After a brief surprise, Pang Long thought:
"This boy practices martial arts on his own, without any guidance, relying entirely on self-exploration. Perhaps he made some progress and believes he has achieved minor success. Young people often make this mistake, it is quite normal."
He sternly said, "For those practicing martial arts, it is most important not to aim too high. Do you know what the sign of achieving minor success in the Four Directions Fist is?"
As he spoke, he spread his legs apart, assuming a fist stance. He punched, stirring up a gust of wind. Strangely, his fist struck to the right, but the wind blew to the left.
Pang Long intended to instruct. He delivered four punches consecutively, one punch to the east, with the wind blowing west, one punch to the south, the wind blew east, one punch to the north, the wind blew south. One punch to the west, and the wind also blew west.
The purpose was to demonstrate that the fist has force, the symbol of achieving minor success in the Four Directions Fist is the separation of fist force and trajectory, achieving an unexpected and indefensible effect.
It seems ordinary, but in reality, it requires great effort and profound understanding to achieve mastery.
"Can you see the nuances?"
"This is the true minor success!"
"Even for me, Pang Long, learning this fist technique took more than a year before I..."
As Pang Long was speaking, he suddenly saw Li Xian assume a fist stance and punch toward the east, yet the wind blew to the west.
Though the momentum was not as forceful as Pang Long’s,
The difference lay not in the fist technique, but in the vast gap in inner qi between the two.
Li Xian delivered four more punches, each striking towards the east, west, south, recreating Pang Long’s scene, and said, "I know, the sign of achieving minor success in the Four Directions Fist is understanding the Four Directions Fist Force."
After finishing the fist technique, Li Xian retracted his qi, reflecting on Pang Long’s unfinished words, and asked, "Commander Pang, please continue."
"Ahem... ahem..."
Pang Long hurriedly turned his back, adjusting his chin, the rough features on his face could hardly conceal the embarrassment.
He had spoken too soon...
Feeling quite awkward, he wiped his sweat, pondering in his heart:
"I, a dignified commander, if this boy knows it took me over a year to barely achieve minor success, while he took less than a month to reach this level, wouldn’t it... be utterly humiliating?"
Pang Long solemnly said, "Not bad, not bad. Judging by this, you have indeed achieved minor success. You may participate in the Nursing Home competition..."
"Thank you, Commander!" Li Xian rejoiced.
"However, though you have achieved minor success, do not become complacent," Pang Long said, "You have some martial arts talent, which is good. But there is one piece of Jianghu experience I must teach you in advance."
Li Xian listened intently.
"For us martial artists, one pursuit is to cleanse the clay embryo, undergoing rebirth. The greatest taboo in martial arts is... excessive measurement."
"Excessive measurement?" Li Xian pondered the meaning.
Pang Long nodded, "It means using martial arts, realms, and experiences as a ruler to measure and compare, viewing it as everything."
"For instance, achieving minor success in the Four Directions Fist, if you face an opponent who just began learning the Four Directions Fist. Knowing that their technique is inferior to yours, naturally an attitude of disdain arises after measuring strengths in secret."
"Most of the time, it’s indeed like this. But know that martial artist battles are ever-changing. The real outcome cannot be predicted."
Li Xian understood the meaning behind Pang Long’s words.
"There are still four days before the Nursing Home competition."
"Prepare yourself accordingly, I tell you, your opponent this time is not weak at all."
"Even though achieving minor success in the fist technique... you might not necessarily win."
Pang Long said with interest.
"Commander Pang, can you reveal a little in advance?" Li Xian smiled slyly.
Pang Long said, "It’s not really a secret, so there’s no harm in talking about it. Besides, I’ve heard that you, boy... don’t seem to have an average rapport in the Nursing Home. If I don’t tell you, I’m afraid no one else will."
Li Xian was indifferent upon hearing "average rapport."
"Martial arts are precious in this world, generally speaking, a D-class in the Nursing Home, with full attendance for a year, and mastery of a martial art. Only then can one receive the next martial art."
"After each promotion in the Nursing Home, one can also receive an additional basic martial art."
"The more martial arts one masters, and not to mention other aspects, just in terms of raw power alone, it becomes much stronger."
"This time, there are three spots for the C-class Nursing Home. But your opponents include seven very formidable individuals."
The "very formidable" mentioned by Pang Long is relative to Li Xian.
Li Xian asked, "Who are they?"
"I won’t mention the names; you will know during the competition," Pang Long said,
"Among these seven, four have been in the Nursing Home for six years, mastering six martial arts."
"Two of them were demoted from the C-class Nursing Home; their strength goes without saying, probably comparable to the previous four individuals."
"And there’s one person, though in just five years, has a slightly weaker martial arts foundation, but he has honed a Strong Body Martial Art to perfection and should not be underestimated."
Upon hearing this, Li Xian felt the challenge. Yet those who strive upwards in martial arts have no fear of strong opponents!
There’s no fear in the heart, and no retreat!
...
...
Upon learning from Pang Long that if one wishes to purchase elixirs, they can go to the "Leisure Pill Pavilion" to buy them independently.
Both "Leisure Martial Pavilion" and "Leisure Pill Pavilion" contain a "Leisure" character.
Implying they are pursuits of the madam in her spare time. The martial arts stored in the "Leisure Martial Pavilion" were created by the madam during her leisure, or are of no use to her.
The "Leisure" of "Leisure Pill Pavilion" means during the madam’s free time, refining various idle pills for alchemy practice, which are of no use to her, so they are put into operation within the village.
Next to the Leisure Pill Pavilion,
A building is being constructed, which is the "Alchemy Pavilion."
Li Xian heard that the madam has three Alchemy Pavilions, named "Spring Pavilion," "Autumn Pavilion," and "Winter Pavilion," corresponding to different seasons for alchemy.
Alchemy is a profound matter, considering the right time, place, and people. The climates and feng shui differ in each season - spring, summer, autumn, winter.
Though there was originally a "Summer Pavilion."
It was heard that due to a failed alchemy attempt by the madam, a big fire burned it down, and only in winter did someone think to restore it.
"Steward Luo, we meet again."
Li Xian greeted.
"It’s you!" Luo Fang asked warily, "What are you here for?"
"To buy elixirs." Li Xian turned and walked into the Leisure Pill Pavilion.
"This kid... is becoming more and more formidable!" Luo Fang felt a sense of crisis. Since their last encounter, it had only been a few days, and this boy’s spirit and energy had grown stronger.
"Useless creature!"
Thinking of his nephew still bedridden, Luo Fang cursed aloud, "When you recover, never mind revenge, you’re not even worthy to carry his shoes!"
One wrong step leads to another.
In the Leisure Pill Pavilion, the scent of pills filled the air.
"D-class Nursing Home member?"
The Leisure Pill Pavilion features over ten staff members responsible for cleaning, sorting, hosting guests, bookkeeping, etc.
Though they are considered lower rank, their status is not like mere servants.
The speaker was the "Left Pavilion Steward," Xiao Qing, who was once a laundry maid and flattered the madam’s personal maid Qiuyue, which led to her being assigned as a half-steward in the Leisure Pill Pavilion.
She stepped down from the chair and approached Li Xian, her gaze moving up and down, eventually settling on his face.
"Quite a handsome face," a thought flashed in Xiao Qing’s mind.
"I’m here to buy elixirs," Li Xian said honestly.
"D-class Nursing Home members... have limited access to elixirs, and there’s no discount. The cheapest elixir costs 500 Wen coins. Do you have enough money?" Xiao Qing said flatly.
Seeing Li Xian nod, Xiao Qing gestured, "Follow me."