infodatos Chapter 77 A Meeting of Dragons and Tigers, the Inner Three are Combined!
Chapter 77 A Meeting of Dragons and Tigers, the Inner Three are Combined!
Chapter 78 A Meeting of Dragons and Tigers, the Inner Three Unite!
The light rain in March is as precious as oil, yet it can also cause great distress.
The rain in Beiping is not as lingering and tender as that in Jiangnan. It carries the earthy smell unique to the north and the chill of late spring, pattering softly on the gray tiles.
Rainwater flowed down the dripping roof tiles, forming lines that dripped onto the bluestone slabs in front of the steps, creating ripples in the air.
On Qianmen Street, in the study of the Lu family residence, the window was half-closed.
A damp, cold wind mixed with raindrops blew in. If it were an ordinary person, they would have been holding a copper hand warmer to keep warm by now.
Lu Cheng, wearing only a thin, moon-white bamboo-cloth jacket, sat upright in front of a large sandalwood table, yet his body emanated a faint warmth.
The heat wasn't from a fire; it was rising from the very cracks in his bones.
The sheet of Xuan paper closest to him was brittle and warmed by the scent of blood.
On the wall hangs the painting of Zhong Kui catching ghosts, which was brought back from Prince Chun's mansion.
In the painting, Zhong Kui is depicted in a fiery red robe, with a bushy beard like a halberd. His eyes are wide open in anger, and the sword in his hand gleams coldly. The evil spirit beneath his feet is wailing with its mouth wide open.
Lu Cheng held a bald wolf-hair brush in his hand, the tip of the brush suspended in the air, not dipped in any ink, and "traced" stroke by stroke in the void.
He is "depicting the spirit" and also "refining his heart".
Since acquiring this painting, one of his daily tasks has been to "gaze" at the Zhong Kui depicted in the painting.
The true meaning of the "White Tiger Carrying Corpse" image within the body originates from the ferocious "Biao" spirit, a beast that has devoured countless people in the desolate Changbai Mountains. It is a vicious tiger that is always ready to break free of its cage and devour its prey.
This "Zhong Kui Painting" is a culmination of the life's work of the painting master Wu Daozi and the righteous spirit of the imperial family's centuries-long offerings. It is a sacred sword hanging overhead to suppress evil spirits.
One tiger, one ghost/god.
One is malevolent, the other righteous.
Within this small study, a breathtaking, silent battle is taking place.
"Inhale—exhale"
Lu Cheng's breathing was extremely slow and deep.
If a master were present at this moment, they would surely see a golden line swirling wildly deep within his pupils.
In his view, the Zhong Kui in the painting was no longer just a dead piece of paper.
The red robe fluttered in the wind, moving even without wind, and those angry eyes seemed to pierce through the paper, locking onto Lu Cheng's soul.
Deep within Lu Cheng's consciousness, a raging storm was brewing.
"roar--!!!"
A ferocious tiger's roar exploded in his mind.
That was the "True Meaning of the White Tiger" that I got from President Liu.
It disagrees!
It is a unique species among the kings of beasts, born for slaughter. Its ferocious aura, originating from the extreme cold, does not want to be suppressed by anyone, much less tamed.
It rampaged through Lu Cheng's consciousness, each impact causing his blood to surge, his eyes to turn bloodshot, and a violent impulse to destroy all living things in front of him to arise.
This is precisely why Lu Cheng had always felt restless and wanted to slap anyone to death, and even almost couldn't resist killing Deputy Wang on the spot.
An excessive killing intent clouded the mind; this is a sign of demonic possession.
"You beast, how dare you act so violently?!"
Lu Cheng's brow twitched suddenly, his thoughts like a knife, slashing down from the sky.
Within the sea of consciousness, the situation suddenly changed.
A towering, red-robed, bearded phantom of Zhong Kui appeared out of thin air.
He did not draw his sword, but simply stood there majestically, an immense, upright, and inviolable pressure descending like Mount Tai crashing down.
This is the meaning.
Zhong Kui is the master of suppression and righteousness. He is the nemesis of all evil spirits and the embodiment of the rules of this world.
"town."
Lu Cheng let out a sharp shout in his heart.
The phantom of Zhong Kui suddenly drew his sword, its light like a rainbow, and slashed down at the roaring white tiger.
There was no bloodshed.
Only a surge of righteous energy instantly pinned the arrogant Bai Biao to the ground.
"Awooo————"
The white tiger let out a reluctant whimper, its ferocious aura, which had threatened to tear a hole in the sky, was forcefully smoothed out and crushed by this righteous energy.
The fierce glint in its eyes faded, replaced by a cold and dignified air of submission.
Tigers may have the intention to harm people, but people may have the heart to subdue tigers.
Only by subduing the tiger can one ride it!
At this moment, Lu Cheng felt his mind was completely clear, as if he had just taken a bath.
The previous feeling of stagnation, where the visible and hidden forces within the body were locked in a struggle and even fought each other, has completely disappeared.
He slowly raised his hand and made a starting stance for "Xingyi Piquan".
It wasn't actually fired; it was just a feint.
"Buzz"
The qi and blood in the body are like a million-strong army that has heard the order of the tiger tally, instantly assembling and obeying commands without question.
The first harmony is the harmony of heart and mind.
When the mind is there, the spirit arrives.
The originally ferocious White Tiger essence had become incredibly compliant. It merged into Lu Cheng's fist stance, no longer simply ferocious, but transformed into a kind of—majesty.
A tiger descends the mountain, displaying its majestic power as it surveys its territory.
The second harmony is the harmony of intention and spirit.
Lu Cheng took a deep breath.
The "Toad-Catching Strength" circulates naturally. Before the iconic croaking of a frog can even sound from within the abdomen, the breath, guided by "intention," flows through the entire body's meridians like mercury spilling onto the ground.
Fast, too fast!
The moment a thought arises, the breath has already reached the extremities.
The third combination is the combination of Qi and strength.
All his vital energy, spirit, strength, and muscle memory were perfectly concentrated in his fist at that moment.
There is no waste of energy, nor any internal consumption of force.
His fist hovered in mid-air; though he didn't exert any force, it was as powerful as if he had.
The surrounding humid air seemed to thicken and solidify due to the terrifying "potential energy" contained in that punch.
"It's done."
Lu Cheng slowly withdrew his stance, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
Inner Three Combinations!
Ordinary martial arts practitioners train their intentions first, then their internal energy, and finally their strength.
It's like planting a tree: first nurture the roots, then grow the trunk, and finally sprout branches and leaves.
This process requires taking one step at a time, and it takes at least twenty or thirty years of hard work to achieve.
What about him?
He relied on the system's initiation to forcibly fill up his strength and internal energy, just like building the framework of a tall building first, and then going back to fill in the foundation.
Although the approach was unconventional, and even somewhat backwards.
But once this weakness is addressed, the effect will be earth-shattering!
Water and fire are in harmony, and dragon and tiger meet.
Now, his visible strength is as fierce and powerful as thunder, capable of injuring anyone who touches him; his hidden strength is as gentle and subtle as water, capable of penetrating the body and causing serious injury.
Furthermore, the White Tiger possesses the power to kill and annihilate, while Zhong Kui's righteousness is used to pacify the soul.
However, it's unclear whether this approach, which combines strength and flexibility, as well as martial arts and spiritual power, is superior to those veteran martial artists who have immersed themselves in internal energy for decades.
"call----"
Lu Cheng cleared his mind and exhaled a breath of stale air.
This breath lingered and did not dissipate, transforming into a white streak three feet in front of him, which took a long time to dissipate.
He turned his head and looked out the window.
The rain stopped.
On the eastern horizon, a sliver of dawn was slowly tearing through the thick clouds.
Its daybreak.
On Qianmen Street, as the first pigeon whistle sounded, the entire city of Beijing seemed to come alive.
The shouts of breakfast vendors, the footsteps of rickshaw pullers, and the sounds of emptying chamber pots in the alleyways all blended together to create a rich, lively atmosphere.
As soon as the gate of the Lu residence opened, Shunzi walked in carrying two large food boxes.
"Master, you're up?"
Shunzi looked at Lu Cheng, who was practicing boxing in the yard, with eyes full of awe.
Today's master looks a little different.
When my master used to practice his boxing, it was so powerful and intimidating.
But today, the set of punches that Master performed looked slow and weak, like an old man taking a stroll in the park.
But for some reason, Shunzi felt dizzy after just one glance.
It was as if the air around his master was rotating with his movements, forming an invisible vortex.
"Um."
Lu Cheng took the hot towel that Shunzi handed him and wiped his face.
"What are we eating today? This flavor is pretty strong."
"Master, it's the shumai from Du Yichu outside Qianmen, with thin wrappers and generous fillings. And the old tofu over there, with extra chive blossoms and braising sauce. For that kid Lu Feng, I even added two extra tea eggs; that kid's a real glutton now, no matter how many there are, it's never enough."
Shunzi chattered on as he set the table, his face beaming with satisfaction.
These days, prices are so chaotic it's unsettling. One silver dollar can be exchanged for four hundred and sixty copper coins, but the price of rice on the market changes every single day.
For ordinary families, a bowl of hot fermented mung bean juice with pickled vegetables is enough to make them feel like it's Chinese New Year.
But at the Lu family's house, this breakfast was incredibly extravagant.
"Tell them to eat."
Lu Cheng sat down without touching his chopsticks, waiting for his apprentices.
A moment later, a series of hurried footsteps came from the backyard.
Lu Feng, Xiao Douzi, and their newly accepted apprentices all arrived in a flurry.
These kids have long since shed the refugee skin they wore when they first arrived.
Especially Lu Feng.
The wolf cub was wearing a black training uniform with the cuffs tightly tied, revealing bulging veins on his wrists.
He walks with a breezy gait, his heels never touching the ground; it's a "raccoon dog walk" where he's always holding his breath, ready to unleash his power at any moment.
Although he was young, there was already a certain majesty in his eyes, like a blade that had seen blood and been sharpened.
"Master!"
The disciples greeted him in unison, their voices so powerful that they nearly shook the dust off the roof beams.
"Sit down and eat."
Lu Cheng's words were concise and to the point.
At the dinner table, there was no rule about not speaking while eating or sleeping; all that could be heard was the sound of people wolfing down their food.
"Master, yesterday I overheard Aunt Zhang gossiping at the alley entrance, saying that Master Li from the Iron Fist Gym has sent someone to deliver something again?" Little Bean asked, his cheeks puffed out like a hamster, with a shumai stuffed in his mouth.
"Um.
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Lu Cheng took a sip of tofu pudding; the braising liquid was bright and the flavor was rich, and a warm current slid down his esophagus.
"They sent several jars of fine wine, saying it was aged wine from that area, to be kept for Master Abing."
"This Third Master Li is quite interesting."
Shunzi chimed in from the side and peeled an egg for Lu Cheng.
"Ever since you showed off your skills at their martial arts gym last time, everyone there is bragging that you are their best friend and that you have even outmaneuvered their apprentice. Now, thanks to your name, the Iron Fist Gym's business is booming, and the doorstep is practically worn down by the crowds."
""
Lu Cheng smiled, put down his spoon, and his eyes became deep.
"That's because they know how to conduct themselves."
"A sedan chair is carried by people. Although we are bound by our fists, in this world of martial arts, besides fighting and killing, there are also human relationships and social customs."
"Although Master Li's skills are limited to internal strength, he is respected by all sorts of people in the southern part of the city. For some dirty and tiring jobs that we can't do ourselves, we still have to rely on him."
As he said this, Lu Cheng glanced at Lu Feng, who was engrossed in eating and had already filled three steamers in front of him.
"Fengzi, don't just focus on eating. After you finish practicing today, change into some clean clothes and come out with me."
Lu Feng abruptly looked up, the grease still on his lips, his eyes instantly sharpening: "Where are we going, sir? Another fight? Which fool messed with us again?"
This kid is still a wolf at heart. The moment he hears "going out," he instinctively thinks he's going to war.
"What are you fighting for?"
Lu Cheng gave him a curt reply.
"All they do is fight and kill; they're just brutes, low-class thugs."
"Let me take you to the Iron Fist gym, just for a visit."
""
"By the way—returning a favor."
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