Chapter 5: Practicing Xingyi, The Mind Becomes Clear

This time, Jiang Youling was prepared, so she naturally held out longer than the previous time.

She persisted for a full hundred breaths, until her entire body grew hot and that tingling sensation permeated her internal organs, causing her breathing to gradually become disordered.

This time, Old Madam Cui did not immediately urge her on. Instead, she silently counted to ten in her heart before speaking in a soft voice, guiding Jiang Youling to continue using the breathing technique to absorb the medicinal power.

Repeating this process, it wasn't until the slanting sun had set and the evening mist had thickened that the emerald-green medicinal soup finally faded of all its color.

Jiang Youling opened her eyes, feeling refreshed and clear-headed. Despite not having eaten all day, she felt no hunger; instead, her body was filled with inexhaustible energy, and she felt as though she could throw a few sets of punches just to feel comfortable.

Observing her expression, Old Madam Cui was secretly astonished.

She had spent a small fortune to prepare this "Four-Cleansing Nourishing Spirit Soup," originally thinking it would be good if this little girl could absorb sixty percent of its medicinal power.

She hadn't expected the girl's endurance to be so remarkable; she had actually absorbed a full ninety percent of the medicinal power.

With such aptitude and temperament, it was no wonder Ling-ya tou held her in such high regard.

If she cultivated her carefully, perhaps she really could achieve a good ranking in the upcoming grand examination.

As for the spirit stones consumed... well, she still had a few old savings left.

If it truly wasn't enough, she would just have to swallow her pride and borrow some more.

After struggling for a few more years, once her few good-for-nothing descendants entered the Taixuan Sect, things would become much easier.

Old Madam Cui’s thoughts shifted, and the words that came to her lips changed: "Have you ever practiced stance training?"

"I have."

Jiang Youling was a bit embarrassed. "But I just practiced on my own by imitating the movements of my mother and the others. I didn't practice it well."

Old Madam Cui offered neither praise nor criticism, only saying, "Show me a starting posture."

In the courtyard, Jiang Youling took her stance.

Her feet were shoulder-width apart, toes pointed slightly forward, knees slightly bent, back straight, allowing her body to sink slowly. She held her hands in a circle, trying her best to slow her breathing.

Old Madam Cui nodded slightly. "Not bad. However, the stance for Xingyi Quan is a bit different from ordinary stances. I will demonstrate it once; watch closely."

Old Madam Cui spread her arms like a great roc spreading its wings, bent her body, and stood on one leg.

As she slowly channeled her energy, she explained the essentials.

"What is known as Xingyi Quan is also called 'Heart-Intention Boxing' or 'Six Harmonies Boxing.' What are the Six Harmonies? They are the harmony of heart and intention, intention and qi, qi and force; the harmony of shoulder and hip, elbow and knee, hand and foot.

When the internal and external are in harmony, the boxing style becomes fierce and concise. The crushing punch is like an arrow, and the cannon punch is like thunder."

As her voice fell, Old Madam Cui spun around and threw a punch. The momentum was overwhelming—where was there any sign of her old age?

Jiang Youling watched without blinking, her reverence for Grandma Cui growing even more.

After finishing the set, Old Madam Cui slowly withdrew her energy and looked at Jiang Youling.

"Did you remember it?"

"I remembered it, but there are a few movements..."

As Jiang Youling spoke, she tried to take the stance just as Grandma Cui had demonstrated, but she couldn't grasp the method and nearly tripped herself.

A hint of a smile flashed in Old Madam Cui's eyes. "It’s fine, no need to rush. Take it slow. Go through the boxing style I just demonstrated from beginning to end and let me see."

The night was filled with pale light, and the water clock began to sink.

The soft moonlight rested upon the courtyard.

In the courtyard, the old woman and the young girl finally finished the set of Xingyi Quan.

"It’s barely passable now. It’s late tonight; let’s practice again tomorrow."

"Yes."

Jiang Youling stepped out of the courtyard by the moonlight and returned to her room.

At such a late hour, a figure was still sitting in her room.

As she drew closer, Jiang Youling recognized the person. "Father."

Jiang Mingyu had wanted to ask his daughter about the specific details of the day since early morning, but he hadn't expected his mother to call her away first thing, only for her to return at the hour of the Rat.

The questions he had been brewing for so long all turned into heartache.

"You must be exhausted, right?"

"I'm not tired!"

Only in front of her father did Jiang Youling show her childish side. Her eyes shone as she said excitedly, "Father, today Grandmother let me take a medicinal bath and even taught me boxing!"

Jiang Mingyu smiled. "Your mother told me. She said she wants you to participate in this year's grand examination. Is there a lot of pressure?"

"A little."

Jiang Youling said frankly, "I can recite those books after reading them a few times, and with a few more readings, I can understand their meaning. But this is my first time coming into contact with boxing, and I don't know how well I'm doing!

Besides, Mother said my skills are really not up to par, and she's afraid I'll be eliminated..."

As she spoke, her tone gradually grew dejected.

Jiang Mingyu felt even more heartache for this sensible daughter and patted her head.

"Don't be afraid. Your mother and uncle have taken the exam over a dozen times and didn't pass, and your cousin took it twice and didn't pass either. Why is it that when it comes to you, you're required to pass on the first try?"

Jiang Youling still looked worried. "But Grandmother has worked too hard. If I pass the exam sooner, I can lighten her burden."

"These are matters for adults; you shouldn't have to worry about them."

Jiang Mingyu patted his daughter's shoulder, pretending to be relaxed.

"Is your father useless? I've found a job that pays quite a few spirit stones every year. At worst, I'll just work to pay back the Chen family for whatever spirit stones you've spent!"

Jiang Youling pursed her lips and smiled, not exposing her father's words.

What kind of good job could a mortal find to earn spirit stones? She knew clearly that the most her father could earn from his hard work in a year was two or three spirit stones.

He said this only to comfort her.

"Alright, then I will rely on Father's care from now on."

After the father and daughter talked for a while and she saw her father off, Jiang Youling lay on her bed.

She felt as if the road ahead was glowing, and she couldn't help but feel secretly happy.

In the days that followed, Jiang Youling studied and practiced every day without slack.

A medicinal bath every three days, a sparring session every five days.

Jiang Youling gradually felt as light as a swallow, her muscles as strong as iron and stone, and her strength increasing. Compared to a month ago, she seemed to have been reborn.

When outsiders learned that Old Madam Cui was truly providing for even a granddaughter of a different surname, they all sneered.

"To waste so many spirit stones just to provide for a servant, that old woman Cui has truly gone mad from her pursuit of immortality, forgetting that she is still just a mortal who eats grain!"

"What is the use of cultivating immortality for a lifetime, other than gaining a dozen or twenty years of lifespan? I really don't know what there is to cultivate!"

"Indeed! With these spirit stones, one could buy fields and a good house and live a happy, carefree life!"

One day, Old Madam Cui suddenly gathered everyone in the house to ask a question.

"What do you think of the gossip going around outside?"

Chen Yong felt that what those people outside said actually made some sense; his mother was too obsessed with the Dao, to the point where she had become a bit demented.

But he dared not say this, so he lowered his head and remained silent, pretending he wasn't there.

Chen Ling felt a sense of sorrow; on one hand, she was indignant that her mother's benevolent heart was being misinterpreted, and on the other, she was ashamed that her own meager knowledge could not relieve her mother's distress, instead causing the old woman even more hardship.

Thus, she was filled with sorrow and unspeakable self-reproach.

Seeing the room in silence, Old Madam Cui looked at her eldest grandson. "Rui-ge'er, what do you think?"

(End of chapter)