Master of Chinese Martial Arts: I Can Steal the Skills of a Grandmaster from the Republic of China E

Chapter 34 The Lamplighter, the Toad-Fishing Skill

Qingxu pondered for a long time before saying:

"Although my master is at the counter, he doesn't actually receive outsiders and usually just meditates in seclusion. He only casts divinations when asked by elders or close friends in the temple."

Zhou Xing seemed to be deep in thought, then asked:

"Do you recognize the person who pushed the cart at the end?"

Qingxu shook his head, but his expression became serious:

"I don't know him. But he should be a patrolman under the 'Lamp Bearer'. My master strictly warned me not to approach, ask, or think about that 'Lamp Bearer'."

The lamplighter must be the person behind this ghost market.

Zhou Xing recorded this name.

"Do you know that?"

He gazed at the darkness in the distance and said calmly, "Those scum in the ghost market, and the river demons, were all bait laid out by that 'Lamp Bearer.' Once they're fattened up, they're harvested."

Qingxu remained silent for a moment before whispering:

"Master once said that the mortal world is a turbulent place where good and evil are intertwined. Some people do evil not in the Ghost Market, but elsewhere, and perhaps their harm is even greater."

Gathered here, regulated by profit, bound by rules, and ultimately... each finds their own place in the aftermath of their actions.

Zhou Xing chuckled softly:

"Finally, we'll give the lamplighter some food; it's a way to make use of waste, a win-win situation."

Qingxu remained silent.

Yun Qing then walked over, stood in front of Zhou Xing, took out a small oil paper package from her bosom, and handed it over.

There were some damp marks on the edges of the paper package.

"Mr. Zhou,"

Her voice was clear and her gaze was calm. "This is for you. It's a breathing technique that regulates the breath and strengthens the body's foundation, called 'Fishing for the Toad's Strength'."

This might be useful for your martial arts training. Consider it... a way of thanking you for saving me twice.

Zhou Xing took it; the paper package was slightly damp, but it felt heavy in his hand.

He nodded: "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."

Qingxu, standing to the side, looked slightly surprised. He glanced at his junior sister, then at Zhou Xing, and shook his head with a soft sigh.

"So it turns out that Junior Sister begged and pleaded with Uncle-Master to get this, and it was prepared as a gift for Brother Zhou. Junior Sister, you have a good eye; you recognized Brother Zhou's extraordinary nature early on."

It was my senior brother who was short-sighted, underestimating all the heroes of the world.

Upon hearing this, Yun Qing's lips curved slightly, revealing a very shallow dimple on her cheek:

"It's not too late for you to know now, senior brother. The first time I saw Mr. Zhou, I felt that he was extraordinary, handsome and exceptional."

She spoke frankly, her eyes filled with a smile, clear and bright, without the affectation of an ordinary woman.

Qingxu was stunned upon hearing this.

Zhang Pinyou, who had been listening intently, suddenly choked on her own saliva, coughed twice, and quickly lowered her head.

Zhou Xing remained calm, only turning the oil paper package in his hand over and over, as if searching for a loose thread.

"Tonight is eventful; my junior sister and I must return to the temple as soon as possible to report to our master."

Qingxu bowed deeply to Zhou Xing and said, "Brother Zhou, may we meet again someday. If you need anything, you may come to Yuntian Temple in the west of the city to find me."

Yun Qing also curtsied, her gaze lingering on Zhou Xing's face for a moment, and said softly:

"Mr. Zhou, take care."

The two siblings turned around and walked along the riverbank, quickly disappearing into the brightening morning mist.

Zhou Xing stood there for a while longer, until the gray-white hue on the horizon gradually faded away.

He took one last look at the calm, still surface of the Haihe River, then turned to look at Zhang Pinyou, who was slumped on the muddy ground, her arms still trembling.

"Can you walk?" he asked.

"Yes...yes!"

Zhang Pinyou struggled to get up, her legs wobbling, her jaw clenched so tightly she felt a tightness in her teeth.

Her dress was wrinkled beyond recognition, covered in mud and cold sweat. Her face showed lingering shock, yet she forced a smile, not wanting to show any weakness.

Zhou Xing said no more and started walking. Zhang Pinyou followed slowly, stumbling as he went.

The direction is Yuelai Inn.

His room fee hadn't been refunded, his luggage was still there, and more importantly, Ip Man was there.

The two walked one after the other on the dirt road, which was in the darkest hour before dawn.

It was very quiet all around, with only the sound of footsteps and the occasional sounds of carriages and horses in the distance.

After walking for a while, Zhang Pinyou's breathing became more even, and the feeling of surviving a disaster subsided, and he couldn't hold back his words again.

He quickened his pace, leaned closer, and lowered his voice:

"Brother Zhou... Brother Zhou, I really owe you a debt of gratitude this time! If it weren't for you, I would be dead..."

"You don't know, those guys kidnapped me, didn't say anything, just locked me in a dark room and played with some scary things..."

Zhou Xing never looked back, his steps never stopped:

"Do you know why I tied you up?"

"I really don't know!"

Zhang Pinyou's voice was filled with grievance, "I just came to Tianjin to have some fun and broaden my horizons. I'd only been off the train for two days, and I was perfectly fine in my hotel room one night when suddenly someone covered my mouth..."

They didn't ask me for money, and they didn't contact my family...

"Your uncle,"

Zhou Xing's voice was calm, as if he were asking casually, "You're quite famous outside the Great Wall, aren't you?"

Zhang Pinyou was startled, her back straightened instinctively, but she quickly stopped.

"My uncle was a general in the Fengtian clique, guarding the three northeastern provinces. He valued loyalty and respected heroes above all else. If he knew of your abilities, Brother Zhou..."

"Alright."

Zhou Xing interrupted him.

They didn't ask for money, nor did they demand ransom. They kidnapped the nephew of a Fengtian warlord, but simply stuffed him into the red-light district of the ghost market.

Something seems amiss.

Was it because of his uncle's influence, or... did he just happen to tie up a living creature?

He didn't ask any more questions. Zhang Pinyou didn't dare to say anything more and obediently followed along.

The sky brightened a bit, and the road became visible again.

As we approached the old town, a few pedestrians appeared on the road: people pushing manure carts, carrying vegetable baskets, and hunching over to hurry to work.

Zhou Xing was dressed in tattered rags stained with blackened blood, and carrying a bundle containing a dragon robe. Zhang Pinyou was even more disheveled.

The sight of the two attracted frequent glances from early-rising passersby.

Zhou Xing kept his eyes straight ahead, navigating through streets and alleys until he reached the back of Yuelai Inn.

He didn't go through the main entrance; instead, he stopped at the base of a wall in a side alley and listened to the sounds.

There was still no sound from inside the inn; the innkeeper probably hadn't gotten up yet.

He waved to Zhang Pinyou, signaling her to follow, and then slipped into the half-closed side door first.

Zhou Xing, familiar with the route, led Zhang Pinyou upstairs to his room.

The door hinges creaked softly, but the sound was particularly jarring in the silence.

Zhang Pinyou followed closely in, but didn't notice the threshold and tripped.

Zhou Xing reached out and supported his arm, the force not strong, but steady. A glance swept over, and Zhang Pinyou immediately fell silent, even lowering his breathing.

The two went up to the second floor in the dark and returned to Zhou Xing's room.

The door was closed and bolted.

The room was small, with a bed, a table, and a washbasin stand.

"Stay here, don't make a sound, and don't go out."

Zhou Xing said to Zhang Pinyou, "I'll settle you in after I've finished my business."

"Okay, okay! I promise I won't move!"

Zhang Pinyou nodded hurriedly, moved to a stool by the wall and sat down, hunching her shoulders.

Once inside this ordinary inn, the tension eased, and drowsiness and fatigue washed over me, making my eyelids droop.

Zhou Xing ignored him.

He walked to the window, lifted the curtain a crack, and looked out. The breakfast stalls across the street had just set up their fires, the oil in the pans wasn't hot yet, and there wasn't anyone particularly noticeable.

After watching for a moment, he lowered the curtain and turned around.

I pulled a wooden basin out from under the bed; it still contained half a basin of cold water that had been sitting overnight.

He grabbed an old towel draped over the back of the chair, soaked it, wrung it out until it was half dry, and began to wipe his face.

The towel wiped across his forehead, cheeks, and neck, leaving behind dark red bloodstains and grime.

After wiping his face, he took off his tattered jacket.

His upper body was exposed, revealing firm muscles, but several bruises were visible across his body.

A dark scratch on the outside of my left arm and a large red swelling on my back were from the river demon's tentacles.

The injury is not minor.

Previously, he had held on by sheer willpower in the Ghost Market, and with the support of the [Human Puppet Image], now that he had relaxed, he felt a dull ache beneath his skin and a soreness emanating from between his bones.

He changed into a clean gray cloth short jacket, buttoning it up to the collar.

He looked somewhat more presentable, but the bloodshot eyes and the tired, murderous aura wouldn't disappear anytime soon.

After tidying up, he walked to the table and sat down.

Then he took out the few important items from his pocket and placed them on the table one by one.

First, read "The Art of Fishing for Toads".

The edges of the oil paper package were damp, but the booklet inside was fine.

It is bound in thread, with yellowed pages, and the characters are written in neat, small regular script with a brush. There are also annotations between the lines, and the handwriting is quite expressive.

He turned to the first page.

"Qi (vital energy) is the source of life; breath is the foundation of life. The toad lies dormant in the winter waters, its breath almost ceased, yet its vitality remains within. When the spring thunder roars, it breaks through the earth..."

The opening section is a general outline, discussing the principles of breathing and internal energy, and the latent vitality.

The language is archaic, but with the annotations, it is not difficult to understand.

I walked through each page.

This is not a martial art for fighting, but a method for nourishing oneself, a pure internal breathing technique.

The key is to adjust the breathing rhythm—deep, long, fine, and even—while sitting, standing, or even walking or lying down.

Let your breath influence your internal organs, harmonize your Qi and blood, and nourish your muscles and bones. Like a toad lying in the water, it gathers strength gradually.

When you practice to a high level, you can introspect and observe your own body, noting that you can control the opening and closing of your pores at will.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Xing's heart stirred.

He is now at the peak of Ming Jin, with power flowing through his entire body and his skin and flesh taut like iron.

But to go a step further and enter the realm of hidden strength, the most difficult thing is this "opening and closing of pores".

Only by being able to control it at will, opening it when you want to open it and closing it when you want to close it, can you achieve a profound understanding.

As the old master Cheng Tinghua once said, "When you're about to hit someone, you should be quick with your hands."

You need to harmonize your breath and strength.

He can only open his pores completely or close them completely now.

If you open all the pores of your body when you hit someone, your strength will dissipate instantly, and the person will go limp on the spot, leaving them at your mercy.

This "fishing for the toad" technique teaches people how to finely control their breathing, using breath to guide qi, and using qi to control their fur.

This is a key to unlocking hidden power.

This gift touched his heart deeply.

The urgent need was met precisely when he was suffering from qi and blood deficiency and his vital energy was depleted.

This Miss Yunqing certainly has good judgment.