Chapter 17: Breathing Technique, A Good Foundation
(The protagonist's family background and member settings have been slightly modified, and the previous chapter has been extensively edited. Readers who have read it can read it again, especially Chapters 15 and 16. Apologies for the inconvenience.)
(Thanks for the monthly and recommended tickets, I'm truly grateful and will continue working hard!)
...
Qingcheng had four major districts, each representing a different direction, and they were commonly known by the saying, "East is rich, West is poor, North is noble, and South is low." This saying roughly described the social stratification within Qingcheng.
The East District was home to the wealthy, with large companies and enterprises setting up their headquarters there. It was a place where land was scarce and expensive. On the other hand, the North District housed the aristocrats and high-ranking officials. Safety was a top priority there, and the issue wasn't about the price of land but rather the exclusivity—even money couldn't buy a place there.
The West District, on the other hand, was where the majority of ordinary people lived, including Xue Jing's family.
Of course, this was not an absolute rule, and it didn't mean that everyone in the East District was rich or everyone in the West District was poor. This was merely a general classification.
However, the saying about the South District being 'low' was undoubtedly true.
It was the real slum of the city, the final destination for all the vices and crimes. The law held no power there; instead, it was controlled by gangs, and even the security bureau had no jurisdiction. Many criminals would hide there, disappearing without a trace. Only the security companies backed by the gangs held any influence in that area.
Xue Jing had never ventured into the South District. Since he was young, his parents and elders had constantly warned him against going anywhere near it. Thus, he only knew about it through hearsay.
He never expected that his classmate, Pei Youguang, who was rumored to have a 'strong background,' lived in the South District.
Although it was on the outskirts, closer to the West District, it still bordered the 'slums.'
"Jing ge, come in," Pei Youguang said as he unlocked the door to a rather large house and gestured for Xue Jing to enter.
The exterior of the house looked old and worn. It had a square layout with a spacious front yard and white brick walls that were covered in the patina of time, heavily oxidized and yellowed.
The surrounding area was equally dilapidated, with litter strewn across the street, indicating that it hadn't been cleaned in a long time.
Xue Jing shook his head and followed Pei Youguang inside.
Contrary to the house's aged exterior, the interior was surprisingly well-decorated. Gray faux wood-grain flooring, a soft, fluffy rug in the middle of the living room, and a complete set of furniture created a harmonious, if not particularly stylish, atmosphere.
Xue Jing took off his shoes, hung his bag on a hook by the door, and sat down on a single sofa. "Do you live alone?" he asked.
Pei Youguang, who was taking out drinks from the refrigerator, paused and nodded. "Yes."
Xue Jing asked casually, "Why do you live here? Isn't your dad working for a member of parliament? Even if you can't get into the North District, you should at least be able to live in the East District."
Pei Youguang tossed a bottle of soda to Xue Jing and opened one for himself. After taking a big gulp, he sighed in satisfaction and replied, "My dad and I don't get along very well... This house belonged to my mom. After she passed away, she left it to me. Two years ago, after a big argument with my dad, I moved out and came here."
"There's a Jin Feng Dojo nearby. I heard that the owner is from the Inner Ring City and is a descendant of the 'Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword.' After I moved here, I joined the Jin Feng Dojo and practiced martial arts with the masters there for a few months... But then some things happened, and I left."
Xue Jing nodded in understanding. "I see."
It seemed that Pei Youguang had also gone through some tough times.
However, everyone had their own stories, and Xue Jing wasn't particularly interested in delving into them. He stood up and said, "Let's not waste any more time. Start teaching me the 'Power Technique' now.
Chapter: "Breathing Technique"
"That's the only reason I came here."
Upon hearing this, Pei Youguang also stood up and threw his empty drink bottle into the trash can. "Alright, Jing ge, follow me to the training room."
...
The training room was a spacious area of about seventy square meters, with thick mats covering the floor and various workout equipment filling the space, along with some machines that Xue Jing couldn't quite identify.
At the center of the room were several punching bags and wooden posts of different materials, all showing signs of wear and tear from frequent use.
"The key to developing power lies in breathing," Pei Youguang explained, recalling the teachings of his master from the dojo.
"Power is the kinetic energy generated by the movement of our internal organs. However, we have very little control over our bodies; we can't control the flow of blood, the functions of our organs, or even our muscles beyond simple tensing and relaxing. So, we need to learn how to influence these parts of our bodies that we normally can't control, and that's where the 'Breathing Technique' comes into play."
"Now, I'll teach you a basic Breathing Technique that every disciple at the dojo learns. With this technique, you'll be able to influence and control your body from within."
After explaining, Pei Youguang sat down on the mat, crossing his legs.
"Come, Jing ge, follow my lead."
Xue Jing did as instructed and sat down, crossing his legs as well.
Pei Youguang then began to explain the specific steps of the Breathing Technique, demonstrating each movement while guiding Xue Jing through the process.
While the technique itself wasn't overly complex, it was extremely challenging. Some steps required long intervals between inhaling and exhaling, demanding the intake of a large amount of oxygen. Those with insufficient lung capacity wouldn't even be able to attempt this technique.
Pei Youguang had assumed that Xue Jing wouldn't be able to keep up with the technique on his first try, as it had taken him a whole month to successfully complete it for the first time.
So, he watched with a hint of schadenfreude, expecting to see Xue Jing struggle and cough helplessly. But to his surprise, Xue Jing followed along flawlessly and completed the entire basic Breathing Technique on his first attempt!
"Is that it?"
Xue Jing, unaccustomed to taking in so much oxygen, felt dizzy and nauseous, his heart racing and his vision blurring as if his entire body were on fire.
This was the result of the large influx of oxygen entering his bloodstream, causing his blood to circulate at an accelerated rate and raising his body temperature.
It was a challenging experience, but he had done it.
"Jing ge, you're amazing!" Pei Youguang exclaimed, genuinely impressed as he gave Xue Jing a thumbs-up.
Only someone who had practiced the technique would understand how difficult it was, and yet Xue Jing had mastered it on his first try.
Perhaps this was what the master at the dojo had meant by 'good roots'.
Pei Youguang couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
"Once you get used to the Breathing Technique and practice it regularly, even making it a part of your instinct, you'll be able to constantly improve your physical condition. I haven't even mastered it yet, and I can't perform it too many times a day, or my body won't be able to handle it."
"As you get accustomed to it, you'll gradually feel the rhythm of your body's internal movements while breathing. When you learn how to use your breath to influence and control them, you'll naturally develop power."
Xue Jing sat with his eyes closed, calming his body and mind after the intense experience of practicing the Breathing Technique for the first time.
After a while, he opened his eyes and said, "Teach me again."
Pei Youguang hesitated, "You've just been introduced to the Breathing Technique, and it's already a lot for your first day. Let's continue tomorrow; I don't want to push your body too hard."
But Xue Jing shook his head, "It's fine, let's continue. I want to solidify the steps in my memory and make sure I don't make any mistakes."
...
(End of Chapter)
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