Chapter 10: Giving a Fish is Not as Good as Teaching How to Fish
As the autumn wind rustled past, the plane trees rustled, and leaves fluttered down, landing in the courtyard pond and creating faint ripples.
Zhang Wangyue was raising his wine cup, drinking with Huyan Lei.
The head escort of the Fu’an Escort Agency was around forty years old, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a square face etched with the marks of wind and frost. His gaze was full of authority.
He said, “In a few days, we’ll be escorting a shipment to the Shu Region. Do you think we should arrange for Zhou Yan to accompany us?”
Huyan Lei poured wine, holding his cup and looking at the head escort, “I’ll tell you the truth.”
“You’ve always been straightforward.”
“Well, then, I’ll be direct. It’s not advisable.”
“Why?”
“Because Cui Qingshan is leading the team.”
“What do you mean?”
“Zhou Yan just returned yesterday, and Escort Cui immediately picked a fight with him, wanting to spar. He wanted to help his nephew get promoted to escort and pulled some strings, but only Zhou Yan was promoted by the escort agency. He holds a grudge, and I’m worried he’ll make things difficult along the way.”
“Zhou Yan earned it through his actual skills.”
“But ‘a narrow heart has no room for anyone.’ Zhou Yan is a promising talent, a treasure hidden in jade.”
“Is he really that capable?”
“Of course. I’m telling you, yesterday I was drinking with him at Songhe Tower when escorts from the Four Seas Escort Agency came looking for trouble. He took down two of their escorts one after another.”
“Is that so? Tell me more.”
“Listen carefully.” Huyan Lei took a sip of wine, about to speak, when hurried footsteps approached from a distance. An escort came quickly from the long corridor with overhanging eaves.
“Head Escort, Escort Shi and Escort Wang are about to fight.”
It was common for escorts to resort to fists and kicks when they disagreed, and they would usually laugh it off afterward. Zhang Wangyue calmly said, “Then let them fight for a while.”
Huyan Lei asked, “What’s the reason?”
The escort replied, “Escort Zhou asked Escort Shi for advice on how to cultivate lightness skill. Escort Shi explained it, and Escort Wang also chimed in. They each had their own opinions and wouldn’t back down, and then it became a confrontation.”
Huyan Lei was stunned and burst into laughter.
Zhang Wangyue laughed and cursed, “Unbelievable! Let’s go and see.”
The two of them got up and quickly walked towards the martial field.
…
Shi Baichuan had already adopted a fighting stance.
His signature move was “Harrier Fist.” In the autumn sunlight, the short and sturdy escort’s left and right feet alternated, his body slightly tilted, his right hand bent forward with fingers like a beak, and his left fist tucked under his armpit. His posture resembled a harrier swooping down to prey.
Fist techniques in the Jianghu that mimicked animals hunting were common. Seeing Shi Baichuan use “Harrier Fist,” Escort Wang lowered his stance, bent his right knee, and stepped back with his left leg, adopting a “Mantis Fist” stance.
Zhou Yan hadn’t expected the two escorts to become so agitated over his question about lightness skill. Several escorts and runners in the martial field were trying to mediate, but the two were arguing more fiercely.
Zhou Yan quickly said, “Old Brother Shi, Old Brother Wang, please don’t be like this. Let’s talk things through and seek common ground.”
His address of “old brother” made Shi Baichuan feel quite pleased, but the arrow was already on the string and had to be shot. He said, “It has nothing to do with you, Brother Zhou. I’ve disliked this commoner for a long time.”
“Brother Zhou, don’t worry. This old man has a fiery temper. I’ll help him cool down.” Escort Wang said.
The two exchanged sharp words. Suddenly, Shi Baichuan let out a shout, his body shifting. It seemed as if five or six illusory figures appeared simultaneously, and a fierce offensive spread towards Escort Wang.
The figure that suddenly appeared outside the martial field moved without a sound, as if all noise was swallowed by his burly frame. The figure took a few strides between the two escorts, and in a flash, two punches shattered all of Shi Baichuan’s and Escort Wang’s stances.
“Damn it, who…” Shi Baichuan cursed, then saw it was Zhang Wangyue and scratched the back of his head, “Why is the Head Escort here?”
Escort Wang leaped back, indignantly saying, “Head Escort, please judge this.”
Zhang Wangyue laughed and cursed, “Alright, I know what’s going on. You two are both half-baked teachers, and Zhou Yan is a brave novice eager to learn. Aren’t you worried about practicing incorrectly and suffering qi deviation?”
The complexions of the two were ashen.
Zhou Yan quickly stepped forward and said, “Greetings, Head Escort.”
Zhang Wangyue said with a pleasant expression, “Isn’t today a day off?”
“I can’t sit still.”
“Young people are indeed full of vigor and spirit.” Zhang Wangyue praised, then his gaze swept around, “Everyone, come over.”
Zhou Yan was overjoyed, and the escorts and runners cheered loudly.
Head Escort Zhang Wangyue sat on a stone lock. The crowd sat in a circle. Huyan Lei nudged Zhou Yan and whispered, “Listen carefully, this is for you.”
Zhou Yan nodded. How could he not know the Head Escort’s good intentions?
Zhang Wangyue’s voice rang out in the autumn afternoon:
“The meridians are the channels through which the body operates, connecting the viscera and linking the internal and external, tightly integrating the body into a whole. Meridians are a collective term for ‘jing’ and ‘luo,’ meaning pathways, and are composed of main meridians and collateral meridians. Main meridians are divided into twelve standard meridians and eight extraordinary meridians, which are what we call the Twelve Standard Meridians and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.”
“In addition, there are the twelve divergent meridians and the twelve sinews. The Eight Extraordinary Meridians are like lakes, while the qi of the Twelve Main Meridians is like the water of rivers. They intertwine among the Twelve Main Meridians, connecting them and governing the qi and blood, coordinating yin and yang. When the extraordinary meridians are opened, one feels the smooth flow of blood and abundant energy. Therefore, most martial arts in the world focus on cultivating the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, using them to drive the Twelve Standard Meridians. This is because the Twelve Standard Meridians are connected to the viscera, and any slight mistake can endanger life. Some cultivation techniques, mainly from the Taoist Sect, focus on health preservation and primarily cultivate the standard meridians. The former is easier first, then harder; the latter is harder first, then easier…”
Zhang Wangyue did not mention any methods for cultivating lightness skill, but his words were no less than golden advice to Zhou Yan. He guessed that the original owner’s shallow internal force was related to his lack of understanding of acupoints and meridians. He now had a clear understanding of the meridian system.
Zhang Wangyue looked at Shi Baichuan and Escort Wang, “When teaching martial arts, the greatest taboo is abstract theory. Escort Wang cultivates internal school techniques, and you believe you’ve tempered the Twelve Standard Meridians and can cultivate decent lightness skill. This idea is not wrong, but Escort Zhou’s martial arts are primarily external, with insufficient internal force. How can he temper it? If the internal qi and pulse qi clash, it can lead to qi deviation, resulting in paralysis at best, or death at worst.”
Escort Wang understood immediately, his face turning pale. “How could I not have thought of this? Head Escort is absolutely right. Brother Zhou, don’t listen to my nonsense.”
“Old Brother Wang also has good intentions. Once my internal force is accomplished, I will temper the standard meridians and cultivate lightness skill according to your method.” He replied this way, but inwardly he thought that the Jade Guanyin he wore had the effect of healing internal illnesses and should also prevent qi deviation.
Escort Wang gave him a thumbs-up. “Just for that, Brother Zhou, I’ll look out for you in the escort agency from now on.”
“Forming factions?” Zhang Wangyue knew there were cliques in the escort agency but still asked.
Head Escort Wang chuckled.
Zhang Wangyue continued, “Escort Shi has fallen into the trap of ‘it’s better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.’ Your cultivation techniques focus on tempering the eight meridians, and they are compatible with Escort Zhou’s. But I ask you, do you know the specific pathways of the eight meridians?”
Shi Baichuan said sheepishly, “I only know the two Qiao meridians.”
“How long did it take you to master the acupoints where the two Qiao meridians intersect?”
“I practiced on women for many days before I could recite them like reciting family treasures.”
The crowd in the martial field burst into laughter.
“Does Escort Zhou know these things? If not, how can he temper the eight meridians?”
Huyan Lei said, “Old Shi is just bragging.”
The laughter grew even louder.
Shi Baichuan didn’t mind the laughter, “I actually didn’t think of these things.”
“However, the initial intention was good and deserves affirmation.”
Huyan Lei said, “But it still hasn’t resolved Brother Zhou’s doubts.”
Zhang Wangyue stood up and said to Zhou Yan:
“Follow me!”
As Zhang Wangyue said this, not only the runners but also many escorts showed envious expressions.
Huyan Lei laughed and cursed:
“Instead of being envious, practice harder. The Head Escort won’t neglect you!”
Thank you for the monthly ticket support from “A Qi Opens the Creation of the Three-Five Great Dao Monarch,” and thank you to all the great authors for your recommendations. I am immensely grateful.
