Under the fist

Chapter 8 Crisis, Refining Strength

The next day.

In a daze, Lian Youming heard Yu Wen and Yu Wu making a ruckus again. But this time the two brothers were not playing around. Instead, Liu Dabiao had developed a high fever, probably due to an infection in his wound. He was now talking nonsense, babbling incoherently like a shaman.

Platoon Leader Yang came over, took a look, his expression changed, and without lingering for a moment, he sent the person down the mountain.

Lian Youming, on the other hand, was completely unharmed despite his numerous cuts and bruises; he remained energetic and vigorous, able to eat and sleep well.

However, given the incident last night and the fact that he was injured while saving people, he naturally deserved the treatment of an injured person and was granted a day off to have his injuries observed.

Watching Liu Dabiao being carried out in a flurry of activity, Lian Youming lost all interest in sleeping. Seeing that it was still dark, he washed up and began practicing grappling and combat techniques in the open space outside the dormitory.

"I never imagined that martial arts could be so powerful."

He is still amazed by everything he saw last night.

The old man guarding the mountain was over a hundred years old, yet he could kill even a top predator like the Amur leopard before it could react. It was truly unbelievable.

"Could it be some kind of old demon in human skin? Can practicing martial arts really turn you into a god?"

Although he was lost in thought, the passion in his heart burned ever brighter.

And there's Xie Laosan.

This White Lotus sect heretical figure disguised among the people.

Lian Youming was quick-witted and had already figured some things out.

The instigator of last night's incident was undoubtedly the other party.

As for why, it's simple; it's probably for the old man who guards the mountain.

Those wild beasts move silently and suddenly, most likely to test the waters.

Test what?
Thinking back to what Xie Laosan said yesterday, this old man who guards the mountain has been here for sixty or seventy years. Such a person, a top-notch expert, is willing to stay in this remote primeval forest; there must be another reason.

Is it to be keeping a secret?

Or is it guarding something?
It seems that only in this way can we understand Xie Laosan's motives.

Moreover, just from what happened last night, it's clear that Xie Laosan is ruthless and vicious. If it weren't for the old man guarding the mountain intervening, he and Liu Dabiao would have been eaten by those wild beasts.

This person harbored ulterior motives, yet he had concealed them for so many years, simply because he feared his own strength was insufficient to defeat the old man guarding the mountain. Therefore, he could only wait and endure until his opponent grew old and frail, and his strength waned, at which point he would naturally have a chance of victory.

So last night, Xie Laosan wanted to use these educated youths as bait to test how much strength the old man guarding the mountain still had and how long he could live.

"This old thing."

Thinking of this, Lian Youming broke out in a cold sweat, shivered, and his eyes darkened.

If the old man guarding the mountain had not been a match for Xie Laosan last night, or had shown any signs of weakness and exhaustion, would all the people in the forest farm have died?

No.

wrong.

Lian Youming's casual expression vanished instantly, replaced by a solemn look.

Because the old man guarding the mountain showed signs of exhaustion last night.

He was only guessing, but the old man guarding the mountain must have known the other party's scheme. Since they were enemies, he should naturally take their lives to prevent future troubles. However, the old man guarding the mountain did not pursue them, but retreated.

This shows that this person's strength is not what it used to be, and he is no longer confident of victory.

That would be terrible.

Last night was just a test; it won't be long before Xie Laosan decides to kill him.

Once the fighting starts, these people in the forest farm will have no chance of survival.

These are all ordinary people, unaware that they have unwittingly been drawn into an unimaginable battle in the martial arts world.

The sudden crisis made Lian Youming feel like he had a thorn in his side and a fishbone stuck in his throat, making him very irritable.

As the saying goes, when the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer as well.

He had witnessed the methods of these extraordinary people before. If they really started fighting, Xie Laosan could kill them as easily as pulling weeds. With his beast-driving technique to cover it up, no one would know.

And what if that old man has accomplices?

No.

Now that we've discovered the clues, we can't just sit idly by and wait for our doom.

Lian Youming swallowed hard, then suddenly turned and walked towards the open space behind the canteen.

He's not one to beat around the bush; he'd rather be straightforward and speak frankly.

Even if that person is fierce, they can't just kill him over a disagreement, right?

By this time, dawn had broken. Although Lian Youming had mustered his courage, he still felt some resistance when he thought of the old man guarding the mountain's fierce-looking face.

"Hey kid, what are you doing here?"

Before they could even step inside, the old man guarding the mountain's chilling voice drifted over.

The man stood in the shadows like a ghost, staring intently at him.

Lian Youming hesitated for a moment, "Senior, may I go inside to talk?"

The old man guarding the mountain remained expressionless and silent for a moment before coldly saying, "Come in."

Lian Youming relaxed and cautiously entered the earthen house where the old man was.

The room was surprisingly empty, with only a futon, a dim lamp, and a wooden table with several memorial tablets on it; there wasn't even a place to sleep.

Lian Youming glanced at the memorial tablets without making a sound, and could only vaguely make out the words "Marquis Yang Ban".

"Speak your mind, or shut up." The old man guarding the mountain said impatiently, his hands behind his back.

Lian Youming took a deep breath, met the other party's eyes which seemed to devour him, and tentatively said in a soft voice, "I can help you."

The old man guarding the mountain was taken aback, then his face turned sneer. "Kid, with your quack tales, you should go back and play in the mud instead. You're not worthy to team up with me."

"So you knew all along?" Lian Youming sensed something different in his tone, his eyes flashing. "Then why didn't you make a move last night?"

The old man guarding the mountain took a few steps and sat down on the futon. He said calmly, "It's alright to tell you. Last night, there was more than one person lurking around. There was one in the open and another in the shadows. Their presence was extremely well hidden. Once I made a move, it would affect everything. Although I am not afraid of death, you people are likely to be in grave danger."

After saying that, the old man added with a forced smile, "Besides, people are cunning. Who knows if you, young man, also have your own schemes?"

Lian Youming frowned and remained silent for a long time, as if he was thinking about how to respond to those words.

The old man sat facing the wall, his back to the wooden door, like a clay statue. "However, you are a smart man. You didn't go looking for that Yang kid right away, nor did you think of running down the mountain."

Lian Youming raised an eyebrow; he wasn't stupid.

Xie Laosan has been hiding for so many years, he must be very familiar with Platoon Leader Yang and his men. If he were to speak up, not only would he alert them, but if they had accomplices, they might act rashly and cause another disaster.

As for getting down the mountain, in this weather, putting aside everything else, if he gets lost, he could freeze to death. Besides, when the old man guarding the mountain rescued him last night, he uttered the words "White Lotus Sect."

Xie Laosan had been lying low for many years, and since he had a plan, he certainly wouldn't allow any unexpected events to occur. He wouldn't kill him, but he also wouldn't let him go to get reinforcements. At the very least, he wouldn't let him go down the mountain before the other party made their move.

"So, you deliberately tried to harm me." Lian Youming's face was ashen. The old man guarding the mountain sneered, "But I saved you."

Lian Youming also lost his temper, his face cold, "You just wanted to tie me to your shabby boat last night because you saw I knew some martial arts. I bet you weren't confident of victory either, and you're in a hurry to find help. It's a pity you don't have any real experts, but you do have a wild fox Zen."

Having his thoughts exposed, the old man guarding the mountain narrowed his eyes, his beard and hair standing on end, as if he were truly enraged.

However, just as Lian Youming was filled with fear, the old man in front of him smiled again, "You have a clever mind, but unfortunately you didn't use it in the right place. To be honest, I never intended to join forces with anyone. Saving you was just a side thing. As for dragging you into this mess, it was simply because I suspected you and that Xie Laosan were cut from the same cloth, and I wanted to test you... Now it seems that's not the case."

Lian Youming took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "What exactly are you guarding this place for?"

The old man guarding the mountain suddenly stopped laughing. His eyes and tone were calm as he said, "Fine, whoever finds out about this will die. Are you sure you want to know?"

Although the other party spoke lightly, Lian Youming felt an indescribable, terrifying killing intent, like a bone-deep infection enveloping him.

Lian Youming's face paled. "Can you stop putting on airs like a master? Just tell me what we should do now? Will they kill the people from the forest farm?"

"It's hard to say." The old man guarding the mountain shook his head first, then surprisingly uttered another sentence, "The master hiding in the shadows is among you people."

"what?"

Lian Youming was truly taken aback.

The old man's implication was that there were also martial arts masters hidden among the educated youth.

"How could this be?" Lian Youming's expression kept changing, filled with surprise and doubt.

The old man guarding the mountain scoffed, "You're making a fuss over nothing. That person must have used some kind of collarbone disguise to deceive people."

Lian Youming asked in a deep voice, "What do I need to do?"

The old man guarding the mountain shook his head. "You'd better pray for yourself. Others may not die, but you're in some danger... Or, you can help me kill Xie Laosan."

Lian Youming's eyes widened. "What's the difference between this and sending me to my death?"

The old man glanced at him sideways. "Fool, there are many ways to kill someone. Who told you to kill someone openly and honestly?"

Lian Youming frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

The old man guarding the mountain had a glint in his eyes. “If it works, great. If not, find somewhere to hide.”

Lian Youming said coldly, "Then I'll go find Platoon Leader Yang and tell him about this."

"No way." The old man guarding the mountain glared at Lian Youming. "They might survive if they don't know, but if they get involved, they're guaranteed to die."

Lian Youming frowned. "Anyway, I don't want to get involved in your affairs. But no matter what, I will not sit idly by and wait to die. Whoever wants to kill me, I will kill them."

He paused slightly, then his eyes suddenly lit up. "Otherwise, I'll use a gun. I'll secretly fire a shot while we're hiking in the mountains, and his head will be blown off."

The old man guarding the mountain fell silent upon hearing this, and after a long while he said, "How confident are you? That Xie Laosan is a skilled gunman. You only have one chance to make a move. If you fail, he might become enraged and start a massacre, and all the people in the forest will die."

Upon hearing about the risks, Lian Youming thought for a moment and said, "I have another brilliant idea."

"tell me the story!"

The old man guarding the mountain looked over, his eyes burning with anticipation.

Looking into the old man's weathered eyes, Lian Youming said with an extremely solemn expression, "That is... you will pass on all your knowledge to me. Once I have mastered the invincible martial arts, I guarantee I will wipe them out one by one."

Upon hearing this, the old man guarding the mountain's face twitched, his lips moved silently, as if he were uttering some foul language.

Seeing that the old man did not respond, Lian Youming continued without changing his expression: "Then I'll compromise. You teach me two unique skills. I don't want the common ones; I want the kind that will amaze everyone, truly exceptional..."

As they were talking, the old man guarding the mountain suddenly became breathless and his body trembled. His aged face lost all color and was covered with a layer of ashen gray that only the dead have. His emaciated body was shrinking and becoming shriveled.

Lian Youming was startled by the other party's reaction. "Senior, I was just joking with you. Don't worry, it concerns life and death. Even if there's only one chance, I have to try."

The old man guarding the mountain remained silent, instead sitting cross-legged on the futon, taking deep breaths. With each exhale and inhale, an indescribable stench of decay instantly filled the air, as if the man were already dead, his internal organs decayed, and his intestines rotten.

Strangely, this person's aura shifted; his previously ashen complexion visibly became rosier, and his withered body swelled considerably.

Only after exhaling a final wisp of foul, gray smoke did the old man reopen his eyes.

To Lian Youming's surprise, the first thing this person said upon opening his eyes was, "Okay, I can teach you... Come to me at 2 AM every night from now on. You don't have much time, so how much you learn depends entirely on your talent..."

……

When Lian Youming returned to the dormitory, everyone else had already left.

His casual and nonchalant expression vanished, replaced by a solemn and serious demeanor.

What bad luck.

He wanted to learn martial arts, but he never expected to get involved in such deadly conflicts in the martial arts world.

Although Xie Laosan was not a good person, the old man guarding the mountain could not be trusted easily.

This person has kept a secret for so many years; who knows if he'll eventually kill them to silence them?

You can't gamble; you have to rely on yourself.

Lian Youming sat on the bed with two sheets of brocade spread out in front of him. His eyes narrowed slightly. Although he had figured out some of the tricks of this thing, he had not actually tried it yet.

After a slight hesitation, Lian Youming slowly began to breathe in and out his own breath.

"Three Yin Earthly Fiend Force".

According to the markings on the portrait, the Three Yin Meridians are the six meridians of the "Hand Three Yin" and "Foot Three Yin," encompassing the vital organs of the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.

"Tongue touches the palate, cheeks puff out, saliva is drawn in, breath enters the throat and tongue, spirit travels to the three yin meridians..."

After silently reciting the incantation, Lian Youming tried again.

He held his breath, focusing intently on his throat, and instantly felt his chest and abdomen pounding, as if his heart and lungs were also vibrating. His previously steady breathing became erratic, and within seconds, Lian Youming was covered in sweat.

Without a moment's hesitation, Lian Youming opened his eyes and then closed them again to try.

This time, he slowed his breathing as much as possible, cleared his mind of all distractions, and began to breathe in and out again.

Then came the third time, the fourth time...

Strange, truly bizarre.

After several attempts, Lian Youming's face grew paler and paler, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

With each inhalation and exhalation, he discovered a strange rhythm hidden within the invisible breath.

This rhythm rises and falls, sometimes heavy, sometimes light, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, arising from the surging of breath, and also giving rise to a strange force, like invisible little hammers constantly striking the muscles through which the breath flows. However, this force is weak when light, and can damage the internal organs when heavy. The deeper one goes, the more the surging rhythm spreads, and even the internal organs and intestines resonate with it.

"Could this be the secret?"

Despite recognizing the extraordinary nature of this breathing technique, Lian Youming could not find the most suitable rhythm. The strange energy he generated was also inconsistent in strength. When it was weak, it was fine, but when the rhythm became strong, he felt a sharp pain in his throat and tongue, as if he had swallowed a steel knife, and his heart and lungs felt like they were being pricked by needles.

Moreover, the more he tried, the hungrier he felt when practicing Youming. He was originally full of energy, but after practicing for less than half an hour, he was sweating profusely and his spirits were low.

Realizing something was wrong, he hurriedly put away the brocade and searched the dormitory for anything edible, wolfing it down. But that wasn't enough. Lian Youming stumbled to the canteen and, under the astonished gazes of the female educated youth, ate eight bowls of thin porridge, a dozen or so cornbread buns, and a cooked wild boar leg, stuffing his stomach until it was round.

"What a weird thing! No wonder it needs to be combined with dietary supplements; I'm starving..."

(End of this chapter)