2: Chapter 2 Stance Training

Next morning, at the back mountain of the Marquis's Manor. Chen Yuanji got up before dawn, avoided everyone in the manor, and came to a hidden valley in the back mountain. This was the time he was used to cultivating in his past life—the Mao hour, at sunrise, when the world's Yang Qi first rises, making it the most suitable time for Zhan Zhuang.

He spent half an hour warming up his muscles and bones, then began the Three-Body Stance. The Three-Body Stance is the core Stake Training of Xingyi Fist; all variations stem from it. The front hand extends, the back hand protects the chest, and the center of gravity is thirty percent in the front and seventy percent in the back—seemingly simple, but it contains the changes of the three talents: Heaven, Earth, and Man. His body sank slightly, weight falling on the back foot, with the front foot lightly touching the ground.

"Rise like carrying a shoulder pole, fall like a hooked pole." Chen Yuanji silently recited the formula, adjusting every detail. Tailbone centered, Mingmen pushed back, chest tucked and back rounded, shoulders dropped and elbows lowered...

This body had never practiced before; its muscles and bones were stiff, and many movements couldn't be done properly. But Chen Yuanji was in no hurry. With his Grandmaster-level consciousness paired with this "trash" body, he polished it bit by bit.

After fifteen minutes, his body began to heat up. After half an hour, sweat flowed down his back. After an hour, his legs began to tremble—a signal of muscle exhaustion. But Chen Yuanji did not stop. In Guoshu cultivation, the hardest part isn't the movements, but "enduring." Only by enduring past the limit can one achieve a Breakthrough. He gritted his teeth, maintaining the Three-Body Stance posture, letting sweat drip onto the ground, soaking a small patch of earth.

In his mind, memories of his past life surfaced. His Master said, "Yuanji, do you know why Internal Family Boxing is called 'Internal'?"

"Because it Cultivates Internal Power?"

"No. 'Internal' means cultivating the heart. If the heart is upright, the fist is upright. If the heart is not upright, no matter how powerful the fist is, it is the Evil Path."

Chen Yuanji didn't understand then, but he did now. After fifty years of cultivation, he had long passed the stage of pursuing Moves. Every single Move, following the heart's intent, was an embodiment of the Dao.

"Whew—" He exhaled a long breath and slowly finished his practice. Two hours. This body that had never cultivated before had actually held the Three-Body Stance for two hours! Although his legs were so sore they were almost numb, the warm Qi and blood at his Dantian was a bit richer than yesterday. What surprised him even more was that the ancient jade had been heating up, the warmth permeating his body and accelerating the circulation of Qi and blood. The Fascia that would have originally taken three months to clear would only take one month at this speed.

"Good stuff." Chen Yuanji touched the ancient jade, a rare smile appearing on his face.

"Chen... Chen Yuanji?" A crisp voice came from behind.

Chen Yuanji turned around and saw a girl of fifteen or sixteen, wearing a pale green dress, holding a food box, staring at him with wide eyes. His memory told him this was the Young Miss of the Second Branch of the Marquis's Manor, Chen Wanqing. She was one of the few people who was kind to the original host in the manor.

"Wanqing?" Chen Yuanji's tone was calm.

"What... what are you doing here? I heard Big Brother bullied you again last night. I went to find you, but your servant said you went out early this morning..." Chen Wanqing walked over quickly, worry in her eyes. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Chen Yuanji took the food box. "Thank you."

Chen Wanqing was stunned. The old Chen Yuanji always kept his head down and stuttered, never looking people in the eye like this, let alone speaking in such a calm tone. "You... seem different," she said hesitantly.

"People always change." Chen Yuanji opened the food box; it contained a few steamed buns and a bowl of hot porridge. "You made this?"

"Mhm... I saw you didn't eat breakfast..." Chen Wanqing felt a bit embarrassed.

Chen Yuanji stopped talking and began to eat heartily. His body needed nutrition; he wouldn't be fussy. After finishing, he stood up and said to Chen Wanqing, "Wanqing, you don't need to bring me food anymore."

"Why?"

"Because from today on, no one will bully me anymore."

Chen Yuanji spoke very calmly, as if stating a fact.

But Chen Wanqing somehow felt that what he said was true.