Let the true energy circulate for a while

……

"What is my mother going to Los Angeles for?" Chen Ye asked.

As Chen Jianbin set the prepared food on the table, he said, "When they were building a high-rise in the new district of Luocheng, they unearthed a large tomb. The exploration team there was short-handed, so your mother was temporarily called over to help."

"Oh, isn't my mom supposed to be giving academic presentations at her workplace? She's also going to work at the grassroots level?"

"Hey, the more people go, the more subsidies you get. Your mom isn't an official, she's not part of the system. It's always been the case that if the leader says one thing, the subordinates run themselves ragged."

Chen Jianbin lowered his voice: "It's probably because the person in charge at their unit wants to scam more research funding or something."

Chen Ye said, "I once heard my uncle say that in his hometown, if the county magistrate was short of money, he would have people secretly dig up the river embankment at night, coerce and bribe the local gentry to write a petition, claiming that the river embankment had overflowed and destroyed farmland... to ask the imperial court for money."

Chen Jianbin smirked, "How does your martial uncle know all this so clearly?"

"My uncle is the son of the county magistrate; in today's terms, he's a second-generation official."

"Then how did he end up hanging out with you guys?"

"His father was ultimately sentenced to be cut in half at the waist."

"Today, we won't talk about the cancellation."

After dinner, Chen Ye volunteered to wash the dishes and tidy the table.

Chen Jianbin tried on the night clothes, looked at himself in the mirror, and felt really impressed.

The black bodysuit, somewhat similar to Spider-Man's full-body suit, has a pair of pointed ears on its head, like wolf ears.

Chen Jianbin put on a mask and turned his head to look at the living room: "Son, how did it go? Did anyone recognize you?"

Chen Ye's eyes widened, and he shook his head frantically.

"Dad, are you sure you want us to go out dressed like this?"

The latter struck a few poses but didn't answer. As a veteran security guard in an administrative role, Chen Jianbin was exhausted by all sorts of inspections and formalism every day; he felt it was a waste of his life!

Chen Ye picked up the examination report from the hospital and looked at it carefully again. Should he have his brain checked?

"Father, perhaps we should just forget about it."

"My father doesn't have much time left. If he can't cultivate the true qi you mentioned..."

Chen Ye sat cross-legged opposite Chen Jianbin and said seriously, "Dad, your condition isn't that serious. Also, you need to practice your skills gradually."

Chen Jianbin looked up: "But I didn't sense even a trace of true energy!"

"Stretch out your hand, like this—"

Chen Ye stretched out his hands, and the father and son sat cross-legged facing each other, their palms clasped together, just like Yang Guo practicing martial arts with Xiaolongnu in a martial arts film.

"Close your eyes, focus your attention, and I'll try to heal you with my inner energy!"

Chen Jianbin felt a warm energy emanating from his son's palm, which flowed into his body, making him feel as if he were soaking in warm water.

Gradually, wisps of steam rose from Chen Jianbin's head... layer upon layer impacting his crown chakra, as if secreting large amounts of dopamine and endorphins.

Very high.

……

The following evening, Chen Jianbin came to find Chen Ye after get off work, and they went to the hospital for a follow-up appointment together.

In the consultation room, the psychiatrist asked Chen Jianbin privately about his recent changes in sleep, mood, and thinking.

After a preliminary assessment, the doctor ordered a brain CT scan, a complete blood count, thyroid function tests, and electrolyte tests…

In the office, after a consultation with specialists, the doctor spoke earnestly to Chen Ye:

"Based on the medical history, mental examination, and auxiliary examination results, your relative has been preliminarily diagnosed with a somatic tumor that causes metabolic disorders in the body. This, combined with the psychological stress he experienced from the disease, has led to temporary abnormalities in brain function."

Chen Ye didn't quite understand and asked, "Is it a mental illness?"

The doctor said, "This is a type of mental illness, and he has already developed symptoms. To put it simply, your father is currently only experiencing emotional agitation. You need to control this and avoid putting pressure on him to prevent it from developing into schizophrenia."

"Thank you, doctor. I understand."

"In the current situation, medication is not very effective. At home, try to go along with his emotions and don't go against him. Your father's problem is not serious."

In the end, the doctor prescribed a few boxes of "Good Wife Calming Oral Solution" and told Chen Ye to buy it at the pharmacy near the entrance.

When Chen Ye left the hospital, he told his father everything the doctor had said.

Chen Jianbin, however, seemed unconcerned. He glanced at the endless stream of vehicles outside the hospital and smiled faintly.

"Son, in today's society, any middle-aged man who comes to the hospital for a mental health checkup will find out that he has some mental health issues, more or less."

"Dad, you don't actually have a mental illness, you're just tired."

It was another pleasant day.

Chen Jianbin still hasn't mastered true qi and hasn't made any progress, but he hasn't given up.

I watched some of Jack Ma's speeches when he was young: Never give up.

I watched another clip of the Sword Immortal from Shushan Asking the Way.

Chen Jianbin sat cross-legged on the bed, suddenly asking, "Son, do you think I need background music when I meditate?"

"What background music is playing?"

Chen Jianbin remained silent and played the background music from Hu Ge's version of "Chinese Paladin" when the Drunken Sword Immortal made his entrance.

"Son, sometimes I envy you. At least you've lived a carefree life."

Chen Ye chuckled, wanting to say something, but ultimately chose to remain silent.

In that instant, Chen Jianbin acted like a son, while Chen Ye behaved more like a father comforting him.

Chen Jianbin murmured, "Dad was young once too. He liked to read martial arts novels, such as those by Jin Yong, Gu Long, Liang Yusheng, and Huang Yi. Back then, he often fantasized about himself riding a horse and wielding a sword, roaming the martial arts world."

"My workplace is so boring, it's all the same old trivial stuff all day long. I thought being a security guard would be cool, like I could handle guns, but... sigh."

He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. "This is what I wrote at work during the day," Chen Jianbin read aloud.

"In fine clothes and on a spirited horse, I roamed the world, singing and wielding my sword, slaying enemies and eliminating evil. After accomplishing my task, I would dust off my clothes and leave, concealing my merits and fame, laughing at the many troubles of the world. Who would have thought that my temples would turn gray, and that I would have wasted half my life, leaving only exhaustion? Helplessly, I am like a frog at the bottom of a well. In whose world is the martial world now?"

Chen Ye fell completely silent. This was his father's obsession, and perhaps it was also the obsession of contemporary men born in the 1980s. They all shared a dream of chivalry, a dream of becoming a great hero.

"Son, is traveling the world fun?"

"Fun!"

"Oh, I really want to experience what it's like to be a knight-errant."

Looking at his father's longing eyes, Chen Ye felt a mix of emotions, his thoughts unsettled.

He took out his night clothes and held them in his hands.

"Father, shall we take a trip into the martial world?"

In a flash, Chen Jianbin stood up, his eyes shining brightly!

To make his father understand, Chen Ye treated it as just playing with him. That night, the father and son changed into their battle gear and walked through the darkness.

"Come with me, I know all the security cameras in the old town area like the back of my hand."

Chen Jianbin led Chen Ye out of the alley behind the apartment building, around to the low wall of demolition, and over the pile of bricks. Although his movements were a little clumsy when he landed, he was filled with a strange excitement.

Chen Ye sighed: "As long as you're happy."

They first went to Shihe Park, but in the middle of the night, there wasn't a soul in sight except for couples in the bamboo grove.

The night is like ink, full of stars.

Neon lights adorn the city's night, keeping it awake and constantly agitating.

Two dark figures walked close to the eaves of the shops along the street. As they passed the bar street, deafening music wafted out from the cracks in the doors.

Fashionably dressed young people strolled by in twos and threes, the air filled with the scents of alcohol and perfume, reminiscent of Chen Ye's former life in the underworld, yet also unlike it.

There were a few drunk men by the roadside whistling at two people dressed in black and wearing hoods.

They went to the old winery Shentai Wholesale Market and then to Qinglong Street.

"When I was young, this area was very chaotic. Back then, Hong Kong gangster movies like 'Young and Dangerous' were popular. It's a pity that Tsing Lung Street is no longer the Tsing Lung Street it used to be."

Chen Jianbin looked around warily, then shook his head in disappointment.

"Forget about fighting, there wasn't even a group gambling."

Most of the shops along the street were closed, and the few pedestrians who came home late were also in a hurry.

The streetlights cast long shadows of the two of them. They went to Shihe Park, to the old Pingqiao power plant, and to the infamous unfinished building near the North Ring Road.

Unfortunately, Xincheng is surprisingly safe! It doesn't feel like Philadelphia from Batman at all.

Chen Jianbin was disappointed that no incident occurred that allowed him to fight against injustice and uphold justice.

It was around 11:58 p.m. at night, by the Shihe River.

The father and son stood side by side in the grass along the river, looking at the myriad lights on the opposite bank, the city's false prosperity reflected in the water.

Chen Jianbin sighed, "Why don't we go back to sleep?"

"Wait! Someone's coming!" Chen Ye grabbed his father and squatted down.

Chen Jianbin parted the grass and saw several young men surrounding a middle-aged man in a mandarin jacket along the riverbank, under the bridge pier.

"Huang Hongxiong?"

"You know him?" Chen Ye asked, puzzled.

"Yes, I know him. He's the Wing Chun instructor at your Uncle Tang's martial arts gym. We even had drinks together last month. Hmm, it seems like they had a fight."

……

……

[An hour ago], Tang Long had a drinking party.

I invited some friends from the media industry.

Huang Hongxiong was initially reluctant to participate in the event, but as the main character tonight, he had no choice but to go.

He's been very depressed these past two days. Yesterday, he went to the hospital and waited outside the operating room for several hours.

When Zhang Baiwei was wheeled out of the operating room, the anesthesia hadn't worn off yet, and he looked very weak.

Huang Hongxiong felt like he was living in a dream.

Manager Wu and Tang Long paid the money, and that was the end of that matter.

They didn't mistreat Zhang Baiwei either, giving him a considerable amount of money.

As for whether Zhang Baiwei will rely on Huang Hongxiong for the rest of his life after being discharged from the hospital, it's hard to say.

Huang Hongxiong still remembers the look in Zhang Baiwei's eyes as he lay in the hospital bed; it was a mixture of fear and confusion.

When Zhang Baiwei woke up, the first thing he said to him was: "Old Huang, you lied to me."

These words echoed in Huang Hongxiong's ears, causing him to lose sleep.

Ultimately, everyone's in it for the money.

Thinking about it carefully, it's not shabby at all.

To put it simply, Huang Hongxiong is no longer the same as before. That punch shocked his two bosses!

Huang Hongxiong sometimes wondered if he had activated some kind of superpower in an emergency.

After drinking about half a jin of baijiu (Chinese liquor), Huang Hongxiong made an excuse and left early.

He could probably guess what would happen next: singing, taking a bath, washing his feet, and then taking another bath.

Huang Hongxiong must now maintain his image as a righteous master and not leave any stain on his reputation!

There are currently two opposing views within the industry.

One type is: a scammer!

One possibility is that Huang Hongxiong is a peerless master, and he's no longer pretending; he's revealed his true colors.

Huang Hongxiong was perfectly fine; he was just strolling along the riverbank on his way home, trying to shake off the effects of the alcohol.

As a result, they ran into three clueless young men who came to expose the fraud.

At the bridge pier, three young men surrounded Huang Hongxiong, and one of them was recording a video with his phone flashing.

When someone becomes famous, others will try to piggyback on their fame, and when others do, trouble will follow!

The so-called fight against counterfeits is also a mutually beneficial effort.

One of them rolled up his sleeves and shouted:

"My name is Peng Le. Last year, I was among the top eight in the 65kg category of the provincial amateur combat sports league. I fight in kickboxing and MMA."

Huang Hongxiong staggered, reeking of alcohol, and slurred, "What are you young people trying to do? Let me tell you, I've been drinking."

Peng Le waved his hand and said sarcastically, "It's a misunderstanding, Master Huang. I've come to become your apprentice."

Huang Hongxiong took out his phone, turned on the screen, and swiped a few times:

"Want to become an apprentice? Scan this QR code, register an account on our Dragon Fist Fitness mini-program, and pay the registration fee."

Someone shouted, "Brother Le, let's take him down! I'm recording this! I've never seen anyone who can fight with traditional martial arts! Another fraudster, exposing him will make us a little famous too!"

"His traditional martial arts are touted as miraculous online, but it's obviously fake!"

Huang Hongxiong was taken aback. "Young man, don't be impulsive."

Two young men nearby started yelling and making a fuss.

"Master Huang, come on, let's practice."

"You chickened out, huh?"

All three of them practice martial arts. Over the years, they haven't made much money and have accumulated a lot of injuries from training. Now that Huang Hongxiong has become popular online, the three of them discussed it and decided to seize this opportunity.

Huang Hongxiong said, "I don't want to be forced to use my internal energy to hurt you."

One of the men joked, "Internal energy? Show me the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms later! See if you can even create special effects!"

Huang Hongxiong was speechless for a moment, then retorted, "If you really want to fight, let's go to the Dragon Fist Fighting Gym tomorrow. I, Huang, have been drinking, so it's inconvenient for me to make a move today."

After a pause, the "kung fu master" said earnestly, "You are still young and don't understand many principles. Today, let's not compete in martial arts, but in ideas, shall we?"

The three young people looked surprised and exchanged glances.

Huang Hongxiong said earnestly, "You young people must understand that there are always mountains beyond mountains. Once you cross a mountain, your horizons will broaden. If a person cannot tolerate the goodness or brilliance of others..."

Peng Le, seething with resentment, interrupted sharply, "You've got a whole repertoire of clever words!! No wonder making money is harder than eating shit these days! Turns out it's all the money going to people like you!"

"We brothers train in combat sports, work hard in matches, but we haven't made much money; all we've gained are injuries all over our bodies!"

"Yeah, Brother Le, that slick, oily-haired old Deng, he made a skit, spouted some nonsense, and became famous!"

Why should I?!

Peng Le wants to thoroughly expose these frauds and seize this opportunity to take off.

Capitalizing on this surge in traffic, he also ventured into social media, arranging a complete package of activities including live streaming, product sales, and even accepting gigs from GG.

Peng Le moved his neck from side to side and jumped up and down in place: "Fight me, and if I win, I'll pay the registration fee."

Huang Hongxiong adopted a Wing Chun stance, turning left and right: "What? You three want to attack together? Have you no sportsmanship?"

At that moment, a rustling sound came from the grass along the river.

Everyone turned their heads to look, and saw a man dressed in black and wearing a mask walking slowly towards them.