Wang Dazhu glanced at it and said, "You're still not giving up, kid. What comes next is really something. After you finish training your bones, you can start sensing the Qi. But usually, you need your master to help you complete a cycle, otherwise you won't even know how to get started. I'm stuck at this step. In our gym, only the headmaster can help others sense the Qi."
Training the skin, training the bones, training the qi? Li Boyang found it a bit strange that training the qi required someone else to help him sense the qi, but that wasn't his concern right now, so he didn't pursue the matter further.
"What I just talked about was the training method; now I'm going to tell you about the fighting method."
As Wang Dazhu spoke, he picked up a large knife and began to wield it wildly. Li Boyang felt the flashes of light and the strong winds emanating from the knife as it was swung, which was quite formidable.
"There are countless fighting styles. Some use knives, some use swords, and some use fists."
"But to sum it up, it all boils down to one sentence: the use of force."
"Practice the techniques and cultivate your inner energy; use your strength in combat."
"This means that training methods are all about physical strength, while fighting methods are about how to use that strength."
"Therefore, diet is crucial for martial arts practitioners. Eating well will help them gain strength quickly."
Wang Dazhu explained things in a simple and easy-to-understand way; he truly deserves to be called a professional teacher.
"But what I'm talking about now is before the Qi sensation. I don't know about what comes after that. I've heard that it's not like that after the Qi sensation, but I guess you won't reach that stage, so don't waste your time."
Li Boyang replied, "Though poor, one should remain steadfast and never abandon one's lofty aspirations."
"Come on, stop being so bookish."
"Based on my seven years of experience teaching apprentices, your physical constitution is just average. The key is that you're not young anymore, you're 28, right? At this age, your bones are already set, so it's not as easy to modify them as when you were a child."
Li Boyang didn't argue. Since he had decided to learn martial arts, why should he care about other people's opinions? He had chosen this path, so he would just keep going. If the other party knew his goal, they would probably be scared to death.
Perhaps feeling he had offended the other party, Wang Dazhu said:
"Don't worry about it. Age is a minor issue. I've seen plenty of people who achieve great things later in life. The key to martial arts is just two words: perseverance."
"Those who can persevere, even if they don't have great natural talent, can eventually succeed. Otherwise, just look at those gym owners. They are only of average appearance. Why are they the gym owners? There are many people with higher talent than them. But when it comes to perseverance, not everyone can do it."
“Practicing martial arts is like rowing against the current; if you don’t advance, you fall behind. Don’t laugh at me, but take me for example. After living such a comfortable life for too long, I’m not as good as I used to be. Unlike the master, who still has the desire to improve and regularly goes out of the city to hone his skills.”
"Courage, diligence, and perseverance are the most important things in martial arts."
Li Boyang agreed with what the other party said. Successful people are not necessarily the most talented, but they must have the qualities of hard work and perseverance. Just like himself, after practicing Hunyuan Zhuang for six months, he did find that he could eat more and more and his strength had increased a lot.
Wang Dazhu continued:
"The best time to start this training is when the sun is just rising, and two hours a day is enough. Practicing too much will harm your health."
"Tonight's main purpose is to arrange your daily training routine. You can practice on your own from now on."
"Moreover, this training method needs to be combined with a nourishing method. I'll give you a recipe for medicinal cuisine and medicinal baths in a bit, otherwise your body will collapse before you can even master it."
"The saying goes, 'The poor study literature, the rich study martial arts.' This medicinal diet and bath are no small expense. I've heard that the flesh and blood of monsters are very nourishing, and when combined with medicinal diet and bath, the effects are doubled. However, ordinary people can't afford it. But the owner gives you so much money every month, it should be enough."
Wang Dazhu pulled Li Boyang to sit on a stone step and explained the daily training method to him in detail. After tossing Li Boyang a book with a yellow cover, he patted his butt and left, not caring whether Li Boyang could understand it or not, leaving him standing there bewildered in the wind.
However, the script here is similar to ancient Chinese script, and Li Boyang has basically learned it after a month.
"My extraordinary life journey, Li Boyang, officially begins today."
He roared at the full moon, his heart pounding with excitement, and ran back to his house, ready to begin his real martial arts training the next day when the sun rose.
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Chapter 3 Li Boyang's Talent
A year has passed in the blink of an eye.
The apprentices from a year ago are all gone, and Wang Dazhu has welcomed a new batch of apprentices.
The Hunyuan Boxing Academy only teaches students the stage of skin and muscle training, while the secret techniques of bone forging are not easily taught. Only those who become secret disciples of the academy can learn them.
The reputation of Hunyuan Boxing School also stems from the excellent effect of Hunyuan Zhuang (a type of martial art) in the skin-strengthening stage. After completing the skin-strengthening stage, the apprentices would leave.
Firstly, the boxing gym is unwilling to teach the bone-forging method. Secondly, these apprentices are actually here to build a foundation, and most of them have certain family backgrounds. Most of them do not need to continue training in the boxing gym. However, if the few who are willing to stay in the boxing gym and sign a long-term contract, the boxing gym will naturally pass on the bone-forging method.
For most apprentices who aren't particularly incompetent, a year is enough time to go from a martial arts novice to a master of the skin-strengthening technique. The early stages of martial arts training are all about courage and diligence, and some highly talented apprentices can complete this in as little as six months.
Inside the martial arts hall of Hunyuan Boxing Academy.
"Are you ready? We're about to go in."
Wang Dazhu held a pig's trotter in his hand, gnawing on it as he called out.
Beside Wang Dazhu, a dozen or so apprentices, armed with knives, spears, and clubs, stared excitedly at the shirtless man in the center of the martial arts hall.
For these newcomers, this was their first real battle. Although it was a bit unfair for twenty-odd to fight one, and although their opponent was just a cook, and although they had heard that the cook was quite skilled, it didn't stop them from crushing their opponent.
The person standing in the martial arts hall was none other than Li Boyang. A year had passed, and he had changed dramatically compared to himself a year ago.
First and foremost are those muscular physiques, the most direct result of a year's worth of medicinal diets, herbal baths, and persistent exercise.
Then there's his demeanor. If a year ago Li Boyang gave off a rather weak impression, as if he would fall over if you pushed him, now he gives off a very masculine vibe. This is a change that training brings to people.
A day earlier, Wang Dazhu suddenly ran up to Li Boyang and complained that the apprentices he was training were just like women. They would make a fuss over the slightest hardship and acted like they were the only ones who mattered when they were at home. He asked Li Boyang to help teach these brats a lesson.
Li Boyang originally thought it would be a one-on-one fight and was ready to agree without hesitation. However, after hearing Wang Dazhu say that he would have to fight more than twenty people, his face turned green and he was extremely unwilling.
Only after Wang Dazhu patiently explained to him that he had already mastered the art of skin-strengthening and that those little brats couldn't hurt him, and that he didn't know any fighting techniques yet, so it would be good to practice on these little brats, did he finally agree.