39: Chapter 39 [Sharp Ears and Eyes]

The twentieth day.

He woke up to rain outside.

It wasn't a downpour, but that kind of fine, soft rain, pattering against the windowpane.

Chen Zhen opened his eyes. The room was still dark, with only a sliver of gray morning light seeping through the gap in the curtains.

He lay still, listening to the sound of the rain for a while, before sensing his Dantian.

That ball of Qi was more solid than yesterday, and the warmth felt more stable, like charcoal burning brightly in a stove, continuously and evenly radiating heat.

The shouzhong token pressed against his chest, its temperature seemingly a little higher.

But it wasn't hot; it was that kind of warmth that puts one at ease.

He sat up and glanced at the alarm clock by the bed: 4:40.

On this rainy morning, his body still woke up right on time.

While getting dressed, he heard movement in his parents' room next door.

He opened the door quietly. The living room light was on; his father was already up, standing by the window watching the rain.

"Dad?"

His father turned around. "Did I wake you?"

"No, I was already awake."

Chen Zhen walked over. "You're up so early today?"

"It's raining, the roads won't be easy to travel, so I'm leaving a bit earlier."

His father said, turning to the kitchen. "Your mom made dumplings yesterday and froze them in the fridge. How many should I boil for breakfast?"

"Okay."

The father and son were in the kitchen, one boiling water while the other took dumplings from the freezer.

When the water boiled, white steam rose up. His father dropped the dumplings into the pot and stirred them gently with a spoon.

"Dad, is there... something going on today?" Chen Zhen asked.

His father paused. "The factory is announcing the list of deputies today."

Chen Zhen understood.

Although his father claimed it was "just managing three people," he still cared about it deep down.

For someone who had been laid off, standing back up meant walking every step with extreme caution, terrified of falling again.

"You'll definitely make it," he said.

His father didn't speak, just stared at the churning dumplings in the pot. After a few seconds, he let out a grunt of acknowledgement.

Once the dumplings were cooked, the father and son sat at the dining table to eat.

Chive and pork filling. His mother had seasoned the filling perfectly, and the dumpling skins were thin with generous portions of filling.

"Your mom's dumplings are the best."

"Yeah."

After eating, his father put on his raincoat, ready to leave.

Before leaving, he looked back at Chen Zhen. "You... keep working hard."

"You too."

The door closed.

Chen Zhen stood at the doorway, listening to his father's footsteps as they faded down the stairs.

...

He still had to go for his morning run, even in the rain.

Chen Zhen put on his raincoat, pulled up his hood, and pushed the door open to leave.

The rain wasn't heavy, just fine and dense, making a rustling sound as it hit his raincoat.

The air was damp, carrying the scent of soil and grass.

After he started running, he discovered that running in the rain had a unique charm.

The effects of [ Physical Optimization ] were even more apparent on the slippery road.

His footsteps were steadier, his center of gravity adjusted more promptly, and he almost never slipped.

The warmth from the shouzhong token was exceptionally clear against the chill of the rainy day, like carrying a hand warmer against his chest.

After running half a kilometer, the rain suddenly stopped.

It didn't taper off; it stopped abruptly, as if someone had turned off a faucet.

Chen Zhen looked up. A crack opened in the clouds, and morning light leaked through, shining onto the wet road and shimmering with a golden glow.

He continued running.

The air after the rain was fresher, and breathing felt exceptionally smooth.

His breath sank into his Dantian, and when he exhaled, the white mist carrying the residual heat from his body traced fleeting arcs in the morning light.

By the time he reached the Riverside, the clouds had completely dispersed, the sun had come out, and the river surface was sparkling.

The old man wasn't under the willow tree, but standing on a large rock on the river embankment, looking at the river with his hands behind his back.

The morning light shone from behind him, rimming his entire figure with a golden edge.

"You're here?" The old man didn't turn around. "The rain has stopped."

"Yeah, it stopped halfway through my run."

"Celestial phenomena are impermanent, just like human thoughts." The old man turned around and jumped off the rock. "Today, I'll teach you something fitting for the occasion."

He walked to a relatively dry patch of sand and used his toe to draw a circle two meters in diameter. "Step inside."

Chen Zhen stepped into the circle.

"Close your eyes," the old man said.

Chen Zhen closed his eyes.

"Listen."

He focused his attention to listen.

The sound of river waves, the wind, the whistle of the early morning boat in the distance, and... the sound of his own breathing.

"What did you hear?"

"The sound of the river, the wind, the boat, and... my own breathing."

"Good," the old man said. "Now, try to separate these sounds."

"Separate?"

"The sound of the river is the river; the wind is the wind; your breathing is your breathing. Don't let them get mixed together."

The old man's voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something.

"Once separated, try to... combine them again."

Chen Zhen tried.

It was difficult at first.

The sounds were like a tangled ball of thread, impossible to sort out.

But by calming his mind and distinguishing them slowly:

Whoosh—whoosh—that was the river waves.

Whoosh—whoosh—that was the wind.

Woo—that was the boat.

And his own steady inhale—exhale—.

They were separated.

Then, he tried to "combine" them.

Not by mixing the sounds together, but by letting each exist in its own place, existing simultaneously, forming a complete "sound field."

The river waves were in the distance, the wind was by his ears, the boat was further away, and his breathing was within his body.

It was a marvelous experience.

The world wasn't a mass of Chaos, but layered and structured.

"Did you feel it?" the old man asked.

"Yes."

"This is the foundation of 'Listening Jin'."

The old man said.

"Whether you are fighting or practicing martial arts, the most important thing isn't what your eyes see, but what your ears hear and your body feels. You must hear where the opponent's force comes from and where it is going, and hear the changes in the environment's movements, only then can you respond."

Chen Zhen opened his eyes.

"We won't practice movements today, just this 'listening'."

"Walk around freely within this circle, eyes closed, listening to everything around you. When you feel that there is no difference between having your eyes closed and open, you'll have mastered the basics."

Chen Zhen closed his eyes again and walked slowly within the circle.

At first, he was very careful, afraid of stepping out of the circle or bumping into things.

But after a few steps, he began to trust his perception.

The soles of his feet could feel the changes in the softness of the sand, his ears could distinguish the distance and direction of sounds, and even his skin could feel the warmth of the sunlight on his body and the chill of the river breeze blowing past.

After ten minutes, he was able to move naturally within the circle—turning, changing speed, even hopping—without stepping on the line once.

"That's enough," the old man called out. "Remember this feeling. In the future, whether practicing martial arts, running, or even talking to people, always keep a Divided Soul on 'listening'."

[ Comprehended Listening Jin Basics ]

[ Health Dimension Experience + 50 ]

[ exploration dimension Experience + 20 ]

[ Obtained Status: Sharp Senses (Perception sensitivity increased, lasts 24 hours) ]

Chen Zhen opened his eyes; the world seemed clearer.

It wasn't that his vision had improved, but his perception was more complete.

He could notice more details simultaneously, and these details were automatically categorized in his mind, without being chaotic.

"That's it for today." The old man pulled a small cloth bag from his pocket. "This is for you."

Chen Zhen took it.

Inside the bag were some dark green, curled dried leaves. They had a sharp, cool fragrance, like Mint, but stronger.

"This is..."

"Mugwort leaves, gathered during the Dragon Boat Festival, three-year-aged mugwort."

"When you get caught in the rain or feel your body heavy, take a few leaves, boil them in water, and soak your feet. It dispels cold and dampness."

"Thank you, old man."

"Don't always thank me." The old man waved his hand. "Go back quickly, you're still wet."

Chen Zhen looked down and realized that inside his raincoat, he was actually soaked in sweat.

He had been too focused on practicing "listening" to notice.

...