Under the fist

Chapter 65 With a free mind, the world is naturally vast.

"It's actually a series of strange forces. Could this 'Earthly Fiend Stance' be a kind of stance training? Seventy-two forms, it really is the Seventy-Two Transformations of Earthly Fiend."

Lian Youming frowned and looked closely. For some reason, after a brief moment of joy, the restlessness he had just suppressed seemed to be rekindling.

At this point, Lian Youming suddenly realized that what he had drawn was just a facade, meant to stir people's minds. If one's mind is not settled, one will only stare at the monkey, always thinking that one can figure out the secrets. The higher one's ambition and the more unwilling one is to admit defeat, the less one can see the truth from the falsehood, and thus become more and more entangled.

"I just don't know if Li Da has found this thing, or if it's different from what I saw."

He had only looked at the paintings, but the words in the book seemed to hold something strange. Should he take another look?

Sudden.

As soon as this thought arose, Lian Youming broke out in a cold sweat on his back for no apparent reason.

wrong.

He seemed to understand something; his pupils contracted sharply, as if he had seen something terrifying.

The key to understanding this book may not lie in the various extraordinary training methods or martial arts techniques hidden within, but rather in the test of one's state of mind and enlightenment.

Lian Youming sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes constantly shifting, becoming unpredictable.

During these times, in order to ponder the contents of the book, he not only spent his mind and energy day and night, but also lost his spirit and wasted his precious years. He really let himself down and felt ashamed.

Moreover, the reason why Lian Youming was able to glimpse a clue in the book this time was not because of his own enlightenment, but because he stumbled upon it by accident.

But the book contains more than one method, and that's the most crucial part.

Previously, he was blinded by a single leaf and couldn't see the whole mountain, still speculating and doubting. But now he knows there are real things inside, good things, and more than one kind.

"More than one... a wandering mind..."

Lian Youming's expression had become extremely solemn.

Oh no, the thief in my heart is growing stronger.

Once there's one method, there will be two. After seeing the first one, he'll only want to figure out the second method, then find the third, and then explore the fourth...

If your mind is all crooked, how can you even talk about practicing martial arts?

"So what if the Seventy-Two Transformations of the Earthly Fiends are there?"

Taking a deep breath, even though the strange force was right in front of him, Lian Youming slowly closed it with a complicated expression, resisting the urge to continue watching.

This is something that cannot be looked at, nor should it be looked at. No matter if it is true or false, no matter how sophisticated it is, it is not something to be looked at now.

Otherwise, once your mind starts racing and your thoughts wander, all your attention will be focused on this book, and then it will be too late to regret it.

"call!"

Lian Youming let out a long breath and pressed the novel heavily under the mattress.

He underestimated Li Da's abilities.

The fact that the other person gave him this book means that this person has either tamed their restless mind and reined in their thoughts, thus understanding all the intricacies of the book, or they haven't even opened it.

If you don't look, you naturally won't want to.

Having high aspirations means being unwilling to admit defeat, but if one's aspirations become so high that they are boundless, they might completely disdain learning from others' methods, because such behavior would be seen as self-denial by some.

If I held an absolute belief in my invincibility, how could I place my hopes on a novel?

Li Da said that if he could figure out the secrets of the book, he could defeat Xue Hen in three to five years. This statement was both a guide and a reminder to him, as well as a way to stir up his wandering thoughts.

"Fuck you."

Lian Youming touched his forehead; it was covered in cold sweat.

But this is both a perilous calamity and a tremendous opportunity.

He is not lacking in offensive and defensive skills, but he must not neglect the fundamentals and covet the training methods of other schools, thus wasting his own knowledge. If he keeps throwing things away and picking them up again, he will only end up empty-handed and lose his spirit, destined to achieve nothing.

He had put down the novel, but the seventy-two small paintings kept swirling in Lian Youming's mind, unconsciously stirring his thoughts and compelling him to take another look and try to unravel their mysteries.

Especially after discovering the "Heavenly Gang Force" and "Earthly Fiend Stakes," this desire seemed to transform into a demon within him, growing infinitely stronger.

Lian Youming's pupils trembled rapidly. He turned off the light, and without thinking, went straight out of the courtyard. He then gave his younger sister and brother a few more instructions before rushing into the twilight and running wildly.

He wanted to get away from that book.

As dusk approached, the sound of bicycle bells rang out on the street. Workers, like fish in the night, dispersed from their gathering point to the scattering of stars, disappearing into the alleyways.

Lian Youming walked along the street, not knowing how far he had gone in one breath, until he saw a large river. He stopped, walked to a deserted corner, and jumped into the river.

Standing in the icy cold river, Lian Youming finally managed to suppress his chaotic and conflicting thoughts.

This is the Ba River.

Lian Youming took a deep breath, moved his hands and feet, and swam away from the bustling city, heading straight for a more remote place.

"If your mind is like a restless monkey and your will like a wild horse, then fight!"

The river wasn't deep, only reaching his chest. Lian Youming's eyes were sinister as he watched the fists rise and fall within a small space.

But his once robust physique now seemed to be trapped in a quagmire, and his once domineering and fierce punches and kicks seemed to have lost their power, as if he were trapped in a cage, just like the thoughts in his heart.

After venting his emotions, Lian Youming not only didn't feel better, but his breathing became labored, his face turned pale, and he seemed to have lost all his strength. He simply lay on the water with his arms and legs spread wide, muttering, "Li Da, what did you do again?"

Just as he was drifting downstream, a strange "caw caw" suddenly came to his ears, startling him.

Lian Youming's body trembled, and he subconsciously reached out to grab it, only to find that it was a wild duck.

Didn't catch.

The wild duck flapped its wings, a small fish still in its beak, startling the water and causing it to fly far away in the blink of an eye.

Lian Youming stood in the water, looking in the direction the wild ducks had flown away. He saw the sun approaching, a sliver of its last rays falling into his eyes, dyeing the sky and the river red. The sunset glowed with the lone wild ducks flying together, the autumn waters merging seamlessly with the vast sky.

Seeing this breathtaking scenery, Lian Youming was stunned for a long time. His eyes trembled, and his gaze moved from the horizon to the front of him, looking at the reflection in the water.

Without speaking or thinking, he gently raised his hands, his eyes thoughtful, and slowly lowered them into the water, just as the old man guarding the mountain had once used the water in the water vat to teach him the "silk-reeling energy," stirring the river water in front of him.

Suddenly, ripples appeared, and crimson clouds rippled.

He already had his own understanding of the word "kung fu".

Hand-to-hand combat is different from firearms, which can kill enemies from hundreds or thousands of meters away. It's all about fighting for the ground on the ground. And wherever the hands and feet can reach, wherever fists and feet strike, that's the world a martial artist has carved out.

This world may seem small, but in the end, it is governed by the human heart, where fists and feet fly, moves rise and fall, and life and death are decided.

Every battle is a struggle for the world beneath one's feet in a small space. It may seem like a fight of fists and feet, but countless changes can occur at will. The fighting style is fixed, but the human heart is flexible.

Looking at his reflection in the water, Lian Youming murmured to himself, "We must broaden our horizons and open our minds; we must never be fixated on form."

To transform the finite into the infinite, to develop infinite fighting styles within a finite distance, is a contest of fists and feet, but what truly matters is the thought process within one's heart. This is the way of everyone.

He suddenly sucked in his breath, and his originally thick and taut arms softened little by little, as if being gently turned or closed, and his fierce and domineering punches slowed down thanks to the autumn water in front of him.

In an instant, an undercurrent began to rise in the water, swirling rapidly.

Lian Youming's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Following the flow of the water, he wrapped his hands around and caught a swimming fish.

Even though it was in the water, the fish kept circling around, as if there was an invisible barrier around it, preventing it from swimming out.

No, it swam out.

Lian Youming submerged his hands in the water and spun them like a ball, but his strength was not yet fully developed, leaving a gap that allowed the fish to escape.

But the fish escaped, and he laughed.

"When the mind is free from constraints, the world becomes vast."

At that moment, Lian Youming's mind clicked, and he felt as if the stagnant energy was like an endless river before him. He couldn't help but let out a wild roar, "Ah!"

Even the Golden Bell Shield broke through at this moment.

When your heart is at peace, your temper will also be at peace.

The Heart Sutra is clear.

"Who is it, yelling like that?"

On the riverbank, someone was startled by the whistling sound. When they looked in the direction of the sound, they saw only ripples on the river surface and no sign of anyone.

……

back home.

Lian Youming saw that his parents had already returned.

Zhao Lanxiang seemed delighted to have her son return home, and was even singing a song, but when she saw Lian Youming's soaking wet appearance, her expression changed slightly, and she hurriedly asked, "You didn't go fighting again, did you?"

Lian Youming wiped his face. "How could that be? I went for a swim in the Ba River to exercise. It was very refreshing."

Finally, he pulled two crucian carp out of his pocket, "Perfect for making soup for the two of them."

Zhao Lanxiang said irritably, "It's almost snowing, why are you swimming? What if you get frostbite?"

Lian Youming smiled but didn't say anything. Instead, he went back to his room to change his clothes, without even glancing at the place under the bed where he kept the Journey to the West book.

Once he broke through the Golden Bell Shield, he felt as if his body had shrunk inwards again. It wasn't that he became shorter, but rather that his muscles were becoming tighter and tighter, making him look more upright.

Zhao Lanxiang took a towel and retrieved the warmed-up lunchbox. While Lian Youming was drying his hair, she said, "Mom and Dad have something to discuss with you later."

Out of curiosity, Lian Youming asked, "What are you discussing?"

"What can we discuss? You're not getting any younger. I just want to ask you whether you want to continue your studies or get a job?" As he spoke, his father walked in from the yard carrying a bottle of wine and several boxes of food. He sat down at the table. "I have an old acquaintance at the steel factory. He was injured a while ago and was preparing to retire. I went to have a drink with him and we discussed it. I can let you take his place, but it will cost some money."

Lian Youming asked, "A steel mill? How much will it cost?"

After a moment of silence, Lian's father said, "Twelve hundred yuan."

Lian Youming raised an eyebrow and exclaimed, "What the hell? Dad, this is supposed to be an acquaintance? Are we having a hard time making ends meet?"

Zhao Lanxiang scolded, "What do you know, child? Jobs in the city are extremely scarce right now. So many people beg and plead but can't get in. And this is a steel mill; normally you can't even get in by bribing people."

Lian Youming sighed, "Aren't you going to discuss this with me? Why are you only talking about the steel mill? I want to study."

Lian's father lit a cigarette and said calmly, "Studying is a good thing, but that daughter of the Chen family, after graduating from university, is still working in a state-run restaurant, and she doesn't even earn as much as your mother in a month."

Lian Youming has no intention of taking up the post now. He sighed sadly and said, "Fine, I'll go to the post office tomorrow and call my Aunt Shen and Uncle Qin, and tell them that you two won't let me go to school."

"Hey, you dare threaten me, kid." Lian's father was silent for a few seconds, sighed, then chuckled and stubbed out his cigarette. "Come on, let's go outside and have a spar. If you can beat your old man, you can make your own decisions from now on."

Lian Youming had been waiting for this day for a long time. He laughed and said, "Dad, you said that there is no father and son under the fists. If I knock you down today, don't try to cheat me. Don't say it's cold and slippery later."

Lian's father glared at him, "You little brat, I'll give you a handicap."

Lian Youming glared at him, "I'll give you a two-handed advantage."

"Holy crap, let's go."

"Just leave."

Watching the father and son lift the curtain and go out, Zhao Lanxiang stomped her feet in anger.

"I just changed my clothes."

(End of this chapter)