Chapter 90: Practice

The celebration banquet reached its first climax amidst the grandmaster Ou's vision of the future, leaving the hall filled with people as excited as if they had been injected with a stimulant. They raised their cups to each other frequently, as if the entire martial world had already become part of the Piaomiao Sect.

Naturally, there were still some sober-minded people in the hall, such as Ou Peng, the instigator surrounded by everyone, the Piaomiao Six Tigers drinking with other elders, and Ou Yan, who laughed and chatted with the female disciples, taking only small sips. The martial world has never lacked for smart people; what it lacks are great leaders who can guide the thoughts and actions of the masses. Perhaps they know that some words cannot be fully trusted, but why not enjoy the present and get drunk today, together with you?

Outside the meeting hall, the twilight was like a song.

A few days after the celebration banquet, Shui Yupeng rushed to the Luo River, reclaiming control of the Luo River Gang. At Shui Yupeng's repeated request, Ou Peng reluctantly sent Shangguan Fengliu and a group of elites to assist Shui Yupeng in handling the affairs of the Luo River Gang.

The bloody battle and merger between the Piaomiao Sect and the Luo River Gang were just a small ripple in the chaotic martial world, not attracting much attention. However, in some places, there were different reactions.

At the Wanjian Peak meeting hall, Wancheng Jiu listened to the report below, his face dark. He slapped the armrest of his chair and said, "With the Piaomiao Sect developing like this, how should the Wanjian Peak respond? Gentlemen, do you have any good and reasonable suggestions? If not, we can find a few representatives from the grassroots to propose some ideas for us to discuss."

At the Chuanxiang Sect, in a flower pavilion, the fragrant scent permeated the heart. A pair of jade-like hands held a piece of flower-patterned paper, and a pleasant voice said, "Grandmaster Ou, you are truly extraordinary. My judgment was not wrong, but I wonder how far you can go. I will wait and see."

At Dalin Temple, in a secluded small house, under the candlelight, a withered hand held a small piece of paper. After reading it, the two fingers pinched it, and the paper burned. The ashes floated to the ground, and a hoarse voice said, "Truly foolish, to not take such a tempting bait and instead be completely defeated, wasting my efforts. It seems I still need to think of a way. The Piaomiao Sect, even a dying camel is bigger than a horse."

In a mysterious place, a mysterious person with a mysterious voice said, "This martial world is indeed lively. The Piaomiao Sect, why hasn't it perished yet?"

However, these things were not something Ou Peng could know. He and his Piaomiao Sect were steadily developing.

As for everything happening in the martial world, Zhang Xiaohua knew nothing about it. Even the events within the Piaomiao Sect were beyond his knowledge. He and his martial arts training had entered a bottleneck.

To call it a bottleneck is to overestimate Zhang Xiaohua's cultivation. After the four people from the Piaomiao Sect taught Zhang Xiaohua some basic martial arts, they then taught him various styles like the Liu Family Fist, Cai Family Fist, Li Family Fist, Mo Family Fist, Wu Family Fist, and Xue Family Fist based on their own knowledge. A strange phenomenon occurred: the martial arts previously taught to Zhang Xiaohua, he would gradually forget, but by the next day, he could still remember some, whether it was three moves or four. This indicated that he had learned them. However, with the later martial arts, no matter how much Zhang Xiaohua learned the previous day, by the next day, he would completely forget. Even if he continued to learn, the same thing would happen the next day. He Tianchu was completely at a loss.

In He Tianchu's mind, Zhang Xiaohua, who could lift a 500-pound object with one arm without any cultivation, was a genius. Although this weight is not particularly astonishing in the martial world, imagine the effects of Zhang Xiaohua's martial arts training. Just thinking about it would be enough to make one excited. Although he was past the age for great achievements, changing He Tianchu's current situation would be more than enough. But this Zhang Xiaohua's brain? There was really nothing to say. Looking at this child, he didn't seem stupid, so why couldn't he learn? He couldn't even master the most basic martial arts, let alone the internal cultivation techniques that Zhang Xiaohua didn't even know existed. A few days ago, seeing that Zhang Xiaohua could at least learn a little, even if he couldn't remember everything, He Tianchu thought that with more practice, Zhang Xiaohua might eventually understand. But now, He Tianchu was completely disheartened. Zhang Xiaohua was a rotten piece of wood, completely unsuitable for carving.

So, He Tianchu said, "Zhang Xiaohua, your cultivation has entered a bottleneck. Breaking through this bottleneck requires a stroke of luck. For now, I won't teach you any other martial arts. You should practice the ones you've already learned. Once you break through the bottleneck, I'll teach you more." He dismissed Zhang Xiaohua and left him to practice the incomplete martial arts on his own.

However, Zhang Xiaohua was diligent and hardworking. He got up as soon as the sun rose and didn't return to his room until late at night. He practiced martial arts in the same place, regardless of wind or rain, showing great perseverance. This resilience deeply moved He Tianchu, but thinking about Zhang Xiaohua's brain, He Tianchu still gave up on other ideas.

Not only He Tianchu was moved, but the one-armed Yu Lao almost came to watch Zhang Xiaohua's practice every day. He was well aware of Zhang Xiaohua's situation and nodded in approval each time. However, this nodding was in recognition of Zhang Xiaohua's hard work, not his talent.

That evening, with a clear sky and a few stars, He Tianchu was in a good mood. Seeing Zhang Xiaohua repeatedly practicing the same few moves, he had a sudden idea and called a pause, saying, "Zhang Xiaohua, you've been practicing for quite a while now. Why don't you try sparring with a real martial artist?"

Zhang Xiaohua looked at He Tianchu and said, "Captain He, do you think I can do it?"

He Tianchu smiled and said, "Why not? Martial arts masters also started from the basics. Don't be afraid. I'll have Xiao'er go easy on you and just feed you some moves."

He then called to a Piaomiao Sect disciple practicing nearby, "Xiao'er, come over and spar with Zhang Xiaohua. Just practice the moves, don't take it seriously."

Xiao'er stopped his practice and said, "Sure, Captain He, I understand."

He then stood with his feet together, palms forward, and took a starting stance. Zhang Xiaohua recognized it immediately. "Ah, this is the starting stance of the Luohan Fist, isn't it?" Although this was his first time sparring with someone, his palms were already sweating. Nevertheless, he also took the starting stance like Xiao'er. Then, Xiao'er said, "Zhang Xiaohua, you go first."

Zhang Xiaohua responded, "Sure, Xiao'er, be careful."

He lifted his leg, stepped forward, and pushed his right fist toward Xiao'er. As Zhang Xiaohua's fist grew larger, Xiao'er, seeing it coming, shifted his body, caught Zhang Xiaohua's wrist with his left hand, and punched Zhang Xiaohua's nose with his right hand.

The nose is a vulnerable spot, and although Xiao'er held back, Zhang Xiaohua's eyes filled with tears, and he couldn't see anything. He stopped his attack and wiped his eyes with his shirt.

After wiping his eyes, Zhang Xiaohua looked at Xiao'er and said firmly, "Come on, Xiao'er, let's continue."

They took their stances again. This round was a repeat of the first, but Zhang Xiaohua rushed forward too quickly, and Xiao'er couldn't pull back his punch in time. The first punch hit Zhang Xiaohua's nose, and immediately, blood flowed from his nose.

Zhang Xiaohua jumped out of the circle, wiping his nose, and shouted, "No more, no more. You cheated. Why didn't you follow the routine?"

Everyone was stunned. If it weren't for the time spent with Zhang Xiaohua, which had toughened their nerves, this statement would have short-circuited their brains.

Poor Zhang Xiaohua, he thought they were following a routine. Everyone sighed, "Self-taught, indeed, is not the way. A full-time student with a master is much better."

After Zhang Xiaohua cleaned up, He Tianchu explained the meaning of the sparring to him. Zhang Xiaohua then understood. If it was just a routine, each person could simply perform their best moves, but there would be no blood or life-threatening situations.

For the third round, Zhang Xiaohua was more cautious, slowly following Xiao'er's steps and moves, and began to deliver some moves, though very clumsily. This was his first step.

However, his hands, arms, and legs were very stiff, like a novice in a flower garden, unable to focus on both sides or both up and down, moving like a clumsy bear. In contrast, Xiao'er took a playful attitude, performing his moves beautifully, like a butterfly flying around. Zhang Xiaohua's moves couldn't touch him at all, while his own body, face, and legs were hit by Xiao'er many times. Finally, Zhang Xiaohua became angry. Seeing Xiao'er use a move, he thought it was suitable to use a move from the Erlang Fist and used all his strength to punch Xiao'er. The punch "whooshed" toward Xiao'er's face, the force seemingly no less than the punch he had used on He Tianchu. In Zhang Xiaohua's mind, he thought he would definitely knock Xiao'er flying, considering the 500-pound force of his punch.

However, the reality was far from Zhang Xiaohua's expectations. Seeing the punch coming, Xiao'er, without panic, turned his fist into a palm, caught Zhang Xiaohua's fist with one hand using the "Golden Silk Wrapping the Bowl" technique, and grabbed Zhang Xiaohua's shirt with the other hand. Then, with a spin, he used the "Four Ounces Deflecting a Thousand Pounds" technique, pulling Zhang Xiaohua's body in the direction of his punch. Instantly, Zhang Xiaohua's small body, like an arrow, left the ground and flew out. Fortunately, there was a medicinal field in front, with soft soil and ordinary herbs, and He Tianchu did not stop him.

In fact, He Tianchu's loss of confidence in Zhang Xiaohua was also due to this. Zhang Xiaohua had strength, but he didn't know how to use it. It's like a three-year-old child playing with a thousand-pound meteor hammer, which can be astonishing, but a slight mistake could result in hitting their own head, costing their life.

Although Zhang Xiaohua had a thousand pounds of strength, he was like a rotten piece of wood in martial arts, unable to use his strength. Xiao'er, a minor disciple of the Piaomiao Sect, could easily kill Zhang Xiaohua with a simple "Four Ounces Deflecting a Thousand Pounds" technique. What about others?

Sure enough, a few moments later, Zhang Xiaohua, covered in dust and dirt, returned safely. However, he was not as disheartened and discouraged as He Tianchu had expected. Instead, he was surprisingly excited. He walked up to Xiao'er and eagerly asked what kind of martial arts he had used and why he hadn't been taught it before.

Xiao'er looked at him innocently and pointed to He Tianchu, saying, "Brother, you need to ask Captain He about this."

Zhang Xiaohua quickly approached and begged He Tianchu to teach him this martial arts. He Tianchu, both laughing and crying, said, "Zhang Xiaohua, I fully support your enthusiasm for learning martial arts. However, everything must be done step by step. Without a solid foundation, you won't succeed in learning any advanced martial arts. The technique Xiao'er used is not a specific martial arts style but a way of applying martial arts moves. You haven't even learned all the basic moves, so what can I teach you? Moreover, the 'Four Ounces Deflecting a Thousand Pounds' technique not only requires the right posture but also the proper use of force, which is a unique method of the Piaomiao Sect. Since you are not a Piaomiao disciple, I dare not teach you. Even if you want to learn, I need to consult the master and wait for approval before considering it."

He then added apologetically, "To be honest, the approval process involves multiple layers of requests and approvals. By the time it reaches me, it could be a long time. The higher-ups' style of work is questionable. You should focus on your basic martial arts and break through your bottleneck before making further plans."

Zhang Xiaohua, though slightly disappointed by He Tianchu's refusal, understood that he had only gained the master's slight favor. Being able to learn martial arts was already a great opportunity. He Tianchu had not hidden anything from him, and he had learned a lot. However, his martial arts skills were indeed lacking. Without mastering the basics and getting He Tianchu's approval, he had no right to complain.

Thus, Zhang Xiaohua's first martial arts sparring ended. For Xiao'er, it was just a game, but for Zhang Xiaohua, it opened a new world. At least he knew that sparring did not follow a routine. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head. If he didn't need to learn the entire routine to spar, why did Captain He insist on mastering all the moves before moving on to advanced techniques?

This question lingered in Zhang Xiaohua's mind, without an answer.

However, this did not dampen his enthusiasm for martial arts. After the Piaomiao Sect members went to bed, Zhang Xiaohua continued to practice his incomplete martial arts.

Zhang Xiaohua had been at the Huanxi Manor for over a month. He spent his days leveling the medicinal fields, weeding, and watering, just as he did at Guo Manor. He practiced martial arts in the morning and evening, and his life was quite comfortable. The food was also excellent, with meat served regularly. In Zhang Xiaohua's eyes, this was a life of the immortals, and he had long forgotten his homesickness, even almost forgetting that his older brother was in Pingyang City nearby.

The servants at Huanxi Manor had a few days off each month, during which they could go out or rest in their rooms. If they stayed in the manor, they were not strictly supervised. If they went out, they had to report to the supervisor, register at the designated place, receive a waist tag, and be given a return time before being allowed to leave.

One day, after finishing his martial arts practice, Zhang Xiaohua walked into his room with a frown and found Ma Jing washing his feet in a copper basin. Zhang Xiaohua was surprised and quickly turned his head, thinking, "The sun still rises in the east, but today, the sloppy Ma Jing is actually washing his feet?"

Thinking about it, he quickly approached and felt Ma Jing's forehead, then his own, and said, "Brother Ma, you don't have a fever."

Ma Jing angrily said, "Of course, I'm not sick. Why would I have a fever? On such a good day, I can go out and breathe fresh air. Why would I be sick?"

Zhang Xiaohua was puzzled and said, "Brother Ma, what do you mean? The air in the manor is always fresh, except in our room."

Ma Jing sneered and said, "You country bumpkin, what do you know? The air in the manor, no matter how fresh, is not as fragrant as the scent of the flowers at the Zui Xiang Lou."

Zhang Xiaohua suddenly understood. Although he had never been to such places, he couldn't help but hear Ma Jing's constant chatter about their wonders, so he knew what kind of place it was.

Zhang Xiaohua's heart raced, and he said, "Brother Ma, you often mention the Zui Xiang Lou. Are you going there today?"

Ma Jing cautiously looked around and whispered, "You kid, for your age, you know a lot and are quite clever. Your brother Ma is going to take care of their business. What about you? Do you want to go too?"

Zhang Xiaohua humbly said, "Brother Ma, you misunderstood. I just want to ask. I've been at the manor for a month and haven't gone out. I heard we can go out every month. I want to follow Brother Ma to Pingyang City. I won't go to the Zui Xiang Lou, just to wander around."

Ma Jing tilted his head and thought. He estimated that Zhang Xiaohua wouldn't delay his important matters, so he nodded in agreement. Zhang Xiaohua was overjoyed, thanked him, and quickly tidied up, sitting by the bed to wait for Ma Jing.

He thought Ma Jing would be quick, but he saw Ma Jing fussing over his appearance, cleaning himself from head to toe and changing his clothes completely. Zhang Xiaohua felt a sense of renewal, thinking, "This is not the sloppy Ma Jing but a handsome young man."

Zhang Xiaohua was speechless, seeing the sun high in the sky and the time getting late. Ma Jing's preparation took longer than a bride getting ready for her wedding. He couldn't help but urge, "Brother Ma, can you hurry up? It's getting late."

Ma Jing, however, remained calm, repeatedly looking in the mirror and saying, "No rush, no rush. The girls at the Zui Xiang Lou are probably still sleeping. Why would I go so early?"

Zhang Xiaohua was so angry that his nose almost twisted, and he almost fainted on the bed. Fortunately, he had been with Ma Jing for a long time and had broadened his horizons. He immediately took a horse stance to steady himself.