Chapter 231: Chapter 221: Pan Yue
Zhao Lin recognized him at a glance. The man before him, Elder Pan Yue, was the same white-robed elder who had paid him a visit in Qinghe County more than two years ago.
Back then, he had captured the Xingyun Sect traitor Wen Gensheng and received a Moisturizing Pill as a reward. Pan Yue had wanted to trade other medicinal pills for it to give to his grandnephew, but he had been unsuccessful.
Pan Yue recognized Zhao Lin as well, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
Yang Lin noticed the change in their expressions and asked with a smile, "What? You’ve met before?"
Pan Yue set his calligraphy brush on its rest and replied, "We’ve met once."
Yang Lin laughed. "Even meeting once is a kind of fate! In that case, I’ll entrust this disciple to you!"
Pan Yue gave a slight nod. "Sect Leader Lu mentioned this to me this morning."
Yang Lin’s smile faded, and his expression turned serious. "I know Younger Brother Pan has been engrossed in researching martial theory and hasn’t taken on a disciple for many years, but I still hope you’ll put in a little extra effort with him."
Pan Yue glanced at Zhao Lin. "Don’t worry, Brother Yang. Though I may be in Leisure Cloud Hall, I still hold the title of Vice Head of the Inner Court. I’m not just some recluse living a life of leisure."
"Since the Sect has made these arrangements, I will naturally do my utmost to guide him."
Yang Lin clapped his hands. "Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease!"
He had always been a man of swift and decisive action. He said a few words of instruction to Zhao Lin and departed.
Only Pan Yue and Zhao Lin remained in the courtyard, and the atmosphere instantly grew a little awkward.
Pan Yue cleared his throat and remarked with a sigh, "I never thought that in just over two years, you would cultivate to the First Layer of the Blood Realm. It seems that Moisturizing Pill was destined to be yours."
Zhao Lin said quickly, "I am unworthy of such praise."
Pan Yue waved his hand dismissively. "There’s no need to be modest; I’m speaking from the heart. My grandnephew’s talent isn’t bad, but he’s nowhere near your level. He eventually took a Moisturizing Pill as well, and he’s still stagnating at the Second Layer of the Qi Realm."
"But enough about the past. This isn’t the place for a discussion. Follow me."
With that, he led Zhao Lin across the courtyard and into a secluded main hall.
The room was not large, but it was kept neat and tidy.
On the wall opposite the door hung a landscape painting, flanked by two bookshelves. A desk beside a screen was fully equipped with a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone, giving the space the distinct air of a scholar’s study.
Zhao Lin noticed the signature on the landscape painting: four words reading ’Recluse of Yue Mountain.’ He guessed the artist was likely Pan Yue himself.
This wasn’t particularly surprising. All skills are interconnected, and many great martial artists were also masters of the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, or had expertise in poetry, wine, flowers, and tea. Some were even expert woodworkers.
"Since you will be cultivating here, let me first get an understanding of your cultivation level."
Pan Yue said, turning back after walking into the study.
"Alright."
Zhao Lin extended his hand with practiced ease.
Pan Yue placed his fingers on Zhao Lin’s wrist and suddenly fell silent. He spoke only after a long moment.
"While people with variant True Qi attributes are rare, I have met a few. One even had dual Wind and Ice Attributes. But to have three, like you... that is unheard of."
Zhao Lin grimaced inwardly. ’If the Spirit Beast Scroll hadn’t absorbed the Essence Souls of the Ice Silkworm, Thunder Catfish, and Wind Fox,’ he thought, ’I wouldn’t have a single one.’
Pan Yue continued, "The disadvantage of variant True Qi is that it’s difficult to control and lacks versatility. Very few martial Cultivation Techniques can be developed from it."
"But the advantages are just as prominent: the Wind Attribute grants unparalleled speed, the Ice Attribute is subtle and unpredictable, and the Thunder Attribute’s attack power is unrivaled among peers of the same realm. Mastering them, however, is no easy task..."
He pondered for a moment, then pointed to the bookshelf on the left. "Bring me the first book from the second shelf and the fifth book from the third shelf."
"Yes."
Zhao Lin walked over to the bookshelf and took down two books. One was titled *A Study of the Inner Classic*, and the other was the *Martial Arts General Outline*.
"Have you read either of these?"
"No, I haven’t."
"*A Study of the Inner Classic* explains the meridians and the flow of Qi and Blood in the human body, while the *Martial Arts General Outline* covers the principles of Cultivation Techniques."
Pan Yue gave a simple explanation. "Take these back with you to read. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask around. Come see me every day between three and five in the afternoon to report on what you’ve learned."
"Yes, sir."
Zhao Lin hesitated, looking as if he wanted to say something but held his tongue.
’He had expected Pan Yue to teach him a Cultivation Technique or two, not just toss him a couple of foundational books to study on his own.’
’It was like wanting to learn how to brew tea, only for the master to demand he start by planting tea trees and firing his own pottery.’
’Could it be that Pan Yue was still hung up about the Moisturizing Pill and was deliberately giving him a hard time?’
"What? You think these books are useless?" Pan Yue asked, noticing his hesitation.
"No, that’s not it."
Zhao Lin denied it at once. "I am merely ignorant and do not understand your intentions, Elder."
Pan Yue explained, "The Martial Dao is infinitely complex, but it all boils down to cultivating two things: oneself, and one’s Cultivation Techniques."
"In truth, every martial artist should first learn martial theory before practicing any techniques. Unfortunately, most people are impatient for quick results, so they prioritize the methods over the principles."
"Let me ask you: what is the meaning of ’Ringing the Heavenly Drum’ and ’Drinking the Jade Nectar’ in the Basic Cultivation Skill?"
Zhao Lin answered immediately, "They are the steps for cultivating Qi Strength: Clacking the Teeth, Drinking the Jade Nectar, Holding the Fist, and Ringing the Heavenly Drum."
"During practice, one presses the tongue to the roof of the mouth, clacks the teeth together thirty-six times until the mouth fills with saliva, and then swallows it in three gulps... The Qi Strength rushes through the meridians to the ears, creating a sound like a beating drum. This is ’Ringing the Heavenly Drum.’"
Pan Yue pressed further, "Then why clack your teeth thirty-six times? And why swallow the saliva in three gulps?"
Zhao Lin was speechless.
Pan Yue asked unexpectedly, "Have you ever eaten at the Desheng Building in Yongning City?"
Zhao Lin was taken aback, struggling to follow Pan Yue’s line of reasoning. "I haven’t," he replied.
Pan Yue smiled faintly. "The Desheng Building has a famous dish: whole roasted duck. The ducks they use are force-fed. Their meat is tender, rich, but not greasy."
"Do you know how they raise these ducks?"
Zhao Lin’s heart skipped a beat as he began to grasp Pan Yue’s meaning, but he still answered, "I do not."
Pan Yue explained unhurriedly, "They cook brown rice, peanuts, and rice bran, mix it all into a paste, and then use a stick to force it down the duck’s throat, all the way into its stomach. They keep forcing pellets down until they’re certain another one would cause its belly to burst."
"Ducks fattened this way are ready for slaughter in just over a month."
"Many martial artists are just like those ducks. They are like puppets on a string, mindlessly practicing whatever their master teaches them."
He let out a soft sigh. "I know this is the easiest way, but the further you advance on the Martial Dao, the more crucial it is to understand the underlying principles."
"Don’t believe what you read in certain fantastical stories, thinking you can become invincible just by obtaining some so-called peerless Cultivation Technique. That’s impossible."
"Why do you think Innate Realm martial artists are also called Grandmasters? It’s because they create their own Cultivation Techniques!"
Zhao Lin’s heart pounded in his chest as he listened.
’Leisure Cloud Hall was essentially the Xingyun Sect’s institute for martial research. Since Pan Yue was willing to teach him the theory, this was the perfect opportunity to learn the principles.’
"’Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’ I understand now."
Zhao Lin gave a deep bow and said with sincerity, "Thank you, Elder Pan."
Pan Yue’s face broke into a smile. "Sharpening the axe doesn’t delay the chopping. It will take you ten days, half a month at most, to understand these two books. By then, you won’t need me to tell you what to practice. You’ll know yourself."
Comments