Under the fist

Chapter 30 The Barrier of Martial Arts: External Skill Training

Who would have thought that two people who were once enemies would now join forces against each other?

Lian Youming hadn't expected this.

Xie Laosan was even more surprised.

"This man is a Shaolin outcast. He was apprenticed to a Shaolin monk who went overseas. He is not only proficient in Shaolin Five Elements Fist, but also has mastered the Iron Shirt training method. He has achieved great mastery of Ming Jin. Be careful."

Upon hearing Xie Laosan's words, Lian Youming's eyes flickered, "Ming Jin?"

Xie Laosan grinned. "What? Didn't the old man guarding the mountain teach you how to distinguish between martial arts masters? I told you to follow me, now you're dumbfounded."

Lian Youming did not respond. Yan Lingyun had mentioned a few things about the methods these martial artists used, saying there were three ways to practice.

These are manifest strength, hidden strength, and neutral strength.

These three methods of training are not ranked in any particular order, nor are they a ranking of cultivation levels. As for which is stronger or weaker, it depends on the depth of one's own cultivation.

As I said before, victory and defeat are never determined by words or observation.

Some people are cunning, some are physically strong, some are weak and exhausted, and some are treacherous and unscrupulous. Once they are fighting to the death, very few can follow the rules like Xue Hen and Gong Wu'er. Timing, scheming, environment, adaptability, and even other external factors can all be the key to winning or losing.

Although the white ape was quite skilled, it still managed to capsize in a ditch.

In short, the old and the weak, the young and the strong, women and children, Taoists and monks—this world is a place of constant comings and goings, but who is truly superior can only be known after a fight.

The old man guarding the mountain once said that "silk-reeling energy" is a method of practicing neutralizing energy.

When I first learned about the practice of Youming, I thought it sounded easy, but it turned out to be difficult.

By this time, he had gained a deep understanding of many principles of boxing. In the eyes of a martial artist, the human body is born stiff and clumsy; muscles, bones, flesh, limbs, and bones are all shackles that bind oneself. Just like an ordinary person going from taking their first steps to running and jumping, from clumsiness to agility, it is all a process of breaking free of shackles and transforming clumsiness into skill.

This process reaches its peak when a person grows into their youth or middle age, because at that time their blood and energy are abundant and their muscles and bones are strong.

But once you cross the peak, signs of aging begin to appear, like the setting sun. Your body will become increasingly sluggish, and the shackles will reappear, like being trapped in a cage. In the end, you will simply become slow to move and even find it difficult to take a step.

What martial artists seek is to use "kung fu" to further extend this process of "turning clumsiness into skill," intending to completely break free from the shackles that imprison them, or to slow down the process of declining health and vitality.

Therefore, most martial artists tend to lay a solid foundation when their bodies are just beginning to develop, because the shackles are weak at that time.

As for what this shackle is, according to Lian Youming's current understanding, it is composed of personal barriers and contains many things.

For ordinary people, the gaps between bones and the changes in muscles and tendons are all things to consider. Although the joints of the human body can be moved, they are limited by various angles and are also bound by the muscles. Strongmen, though they are tall and strong, are clumsy in their movements, while dancers are flexible and can usually do some movements that are difficult for ordinary people, but they give up strength.

But these are all obvious and visible.

In that unseen place, within the human body, Lian Youming could feel his own strength rising from his spine, but rapidly diminishing as it reached his hands. This must be because his internal energy was being blocked by a barrier.

Furthermore, the strength of qi and blood, the circulation of internal energy, the changes in blood and marrow, and the strengthening of muscles and bones are all for the purpose of breaking through these barriers and completely shattering one's own shackles.

Therefore, in Lian Youming's view, it is precisely because the human body has various barriers that these three methods of cultivation have emerged.

As for the depth of the training method, it depends on how many barriers have been broken through.

If all the barriers are cleared, one can penetrate the whole body with energy, unifying essence, qi, and spirit, and thus achieve mastery through practice.

Getting back to the main topic, Lian Youming shifted his thoughts and paced back and forth, forming a pincer movement with Xie Laosan, sandwiching Lei Hu between them.

In the firelight, Lei Hu's face contorted into a ferocious expression. His disheveled hair, resembling a golden-red mane, covered his hands with calluses as black and hard as iron, exuding a terrifying aura, making him look like a humanoid beast.

"Hmph, then I'll just send you both on your way!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lei Hu stomped his foot, twisted his waist, and his whole body resembled a leopard pouncing. He stretched his body into an arc, raised his right arm, and actually took the initiative to make a move, throwing a punch at Lian Youming.

fast!
This man was not only burly, but also surprisingly fast. Perhaps fearing that the two of them would attack at the same time, he made the first move.

As the hideous face rapidly approached, Lian Youming felt a chill run down his spine. Without a second thought, he drew his sword and stood ready.

"boom!"

But as the fist struck, a loud bang was heard, and the steel knife in Lian Youming's hand actually bent inward and deformed, twisting into an exaggerated arc.

Good guy.

However, Lian Youming's face showed little panic. He loosened his grip on the hilt of his sword, stepped back, and at the same time, a clear toad-like croaking sound emanated from his chest and abdomen.

Seeing Lei Hu's ugly expression, he quietly clenched his left hand, which was hanging by his side, into a fist with his palm hollow.

Although the old man guarding the mountain had never taught Lian Youming this "Tai Chi Hammer," he had used it in a moment of panic in that dark room. Although it was a poor imitation, he unexpectedly discovered that if the "Silk Reeling Hand" was used in a spiraling, inward-retracting manner, it actually had an extraordinary penetrating power.

I'll use it today to give it a try.

Xie Laosan was already circling around, looking for an opportunity, when Lei Hu suddenly used the force of the recoil to abandon Lian Youming and pounce on him.

"Old man, die!"

With a roar, Lei Hu clenched his fist and slammed it down. His single arm moved with wild and domineering force, his thick, swollen right arm resembling a writhing giant python, pushing forward with his enormous fist. The wind from the punch was sharp and piercing.

But a figure followed closely, like a persistent leech, quickly squeezing in. Lian Youming's expression was solemn, his eyes bright, even showing a hint of excitement. He swiftly stretched out his left hand, lightly touching Lei Hu's fist. With his five fingers spread, he seemed to knead and press, actually wrapping the opponent's attack in a spiraling force in front of him.

He knew he was no match for Xie Laosan in terms of offensive prowess, but in terms of defense, he might be able to hold out for a few more moves.

This move was exactly what Lian Youming had done when he intercepted Xue Hen.

Since I don't have a master, I just learn whatever I see, as long as it's useful.

"Good boy!"

Xie Laosan immediately felt the pressure lessen, let out a long howl, his voice sharp and high-pitched, like an eagle's cry in the sky, and his eagle claws gripped four or five vital points on Lei Hu's throat, chest, armpits, and waist.

This person moved with lightning speed, each move executed flawlessly in one fluid motion.

But despite the seemingly effortless movements, Lian Youming's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.

What's going on?

Is this old man acting against me?

This was because Xie Laosan's every move, when he pressed down with his fingers, only managed to leave a shallow dent and a white mark on Lei Hu's skin, without even breaking the skin. Even the throat, a vital point in the body, was not able to be effective.

Looking at Lei Hu again, the slightest movement of his Adam's apple caused his muscles to instantly come alive, taut and taut like a rock. His tendons seemed to bulge out from his flesh like earthworms, his blood and qi were as powerful as fire, his bones cracked, and his aura was incredibly violent.

Lei Hu's face showed a mocking expression as he stared intently at Lian Youming. "I'll let you block me!"

As he spoke, a pair of fists came crashing down on his chest like a flurry of blows, the force of the punches hitting the air with a "thud".

Lian Youming, breathless and with no time to spare, looked at the fist coming at him, let out a muffled groan, and swung his own fist to meet it.

Xie Laosan changed his move accordingly. Seeing that his opponent's vital points were difficult to hit, he lowered his body and grabbed Lei Hu's right leg with both claws. He then reached straight up and probed between Lei Hu's thighs. His fingers were surging with blood and qi, and looked as hard as iron, with muscles and bones exposed.

"boom!"

"boom!"

"boom!"

……

Amidst the frenzied fists, blood splattered instantly, accompanied by muffled thuds like thunder.

After just one exchange, Lian Youming realized that he had misunderstood Xie Laosan.

These fists were as if they were cast in bronze and iron, and they were also accompanied by powerful punches that were like spears and daggers, which came down like a storm.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged seven or eight punches. Lian Youming felt a burning sensation in his chest and abdomen, and his blood and qi were surging upwards. His fists were also covered in blood.

And what about Xie Laosan?

One of the man's hands was actually trapped between Lei Hu's legs. Just as the other hand was about to reach out, Lei Hu twisted his legs and changed his position, thus neutralizing the attack.

Lian Youming thought to himself, "This is bad. Could it be that Xie Laogui didn't go all out, thinking that they would fight to the death and then he could take advantage of the situation?"

"Cough cough..."

In just a short while, amidst the tremors of his breath, a spurt of blood shot out of his nostrils.

Just as defeat seemed imminent, Lian Youming's tiger-like eyes suddenly widened, as if he had seen something unbelievable.

Behind Lei Hu, a thin, short figure moved with ghostly speed, leaping silently into the air. His face was sinister and fierce, and his eyes were filled with murderous intent.

It turned out to be Xie Laosan.

Wasn't this person locked up?
Before anyone could react, Xie Laosan's left hand, with its five fingers curled inward, flashed across Lei Hu's face.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that Lei Hu's face was contorted, a claw mark ran across his face, blood was flowing rapidly down his cheek, his left eye was wide open, and his right eye had been gouged out.

As for Xie Laosan, he only had one arm left.

He actually cut off his own arm.

Lei Hu was stunned for a moment, then listened.

"what!"

A heart-wrenching scream echoed through the night sky.

Having succeeded in his first move, Xie Laosan advanced instead of retreating, laughing strangely as he pounced on Lei Hu's shoulder, wrapping his left leg around him and reaching out with his single hand.

It wraps around the neck, but probes with another eye.

Another deadly move was unleashed.

"Die to me!"

(End of this chapter)