Sword Roaring in the Sky

Chapter 39 Prejudice in the Heart of a Person is a Mountain
"You can't blame me. Although I've been a disciple since I was young and have practiced martial arts diligently, the brothers who beat me are all veterans who have practiced martial arts for twenty or thirty years and have made great achievements. It's a pity that I didn't participate this time. If I had participated in the sect's competition again, I might not have lost if I met those brothers again."

Zhang Qingxi, with Sun Yanwan's guidance, mastered the Golden Tendon and Jade Bone Fist, cultivating both his inner and outer strength. He reached a new level, and looking at his peers, aside from a few senior brothers in their fifties and sixties, no one took him seriously. Thinking of not being able to participate this time, the senior brother felt quite regretful. He patted Sun Yanwan on the shoulder and said, "It's okay. You're only going to the C-class competition. They're all fellow disciples who've practiced martial arts for less than five years..."

He wanted to say, "Anyone with a little ambition would not participate in the C-class competition. For example, I have never participated." But then he thought that saying this would be a ruthless blow to his junior fellow apprentice, so he forced himself to hold back.

Sun Yunhe was still a little indignant that his granddaughter had taken a fancy to a man with ordinary martial arts skills. He laughed and said, "The Songyang Sect is the leader of the ten great sword sects. Only the Shaochan Temple and the Longzang Temple in Northern Yan can compare to it."

"Generally speaking, those who can advance to the seventh rank within three to five years are considered outstanding. There are also many talented people who have reached the sixth rank in martial arts."

The old man implied that people like Sun Yanwan were considered below average and relatively bad.

Of course, what Sun Yunhe said was a bit of an exaggeration. Even for the Songyang Sect, one who had been in the top martial arts sect in the world for three to five years and could be promoted to the ninth rank was not bad. At this time, if one went down the mountain and joined any gang, he would have to be a core member; if he could be promoted to the eighth rank, he would have been highly regarded by the teacher, and he could be the leader of many small gangs, at most an incense master or a helmsman; to cultivate to the seventh rank or above was rare, and it was enough to make a name for oneself in the martial arts world. For example, Du Wanli, Du Qianxing, Lao Ai and others had only this level of cultivation. These people had endured for twenty years or more and could not be compared with the disciples of the big sects.

More outstanding than rare birds...

That’s Zhang Qingxi!
Fearing that Sun Yanwan would be discouraged, Sun Lingdie hurriedly said, "What's the point of just talking about skills? A true hero is the one who can win in the ring. Brother Sun is very clever in adapting to the changes in his opponent's tactics. He must be much stronger than those rigid fellow disciples."

Sun Yunhe wanted to argue, but was afraid that his granddaughter would be angry, so he simply kept silent and just fiddled with the lamb leg.

After a while, the lamb legs and lamb chops were ready. Sun Lingdie took a small silver knife, cut two pieces, and handed them to Sun Yanwan.

Sun Yanwan gave a piece to his eldest brother. The Buddhist and Taoist traditions in this world differed from those on Earth, with their own set of precepts and no restrictions on food or drink. Zhang Qingxi accepted it with a smile, and the two brothers happily devoured it while it was still hot.

Old man Sun Yunhe was a little unhappy again. His granddaughter didn't offer him any mutton, so he pulled out a leg of lamb and ate it in silence. Suddenly, he thought, "If this kid goes to participate in the Seven Clans Martial Arts Competition, he will definitely encounter masters. He might be defeated in one or two rounds. Seeing his cowardice, Lingdie decided to give up the idea."

Thinking of this, the old man became happy again. He stood up and took the wine gourd and wine bowl, handed the wine bowl to Zhang Qingxi and Sun Yanwan, and filled their glasses with wine with a smile on his face.

Zhang Qingxi was not good at drinking. He just touched his lips with the wine and then stopped drinking.

Sun Yanwan was a warrior who could withstand the "alcohol test". The alcohol content of the fine wine in this world was very low. He drank it all in big gulps and ordered another bowl. He started chatting with Sun Lingdie and soon made the fairy Lingdie laugh like a flower, her beautiful eyes looking around like flowing waves.

This made Sun Yunhe, a veteran master of innate skills, feel so much better that his mood was shattered again.

After eating, Sun Yanwan meditated with his senior brother by the fire.

Although he could not use meditation to replace sleep, it would work for a day or two.

Since he became a disciple, he never missed any opportunity to practice. On the way out, he seized every opportunity and even practiced the Meridian Sutra on horseback when he was in a hurry.

With him as a comparison, Zhang Qingxi dared not relax.

The two brothers' meditation and cultivation impressed the Sun family's grandfather and grandson quite a bit. However, Sun Yunhe had a slight favorable impression, but he thought to himself, "He and senior brother are not much different in age, but their martial arts skills are as different as heaven and earth. This kid must be mediocre in talent. No matter how hard he tries, he will still be far behind his senior brother. He can only sigh in despair as he watches his senior brother leave him far behind." The next morning, the Sun family's grandfather and grandson had just opened their eyes when they heard the sound of the wind. It turned out that Sun Yanwan was practicing the Golden Tendon and Jade Bone Fist.

All of them, grandparents and grandchildren, had heard of the boxing style of the Songyang School. They also knew that this style of boxing cultivated the twenty-four meridians. It did not seek to defeat the enemy, but only to temper the bones and lay a physical foundation for practicing superior boxing and palm techniques in the future.

Therefore, the moves in this style of boxing are useless. The mystery lies in how to move the meridians and tendons and circulate the force. Even if people see the moves, it is just an ordinary "boxing style".

Old man Sun Yunhe sighed, "It turns out that talent is something you either have or not. This kid works so hard in martial arts, but his skills are just average. But when it comes to literary talent, he can speak so eloquently that even Spirit Butterfly is impressed."

Sun Yanwan had no idea that he was often accused of lacking talent, and he immersed himself in cultivation wholeheartedly.

Although he knew intellectually that each "meridian tendon" was the combined force of dozens of muscles, when he practiced the Golden Tendon and Jade Bone Fist, he could actually feel as if there were twenty-four dragon-like, fierce and domineering tendons in his body that were moving like bowstrings.

Every time a tendon vibrates, the strength seems to increase slightly. Although the progress is very small, the strength of the body increases every day.

When Sun Yanwan was practicing the "Monkey Tendon" posture, dozens of muscles in his body suddenly twitched, and he broke out in a hot sweat. It seemed as if an electric current was running through his body, and he couldn't help but let out a "Hoo!"

This feeling came and went quickly, but of course Sun Yanwan came back from this state, and felt that his whole body had become a little more nimble. He was immediately overjoyed and thought to himself, "This is my little success in the ape tendon."

He then noticed that his eldest brother and the Sun family's grandparents were all looking at him. He smiled awkwardly and said, "I was practicing boxing and occasionally yelled a little bit, which disturbed Senior Sun and Miss Sun's rest."

Sun Yunhe smiled and said, "We are up too."

Sun Lingdie noticed that Sun Yanwan had made some progress and was happy for him. She said, "Brother Sun has been practicing boxing all morning, so he must be hungry."

"We still have some mutton left over from yesterday. Let's heat it up and have a meal."

"When we get to the next town, can I treat you to a meal?"

Sun Yanwan smiled and said, "Very good!"

Seeing that there were still embers in the fire, he poked some more, added some dry firewood, took out a piece of dry biscuit, and together with Sun Lingdie, roasted the biscuit and mutton on the fire. He cut the dry biscuit in half, stuffed some mutton into it, and gave one portion to Sun Yunhe first, and then gave another portion to the eldest brother.

Sun Lingdie took the "traditional roujiamo" handed over by Sun Yanwan, took a bite, and smiled, her eyes narrowed into crescents. She said, "I didn't expect there is such a way to eat it. The flavor is really excellent."

Old Man Sun, standing next to him, muttered to himself, "A few days ago, I took you to the best restaurant within a 200-mile radius, and you said the food was crude and not as good as the one our cooks cook at home. How come you've lost your taste now?"

(End of this chapter)