Chapter 56: Chapter 56 My Father Is an Expert in Teachingli
Translator: Inschain Editor: Inschain
“Let’s start over then,” Qian Quan didn’t mind as he handed the Tai Chi Rabbit back to Zhang Xiang’er.
Taking the Tai Chi Rabbit, Zhang Xiang’er wiped off his lackadaisical and cynical expression. His eyes sharpened like lightning as he focused on Qian Quan’s movements.
“This time, I won’t be careless,” he declared.
Then, with his all strength, he tossed the Tai Chi Rabbit high into the air.
The next moment, he took the initiative and executed a move called “High Horse Stance,” swinging his right hand toward Qian Quan’s face.
Though Tai Chi emphasizes calm and reactive movements, it doesn’t neglect the need for adaptability in actual combat.
Qian Quan’s fingers shaped like a blade as he jabbed at Zhang Xiang’er’s wrist.
Countering with a move called “Double Wind Through the Ears,” Zhang Xiang’er saw Qian Quan lean back. He seized the opportunity and executed a front kick aimed at Zhang Xiang’er’s abdomen.
Zhang Xiang’er sidestepped and raised his knee to counter-kick Qian Quan.
Qian Quan seemed to spring back as if he had built-in coils, Biu Jee streaking like lightning toward Zhang Xiang’er’s eyes.
The late great martial artist, Mr. Bruce Lee, once said that if you’re too slow, you’ll only see the fingers and miss the moon’s radiance.
Fortunately, Zhang Xiang’er was not slow. He deflected Qian Quan’s arm with a Cloud Hand move, intending to trap him using the profound meaning of Tai Chi Circular Movements.
Qian Quan had experienced the principles of Tai Chi: sticking, leading, squeezing, pressing, and rolling. Without engaging in a confrontation with Zhang Xiang’er, he reached out with his other hand to catch the Tai Chi rabbit that had already landed.
Zhang Xiang’er wouldn’t let him catch it and launched a forceful punch.
If Qian Quan had blocked it, a rapid succession of strikes would have followed, and the Tai Chi Rabbit would likely fall freely to the ground, signaling his victory.
But Qian Quan wanted to win more elegantly.
He met the punch with a burst of energy.
Snap!
Their fists collided, sending a shockwave through both combatants as their Qi roiled within them.
It was the first true head-on collision since they began sparring, and although they held back, the moves were no longer feints or probes.
Zhang Xiang’er had practiced Tai Chi for years and deeply understood the philosophy of using softness to overcome hardness. He knew that meeting force with force was against its principles.
However, his extensive travels and diverse experiences had also endowed him with a flexible approach to combat.
After the exchange of blows, Qian Quan and Zhang Xiang’er both retreated, and Qian Quan hooked the Tai Chi Rabbit back toward him with a kick.
Zhang Xiang’er immediately closed the distance.
Qian Quan’s Biu Jee darted out like a striking snake but was deflected by Zhang Xiang’er’s Cloud Hand.
Catching the Tai Chi Rabbit, Qian Quan stood his ground.
And then he said, “I yield.”
Zhang Xiang’er suddenly burst into laughter, “You young man…”
An observer, Bai Yuanzhi, reminded, “Mentor, you should protect the Tai Chi Rabbit!”
Zhang Xiang’er glanced at her, “Why don’t you give it a try?”
Bai Yuanzhi didn’t know what to say.
“This young man is cunning and deceitful. Just dealing with him has already consumed… about 60% of my skills and energy.”
Zhang Xiang’er said while stretching his wrist and eyeing Qian Quan. “Let’s do it one more time. This time, 1 won’t hold back.”
“Fine.” Qian Quan tossed the rabbit over to him.
Zhang Xiang’er caught the rabbit, stuffed it into his pocket, and assumed a Tai Chi starting posture. “Come and take it if you can. If you manage to snatch it, you win.”
Qian Quan was speechless.
Bai Yuanzhi felt completely speechless, thinking that this guy surnamed Zhang was not her Mentor.
Encountering such a strong opponent for the first time, Qian Quan didn’t say much. He launched into a full-force straight Sun Character Thrusting Punch.
Zhang Xiang’er countered with a Slant Flying Pose, redirecting Qian Quan’s force, and replied with a Parting the Wild Horse’s Mane.
Qian Quan steadied his Horse Stance and engaged in close-quarters combat.
Zhang Xiang’er skillfully used Tai Chi to neutralize every force point in Qian Quan’s moves, epitomizing the art of drawing the opponent in, redirecting their force, and following through without losing contact.
Zhang Xiang’er’s Tai Chi indeed shared many similarities with that of Bai Yuanzhi, only more advanced and seasoned.
Qian Quan displayed a variety of skills Hands, Ward Off Hands, Circle Hands, Leading Hands, Pulling Hands, and Card Breaking Hands with an alternating blend of large and expansive movements and close-quarters exchanges, freely and wholeheartedly displaying his skills.
It could be said that since he had learned Wing Chun, this was the most satisfying fight he had ever had.
Bai Yuanzhi, who was watching from the sidelines, was completely absorbed, like a literature enthusiast reading an article that perfectly resonates with their state of mind.
Though her Mentor might not be serious all the time, his skill level was something Bai Yuanzhi looked up to. His Tai Chi was the real deal.
Especially the Parry block and punch he had just executed while transitioning from defense to offense. It was something Bai Yuanzhi felt she could learn from for another three years.
The force originated from the feet, the Dantian (the lower abdomen) trembled, and the spine exerted power, making it difficult to estimate the strength. If it were someone else, they might have already suffered a hidden disadvantage.
Just when Bai Yuanzhi was silently cheering for her Mentor, the Mentor himself was secretly anxious.
He came today to take on disciples. According to the original plan, he intended to use an imposing aura to suppress Qian Quan, offer a faint smile, display his expertise, and then express that Qian Quan had good potential and could become his disciple.
Now, locked in combat with his prospective apprentice, not only did winning seem unlikely, but a momentary lapse could even lead to defeat!
Thinking of this, he suddenly retreated, jumped back crossing his legs, clenched his fists, and aimed a right hook at Qian Quan’s chin.
A Right Hook!
Huh?” Bai Yuanzhi was taken aback. That punch wasn’t Tai Chi.
Qian Quan parried with a backhand slap and suddenly launched a front kick aimed at his opponent’s shin.
It was a Wing Chun “Shadowless Kick,” executed without a sign. Seizing the moment Zhang Xiang’er changed his skills, Qian Quan succeeded in landing the kick.
However, he didn’t follow through with force and pulled back immediately.
Zhang Xiang’er had also withdrawn his move by then and laughed, “Wing Chun really has no way to deal with Tai Chi. It was only when I switched to my beginner-level kickboxing that you found an opening. You did well to seize the opportunity promptly.”
Qian Quan smiled without a word.
Zhang Xiang’er had thought that his sudden change in tactics would catch Qian Quan off guard, but Qian Quan had adapted swiftly and seized that fleeting opening.
Regardless of his martial arts skills, this ability to see the essence through the surface alone was worthy of being called Grandmaster-level.
“Xiaobai told me your martial arts are passed down in your family. Your father must be a top-notch master then, though I’ve never heard of him before.”
“My father is not a master; he’s just good at teaching. He has a knack for turning decay into magic,” said Qian Quan.
“That makes sense. My master fought in his youth and was wounded on the battlefield, so his skills are not what they used to be. But he still managed to train me to be a top-notch martial artist.”
The first half of this sentence caught Qian Quan’s attention, and he curiously asked, “Do you mean your master once fought on a real battlefield?”
“Yes, during the Hundred Regiments Offensive. He killed around a hundred enemies. While clearing the battlefield, he was shot by an enemy who was not yet dead.”
“So he often said that times have changed. Even if one has honed their skills to the level of ‘hearing no evil, seeing no evil, but sensing danger and avoiding it,’ one still can’t face three rifles simultaneously,” narrated Zhang Xiang’er.
Qian Quan nodded in agreement and inquired, “Do you know how old he is this year?”
“He can’t remember himself. But according to his memory, he should be around no years old,” replied Zhang Xiang’er.
“Does he usually practice Tai Chi to stay fit?”
Zhang Xiang’er looked knowingly at Qian Quan. “You want to know the secret to his longevity, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Qian Quan admitted honestly. If there were such secrets, it could be something his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ding, and other elders in the family could learn.
Although Tai Chi has fitness benefits, achieving ideal results might be difficult without incorporating some internal breathing skills.
“Half an hour of Tai Chi every day, consistently for 8o years,” Zhang Xiang’er said, half-jokingly.
Qian Quan chuckled. “I apologize for my intrusive question.”
Returning to her laid-back demeanor, Zhang Xiang’er said, “After coming down from the mountains, many wealthy bosses have asked me privately about skills to enhance male vitality. I told them that daily aerobic exercise for half an hour, supplemented by deep squats and Kegel exercises, would show improvement within two weeks and miraculous results within a month.
“However, not a single one could stick with it. People couldn’t even stick with deep squats and Kegels for two weeks, let alone aerobic exercises. In the end, they opted for medication, which can be lethal if consumed excessively.”
Qian Quan felt a certain subtext to his last statement.
Feeling speechless, Bai Yuanzhi said, “You guys go ahead and chat; I’ll wander over there.”
Zhang Xiang’er waved her hand, letting her go.
Just as Qian Quan was about to say he was leaving, Zhang Xiang’er suddenly became serious. “I have something important to ask you. If you answer truthfully, 1’11 tell you the true method my master uses for fitness.”
“What is it?’
“Was Lin Xiaohuang in the car during that accident last Tuesday?”
“If you’re asking about that, never mind.”
“I already know the full story. 1 just wanted to confirm it with you,” Zhang Xiang’er said.
Qian Quan remained silent.
“What you don’t know is that Lin Xiaohuang is one of the women I’ve loved most in my life. Hence, I am quite concerned about matters relating to her.”
“One of the women you loved most?” Qian Quan couldn’t help but ask.
Zhang Xiang’er nodded and earnestly explained, “Over the years, I’ve interacted with many women, but only two or three have never flirted with me. Ironically, they happen to be the ones I love most.
“So, I think it’s ironic how the passionate are always hurt by the emotionless.”
Qian Quan was speechless.
“Never mind, you’re still young and may not fully grasp the essence of what I’m saying. Anyway, I’m grateful you saved Lin Xiaohuang. Because of that, I’ll share my master’s fitness method with you.
“Let’s add each other as friends now, and I’ll send you the method in a TXT file later.”
Somehow, combining the word “secret method” with “TXT” just drained all the mystique out of it.
It was as if a master told his apprentice, “I will teach you what 1 have learned all my life through the Internet.” It sounded strange!
Putting aside these odd thoughts, Qian Quan and Zhang Xiang’er became friends.
Let me also add you to a group,” said Zhang Xiang’er. “This group is filled with experts; people often share insights in there.”
Qian Quan found himself added to a group named “Top Ten Martial Artists Worldwide,” which strangely had 25 members.
At first glance, it didn’t look like a reliable group.
“Finally, there’s one more thing, a personal matter,” Zhang Xiang’er cleared his throat softly, “1 initially came over to take you as my disciple, but since we fought to a draw, there’s no need to talk about that anymore. Let’s become sworn brothers.”
Qian Quan had no reason to refuse. Setting aside Zhang Xiang’er’s top-notch martial skills and unparalleled Qi flow, his Tai Chi fitness secret skill alone made this an oath worth taking.
“No problem,” Qian Quan agreed readily.
“Great, men of action make decisions swiftly. From this day forth, we are brothers of different surnames!” Saying so, he patted Qian Quan on the shoulder.
Just then, Bai Yuanzhi walked over and asked, “Are you guys done talking?”
“We are, and there’s good news to share. Qian Quan and I have become sworn brothers, so we’re family now.”
Bai Yuanzhi asked “Huh? I just left for a moment, and now I’ve been demoted!”
Zhang Xiang’er laughed, “From now on, Qian Quan is your junior mentor. He can call you Xiaobai like I do.”
Bai Yuanzhi was speechless and she thought to herself, “I really shouldn’t have introduced you two!”
“No, no.” Qian Quan firmly refused.
Feeling somewhat relieved, Bai Yuanzhi thought she finally found someone reliable. Just then, she heard Qian Quan loudly proclaim.
Hi, Yuanzhi.”
Bai Yuanzhi pretended to be angry, “I’m done with both of you!”
“Just kidding, just kidding, Miss Bai!”
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