Chapter 8, What a big rice bucket

Among a group of people, the one who laughed the most joyfully was a slightly plump girl with a round face. She spoke differently from the others, with a distinct Hebei accent. If I am not mistaken, the round-faced girl is from Cangzhou, but she studies in a high school in Beijing. After receiving her admission notice during the summer vacation following her senior year, she was very happy and invited a group of close friends to visit her hometown.

This slap was just right; You Fang's body jolted as if he had been struck by a chill, instantly returning to normal. That was close! No wonder it is said that masters in seclusion require someone to protect them. If it weren't for someone fortuitously giving him a timely slap today, it could have been quite troublesome. His third uncle had once advised him that in desolate mountains, abandoned temples, and ancient relics, if one is unaware of the circumstances and lacks protection, one must not easily lose focus or composure. Today was indeed an eye-opener.

"Classmate, could you help us take a group photo?" The girl, noticing Youfang standing nearby, shyly approached him with her camera and asked.

The most important skill in wandering the world is keen observation. Just by taking a glance, he was able to deduce so much. If he were to set up a stall to tell fortunes now, he could astonish this group of young men and women with his very first words

That night, Youfang wisely chose not to meditate and practice his internal cultivation techniques, but instead went straight to bed. Although he felt very tired, he could not sleep soundly, tossing and turning without being able to fall asleep. In a daze, he was constantly plagued by a sense of restlessness. He was not accustomed to using air conditioning; even though he had opened half a window, the room still felt somewhat stuffy.

Before leaving, You Fang entered a souvenir shop and purchased a palm-sized replica of an iron lion craft, which, along with its base, resembled a seal. It was the most exquisitely crafted item on the shelf and also the most expensive one, with a wooden packaging box lined with yellow silk, giving it a high-end appearance. When bargaining, You Fang clearly stated that he did not want the packaging, as he was only buying it for himself and had no intention of giving it as a gift. Leaving the box behind under the somewhat surprised gaze of the salesperson, he tossed the small iron lion into his backpack

You Fang seemed a bit dazed and took a few steps forward to ask, "Miss, what are you doing here so late? Aren't you afraid of encountering any bad people?"

Youfang's throat felt a bit hoarse, and he asked in surprise, "Where are your feet?" He could see clearly that as the woman turned, the hem of her skirt swirled on the water's surface, and as she walked toward the shore, not a single ripple was stirred. It was evident that her feet were not touching the lakebed; she was astonishingly floating!

You Fang left the tourist site, and after the shocking experience he had just gone through, he dared not act recklessly again, nor did he wish to attempt anything else. Following that night of murder and arson, in just two short days, You Fang felt an indescribable change within himself; the various realms he had only heard about in rumors had suddenly become tangible experiences for him

It seems that a door has opened in his soul world, granting him abilities that he did not possess before. This feeling is not entirely unfamiliar; he has practiced internal martial arts since childhood, and three years ago, when he first understood what "the intent and internal strength of boxing" meant, he had a similar experience. However, today's sensation is completely different; he cannot fully grasp this ability, nor can he control the troubles it brings. Whether it is a blessing or a curse remains unclear.

On the way back, You Fang sat in the car feeling somewhat drowsy, an indescribable fatigue enveloping him, while simultaneously experiencing a strange sensation of hunger, an especially intense hunger! It was as if he hadn't eaten for several days and had been engaged in heavy physical labor. But that couldn't be right; he had eaten a hearty meal of roasted donkey meat at noon. How could he feel so hungry in such a short time? Could it be that the energy expended while being momentarily dazed in front of the Iron Lion was so immense?

No problem. You Fang smiled and nodded as he took the camera, believing that maintaining harmony while wandering the world was paramount, and helping with such a small task was nothing. A group of young boys and girls stood in front of the iron lion, all displaying radiant smiles in the lens. You Fang took three consecutive shots and returned the camera to the girl

The young girl came to play with her companions. This group consists of three boys and four girls, who are posing in various ways in front of the iron lion, smiling as they take pictures. From the perspective of the passerby, it seems as if the enormous lion is opening its iron mouth to swallow them one by one. Just now, that girl referred to the passerby as a classmate, a habit typical among students.

You Fang was also quite puzzled, feeling as if he had become a complete failure. This must be related to the strange experience he had in front of the Iron Lion of Cangzhou. He remembered that the first time he vaguely sensed the realm described in the legendary "Heart Plate Technique" was after conducting a detailed exploration near the unnamed ancient tomb, fully understanding the historical changes of the surrounding terrain and landforms. At that time, he thought it was merely an illusion brought on by his excessive concentration. He remembered that the first time he vaguely sensed the realm described in the legendary "Heart Plate Technique" was after conducting a detailed exploration near the unnamed ancient tomb, fully understanding the historical changes of the surrounding terrain and landforms. At that time, he thought it was merely an illusion brought on by his excessive concentration.

She was a woman, with long hair cascading over her shoulders, dressed in a long gown, standing in water up to her knees not far from the lakeside. The long hem of her dress spread out and floated on the water's surface like a lotus leaf. Observing her graceful figure, it seemed as if she was softly humming a song, her voice filled with sorrow and longing, resembling both a gentle chant and a quiet sob. The traveler had not noticed her at first; it was only upon seeing her that he heard the song.

Thank you! The girl politely gestured. She was beautiful, her demeanor was quiet and elegant, and her voice was pleasant. Her face was slightly flushed, giving off a hint of shyness, and standing in front of her made one feel very comfortable. You Fang thought to himself: "What a nice girl, it's a pity she's about to go to university. Sigh, I wonder which boy will pursue her. Can I ask her for her contact information? Or maybe not, I really don't have the time to pursue girls right now." You Fang thought to himself: "What a nice girl, it's a pity she's about to go to university. Sigh, I wonder which boy will pursue her. Can I ask her for her contact information? Or maybe not, I really don't have the time to pursue girls right now."

However, today was his first time visiting the location of the Iron Lion in Cangzhou. He had not previously surveyed the surrounding terrain and topography; it was merely a thought that triggered the process, and he subconsciously activated his heart's mechanism. He did not expect the physical exertion to be so great, which surely had adverse effects on his body. Although he ate very slowly, upon returning to his room, Youfang was almost so full that he could not bend his waist. However, after pacing back and forth in the room for an hour, he returned to normal, as if his digestion was particularly rapid

In just a few seconds, You Fang felt extremely exhausted, as if he had just played an entire game of Go against several opponents simultaneously. He let out a deep breath and turned around gratefully to glance at his "savior," saying, "Oh, my apologies, please go ahead." He cooperatively stepped aside from in front of the iron lion.

Water in feng shui can gather yin energy. Calm water surfaces, such as lakes and ponds, reflect yang energy during the day due to the accumulation of yin. Therefore, the earth energy by the lakeside under sunlight is harmonized, making it an ideal place for people to enjoy and linger. However, at night, the waterside becomes the area with the heaviest yin energy. The lotus flowers and leaves gently sway in the night, while the lake surface remains as smooth as a mirror. As I strolled leisurely to the pavilion at the four corners, I took a deep breath of the cool air, prepared to practice my martial arts, when I suddenly noticed a person ahead.

They should be this year's recent high school graduates, which aligns with the age of eighteen or nineteen. It is now mid-August, and it seems that this group of students has come out to travel together after receiving their university admission notices. Most of them have a Beijing accent, while the girl who just spoke has a slightly noticeable Cantonese accent, indicating that she either lived in Guangdong during her childhood or has relatives from Guangdong.

Returning to the Cangzhou Restaurant was almost exactly at the dinner time of * Picture * Book. You Fang did not go out and had his meal in the second-floor dining room. This meal lasted nearly an hour, and by the end, even the restaurant staff were surprised, with several young ladies in the distance pointing and discussing. The reason was simple: You Fang ate too much!

You Fang then realized that her dress was completely wet, clinging to her body and nearly transparent. Her figure was flawless, with perfectly shaped breasts, and the pair of prominent points with traces of blush were clearly visible. Looking up along her strong thighs, her flat and slightly rounded abdomen was accentuated, with the fabric forming an almost perfect V shape.

He has only just touched upon a little bit of the key. If the legendary art of the heart wheel truly exists, where would the immense energy required for its proficient use come from? There must be some hidden secrets; otherwise, it would simply be a great waste of resources. If that were the case, no matter how strong the body, it would not withstand such repeated strain, and frequent use would certainly shorten one's lifespan. Moreover, this art of operating the heart wheel appears mysterious, yet it seems to have little practical use.

However, one thing is very clear to Youfang: the current state is not beneficial for him. These inexplicable "abilities" seem to have no positive effects on his mind or body

After asking this question, You Fang suddenly woke up, a feeling of terror instantly filled his entire body, his hair and the fine hairs on his skin stood on end, and he jumped up from the bed like a carp leaping out of water—he was awake, still in the guest room of the Cangzhou Hotel, and what had just occurred was a dream, a nightmarish experience that was both extraordinarily terrifying and slightly tinged with emotion.

There were a total of three dishes: one plate of four happiness meatballs, half a white-cut chicken, and one plate of stir-fried shrimp. Although it might seem a bit excessive for one person, it is not too outrageous. What is rare is that this guest finished all three dishes without wasting a single bite. Even more astonishing is that this not particularly overweight young man actually ate seven bowls of rice! While everyone can eat, being able to eat so much by one person is indeed unusual

She exudes an enchanting sensuality intertwined with an inexplicable chill, her face and features resembling a sculpture of white jade, devoid of any trace of color, even lacking a hint of vitality. Her eyes, like cold stars in the night, possess a certain luster, yet remain elusive and indistinct.

You Fang simply got out of bed, put on his clothes, and went out again to the Lotus Pond Park. He wanted to practice his boxing one more time in the stillness of the night to calm his mind.

For instance, my father once spoke of the peculiar feeling that those in the rivers and lakes have towards ancient relics, which he found embodied in the Iron Lion of Cangzhou. Similarly, my fifth uncle once mentioned the art of the heart disk, and on that night of tomb raiding, he seemed to have touched upon the key insight, finding resonance once again before the Iron Lion, instinctively operating the heart disk.

The speaker is an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl, wearing light-washed blue jeans on her lower body, with straight legs and a slim waist. On her upper body, she is dressed in a beige silk T-shirt. Although her chest is not overly pronounced, the curves present a gentle fullness—at least it looks quite pleasing to the eye. Her oval face has a slight roundness; it is unclear whether it is due to the weather or activity, but fine beads of sweat adorn her delicate nose, and her fair cheeks are slightly flushed.

The woman turned around, silently walking through the surrounding lotus leaves towards the shore, and replied in a somewhat cold voice: "I feel a bit stuffy; I want to wash my feet"

Youfang did not wish to frighten the restaurant staff, but he could not help it; he simply felt hungry. He ordered one bowl and then another, causing the server to run back and forth seven times. His great-uncle had always taught him that no matter how hungry one might be, one should never eat hastily, as it could harm one's health. Eating should be done with care. Therefore, Youfang did not eat quickly; he was very serious about chewing slowly and thoroughly, yet his chopsticks never stopped moving. It was nearly an hour before he finally set down his bowl.