242: Chapter 239 Sleeping Techniques and Sleep Exercises

Li Changsheng nodded. To eat with peace of mind—he understood that, but he really hadn't thought before that there were so many principles contained within it.

"Are there more?"

"There are plenty. If it weren't for the fact that my family is also very particular about rules, I really wouldn't be able to stand this routine."

"For example, isn't there a good old saying: 'Do not lecture your children before a meal.' This is the same principle."

"When parents scold their children while eating, it easily makes the children nervous and afraid, suppresses their emotions, and their appetite worsens, leaving them with no desire to eat. Over time, this is detrimental to a child's development."

"In addition, there are sayings like 'Do not wash your hair when full, do not bathe when hungry,' and 'Medicine supplements and food supplements, but don't forget mental supplements.' Also, 'Do not eat to excess, and do not lie down immediately after being full.'"

As he spoke, Zhang Zhao displayed his hands and said gloomily, "See this? You wouldn't think these hands were just created by stir-frying iron sand, would you?"

"If I had to say, part of this skill of mine comes from Old Master Gu hitting me with chopsticks!"

Li Changsheng's mouth twitched slightly. He had heard that the older generation would hit children if they didn't follow table manners, but he had never experienced it himself; his grandmother's method of education was lecturing, never hitting.

Of course, because Li Changsheng had lived another life and lacked familial affection in his previous one, he was very receptive to this kind of upbringing.

"What about sleep?"

"There is even more for that. For example, the cliché 'Washing your feet before bed is better than taking tonics.' Or 'If your feet face the wind, call the doctor'—I won't even mention those."

"Let me tell you about the secrets regarding sleep that that Daoist Master mentioned."

"Daoist Master Zhang specifically talked about how to sleep?" Li Changsheng became interested.

He had just concluded that this Daoist Master was definitely Daoist Master Zhang Zhishun. This high-ranking Daoist expert was truly skilled in health preservation; his own Vajra Longevity Qigong still maintained miraculous effects.

"Whoa, Brother Li, and you said you didn't know Daoist Master Zhang!"

Zhang Zhao looked as if he had discovered some incredible truth.

His voice was truly a bit too loud, instantly attracting the attention of several people nearby, especially Kanai Shuichi and Kenneth.

They frowned, but constrained by the fact that these two had superhuman Physiques, they were afraid of getting beaten up if they went over to argue, so they kept their mouths shut.

However, they were truly curious in their hearts: what exactly had these two been whispering about since just a moment ago?

Kanai Shuichi's ears had actually been pricked up the whole time. He discovered that the two were speaking Chinese. Although he was outwardly dissatisfied with Zhang Zhao's loudness just now, inwardly he actually hoped he would be louder.

"These two are definitely experts among the experts in the Xia Kingdom's martial arts world. What are the two experts discussing? Could it be lost martial arts from the Xia Kingdom?"

Thinking of this, Kanai Shuichi pricked his ears up even straighter, but unfortunately, the conversation between the two was very low-voiced, and with their table so far away from this one, he couldn't hear a thing.

"Regarding sleep, Daoist Master Zhang is an expert. Just on the topic of sleep, he has spoken about many theories—there are sleep prescriptions and sleep techniques!"

"Oh?" Li Changsheng's eyes lit up.

"Sleep prescriptions are actually theoretically similar to the old sayings I just mentioned, but he did talk about some methods and movements before sleep, which can also be considered a type of sleep prescription. For example, one must perform slight movements before sleep: rubbing the eyes, wiping the face, massaging the abdomen, brushing teeth, rinsing the mouth, soaking the feet, combing hair, and calming the mind to allow food to digest before going to sleep. You must not go to sleep drunk or full, you must not hang your feet, you must not sleep with your mouth open, you must not cover your head, and you must clear away all calculations and schemes, entering sleep with a clear mind."

"Uh... just listen to this for reference. Anyway, I'm a rough person and find it troublesome. It's not that complicated; I just sleep however is comfortable for me."

"What he said also makes sense. For example, not sleeping with your mouth open—the wellness therapists here have also said that sleeping with your mouth open often makes it easy to develop a double chin."

"Aside from double chins caused by obesity, a double chin in people with normal body types is caused by this."

"But I don't care. I snore when I sleep, so my mouth has never been closed, so look, isn't this roll of fat under my chin very obvious?"

As he spoke, Zhang Zhao proudly displayed his double chin. Li Changsheng was simply amused by this guy. He thought to himself, 'You really don't mind, do you?'

"Hey, I think this looks like the Buddha. I spent time at Shaolin before, so I consider my heart to be turned toward the Buddha. Sigh, honestly, I really don't care about these things. Brother Li, you're handsome, so you should pay attention."

Li Changsheng just nodded; in any case, he didn't have this bad habit.

"As for sleep techniques, he mentioned two types: one called the 'Returning Yang Lying Position,' and one called the 'Primordial Unity Lying Position.'"

"I prefer this one; the movement is simple and comfortable, so it suits me very well."

[ image ] [ image ] (The images have been shared. Personally, I feel they are quite good, but there are also some taboos. If the movements are incorrect, or if the body is prone to strain, be careful.)

"Did Daoist Master Zhang say why he advocates these two sleep techniques?"

Li Changsheng asked curiously. He had seen these two sleep techniques in books, but because his sleep was usually very good, he felt that as long as the quality of sleep was good, there was no need to understand these things. He hadn't expected there to be so many intricacies involved.

"Actually, it's not that he advocates these two sleep techniques; he only mentioned them. He divides sleep into three types: Martial Sleep, Literary Sleep, and Semi-Literary Semi-Martial Sleep."

"Hehe, I think these names are a bit similar to Shaolin hard training!"

Zhang Zhao smiled and then continued, "However, the old gentleman mentioned one point: young people tend to have more Martial Sleep. Hmm, that is, it's easy to move around during the sleep process."

"I had this when I was young. Before sleep, I was at the head of the bed, but when I woke up, I was at the foot of the bed. Sometimes, when I woke up, I was even on the floor."

"And Literary Sleep is not moving at all for the whole night. Semi-Literary Semi-Martial is having both of the above."

"Between these three types of sleep, which is stronger and which is weaker?" Li Changsheng asked curiously. Come to think of it, he himself actually had the habit of Martial Sleep when he was a child.

"There is no distinction of strength or weakness, only a distinction of age groups. The old gentleman said young people have Martial Sleep, elderly people have Literary Sleep, and middle-aged people have Semi-Literary Semi-Martial."

"Actually, it doesn't mean we must control ourselves to move around while sleeping; if that were the case, I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway."

"This is just a physical reaction brought about by age. Generally, having this phenomenon is considered a healthy phenomenon. Of course, sleepwalking does not fall into this category. That should be treated medically as soon as possible."

Zhang Zhao chuckled and shook his head, saying, "I am Semi-Literary Semi-Martial. Since I've gotten older, I'm not as restless in my sleep as I used to be."

"However, these 'Returning Yang Lying Position' and 'Primordial Unity Lying Position' are quite good. If you want to do the Returning Yang Lying Position, its movements are somewhat similar to the Guiyuan Stance, both involving the tiger's mouth facing the Dantian."

"The Primordial Unity Lying Position and the Returning Yang Lying Position, these two methods are very similar to the Infant Sleeping Position, just like an infant's sleeping posture. That's why the Daoist Master also says this is called Returning to the Innate!"

Hearing this, Li Changsheng nodded. It seemed that both eating and sleeping contained many ultimate principles of health preservation.

"Hehe, actually, I also looked up these two techniques online myself. Brother Li, looking at your thoughtful expression, do you also know something about them?"

Zhang Zhao had a mischievous grin that all men understand, but then he immediately became serious.

"The internet says these two sleep techniques can replenish Kidney Qi, but the Daoist Master said that this thing cannot replenish Kidney Qi at all!"

As he spoke, he even spread his hands, and there was even some regret on his face.

"It's like a pile of firewood with a fire on it; it just makes the fire burn brighter for a while, but the firewood itself hasn't changed."

"Practicing these two lying techniques can make you feel warm in your hands and feet, but that's just regulating Qi and blood, giving people the illusion of replenishing Kidney Qi. It's the same principle; in essence, it doesn't replenish a person's Kidney Qi."

"However, what is the key to replenishing Kidney Qi? Besides dietary supplements and moderation, isn't it just sleep?"

"If you sleep well, you have actually achieved the effect of replenishing Kidney Qi."

Regarding this point that Zhang Zhao mentioned, Li Changsheng had also seen it. He didn't know where the statement came from, but of course, if one insisted on saying it that way, it was also correct; after all, if you sleep well, it does indeed have the effect of replenishing Kidney Qi.