The Eighth Chapter, The Heart Sutra of the Moon

Seeing Zuo Yuanmin collide with the rock, there was an immediate threat to his life. Just as the situation seemed dire, in that critical moment, a figure from the valley flashed forward, arriving ahead of time. With a firm grip, he lifted Zuo Yuanmin off the ground, leaving only half a foot between his forehead and the stone. At the same time, he said, "Although this brat is rude, I, an old man, keep my word and will not harm a single hair on you. So, what do you say? Are you convinced?"

Zuo Yuanmin said: "I still ask you, senior, to teach me the method of internal healing right now. Otherwise, if my injuries become severe and I do not recover, wouldn't that mean you are breaking your promise? Wouldn't you become someone who is untrustworthy? This would not reflect well on your reputation." The person in the valley saw that he had the upper hand and decided to go all out, saying: "Alright, I will teach you right now."

Suddenly, an unexpected event occurred, and Zuo Yuanmin himself was caught off guard. The words "death" immediately flashed through his mind, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. However, he was suspended in mid-air, completely devoid of any means to leverage himself. Even if he had the strength to do so, at such speed and force, it would be impossible to make use of it; he was almost resigned to his fate.

He looked down from a height and needed to first understand the entire situation. He saw that the horse was trapped in a thicket of low trees, with the other end of the reins entangled in the nearby thicket, restricting the horse's freedom of movement. Outside the thicket, a large black wolf paced back and forth, growling ominously. Zuo Yuanmin thought to himself that perhaps this horse had encountered the blocking wolf on the road, and in a moment of panic, had dashed into the thicket, resulting in the reins getting caught in the branches, leaving it unable to move. He noticed that this wolf was larger than the average wild wolf, with eyes that seemed to emit a faint blue light, which made him feel a bit frightened, suspecting that it might be a monster from the mountains. Otherwise, how could there be a wild wolf as large as a big insect?

Zuo Yuanmin made a preemptive strike, launching a series of continuous attacks, and stepped forward twice, closing the distance to the cave entrance to less than three feet. The person in the valley countered with two moves, and thought to himself: "It is time." Suddenly, he saw Zuo Yuanmin's palm coming in a slanted manner, resembling "wildfire sweeping through the plains." The person in the valley thought: "Your move is flawed; let me teach you a lesson." With five fingers poised, he aimed to grab Zuo Yuanmin's left arm. Zuo Yuanmin's hands suddenly crossed, and with a sharp sound, he struck directly at the wrist of the person in the valley.

Zuo Yuanmin was at a loss for what to do when suddenly the sound of hooves echoed ahead, and dust filled the air, as another group of horses galloped towards him. Zuo Yuanmin, unwilling to let others see his inability to ride, feigned ease and looked around.

As the cloud-steed galloped faster and faster, the scenery around swiftly receded, almost becoming indistinct. Zuo Yuanmin turned his head back, and only then did he have the mood to savor the feeling of riding through the clouds. He felt that the world was vast, the mountains and rivers were broad, which was precisely where a man's ambitions lay, filled with youthful vigor and lofty aspirations.

Zuo Yuanmin was unable to rise for a moment, so he sat on the ground and said, "I refuse to accept this, I refuse to accept this, I will not accept it no matter what!" The person in the valley replied, "You may be indignant, but you must provide a reason. Otherwise, merely throwing a tantrum will not only be of no help, but will also cause me to look down on you."

The strike by Zuo Yuanmin does not belong to any of the techniques in "Autumn Wind and Flying Leaves." The method of exerting force originates from "Hou Yi Shoots the Suns," but the hand technique is derived from the variations of "Jade Tree Flowing Light" and "Night Dew Condensing Fragrance." Each of these techniques has been honed through generations, and while Zuo Yuanmin's modifications represent innovation, they also give rise to unexpected flaws. However, the people in the valley greatly appreciate his adaptability, deliberately choosing not to exploit his flaws while simultaneously countering his strike head-on with a palm.

Well, after these men undergo castration, they experience a transformation from male to female characteristics. They do not develop Adam's apples, do not grow facial hair, speak in high-pitched voices, and their skin becomes soft and delicate, lacking muscle development. Moreover, their behavior and demeanor become shy and reserved, differing significantly from typical men, resembling ordinary women instead. But tell me, if the situation were reversed, would women who undergo castration develop facial hair, grow Adam's apples, and gradually become more robust, behaving like men? I don't think so

This time of achievement marks the first formal confrontation for Zuo Yuanmin since he began his martial arts training. The power of the Autumn Wind Flying Leaves technique was such that even Zuo Yuanmin felt quite astonished. However, that Ronghua was defeated by a youth who was seven or eight years younger than him. Having not used his full strength, he naturally felt dissatisfied and, in a fit of anger, clamped his legs together, ready to spur his horse forward. Unexpectedly, he heard the middle-aged man shout, "Ronghua, retreat!"

Zuo Yuanmin stood for two hours, his feet sore and painful. At this moment, he just wanted to sit down properly and let his legs rest. It was not appropriate to argue with him further, so he said irritably: "You don't need to pretend anymore; it was you who fixed me in this place. Hurry up and help me release the acupoint."

However, what Zuo Yuanmin said is, after all, a fact, and it is not easy to refute. The people in the valley were both embarrassed and angry, and could only say: "Then what do you think should be done?"

Zuo Yuanmin, looking quite surprised, said: "This is something that any discerning person can see; what more is there to discuss? You are a senior in the martial world, with exceptional skills, while I am merely an unknown nobody, lacking even the strength to tie up a chicken. If you use your martial arts against me, I can only expect to be beaten. I do not claim to be unconvinced; should I instead say, 'Well struck, splendidly done, resoundingly impressive, senior, your might is truly formidable, and I humbly accept defeat'?"

Gu Zhongren said: "If it doesn't work, then it's your lack of skill." Zuo Yuanmin sneered and replied: "If you take all the advantages, then who is the one at a loss?" Gu Zhongren said: "I will only use the technique I just taught to deal with you. If I use something you haven't seen before, then I will admit defeat." Zuo Yuanmin said: "Good!" He moved forward.

Zuo Yuanmin felt a cool breeze on his back, accompanied by a slight stinging sensation, realizing that he had been scratched by the large wolf. Although he was both startled and anxious, he decided that the best course of action was to free the horse first. He then leaped down, landing at the spot where the horse's reins were entangled. He initially pulled and tugged with all his might but to no avail, so he simply gathered his strength and pushed towards the thicket with his palm. With a loud "crack," the tree trunk at the forefront fell over, leaves scattering everywhere. Zuo Yuanmin shouted, "Good horse, pull back, quickly pull back!" The horse seemed to understand human speech; it exerted force with all four legs, lowering its neck to pull. With another loud "crash," branches and leaves flew in all directions, and the reins were finally freed.

Left in a daze by his strike, Zuo Yuanmin had not yet regained his senses when he heard him rambling on. Once his mind cleared a little, he asked, "What on earth are you talking about? I can't understand anything. What do you mean by three times seven is twenty-one, and nine times seven is sixty-three? I just grabbed and bumped around casually, like a monkey. Who could possibly teach me? And who is Li Yongnian?"

Regarding this matter, the man from the valley, while explaining, inevitably invites the ridicule of Zuo Yuanmin, who remarks that if he had the means to achieve it, he would not still be here teaching others martial arts today. However, the man from the valley takes no offense and simply states that according to his cultivation, as long as one is not careful, one may still fall into the trap of demonic deviation. Moreover, the stronger the internal energy, the more perilous the situation of deviation becomes. All martial practitioners should take this as a cautionary tale.

After the man in the valley finished his explanation, he moved a large stone and placed it at the entrance of the cave. He then sat down on it, closed his eyes, and entered a meditative state. Left Yuanmin observed him with a sense of fearlessness and was momentarily unsure of what to do. He noticed Lu Yuting beside him, reciting something with a focused expression. With a mindset of trying it out, he found a quiet spot and, following the guidance of the man in the valley, began to attempt practicing his internal skills.

The horse seemed to understand his words, advancing on its own without waiting for Zuo Yuanmin's instructions. Zuo Yuanmin originally intended to test the speed of this horse, but the mountain path was rugged, and he feared for the horse's hooves. He thought it would be better to wait until the road was smoother to try, so he allowed the horse to stroll on its own, considering it a form of rest

Zuo Yuanmin quickly turned over and stood firm, confronting the large wolf. Suddenly, he caught sight of the horse standing by the roadside, not having left. Zuo Yuanmin did not look directly at it, only using his peripheral vision to glance at the horse, and said, "Good horse, why are you still standing there? Hurry up! Hurry up!" The horse, quite intelligent, raised its front leg and neighed, yet refused to leave.

The white-haired old man missed his strike and, upon landing, immediately lunged forward. Little did he know that after the first step, Wang Yunzhu seemed to have gone mad, as if possessed, and did not pause. The white-haired old man leaped, yet he was still two feet away from reaching Zuo Yuanmin. As the saying goes, "To shoot a person, first shoot the horse; to capture a thief, first capture the king." However, the white-haired old man was aware of the horse's value and could not bring himself to harm it. As a result, after several leaps, Wang Yunzhu had already left him far behind, and even if he suddenly regretted it and wanted to intercept Zuo Yuanmin's mount, it was already beyond his capability.

Zuo Yuanmin was greatly alarmed. Without a moment's hesitation, he accurately gauged his position and leaped onto the horse's back, simultaneously delivering a kick with a move called "Wind Rising and Clouds Gathering" aimed at the wolf. The wolf seemed to sense the danger and, at the critical moment, released its sharp teeth and leaped aside. Zuo Yuanmin mounted the saddle but did not pursue; instead, he hurriedly reached for the reins. However, the other end was entangled with something, making it impossible to pull free at that moment. Just then, the large wolf lunged at him again. Zuo Yuanmin quickly lowered his body, and the wolf's claws swept past his back, tearing his clothing and leaving several blood streaks.

Continuing straight ahead, they soon emerged from the mountains and arrived at a flat road. Zuo Yuanmin patted the horse and said, "Although I do not know your name, I can see that you are a steed of a thousand miles. A horse of such caliber should not refrain from galloping on the open road. I am ready; if you wish to run freely, then let us go!"

Zuo Yuanmin was taken aback and hurriedly said, "Are you mistaken? How can our martial arts compare to yours? If we can never pass this test, wouldn't that mean you would be trapped here for a lifetime?" The person in the valley replied, "To test you, I naturally will not exert my full strength, nor will I say that you must defeat me to leave the valley. What I mean is that you must possess a certain level of skill before I can feel assured to let you go out"

Zuo Yuanmin narrowly escaped death this time, feeling dizzy and unable to speak for a moment. The man in the valley let out a cold laugh and threw him onto the ground beside him. Once Zuo's complexion improved slightly, the man continued to ask: "So, what do you say? Do you submit or not?"

He was unable to articulate clearly, and after calling Lu Yuting to demonstrate with him, it took nearly half an hour to explain everything. Finally, he said: "This technique consists of two forms, with a total of four variations: front, back, left, and right, amounting to no more than eight variations in total, which are not difficult to remember. There is a name that collectively refers to this technique, called: 'Four Directions and Eight Passages.' If you truly master it, then my earlier grasp will no longer be able to catch you."

Zuo Yuanmin could not help but feel anger, thinking: "You want to grab my hand, are you trying to drag me down?" He focused on the whip's tip and swiftly reached out to grab it, already employing the technique of "Autumn Wind Blowing Leaves." The overly arrogant Ronghua, feeling overly confident, only sensed a numbness in his tiger's mouth, and the whip had already slipped from his hand. The middle-aged man and the white-haired elder, upon seeing this, exclaimed in surprise.

Zuo Yuanmin said: "Senior, this Taiyin Heart Sutra was never mine to begin with. It was obtained from www.hetushu.com and then lost again, so there is nothing to regret. As long as I can retreat unscathed, it cannot be considered a loss." The person in the valley shook his head and sighed, saying: "You young man, you really don't understand anything." Zuo Yuanmin nonchalantly replied: "Not knowing anything is actually better; knowing too much only brings sorrow!"

Seeing this situation, Zuo Yuanmin could not help but think: "This horse is controlled by the reins and will eventually be worn out by this big wolf; it is simply a situation of defeat without victory. Even if it drags on until evening, the situation will remain the same." He felt a strong desire to help this magnificent horse escape from its suffering, but then he thought: "I am unarmed and have no weapons; how can I drive it away?"

In the blink of an eye, Zuo Yuanmin launched a relentless series of attacks. However, the forest was the territory of wild beasts, and that large wolf dodged left and right. Although it appeared to be in a difficult position, it had actually established an invulnerable stance. Zuo Yuanmin's continuous assaults yielded no results. As the saying goes, when the road does not turn, the person must turn; he devised a plan, feigning a fall to lure the large wolf closer. Suddenly, he leaped up and executed the move "Wind Blows, Grass Bows," striking directly at the wolf's chest and abdomen.

The white-haired old man said: "But I can tell from your recent display of skill whose it is. You say you have no master, hmm, I understand now, it was your father who taught you, wasn't it?" Zuo Yuanmin replied: "My father died before I was born, I have no father." The middle-aged man interjected: "Father, estimating his age, he should not be..."

Zuo Yuanmin originally did not believe that he owed him any favor, let alone expect any repayment. Therefore, when he heard that the people in the valley wanted to sever ties with a set of "Autumn Wind and Flying Leaves" techniques, he did not have much of a reaction. On the other hand, Lu Yuting appeared hesitant to speak, showing a rather dismissive attitude.

***

Zuo Yuanmin was both surprised and delighted. He pulled on the reins and praised, "I never expected that even animals know how to be grateful. Oh horse, oh horse, there are hardly a few people in this world who can compare to you." After walking for a while, he added, "I have no other place to go. You can go wherever you want, but it would be best to hurry back home. To be honest, I really want to meet your owner."

The person in the valley smiled and said, "Alright, even if what you say makes sense." After pacing back and forth a few times, he continued, "Actually, just now, my grab and throw could have been easily avoided, as long as you do this and that..." He spoke and gestured, providing a detailed explanation: if someone reaches for your chest, how to evade, how to counterattack, and even how to respond when the opponent reacts, detailing how to counter each move, where to twist, and how to turn.

The flow of vital energy within the human body's acupuncture points, in the case of the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, begins at the Middle Jiao, descending first to the Large Intestine, then returning to the Stomach, circulating through the Lungs and ascending to the throat, before reaching the first acupuncture point, "Zhongfu." It then follows the inner side of the arm, passing through the elbow to the wrist, ultimately arriving at the thumb's "Shaoshang" point. However, practicing this art is contrary to the natural order, thus Zuo Yuanmin must reverse the practice. This part particularly emphasizes the need to focus and calm the mind, resisting external disturbances. The practitioners in the valley simultaneously imparted to them the essentials of how to concentrate and maintain tranquility, as well as how to eliminate distracting thoughts, explaining the necessary actions to take in case they encounter difficulties in focusing the mind. However, practicing this art is contrary to the natural order, thus Zuo Yuanmin must reverse the practice. This part particularly emphasizes the need to focus and calm the mind, resisting external disturbances. The practitioners in the valley simultaneously imparted to them the essentials of how to concentrate and maintain tranquility, as well as how to eliminate distracting thoughts, explaining the necessary actions to take in case they encounter difficulties in focusing the mind.

One could only hear the person in the valley continue: "Originally, if you had no skills at all, others would not be on guard against you, and you would not be in any danger. However, having practiced half-heartedly for over a month, once you step into the martial world, relying on your youthful arrogance, you may provoke trouble everywhere and meddle in others' affairs, and it won't be long before someone kills you. Although you two are not my disciples, you have learned my skills, and if it becomes known that the Autumn Wind and Falling Leaves technique can be so easily defeated by others, I would lose all face. Therefore, if you wish to leave the valley, that is fine, but you must first pass my test."

The young man named Ronghua was furious, raised his riding whip, and was about to strike Zuo Yuanmin. The middle-aged man shouted, "Ronghua, don't take action!" Ronghua replied, "Yes," but still swung the whip, aiming for Zuo Yuanmin's left arm.

Zuo Yuanmin had a humble upbringing, and he was already accustomed to tasks such as boiling water and cooking rice from a young age. Although he was later adopted by Yunmeng, in terms of daily life, it was Zuo Yuanmin who managed everything for Yunmeng, such as cooking and preparing snacks, in which he excelled. Therefore, while it was said that they shared the cooking duties, in reality, Lu Yuting was only responsible for the rough work of chopping firewood and starting the fire; the true chef was still Zuo Yuanmin

The middle-aged man became enraged, startling Ronghua. He quickly withdrew his hand and retreated on his horse. The white-haired elder rode forward and asked, "May I ask your surname, young brother? What is your name? Who is your esteemed master?" Zuo Yuanmin replied, "Who I am is of no importance. As for a master..." He shook his head and said, "I have no master."

He was distracted, casually dismantling things, his mind only focused on not using techniques that exceeded the limits. Suddenly, he felt a tight grip on his left wrist; it was Zuo Yuanmin who had caught hold of him, twisting it forcefully. Then, a cry of "Ah" was heard as Zuo Yuanmin let go and stepped back, nursing his painful hand while glaring fiercely at the person in the valley.

In the valley, the person said: "It does not matter if you cannot see clearly; I am merely using this to inform you that the faster you use this technique, the better. At the very least, you must achieve a speed similar to what I just demonstrated to fully realize its greatest intricacies." As he spoke, he slowed down and demonstrated it again, providing a detailed explanation of where to speed up, where to slow down, where to adjust breathing in accordance with luck, and where to manage internal energy. Ultimately, it was still Lu Yuting who took the stage for a practical demonstration, with the person from the valley guiding him from the side. Although Zuo Yuanmin maintained an indifferent demeanor, in reality, his eyes never left the two individuals for a moment. He slowed down and demonstrated it again, providing a detailed explanation of where to speed up, where to slow down, where to adjust breathing in accordance with luck, and where to manage internal energy. Ultimately, it was still Lu Yuting who took the stage for a practical demonstration, with the person from the valley guiding him from the side. Although Zuo Yuanmin maintained an indifferent demeanor, in reality, his eyes never left the two individuals for a moment.

The person in the valley explained: "That is internal skill, not some demonic technique!" Zuo Yuanmin seized on his words and said: "You mentioned before that one cannot use techniques that have not been taught. You have not taught me internal skill, therefore you have already violated the rules, and I have won"

Zuo Yuanmin said: "If you want to practice, go ahead; I have no desire to accept his kindness." Saying this, he went to the side, found a stone under the shade of a tree, and turned his head away.

The two individuals suddenly engaged in a rapid exchange, instantly executing over ten moves. Since Zuo Yuanmin began practicing internal martial arts, not only had his agility improved day by day, but his hearing and vision had also sharpened, and his thoughts became clearer, surpassing his past abilities. At this moment, he was in high spirits, and the internal energy cultivated over more than a decade within him was gradually being awakened. His strikes required no contemplation, and each move was stronger than the last. In the blink of an eye, thirty-six moves had been completed. Zuo Yuanmin hesitated for a moment, reluctantly resorting to his previous techniques. Suddenly, he thought: "Why should I hesitate at this moment? Whether I repeat my previous moves or not makes no difference to the person in the valley; he has likely practiced these techniques for years, and each move is merely a repetition!"

Fortunately, he remains in that position, looking as if he is sound asleep

After practicing martial arts, Zuo Yuanmin became much more agile. In just a few moments, he darted close to the horse. At that instant, he suddenly heard the low growl of a wild beast. With a quick turn, he leaped onto a nearby tree trunk, making two quick movements to climb up onto the branches

Zuo Yuanmin's punch accurately struck the left temple of the person from the valley, with every aspect of the position and technique executed perfectly. The person from the valley understood that this move, "Hou Yi Shoots the Suns," with the left hand was merely a precursor, while the real power lay in the right-hand punch. He lowered his body and darted to the left side of Zuo Yuanmin, combining evasion with strikes, swiftly extending both hands to point. Zuo Yuanmin recognized this as a move from the Autumn Wind Flying Leaves technique, known as "Falling Leaves and Flying Flowers," and immediately responded with "Four Directions and Eight Passages." All these martial arts techniques were taught by the person from the valley. Upon seeing Zuo Yuanmin initiate his move, the person from the valley knew exactly what technique he intended to use; he could dismantle the move even with his eyes closed. Before Zuo Yuanmin's technique could fully unfold, he promptly countered with a move.

In the realm of internal cultivation, the internal energy resides within the body's meridians, accumulated bit by bit over the years. Even if I do not actively use it, it will naturally protect my body, and I cannot easily rid myself of it. If you are still unconvinced, let me share with you a few mantras; you may practice your breathing and energy regulation according to these principles. You need not fear that this will take an excessive amount of time, for you already possess the internal energy cultivated over my years of practice. A month of your training will equate to a year of others' efforts. After one year, you will be able to fully harness the internal energy I have imparted to you, mastering its use with ease. If you wish to make further progress, it will depend on your future diligence.

At that moment, the large wolf lunged directly at Zuo Yuanmin. Zuo Yuanmin smiled wryly and said, "You're venting your anger on me!" With a bow drawn and an arrow ready, he executed the move "Hou Yi Shoots the Arrow" and struck forward. Surprisingly, the large wolf seemed to understand the tactic and performed a mid-air twist, narrowly avoiding the attack. At the same time, its claws extended forward, aiming to strike. Zuo Yuanmin recognized that this combination of evasion and counterattack was quite skillful, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Good!" before rolling away on the ground

Before Zuo Yuanmin could react, Lu Yuting had already rushed to bow and said, "Thank you, Senior Gu." Zuo Yuanmin let out a cold laugh and replied lightly, "Brother Lu, are you sure his surname is Gu?" Lu Yuting responded, "Brother Zuo, the senior means no harm; you should stop being difficult." His words carried a hint of reproach.

Lu Yuting certainly knew this point; he was not so resolute in his rejection of the person from the valley. Therefore, he would seize the opportunity in private to act as a mediator, hoping that he could learn the craft well from the person from the valley

As he saw Zuo Yuanmin frantically running in circles, aimlessly and without restraint, the people in the valley grew increasingly dissatisfied. They speculated, "This kid is starting to take me lightly; it seems that unless I give him a taste of hardship, he will think I am joking with them." Just as this thought crossed his mind, he suddenly realized that he had unknowingly approached the entrance of the cave. The people in the valley, with a flash of insight, exclaimed, "So that's how it is!"

Zuo Yuanmin, having successfully moved his position near the cave entrance, reflected that the people in the valley were not to be underestimated. Such an obvious intention could not have gone unnoticed at this point; the people in the valley surely understood the underlying reasoning. At that moment, he decided to turn the darkness into light, no longer concealing his intentions. With a push of his right foot, he darted towards the cave.

Guzhongren clearly assessed the situation and recalled the agreement made with him in the past. Aside from regretting his momentary carelessness, he found himself at a loss for words. Zuo Yuanmin supported himself against the mountain wall and stood up, smiling playfully as he said: "I apologize, Senior Gu. You once said that as long as I defeated you, you would let me leave the valley and would not harm a single hair on my head. Therefore, from this moment on, I am a free person. As for the words 'if you do not confess, you will only bring suffering upon yourself,' it would be best to keep them to yourself and refrain from saying them any longer!"

Although Zuo Yuanmin did not understand the nuances of the situation, he could comprehend the significance of the word "waste." Since it was deemed wasteful, what good could come of it? Anger surged within him, and he spoke out: "From the very beginning, we have never asked you for anything. Teaching us martial arts was your suggestion, and if we do not learn well, you said we could return. Everything is decided by you; where does that leave us? If that is the case, we might as well not have saved you at all. Bah! What kind of useless martial arts are we learning? Who knows if they are even effective!" The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, eventually criticizing the martial arts of the people in the valley.

Zuo Yuanmin suddenly said: "Is this move really sufficient? One must simultaneously employ 'Four Directions and Eight Passages' for it to be effective, right?" The person in the valley, hearing his insightful remarks, felt delighted, yet maintained a calm demeanor as he replied: "If you truly master it completely, achieving seventy percent proficiency, relying solely on this move, in the vast martial world, there will undoubtedly be many who can evade it, but few who can receive it. Martial arts techniques are fixed, while people are dynamic. As the saying goes, a master leads you to the door, but the cultivation depends on the individual. The extent of power you can unleash depends on your effort and comprehension, and cannot be generalized."

Zuo Yuanmin could not discern whether the remarks were praise or criticism. He wanted to retort a few words, only to realize that he could not, like the person in the valley, simultaneously channel his internal energy while speaking. At that moment, he gritted his teeth and exerted even more effort. The person in the valley clicked his tongue repeatedly and ceased to speak.

Zuo Yuanmin certainly knew that the person in the valley had turned around to scold him, and with a snort, he turned his head away. The person in the valley laughed heartily and said, "To evade someone's hidden weapon attack, there are actually several methods..." At that moment, Lu Yuting had also appeared. The person in the valley beckoned him over and said, "You arrived just in time; today I will teach you a relatively difficult move. Pay close attention..." As he spoke, he used both hands and feet to demonstrate the move in person. The two could only see a blur of shadows moving back and forth in front of them, completely unable to discern the technique. While they were still in shock, the person in the valley had already finished the demonstration and stood still.

As he thought of this, his heart suddenly sank. He knew that the repetition of techniques was difficult to avoid, yet he instinctively added a bit more force. He then reflected: "In terms of internal strength and endurance, I am far behind. As for the techniques, all the martial arts I know were taught to me by him. Initially, he wanted to test my abilities and would leave some leeway. However, as I repeated the moves time and again, it was only a matter of time before I revealed flaws for him to critique. By then, every pore on my body would be laid bare to him, leaving me no chance to turn the tables"

The person in the valley ignored him and continued: "Whether you love to practice or not, it is up to you. It will depend on which day you can leave this valley in front of me." Zuo Yuanmin felt a stir in his heart as the person in the valley began to recite: "In the beginning of heaven and earth, it originated from the void; all things were generated, fundamentally emerging from the yin. Therefore, reality is based on the void, existence follows non-existence, the male is born from the female, and the strong is exhausted by the weak. ... ... " He continued reciting, while Lu Yuting lowered his head and closed his eyes, focusing on memorizing. Zuo Yuanmin, on the other hand, appeared relaxed on the outside but was tense on the inside, pretending to be indifferent while secretly reciting in his heart. The person in the valley had already started reciting again: "In the beginning of heaven and earth, it originated from the void; all things were generated, fundamentally emerging from the yin. Therefore, reality is based on the void, existence follows non-existence, the male is born from the female, and the strong is exhausted by the weak. ... ... " He continued reciting, while Lu Yuting lowered his head and closed his eyes, focusing on memorizing. Zuo Yuanmin, on the other hand, appeared relaxed on the outside but was tense on the inside, pretending to be indifferent while secretly reciting in his heart.

Given Zuo Yuanmin's current martial arts proficiency, it was almost impossible for him to injure anyone in the valley. Even if he aimed to strike them with a single move, it would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens. Therefore, when he managed to strike the wrist of the person in the valley, not only was the individual taken aback, but Zuo Yuanmin himself was also quite surprised. It turned out that this move was not the Autumn Wind and Flying Leaves technique passed down by the person in the valley, but rather a martial art he had secretly learned from Yunmeng.

Then Zuo Yuanmin did not know what was meant by "returning" to the martial arts. Lu Yuting realized the seriousness of the matter, his expression changed, and he said: "Senior, could it be that... you want to..." His heart unconsciously raced, and he did not dare to make any rash conclusions. The person in the valley said: "Indeed, if it is truly necessary, rather than letting you be killed outside, it would be better for me to disable your martial arts, allowing you to live as an ordinary person. This way, I can avoid the situation where I fail to repay kindness and instead bear the accusation of being ungrateful." The person in the valley continued: "Indeed, if it is truly necessary, rather than letting you be killed outside, it would be better for me to disable your martial arts, allowing you to live as an ordinary person. This way, I can avoid the situation where I fail to repay kindness and instead bear the accusation of being ungrateful."

Zuo Yuanmin scolded for a while, until the moon began to set in the west, but felt his mouth dry and his throat sore and hoarse. He thought that even if he continued to scold until dawn, the other party would remain as unyielding as a mountain. It would be better to conserve some energy for the morning. Just as he decided to keep quiet, Zuo Yuanmin couldn't help but glance at the person in the valley.

The old man with white hair could not stop him, and suddenly shouted: "Young brother, young brother, don't run away, I just have something to ask..." Upon hearing this voice from behind, Zuo Yuanmin was immediately drenched in cold sweat and had no intention of stopping. He tightened his legs even more and said, "Good horse, don't stop, don't stop, run quickly, run quickly!"

The person in the valley recited several passages, and finally said: "... is it the separation and union of yin and yang, with a broad and clear essence, beneath which it is called the Great Yin. This scripture can be said to be..." Upon reaching this point, he paused for a moment, hesitated in his heart, then with a determined expression and a smile, continued: "This scripture can be said to be the 'Heart Sutra of Great Yin.'" He then added: "What I have recited above is the general outline of the Heart Sutra of Great Yin. Is there anything that is not understood?"

Gu Zhongren said: "You need not provoke me with words; what I have said naturally counts." Zuo Yuanmin replied: "Very well, I would ask Senior Gu to look at where he is standing. Am I currently inside the cave or outside of it?"

The man from the valley frowned and said, "Young man, my last strike has already injured you, do you realize that? If you stay, I can still teach you the method of internal self-healing..." Zuo Yuanmin showed a troubled expression and replied, "Senior Gu, this is your fault. Didn't you promise that you would never injure me during training? You lost two matches in a row; really... I truly don't know what to say to you. Senior Gu, this is your fault. Didn't you promise that you would never injure me during training? You lost two matches in a row; really... I truly don't know what to say to you..." Upon hearing this, the man from the valley couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. If he hadn't held back just now, Zuo Yuanmin would have already met his end, and there would be no room for him to speak.

Indeed, the person in the valley remained until dawn before finally opening their eyes. Upon seeing Zuo Yuanmin standing beside them, they feigned surprise and said, "Oh? Why are you standing here? Can't you move? Did you stand all night?"

Only the sound of the horse's hooves could be heard, never stopping, as it swiftly dashed past Zuo Yuanmin with a whoosh, moving at an astonishing speed. Zuo Yuanmin couldn't help but exclaim in his heart, "What a fellow!" He thought about the majestic horse and was eager to see who the rider was. Looking up, he saw the flowing mane, the bridle, and the saddle, but there was no rider to be found. Zuo Yuanmin was puzzled; the horse was so fast that it had already vanished into the woods ahead in the blink of an eye. Looking up again, he saw the flowing mane, the bridle, and the saddle, but there was no rider to be found. Zuo Yuanmin was puzzled; the horse was so fast that it had already vanished into the woods ahead in the blink of an eye.

The elderly man with white hair waved his hand and said, "No need for that, I will accompany this young friend for a while."

The person in the valley did not let up, pressing on: "Impossible, there can't be such coincidences in the world. This method is clearly..." At this point, he realized that Zuo Yuanmin's actions were merely superficial; the rest of the techniques and force were entirely different. It was just that he had once suffered from the Nine Stars and Seven Planets technique in his youth, so even though this moment was merely a case of nerves akin to a cup's shadow resembling a snake, he still felt it necessary to confirm things. Unable to restrain himself, he asked: "What is your surname and what is your name?"

Zuo Yuanmin thought to himself: "That punch just now couldn't even kill it, which shows that my skills are still far from sufficient." Seeing the large wolf leave calmly as if nothing had happened, he speculated that it might have shown mercy. He then cautioned himself: "Do not think that just because you have practiced some superior martial arts, you are something special. There are many who train in this world, and even beasts may not necessarily be inferior to you."

The person in the valley felt disheartened and lazy, not wanting to waste any more words with him. He waved his hand and said, "You may leave; do not let me see you again in the future." After waiting for several dozen days, today he finally achieved his goal. Although Zuo Yuanmin felt joy upon hearing this, he also felt a sense of melancholy. After taking a few steps forward, he suddenly turned back and bowed to the person in the valley, saying, "Thank you, senior, for your assistance." The person in the valley showed no gratitude and walked straight out of the cave. Lu Yuting stood at the cave entrance, smiled at Zuo Yuanmin, waved his hand, and followed the person in the valley.

The person in the valley smiled faintly, shook his head, and fell silent. He leaped up, landing several times, and returned to the rock at the cave entrance, sitting cross-legged and closing his eyes to cultivate his spirit. The two on the left exchanged a glance, and with great tacit understanding, divided their tasks to prepare a meal. Once the food was ready, Lu Yuting, as per usual, would deliver it to the person in the valley, treating the task with the respect of a teacher. Although Zuo Yuanmin observed coldly from the side, he still made a point to assist in preparing the dishes.

One could only hear the person in the valley continue: "At this moment, from existence to non-existence, when the yang ends, the yin is born. But what happens when the yin ends?" With his palm open, he grasped at the air a few times and added: "Heavenly principles cannot create something from nothing, so when the yin ends, it simply ends; the yang does not necessarily arise in response." Zuo Yuanmin suddenly understood and gently nodded as if he had gained some insight.

Zuo Yuanmin stood in place until the figures of the two turned around the thicket and were no longer visible. Then he turned and continued to step into the cave, but suddenly thought to himself: "It has been more than a month; Xiahou Ruyi should have left here by now. Since it has lost its significance in terms of time, why insist on this? Why must I leave here early?"

The person in the valley was taken aback and quickly stepped forward, reaching out to grasp his wrist to check his pulse. He found that although he had suffered a shock, his life was not in danger. Immediately, he seized his chest and lifted him up, his expression changing as he sternly demanded: "Tell me, who taught you the Nine Stars and Seven Planets Great Technique? What is your relationship with Li Yongnian?"

Currently, due to a moment of carelessness in changing his previous move, Zuo Yuanmin has caused the people in the valley to also alter their responses. This has inspired him with the idea that these individuals have always believed they lack martial skills, and thus they will inevitably respond to all attacks with the technique he taught, "Autumn Wind Flying Leaves Hand." Therefore, if he unexpectedly employs a different technique, even if it does not lead to victory, it would at least serve to startle them.

In fact, it is more accurate to say that it is a matter of learning by example rather than outright stealing knowledge. Whenever Yunmeng learns a new technique, she consistently practices it repeatedly over the following days, striving for mastery and integration, and then extracts the useful elements for her own use, discarding the unnecessary. As a result, Zuo Yuanmin often has the opportunity to observe Yunmeng practicing the same technique over a period of time. Although he does not intend to learn from her, over time, he has become quite familiar with it. Yunmeng knows that he does not possess martial skills and does not mind; in fact, she feels that having someone watching her makes her less lonely. Moreover, Zuo Yuanmin often offers timely encouragement, which makes Yunmeng feel even more at ease. Thus, Zuo Yuanmin frequently has the chance to watch Yunmeng practice the same technique repeatedly over a period of time. Although he does not intend to learn from her, he has nonetheless become quite familiar with it over time. Yunmeng is aware that he lacks martial skills and does not take it to heart; she even finds comfort in having someone nearby to watch her, especially since Zuo Yuanmin often praises her at the right moments, which makes her feel warm inside.

Lu Yuting said: "Indeed, day follows night, and night follows day, thus the cycle of yin and yang continues, endlessly giving rise to life. Where there is yang, there is yin; where there is yin, there is yang." The person in the valley replied: "That's right, what we can see is just that, but what lies beyond heaven and earth?"

The person in the valley extended one hand, and indeed it was exactly as described earlier. Zuo Yuanmin extended his right hand, executed a grab and a twist, precisely the same move he had just learned, the technique of "Four Directions and Eight Passages." The person in the valley exclaimed softly, secretly praising, "Good." He took a step back. It turned out that the person in the valley, seeing that he had only taught once, found Zuo Yuanmin's grab and twist to be executed with perfect precision, as if he had practiced for three months. In admiration, he stepped back, wanting to see if Zuo Yuanmin could skillfully and effortlessly apply all eight variations.

This issue, even Zuo Yuanmin himself could not articulate clearly. It is not that he does not want to learn martial arts; on the contrary, he genuinely wishes to learn. At this moment, not only is there someone willing to teach, but it is also superior martial arts. With such an approach, is it not akin to going against one's intentions, making him regress further? Unconsciously, Zuo Yuanmin let out a long sigh and continued towards another exit of the cave. Eventually, he emerged from the other side of the cave and returned to the valley he had only traversed once before.

Zuo Yuanmin understood that what he was really saying was that he wanted him to learn his martial arts. However, this was different from the coercive methods used by the people in the valley earlier. Zuo Yuanmin naively thought, "Alright, I will give it a try and see if it works. This is your own doing, not me desperately wanting to learn your skills. If it turns out to be ineffective, I can use it to mock you, just like the saying goes, 'using one's own spear to attack one's own shield.'" He mentally reviewed what he had just seen, suddenly stood up, and said, "Alright, I will try this thing called 'Four Directions and Eight Passages.' If it doesn't work, I might as well change its name early on."

The person in the valley did not provide a direct answer, but instead said: "Look, the area illuminated by the sunlight is the positive, while the area in the shade is the negative. For example, the shade of a tree or the darkness within a cave, these places where sunlight cannot reach are the negative in relation to the areas illuminated by sunlight, correct?" Lu Yuting replied: "Exactly. Therefore, everything in the world is either negative or positive"

Lu Yuting remained perplexed, staring blankly at the person in the valley. The person in the valley did not notice Zuo Yuanmin's expression and was unaware whether he understood or not, so he pointed to his own shadow on the ground and continued to explain: "I stand under the sun, and the place where sunlight does not reach is the shadow. To put it simply, where there is no sun, there is shadow, but where there is no shadow, there may not necessarily be sun. Although we commonly refer to the moon as the 'Great Yin', the night does not come because the moon rises, but because the sun sets. Therefore, we can understand that the sun stands on the foundation of the shadow." Fearing that the two might still not understand, he further illustrated: "You know the eunuchs who serve in the imperial palace, right? They are also called castrated men, which means that those who wish to become eunuchs must have their male organs removed. They cannot engage in illicit affairs with the concubines of the harem, allowing the emperor to rest assured as they come and go within the inner palace."

Zuo Yuanmin then realized that the person from the valley not only possessed formidable internal strength but also had the ability to control it with remarkable precision, making it possible for him to remain standing until dawn. He admired this in his heart, yet said, "So now you have inadvertently revealed yourself, using techniques that you have never taught me to deal with me." The person from the valley replied, "I truly do not understand why you are standing here, having been struck at a pressure point..."

In the valley, the person was retreating while casually pointing, trying to entice Zuo Yuanmin to fully display his skills. Zuo Yuanmin, responding to each move, indeed did not disappoint him. By the time all eight variations had been demonstrated, the person in the valley was already filled with astonishment and praise, thinking to himself: "In just half an hour, he has only been observing and listening, yet he has grasped about seventy to eighty percent of the intricacies of this technique. If I were to invest a bit more effort in practical instruction and guidance, he could likely master this technique in just three days."

Zuo Yuanmin said: "I have already told you, my surname is Zuo." Gu Zhongren replied: "You are quite peculiar, if you do not come clean, be careful not to bring trouble upon yourself."

Zuo Yuanmin and Lu Yuting were both taken aback, thinking: "Beyond heaven and earth?" Lu Yuting said: "Who knows about matters beyond heaven and earth?"

Zuo Yuanmin stood up, feeling completely relaxed and invigorated, as if every part of his body was filled with boundless energy. He thought to himself, "Is this the feeling of having practiced internal martial arts?" Reflecting on this, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He ran and jumped around for a while, only to realize that not only were his limbs much more agile, but he also found it easier to avoid shortness of breath and sweating.

He has just learned martial arts and is at the peak of his proficiency. Therefore, whenever he encounters anything, he cannot help but apply what he has learned to verify it. Upon observing the wild wolf's effective methods of forcing its prey, he firmly commits this to memory. He understands that he cannot afford to regress and must take the initiative to attack; otherwise, the roles of predator and prey may reverse, which is quite dangerous when dealing with creatures that only understand brute force.

As soon as he finished speaking, a sudden flash caught his eye, and a person from the valley swiftly approached, heading straight for Zuo Yuanmin. Reacting instinctively, Zuo Yuanmin shrank back, raising both hands to execute a move called "Attracting Bees and Butterflies," completely blocking the oncoming force of the person from the valley. The valley dweller let out a low shout and, with unparalleled speed, circled around to Zuo Yuanmin's back. Zuo Yuanmin did not turn around; instead, he stepped forward rapidly, swinging his left fist backward while keeping his right fist loosely clenched, shoulders lowered and elbows dropped, poised and ready.

On the second day, Zuo Yuanmin searched for half the day again. This village was so small that he had almost walked through every place, yet he still could not find any trace of Xiahou Ruyi. He thought to himself that he had told her back then that if there was no news from him within seven days, she should leave on her own. Now, more than a month had passed, and she had acted according to his words, which was not surprising at all.

Lu Yuting nodded as if enlightened. The person in the valley said: "Since all things are born from the Great Yin, what I am going to teach you, the Great Yin Heart Sutra, although named after the Great Yin, actually gives rise to the Lesser Yang, then the Greater Yang, and finally returns to the Lesser Yin. It is truly a comprehensive and superior method of the heart. If you study diligently, even if you cannot master it all, it will still greatly benefit your future"

With a loud "bang," Zuo Yuanmin took three steps back. The person in the valley remarked, "Not bad at all!" Zuo Yuanmin felt a sharp pain in one arm, almost unable to lift it, yet still replied, "You’re not too shabby either!" Seizing the moment, he moved around the arena without pause, and suddenly a spark of inspiration struck him, causing him to inwardly exclaim, "That's right!" He continued to circle around the person in the valley.

Zuo Yuanmin cheerfully said: "You know I just did you a great favor, so you should thank me in person, right?" However, he saw that this steed was entirely jet black, with a shiny coat, strong muscles, and long limbs. Although he did not know what constituted a good horse, just by its appearance, he could tell that this creature was extraordinary, not to mention that it ran like a gust of wind, incredibly swift. Looking at the saddle and stirrups, although they were not particularly valuable items, they were polished and smooth, suggesting that someone had taken special care of them. Moreover, they were adorned with many decorative patterns, appearing ancient and noble, seemingly quite old. Zuo Yuanmin could not help but think of the horse's owner; if he were not an aristocrat of exceptional taste, he would be a cunning and valiant general.

Upon hearing this, Zuo Yuanmin couldn't help but be taken aback. He had just exchanged a move with that Ronghua and was already aware that this group of people was not ordinary bandits. To think that this old man was actually the ancestor of that person, wouldn't his martial arts be several times higher? He quickly squeezed his legs together and urged his horse to gallop. The white-haired elder had long anticipated this move; he suddenly leaped up from the horse's back, twisting his waist gracefully and extending his arms like a monkey, aiming to strike at Zuo Yuanmin's head.

After a moment of wandering thoughts, he continued onward. After walking for quite a while, Zuo Yuanmin had almost forgotten about the matter, but he faintly heard the sound of horses neighing ahead. With a sudden thought, Zuo Yuanmin hurriedly moved forward in the direction of the sound. Soon, in a mountain hollow ahead, he discovered a horse struggling amidst a thicket of low trees, as if it were trapped by something. Zuo Yuanmin approached and took a closer look, only then realizing that the horse before him was the same one that had just galloped past him. He quickened his pace and rushed forward.

Three riders followed closely behind the young man, among whom an elderly man with white hair said: "Ronghua, are you sure you are not mistaken?" The young man replied: "There is absolutely no mistake, Master. This horse is called 'Wangyun Chui', a rare steed from the Western Regions, specifically the Dayuan breed. Not only is it seldom seen in the Central Plains, but it is also said to be hard to come by even in its place of origin, the Western Regions. This type of tribute horse, looking across the world, aside from the Emperor having one, I have only seen that woman ride it before."

The position where the person in the valley was sitting was right at the entrance of the cave. At this moment, Zuo Yuanmin was about to enter the cave; he only needed to take three steps and make two strides. Just as he was about to leap forward with one foot, suddenly a small stone flew through the air and with a "bang" struck precisely at the "Futu Acupoint" on his left leg. Zuo Yuanmin felt a sudden numbness in his lower body, and his left foot was lifted in mid-air, unable to move at all.

Zuo Yuanmin said: "I say, Senior Gu, you are a senior expert with exceptional martial arts skills, all of which I am already aware. However, I am uncertain whether the words you once spoke truly hold any weight"

Zuo Yuanmin stepped aside but was unwilling to stop. The young man caught up and continued, "Hey! How did you get this horse? Why won't you stop when I ask you to?" Zuo Yuanmin found his words rude and suspected that this group was eyeing his fine steed, perhaps they were bandits from the mountains. At this moment, he not only had martial skills but also a fine horse beneath him, so he certainly would not be afraid of them. He looked the other party up and down and said, "Who are you? Why do you care what horse I ride?"

As he exerted his strength forward, he realized that the space ahead was completely empty, and he had not received any internal energy. A thought flashed through his mind like a bolt of lightning: "If he truly mastered the 'Nine Stars and Seven Planets Great Technique,' then he would be a top-tier expert in the martial world. How could he listen to my threats and be trapped here? He is merely a small fry; this is just a pretense. If I push out these two palms, wouldn't I end up killing him?"

At that moment, Zuo Yuanmin felt a sense of understanding; the emptiness he had experienced over the past few days finally began to dissipate. As he walked back onto the mountain path, he saw that the horse was still waiting there, which touched him deeply. He reached out to gently stroke the horse's neck and said, "Good horse, are you waiting for me?" The horse lowered its head and nuzzled against him, displaying a rather affectionate demeanor.

Zuo Yuanmin looked around to assess the condition of the horse. He noticed that aside from some superficial injuries, it seemed to be largely unharmed. After feeling the horse's head for a while, he said: "They say an old horse knows the way. Although you may not be old, you are quite clever and should still remember the way home, right? Your injuries are not serious, so hurry back to show your owner, good boy!" He then gave the horse a pat on the hindquarters. The horse neighed a few times but remained standing still.

The person in the valley pretended to suddenly realize and said, "So it turns out I've been hit by a pressure point. Which point has been struck? If I don't know which pressure point has been sealed, I won't be able to unlock it." Zuo Yuanmin patiently replied, "It seems to be on the outer side of the left thigh..." As he spoke, suddenly his right foot moved slightly, and he involuntarily fell backward, landing on his back with all fours in the air. Seeing this, the person in the valley burst into laughter, laughing heartily. Suddenly, his right foot moved slightly, and he involuntarily fell backward, landing on his back with all fours in the air. Seeing this, the person in the valley burst into laughter, laughing heartily.

Just as human calculations cannot compare to the heavens, Zuo Yuanmin advanced instead of retreating. He tilted his body, retracted his wrist, and raised his elbow, charging directly towards the chest of the man in the valley. The man in the valley was taken aback; he could now clearly see that Zuo Yuanmin was employing the long-lost "Nine Stars and Seven Planets Technique" from the martial world. Realizing its power, he instinctively felt he was in serious trouble. With a loud shout, he quickly gathered strength in his arms and forcefully pushed outward.

With a loud "bang," the big wolf flew through the air and landed in the low bushes. Zuo Yuanmin stood up with a hearty laugh, proudly declaring, "My tactic of luring the enemy has even fooled Elder Gu; no matter how fierce you are, you can't be fiercer than Elder Gu, right? Ha, ha, ha..." Looking back, he realized that comparing the people in the valley to beasts was somewhat inappropriate, yet in this situation, he could think of no better metaphor.

The person in the valley chuckled and said, "Hey! Aren't you a bit too impatient?" His figure flashed, blocking the way in front of him. Zuo Yuanmin raised his left hand high and lowered his right hand, one fast and one slow, one yin and one yang, pressing forward. The person in the valley saw that his move "Pursuing Shadows and Confusing Forms" was executed with great skill, truly capturing its essence. Although it was the fourth time he had seen this move, in a show of appreciation, he did not wish to defeat him with it, and thus, he sidestepped, allowing the move to pass.

The white-haired old man said, "I know this." He then turned to Zuo Yuanmin and asked, "Young brother, could you perform that move again?" Zuo Yuanmin thought to himself, this is not a performance, what is there to do again? He replied, "What I just did was just a fluke, I did it randomly and have forgotten it, I can't do it again." As he spoke, he threw the seized whip back to the young man and said, "Here, it's yours!"

In an instant, his move enveloped Zuo Yuanmin from all directions. Zuo Yuanmin's martial arts, after all, were merely at the beginner level, and being on horseback, how could he evade such a lethal strike that combined both softness and hardness? All of a sudden, Zuo Yuanmin shouted, "Good horse, charge!" The steed, Wang Yunzhu, seemed to respond, its hooves kicking up as it forcefully leaped forward, propelling Zuo Yuanmin, along with the saddle, a good six or seven feet ahead.

He was utterly perplexed, unaware of why he had fallen into the trap. With a flick of his right hand, he attempted to seize Zuo Yuanmin's wrist, regardless of whether he was employing the techniques from the "Autumn Wind and Flying Leaves" style.

Zuo Yuanmin exclaimed, "You are speaking nonsense with your eyes wide open! If your martial arts are indeed so formidable, how could it be that someone was right beside you and you were completely unaware?" The person in the valley suddenly realized and said, "I remember now. Last night, I dreamt of a little mouse scurrying around me, trying to enter a hole but not going in, rustling and disturbing my peaceful dreams. So, I picked up a small stone and threw it at it. That poor little creature let out a whimper, and only then did it quiet down, allowing me to sleep soundly until dawn. Could it be..." He pointed at Zuo Yuanmin, his expression strange. "Could it be..." He pointed at Zuo Yuanmin, his expression strange.

Time flies, and before one realizes it, Zuo Yuanmin has been trapped in the valley for more than a month. During this period, the people in the valley teach two individuals a new technique each day, while the techniques he had previously taught are not reviewed at all, nor are questions allowed. In reality, with the pace of learning one technique per day, the two individuals are too busy absorbing the new knowledge to have time to ask about their previous doubts

Lu Yuting pondered for a moment and said, "Senior, this passage states that yang is born from yin, illustrating the principle that there is no yang without yin. However, my father once told me that yin and yang are mutually generated; where there is yin, there is yang, and where there is yang, there is yin. All things in nature arise in this manner. Why then does it say here that yin is heavier than yang? I do not understand the reasoning behind this"

The person in the valley laughed and said, "How is it? Are you convinced?" Zuo Yuanmin replied, "You are using sorcery, that doesn't count!" The person in the valley asked, "What sorcery?" Zuo Yuanmin said, "Your hand... it burns!"

Zuo Yuanmin acted in accordance with the law, gradually realizing that there was indeed a stream of true energy circulating throughout the twelve meridians in his body. Initially, he felt no particular sensation and paid it no mind, but after beginning to practice Qi, he naturally developed an impulse to harness it. Zuo Yuanmin understood that for every bit of internal strength he cultivated, he could draw an equal amount from that true energy for his own use. Unconsciously, he had already practiced the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian method passed down by the people of the valley twenty to thirty times. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by darkness; looking up, he saw the sky filled with stars, realizing that it was already past midnight. Zuo Yuanmin understood that for every bit of internal strength he cultivated, he could draw an equal amount from that true energy for his own use. Unconsciously, he had already practiced the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian method passed down by the people of the valley twenty to thirty times. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by darkness; looking up, he saw the sky filled with stars, realizing that it was already past midnight

As the previous agreement between the two parties is still in effect, Zuo Yuanmin has the option to either undergo the test of the person from the valley, who would grant him permission to leave, or to take a step into the cave in front of the person from the valley. Both options would allow him to leave this valley, so at this moment, Zuo Yuanmin is contemplating the latter.

Zuo Yuanmin noticed that it would not leave, and with a great enemy at hand, he could not afford to be distracted by it for the moment. He observed that the large wolf, although pacing back and forth, was always fixated on him, its eyes gleaming with ferocity, showing no signs of relaxation. Zuo Yuanmin suddenly thought: "I have heard that fierce beasts, when attacking their prey, will first drive the prey into a dead end with no escape. If the prey becomes flustered and shows signs of fear, the beast will immediately launch its attack. It seems that this is indeed true." He further contemplated: "The art of war states: 'The best strategy is to attack the mind, followed by attacking the city.' Could it be that this creature has studied military strategy? Certainly not. This is a natural law, a hunting method developed through countless experiences. Humans have also created many martial arts by imitating the movements of beasts. Techniques such as Eagle Claw and Praying Mantis Fist, as well as Tiger-Crane Double Form, all originated in this way. This large wolf must have learned many hunting skills from its ancestors."

It turns out that when Lu Yuting was at home, he was a young master who knew nothing about cooking or preparing meals. During the period when Zuo Yuanmin went out to gather herbs and Lu Yuting took care of the people in the valley, they subsisted on the dry rations that had been stored by the valley's inhabitants. Whenever they attempted to start a fire and cook, the food was either half-cooked or unevenly cooked. However, in order to survive, they had no choice but to make do and swallow it down.

Hearing this, Lu Yuting felt an irresistible urge and could not help but interject, saying: "If the senior has not yet taken on a disciple, I wonder..." The person in the valley understood what he was about to say and interrupted him, saying: "At present, I have no plans to take on a disciple; our fates are limited to this. What is destined to happen will eventually come to pass; matters of the future can be discussed in the future." After a light cough and clearing his throat, he continued: "Since it is the Taiyin Heart Sutra, the foundational practice begins with the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian." He then explained this meridian's pathway through the human body, detailing all the acupoints mentioned in the scripture, and began to explain how to breathe and regulate the breath, how to sink the qi to the dantian, and how to use intention to guide the qi, transporting it back to its origin.

It seemed that Wang Yunchui was also aware of the urgency of the situation, and this time he did not disappoint him. As he galloped, it was as if he were about to take off into the air. The young man named Ronghua, along with the middle-aged man and another person, had already spurred their horses from behind. However, despite having four hooves, Wang Yunchui's seemed as if it were equipped with wings. The three riders, along with an elderly man with white hair, were increasingly distanced from each other as they pursued. Soon, Zuo Yuanmin felt that there was no sound behind him at all, prompting him to turn back and look. He saw the horse tails flying and dust rising; the four riders had already been thrown far out of sight.

Zuo Yuanmin retraced his previous steps, hiring a boat to cross the river. Upon arriving at the small village downstream, it was still early in the day. He returned to the farmhouse where he had stayed before to inquire about the whereabouts of Xiahou Ruyi. As expected, Xiahou Ruyi had not stayed there for long and had already left. After expressing his gratitude, Zuo Yuanmin searched around the village. By evening, he had still found nothing and had to look for another place to stay. He practiced the healing section of the Taiyin Heart Sutra several times before going to bed early.

Thus, the situation developed as follows: during the day, the people in the valley taught martial arts to Lu Yuting, while Zuo Yuanmin secretly learned from the side; by night, it became Zuo Yuanmin's "internship" time. Every night, he utilized what he had learned during the day to launch surprise attacks on the people in the valley, in hopes of securing an opportunity to leave the valley early. Of course, Zuo Yuanmin naturally returned empty-handed each time.

Zuo Yuanmin called for it to move but it remained still. He then said, "You are lingering here; I can feed you if something happened. Be good and walk away on your own!" He called several times, pulling and patting, yet it would not leave. Zuo Yuanmin thought for a moment and said, "You refuse to leave; could it be that you are grateful and wish to give me a ride?" The horse naturally did not respond, remaining motionless. Zuo Yuanmin, emboldened, mounted the saddle, gently stroked the horse's neck, and said, "If you truly wish to carry me, then let us move forward." Strangely enough, at that moment, the horse indeed began to walk forward.

Zuo Yuanmin's mind stirred, and he shouted, "How dare you play tricks and mock me! Take this!" He raised his hand, feigning an attack, while simultaneously exerting force with his feet to step towards another opening.

He had just wanted to immerse himself in the joy of victory when he saw the large wolf appear from the ridge on the other side of the mountain. Luo Yuanmin was quite surprised and secretly gathered his energy in preparation. However, he saw the large wolf slowly turn its head and gradually walk away, occasionally looking back until it disappeared into the thicket on the other side.

The steed neighed once, its understanding unknown. Its pace quickened, yet not with great swiftness. Zuo Yuanmin grasped the reins with one hand while turning to pat the horse's hindquarters with the other, urging, "Hurry up, hurry up!" After several shouts, the steed paid no heed and continued at the same speed.

The approaching cavalry soon arrived. Zuo Yuanmin glanced over and saw four riders. Judging by their attire, they appeared to be martial artists from the jianghu. As they brushed past on either side, Zuo Yuanmin did not pay them much attention. Unexpectedly, not long after, the group returned. A young man called out before he even arrived: "Hey! Young brother, stop your horse, stop your horse!"

Lu Yuting said: "Since you are so worried about us, why not teach us a few more martial arts techniques, it would be beneficial..." The person in the valley replied: "You are right, learning a few more sets will certainly make things easier, but as I mentioned before, if I teach you too much, I will be at a disadvantage. In fact, you can also apply the skills you learned earlier; passing my test does not limit you to using only the martial arts I taught." In the end, it was clear that he was unwilling to teach any further.

Zuo Yuanmin was aware of Lu Yuting's intentions, and given that opportunities like this are rare and hard to come by, he certainly wished to learn as much as possible. On one hand, Zuo Yuanmin was not entirely opposed to the idea; on the other hand, he also considered Lu Yuting's rights. The wavering of his stance was almost inevitable.

In the valley, a person said: "What you say is only half correct; it should be said that the way of heaven is that yang ends and yin is born. So, when yin ends, will yang be born?" He casually picked up a stone from the ground, laid it in his palm, and continued: "At this moment in my hand, there is yang, and there is no yin." As he spoke, he clenched his palm tightly and rubbed it vigorously for a few moments, causing the stone to crack into fine powder, which slipped through his fingers. The two on the left, Lu and others, were secretly astonished by his finger strength. He laid the stone in his palm again and continued: "At this moment in my hand, there is yang, and there is no yin." As he spoke, he clenched his palm tightly and rubbed it vigorously for a few moments, causing the stone to crack into fine powder, which slipped through his fingers. The two on the left, Lu and others, were secretly astonished by his finger strength.

Zuo Yuanmin agreed in his heart, but he also spoke insincerely: "What you said is generally correct, but if the master leads the disciple in the wrong direction, no matter how high the disciple's understanding is, it will be in vain"

Zuo Yuanmin said: "You still haven't made it clear. What if we never pass the test?" The person in the valley helplessly replied: "Since this place is already known to you, it is no longer a secret. Therefore, I plan to leave here within three months. If by then you have not passed my test, I will have to ask you to return your martial arts to me"

Zuo Yuanmin looked back and stood still for a while, seeing no one pursuing him. He couldn't help but think: "This horse cannot be without a rider. I wonder why its owner has allowed it to run around aimlessly in this mountain."

These questions are precisely what Zuo Yuanmin wishes to ask. However, since he is currently wearing a completely indifferent expression, he can only continue to pretend. After all, Lu Yuting will definitely ask questions, and if he does not happen to ask what Zuo Yuanmin wants to know, then he will have to let it go.

In the valley, a person remarked: "Change to guerrilla warfare? Very well, let me see your capabilities." It was evident that Zuo Yuanmin took advantage of the openings to advance, striking briefly before retreating. This style of combat was extremely taxing on physical strength, and the person in the valley was eager to understand what Zuo Yuanmin was plotting in his mind, while his attacks had become three parts lighter compared to the beginning.

In the midst of contemplation, the large wolf launched several more attacks, yet the horse remained remarkably resilient in its defense, resulting in a stalemate between the two. However, Zuo Yuanmin understood that if the situation persisted, it would gradually become unfavorable for the horse. He looked around in the tree and found a suitable branch, exerting great effort to bend it down along with the leaves. The base of the branch was still connected to the trunk, maintaining a certain degree of resilience, making it difficult to break. Suddenly, he heard a series of whinnies; the large wolf had bitten down on the horse's nape, using all four paws, and was attempting to climb onto the horse's back.

On that early morning, the two habitually met in front of the cave. The person in the valley said: "As of yesterday, I have taught a total of thirty-six techniques. These thirty-six techniques form a complete set, with each move interconnected and corresponding to one another. However, when I taught you, it was done casually and from the books, without following the original sequence. Although in a real confrontation, adapting to the situation is crucial, and the order is not very important. Nevertheless, since you have learned them all, you should understand the correct order."

It turns out that these carnivorous animals hunt other creatures merely for a meal to satisfy their hunger. If the effort becomes too troublesome, they often abandon the pursuit and seek out weaker animals instead. Zuo Yuanmin possesses considerable skill and strength, and after several unsuccessful attempts, this wild wolf naturally lost its resolve.

Upon hearing the mockery from the person in the valley, Zuo Yuanmin, for reasons unknown, felt his inherently strong personality suddenly rise to the surface. Strangely enough, Zuo Yuanmin's original character was relatively reserved, and he treated others with considerable kindness; it was quite unusual for him to be so easily provoked. To be more precise, for reasons unknown, he found himself harboring strong objections towards the person in the valley, and before he realized it, he wanted to oppose him. He let out a snort, his internal energy circulating, and with a single palm strike, he aimed directly at the person in the valley. To be more precise, for reasons unknown, he found himself harboring strong objections towards the person in the valley, and before he realized it, he wanted to oppose him. He let out a snort, his internal energy circulating, and with a single palm strike, he aimed directly at the person in the valley

Zuo Yuanmin decided to give it a try, and unexpectedly, it worked, leaving him overjoyed. It turned out that even if Yunmeng demonstrated this move in front of the person in the valley, it might not necessarily hit him. However, the person in the valley, with preconceived notions, thought that since he executed this move in such a way, Zuo Yuanmin would certainly respond with a corresponding move, completely failing to consider that he might use a different technique to counter it. At this moment, being caught off guard, he was both shocked and angry. Although Zuo Yuanmin's skill was not sufficient to injure him, it was unprecedented for a young man who had just entered training for a month to strike the vital point on his wrist. The person in the valley, with preconceived notions, thought that since he executed this move in such a way, Zuo Yuanmin would certainly respond with a corresponding move, completely failing to consider that he might use a different technique to counter it. At this moment, being caught off guard, he was both shocked and angry. Although Zuo Yuanmin's skill was not sufficient to injure him, it was unprecedented for a young man who had just entered training for a month to strike the vital point on his wrist.

In the valley, with this move, Zuo Yuanmin could only counter with either "Jade Tree Flowing Light" or "Ten Thousand Valleys Listening to Pines." The person in the valley was already well aware of the variations of these two moves and had prepared thoroughly. As soon as Zuo Yuanmin executed the first half of his move, he would immediately seize the opportunity to take him down and restore his own dignity

Zuo Yuanmin struggled to rise, only to realize that his acupoints had been unblocked. However, his legs felt both sore and numb, making it difficult for him to stand, so he quickly found another place to sit down. The people in the valley laughed and said, "When a person's acupoints are sealed by another's internal energy, aside from being unblocked by external force, the person affected can also use their own internal energy to break through the blockage. Of course, the difficulty of this process is relative to the internal energy cultivation levels of both the acupoint presser and the one being pressed. If the internal energy of the presser is not strong, even without deliberately trying to unblock the acupoints, the body's own circulation of qi and blood can gradually break through the blockage."

Zuo Yuanmin increasingly felt a growing interest in martial arts. Unconsciously, he arrived at the edge of the cave and saw that the person in the valley was still sitting motionless on a stone. He thought to himself, "Is he asleep? He is so close to the cave entrance now; if I exert a little more effort, I could definitely step inside. Even if it's just one step, that would mean I have won." He then considered, "However, if I continue to stay here, that person in the valley will surely have other skills to teach me. But this person is rather eccentric and may not have good intentions; who knows..." After a flurry of thoughts, he felt quite hesitant and stopped beside the cave, truly finding it difficult to make a decision.

The white-haired old man laughed heartily and said, "You claim that you are just messing around, using it casually. Very good, very good. If the autumn wind can casually sweep away the leaves, then it can also snatch the whip from my disciple Qian Kun's hands. If you were to use it seriously, wouldn't that mean the end of my life? Hehe, very good, very good..." The middle-aged man said, "Father, let me try..." Hehe, very good, very good..." The middle-aged man said, "Father, let me try..."

He was constantly pondering, and his hands were not idle either. As he was about to exhaust the second round of thirty-six moves, he couldn't help but feel flustered. Yet, he heard someone in the valley laughing and saying, "Kid, you practice quite well. Just practice for another five or six years, and you will become a figure of this caliber in the martial world! Do you think it will be useful?"

Suddenly, the large wolf lunged at the steed, aiming directly for its neck. Before Zuo Yuanmin could even let out a startled cry, the steed sidestepped, swung its tail, and kicked up its hooves, striking the wolf perfectly. Zuo Yuanmin could only exclaim in his heart, "Good!" Yet, he saw the wolf spin in mid-air and land gracefully on the other side, as if it had sustained no injury at all. However, it was evident that the steed had been significantly frightened, pulling back and forth among the low bushes, desperately trying to break free from the reins' control.

Lu Yuting thought to himself, to disable a person's martial arts, one must either break their pipa bone with brute force or use internal energy to sever their meridians. Regardless of the method, for the person whose martial arts have been disabled, regaining their skills would be more difficult than ascending to the heavens. For someone who practices martial arts, this truly means becoming a veritable invalid. His expression changed drastically on the spot, and he couldn't help but glance at Zuo Yuanmin.

Suddenly, a voice whispered in my ear: "The little mouse has run to the entrance of the hole, wanting to enter but hesitating, wanting to leave but reluctant to go; after all, it is still timid as a mouse!" Hearing this voice, it was evidently that of the person in the valley. Zuo Yuanmin turned to look at him and saw that he remained motionless, sitting on the stone, yet he knew in his heart that it must be him playing tricks. Unconsciously feeling angry, he quickly walked forward and approached the person in the valley, raising his voice to say: "Hey, who were you just talking about?" He called out several times, but the person in the valley maintained his original posture, not even lifting his eyelids, as if he were dead.

In the blink of an eye, Zuo Yuanmin executed the move "Wildfire Sweeping Across the Plains" and suddenly thought to himself: "This is the fourth time." He realized that every move he made was well understood by his opponent, and before he knew it, he began to show signs of fatigue. This subtle psychological shift was immediately noticed by Gu Zhongren, who laughed heartily and said: "What? Are you planning to surrender?"

Zuo Yuanmin thought for a moment and decided to head further out of the village. Upon reaching the fork in the mountain path, he recalled that he had already visited Weicheng to the south, so he chose to wander west instead and selected the western mountain path. After walking for a short while, he heard the sound of hooves behind him. As the sound drew closer, Zuo Yuanmin instinctively stepped aside to let the horse pass first.

The person in the valley was taken aback, faintly sensing that something was amiss. Unable to help himself, he lowered his head to look, then raised it again to gaze upwards. He examined from various angles, and since he was standing inside the cave with his back to the entrance, it was undoubtedly true that Zuo Yuanmin was right in front of him inside the cave.

With a momentary hesitation in his heart, the palm strike had already reached the chest of Zuo Yuanmin. The person in the valley could not withdraw in time and had no choice but to deflect the palm strike to the side, causing the force to hit a nearby rock, resulting in two loud crashes. Nevertheless, the palm wind generated still swept over Zuo Yuanmin. Unable to withstand it, Zuo Yuanmin was sent flying backward and fell to the ground.

After he saw through Zuo Yuanmin's intentions, he instead felt relieved. Not only did he not rush to teach Zuo Yuanmin a lesson, but he also deliberately helped guide him closer to the cave entrance, all the while widening his eyes, ready to see what tricks he would play this time

Therefore, if it were not for Zuo Yuanmin also cooking meals for the people in the valley, Lu Yuting would not have anything to offer in gratitude to him

He then explained the "Healing Chapter" from the Taiyin Heart Sutra to Zuo Yuanmin, concluding with: "The mental techniques in this Healing Chapter need to be complemented by other methods of the Taiyin Heart Sutra. In other words, the stronger your internal power in the Taiyin Heart Sutra, the greater the range of healing you can achieve. You have only practiced the Taiyin Heart Sutra for a few months and have merely learned the basic methods of the twelve regular meridians, while you are completely ignorant of the extraordinary meridians. Therefore, much of this Healing Chapter is essentially useless to you. Don't you... feel it's a pity?"

He paused for a moment and continued: "This set is called 'Autumn Wind and Flying Leaves.' Although the name is poetic, as you have practiced, you know that it encompasses not only various techniques of fists, palms, fingers, and claws, but also methods such as the 'Diao Shou' and 'Gua Chui,' among others. These are merely the upper techniques. The lower techniques include various footwork such as kicking, stepping, and treading, as well as methods of movement and body positioning. It truly is all-encompassing and profound." While demonstrating and explaining various basic techniques and footwork, he spoke until he reached the phrase 'all-encompassing and profound,' at which point he suddenly sighed. However, this expression of emotion was fleeting, and he immediately said: "The first move is the starting posture, called 'Wind Sweeping the Grass'..." He began to introduce all the names of the techniques in order. These were all techniques that the two had learned before, so they understood them as soon as they heard them and were able to remember them.

Zuo Yuanmin was determined and recalled having seen a martial art similar to "Tiger Fist" in Yunmeng. That giant insect was far more ferocious than a wild wolf, and using a tiger to subdue a wolf was indeed a good choice. Thus, with a twist of his hands, he leaped forward with a "whoosh." The large wolf nimbly dodged, and Zuo Yuanmin missed his target. Without a word, he executed another move similar to "Eagle Claw Technique."

One could only hear the person in the valley continuously introducing the techniques until the thirty-sixth move, "Wildfire Sweeping the Plains," was completed. He then added, "In our valley, we are clear about our grievances and kindness. When we receive a favor, we must think of how to repay it. My set of 'Autumn Wind and Flying Leaves' is quite powerful, and using it to repay your rescue is not too shabby. However, if I were to teach more, it would not be very advantageous for me. Although this 'Autumn Wind and Flying Leaves' requires at least three to five years of practice to achieve minor success, I have taught it all. From now on, we will owe nothing to each other, and let us not dwell on past matters."

The person in the valley nodded and began to explain: "This is precisely why this scripture is valuable and distinct from others." After walking back and forth a few steps, he continued: "In fact, the principles of the universe are not merely about the interplay of yin and yang. Look, there is the sun in the sky, which represents yang, and when night falls, it becomes yin, correct?"

Zuo Yuanmin listened to their casual remarks about his steed. Although he felt a bit unhappy, upon hearing the name "Wang Yunchui," he felt quite pleased and thought to himself, "So your name is Wang Yunchui; what a lovely name." On the surface, however, he pretended not to hear what they were saying and continued to move forward. The young man named Ronghua grew impatient and shouted, "You, young man, how can you be so rude? We are talking to you; did you hear us?" His words were a question, but at the same time, he reached out to grab him. Zuo Yuanmin sidestepped and evaded him. The young man named Ronghua grew impatient and shouted, "You, young man, how can you be so rude? We are talking to you; did you hear us?" His words were a question, but at the same time, he reached out to grab him. Zuo Yuanmin sidestepped and evaded him.

Thus, one teaches, one learns, and one learns "secretly" on the side, until the sun begins to set in the west. Only then do the people in the valley consider this technique fully taught. In the end, it is said: "This technique has a name, called 'Seeking Good Fortune and Avoiding Disasters.' If you practice it for two hours every day, you will likely achieve some proficiency in about three months. By then, when encountering hidden weapons, not only will you not need to evade them, but you might even be able to intercept them."

Zuo Yuanmin was both shocked and angry, shouting loudly: "Hey, what are you doing? Let me go!" The man in the valley remained motionless as if deaf. Zuo Yuanmin realized he was deliberately trying to make things difficult for him, so he no longer held back and began to curse: "You are not keeping your word, using unlearned tactics against me. I warn you to let me go immediately, otherwise, one day I will go into the martial world and expose you, saying you are untrustworthy and a despicable person!" Realizing something was amiss, he continued: "No wonder you dare not reveal your real name; it turns out you have long anticipated this day, with everything arranged for your retreat. Truly shameless!" As he continued to curse, his words became increasingly harsh, but the man in the valley remained indifferent, ignoring him from beginning to end.

Beside the white-haired elder stood a vigorous middle-aged man. After listening to the young man, he said: "Father, the ancestors of the Ronghua family once raised warhorses for the army. I believe he must have been influenced by this experience and should not be mistaken." The white-haired elder nodded.