Chapter Fifty-Six: Turmoil in the Miao Village – The Bonfire Competition, Part Two

After an entire morning had passed, Mad Lai finally finished regulating his breath. He Zhi Xing had long since been enjoying the scenery nearby. When he saw Mad Lai rise to his feet, he asked, “Done?”

“Yes. I can feel that my meridians have been strengthened, and the stray threads of true energy scattered through them have now settled and flow smoothly within my dantian. I’ve finally grasped how to control true energy with my mind. Brother, I truly owe you my deepest gratitude—please accept my bow.” With that, he knelt on one knee, clasping his fist in salute.

To be honest, for any ordinary person, to go from knowing nothing of martial arts to suddenly feeling true power coursing through their body, to grasp the flow of inner energy, is nothing short of miraculous and awe-inspiring. Naturally, he understood the weight of this kindness.

He Zhi Xing was startled and quickly helped him up. “Mad Lai, don’t do this! Come on, stand up—since we’re brothers, there’s no need for such formality.”

“Alright. I never imagined I’d make a brother in this life whose kindness to me is second only to my parents. From being expelled from school, to that two hundred yuan you gave me, to helping me pick up and drop off my sister when I was busy, helping my family find that mine so we didn’t have to live in poverty, and now teaching me martial arts—your kindness is unmatched!”

His eyes reddened as he spoke, so moved that he could hardly get the words out.

He Zhi Xing clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s nothing. Just minor things. Let’s keep working hard together—our day will come.”

“Yeah.”

“Alright, next I’ll teach you the basics of Xingyi’s Five Element Fist.”

“The simple Five Element Fist draws on the hunting motions of five animals—dragon, tiger, crane, snake, and monkey. The movements of these animals can be used individually or combined into a practical set. Watch carefully.”

“The first move: Twin Dragons Spitting Pearls. Second: Hungry Tiger Pouncing on Wolf. Third: Twin Cranes Spreading Wings. Fourth: Snake Strikes and Explores. Fifth: Scooping the Moon from the Sea. Sixth: Clouds Turn and Pillars Topple. Seventh: The Trump Card Move. Eighth: Single Top Pours Clouds. Ninth: Sweeping Across the Legions. Tenth: Feint East, Strike West...and so on.”

He Zhi Xing swiftly demonstrated the entire Five Element Fist. Mad Lai could only imitate it as best he could, but his movements were stiff, and he missed many of the key points and characteristics—he barely managed to remember the general sequence.

He Zhi Xing glanced at the sky—the sun was already overhead, past noon. He called Mad Lai to stop practicing, and the two returned to the car, took out some provisions, and ate a little before setting out again.

As they neared their destination, the road grew steeper. Besides the forest on either side, there were also strange rocks. After winding along a narrow mountain path and crossing two stone bridges, they reached the village gate—a tall, arching gateway. Past the gate, there was a flat clearing at the foot of the mountain where they could park, but vehicles couldn’t go any further; to enter the village proper, they would have to continue on foot.

The gate itself was halfway up the mountain. From there, a winding stone stairway led down—a brook curved through the valley, with a waterwheel on its bank and a wooden bridge spanning the stream. As they walked a little way down, laughter drifted up from the riverside: a group of beautiful Miao girls were washing clothes, playing and chatting by the water.

The riverbank was dotted with rapeseed flowers and wild grasses. Mad Lai, walking ahead, seemed to catch sight of an extraordinarily beautiful woman. Several young women were washing their hair, and one of them—a tall, stunning beauty—was having her hair combed by a giggling friend. Their blue-and-white patterned Miao costumes set off the delicate, flower-like beauty of the girl’s face. Not only Mad Lai, but even He Zhi Xing was taken aback by the sight of such a dazzling beauty here.

He Zhi Xing felt a sudden urge to paint. He leaned close to the dazed Mad Lai and whispered, “Wait here a moment. I’m going to get my brushes—I must capture her on paper.”

With that, he hurried back up to the grassy clearing by the gate, grabbed his painting tools, and rushed down again to begin sketching on the spot.