Chapter Ten: The Dragon and Tiger Stakes
Creak! Creak!
Under a clear sky with the sun blazing overhead, a few cicadas shrilled desperately atop the old camphor tree outside the small Jing Mountain Daoist temple.
The sweltering air was thick with the scent of restlessness.
Within the courtyard, Fang Xiao stood beneath the relentless sun, sweat pouring from him like a torrent. The coarse linen clothes he wore had been soaked and dried repeatedly.
Yesterday, Master Pang not only brought Fang Xiao the registration documents and martial arts manual from the county, but also purchased two sets of short training outfits for him, suitable for daily life and practicing martial arts.
His previous green military uniform was too conspicuous and entirely out of place in this world. Changing attire was necessary.
Of course, Fang Xiao did not discard his old clothes—he washed them during his midday break, dried them, and then stored them in his military satchel. After all, that green uniform carried memories of his past; he could never abandon it.
At this moment, however, Fang Xiao felt utterly depleted, as if he might soon be dried into a salted fish!
Although "Tiger-Dragon Stance" was the foundational practice of the "Qianyang Tiger-Dragon Technique," its difficulty was formidable. Especially for Fang Xiao, who was nearly a blank slate, there was an overwhelming amount of martial knowledge to absorb: skin and flesh, tendons and bones, blood and marrow, meridians, acupoints, dantian...
Fortunately, Master Pang, though a cultivator, was still able to provide Fang Xiao with proper guidance in martial arts.
The "Tiger-Dragon Stance" consisted of two forms: Rising Dragon and Reclining Tiger—one dynamic, one static, complementing each other. When paired with the corresponding breathing techniques, they tempered the body, strengthened the sinews, and enhanced the vital energy.
Yet Fang Xiao had no foundation in martial arts, making his initial learning arduous.
One form Rising Dragon, one form Reclining Tiger—he practiced from morning till afternoon, still unable to grasp the essence!
Exhaling a breath tinged with the taste of iron, Fang Xiao straightened his back once more, extending both arms outward. He switched from the Reclining Tiger to the Rising Dragon stance.
As his stance changed, his muscles and bones rubbed together, producing a fierce sensation of soreness, numbness, and itching, as though countless ants gnawed at him from within!
The corner of Fang Xiao’s eye twitched involuntarily, yet he uttered not a sound.
In truth, Fang Xiao had endured this pain many times already. By now, he was numb to it—or perhaps simply accustomed.
At this point, his strength was nearly spent; his limbs and head felt weighed down with lead, so heavy he could barely move.
Yet, at the brink of exhaustion, a strange surge of energy would well up inside him, allowing him to persist in the stances.
Anyone of weaker will would have collapsed under such repeated torment, their spirit broken long ago.
---
But Fang Xiao gritted his teeth, stubborn as steel, forcing himself to endure.
What sustained him was the longing to grow stronger—and the resolve not to be looked down upon by Master Pang!
The sun sinking toward the western hills baked Fang Xiao dizzy, his vision swimming. Sweat on his brow evaporated in moments, leaving behind tiny flecks of salt.
Fang Xiao felt as if the very last drop of water in his body had been drawn out.
Golden spots flickered in his eyes, his sight growing fuzzy.
“That’s enough.”
Just then, Master Pang’s lazy voice drifted to Fang Xiao’s ear.
Fang Xiao paused, only after a moment realizing—was it over?
He nearly collapsed on the spot, immense fatigue crashing over him like a tidal wave!
But he did not rush to recline and rest. He carefully withdrew from the stance, regulating his breathing.
Once a sliver of strength returned, he shuffled over to sit beneath the shade of a tree.
Taking up his water flask, Fang Xiao sipped slowly, replenishing himself bit by bit.
Master Pang, fanning himself and lounging on a reclining chair to cool off, watched with silent admiration.
Whatever else could be said, Fang Xiao’s dedication and willpower were truly commendable.
He could endure hardship, did not fear fatigue, and learned quickly.
Master Pang felt he ought to award Fang Xiao three little red flowers for his excellent performance today.
“Master Daoist…”
A gentle, melodious voice floated in from the doorway.
On hearing it, the formerly languid Master Pang seemed suddenly injected with energy, springing to his feet with surprising agility for a man weighing nearly three hundred pounds!
His eyes lit up, a foolishly joyful smile spreading across his chubby face: “Lady Qin!”
At the temple gate stood a woman in a simple skirt. She moved with graceful elegance and her features were lovely; though she wore no makeup, her mature allure shone through the coarse fabric.
Especially her eyes, brimming with tender affection and shyness before words were spoken—as if they carried hooks, easily ensnaring all of Master Pang’s attention!
Master Pang greeted her eagerly, taking the bamboo basket she offered, grumbling, “Why did you come yourself? Such a small matter, you could have sent Hua Blossom!”
Lady Qin replied softly, “Yesterday Hua Blossom encountered a monster—luckily your boy saved her. Today I couldn’t rest easy, so I came myself to deliver the buns.”
---
As she spoke, she cast a sidelong glance at Fang Xiao, sitting by the wall, curiosity in her eyes.
“Indeed!” Master Pang slapped his forehead hard. “Rest assured, such things won’t happen again!”
Lady Qin bit her lip, lowering her gaze. “I trust you, Master Daoist.”
“Mhm, mhm!” Master Pang thumped his chest loudly. “A mere little demon—just a twitch of my finger and I could crush it, nothing to fear!”
Lady Qin nodded, smiling sweetly. “Master Daoist, it’s nearly mealtime—let me help you cook a few dishes.”
“Good, good!” Master Pang swallowed eagerly, overjoyed. “Thank you, my lady!”
At his flirtatious words, a blush colored Lady Qin’s charming face.
She shot Master Pang a playful glare and glided toward the kitchen.
“I’ll tend the fire!” Master Pang followed along, utterly ignoring Fang Xiao.
Watching Master Pang, hooked and grinning, Fang Xiao suddenly recalled the big yellow dog at Li Yuanchao’s house—the way it acted around female dogs.
It was exactly like Master Pang at this moment!
Master Daoist was a good man, and such a comparison was certainly unfair—but the image of that big yellow dog lingered stubbornly in Fang Xiao’s mind.
As for Lady Qin, who had just arrived, he had no particular affection for her.
A bundle of female mischief!
Fang Xiao turned his head inadvertently, only to notice a timid little girl standing at the doorway.
“Hua Blossom?”
It was the same Hua Blossom who had delivered buns yesterday—the daughter of Widow Qin from Zhenjia Village!
“Brother Fang…”
The girl replied softly, approaching hesitantly.
Fang Xiao smiled, “Little Hua Blossom, did you like the milk candy?”
He was only making conversation to ease her shyness.
But the moment he mentioned the white rabbit milk candy, Hua Blossom’s eyes reddened, and tears began to fall like pearls from a broken necklace.
“My… my candy… my sister took it away!”