The life of practicing martial arts is boring and simple, and you can't feel the passage of time.
One day, two bandits who went to Yangzhou to ask for money returned to the village and brought back good news.
The security inside and outside Yangzhou City has been relaxed, and pedestrians can enter and leave the city freely.
A few days ago, they went to Yangzhou to ask for money. Who knew that they couldn't get out after entering the city. A large number of officers and soldiers blocked all the intersections in and out of the city. Not to mention the people, even a fly couldn't fly in and out.
In desperation, the two could only stay dormant in the city and spent several days in fear. Today, they heard that the wind had relaxed, so they tried to leave the city.
Then they returned to the village, and at the same time, they agreed with the people in Zhu's Bookstore to bring money to redeem people in five days, and meet at the pass of Xiaoqing Mountain, with one hand for money and the other for people.
The return of the bandits means that other people can also enter the city, and they can also enter the city to purchase things needed for the wedding.
The wedding of Xia Shang and Yue Haitang has delayed a lot of time. After these days of getting along, most of the bandits have accepted the existence of Xia Shang and his three companions. If it weren't for the rift of the ransom of 100,000 taels, the two groups might have become friends.
If everything goes well, Xia Shang and his companions will leave in five days. The people in the village unanimously decided to set the wedding date of Xia Shang and Yue Haitang in four days.
So, the whole Kuangfengzhai became busy. More than a dozen people went out of the mountains and went to the city to purchase in several groups, and more people were busy decorating the wedding room and the banquet on the wedding day.
The bandits were happy because they hadn't seen such a happy event for a long time. They were more excited than the parties involved.
Mr. Zhuo had nothing to do all day, so he taught the women here some simple medical knowledge and basic skills for treating injuries. He occasionally treated people and had a very high reputation in the village.
In addition to watching Xia Shang practice martial arts every day, Yue Haitang spent more time silently paying attention to everyone and every scene here, observing every small and trivial thing. Sometimes she would blush silently when she thought of the upcoming wedding date.
Xia Shang was even more monotonous, repeating Bajiquan day after day.
Xia Shang was a focused person, otherwise he would not have learned so much messy knowledge. He had been studying martial arts with all his strength in recent days, and thought that with so many years of learning experience, he would be able to easily learn a set of the most basic Bajiquan.
But the result was not satisfactory. Apart from being proficient in a single move, there was no more progress.
The actual combat was just like the beginning. He could only rely on brute force to win against the mountain bandits, and the use of Bajiquan was minimal.
No one expected such a situation.
Even Yue Haitang was wrong. She thought Xia Shang was a good material for martial arts, but this kid seemed to be too smart. He fell on the most basic boxing and could not learn it no matter how hard he tried.
At first, Yue Haitang thought that Xia Shang was not suitable for this set of boxing, so she changed to teach a set of palm techniques, but the result was still the same.
Yue Haitang had given up, thinking that this disciple was really not meant for martial arts, and had never seen such a dull boy.
There were only eight moves in total. When they were used separately, they were very skillful, but when they were combined, they were completely confused. He could do nothing but brute force.
Faced with such a situation, Xia Shang was also very depressed.
He had been a child of destiny since he was a child. In terms of study, he was first-class in all subjects, and all his test scores were the best in the city. He was even more perfect at work, and no work content could be picked out by his boss or colleagues. It can be said that as long as Xia Shang was willing to do and was interested in doing something, he would always do it the best.
Xia Shang always thought that there was nothing in the world that he couldn't do if he wanted to.
But today, his legendary career ended because of martial arts.
He himself didn't know what went wrong. He had clearly followed Yue Haitang's instructions and practiced step by step to become very proficient, but why couldn't he use it in actual combat?
For several days, Xia Shang was troubled by this problem.
Today, Xia Shang finally figured it out.
It's not because he can't practice well, but because the current method is wrong.
Yue Haitang taught the practice method suitable for ancient people, hard work and practice, practice makes perfect. But I have been used to taking shortcuts since I was born, and I am not a person who follows the rules.
After figuring this out, Xia Shang began to meditate by the stream, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath from time to time.
…
The colorful clouds penetrated the clouds and mist, penetrated the mountains and forests, and fell on Xia Shang's face, like a layer of golden sand. The people by the stream were like a stone sculpture, motionless, deceiving the fish in the water, the birds in the sky, and the butterflies in the grass, as if they were integrated with the world, quiet, light, without revealing any sound or edge.
This went on for a long time. Suddenly, a man came and frightened the birds, beasts, fish and insects resting beside Xia Shang and they fled in all directions. Yue Haitang frowned slightly, not knowing what Xia Shang was doing: "What are you doing? Not practicing well, have you given up?"
Xia Shang did not open his eyes and shook his head: "No, I am thinking, I am enlightened."
Yue Haitang frowned even tighter and reminded: "Practicing boxing is not practicing internal skills, but only practicing hard. The fact that you cannot understand it now only proves that you have not practiced enough. Keep practicing, and you will be enlightened one day. Sitting without practicing, enlightenment without moving, like you, is not the way to practice martial arts."
"Little Master, you have your way, and I have mine. They are different."
"Quibbling!"
"At least after this day of meditation, I have gained something in my heart, and it will never be the same as before."
"Really?" Yue Haitang was suspicious.
"Really." Xia Shang opened his eyes and stood up calmly, "If you don't believe me, I can ask someone to come over and demonstrate again."
Yue Haitang was slightly stunned. Xia Shang at this moment was a little different from before. He was calm and composed, his mind was stable, and his spirit was as heavy as a mountain. Isn't this the state of mind as heavy as water that martial artists pursue?
Did he really gain something from meditation?
With a doubt, Yue Haitang said calmly: "Don't bother so much, I will practice with you."
"Master? You... your injury..."
"Don't be so surprised. After these days of cultivation, your body is fine."
"But isn't your power gone?"
"It's just that your internal energy has dissipated, but you won't forget the moves. Do you think I, as a master, am really a useless person? Just do your best. As long as you can touch the corner of your clothes, you win."
"Master, that's not how you brag!"
"Hmph! Try it..."
Before Yue Haitang finished speaking, Xia Shang suddenly attacked.
Although Xia Shang's attack was sudden, it didn't work.
One move failed, then another.
Xia Shang knew that this young master had no internal strength and was definitely not as strong as hers. She could only hide and not fight back, so she didn't have to worry about anything.
Xia Shang threw everything aside and attacked more fiercely. She kept the routine of Bajiquan and used every move on Yue Haitang.
Yue Haitang had no internal strength, but she had a set of exquisite steps. Facing Xia Shang's attack, she easily turned and moved, like a light cloud, visible but not touchable, and she couldn't use all her strength.