“Coach Gu Yang, can you demonstrate your understanding of this move for me? Use your own approach,” Su Jie asked, eager to see Gu Yang’s interpretation of the “Hoe Strike” technique.

Gu Yang didn’t decline. He picked up a hoe, raised and lowered it repeatedly, turning over the entire patch of ground in a dozen strokes. The movements were identical to those he’d taught before, yet the essence felt profoundly different.

Su Jie sensed something peculiar. Each of Gu Yang’s strikes lacked any frustration or anger. Instead, it felt as though he was uncovering buried treasures in the soil—extracting wealth with genuine focus, finding satisfaction both physically and spiritually.

It embodied a sense of self-reliance.

“Did you understand?” Gu Yang gently set down the hoe.

“I grasped a bit but still need to reflect,” Su Jie replied earnestly.

“Good. For the next month, I’ll keep teaching you various martial arts routines. If you don’t want to practice them, that’s fine. What you’ve already learned is enough to keep you improving for the next ten years or so,” Gu Yang said before walking away.

“This ‘Hoe Strike’ technique truly can be practiced for a lifetime,” Su Jie nodded in agreement.

‘Coach Odell taught me the ‘Hoe Strike’ as a technique akin to a finely tuned machine—every movement precise and flawless. Uncle Mang’s version, however, was unpredictable, attacking from unseen angles. Meanwhile, Gu Yang’s interpretation exuded a sense of fulfillment.’

As Su Jie followed Gu Yang, he continued contemplating.

This move was indeed fascinating.

Even though it was the same action, every master had their unique understanding, intent, and style, which influenced the power, effectiveness, and physical benefits derived from it.

Physical improvement, however, wasn’t limited to bodily training—it also depended on one’s mindset.

A person who lives in constant gloom and negativity will inevitably suffer from hormonal imbalances, affecting their health. On the other hand, someone who maintains a joyful and positive outlook is bound to enjoy better health and longevity.

This is a fundamental principle.

Coach Odell’s philosophy emphasized “hatred” and “ruthlessness,” while Gu Yang’s approach centered on the satisfaction of self-reliance. Though the techniques might involve identical force, the outcomes stemming from their differing mindsets could vary drastically.

To Su Jie, Gu Yang’s philosophy was ideal for physical well-being and mental relaxation, while Odell’s philosophy was designed for combat and survival.

Both were essential and needed to be alternated in practice.

Suddenly, the concept of “Yin and Yang” surfaced in Su Jie’s mind.

At his age, he wouldn’t have comprehended the ancient Chinese philosophies of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. Yet, through practicing the “Hoe Strike” and its underlying philosophies, he discovered that Yin and Yang—the positive and negative aspects—were indispensable.

‘Ancient Chinese wisdom and the concept of Yin-Yang are embedded in everyday life. When faced with tough choices, one can find solutions through them. For example, should I adopt Gu Yang’s philosophy or Coach Odell’s? From the perspective of Yin-Yang balance, both are necessary. However, I must remain scientific about it. For instance, when I practice with hatred and ruthlessness, how does my body react hormonally? Conversely, when I practice with satisfaction and self-reliance, how do my hormones behave?’

Su Jie’s mind overflowed with thoughts. He felt compelled to delve deeper into texts like the Book of Changes to learn more about Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, as well as ancient Chinese philosophy. At the same time, he wanted to study cutting-edge life sciences, human anatomy, neuroscience, and endocrinology.

‘Practicing martial arts is, in essence, exploring the mysteries of life. But martial artists rarely engage in systematic research. To truly unravel life’s secrets, one must rely on scientific analysis. I’ve decided—I’ll pursue medicine and life sciences in college. Professional combat sports cannot genuinely unlock human potential. Only science can.’

Su Jie’s resolve solidified.

‘Of course, I won’t slack off in martial arts. A strong body is the foundation of all endeavors. Plus, if I’m to study life sciences, I can use myself as a research subject. As for Gu Yang’s martial arts routines, I’ll pass on learning them for now—not because they aren’t good, but because I need to perfect the fundamentals of the ‘Hoe Strike’ first. Otherwise, spreading myself too thin will yield no results. Mastering this one move will make all other techniques effortless.’  

After Gu Yang left, Su Jie continued practicing.

By the time dawn broke, he headed to the academy for breakfast, then started his self-imposed training regimen for the day.

Immersed in focused training, the day flew by.

At dusk, he arrived at the small forest. For an hour, he swung a sledgehammer, aiming to strike flies perched on glass panes. While he managed to smash three flies, his lack of control shattered the glass completely. 

He didn’t break more glass than necessary, limiting himself to smashing only three pieces daily.

Like Mi Fu practicing calligraphy on five-tael silver sheets of paper, he carefully contemplated his strokes before making a move.

He adopted the same approach, brewing the strength and precision of his technique to its peak in his mind.

After three sessions, he went to the academy’s massage center to find Uncle Mang for a deep-tissue massage.

“You’ve done a lot of training today. Your spine shows slight micro-deformations—nothing serious, but it could become problematic over time. I can tell you’ve been repeating the ‘Hoe and Pick’ move over and over,” Uncle Mang said as he pinched Su Jie’s spine, causing him such pain that he almost fainted. However, Su Jie had become increasingly adept at managing relaxation and tension rhythms, so he quickly endured it and continued the conversation.

“Did I mess up my posture while practicing?” Su Jie asked nervously. Practicing incorrectly could be a serious issue, especially since it was his first time training without a coach to supervise, leaving him prone to overexertion.

“Rest assured, your posture is fine. It’s just that the volume of training was too much, pushing your spine to its limit, causing slight deformation—similar to muscle soreness after overexertion. Moving forward, pay more attention to moderation. When you used to train under a coach, didn’t they give you massages periodically?”

“That’s true,” Su Jie nodded.

“That’s why solo training can be risky. It’s easy to develop bad habits, even for seasoned practitioners, as it’s hard to see your own flaws. Observers always have a clearer view,” Uncle Mang explained. “Since you’re still growing, you need to be extra cautious with your training. Luckily, you have me to help correct any issues daily; otherwise, it would be challenging to fix once your bones develop improperly. Of course, once your form is perfected and your skeletal structure solidifies, there won’t be any issues.”

“I understand,” Su Jie said, fully aware of Uncle Mang’s deep expertise in skeletal studies. Curious, he asked, “Uncle Mang, what did you do before this?”

“I earned a PhD in Medicine from Cambridge, specializing in studying hormonal responses generated by biomechanical interactions between cells, bones, and muscles,” Uncle Mang replied. “You and I get along well. My heavy-handed massage technique is a recent innovation. After extensive clinical trials, you’re the only subject who can handle it. If you continue coming daily, allowing me to refine my method, I’ll share martial arts insights with you.”

“Am I a good test subject?” Su Jie recalled Odell also mentioning something similar.

“Exceptionally rare,” Uncle Mang said, continuing his massage. Each motion brought pain that felt bone-deep for Su Jie.

“By the way, when I practice the ‘Hoe and Pick’ move, I stretch and contract my spine, feeling its elasticity. Why does it dislocate so easily?” Su Jie asked.

“Precisely because you’re training your spine. This kind of exercise makes it prone to dislocation. Unlike a machine, even if your posture appears perfect to the naked eye, errors might exist on a microscopic or even nanoscopic level,” Uncle Mang explained.

He continued his lesson: “‘Hoe and Pick’ focuses on spinal extension and contraction, thrusting upward and plunging downward. In martial arts, there’s a saying: ‘Forward and backward are instinct; side-to-side is skill; up and down is mastery.’ It means retreating when attacked or advancing when striking are instinctual. Dodging side-to-side requires hard-earned techniques, which is why it’s considered skill. But managing vertical movement during combat demonstrates incredible mastery, almost supernatural, hence called mastery. Techniques like ducking, weaving, and grappling in boxing or mixed martial arts are the hardest to perfect but can decisively overpower an opponent when executed well.

“Another martial arts proverb says, ‘Rise like a lifting load, move like a locust.’ It means that when engaging an opponent, you should rise with the power of lifting a yoke while maintaining balance. Inexperienced practitioners lose balance, stumble, or even fall.”

Su Jie thought of his classmates struggling to balance while practicing with a yoke. Indeed, maintaining balance while carrying two baskets on a yoke—whether on flat ground, rugged mountain paths, or muddy roads—was a remarkable skill. Applying such balance and power in combat would be terrifying.

“Kid, you seem quite relaxed during this massage session. Your iron-body technique is improving quickly,” Uncle Mang said, noting Su Jie’s ability to chat during the painful massage, which left him amazed.

Su Jie’s martial arts progress seemed to grow daily.

After the massage session, Su Jie felt utterly relaxed, his body and mind rejuvenated. He lay still for half an hour, his mind blank, completely free of fatigue.

“This state is medically known as deep neuro-cortical relaxation. In this state, recovery happens quickly, endocrine functions stabilize perfectly, and cellular metabolism adjusts, potentially extending lifespan. The best medical treatment is relaxation therapy. I’ve researched this for years, but achieving total relaxation independently is nearly impossible. It requires advanced massage techniques to stimulate the body into such a state,” Uncle Mang explained. “The Great Corpse State you practice is also a form of relaxation therapy. Although you sleep only six hours a day, it’s equivalent to twelve hours of rest. However, even my techniques can’t achieve the ultimate state of relaxation.”

“What is the ultimate state of relaxation?” Su Jie eagerly asked. 

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