121: Chapter 121 Old Li Discusses Martial Arts

The martial arts manuals that one occasionally encounters in reality are generally bound into books; they may look thick, but the majority of the content is actually illustrations—in layman's terms, they are just stick figure drawings.

A single line of verse is accompanied by several simple sketches: there are diagrams for the Moves, diagrams for the Meridians and Acupoints, and diagrams for circulating energy. Once there are many such pictures, the manual naturally becomes quite thick.

But in reality, the text content within is not extensive. A manual, including the verses and chants, usually only contains a few hundred characters, or at most, over a thousand.

Yet, this electronic manual before her eyes is densely packed with text, totaling over five thousand characters.

If Li Fengxu hadn't witnessed Chen Mo's capabilities, she would have thought this was a joke concocted by an outsider.

Old Li, however, shook his head. "Take another careful look."

Li Fengxu, half-doubting, carefully examined the content a few times. She couldn't help but wipe the relaxed, joking expression from her face, re-read the entire text, and said with a solemn expression, "Every line of the Mind-Cultivation Technique... and even every Move... has such detailed annotations."

Old Li also said with a solemn expression, "Indeed..."

"Since ancient times, the reason martial arts manuals have been concise is not entirely due to the limitations of printing technology. A more important reason is that martial arts themselves are very difficult to put into words..."

"Many Grandmasters, through verbal instruction and personal example, have been able to train many excellent disciples. However, the manuals passed down, even if left open for anyone to learn without restrictions, rarely allow anyone to grasp even a fraction of the essence..."

"The reason for this is not that the authors of these manuals intentionally withheld secrets, but that the essence of a martial art is very difficult to write down. Even if one uses text combined with illustrations to depict the full picture of a martial art with reasonable accuracy, it ultimately lacks a certain spiritual essence. Without this spiritual essence, no matter how much the Moves are imitated, they remain dead techniques."

"That is why past Grandmasters deliberately compiled manuals to be concise—it was to leave room for interpretation. If a manual fell into the hands of someone with good Comprehension Ability and fate, they might be able to grasp the true meaning of the martial art through these gaps. This is what is meant by... 'can only be understood intuitively, cannot be expressed in words'."

Li Fengxu nodded solemnly in agreement. "So that's how it is."

She did have a fair amount of understanding of martial arts, but she didn't know much about this seemingly unimportant knowledge. Only after hearing her grandfather explain it did she gain some understanding.

"Then, since Chen Mo's improved version of the manual is annotated in such detail, I feel like I could practice it just by reading through it. Does that mean... I can only practice some flashy but useless Moves and not gain any real skill? Compared to manuals with fewer words, is this actually inferior?"

Li Fengxu asked uncertainly.

Old Li laughed. "In general cases, that is true. But this manual compiled and gifted by Grandmaster Chen is an exception. Not only is it not inferior, but it is also full of spiritual essence. As long as one practices diligently, even someone without martial arts talent can cultivate a bit of its true meaning."

Li Fengxu blurted out, "It's that awesome?"

She was truly shocked now.

Because according to what her grandfather said, even people without martial arts talent could practice it and achieve very good results. Doesn't that mean if this manual were published online, everyone could practice it, and we would quickly enter an era of universal martial arts training, where everyone becomes a Dragon?

Of course, this thought was just a silent fantasy. If the time really came when everyone knew martial arts, who knows how much chaos would ensue.

At this moment, Old Li didn't mind his granddaughter's impolite vocabulary. Instead, he said with a hint of excitement, "The even more awesome part is yet to come!"

Li Fengxu: "Huh?"

Old Li: "You probably haven't realized it yet. Although this manual by Grandmaster Chen is titled 'Li-style Tai Chi Improved Version', in reality, it goes far beyond just an improvement. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he has created a new Cultivation Technique."

Li Fengxu: "Didn't you give him the manual first, and he just modified it, which resulted in this new manual? How can you say it was re-created?"

Old Li smiled and said, "That's where you don't know." His granddaughter, although she had a foundation in martial arts, only knew basics like horse stances and fundamental strikes; she naturally lacked insight into deeper levels. He explained, "All practical martial arts are divided into training methods and fighting methods. Training methods are generally based on stance training and basic strikes. Usually, when practicing, sparring, or performing, one uses training methods—that is, empty-handed combat without any weapons. But when it comes to actual combat, such as formal duels or fighting on the battlefield, empty-handed strikes are somewhat insufficient."

"Take the modern Grandmaster Wu Zhong, for example. With a single long spear, he fought across thirteen northern and southern provinces, earning the title of 'Invincible Divine Spear'. However, what he actually practiced was Baji Quan."

"Or take Ip Man of Foshan, who greatly popularized Wing Chun and the 'Inch Power'. But what truly tests the authenticity of the school are the Butterfly Swords and the Six-and-a-Half Point Pole. This is just like the saying within the Wing Chun school: 'The swords do not strike twice, the pole does not sound twice'."

Li Fengxu had loved listening to her grandfather tell these Jianghu stories since she was a child. She always listened with shining eyes, longing to be in them, wishing she could replace the protagonists. This time was no exception. She looked at Old Li expectantly: "What about you?"

Old Li smiled. Recalling the past, a surge of heroism welled up in his heart. "When I snuck into the enemy's positions, what I used to behead them was a Spring and Autumn Great Sword in my hand. The back of the blade was extremely wide and thick, and the blade was very long. An ordinary person couldn't even lift it, but I could swing it with great majesty. If I encountered three or five enemies standing together, I could take care of three with one swing."

Li Fengxu had heard the story of Old Li throwing away his gun and organizing a Great Sword squad to sneak into the enemy camp for a decapitation mission countless times. Yet, she still chirped excitedly, "Great! Old Li is awesome!"

"So... the sword technique used then was a fighting method?"

Old Li: "Correct."

Li Fengxu: "Then what about the training method?"

Old Li: "There was no training method."

Li Fengxu: "Huh? Then what is the Tai Chi you usually practice?"

Old Li: "That is also a fighting method."

Li Fengxu: "Ah? How can that be?" She considered herself a smart girl. After listening to her grandfather's explanation of training methods and fighting methods, she thought she had understood the relationship between them, but why was the result different from what she had imagined?

Old Li calmly explained, "What I obtained was originally a broken martial art. It only had fighting methods, no training methods. But in those times, even a broken martial art was good. Regardless of whether it was a fighting method or a training method, I just practiced according to the incomplete manual. Although it ended up causing some issues with my body, in those years, it saved my life several times..."

Li Fengxu said with emotion, "And then?"

Old Li: "Later..."