Chapter 18

Du Zhong stopped in his tracks and calmly looked at the frail old man before him.

The old man was advanced in age, and although his body was still robust, he could never withstand even a fraction of Du Zhong's punch.

Thinking about this, Du Zhong shook his head and said with a smile, "Sir, we are not on the same path!"

"Ha ha!"

The old man laughed and said, "Precisely because we are not on the same path, we should spar and practice a bit!"

Saying this, the old man puffed out his chest, a proud look on his face, and said, "Young man, don't underestimate me by looking through a keyhole. I was a soldier and practiced martial arts from a young age, and I've been through battles! I can see that your military boxing is not very good, so I came to give you some pointers. Don't be ungrateful!"

His military boxing was not good? Give him pointers?

Hearing this, Du Zhong let out a bitter laugh, shook his head helplessly, and lifted his foot to leave.

Just as Du Zhong was about to take a step, the old man suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm, with very light force and very slow speed.

At least it seemed very slow to Du Zhong.

Du Zhong smiled slightly, dodged the old man's hand, and then put his foot down, preparing to continue walking.

But just as his foot touched the ground, Du Zhong's whole body trembled slightly.

His pupils instantly constricted, and Du Zhong looked at his arm in disbelief, where a hand was clearly gripping it!

He didn't dodge?

How could this be!

Du Zhong was greatly alarmed.

He could see the old man's movements clearly, so light and so slow, and he was absolutely sure he could dodge, but he didn't.

Looking up at the old man's smiling face, Du Zhong's expression turned serious.

This old man is not simple!

Du Zhong was absolutely confident that he would not make such a low-level mistake. He had complete confidence in his control and judgment. If he didn't dodge, it was because he didn't.

Thinking this, the old man's smile made Du Zhong feel a deep and mysterious sense.

Since that's the case, I want to see how good you really are!

A glint of determination flashed in Du Zhong's eyes.

"Since that's the case, please give me your guidance, sir!"

Du Zhong immediately bowed respectfully to the old man and said.

"That's the right attitude!"

The old man chuckled, released Du Zhong, and nodded in satisfaction, saying, "That's what a good young man who respects the elderly and loves the young should be like!"

Du Zhong was at a loss to respond to this!

He was unwilling to fight the old man out of respect for the elderly.

Now, fighting him is considered respecting the elderly.

The old man took a few steps back, then started to twist his waist, move his legs, and warm up, as if preparing for a warm-up exercise.

Du Zhong focused his attention on every movement of the old man, trying to discover some secret, but after watching for a long time, he found nothing. The old man's movements were too ordinary.

Did he misjudge?

Impossible!

Du Zhong immediately denied it.

"Come on, young man!"

The old man, after a few warm-up movements, immediately said to Du Zhong.

Although the old man's movements were full of flaws, Du Zhong did not dare to be careless at all. He immediately heightened his spirit and energy, ready to give it his all.

"Please guide me!"

Du Zhong shouted and instantly launched an attack, his fist tearing through the air and heading straight for the old man's face.

This explosive punch was just a test.

He had countless follow-up moves waiting for the old man.

Facing such a powerful punch, the old man did not change his expression, not even a wrinkle on his face moved, and he still looked calm and composed.

Under Du Zhong's watchful eyes, the old man slowly raised his hand.

Yes, slowly!

How ridiculous!

A thought flashed through Du Zhong's mind. Just as he was thinking about whether to pull back his fist to avoid hurting the old man, the old man's hand, which seemed to be floating, lightly came up and slapped Du Zhong's fist.

Not good!

Du Zhong thought, immediately becoming tense. Although it was just a test, this punch was not to be underestimated. Even if the old man was very skilled, he was underestimating this punch.

He couldn't hurt the old man.

Thinking this, Du Zhong hurriedly tried to pull back his fist.

But before he could make a move, the old man's light hand had already landed on his fist.

At that moment, the whole world seemed to quiet down as their hands touched. The next instant, a tremendous force surged from the old man's palm, like a surging wave or a charging tiger, piercing through his arm and hitting his chest.

Du Zhong was instantly sent flying!

Du Zhong's eyes widened in shock.

He never expected that the light hand, which seemed to be floating like a feather, could have such immense power. The moment it touched, the terrifying force sent his body flying!

Although it was unexpected, as a member of the special forces, Du Zhong's reaction was extremely quick.

In mid-air, he performed a nimble flip and landed steadily.

Looking up, he saw the old man with a kind and gentle face, and Du Zhong's eyes revealed shock...

Instantly, Du Zhong recalled a long-standing rumor in the special forces.

It was said that in China's martial arts world, there were some practitioners of ancient martial arts. These ancient martial arts, like ancient medical techniques, had been passed down from a long time ago and were completely different from ordinary martial arts. They could even cultivate the legendary internal energy and true qi.

Although not every practitioner of ancient martial arts was powerful, there were always legends of practitioners with unimaginable skills!

Such skilled practitioners were called internal martial arts masters!

Du Zhong had heard this legend when he joined the special forces.

During his years in the special forces, Du Zhong constantly pushed his body to its limits, aiming to reach the legendary realm. However, even after numerous dangerous missions, he had never seen such a master!

And now, the old man before him seemed to be one of these legendary internal martial arts masters!

"Internal martial arts?"

Du Zhong stood up and asked eagerly!

"Ha ha!" The old man grinned and nodded in satisfaction, saying, "You know your stuff, kid!"

Hearing this, Du Zhong was overjoyed. Thinking that internal martial arts were divided into different schools, he asked again, "Which school? Which sect?"

"Xingyi? Bagua?"

"Or Tai Chi?"

As soon as he asked, Du Zhong realized something was wrong!

The old man, who had been kind and gentle, suddenly flared up and walked forward, giving Du Zhong a kick on the buttocks!

Du Zhong, of course, wanted to dodge, but just like before, before he could make a move, he felt a pain in his buttocks and was sent flying by a tremendous force!

He didn't dodge again.

Du Zhong was shocked again. This time, he had given it his all, but he still didn't dodge that seemingly slow kick.

And, just like the palm, it sent him flying!

"Stupid, internal martial arts are just internal martial arts. What schools and sects are you talking about!"

After kicking Du Zhong, the old man was still not satisfied and glared at Du Zhong angrily.

Hearing this, Du Zhong was shaken and immediately understood.

Internal martial arts are just internal martial arts, a single internal martial art, with no schools or sects.

Just like love is just love, a single love, with no schools or sects.

"Sir, you are right. I was foolish!"

Without complaining about the pain in his buttocks, Du Zhong stood up humbly and bowed to the old man again.

Hearing this, the old man nodded in satisfaction, and the anger on his face gradually faded.

"These days, there are few young people who can be so humble. Your character is not bad. Since you know nothing, I'll forgive you, old man!"

Clearly, the old man had a good impression of Du Zhong's humility and continued to teach him:

"Actually, hitting others also hurts yourself. Relying solely on strength and speed, and some crooked techniques, how long can you fight? Not to mention, do you understand Newton's third law, the law of action and reaction? Every time you punch, the reaction force will also affect your body. Over time, it can damage your internal organs!"

Newton's third law...

Such a scientific term coming from an internal martial arts master, and an old man at that, sounded somewhat out of place.

However, Du Zhong agreed with the old man's words.

In the special forces, Du Zhong had seen firsthand how the once dashing instructors, once they passed forty, saw their physical abilities decline rapidly!

He had never known the reason until now, but hearing the old man's explanation, he immediately understood!

"Then, sir, how do you think this situation should be resolved?"

Du Zhong immediately asked, a question he had long been eager to know.

He did not want to end up like those instructors!

"Want to avoid this situation?"

The old man smiled and asked.

"Yes!"

Du Zhong nodded very affirmatively.

"Actually, it's very simple. Cultivate both internally and externally!"

The old man nodded and said, "Seeing your sincerity and good character, if you come earlier than me three days from now, I will teach you. If you come later, it means we have no destiny! Now, I'm done warming up, I'm going home."

Saying this, the old man hummed a tune and turned to leave with a contented look on his face.

"Three days?"

Du Zhong raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly.

He would come before dawn, surely earlier than the old man!

He had already made up his mind to learn from the old man.

For many years, he had felt that he was approaching a limit, unable to break through. But today, his first encounter with internal martial arts felt like a new door had opened before him, a bright path waiting for him. If he missed it, he would surely regret it for the rest of his life!

After the old man was out of sight, Du Zhong took a step and ran towards the hospital.

Today's experience was very enlightening, and he would wait for three days!

Before he even reached the hospital entrance, Du Zhong heard a commotion.

The voice was very familiar.

Wu Haihua!

"Such a loud voice, did something happen?"

Hearing Wu Haihua's agitated voice, Du Zhong feared that someone was causing trouble in the hospital and hurriedly sped up.

But when he reached the hospital entrance, Du Zhong saw that it was Wu Haihua himself causing the trouble.

As soon as he stepped into the hospital, Du Zhong clearly saw Wu Haihua grab Gu Muer's hand, his face agitated, and kept saying:

"Muer, I know you know my feelings. For so long, I have always liked you. Can't you consider it and be my girlfriend and be with me?"

Wu Haihua's agitated voice reached Du Zhong's ears.

Du Zhong was slightly stunned, but he saw that Gu Muer was very angry, struggling to break free from Wu Haihua's hands.

"You are the granddaughter of the Gu family, and I am the disciple of Old Qin. We are a perfect match, a heaven-made pair. I know you like me, you just don't want to admit it, right?"

"Enough! Wu Haihua! I don't like you at all! Let go of me!"

Gu Muer scolded with a cold face, her eyes full of disgust.

She kept struggling to break free from Wu Haihua's grip.

"No! Muer, I know you like me, you just don't want to express it, right!"

Wu Haihua said agitatedly, then used his strength to pull Gu Muer towards him, trying to hug her!