Chapter 7, Practicing Skills

When she reached the seventh round, she began to feel completely exhausted again, her vision blurred, sweat pouring down her forehead, and her limbs felt so weak that she could hardly resist the urge to collapse to the ground

In the sky, a round moon hangs faintly on the treetops, and a burst of laughter grows closer. Accompanying the laughter are a dozen or so torches, indicating that her so-called sisters have returned to the residence

After taking a few steps in the room, Sun Le began to worry about her body. She suddenly thought: I can go for a run, yes, I can also practice Tai Chi, these are all good ways to exercise. As for the breathing techniques, I can do them for one or two hours every day before going to bed in the future

Although she has only walked this far, the foundation of her body is indeed too weak. After sitting for a while, her heart is still pounding, and her hands and feet feel a bit weak.

Thinking of this, she jumped off the bed again and sat cross-legged to practice her breathing. This time, she persisted for forty to fifty minutes. When she opened her eyes again, there was only a dim light outside.

Thus, after she practiced the Twenty-Four Forms back and forth three times, the full moon in the sky became increasingly bright, while the sounds of commotion continued to emanate from the wooden houses in front of her

The practice of Tai Chi combined with the method of breathing seems simple in thought, yet it is not easy to execute. Many times, she either forgets to breathe or forgets the movements. At times, when she forcibly adheres to the breathing method while extending her arms in embrace, she experiences a feeling of tightness in her chest

Determined to act, she immediately ran to the earthen bed in that room, crossed her legs, and placed her hands together in front of her chest. Following the breathing technique that the elder had just mentioned, which she had long since memorized, she began to meditate.

Sun Le was overjoyed beyond expectation

Sun Le practiced continuously, practicing until the moon hung high in the sky, and the voices of people and the barking of dogs in the surrounding areas gradually ceased, until the entire area fell silent; she had not yet stopped.

She cautiously approached the back of her wooden cabin, listened intently, and after confirming that no one was around, she let out a light sigh and tiptoed toward the front of the cabin

Sun Le shook his head vigorously, casting aside the chaotic thoughts that had surfaced in his mind, and resumed practicing Tai Chi.

She still sat on the bed and rested for a while

She gritted her teeth and slowly began to practice Tai Chi in place

This feeling is indeed pleasant; when the breath aligns with the movements of the fists, she experiences a sense of lightness throughout her entire being, feeling relaxed and at ease. After practicing for such a long time, her body, which was already exhausted, gradually begins to recover in this state of comfort

The room is very small; after running ten laps, only a few minutes have passed. Yet, in just these few minutes, Sun Le's body began to feel weakness in both legs.

Sun Le shuddered at the thought of her sisters. She hurried back to her room

It is now the time when the sun is setting, and the evening glow fills the sky. The sky here is particularly clear and exceptionally vast. As soon as Sun Le sets his mind at ease, he leans back in his chair and begins to catch his breath

one lap, two laps, three laps, four laps ... ... ten laps

Upon thinking of this, she felt a great sense of relief in her heart, and with a movement of her body, she began to run in small steps around the room

Sun Le gritted his teeth and thought to himself: No, I cannot allow this body to dictate my actions. I must train it to become stronger.

Sitting like this on the plate, with nothing on my mind, just breathing in and out, it is indeed a bit dull. Sun Le shook his hands and feet, and slowly walked out of the room to enjoy the scenery.

At that moment, she retracted her fist and began to gather her strength again, then, as she extended her arm, she let out a long breath, inhaling and exhaling.

Just as she was thinking this, a thought emerged in her mind: since this is the case, why not incorporate that breathing technique while practicing Tai Chi

As soon as Sun Le entered the courtyard of the Ji residence, he perked up his ears to listen for a while. Fortunately, it was still very quiet, with only the sound of conversation coming from a short distance away

In the early morning, the world is clear and serene. With each breath that Sun Le takes, she feels the air is so fresh and delightful. In the cycle of inhaling and exhaling, she has the illusion that she is gradually expelling the impurities from her body

At this moment, under the bright moon outside, she practiced repeatedly, the sound of her even breaths quietly resonating in the dark room

The 24-Form Tai Chi is something Sun Le often practiced. This exercise is slow and gentle, requiring little effort while still allowing one to break a sweat after completing it, making it quite suitable for her current physical condition

The moment she thought of leaving, a flash appeared before Sun Le's eyes, and the handsome yet indifferent face of Young Master Ji emerged in her mind. Shaking her head vigorously, Sun Le cast aside that face, along with the accompanying feelings of melancholy and bitterness.

This time, Sun Lezhi persisted until midnight, and only stopped his actions when his stomach began to rumble happily. After splashing some well water for a hasty wash, he climbed into bed and fell asleep

This feeling of comfort is truly wonderful, and Sun Le is somewhat reluctant to stop the movement

Upon arriving at the wall, she easily found two large stones to stack. Sun Legang, having just eaten a hearty meal of yam, felt significantly stronger. After stepping on the wall a few times, she effortlessly climbed over the two-meter-high barrier.

Upon discovering this path, Sun Le was immediately filled with great joy. After practicing the twenty-four forms of Tai Chi five times, she had approximately figured out how to perform them in a way that felt most comfortable for herself

Fortunately, whether it is Tai Chi or this breathing technique, both possess a very gentle nature. After practicing it repeatedly for about ten times, Sun Le gradually began to grasp the essence of it.

However, at this moment, Sun Le was feeling utterly bored and wished for something to pass the time. Consequently, she was earnestly engaged in her research.

As soon as this thought emerged, Sun Le's heart became excited

Among the several rooms, only that bedroom has a very large window, which faces east. The silvery glow of the full moon, though faint, still clearly permeates the room.

Half an hour later, Sun Le finally opened his eyes. He jumped off the bed and began to rub his numb feet, muttering to himself, "There is absolutely no sensation at all. Sigh, I am too impatient. This method of breathing and regulation relies on long-term persistence; how could I expect any results from just this one attempt?"

The wooden house remains unchanged, empty and desolate inside, and cold and quiet outside, with no one having visited at all. Sun Le feels completely at ease.

It is surprising that one can recover physical strength without taking a break

After about half an hour, feeling a bit of strength returning to her hands and feet, Sun Le began practicing Tai Chi again. This Tai Chi was not as monotonous as the breathing exercises, nor as exhausting as running; she was determined to wholeheartedly use it to strengthen her body

The sounds of laughter continuously drifted into Sun Le's ears, making her unable to resist listening and feeling a sense of melancholy in her heart

After practicing three more times, Sun Le thought to himself: I remember reading in a miscellaneous book that during times of great fatigue, one can practice breathing exercises; I will do just that shortly

Sun Le looked at his small hands and feet and thought to himself: With such a frail appearance, I don't know how I can save him. Having a healthy body is fundamental; I must intensify my training.

On the second day, before dawn, Sun Le got out of bed, still recalling the wonderful feeling she experienced while practicing Tai Chi. After a brief wash and grooming, she began her exercises on the earthen ground outside the wooden house

Sun Le has been staying on this mountain for more than half a day, solely to satisfy her hunger. Now that her stomach is full, she cannot help but feel a bit worried that those who are targeting her might deliberately look for faults.

As he hurriedly walked back, Sun Le thought to himself: from the words of the elderly, it can be inferred that the people outside generally have no food to eat and no clothes to wear; otherwise, I would truly want to leave this place