Chen Jie no longer cared about what was happening outside, he had completely immersed himself in the explanation of the Yang Chun Skill's cultivation technique.
The Yang Chun Skill, in the strictest sense, isn't considered a secret martial arts manual because it doesn't discuss how to kill or defeat an enemy.
It's about nurturing the body, strengthening bones, and how to extend one's lifespan.
Within the Yang Chun Skill, there are none of the fighting or training methods found in martial arts.
It is, in fact, more of an exposition of Yin Yang theory, or rather, it resembles a set of breathing and energy circulation methods.
It is said that there is a mysterious force between heaven and earth named Qi.
And if one can apply this Qi, one can strengthen the body, build bones, and prolong life.
The Yang Chun Skill teaches you how to breathe and circulate energy, how to retain this Qi within the body.
As Chen Jie read through the introduction of the Yang Chun Skill, he felt that this cultivation technique seemed quite different from the martial arts skills he knew of.
Chen Jie remembered his understanding of the Martial Arts from his impression of this world.
Martial Arts are divided into Five Gates.
The Five Gates are divided into three stages, the three realms.
They are, respectively, the first two gates, the Skin Barrier and the Meat Barrier.
When skin and flesh are strong, vitality manifests as Ming Jin, an evident force.
Following which are the middle two gates, the Sinew Barrier and the Bone Barrier.
When sinew and bones are formed, Dark Energy is born, unseen and termed Dark Force.
Finally, comes the last gate.
The Five Viscera Barrier, where Qi and blood are refined, all hundred points of the body opened, capable of releasing Vigorous Qi to harm others.
That is Energy Transformation.
And above Energy Transformation, one could be called a Junior Grandmaster.
Looking at the Yang Chun Skill, Chen Jie thought to himself that this skill involves learning the breathing method, a direct way to train the five viscera and six bowels; how could the Yang Chun Skill be so different from the martial arts teachings circulated in Mianshui County?
But he had never heard of anyone who could train their five viscera and six bowels before practicing martial arts?
Chen Jie suspected that the Yang Chun Skill might be a cultivation technique of a higher level.
Others practice Martial Arts, am I cultivating Immortality?
However, this cultivation technique seemed somewhat incomplete, and Chen Jie had no way to address this, but cultivating it should still pose no problem in strengthening the body and improving health.
Thinking this, Chen Jie began to practice following the mental method of the Yang Chun Skill.
To cultivate the Yang Chun Skill, one needs to understand medical knowledge; you must know the locations of the eight hundred and thirty acupuncture points of the human body, only then can you learn how to absorb this breath of the world's Qi.
If you don't know this medical knowledge, even if you have the Yang Chun Skill, you simply won't be able to learn it.
Luckily, Chen Jie understood this medical knowledge. When his grandfather was alive, from the age of five, he made him recite all kinds of medical knowledge every day and learn various acupuncture points and such.
If he even slightly misspoke, he would be punished with the bamboo strip on his hands, so he remembered this knowledge very firmly.
Chen Jie tried to absorb this breath of Qi into his body, adjusting his breathing rhythm, and gradually he entered meditation, unaware of how much time had passed.
And just like that, before he knew it, it was nearly dark.
At this time, Lu San was walking back from the outskirts of the village with two fish in his hands, humming a little tune. His day's work wasn't for nothing; for carrying several baskets of fish for the fishery, they rewarded him with two small crucian carp.
Even though these fish weren't big, after they were processed and made into fish soup, they would be quite tasty.
Thinking of this, Lu San felt very pleased with himself.
When he was close to his home's doorstep, Lu San felt even happier because his wife was so considerate to be waiting for him outside the door, looking eagerly as if her eyes would pop out.
What's this about?
In just one day, could his wife really be missing him that much?
And at that moment, Lu Qinsi also spotted Lu San and was instantly overjoyed, quickly stepping forward to greet him. As soon as they saw each other, Lu Qinsi's boisterous voice began to howl.
"Head of the house! Why did you only just get back?"
"Your wife has been bullied, are you going to do something about it or not?"
Lu Qinsi flung herself into Lu San's arms and began to sob loudly. Hearing Lu Qinsi's cries, Lu San was momentarily stunned.
You were bullied? It's a wonder you haven't bullied anyone, who would dare bully you?
Thinking this way, he then saw Lu Qinsi pointing to her face and saying, "Head of the house, look, it's all swollen. You've got to stand up for me!"
Upon closer inspection, Lu San saw that Lu Qinsi's face was indeed much swollen.
Lu San exploded with anger, "Who did this?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Qinsi said, "Who else could it be? Isn't it that little bastard Chen Jiusi?"
"Chen Jiusi?!"
Lu San's face showed surprise; that wimp Chen Jiusi dared to hit my wife.
"Really?"
Lu Qinsi nodded vehemently, "It was him, you can't let him off easy!"
After hearing this, Lu San's face immediately darkened, and he picked up the wooden stick resting against the wall, "Let's go, to settle this with that coward Chen Jiusi. He dared to bully my wife, today I'll break his legs!"
Saying this, Lu San handed the fish to Lu Qinsi, "You hold onto this, let's go find Chen Jiusi."
"Alright, we'll get even with Chen Jiusi."
With those words, the pair headed straight for Chen Jiusi's dilapidated courtyard. The passersby on the road had also overheard the couple's voices, each of them poking their heads out from their homes.
Upon hearing that they were going to settle scores with Chen Jiusi, everyone's curiosity was ignited.
They all came out of their houses, crowding behind Lu San and his wife to enjoy the show. Lu San, seeing the growing number of onlookers, grew even more excited, determined to break one of Chen Jiusi's legs today to showcase his own might.
With these thoughts, a crowd arrived at Chen Jie's doorstep. Lu San said to Lu Qinsi, "Call out to them."
Lu Qinsi, bringing the fish to Chen Jie's door, began to curse, "You Chen family dogs, come out here; you think you can just hit me and be done with it, your retribution has come, get out. I'll be damned..."
Lu Qinsi, the rustic shrew, was exceptionally nasty with her words, directly insulting Chen Jie's maternal relatives' reproductive organs.
This was incredibly arrogant. Hearing the cursing, Su Yunjin was terrified, her complexion pale as she picked up Daisy, "This is bad, Lu San has come for a fight."
Daisy also looked frightened. She had experienced how dreadful Lu Qinsi was; the memory of the last time she slapped her sister was still vivid. Now, she was shivering with fear.
"Sister, I'm scared."
At that moment, Su Yunjin held Daisy and said, "Don't be afraid, I'm here. Later, you hide inside and don't come out no matter what, understood?"
Daisy's face was pale as she nodded, "Mhm."
"But sister, will they hit you?"
Daisy asked. Su Yunjin did not reply, but just then, a voice suddenly came out, "It's okay, no one will hit your sister."
Hearing this voice, both Su Yunjin and Daisy turned to look behind them, only to see Chen Jie come out of the house, his posture straight and his eyes bright.
At this moment, Chen Jie came over to Daisy and said, "Don't be afraid, with your brother-in-law here today, no one can hurt you."
With that, Chen Jie walked right past the Su sisters towards the gate.
Seeing this, Su Yunjin said, "Hey, maybe you should run."
"Run? What about you?"
Chen Jie turned to look at Su Yunjin, who fell silent...
Chen Jie suddenly smiled, "Don't worry, just stay at home, nothing will happen."
Having said this, he continued to walk out. At that moment, Su Yunjin, watching his retreating figure, called out again, "Hey..."
"Hmm?"
Chen Jie turned around.
"Be careful."