Chen Tianming, hearing the old man's request, decided to give him a pack of instant noodles and a bottle of mineral water, as they weren't worth much.
The old man opened the pack of noodles, placed it in a bowl, and poured the mineral water over it. He then turned away for a moment. When he turned back, he handed the bowl to Chen Tianming.
"What are you doing, old man?" Chen Tianming asked as he reached for the bowl, only to quickly pull his hand back. "Are you trying to burn me?" he exclaimed. The water was scalding hot. He suddenly remembered that he had given the old man cold mineral water. How could it be hot now?
"Old man, what's going on? I gave you cold water, how did it become hot? Are you some kind of magician?" Chen Tianming asked in shock.
"Little boy, believe me now? I used my internal energy to heat the water, not magic," the old man replied, a bit annoyed.
Internal energy? That was something Chen Tianming had only read about in novels. If it weren't for the hot water, he wouldn't have believed it.
Chen Tianming bit his hand. "Ouch!" It hurt. He wasn't dreaming.
Realizing the old man was not ordinary, Chen Tianming asked, "What kind of internal energy is this? It's incredible."
Ignoring Chen Tianming, the old man focused on eating the noodles. After finishing, he said, "I knew I wouldn't go hungry today; I had a feeling I'd meet someone like you."
Chen Tianming was confused. Did the old man think he was an easy target?
The old man picked up his bag and said, "Young man, since you're a good person, do you want to learn what I just did?"
"How much would it cost?" Chen Tianming asked, still cautious.
"It's free," the old man replied.
"Really?" Chen Tianming was skeptical. "Are you serious?"
"Yes, I am," the old man confirmed.
Excited, Chen Tianming jumped up. "I want to learn, I want to learn! Teach me, please!" If he could learn martial arts, he wouldn't have to worry about bullies like Ye Dawei anymore.
The old man said, "I can teach you in two days."
"Two days? Are you kidding me? I've heard too many scams where people get lured home and robbed," Chen Tianming replied, wary of being tricked.
"Do I look like a scammer to you?" the old man asked, a bit offended.
"Looks can be deceiving," Chen Tianming said, shaking his head.
The old man raised his hand and waved it. "Can you move now?" he asked.
Chen Tianming found himself unable to move, except for his mouth. "Old man, let me go!" he pleaded, frightened.
"Now do you believe me? If I wanted to rob you, I wouldn't need to trick you. I could just overpower you," the old man said.
"I believe you, I believe you," Chen Tianming replied, his head still immobile.
The old man said, "Good. Find a place where I can stay."
Chen Tianming thought for a moment. "No need to look. My parents are away for two days, you can stay at my place."
The old man looked around the store and asked, "When do you close?"
Chen Tianming checked the time. "It's late, I'll close now."
He led the old man upstairs to his home. "Old man, are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"
The old man shook his head. "No need, I'm still full from the noodles."
The old man continued, "My skills are usually passed down to chosen ones. You're lucky today. I'll teach you a technique called Xiangbo Gong. Repeat after me…" He began whispering the mantra into Chen Tianming's ear.
"Got it?" the old man asked after reciting the mantra.
"Got it," Chen Tianming replied confidently. He had a good memory, often recalling names and phone numbers of pretty girls from school.
"Recite it for me," the old man instructed. Chen Tianming did so flawlessly.
"Good, you have a sharp memory and a suitable physique for martial arts. But remember, you must not use this skill to harm others."
"Does that mean I can use it to deal with bad people?" Chen Tianming thought of the bullies.
"In a way, yes. But be careful. Your destiny is entangled with romance, and after learning Xiangbo Gong, you must avoid getting too involved with women. It could bring trouble," the old man warned.
Chen Tianming was puzzled by the old man's cryptic advice but nodded. The old man continued, "You'll understand these things later. For now, focus on practicing. I originally had an appointment tomorrow but will stay an extra day for you. Start now, there's no time to waste."
Chen Tianming looked at the clock. "It's late, can we start tomorrow?"
"No, start now. You need to get through the initial phase without errors, or you could suffer serious consequences," the old man insisted.
Frightened by the thought of harm, Chen Tianming reluctantly began practicing. The old man lay down to sleep, saying, "Practice seven cycles and wake me when you're done."
Chen Tianming practiced diligently, repeating the mantra and following the old man's instructions. After seven cycles, he felt surprisingly energetic.
At 4 a.m., he woke the old man. "I've completed seven cycles."
The old man got up and said, "Good, now it's my turn."
He began striking Chen Tianming's body with his palm, infusing him with energy. Chen Tianming felt like his body was on fire, unable to move.
After thirty minutes, Chen Tianming screamed and collapsed to the floor.