"Don't shout, don't shout, you'll scare people."
The big monk walked down from the hillside and spoke to the stray dogs gathered around him.
The dogs were quite obedient; they all sat in place, closed their mouths, and some even licked their tongues, looking very hungry.
The big monk tipped over two wooden buckets he held, and a large quantity of steamed buns along with eggplants and potatoes fell onto the dirt by the roadside.
"Eat up."
With his command, the stray dogs that were sitting obediently rushed forward and started gorging themselves.
On the mountain road in the early morning, a monk brings food to feed stray dogs. This scene deeply touched Wang Longhu's heart.
He never expected that there were actually dogs that ate vegetables, truly an eye-opener.
Judging from the behavior of the stray dogs, this big monk certainly wasn't doing this for the first time. People who can consistently do such things these days must live quite leisurely lives.
"Young brother, were you just practicing Internal Boxing?" Watching the dogs eat, the big monk suddenly walked towards Wang Longhu and asked proactively.
Having lived for over twenty years, Wang Longhu had never heard anyone call someone 'young brother' before, making him feel quite curious.
"Yes, I was practicing Beng Fist from the Xingyi Five Elements Fist."
"I just walked down from above and heard your loud roar. I guessed you must have accidentally released power while practicing Internal Boxing. To make such a sound, you must have reached the level of transforming essence into energy with your Pile Skill,
which is quite impressive. Seeing you young, with such high martial arts comprehension, and so diligent, going out to practice boxing before six o'clock, it truly shows commendable character." The big monk put down the wooden bucket and generously praised him.
Being suddenly praised made Wang Longhu feel a bit embarrassed.
Diligent? I exchange life for it.
The praise from the big monk made Wang Longhu curious. This man actually knows about transforming essence into energy and Internal Boxing. Is he like Master Chen, a martial artist among ordinary folk?
When did Dong County become so full of hidden talents? I never noticed before.
Wang Longhu's family is Buddhist, and his mother often visits another temple in Dong County, Putuo Temple, to worship, so he knows to call a monk "Master."
Since this big monk knows Internal Boxing as well, Wang Longhu, having doubts about the loud crack produced by his punch, decided to ask him directly, without waiting for the next time he meets Master Chen to inquire.
"Master, I'd like to consult you. When I practice Beng Fist, I occasionally use the flow of energy through my arms, and sometimes when I punch, I can produce a sound. The loudest one just now was akin to firecrackers. What could be the reason?" Wang Longhu asked earnestly.
"Sound?" The big monk looked at Wang Longhu with surprised eyes: "In the Xingyi Boxing classic written by Grandmaster Guo Yunshen, 'Can Explain Xingyi Boxing Classic,' it mentions that Xingyi Boxing has three layers of principles, three steps of practice, and three methods of training.
The three layers of principles are: first, refining essence into energy; second, refining energy into spirit; third, refining spirit into emptiness. The three steps of practice are: first, Bone Transformation; second, Bone Transformation; third, Bone Marrow Transformation; the three methods are Ming Jin, Dark Force, Huajin.
A martial artist having strong punches is just entry-level, only Ming Jin produces sound, while Dark Force is silent. If you can use force in your punch, you have touched the threshold of Ming Jin, and if your punch produces a whip-like crack, this crisp sound means you have achieved the great mastery of Ming Jin. In ancient times, this would qualify as a martial arts expert."
Wang Longhu looked at his own hands: "Does this mean I'm already a Ming Jin expert now?"
"Don't rush, show me a punch." The big monk smiled with interest and positioned himself next to Wang Longhu.
Upon hearing this, Wang Longhu immediately adopted the three-body posture, moved his spine, used the heat surging in his arms, and took a sudden step forward, following with a punch.
Whiz!
This time, instead of a crisp sound, there was merely a rather dragging noise.
"Internal Boxing emphasizes stable Pile Skill, the three-body posture is the foundation of myriad forms. How effective a martial artist's Xingyi Boxing is depends on the depth of their Pile Skill. It seems you haven't been practicing Xingyi Boxing for long,
being able to produce this noise is already quite good. With continued practice, as your ability to hold breath through pores increases, and more energy accumulates within, rising to the temples and sinking to the Dantian, the sounds of your punches will grow louder and convey that firecracker crispness you mentioned."
The big monk only needed to see one punch from Wang Longhu to accurately assess Wang Longhu's situation, earning Wang Longhu's increased admiration. This big monk truly has skills.
"Master, you know so much; are you also practicing Internal Boxing?" Wang Longhu asked curiously.
The old monk shook his head, "That's not it, I practice the Tiger-Crane Combination Fist, which belongs to the South Fist. South Fist also emphasizes Pile Skill, but most fist techniques are External Boxing, relying on regular blows to train muscles, bones, and skin.
If External Boxing is practiced enough to develop significant strength, it can rely on explosive power to produce a crisp sound, proving its force; however, achieving this is truly difficult, and even at the peak, it can't be maintained for long, unlike Internal Boxing which is more moderate and nourishing."
"There's External Boxing too?" Wang Longhu's eyes lit up. He was completely ignorant about martial arts and hadn't paid attention to this field.
When it comes to kung fu, Wang Longhu's understanding is limited to famous skills like Nine Yang Divine Skill, Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, Dragon Elephant Wisdom Skill, and Golden Bell Shield.
He still remembers when the internet wasn't as developed as it is now, wanting to read comics required buying physical copies, with titles like "Stealing Star September Sky" and "Dragon Cartoon" still being serialized.
Back then, bookstores on the street sold a comic named "New Myth of Dragon Tiger Gate," and Wang Longhu read it once and was astounded by the portrayal of the martial arts inside, leading him to think that real-life martial arts were just for performance.
The old monk chuckled, noticing that Wang Longhu was a complete novice in martial arts, yet somehow reached the Ming Jin stage, suggesting that perhaps the childlike sincerity approach really does work in martial training.
"Of course, there's External Boxing. Internal training is focused on breath, while External training is focused on muscles, bones, and skin, it refers to Internal Boxing and External Boxing. Internal Boxing primarily trains breath, using intent to guide breath, breath to lead the limbs and body, then practicing fist techniques and exertion forms, feeling the force with breath, anticipating the opponent.
External Boxing, on the other hand, emphasizes training muscles, bones, and skin, first strengthening them to increase striking power and the ability to withstand blows, focusing on using strength and speed to defeat opponents.
The advantage of Internal Boxing is the ability to strike with specific parts of the body, masters can even send people flying with power akin to movie special effects, which External Boxing can't achieve.
However, the advantage of External Boxing is the long-term physical training, unlike Internal Boxing which primarily trains breath and force, practitioners of External Boxing generally have full muscles and strong bones, looking more robust and strong, akin to what young people call muscle men nowadays, which Internal Boxing can't achieve.
No matter how skilled an Internal Boxing expert is, their physique is balanced at best; after all, scientific principles are in play, muscles appear only through constant exercise and stimulation to lower body fat, becoming aesthetically pleasing. You can't hope for a good physique without movement; it's unrealistic.
Nowadays, Sanda, fight sports, and boxing count as External Boxing. They show fast results, spread widely, and are increasingly popular. On the contrary, Internal Boxing, which requires patience in Pile Skill, breath training first, and fist techniques later is becoming overlooked, with no young people willing to practice it.
Wang Longhu asked, "Can't both Internal and External Boxing be practiced?"
The old monk shook his head, "Human life and energy are limited; wishing for both will only harm you, resulting in mediocrity in both. Historically, only a few Grandmasters have achieved a great level of mastery in both."
The old monk explained carefully, opening Wang Longhu's eyes, and increasing his interest in martial arts quite a bit.
"Master, can I spar with you? I want to test the power of Beng Fist," Wang Longhu asked eagerly.
The old monk smiled helplessly, "You've only learned the surface of Xingyi Boxing, with no true understanding, so sparring isn't necessary. Come, hit my fist."
The old monk raised his right fist, and Wang Longhu noticed it was unusually large, twice the size of a normal person's, with a significant visual impact.
Seeing the old monk's confident look, Wang Longhu readied himself, seriously exerting his strength to clash fists with him.
As soon as the fists collided, Wang Longhu felt as though his fist hit an iron plate, his fist bones aching sharply.
In pain, Wang Longhu quickly withdrew his hand, grimacing as he rubbed his fist.
"As you can see, with your current level in Internal Boxing, you can't match me in terms of physique. I've practiced for many years; my fist bones are polished smooth, the bones harder than ordinary people, which is the advantage of External Boxing.
Once you've mastered the Five Elements Fist and Twelve Forms Fist, I can spar with you to train your combat skills," the old monk laughed heartily.
Only then did Wang Longhu notice that the old monk's fists didn't show any protruding bones, with the surface flat and covered in thick calluses.
This is simply absurd!
"Thank you, Master, for broadening my horizons," Wang Longhu said gratefully.
"It's rare for me to meet a young person practicing Internal Boxing, it's out of interest. Your willingness to learn this means you're preserving martial arts culture, preventing its heritage from being severed, so I naturally want to talk more with you."
The old monk rolled up his monk robes' sleeves and glanced at the Casio electronic watch on his wrist, "Oh! It's about time, I need to head back to the temple to ring the bell, you continue practicing, if you encounter anything you don't understand, you can wait here for me at this time, I come here every day to feed the dogs."
The old monk picked up the wooden bucket and strode towards the hillside, where Yinzhou Zen Monastery is located; this temple Wang Longhu has never visited in the twenty years he's lived in the Lingbei community.
Only occasionally, when he wakes up early from the pressure of needing to urinate, will he hear the morning bell from Yinzhou Zen Monastery, unexpectedly rung by the old monk before him.
The two parted ways, and Wang Longhu continued along the mountain road beginning his monotonous fist practice journey.
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