Chapter 79: Striking to Kill |
The concept of bio-electricity was explained in detail in Cold Steel, as it is a crucial component of New Arts.
"Correct. The numbness you felt just now—that was me severing your neural transmission," Zhou Qing nodded.
This disciple indeed had excellent perception. Just by experiencing it once, he immediately understood the essence of Qi Refining.
"Master, if you can cut off someone else's neural transmission with a mere touch, doesn't that make Qi Refining martial artists vastly superior to Body Forging ones?" Chen Wujun asked, puzzled.
Previously, Senior Brother Li had said that if a Body Forging martial artist was naturally gifted, it wouldn't be rare for them to beat a Qi Refining martial artist to death.
"Who said Qi Refining allows you to cut off people's nerves?" Zhou Qing asked in return.
Chen Wujun understood now.
Zhou Qing had merely let him feel the difference; it didn't mean Qi Refining could achieve that step easily.
"Everyone has bio-currents in their body. Every one of your cells is like a miniature battery, capable of absorbing and releasing bio-electricity. Your heart is your biological generator..."
"So-called Qi Refining is the complete control of one's self. Through various methods, you control and enhance the bio-currents in your body, then continuously stimulate and temper your flesh and internal organs."
"During combat, you convert this current into a fierce force and release it—that is Qi."
"Although Qi Refining and Hidden Force differ, the underlying principles are connected."
"Don't pay attention to those mysterious descriptions in ancient texts—things like 'complete six yins' or 'unity of heaven and man.' That was simply because science hadn't advanced enough back then. The predecessors knew the 'how' but not the 'why'; they understood the phenomenon but not the essence."
"They could train it and feel it, but didn't know how to explain it, so they summarized a set of terms based on practice and imagination. Later generations read these terms and found them obscure and difficult to understand."
Every time Zhou Qing taught, he tossed aside the mysticisms and explained things using modern science.
This made it much more accessible, allowing Chen Wujun to understand immediately.
There was another reason: given Chen Wujun's educational background, if Zhou Qing started talking about "The Dao born from void produces one Qi, and from one Qi comes Yin and Yang," he might not understand it at all.
Chen Wujun pondered for a long time, then grasped a few more points:
"Master, New Arts are like a storage battery. You keep charging the body, and the body gradually mutates..."
"Whereas Old Arts involve controlling and strengthening the bio-currents within, like a generator producing its own electricity."
"That is largely correct," Zhou Qing nodded slightly.
"Then, using Magnetic Field Crystals during Stance Training to activate and strengthen the bio-currents in each part... isn't that similar to New Arts?"
Chen Wujun had been thinking about this question ever since he read Cold Steel.
The Cold Steel fighting technique contained an extremely comprehensive analysis of New Arts.
"The two were never opposites. It's just that their foundations differ, though they reach the same destination by different paths. Over the years of development, New Arts have absorbed elements of Old Arts, and Old Arts have likewise absorbed much from New Arts," Zhou Qing explained with a smile.
"I understand." Chen Wujun let out a long breath. Zhou Qing's explanation had dissected the principles clearly, clarifying many things for him.
"Master, then how exactly does one refine Qi?"
"To refine Qi, you must abide by your original heart and subdue the Heart Monkey... Your heart must align with your intent, and your intent with your Qi. Whatever your heart is, your intent will flow through it. Then, use that intent to subdue your other chaotic thoughts," Zhou Qing said slowly.
"Think carefully about what lies in your heart—this is your future path. Then, firm your resolve. Whether it is justice or greed, benevolence or cruelty, when practicing martial arts, you must twist your strength into a single strand. Now, you must twist your heart into a single strand!"
That was why, when he saw Chen Wujun perform the Swimming Dragon Palm filled with hostility earlier, he hadn't corrected him—because that was Chen Wujun's own nature.
To refine Qi, one must abide by their true self, subduing the Heart Monkey and twisting the spirit into a single strand. Regardless of what that true self is, as long as one can carry it through to the end, it is their own Dao.
Listening to this, Chen Wujun felt it was very similar to New Arts.
The deeper a New Arts expert trained, the more they had to firm their intent. Thus, the higher the expert, the more they believed in their own convictions, and the more paranoid they became.
But Master had just explained that New Arts and Old Arts learned from each other, compensating for weaknesses.
Before New Arts existed, Old Arts already had the sayings of heart and intent aligning, and intent and Qi aligning.
So, it was likely New Arts had absorbed elements of Old Arts from the very beginning.
"No one can help you refine Qi. You must subdue your own heart and twist it into a single strand," Zhou Qing said finally.
Actually, there were shortcuts to Qi Refining, but he didn't intend to teach them.
There are no shortcuts in cultivation. All shortcuts eventually exact a price.
'So what is my true self? What is my path?' The thought rose in Chen Wujun's mind.
'I want money. I want to buy luxury mansions and cars... I want everyone to respect me and fear me. I want to be a big shot... I want my mind to be clear. If someone offends me, I want to hit back on the spot and take my revenge...'
Chen Wujun felt his mind was a mess.
He didn't even notice when Zhou Qing left.
Originally, he had wanted to ask Master about the Through-Back Fist so he could casually comment on Li Wei's Kung Fu in a few days when they sparred, but he had completely forgotten about it now.
His mind was filled with all sorts of chaotic thoughts. He wanted everything. He wanted everything to go his way, to align with his will.
...
On a road near the Walled City, a gray sedan was parked by the curb. In the back seat, a tall white man spoke.
"According to our information, he walks this road every Tuesday."
"Why not go find his master? He and Shark Jiu use the same fist technique; they're from the same school," a Huayan man asked.
"His master is named Zhou Qing... but we can't find any records on him. He's a troublesome individual," the white man said indifferently.
In fact, they had investigated Zhou Qing long ago, even monitoring him for a long time, but they hadn't even managed to capture a photo of his face.
The people they sent never even saw Zhou Qing. They would enter the residential district and come back dazed and confused.
This let them know Zhou Qing was not to be trifled with. Plus, since Zhou Qing didn't cause trouble and there was no evidence linking him to any cases, they had tossed his file aside for now.
"You go out and talk to him first."
"He's just a kid who barely graduated high school... Bluff him a bit, and you might just scare him into compliance..."
...
Chen Wujun walked back, thoughts swirling in his mind, his basic vigilance reduced by more than half.
It wasn't until he was almost at the Walled City and someone blocked his path about twenty feet ahead that he snapped out of it.
"Chen Wujun, right? Let's have a chat in the car." A tall Huayan man looked down at him with a condescending expression.
Chen Wujun's heart was currently filled with chaotic thoughts; he had no mood to chat with anyone. Moreover, the look in the other man's eyes displeased him greatly.
Chat in the car? First, let me see if you're worthy!
Without a word, he stomped his foot. His body bowed and pounced like a tiger descending a mountain, rushing right up to the man. A chopping palm, like a heavy axe, slashed down towards the man's chest with immense speed.
The man was startled by Chen Wujun's sudden attack, then became furious.
What a vicious person!
I just blocked his path—he doesn't even know who I am—and he strikes to kill immediately!
The man instantly exploded with strength, raising his arms to block outward. When their arms collided, the man felt a massive force transmit through, as if he were facing a steamroller. The immense power forced him to take a step back immediately.
Chen Wujun slid his foot forward, executing the progressive Double Piercing Palm. Power penetrated to his four extremities, his sleeves snapping against his body with a crackling sound like wind rolling through the atmosphere.
At the same time, he lifted a foot and silently stomped towards the man's instep.
The Swimming Dragon Palm, known for its agility and combination of hardness and softness, played out in his hands like a man-eating tiger. Every move and stance exuded a bloody aura.
The man felt a bloody wind hitting his face. Scared into a cold sweat by Chen Wujun's ferocity, he leaped backward while shouting:
"Federal Police! Are you trying to kill a cop?"
"Federal Police?" Chen Wujun was about to pursue but stopped upon hearing the term, eyeing the other suspiciously.
Why would the Federal Police be looking for him?
The man stared at Chen Wujun with anger, his heart still fluttering with lingering fear.
What a ferocious fighting style.
Even though he had watched the videotapes and knew Chen Wujun was ruthless, facing him in person made him realize that the reality was completely different from the recording.
With such a fierce fighting style, if he hadn't spoken up to stop it in time, one of them would have fallen within a few moves.
And this guy graduated high school less than a year ago?
"What does the Federal Police want with me? Officer, I haven't committed any crimes, have I?" Chen Wujun stood his ground, straightening his body. His gaze swept around quickly and landed on the gray sedan.
The car door was already open, and the person inside was watching, ready to get out and support.
"Beating people to death in plain sight—and you say you haven't committed a crime? But I'm not here to cause you trouble. Get in the car, let's talk."
"Why don't you call your man down to talk here?" Chen Wujun said.
How could he possibly get in the car? He would be passive then.
"It's not convenient to talk here, is it?" The man looked left and right.
Chen Wujun swept his gaze toward the alley entrance not far away. It had paths at both ends and was crowded, making it easy to escape.
"Over there!"
The Huayan man glanced in the direction of the car. This kid didn't look like he could be easily bluffed.
Then he followed Chen Wujun over.
The white man in the car frowned. This kid was so fierce—striking to kill without saying a word.
Just a moment ago, it was their special task force approaching him. Now, within a few sentences, they were following his lead. The initiative had shifted immediately.
Thinking it over, he decided to get out and walk toward them as well.