stjorthotic Chapter 68 Hu Qiu
Chapter 68 Hu Qiu
"But was it Young Master Chen Luo in person?"
As soon as he entered the martial arts school, a man who looked to be in his early thirties came up to him. "My name is Hu Qiu, the manager of the martial arts school."
Chen Luo glanced at him, then cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Steward Hu."
"I have long heard that Young Master Chen has mastered the Nine Yang Strength and will be visiting my Qingyun Martial Arts School today, so I am waiting for him here."
Hu Qiu smiled and said, "I will arrange for Young Master Chen to enter the academy. Please follow me."
"Don't you need to verify my cultivation level?" Chen Luo asked curiously.
"Yesterday, Master Huang came to the martial arts school and completed many procedures for the young master. With Master Huang's guarantee, many cumbersome formalities can be avoided."
"I see," Chen Luo nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."
Hu Qiu led him onto the front courtyard corridor, saying as they walked, "Our Qingyun Martial Arts School is probably a bit simpler than Young Master Chen imagined."
"It's alright," Chen Luo said with a smile.
He had visited Qingyun Martial Arts School once before, so he already knew that the school was quite simple inside and was not surprised.
Walking along the corridor, last time I followed the corridor to the end, and then followed a gravel path to Pharmacist Xu's courtyard.
This time, they exited through the middle of the corridor and arrived at the training ground.
The training ground remained empty, without a single person in sight.
"Qingyun Martial Arts School seems to have very few disciples?" Chen Luo asked curiously. He hadn't seen any disciples in the training grounds when he last came here.
"It's not that we have few disciples," Hu Qiu shook his head, "it's that we have none at all."
"No disciples?" Chen Luo was taken aback.
"Although Qingshan County produces several masters of the Nine Yang Strength every year," Hu Qiu sighed, "no one has ever been able to break through to the Inner Realm. Counting the time, Qingshan County has not produced any new Inner Realm martial artists for eight consecutive years."
"Eight years?" Chen Luo was somewhat surprised.
He knew that entering the Inner Realm was extremely difficult. He had heard Master Huang say that Qingshan County had not produced an Inner Realm martial artist for several years, but he did not expect that this gap would last for eight years.
Chen Luo asked again, "What about that inner realm disciple from eight years ago? Besides having no disciples, there doesn't seem to be any instructor in the martial arts school, not even a handyman."
"Martial arts schools are different from martial arts academies; they don't have instructors."
Hu Qiu said, "Like Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy, Qingyun Martial Arts Academy is also under the jurisdiction of the Martial Selection Department, and its staff is very streamlined. The headmaster, two deputy headsmasters, and the Xu family, these five are the inner circle, plus two stewards, seven servants, and two gatekeepers, which make up the entire academy."
"I see." Chen Luo nodded.
"As for that disciple from eight years ago, he has already gone to the county for further studies and would not have stayed at the martial arts school for eight years."
Hu Qiu continued, "However, recently five masters of the Nine Yang Strength have emerged in succession. In particular, I have heard that Young Master Chen is exceptionally talented. It seems that the gap of eight years that the martial arts school has not produced any new masters will soon be filled."
"Manager Hu is too kind," Chen Luo said.
"This is where you disciples who have mastered the Nine Yang Strength reside."
Passing through the north side of the martial arts training ground, a row of courtyards came into view. Judging from the layout, it was somewhat similar to the residences of the disciples in the west courtyard of Licheng Martial Arts Academy.
"Besides Young Master Chen, the other five disciples also live here."
"Five disciples?" Chen Luo asked, puzzled.
There are a total of five people who have mastered the Nine Yang Strength; besides him, there shouldn't be only four.
Hu Qiu understood his doubts and said, "Besides the five disciples who have recently mastered the Nine Yang Strength, there are several other disciples who mastered the Nine Yang Strength last year and are still cultivating. They haven't left the Qingyun Martial Arts School yet."
"Disciples who have mastered the Nine Yang Strength can study in the academy for one year. If they do not enter the inner realm within one year, they must leave the academy."
Hu Qiu said, "All the disciples are cultivating in seclusion here. To avoid disturbing each other, disciples are generally not allowed to interact. You must pay special attention to this."
"I understand," Chen Luo nodded.
"The residences are arranged according to the order of entry into the academy. The first and second courtyards belong to two disciples who achieved mastery last year, Lu Sheng and Cheng Yuling. This is the third courtyard, the residence of Young Master Gu Youcai. The one to the east is the fourth courtyard, the residence of Captain Hu Zilan of the Mountain Guard..."
As they passed one courtyard after another, Hu Qiu introduced them one by one, until they arrived at a small courtyard in the back.
"This is Young Master Chen's residence, the Seven-Character Courtyard."
He then pointed to another small courtyard next to the main courtyard, saying, "Next to it is the Five Character Courtyard, which is the residence of Miss Song Ruokui."
Song Ruokui lives next door to me in the Wuzi Courtyard?
Chen Luo frowned, glanced back at the row of courtyards, and realized something was wrong.
"Manager Hu, if we're going by the order of enrollment, Song Ruokui shouldn't be in the sixth grade, so why is she next to me?"
"That's because Young Master Lin Lu's father is the deputy head of the academy and doesn't live here. Instead, he cultivates in the headmaster's courtyard. The courtyard in front is empty and occupied by Miss Hu Zilan, so Miss Song's courtyard is the fifth one," Hu Qiu explained.
Chen Luo looked at him, "Then I should be in the Sixth Grade Courtyard, so why am I in the Seventh Grade Courtyard?"
"Young Master Chen was indeed supposed to live in the Sixth Courtyard across the street, but unfortunately, a hailstorm struck in early spring a while ago, causing a leak in the roof of the Sixth Courtyard. We have no choice but to ask that you stay in the Seventh Courtyard. This is a dereliction of duty on the part of the martial arts school, and we hope that you will forgive us."
He could understand Lin Lu's situation with Lin Duhai.
The roof of the Liuziyuan courtyard was damaged by hail.
Chen Luo frowned slightly, sensing something was amiss.
"I've heard that Young Master Chen and Miss Song are old acquaintances. Now that you two are living next door to each other, Young Master Chen should be happy."
Hu Qiu chuckled, "Speaking of Miss Song, she is also exceptionally talented. Although she entered the martial arts school not long before Young Master Chen, she has already achieved considerable success in her cultivation and is very likely to enter the Inner Realm during this period."
"Young Master Chen must concentrate on his studies from now on, and he cannot afford to lose to Miss Song."
"Manager Hu is mistaken."
Chen Luo glanced at Hu Qiu a few more times, "Martial arts is a personal matter, why bother arguing about who comes first?"
"Of course, of course."
Hu Qiu smiled and stopped discussing the topic. He led Chen Luo into the Seven Character Courtyard and said, "If it is convenient for you, Young Master Chen, I will arrange your next cultivation matters immediately."
"Start practicing now?" Chen Luo was taken aback. "I've just joined the martial arts school. Shouldn't I first pay my respects to the headmaster and other masters according to etiquette?"
Hu Qiu said, "If you haven't entered the inner realm, you are merely a nominal disciple of the martial arts school. If you don't achieve anything within a year, you will have no further connection with the school. Therefore, there's no need for you to pay a visit; you can simply focus on your cultivation."
"Understood." Chen Luo nodded. "Then let's begin."
Upon hearing this, Hu Qiu led him into the courtyard.
The layout of the courtyard looks similar to the residence of Licheng Martial Arts Academy, but there is an additional small courtyard on the west side, which is separated from the main courtyard by a crescent-shaped opening.
Arriving at the stone table in the center of the main courtyard, two scrolls and two jade bottles, one large and one small, were already laid out on the table.
Hu Qiu picked up the two scrolls and handed them to Chen Luo, saying, "Young Master Chen, please take a look first."
Chen Luo took the two books and saw that the covers of the two books clearly read "The Heart Sutra of the Sublime Insight of Cessation and Contemplation" and "The Inner Strength of the Circulation".
Hu Qiu timely explained, "The *Heart Sutra of Cessation and Contemplation* is a method of cultivating the mind, while the *Internal Energy Circulation* is a method of cultivating external energy. Does Young Master Chen know about the concept of the source of the mind?"
"I don't know much," Chen Luo said. "I only know that seeing the Heart Source is the inner vision."
That's enough.
Hu Qiu nodded. "The Heart Sutra of Samatha-Vipassana is a method that helps people to introspect and see the hidden acupoints of the mind within the physical body, which are the acupoints of the mind."
"The 'Zhou Tian Jin' is actually an extension of the 'Jiu Yang Jin,' which can transform the seven layers of power of the 'Jiu Yang Jin' into internal internal hidden power."
"Therefore, the so-called 'seeing the source of the heart' means using the hidden strength cultivated in the 'Zhou Tian Tian Jin' to break through the heart aperture seen in the 'Zhi Guan Miao Jian Xin Jing'. Once the aperture is broken, one can see the source of the heart and advance to the first realm of inner vision, the Hibernation Realm."
"Simply put, by using the Heart Sutra to see the Heart Aperture, and then using internal energy to break through the Heart Aperture, one can see the Source of the Heart and enter the realm of inner vision."
Hu Qiu's explanation was very simple and easy to understand. Chen Luo seemed to understand, and asked thoughtfully, "Then how exactly should it be done?"
"The book explains it in detail. With Young Master Chen's comprehension, he should be able to figure it out after reading it once or twice."
As Hu Qiu spoke, he turned to the two jade bottles on the table, one large and one small, "These two bottles of medicine are to be taken in conjunction with the *Zhou Tian Tian Jin* and the *Zhi Guan Miao Jian Xin Jing*, respectively."
"Medicine taken in conjunction with two martial arts techniques?" Chen Luo's heart skipped a beat. "Could it be that this cultivation to enter the inner realm is a medicinal cultivation method?"
Hu Qiu looked at Chen Luo with some surprise, "Young Master Chen actually knows about medicinal cultivation?"
"I know a little," Chen Luo said. "Is this a method of cultivating medicine?"
"No, it's just a medicine to aid cultivation," Hu Qiu said. "The specific instructions on how to take it are detailed in the two books. Young Master Chen can refer to them; I won't elaborate further."
"I understand." Chen Luo nodded, feeling a pang of disappointment.
He had a progress panel with a permanent certificate, and he was thinking that if he were to cultivate medicine, it would be so easy; he could just take medicine and enter the inner realm.
Unfortunately not.
"That's about all for now. The specific details are explained in detail in the book."
Hu Qiu said, "I have one last thing to tell Young Master Chen that requires special attention."
"Steward Hu, please speak," Chen Luo said.
Hu Qiu's expression became more serious: "The 'Zhou Tian Tian Jin' cultivates internal strength, while the 'Zhi Guan Miao Jian Xin Jing' seeks the mind's aperture. There is no order between the two. You can cultivate internal strength first and then seek the mind's aperture, or you can find the mind's aperture first and then cultivate internal strength."
"However, one must never practice both simultaneously."
"Because the Heart Sutra of Cessation and Contemplation requires absolute clarity of mind and spirit, and no distracting thoughts are allowed during practice. However, when practicing the Internal Energy of the Circulation, the Qi and blood are turbulent, and the mind and spirit are not at peace. The two Qi mechanisms clash, so they must be practiced in sequence and cannot be practiced at the same time."
Chen Luo nodded. "Thank you for your guidance, Manager Hu."
"Then let me tell you something else."
Hu Qiu smiled and said, "Although the order is not fixed, it is usually recommended to study the Heart Sutra of Samatha-Vipassana first."
"Why?" Chen Luo asked, puzzled.
"The reason is simple: after completing the cultivation of the 'Internal Energy of the Circulation,' one's Qi and blood churn, requiring a great deal of time and energy to calm the mind before one can continue cultivating the 'Heart Sutra of Cessation and Contemplation.'"
Hu Qiu explained, "However, if one first cultivates the Heart Sutra of Cessation and Contemplation, this problem will not exist, and a great deal of effort can be saved."
"I understand." Chen Luo nodded; it certainly sounded that way.
"Furthermore, the 'Zhou Tian Jin' is an extension of the 'Jiu Yang Jin' and has many similarities with it. I believe Young Master Chen should be able to master it quickly."
"The reason why entering the inner realm is extremely difficult is because of the Heart Sutra of Samatha-Vipassana."
Hu Qiu paused, then smiled slightly, "Because the source of the heart is hidden deep within the physical body, elusive and difficult to find. If one wishes to use the Heart Sutra of Cessation and Contemplation to glimpse the heart's essence, one's mind must be as still as an ancient well. During cultivation, one must be completely silent, allowing no distracting thoughts whatsoever."
"Therefore, when Young Master Chen is cultivating this mental technique, he must not think about any past events. For example, he must not have any impure thoughts about Miss Song, whom I mentioned before."
"..."
Chen Luo had been listening very attentively, but when Hu Qiu finished speaking, he suddenly paused.
He looked up at Hu Qiu, his gaze gradually turning cold.
"Since it requires a mind free of distractions..."
Chen Luo stared coldly at Hu Qiu. "Why did Manager Hu deliberately bring up Song Ruokui to me?"