Chapter 94: Eight-Part Vajra Art

When he arrived, he found the gate half open. After stepping into the courtyard, he saw that Elder Yang had already returned.

He was reclining beneath a tree on a deck chair, teasing the parrot.

“Senior Brother, this younger brother Wei Guo brought half a pig, a total of one hundred sixty-three jin,” Tian Xuguo said as soon as he came in.

Yang Moguang sat up straighter, did a quick calculation, and said, “My, what a fat pig. Wei Guo, black-market pork is running at about eight mao a jin these days. We will not bother with gross weight or net weight; let us settle it by that price. I will give you one hundred thirty-one yuan.

“From now on, if you have any meat, just bring it over. Eating without meat every day leaves the mouth so bland.”

“Elder Yang, just give me one hundred thirty. If I come across anything later, I will bring it to you the same way,” Xiao Weiguo said.

Yang Moguang told the two men to sit down, then went straight into the inner room. Not long after, he came back out with thirteen ten-yuan notes in his hand and handed them to Xiao Weiguo.

“I will not stand on ceremony with you. I truly do not have even one yuan on hand right now. I will make up the difference next time,” he said.

Xiao Weiguo took the money, did not even glance at it, and tucked it away, saying politely that he was too kind.

The three of them then sat in the courtyard drinking tea and chatting casually. Xiao Weiguo, determined to listen more and speak less, ended up learning many things he had never known before.

For example, he heard about the higher authorities’ handling of their old families and children, and how those policies had changed over time.

He also heard Tian Xuguo speak at length about many things in the city that ordinary laborers at the front line could come into contact with.

He gained quite a bit of knowledge.

After chatting for a while, Xiao Weiguo took the initiative and asked, “Elder Yang, just how marvelous is that Daoist kung fu you mentioned before? What kind of help can it give a person?”

The main reason was that Xiao Weiguo did not want to keep waiting. At this stage, the spatial realm had already been fully upgraded. From now on, as long as he focused on collecting high-quality jade, the problem would be solved.

So this lead was no longer so urgent. He only wanted to ask whether it would be easy to obtain. If not, he might as well abandon it early.

Yang Moguang fell silent for a moment.

Then he said to Xiao Weiguo, “This set of skills of mine is called the Eight-Section Diamond Longevity Art. It consists of an external and an internal method.

“The external method is the Eight-Section Diamond Art: hard, yang, outward, manifest, li, fire, qian, the body, acquired, the foundation.

“The internal method is the Eight-Section Longevity Art: yin, soft, inward, hidden, kan, water, kun, innate, the superior method.

“Practice it for a long time, and it can dispel illness, strengthen the body, and grant health and longevity.

“Well then, this old set of bones of mine is nearly ready for the grave. It would not do to cling to it forever. Since you are interested, I will teach it to you.

“Rest assured, it involves no Daoist doctrines at all. It is only movement. Just follow along and practice.”

Xiao Weiguo had never expected Yang to agree so readily. After all, the three-month observation period Yang had mentioned was still a long way off. Hearing this, he quickly agreed, saying, “All right, Elder Yang. I will study hard.”

“Remember this well: the Eight-Section Diamond Art must be practiced at dawn, just as the sun is rising, for the best effect. Or, like now, it can also be practiced at sunset. Do not practice it at other times, or you may overheat and generate too much internal fire.”

“Come, follow me and begin. Junior Brother, you should practice as well,” Yang Moguang said, taking up his stance.

Xiao Weiguo hurriedly found an open patch of ground and fixed his eyes on Yang Moguang’s movements.

Beginning posture.

First section: both hands reaching to the crown, benefiting the triple burner.

Second section: hands and feet moving forward and back to strengthen the kidneys and waist.

Third section: regulate the spleen and flesh with a single lift.

Fourth section: left liver and right lung, like shooting an eagle.

Fifth section: turn back to look at the feet, driving away heart ailments.

Sixth section: the five strains and seven injuries, glance behind.

Seventh section: the phoenix spreads its wings, strength throughout the body.

Eighth section: both feet repeatedly changing, dispelling extravagance and waste.

Closing posture.

Xiao Weiguo followed along, and to his surprise the movements were very simple, with many repeated motions. After going through them once, he had basically mastered them.

Even after Yang Moguang finished and closed his stance, Xiao Weiguo was still relying on memory, practicing again and again on his own.

Seeing how earnest he was, Yang Moguang nodded in satisfaction. If he had not seen that this young man’s nature was indeed not bad, he would never have been willing to teach him.

Besides, though Yang Moguang seemed as if he had done nothing, he had already had someone investigate Xiao Weiguo’s background in full.

It could even be said that, at least in terms of what was known on the surface, Yang Moguang understood Xiao Weiguo more completely than Xiao Weiguo understood himself.

“Wei Guo, keep practicing slowly from here on out. The important thing is persistence.

“Practice every morning when the light is about to break over the horizon. For each section, do not exceed nine repetitions, and do not do fewer than five.

“And when you practice, do not count them. That only muddles the mind,” Yang Moguang said, stopping Xiao Weiguo, who was still training.

“As for the matter of becoming a named disciple, wait a while longer. Once you are certain you truly have interest in Daoism, you may decide for yourself whether to become one. I will not force you.”

“All right, Elder Yang. I will first learn this set of skills well,” Xiao Weiguo said gratefully, feeling that receiving such a martial art so easily was almost unreal.

Little did he know that the old man had already studied him thoroughly.

Still, learning it was a good thing.

Xiao Weiguo then suggested that he go through the routine once more, so Elder Yang could correct any mistakes from the side.

And so he practiced from beginning to end three more times, until Yang Moguang said there were no problems, and only then did he stop.

Seeing that it was already very late, Xiao Weiguo finally said his farewells.

At that moment Tian Xuguo also told him, “Wei Guo, remember to practice the Eight-Section Boxing when you have nothing to do. Come back when you have time and learn the later movements.”

Xiao Weiguo hurriedly agreed.

After taking his leave of Yang Moguang and Tian Xuguo, Xiao Weiguo rode home under the moonlight.

Back at Yang Moguang’s house, Tian Xuguo had not left. Instead, he said to Yang Moguang, “Senior Brother, isn’t it a bit improper to pass on the school’s martial art so easily?”

Yang Moguang lowered his head, seemingly thinking of something. After a long while, he answered, “It does not matter. Let the young people on your side learn it if they wish. Better to teach it to others than carry it into the grave.

“Today I went to an old friend’s house. Such a capable man, and he spent his whole life hiding this and concealing that. His own children never learned it, let alone his disciples. Now he has become a complete fool and cannot remember a thing. Tell me, what was the point?

“I, an old Daoist, am simply seeking a heart at peace.”

Only then did Tian Xuguo understand. He said, “Then I will go back and select a few younger ones of good character and bring them to study under you, Senior Brother. I will make sure the art is not lost.”

Yang Moguang waved a hand at him, and Tian Xuguo took the hint and returned to the communal courtyard.

Reclining on the deck chair, Yang Moguang as usual asked the parrot, “Parrot, parrot, tell me, what do you think people are like after they die?”

When Xiao Weiguo got home, his mind was still replaying the various movements of the Eight-Section Diamond Art.

Today had truly been richly rewarding.

He had gone to the zoo with a beauty, eaten at Donglai Restaurant, bought a watch, earned one hundred thirty yuan, and learned the Eight-Section Diamond Art.

It was a day full of accomplishment.

While tidying up the various things in his room, Xiao Weiguo suddenly remembered that Yang Moguang had often spoken of spiritual energy.

There was certainly no such thing in the real world. But in the spatial realm, there was.

That black soil, that well water—they were probably both richly infused with spiritual energy.

If he practiced there, what would happen?