Joy of Life - V1C10
Prologue: Nice Guys Finish Last
1- A Child of the Tanmai
2- The Truman Show
3- The Legacy Book
4- Studies and Ghost Stories
5- The Noctural Visitor
6- Master Wu Zhu
7- Master Fei Jie
8- One Year Later...
9- Grandmasters and Divine Temple
10- Overpowering Bàdào Zhenqi
11- The Sea Salt Merchant
12- Farewell for now, Master Fei Jie
13- Mail Order and Newspapers
14- It Hurts Like Hell!
15- Housekeeper Zhou
16- Ay-ya-ya-yaaa
17- The Three Goals
18- The Attempted Poisoning
19- The Assassin
20- Clean Up After Yourself!
Chapter 10
Overpowering
Bàdào Zhenqi
Fan Xian cautiously returned to his room. When he opened the door, he found Wu Zhu sitting silently in the corner. The lights were off, casting the room into an inky darkness. Despite this, the piece of black cloth covering Wu Zhu's eyes seemed even murkier and more opaque than the night itself.
"Uncle," Fan Xian said, bowing his head in respect.
A faint, monotone voice echoed from the corner where Wu Zhu sat. "The book is divided into two parts. The first is called Bàdào, and the second has no title. Her Ladyship gave you the book, and I left it beside you when you were young. I have never learned these spiritual methods, so I cannot teach you. However, since it is called Bàdào, you can assume it uses Qi more aggressively. If you encounter any issues during training, it will be your responsibility."
With that, the man in black disappeared.
"What a basic, simple explanation from such an uncaring man," Fan Xian sighed. He climbed into bed and retrieved the nameless book from a secret compartment. As he reflected on his training, he realized that when Zhenqi filled his Dantian, it did not follow the usual meridian flow. Instead, parts of the Zhenqi split into the Xue-fu,[i] located in the heart region.
As Fan Xian meditated during his daily lunchtime naps, the Bàdào Zhenqi in his body flowed through him, becoming relaxed and calm. The agitation subsided, and a sense of serenity washed over him, akin to enjoying ice cream on a hot summer day.
This was how he had trained since he was one year old. Could it be that he had been doing it wrong all along? Fan Xian did not believe he would follow a path of corruption in the martial arts world. Yet, like a man desperate for relief, he found himself drawn to the pleasures of the Bàdào path. If he stopped training, the remnants of the Bàdào Zhenqi within him would someday burst forth from his mortal body.
Blind Wu Zhu had told him that the consequences of his training were entirely up to him.
To train, or not to train? That was the question weighing heavily on Fan Xian’s mind at that moment.
“Alright, teacher, you've been avoiding the topic for too long. You still haven't explained what's going on with the Zhenqi in my body.”
Noting the rare childlike frustration in Fan Xian, Fei Jie carefully checked his pulse and replied, “As I mentioned before, the Zhenqi within you is incredibly powerful. Even with your brief training, the quantity of Zhenqi in your lower abdomen and meridians far exceeds what someone your age should hold.”
“Is it really that serious?” Fan Xian asked, looking anxious.
“I can't say for sure.”
“Then you must be trying to frighten me.”
“I’m not trying to scare you. It’s like you’re a leather bag for alcohol; the bag can only hold so much, but the alcohol keeps increasing. If it continues like this, I’m concerned you might burst.”
Recently, Fan Xian had been feeling a burning sensation in his waist during practice, but aside from that, he hadn’t noticed any other odd symptoms, which made him reluctant to believe his teacher. He shook his head. “My teacher is just lecturing me for being greedy.”
“Try to move your Zhenqi as you do in your daily practice,” Fei Jie suggested, frowning slightly.
Fan Xian complied, closing his eyes and entering a meditative state as part of his training. The warm Qi surrounding his abdomen began to expand slowly, moving along the meridians to his limbs.
Fei Jie also closed his eyes, placing his fingertips on the boy's wrist to gauge the situation. After a moment, he frowned and said, “Don’t hold back on purpose; you’re still just an eight-year-old child. Even with such powerful Zhenqi, it can’t harm me. I'm concerned that your body is too fragile to handle it.”
“Oh.” Fan Xian realized he had been controlling the strength of his Zhenqi, so he slowly let it flow out from his abdomen. Reflecting on Fei Jie’s words, he agreed; he knew the amount of Zhenqi wouldn’t affect the old man, and if he released too little, his teacher wouldn’t be able to assess him accurately.
With that thought, he closed his eyes again, recalling the mysterious art of Zhenqi that echoed in his mind: “Do not keep the force within you and face destruction; let it flow like water from a spring…”
As he recited this, the Zhenqi inside him seemed to spring to life, joyously flowing from his lower abdomen, moving along his back through the meridians, and rushing toward his wrist.
A loud noise echoed from the library!
Fei Jie snapped his eyes open, startled to find himself pushed away from the child's wrist by a dense wave of Zhenqi, causing him to crash against the wall with a dull thud. A burning pain shot through his fingers, and he felt a sharp ache in his chest; he spat out blood!
Meanwhile, Fan Xian felt a tightness in his chest and looked up, only to see Fei Jie in a pitiful state. Alarmed, he rushed over to help his teacher.
Fei Jie gestured for him to stop, signaling that he was alright, and stood up unaided. As he wiped the blood from his lips, he looked at the young boy with an expression that was difficult to interpret.
Fei Jie quietly reflected, “He’s just eight years old! Yet his Zhenqi is already so powerful? If you keep pushing like this, there’s a chance the Zhenqi inside him could backfire and harm him.”
Fan Xian was taken aback by his teacher's alarming words. He hadn't expected the rebellious Zhenqi in his wrist to cause his teacher to bleed. Despite the injury, Fei Jie’s first concern was for his student's well-being. This realization moved Fan Xian, even though he concealed his emotions as a child.
Suddenly, the wooden door swung open, and a dark figure rushed in.
“What a pair of fools.”
Though Wu Zhu was blind and spoke coldly, he hurried over to Fan Xian and gently touched the child's slender neck. After a brief moment, he matter-of-factly stated, “You’re not injured; you’re just startled from witnessing Fie Jie bleed.”
He then turned his attention to Fie Jie and remarked, “Fie Jie, if you’re teaching him to use poison, I hope you’re qualified. However, it’s known that your martial skills are among the weakest of the Eight Headmasters in the capital. Since this is a method I provided for Young Master, it’s best not to say too much.”
In Danzhou, Fie Jie was quite unremarkable, but in the capital, he held significant status. Having been wounded—largely due to his own oversight—he felt offended by Wu Zhu’s remarks. His concern deepened as he thought about Fan Xian learning such a risky ability at only five years old.
With a troubled expression, Fei Jie replied, “I realize I’m not in a position to criticize the training method you set for Fan Xian. Still, I can’t help but wonder why you chose not to teach him personally. Knowing he started to cultivate a few years ago, even if he holds genuine talent, you should have supported him in this dangerous undertaking as his mother’s servant.”
This was a reasonable point, given that Wu Zhu had left a complex Zhenqi training method alongside Fan Xian’s swaddle, indicating he had a responsibility to ensure he trained safely.
Fan Xian cast an awkward glance at Wu Zhu, noting the black cloth wrapped around his brow.
“I didn’t leave this for the young master; it was left by her Ladyship,” Wu Zhu replied deliberately.
Fie Jie had no intention of offending the blind man but felt his irritation rising. “Cunning. For someone with such deep cultivation, even a few simple pointers could have prevented Fan Xian from training in such a dangerous way.”
After a pause, Wu Zhu said something unexpected. “I have never practiced Zhenqi.”
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Fei Jie and Fan Xian in shock.
“Did I mishear? What did he just say?”
“He claimed he never practiced Zhenqi,” Fan Xian replied, his voice faltering.
Fei Jie watched Fan Xian’s sophisticated demeanor and felt his anger rise. Where could an eight-year-old learn to express himself with such sarcastic wit?
“It’s hard to believe that someone without any Neigong could hold his own against Ye Liuyun, one of the Four Grandmasters,” Fei Jie said.
“At that time, Ye Liuyun was still wielding his sword and hadn’t completed his Sanshou training yet.”
“Teacher, is it possible for someone without Neigong or Zhenqi to be as powerful as Wu Zhu?” Fan Xian asked sincerely.
Fei Jie furrowed his brows in thought before answering, “Only if he executed every single movement with perfect precision could he incapacitate someone with his iron rod before they had a chance to react.”
Fan Xian remembered the night he arrived in this world, cradled by the blind young man, with the iron rod he held stained by fresh blood.
He continued, “However, achieving that speed and strength seems beyond human capability.”
Fei Jie shook his head, then suddenly cleared his throat. He quickly took a seat next to the desk and focused on Fan Xian. “Kid, if you’re struggling with this art, it might be best to stop. I assure you, with my method, you won't have to worry about being harassed.”
“I’ll think about it,” Fan Xian responded maturely. After some thought, Fei Jie retrieved a medicine sachet and placed it in Fan Xian’s tiny hands. “Take this. It’s a kind of expensive medicine. If your training ever goes awry, consume one pill with plenty of water.”
Fan Xian nodded his head in response. “Thank you, Teacher.” He knew that the medicine was extremely valuable.
Fie Jie smiled faintly as he looked at this child, who was like an adult, and then spoke suddenly. “Isn’t it strange that I’m treating you so nicely even though your father forced me to come all the way to Danzhou just to teach you?”
Fan Xian didn’t say anything but merely stared at him with puppy eyes and an expression of thanks.
Fei Jie laughed and shook his head, patting Fan Xian’s head. “Perhaps, at my age, having a student as clever as you is worth being happy about.”
“For now, don’t think about the Count’s estate in the capital,” Fei Jie said seriously. “Even though you’re still young, I hope you remember what I’m about to tell you.”
Hearing his teacher’s serious tone, Fan Xian turned his face seriously, sat straight, and listened carefully.
“Your family is far more complicated than you could ever imagine. This matter involves not only your own survival but the lives of many others, so you must always remain vigilant. In the years you grow to be an adult, you must learn how to protect yourself to protect others in the future.”
“In the future? Protect whom?” Fan Xian was puzzled.
Fei Jie laughed as he pointed at his nose. “Someone close to you, like myself, for instance.”
Fan Xian nodded hazily. He thought that the situation was indeed complicated. Even though he had lived in two different worlds, he still could not understand what his teacher was getting at.
“All right, go to your room now and get some rest. As for that corrupt Bàdào Zhenqi, it’s probably best not to practice it anymore.”
Noting the rare childlike frustration in Fan Xian, Fei Jie carefully checked his pulse and replied, “As I mentioned before, the Zhenqi within you is incredibly powerful. Even with your brief training, the quantity of Zhenqi in your lower abdomen and meridians far exceeds what someone your age should hold.”
“Is it really that serious?” Fan Xian asked, looking anxious.
“I can't say for sure.”
“Then you must be trying to frighten me.”
“I’m not trying to scare you. It’s like you’re a leather bag for alcohol; the bag can only hold so much, but the alcohol keeps increasing. If it continues like this, I’m concerned you might burst.”
Recently, Fan Xian had been feeling a burning sensation in his waist during practice, but aside from that, he hadn’t noticed any other odd symptoms, which made him reluctant to believe his teacher. He shook his head. “My teacher is just lecturing me for being greedy.”
“Try to move your Zhenqi as you do in your daily practice,” Fei Jie suggested, frowning slightly.
Fan Xian complied, closing his eyes and entering a meditative state as part of his training. The warm Qi surrounding his abdomen began to expand slowly, moving along the meridians to his limbs.
Fei Jie also closed his eyes, placing his fingertips on the boy's wrist to gauge the situation. After a moment, he frowned and said, “Don’t hold back on purpose; you’re still just an eight-year-old child. Even with such powerful Zhenqi, it can’t harm me. I'm concerned that your body is too fragile to handle it.”
“Oh.” Fan Xian realized he had been controlling the strength of his Zhenqi, so he slowly let it flow out from his abdomen. Reflecting on Fei Jie’s words, he agreed; he knew the amount of Zhenqi wouldn’t affect the old man, and if he released too little, his teacher wouldn’t be able to assess him accurately.
With that thought, he closed his eyes again, recalling the mysterious art of Zhenqi that echoed in his mind: “Do not keep the force within you and face destruction; let it flow like water from a spring…”
As he recited this, the Zhenqi inside him seemed to spring to life, joyously flowing from his lower abdomen, moving along his back through the meridians, and rushing toward his wrist.
A loud noise echoed from the library!
Fei Jie snapped his eyes open, startled to find himself pushed away from the child's wrist by a dense wave of Zhenqi, causing him to crash against the wall with a dull thud. A burning pain shot through his fingers, and he felt a sharp ache in his chest; he spat out blood!
Meanwhile, Fan Xian felt a tightness in his chest and looked up, only to see Fei Jie in a pitiful state. Alarmed, he rushed over to help his teacher.
Fei Jie gestured for him to stop, signaling that he was alright, and stood up unaided. As he wiped the blood from his lips, he looked at the young boy with an expression that was difficult to interpret.
Fei Jie quietly reflected, “He’s just eight years old! Yet his Zhenqi is already so powerful? If you keep pushing like this, there’s a chance the Zhenqi inside him could backfire and harm him.”
Fan Xian was taken aback by his teacher's alarming words. He hadn't expected the rebellious Zhenqi in his wrist to cause his teacher to bleed. Despite the injury, Fei Jie’s first concern was for his student's well-being. This realization moved Fan Xian, even though he concealed his emotions as a child.
Suddenly, the wooden door swung open, and a dark figure rushed in.
“What a pair of fools.”
Though Wu Zhu was blind and spoke coldly, he hurried over to Fan Xian and gently touched the child's slender neck. After a brief moment, he matter-of-factly stated, “You’re not injured; you’re just startled from witnessing Fie Jie bleed.”
He then turned his attention to Fie Jie and remarked, “Fie Jie, if you’re teaching him to use poison, I hope you’re qualified. However, it’s known that your martial skills are among the weakest of the Eight Headmasters in the capital. Since this is a method I provided for Young Master, it’s best not to say too much.”
In Danzhou, Fie Jie was quite unremarkable, but in the capital, he held significant status. Having been wounded—largely due to his own oversight—he felt offended by Wu Zhu’s remarks. His concern deepened as he thought about Fan Xian learning such a risky ability at only five years old.
With a troubled expression, Fei Jie replied, “I realize I’m not in a position to criticize the training method you set for Fan Xian. Still, I can’t help but wonder why you chose not to teach him personally. Knowing he started to cultivate a few years ago, even if he holds genuine talent, you should have supported him in this dangerous undertaking as his mother’s servant.”
This was a reasonable point, given that Wu Zhu had left a complex Zhenqi training method alongside Fan Xian’s swaddle, indicating he had a responsibility to ensure he trained safely.
Fan Xian cast an awkward glance at Wu Zhu, noting the black cloth wrapped around his brow.
“I didn’t leave this for the young master; it was left by her Ladyship,” Wu Zhu replied deliberately.
Fie Jie had no intention of offending the blind man but felt his irritation rising. “Cunning. For someone with such deep cultivation, even a few simple pointers could have prevented Fan Xian from training in such a dangerous way.”
After a pause, Wu Zhu said something unexpected. “I have never practiced Zhenqi.”
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Fei Jie and Fan Xian in shock.
“Did I mishear? What did he just say?”
“He claimed he never practiced Zhenqi,” Fan Xian replied, his voice faltering.
Fei Jie watched Fan Xian’s sophisticated demeanor and felt his anger rise. Where could an eight-year-old learn to express himself with such sarcastic wit?
“It’s hard to believe that someone without any Neigong could hold his own against Ye Liuyun, one of the Four Grandmasters,” Fei Jie said.
“At that time, Ye Liuyun was still wielding his sword and hadn’t completed his Sanshou training yet.”
“Teacher, is it possible for someone without Neigong or Zhenqi to be as powerful as Wu Zhu?” Fan Xian asked sincerely.
Fei Jie furrowed his brows in thought before answering, “Only if he executed every single movement with perfect precision could he incapacitate someone with his iron rod before they had a chance to react.”
Fan Xian remembered the night he arrived in this world, cradled by the blind young man, with the iron rod he held stained by fresh blood.
He continued, “However, achieving that speed and strength seems beyond human capability.”
Fei Jie shook his head, then suddenly cleared his throat. He quickly took a seat next to the desk and focused on Fan Xian. “Kid, if you’re struggling with this art, it might be best to stop. I assure you, with my method, you won't have to worry about being harassed.”
“I’ll think about it,” Fan Xian responded maturely. After some thought, Fei Jie retrieved a medicine sachet and placed it in Fan Xian’s tiny hands. “Take this. It’s a kind of expensive medicine. If your training ever goes awry, consume one pill with plenty of water.”
Fan Xian nodded his head in response. “Thank you, Teacher.” He knew that the medicine was extremely valuable.
Fie Jie smiled faintly as he looked at this child, who was like an adult, and then spoke suddenly. “Isn’t it strange that I’m treating you so nicely even though your father forced me to come all the way to Danzhou just to teach you?”
Fan Xian didn’t say anything but merely stared at him with puppy eyes and an expression of thanks.
Fei Jie laughed and shook his head, patting Fan Xian’s head. “Perhaps, at my age, having a student as clever as you is worth being happy about.”
“For now, don’t think about the Count’s estate in the capital,” Fei Jie said seriously. “Even though you’re still young, I hope you remember what I’m about to tell you.”
Hearing his teacher’s serious tone, Fan Xian turned his face seriously, sat straight, and listened carefully.
“Your family is far more complicated than you could ever imagine. This matter involves not only your own survival but the lives of many others, so you must always remain vigilant. In the years you grow to be an adult, you must learn how to protect yourself to protect others in the future.”
“In the future? Protect whom?” Fan Xian was puzzled.
Fei Jie laughed as he pointed at his nose. “Someone close to you, like myself, for instance.”
Fan Xian nodded hazily. He thought that the situation was indeed complicated. Even though he had lived in two different worlds, he still could not understand what his teacher was getting at.
“All right, go to your room now and get some rest. As for that corrupt Bàdào Zhenqi, it’s probably best not to practice it anymore.”
•• ━━━━━ ••●•• ━━━━━ ••
Fan Xian cautiously returned to his room. When he opened the door, he found Wu Zhu sitting silently in the corner. The lights were off, casting the room into an inky darkness. Despite this, the piece of black cloth covering Wu Zhu's eyes seemed even murkier and more opaque than the night itself.
"Uncle," Fan Xian said, bowing his head in respect.
A faint, monotone voice echoed from the corner where Wu Zhu sat. "The book is divided into two parts. The first is called Bàdào, and the second has no title. Her Ladyship gave you the book, and I left it beside you when you were young. I have never learned these spiritual methods, so I cannot teach you. However, since it is called Bàdào, you can assume it uses Qi more aggressively. If you encounter any issues during training, it will be your responsibility."
With that, the man in black disappeared.
"What a basic, simple explanation from such an uncaring man," Fan Xian sighed. He climbed into bed and retrieved the nameless book from a secret compartment. As he reflected on his training, he realized that when Zhenqi filled his Dantian, it did not follow the usual meridian flow. Instead, parts of the Zhenqi split into the Xue-fu,[i] located in the heart region.
As Fan Xian meditated during his daily lunchtime naps, the Bàdào Zhenqi in his body flowed through him, becoming relaxed and calm. The agitation subsided, and a sense of serenity washed over him, akin to enjoying ice cream on a hot summer day.
This was how he had trained since he was one year old. Could it be that he had been doing it wrong all along? Fan Xian did not believe he would follow a path of corruption in the martial arts world. Yet, like a man desperate for relief, he found himself drawn to the pleasures of the Bàdào path. If he stopped training, the remnants of the Bàdào Zhenqi within him would someday burst forth from his mortal body.
Blind Wu Zhu had told him that the consequences of his training were entirely up to him.
To train, or not to train? That was the question weighing heavily on Fan Xian’s mind at that moment.
[i] In cultivation literature (Xianxia/Wuxia), Xue-fu (血府) literally translates to "Blood Mansion" or "Mansion of Blood." It refers to a specific anatomical or energetic location within the body—primarily the chest or heart region—where blood is said to reside and circulate. In the context of cultivation and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is a vital center for managing the flow of Qi (vital energy) and blood.
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