Chapter 7: Reading Can Cure Illness
According to Youfang's understanding, the so-called outsiders are not any demons or monsters, but rather subtle pieces of information in the environment that may disturb the mind, such as the accumulated vicissitudes and oppressive aura of this lifeless iron lion that has gathered over a thousand years. The iron lion does not harm anyone and harbors no malice; every day, numerous visitors come to admire it without any issues. However, Youfang's primordial spirit is injured and disturbed by the demonic realm, yet he insists on entering a meditative state and attempts to practice the "Heart Disk Technique" that he inadvertently comprehended during a tomb robbery two nights ago. The iron lion does not harm anyone and harbors no malice; every day, numerous visitors come to admire it without any issues. However, Youfang's primordial spirit is injured and disturbed by the demonic realm, yet he insists on entering a meditative state and attempts to practice the "Heart Disk Technique" that he inadvertently comprehended during a tomb robbery two nights ago.
Liu Li became animated as soon as these topics were mentioned, waving his chopsticks in his left hand and shaking his wine glass in his right, speaking incessantly. After a long while, he noticed You Fang staring at him with wide eyes and a peculiar expression, prompting him to stop and ask, "Why are you looking at me like that? Don't you believe me? It's understandable if you don't, as you haven't yet entered the field. Young You, your fortune has arrived; work hard, and in the future, it may not be impossible for you to take me as your master."
My father once told Youfang about a particular phenomenon in antique appraisal: no matter how skillfully a replica is aged, even if it is so lifelike that it can deceive certain modern detection instruments, there is one "thing" that cannot be replicated. That is the bearing of the passage of time, which imparts a certain "temperament" or "materiality" to the object, and one can feel it when immersed in its essence.
Just a moment ago, Liu Li, who was full of spirit, immediately turned pale. He poured himself several cups of wine and then sighed, saying: "The ancients say that life, fate, and feng shui are ranked as one, two, and three; four is the cultivation of virtue, and five is studying. The affairs of the world are not solely determined by feng shui; even someone like me, who practices, finds it helpless. What you just said about 'not believing' is quite insightful. Throughout history, many who wander the rivers and lakes do not believe in the supernatural, which is why they dare to deceive others. If they truly believed, they would not dare to speak recklessly."
You, young traveler, are currently lacking a solid foundation and are not yet qualified to learn my geomancy techniques. Here’s the deal: since you are a martial artist, focus on cultivating your physical and spiritual essence through your martial skills. Once you have healed your primordial spirit and reached the realm of "internal and external resonance," I will then consider whether to accept you as my disciple
Liu Li curled his lips and said, "What you say makes sense, but that reasoning is skewed! The flower-picking scoundrel committed a crime, yet blames the girl for being beautiful; such reasoning is unacceptable. ... You may have misunderstood; the teachings of my school are not fabricated from the supernatural arts of www.hetushu.com, but are genuine secret methods of the Earth Master. The title of Earth Master is not something to be taken lightly."
Is this how it works? You Fang, filled with doubt, put away the piece of paper. It wouldn't hurt to give it a try; he had never placed his hopes on this strange old man. He had already planned to return to his hometown to seek help from his second uncle and Old Lady Mo, but unexpectedly, he was confronted by the old man again.
The term "Di Shi" is an ancient name for geomancers. In fact, I understand this entire system; it is precisely because I understand it that I am not interested in the tricks and superstitions associated with it. Please do not take offense, I am not referring to you. You Fang has not boasted; he has studied geomancy and metaphysics since childhood, and he is well-versed in the techniques and principles of various geomantic schools. After meeting Mr. Wu, he has also grasped many of the underlying principles, yet he is even more skeptical of the far-fetched supernatural claims. He has studied geomancy and metaphysics since childhood, and he is well-versed in the techniques and principles of various geomantic schools. After meeting Mr. Wu, he has also grasped many of the underlying principles, yet he is even more skeptical of the far-fetched supernatural claims.
Liu Li blinked and said, "This is fate. Do you still want to slip away? Whether you can escape depends on luck. Didn't we just say that life, fortune, and feng shui are the three essentials?" The old man sidestepped the obstruction posed by Youfang and walked to the door, turning back to say, "Little Youzi, you haven't explained why you want to kill the mad fox. Don't forget tomorrow."
A series of processes may seem complex, but in reality, it is merely a few seconds of distraction. In the eyes of others, this young man is simply standing in front of the iron lion, lost in thought. Youfang is quite fortunate, as at that moment, a delicate and fair hand gently patted his shoulder, and a timid, soft, and melodious voice of a young girl reached his ears.
Although Youfang is young, he is already a seasoned figure in the jianghu. Once he has made up his mind, he remains composed—showing no signs of abnormality even when alone. On his first visit to Cangzhou, like many tourists, he took a stroll in the city center after lunch. He happened to see a stop for a tourist shuttle, bought a ticket, and took the bus twenty kilometers to the suburbs to visit the famous Cangzhou Iron Lion.
It is uncertain whether the old man is truly insane, but he is undoubtedly a person of strong character. After saying this, he became disinterested and no longer paid attention to Youfang. He called the waiter in and ordered a bowl of nourishing soup made from the whole donkey. After finishing the soup and letting out a satisfied burp, he waved his hand and said: "I am not in the mood to chat with you today. Let's find a better place tomorrow and continue our conversation."
You Fang had long heard of the great iron lion of Cangzhou, which is over 5 meters tall, more than 6 meters long, and over 3 meters wide, weighing 30 tons. It was cast in the third year of Guangshun during the Northern Zhou Dynasty (AD 953), making it 1,057 years old today. When he saw it with his own eyes, You Fang truly experienced the shock of its grandeur
Liu Li: "Do not be so rash; you still do not understand what my legacy is. Do you know the meaning of the Earth Master?"
It turns out that the piece of paper given by the old man is meant for the traveler to recite. The so-called "recitation" is quite intricate; one must first memorize it word for word, then recite it aloud in one's mind without actually vocalizing. How can one recite aloud without making a sound? At this moment, one must focus intently, reciting each word carefully in silence, just as one would during a loud reading, except that the lips and teeth remain still and no real sound is produced. Yet, each word recited seems to echo in the mind. (Note: If any readers are interested, you may try it yourself.)
During his wandering, Youfang inadvertently entered a state of focused "contemplation". Before this immense ancient artifact, which has stood for a thousand years, he experienced for the first time the "feeling" his father had once described. As his thoughts settled without dispersing, he noticed the large lotus seat on the back of the iron lion, which naturally reminded him of the blue lion, the mount of Manjushri Bodhisattva in Buddhist legends.
Youfang pondered: "Take those tomb raiders, for instance. When they rob large tombs, they often hire geomancers who understand feng shui. Consider the tomb owners; they once engaged land masters to arrange the burial sites according to feng shui, yet this became a clue for later thieves to excavate the graves. If feng shui truly possesses supernatural powers, why can it not provide protection, instead allowing the remains to suffer? This is nothing but a joke"
Internal and external perception? It should refer to what is described in martial arts as "responding to every touch, reacting according to the feeling," which represents the second level of advanced skills. Liu Li's own martial arts also reach this realm. However, Liu Li's intention is not to teach itinerant martial arts, but rather to impart the techniques of a geomancer.
... ...
After finishing his words, he stood up to leave. You Fang stopped him and asked, "Before you explain tomorrow, could you please tell me how you found me today?" He still could not understand how the old man had tracked him down.
Since the meeting today, the old man has appeared quite normal, but at this moment, Youfang is almost doubting whether the old man has gone mad, wondering if his practice has muddled his mind, just like himself who has been harmed in spirit. The things he speaks of are too esoteric for Youfang to believe. Even if we take a step back and assume it is true, there is a saying in the martial world: "Offering unsolicited assistance and being overly eager is either deceitful or thieving!" Youfang cannot believe that such a great fortune would inexplicably fall upon him. If the old man sets a trap, he would fall right into it, which would be a disgrace for someone claiming to be a disciple of the eight major sects of the martial world. Even if we take a step back and assume it is true, there is a saying in the martial world: "Offering unsolicited assistance and being overly eager is either deceitful or thieving!" Youfang cannot believe that such a great fortune would inexplicably fall upon him. If the old man sets a trap, he would fall right into it, which would be a disgrace for someone claiming to be a disciple of the eight major sects of the martial world.
This student, could you please step aside a bit? We would like to take a photo
Unlike the exaggerated gasps and pointed discussions of other tourists, Youfang was almost mesmerized as he approached to observe closely. As an experienced antique dealer, he had seen various genuine relics, fragments, and high-quality replicas since childhood. Upon witnessing such a massive millennium-old artifact, Youfang's spirit and energy were completely captivated.
Only the skepticism of an expert can be truly obstinate; precisely because he understands everything, he sees clearly. Liu Li, surprisingly, was not angry upon hearing this; instead, he held his wine glass and asked with great interest: "Why do you not believe? Please give an example and explain."
Is this enormous and incomplete monument crying? No! It seems to be coming from the travel bag behind— the short sword sealed within the wooden box emits a whimper, subtly harmonizing with the low growl of the iron lion deep within the soul. You Fang is very clear-headed; the various anomalies have not caused him to lose his sanity. It is like a person paralyzed by a nightmare, struggling to awaken is not easy, but with just a gentle push from another, he can easily escape this seemingly enchanted illusion. You Fang is very clear-headed; the various anomalies have not caused him to lose his sanity. It is like a person paralyzed by a nightmare, struggling to awaken is not easy, but with just a gentle push from another, he can easily escape this seemingly enchanted illusion.
The old man has additional requirements for the wandering practitioner. He must employ the method of stepping on walking piles, coordinating his breathing and the strength of his entire body while moving. He should recite as he walks, ensuring that his thoughts are profound, each word is clear, and that the recitation flows smoothly with a sense of rhythm and intonation.
The magnetic needle in the Heavenly Pool seemed to tremble, yet the traveler did not lower his head to look. In a daze, everything around him appeared to be changing, as if he were standing on the shores of a millennium ago. The chanting in his mind transformed with his thoughts into the rising and falling sounds of the sea, intermingled with the faint roar of a lion. Not only did this kind of "illusion" invade his mind and linger, but his form was also immobilized, rendering him almost unable to move his feet or utter a word.
After the old man finished speaking, he went downstairs without a word, leaving Youfang unable to catch up—after all, the meal had not yet been settled. After settling the bill and exiting the food court, Liu Li had already vanished without a trace. Youfang stood by the roadside pondering for a long time, wondering if it was truly a coincidence that this elderly gentleman lived in Cangzhou and happened to see him while exercising at Hehua Pond Park in the morning
You Fang was taken aback, but soon realized that this was a sign of his primordial spirit being invaded and his thoughts being seized. At that moment, his state was akin to being trapped in a dream or a nightmare, where his consciousness was clear yet he could not 'wake up', immobilized and unable to command his body. He never expected that the 'spirituality' of this iron lion was so formidable
If the traveler has not practiced the inner cultivation method of calming the mind, and does not operate a rudimentary mental framework derived from mere speculation, he will be like any other ordinary visitor, and at this moment, his spirit will not be inexplicably subdued by the oppressive aura of the iron lion. Realizing this, the traveler immediately sought to break free, steadying his mind and ceasing the operation of the half-understood mental framework, striving to eliminate all distractions. However, the sounds of waves and the lion's roar in his mind not only did not dissipate, but instead, a low whimper began to resonate.
As one enters this state, a sense of overwhelming pressure seems to envelop them, and the surrounding noise fades into oblivion, leaving only the traveler and the majestic iron lion in the expanse of heaven and earth. This resembles a state of "observational realm" after entering a meditative state, where individuals, lost in emotion and focused on admiring magnificent landscapes or exquisite things, may have experienced such a feeling in fleeting moments.
Reading about modern Chinese history evokes many indescribable emotions. If one were to take a glance at the Iron Lion of Cangzhou, one would intuitively grasp what is meant by grandeur and the passage of time. This was a remark made by Mr. Wu Pingdong during a casual conversation, indicating that he must have visited this place. Today, the traveler has also arrived here.
You Fang quickly said: "There is no need for the esteemed elder to consider it any further; I do not wish to become a geomancer. The principles of feng shui do hold some truth, but I have never believed in those mystical elements."
You Fang leisurely asked, "Old senior, hearing you speak so marvelously, is there any concern about cutting blessings, shortening life, or diminishing fortune? As far as I know, practicing martial arts carelessly can lead to both physical and spiritual harm, let alone what you mentioned." To be polite, he only expressed half of his thought, implying that Liu Li had taken in eight disciples, none of whom had met a good end. If the teachings of the earth master were truly so miraculous, why could they not even preserve their lives?
You Fang still wanted to slip away. Regardless of whether the old man's words were true or false, You Fang did not wish to get entangled out of curiosity. After all, he bore the weight of four lives on his shoulders, and this old man was a witness; who knew what his intentions might be? In terms of martial arts, he was not a match for him. While his true identity had not yet been exposed, it was best to make a quick escape.
Upon this thought, I vaguely heard the sound of chanting in my mind. The voice was not loud, yet each word resonated deeply, echoing like distant rolling thunder, strangely emanating from the iron lion before me. Inside the iron lion of Cangzhou, the "Diamond Sutra" is inscribed, and most of the characters in the illustrations have become difficult to discern. Naturally, a wandering monk could not enter to see, yet I strangely "heard" it.
The term "Dishi" has historically been a respectful title for practitioners of Feng Shui. However, Liu Li also mentioned another meaning of these two characters; it represents both a title and a legacy, known as the Master of Earth Qi. It is said that the secret teachings passed down by Dishi throughout the ages not only allow for the sensing of the movement of Earth Qi and the investigation of the geographical veins of mountains and rivers, but also enable the gathering of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to assist in the cultivation of both form and spirit. Furthermore, there are subtle techniques for manipulating the spiritual pivot of Earth Qi, achieving various incredible and miraculous realms. It is said that the secret teachings passed down by Dishi throughout the ages not only allow for the sensing of the movement of Earth Qi and the investigation of the geographical veins of mountains and rivers, but also enable the gathering of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to assist in the cultivation of both form and spirit. Furthermore, there are subtle techniques for manipulating the spiritual pivot of Earth Qi, achieving various incredible and miraculous realms
It is merely a feeling, often requiring years of study to truly comprehend, yet it remains inexpressible. In contrast, a forged imitation lacks the authentic historical experience and the unique spirit that is left behind by the passage of time.
Locally, this object is also referred to as "Zhenhai Hou," which was historically erected by the seaside to quell tidal waves. However, today this location is over 100 kilometers from the coastline. Over the millennia, due to the sediment accumulation at the mouth of the Yellow River, the topography along the Bohai Sea has changed significantly.
This can only be attributed to Youfang's own carelessness. He inadvertently entered a meditative state and observed; in such a state, the primordial spirit is most susceptible to perceiving information from the "external guest." The term "external guest" is a medical term, also mentioned in the folk art of soul summoning. Superstitious beliefs in the community, such as being possessed by ghosts or being afflicted by evil spirits, can all be referred to as having collided with an external guest.
At this moment, he recalled the words of Old Master Mo: In the world of martial arts, there are various secret techniques for cultivation, but the more methods one masters, the more taboos one must observe, and one cannot act recklessly. Especially when one is on the verge of a breakthrough in a particular skill, the troubles encountered are the greatest, which the ancients referred to as calamities.
The iron-cast auspicious beast on the high platform stands tall and proud, its eyes wide open and mouth agape, with limbs striding as if walking leisurely. However, this majestic and imposing figure is incomplete, with damage to its mouth, tail, and underbelly, and its entire body is covered with marks of erosion from the passage of time and the elements. The robust limbs also bear cracks. The local cultural relics protection department has constructed a scaffolding using many thick iron columns to help support the heavy body of the iron lion
The ancient art of geography and geomancy, also known as Feng Shui, requires an understanding that the flow of wind and water is ever-changing, and the concepts of 'origin' and 'development' must be emphasized. To the average person, the earth appears static and unchanging; however, this is not the case. A Feng Shui master should perceive the historical transformations of mountains and waters from their standing point... This was something Youfang once said to Kuanghu, and at this moment, it suddenly came to mind, prompting an instinctive reach for the compass. A Feng Shui master should perceive the historical transformations of mountains and waters from their standing point... This was something Youfang once said to Kuanghu, and at this moment, it suddenly came to mind, prompting an instinctive reach for the compass