187: Chapter 185: Crying, Making a Fuss, and Threatening to Hang Oneself 187: Chapter 185: Crying, Making a Fuss, and Threatening to Hang Oneself Coming out to practice cultivation in the morning and running into such an event had Tangyu both chuckling and feeling helpless.
These days, it was extremely rare for anyone to ask to become an apprentice, let alone such a young and pretty woman.
Besides, she wanted to learn Kung Fu from him, not medicine, which was something Tangyu could decide on his own.
If she had wanted to learn medicine, then she would have needed his master’s approval.
To become a part of the Ghost Doctor Sect was certainly not easy.
It could be said that, looking across the entire Hua Country, very few people were qualified to join the Ghost Doctor Sect.
“Don’t get too excited, I should make it clear that I’ll only teach you Tai Chi, nothing else,” said Tangyu.
The woman’s round eyes were roving over Tangyu’s body as if pondering some thought, then she suddenly said with a cunning smile, “But Master, now that I’ve taken you as my teacher, shouldn’t you pass on all you know to me?
I’m quite clever.
Teach me all the good skills you have; I promise I’ll learn fast and master them even faster.
I’ll definitely promote and enhance your abilities, outshining the old with the new, without tarnishing your reputation.”
“No way, I don’t have many skills.
Take it or leave it; if you can’t accept this, then you should seek another expert,” Tangyu replied.
The pretty woman gave Tangyu a defiant glare but eventually softened and said, “Alright then, Master, just teach me Tai Chi.” She didn’t care much in fact; she wasn’t genuinely seeking to be an apprentice, but merely using it as a pretext to steal his techniques.
Besides, she thought, nowadays even the ugliest boys are called handsome, and the ugliest girls are called pretty.
Calling someone Master was nothing compared to that.
“Then it’s settled, you’re not allowed to pester me to learn anything else later, or else I’ll have to kick you out of the sect,” said Tangyu.
He was aware of the young beauty’s intentions, but he didn’t mind simply teaching her some Tai Chi.
In any case, she was unlikely to grasp much of it.
If she really could learn it, he could always refer her to his master to see if she could pass the tests to join the Ghost Doctor Sect.
So, for Tangyu, there was no loss.
“Sure, no problem,” the young woman agreed readily, always believing that perseverance paves the way to good fortune and nothing was too hard for her to achieve.
She planned to master Tai Chi first and then see if there was anything else worth learning.
If not, she could gracefully make her exit.
These days, a master was no different from a teacher, and who doesn’t have dozens of teachers from childhood to adulthood?
You’d hardly muster the courage to greet someone otherwise.
“By the way, Master, you haven’t introduced yourself yet.
My name is Fang Yishui, and yours?” inquired the young woman.
“Fang Yishui,” Tangyu repeated silently to himself, remembering the name.
“Tangyu.”
“Now that the introductions are out of the way, can we start?
Master, why don’t you first tell me about the origins of your Tai Chi?” said Fang Yishui excitedly, rubbing her hands together.
Tangyu shook his head and replied, “I don’t really know the origins, just that it was passed down from my sect’s founder.
The most important aspect of true Tai Chi is the artistic conception, the profound meaning.
Tai Chi essentially has no fixed moves or form; it is an artistic conception.
Tai Chi generates Yin and Yang, Extreme Yin transforms into Yang, Extreme Yang transforms into Yin, Yin and Yang in harmonious exchange.
The versions of Tai Chi passed down nowadays are merely physical expressions, evolved from the masters’ understanding of Tai Chi.
Thus, each version may be regarded as Tai Chi, but also might not be.
What I practiced just now is simply one form of expression.
However, the profound meaning this particular Tai Chi reflects runs deeper, so you must deeply comprehend the form and intention in each move to truly grasp it and learn it well.”
Fang Yishui also shook her head and said, “Master, don’t make it so complicated; just keep it simple.
I am not interested in understanding the profound meaning of Tai Chi—I just want you to teach me the forms.
Why talk about something so obscure that has no practical use?
The true meaning can’t be expressed in words anyway.
For instance, the concept of using four ounces to move a thousand pounds can’t really be explained in words.
So, the most important thing is to grasp the deeper significance oneself.
Don’t you agree, Master?”
“Right, you’re quite correct; understanding comes from within.
It’s indeed challenging to explain in plain language, and the true meaning requires heartfelt comprehension.
When I spoke to you, it was only to give you some insight and show you where to start,” Tangyu agreed with a nod.
“Let’s get on with it, Master.
I’ve heard my grandfather talk about this thousands of times since I was a child.
Let’s not waste time; start teaching me,” Fang Yishui said, waving her hand impatiently.
Tangyu chuckled lightly and shook his head.
If it were so easy to learn his Tai Chi Fist, passed down from the founder of the Holy Doctor Sect, it would indeed be a miracle.
“Alright, watch closely,” Tangyu said.
He took a deep breath and demonstrated a sequence of movements.
The routine was not complex, totaling only five moves, but each move flowed with the grace of a dragon emerging from the sea—silent as a whispering rain.
The momentum appeared incredibly grand, like a landslide, as mighty as a tiger descending a mountain, yet also as gentle as a trickling stream, soft and lingering.
These two starkly different, even diametrically opposed feelings, were wonderfully fused together, leaving one to marvel at how such a miraculous performance was possible.
The sequence was performed smoothly, like clouds drifting through the sky, appearing as only one continuous motion.
This eerie and wondrous feeling was fascinating.
Fang Yishui was so astonished by the performance that her excitement knew no bounds, as if she had discovered a new world.
Among her family, she was known as a martial fanatic.
Since childhood, her favorite activity had been practicing martial arts, especially Tai Chi and Wing Chun—her true loves.
Because most other martial styles were too wild and dominant, not suitable for a girl to practice.
“That’s it, Master?
Go on,” Fang Yishui prompted.
Tangyu looked at her and said, “Haste makes waste, three feet of ice doesn’t form in one day; you have to eat your rice one bite at a time, and it’s unrealistic to think you can become fat from one bowl.
So don’t set your heart too high just yet, first master these basic movements before continuing.
If you can’t get these basics down, don’t even think about learning what comes next.”
Watching Tangyu training her methodically, Fang Yishui pursed her lips as if somewhat displeased.
“It’s just this simple movement, watch me.
I’ll show you what a martial arts genius looks like.” Fang Yishui was full of confidence; her memory was exceptional, almost never forgetting what she saw.
She had memorized all of the movements Tangyu had done just now, and she thought it shouldn’t be hard to reproduce them.
But when she performed the first movement, she frowned and uttered, “Eh, that’s not right.
What’s going on?
I clearly followed the exact movements.
Why does it feel off?”
Standing to the side, Tangyu couldn’t help but smile quietly, finally realizing something was amiss.
She really thought it would be that easy to learn.
Fang Yishui tried several more times but still couldn’t get it right.
She could mimic the first move somewhat accurately, but when it came to the second movement, she couldn’t connect it at all.
These two movements just couldn’t flow together.
Moreover, she found out that even though her movements looked somewhat similar, they were far from what the master had shown.
She couldn’t find the feel that the master had displayed no matter how hard she tried.
After several fruitless attempts, Fang Yishui finally understood that she had underestimated it.
The master’s Tai Chi Fist was indeed very unique and special.
“Master, what’s going on?” Fang Yishui asked.
“As you have said, this kind of thing depends on individual comprehension, which can’t be clearly expressed with simple words.
Therefore, the profound meaning and artistic conception within can only be understood by yourself.
I can teach you the form, but the rest is up to you,” Tangyu said.
Fang Yishui pursed her lips, still somewhat unwilling to accept it.
“No way, master, show me one more time.”
“Fine, I’ll do it one more time for you to see, but I won’t keep demonstrating it for you in the future.
Whether you can learn it or not entirely depends on your comprehension.
If you possess comprehension, you will grasp it after a few lessons, but without it, you won’t be able to learn even if I teach you a thousand times.
Didn’t you say you are quick-witted and have a strong comprehension?” Tangyu said.
Fang Yishui said, “I am naturally quick-witted.
I can learn almost anything on the first try.”
After demonstrating again, Tangyu said, “Now it’s up to you to comprehend and ponder it yourself.
This is the most basic technique, and if you can perfect it, then you can be considered to have entered the door.”
“Mm,” Fang Yishui nodded, and got down to pondering seriously.
“Hey, Tangyu, what are you doing here?” a voice suddenly sounded, and a figure walked over—it was Zhao Xinxin.
“Xinxin, you’re up so early,” Tangyu greeted her upon seeing Zhao Xinxin, and he assessed her complexion, which seemed quite good.
Zhao Xinxin glanced at Tangyu and then looked over at Fang Yishui, thinking to herself that this guy really didn’t lack for romantic encounters—wherever he went, he attracted beautiful women.
“It’s already six-thirty, not so early.
I was planning to go out for a run this beautiful morning, and here you are, looking quite carefree indeed,” Zhao Xinxin said.
Fang Yishui also looked over, her gaze lingering on Zhao Xinxin for a moment before turning to Tangyu, “Master, she’s not our mistress, right?”
“Ahem, what makes you say that?” Tangyu responded somewhat defensively, wondering what that meant.
Was he not compatible with Xinxin?
Although she was a bit older than him, she looked almost the same age as him.
“Because you two don’t match.
This sister is too beautiful and has too much poise,” Fang Yishui said frankly.
Zhao Xinxin laughed, “Hmm, you do have an eye for people.”
Tangyu was speechless.
What kind of disciple talks about their master like that?
He really wanted to enforce some kind of sect rules at this point.
“Tangyu, what’s going on?
Have you taken on a disciple?” Zhao Xinxin asked curiously.
“Do you think I wanted this?
She threw a tantrum, cried, and threatened to hang herself unless I took her as a disciple.
I could only reluctantly agree,” Tangyu said.
Fang Yishui gave Tangyu a dark look and retorted, “Please, taking me as your disciple is the good fortune of your eight lifetimes.
Stop playing coy.
If you weren’t somewhat capable, I wouldn’t have bothered becoming your disciple.
Anyway, I’d better go back and ponder this thoroughly.
I’ll see you tomorrow, master.”