsed.

He was faster and more agile. Even with heavy chains wrapped around his arms, his movements were much better.

That day, Yan Hozheng completed his full day of training for the first time. The martial artists training at the grand training ground applauded his success.

However, Yan Hozheng's training was just beginning. He pushed himself beyond his limits every day, always making his training more intense than the previous day.

The martial artists, who had initially mocked his simple training while admiring his determination, began to look at Yan Hozheng with a sense of awe as time passed.

Training that had already surpassed four months.

By the time the new year arrived and the winter cold was at its peak.

Yan Hozheng no longer wore the padded vest and chains.

"I'm going."

"Alright."

Thud!

Yang Xian approached with agile movements and swung his wooden sword.

His sword strike was sharper than before. It was a straightforward and honest strike aimed at the midsection, but it was so fast that even a skilled martial artist would find it difficult to parry.

Swish.

The swift strike cleaved through the air.

Yan Hozheng merely twisted his body and took a step. With this simple movement, he evaded the sword strike and seized the opportunity to counterattack.

Yan Hozheng's fist aimed for Yang Xian's side.

It wasn't fast, but it was perfectly timed. Yang Xian immediately lost his balance and kicked to deflect the punch.

Despite intentionally losing his balance, his center of gravity remained stable. Yang Xian immediately performed the Three Kicks (三換脚, sanhuanjiao).

His rapid kicks targeted the vital points on Yan Hozheng's upper body.

At that moment, Yan Hozheng's elbow struck Yang Xian's foot.

Thud!

"Ah?!"

Yang Xian's body rolled on the ground.

The Yongquan point (湧泉穴, yongquanxue) on the sole of his foot was struck, causing his entire right leg to feel numb. Yang Xian quickly regained his composure with swift movements.

His movements were excellent. His flexibility and elasticity were outstanding, even among the Changying troops.

However, Yan Hozheng's palm was already on Yang Xian's chest.

'...!'

Yang Xian's face turned pale.

Yan Hozheng stomped the ground forcefully.

Boom!

"Choke!"

Yang Xian's body flew and crashed to the ground.

Whoosh.

In a low stance, a faint mist rose from his extended palm. This was the Yan family's basic martial art, the Linked Flying Swallow Palm (連環飛燕掌, Lianhuan Feiyan Zhang).

Yan Hozheng smiled.

"Did you lose?"

"Cough! I lost, I lost!"

Yang Xian coughed repeatedly, blood seeping through his coughs.

Yan Hozheng said with an embarrassed look.

"Sorry. I still haven't mastered controlling my strength."

"No, no! It's my fault for not being prepared."

The important thing wasn't that. Yang Xian asked with a disbelieving voice.

"Was that the Linked Flying Swallow Palm just now?"

"Huh."

"Wow?!"

Not only Yang Xian but also the twenty Changying troops watching were surprised.

"Is the Flying Swallow Palm supposed to be this powerful?"

While it was a basic martial art, the Linked Flying Swallow Palm was more practical than the Yan family's Thirteen Volumes.

However, that was all. A basic martial art was just that; it couldn't produce a certain level of power. Moreover, the Linked Flying Swallow Palm, as its name suggested, focused on quickly and agilely neutralizing the enemy with swift hand techniques, not on delivering a powerful strike.

But such a heavy and powerful strike? It was unimaginable.

Yan Hozheng clicked his tongue.

"Look at my feet."

He lifted his foot.

"Wow!"

The Changying First Squad was shocked. The ground where Yan Hozheng had stomped with his Zhen Foot (震脚) was indented by two inches.

The ground was indented in the shape of a footprint. It was an incredible amount of force.

"Zhen Foot isn't for showing off. It's about using the rebound and the earth's energy to strengthen the Zhen Silk (轉絲) and the power of the kick."

"......!"

"Regardless of the characteristics of the martial art, a strong Zhen Foot can subdue the enemy with one strike."

The reason why Shaolin martial arts are powerful lies here. The Zhen Foot of Shaolin is said to subdue all demons. This means that the application of the Zhen Foot is highly advanced.

And this was also true for Yan Hozheng. His martial arts had the characteristic of subduing all changes with a heavy and powerful strike, unlike the quick and agile Linked Swallow Techniques.

"Was the Young Master running around the grand training ground all this time?"

"Yes, it was to maximize the application of the Zhen Foot, in addition to extreme physical improvement."

Around the two-month mark, Yan Hozheng's running showed a strange change.

Sometimes there were no traces left, and other times deep footprints were left on the ground. The depth and the distance between steps were inconsistent.

The martial artists thought Yan Hozheng's physical condition was fluctuating, but the reality was different. He was refining the flow of power through the Zhen Foot.

"Is that even possible?"

"Of course it is. You've never done this kind of training, so it's hard to believe."

"Then, can we train like the Young Master?"

"Ridiculous question. This training is my own path of martial arts. You need to find the training that suits you."

Yan Hozheng smiled.

"Basics are always important. But to see beyond them, you need to understand your level, your tendencies, and what you are pursuing."

"Headache?"

"Did you think you could become strong without using your brain?"

"Ugh."

"Take this opportunity to remember. A person's growth rate depends on what they desire. If you pursue one, you will grow to that level. If you pursue ten, you will strive to reach that level."

"Are you telling us to set goals?"

"Exactly. Whether it's a small goal or a grand one, there is a clear difference between those who know where they are heading and those who don't."

The faces of the Changying squad members became serious.

In fact, anyone could say this. But Yan Hozheng had demonstrated the truth through his actions over the past four months.

The same words can be perceived differently depending on the situation. The Changying squad was deeply impacted by Yan Hozheng's words.

Yan Hozheng looked at the opposite side.

There were also some members of the Flying Eagle Team (飛鷹隊, Feiying Dui) there.

"You too. If you're satisfied with where you are, that's fine, but if you want to become stronger, it's best to set a goal."

At that moment, one of the Flying Eagle Team members raised his hand.

Yan Hozheng nodded.

"Go ahead."

"I greet you. I am Liu Zhi Xia, from the third squad of the Flying Eagle Team."

He looked younger than expected. Perhaps he was around the same age as Yan Hozheng. It was already a significant achievement to join the Flying Eagle Team at that age.

"May I ask a question?"

"Anytime."

"The Changying Team and the Flying Eagle Team both have their own main training. To perform our roles effectively, we need to act as one."

"But?"

"But the main training is very tight, except for meal and sleep times. It's very difficult to find personal training time, like today."

"I understand that the main training is entirely entrusted to the team leader. Telling me won't make much difference, right?"

Liu Zhi Xia blushed.

"No, no! I wasn't asking about the main training. I wanted to ask if it's possible to develop oneself during sleep time..."

He meant to reduce sleep to make time for personal training.

"How many hours of sleep do you get?"

"Four hours."

"That's plenty. You can reduce your sleep a bit."

"Yes, that's what I meant."

Yan Hozheng chuckled.

"Then, you can reduce your sleep and train, right?"

"Ah... that is..."

"Is there a fool who would stop you from reducing your sleep to train?"

"No, no, that's not it."

"Then, do it. Your strength is the strength of the Flying Eagle Team. If the Flying Eagle Team becomes strong, the main family will also become strong."

"I agree."

"However, since you are part of the Flying Eagle Team, excessive training that affects the team's training is not good. As long as you balance it, there shouldn't be a problem."

Liu Zhi Xia's face brightened.

"Thank you."

"What's there to thank? Anyway, work hard."

"Yes!"

Yan Hozheng said to Yang Xian.

"Your sword strength has improved. I don't know what training you're doing, but I hope you continue to grow."

"Thank you."

"Then, I'll go in."

"Huh? Young Master, aren't you going to train more today?"

Yan Hozheng shrugged.

"I want to rest a bit today."

* * *

Of course, Yan Hozheng didn't rest. After entering his quarters, he immediately began practicing spear techniques.

He trained his physical strength and Zhen Foot at the grand training ground and practiced spear techniques in the backyard of his quarters.

He hadn't skipped a single day of training in the past four months. The martial artists in the family thought he would sleep after finishing his physical training, but he only slept after practicing the spear for at least one hour.

'It works.'

Crack!

Ten spear strikes hit each of the five logs thrown into the air. The logs, hit by the strikes, were torn apart like they had been clawed by a wild beast.

'As expected.'

During the sparring with Yang Xian, he realized his martial arts had reached a new level. With a bit more refinement, he might be ready to switch to a different weapon.

Boom!

Just as he was about to swing his spear again with a powerful Zhen Foot, a sound of knocking came from the gate far away.

"Young Master. The family head is calling for you."

"Huh? What for?"

"I don't know..."

Yan Hozheng scratched his head.

"Really just rest today?"

* * *

Of course, Yan Hozheng didn't rest. After entering his quarters, he immediately began practicing spear techniques.

He trained his physical strength and Zhen Foot at the grand training ground and practiced spear techniques in the backyard of his quarters.

He hadn't skipped a single day of training in the past four months. The martial artists in the family thought he would sleep after finishing his physical training, but he only slept after practicing the spear for at least one hour.

'It works.'

Crack!

Ten spear strikes hit each of the five logs thrown into the air. The logs, hit by the strikes, were torn apart like they had been clawed by a wild beast.

'As expected.'

During the sparring with Yang Xian, he realized his martial arts had reached a new level. With a bit more refinement, he might be ready to switch to a different weapon.

Boom!

Just as he was about to swing his spear again with a powerful Zhen Foot, a sound of knocking came from the gate far away.

"Young Master. The family head is calling for you."

"Huh? What for?"

"I don't know..."

Yan Hozheng scratched his head.

"Really just rest today?"