Chapter 30

"Are there few examples of people in the martial world getting their qi wrong during practice?"

Zaisi waved his hand, gesturing for Qin Feng to sit down, and said, "Press your tongue against the roof of your mouth, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Inhale like a whale swallowing water, exhale like a silkworm peeling a cocoon, and at the same time, let the qi circulate throughout your body, completing one full cycle!"

Qin Feng was taken aback for a moment but quickly reacted. His master was teaching him a method to guide and control his qi. He immediately focused his mind, calming his breath, and began to inhale slowly through his nose.

In the past, when practicing Baguazhang and standing in horse stance, he had to coordinate his breathing, so he was not unfamiliar with this. Following Zaisi's instructions, he raised the internal strength from his dantian and let it circulate throughout his body.

However, this was different from standing in horse stance. With each breath, a warm sensation spread throughout his body.

The internal strength within his body, with each inhalation and exhalation, grew significantly. The meridians that were previously blocked were now unobstructed.

"Tap your teeth together seventy-two times, and swallow the essence in three mouthfuls!"

After more than half an hour, just as Qin Feng was about to finish his cycle, Zaisi's voice suddenly rang in his ear.

Qin Feng did not dare to delay. He tapped his teeth together seventy-two times, and immediately his mouth was filled with saliva, a fragrant scent reaching his nose.

"Swallow, swallow, swallow!"

Qin Feng swallowed the saliva in three mouthfuls. To his surprise, after swallowing, the saliva transformed into essence, nourishing his entire body.

Qin Feng, who had been feeling a slight pain in his chest and lungs due to Zaisi's palm strike, now found his breathing smooth and unobstructed. The hidden illness in his body had been completely cured.

"Qin Feng, how do you feel?" While Qin Feng was practicing, Zaisi watched him intently. Qin Feng was still young, and if this hidden illness was not treated, it would have a profound impact on his future.

"Thank you, Master. I feel very good..."

Qin Feng took a deep breath. The burning sensation in his chest and lungs that he used to feel when breathing had disappeared. He asked curiously, "Master, what kind of breathing technique did you teach me just now? How can it have such a miraculous effect?"

At this moment, Qin Feng not only felt the years of stagnation in his qi and blood dissipate, but the internal strength in his dantian had also grown significantly. Although he had not yet put it into practice, Qin Feng believed that his skills had improved by more than a notch.

"It's nothing, just a Daoist breathing technique."

Zaisi waved his hand and said, "You already have a foundation in internal martial arts and have cultivated internal strength. Practicing Daoist techniques will be more effective for you. However, don't be too excited. The first time is always the most noticeable. I will teach you the detailed techniques later, and you must practice diligently!"

After confirming the master-disciple relationship, Zaisi's attitude towards Qin Feng had changed significantly. He no longer treated him casually and had a natural air of authority.

"Yes, Master, I understand!"

Although the old man's change made Qin Feng slightly uncomfortable, he had the awareness of a disciple. He respectfully poured a cup of tea for the old man and said, "Master, when can I leave here to find my sister?"

To be honest, Qin Feng did not take the juvenile detention center seriously. If the old man did not stop him, he had at least ten ways to escape from here.

"Qin Feng, don't be in a hurry." Zaisi shook his head and said, "Qin Feng, do you believe in divination, fortune-telling, and the study of fate?"

"Master, you mean fortune-telling?"

Qin Feng was taken aback and hesitated, saying, "I didn't believe in it before, but... Old Man Liu once read my face and said I would have a difficult life, with a major calamity this year, and that I would die young..."

Since he had become a disciple, Qin Feng did not want to hide his past. He recounted his five years of secretly learning, including his interactions with the Liu family.

"Hmm, it's him, then?"

After listening to Qin Feng, Zaisi couldn't help but smile. "I know you practice Baguazhang, and I didn't expect your teacher to be Liu Yunjiao. He is a direct disciple of the senior Li, so you are quite fortunate."

"Master, you know Old Man Liu?"

Qin Feng's eyes lit up. After the family incident, apart from his sister, he had come to regard Liu Yunjiao and Liu Zimo as family, and they were very important to him.

"What old man? He is almost ten years younger than me."

Zaisi sighed and said, "In the 1950s and 1960s, I had some interactions with him. I didn't expect him to pass away before he turned eighty-five. The old friends in this world are getting fewer and fewer..."

Although Zaisi was of royal descent, he had followed his master into the martial world at a young age. His affection for his martial friends was even stronger than his attachment to the Aisin Gioro surname.

Although Zaisi and Liu Yunjiao were not very close, he was still saddened by the news of his old friend's passing, his face filled with melancholy.

"Master, what did you mean just now?"

Seeing his master fall silent, Qin Feng became anxious. Liu Yunjiao had said he would face a calamity, and now Zaisi was talking about divination and the study of fate, which made Qin Feng uneasy.

Zaisi looked at Qin Feng and said, "I mentioned before that among the Eight Outer Sects, there is a lineage called Jin Dian, which are feng shui masters. This lineage traces back to the ancient Fuxi, and it evolved from the I Ching. It can predict individual fates and even change the fate of a nation..."

"Wait, Master..."

Before Zaisi could finish, Qin Feng couldn't help but interrupt, "Master, I've seen many fortune-tellers, but... are they really as miraculous as you say?"

Since the late 1980s, fortune-tellers and diviners had sprung up like mushrooms after the rain. Walking through the streets of Cangzhou, one could see them almost everywhere. Qin Feng had only two words to describe them: frauds.

These fortune-tellers were skilled at reading people's expressions and exaggerating trivial matters to help people avoid disasters and make money.

"Qin Feng, I know what you're saying, but every profession has its good and bad elements..."

Zaisi did not blame his disciple for interrupting and continued, "I once met a remarkable person in the martial world who was infallible in divination. Although I have some knowledge of it, I am far from his level."

"Master, why are you telling me this? Do you want me to learn divination?"

Qin Feng was puzzled. He had asked if he could leave to find his sister, but now he was being told about unrelated things.

"Learn, of course you should!"

Zaisi said firmly, "As the leader of the Eight Outer Sects, you must learn all their skills. Otherwise, how can you unify them?"

"Unify the Eight Outer Sects? Manage those who only know how to cheat and steal?"

Qin Feng's eyes widened, and he shook his head vigorously. "Master, I have no such ambition. Besides, those people are all bad. Can I really manage them?"

"Cough, cough, I spoke without thinking..."

Zaisi realized his words were unrealistic and coughed, saying, "As long as the lineage continues, whether you manage them or not is up to you. You can choose as you wish..."

In the past, Zhang Sanfeng was able to unify the Eight Outer Sects because they were under pressure from the government and faced survival. They willingly submitted to Zhang Sanfeng's leadership.

Later leaders, however, did not have the same favorable conditions. Even Wu Liuzhi during the Qing dynasty could not achieve what Zhang Sanfeng did.

When Zaisi was young, he also had the ambition to unify the Eight Outer Sects, but reality was harsh. Even his closest disciple betrayed him, a blow that was hard to bear.

"That's more reasonable." Qin Feng nodded and said, "Master, you're getting off topic again."

"Let's get back to Jin Dian."

Zaisi brought the topic back and said, "Qin Feng, your master has studied divination extensively. The tomb of metal is in the Chou position, the tomb of water is in the Chen position, the tomb of wood is in the Wei position, and the tomb of fire and earth is in the Xu position. Your八字 (bazi, or four pillars of destiny) is in the Wu position, which is the tomb of fire. Your life star is in the main palace, indicating that you will harm your family and friends. Before the age of sixteen, you will face many difficulties!"

Zaisi's knowledge of divination was different from the common methods, and he had spent decades studying it. Without asking for Qin Feng's birth details, he deduced his fate.

"Master, you... you mean my family's misfortunes are related to me?"

Hearing his master's words, Qin Feng's voice trembled. Was he a curse, the cause of all this?

"Don't think like that, it's not entirely so."

Zaisi waved his hand and said, "Your fate is unique. It seems harsh, but in your early years, you will face two life-threatening situations. If you can survive them, your future will be smooth and you will achieve great things!"

Qin Feng shook his head and said urgently, "Master, I just want to know, did I cause my parents' death?"

"Your parents were killed by you?" Zaisi was taken aback. "Who said your parents are dead? I see their palace bright and clear; they are definitely alive. Who told you that?"

In physiognomy, if one's parents die early or one of them is deceased, it can be seen from the face. This is not mystical; any skilled physiognomist can do it. Zaisi was confident he had not made a mistake.

"My... my parents are not dead?" Qin Feng was stunned. He wanted to contradict Zaisi but couldn't find the words. He stood there, trembling uncontrollably.

Qin Feng had heard his father's惨叫声 (cries of pain) that day, and the next day, his parents had disappeared. Although he had not seen their bodies, the calm and composed Qin Feng had concluded that something had happened to them and had taken his sister and fled.

But now, his master was saying his parents were alive, which confused Qin Feng. Had the hardships he and his sister endured for the past five years been because of his decision back then?

This realization made Qin Feng feel an immense weight, making it hard for him to breathe.

"Fool, wake up!"

Zaisi slapped Qin Feng's back, and with a deep breath, Qin Feng's mind cleared, but his eyes were filled with tears. "Master, are my parents really alive?"

Zaisi nodded and said, "Yes, and they are doing well!"

"I... I have to find them!" The calm and composed demeanor Qin Feng usually displayed was completely gone. He roared and rushed towards the door.

PS: Second update, please give me some recommendations!

Page flip AD starts

Page flip AD ends