8. Great Talents Mature Late

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Xie An’s sharp eyes caught that today was Tang Qingfeng’s last day of teaching, and the sudden summons was likely to convey some instructions. Moreover... it was probably good news.

Chen He, who was not called upon, showed a deep look of disappointment.

To avoid awkwardness, Chen He wiped his nose and said, “Brother Xie, what are you daydreaming about? Master Tang is the renowned health preservation master of Qingwu County. Even my cousin holds him in high regard. Don’t keep Master Tang waiting.”

Over the past month or so, Xie An had privately helped Chen He appraise a few items, earning Chen He a fair profit. The way Chen He called him “Brother Xie” now felt natural and smooth.

Xie An nodded and turned into the room.

The room was small but luxuriously decorated, all made of fine sandalwood. In the center stood an Eight Immortals table with four chairs with backs. The main seat was a small incense altar, with incense offerings placed upon it.

Tang Qingfeng took out a prescription and handed it to Xie An. “I will be leaving the Chen Martial Arts Hall in a couple of days. These two items are a gift to you.”

Curious, Xie An accepted the prescription. “Master Tang, what is this?”

Tang Qingfeng explained, “This is a unique prescription that I developed during my studies. It complements health preservation exercises. Although the materials are expensive, its efficacy surpasses that of Vital Energy Soup by far.”

“Thank you, Master Tang.”

After spending a month together, Xie An found Tang Qingfeng to be refined and kind-hearted. He had never looked down on Xie An’s age; instead, he carefully guided him at every turn. Now, to receive such a precious prescription freely, Xie An felt deeply grateful.

Tang Qingfeng shook his head with a sigh. “Nowadays, health cultivation is waning, and few are willing to study it. I see your diligence and take this as fate. This health preservation practice requires years of perseverance to produce miraculous effects. If, one day, you can cultivate ‘Qi sensation,’ you may come find me in Tangjia Fort in the county town. There could be a great opportunity waiting for you.”

Qi sensation?

Xie An heard this term for the first time, feeling both intrigued and mystified.

Seeing that Tang Qingfeng had no intention to elaborate further, Xie An did not press and respectfully took his leave.

Two days later, Tang Qingfeng left Wuqiao Town.

Xie An even bought some local specialties from Wuqiao, along with a treasured jar of Bamboo Leaf Green he had kept for years, to see Tang Qingfeng off at the town entrance, grateful for a month’s worth of teaching.

Tang Qingfeng initially refused but could not resist the gratitude of this old man. He thought that his mission to promote health preservation in Wuqiao Town had finally borne meaning and thus accepted the gifts with a sense of fulfillment.

Watching Xie An’s lonely white-haired figure walk away, Tang Qingfeng felt a touch of emotion.

“Old yet vigorous, greatness achieved late!”

...

Xie An’s days returned to tranquility, burying himself in the dull practice of health preservation exercises in the backyard shed.

Though practicing the same art, his circumstances were vastly different from a month ago.

Previously, Xie An had blindly forced himself through the exercises, unaware of the essence and principles of health cultivation. With Tang Qingfeng’s guidance, he had grasped the core methods and now practiced smoothly and efficiently.

“According to Master Tang, the Five-Animal Exercises strengthen the five organs and cultivate inner Qi. The ‘Qi sensation’ he mentioned must be the cultivation of inner Qi. But I still don’t know exactly what inner Qi is…”

“Strengthen the five organs… The Five-Animal Exercises booklet does mention it. The tiger exercise focuses on the liver, replenishing essence and marrow; the deer exercise on the kidneys, boosting Qi and nourishing the kidneys; the bear exercise on the spleen, regulating the spleen and stomach; the ape exercise on the heart, opening orifices and enhancing intelligence; and the bird exercise on the lungs, nourishing the lungs and expanding the chest. Sounds impressive, but I am still far from reaching that level. More effort is needed.”

By noon, Xie An was drenched in sweat but breathed evenly and showed no signs of exhaustion. Instead, his internal Qi flowed continuously and endlessly.

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Every movement was infused with inexhaustible strength.

Exhaling deeply, Xie An ceased practicing and called up the interface before him.

[Five-Animal Exercises: Dynamic-Static Integration (97/100)]

[Tip: Complete Dynamic-Static Integration to extend lifespan by ten years]

[Remaining Years: Fifteen]

“After a month of effort, I’m almost at full completion of ‘Dynamic-Static Integration.’ Fifteen years left... that’s a long life ahead.” Xie An smiled with satisfaction.

Dynamic-Static Integration is the second stage of the Five-Animal Exercises, with a steep increase in difficulty. Without Tang Qingfeng’s guidance, Xie An guessed it would have taken him a year or more to reach this progress.

Though a teacher can open the door, cultivation is up to the individual.

But opening the door is equally crucial.

“As of today, I am no longer the near-death old man I was three months ago.”

Xie An went to the stone weight. With slight exertion, he lifted the 400-pound stone weight with one hand. For someone untrained in martial arts, single-handedly lifting 400 pounds is extraordinary.

Setting the stone weight down, Xie An punched fiercely on the floor paved with bluestone bricks. The sudden “boom” shattered the bricks, though his fist throbbed painfully.

Rubbing his scraped skin, Xie An contemplated.

With his current strength, killing an adult man with one punch was no problem. Even a water buffalo could be killed in three or five strikes.

Below martial artists, he should have few rivals.

“I just don’t understand combative martial arts. If I met a skilled fighter, I’d be clumsy and easily overwhelmed. I should find a martial art to train in. Besides, I’ve only learned half the Five-Animal Exercises—I need to buy a complete version.”

Buying martial arts manuals was not difficult. Some apprentices and instructors of the Chen Martial Arts Hall, driven by financial need, risked copying martial arts secrets to sell on the black market. Some bandits and wandering heroes also sold collected martial arts manuals on the black market.

Xie An pulled out his savings hidden under the bedside and counted carefully.

“Only twenty taels left?”

Over three months, Xie An’s medical and supplementary expenses were huge, plus the cost of nourishing food. With no monthly income during his recovery, his funds rapidly dwindled.

The three great hardships of old age:

Money is there, but no life to spend it.

Still alive, but no money left.

Young girlfriend wants, but body fails.

“No rush. Wait a little longer. Everything will come…”

Xie An reassured himself, pocketed the money, and planned to visit the black market tomorrow.

Knock knock knock.

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A hurried knock came from outside the door.

“Coming.”

Opening the door, Xie An found the maid Chunlan holding a bamboo basket. Inside were meat, tonic soup, and a thick cotton jacket.

“Master Xie, the master said—”

Mid-sentence, Chunlan froze, staring in disbelief at the old man before her.

Compared to three months ago, Xie An looked spirited, much sturdier, even somewhat younger.

Xie An invited Chunlan in for tea and asked, “What did Master Li say?”

Chunlan excitedly corrected herself, “Is your wind ailment better now?”

Wind ailment refers to stroke here, but in this era, stroke often meant wind-evil internal injury causing paralysis. Modern strokes mostly mean cerebrovascular accidents. The definitions differ.

Simply put, ancient strokes were less severe than modern ones.

Modern elderly strokes often meant death.

Xie An did not evade the question. “Yes, I’ve been recovering well recently. What were you about to say?”

Chunlan eagerly stopped talking. “Master told me to tell you to move out so Zhang Bing can take over as the pawnshop’s court physician. I didn’t expect your recovery to be so good… I’ll go tell the master right away.”

“By the way, these are clothes and tonic soup I brought you. Eat them while they’re warm.”

After setting down the soup and clothes, Chunlan hurriedly left.

When she reached the pawnshop hall, she was called back.

“Miss Chunlan, does Master wish to move out?”

It was Zhang Bing, sitting behind the counter, acting like a senior master. “If Master insists on refusing, I can help persuade him.”

His expression was full of pride as he spoke.

“I’m afraid your wish will be disappointed. Master Xie is not only recovered but looks younger than before. I’m going to tell the master now.” Chunlan, knowing Zhang Bing’s disrespect toward old Xie, bore him no goodwill, leaving with a sharp remark.

“Master has recovered… How is this possible!?”

Zhang Bing was dumbfounded.

For over four months, Zhang Bing had diligently managed the pawnshop, filling in as the court physician. His only worry was Xie An’s recovery, which might snatch away everything he had gained.

He had waited too long for this day to come...