I achieved mastery of martial arts during the Republic of China era.

Chapter 4 Revision

Zhou Tong stared at the suddenly appearing square, and was first taken aback, then an indescribable joy welled up in his heart.

He subconsciously adjusted his movements little by little based on the information that suddenly appeared in his mind.

Where the center of gravity shifted by half an inch, where a muscle should have been relaxed but wasn't, where the breathing rhythm was slightly too fast...

These details, which are mysterious to beginners and require years of contemplation, are now as clear as black and white words in his mind.

No, it's more precise than black and white writing!

The flow of information swept through his mind, giving him a clear perception that was almost like introspection.

Many of the key points in martial arts that can only be understood intuitively and cannot be explained in words, such as the subtle changes in tension and relaxation, and the just-right lightness, heaviness, speed and slowness in the coordination of breathing, now have clear standards.

"Here, sink your elbow a little deeper... Yes, that's it!"

"Slow down your breathing, yes, that's the feeling!"

Zhou Tong was overjoyed.

If he was previously groping blindfolded in the dark, a tedious and painful experience, now he is striding forward under the guidance of a bright light.

Each correction of a mistake brings a little bit of "correct" pleasure, like playing whack-a-mole, and the "mole" he has to knock down is the flaw in his own actions.

This kind of martial arts training, with its constant positive feedback and clear goals, completely immersed him, making him forget even the soreness in his body, and he couldn't stop practicing.

Time passed, and only when waves of intense soreness and exhaustion surged through his limbs did he suddenly wake up, reaching out to touch his forehead, which was covered in sweat.

Zhou Tong shook his head, composed himself, exhaled a long breath, and sat down on the bench in the corner.

He was panting and kneading his aching muscles, outwardly calm but inwardly extremely excited.

Although he aspired to martial arts, he was always worried about whether he could master it.

But now the panel's correction function dispelled the fog in his mind and eased his anxiety caused by the chaotic situation.

He knew in his heart that the current situation was becoming more and more chaotic, and it might collapse completely at any time.

In times of war and chaos, wealth and family background may not be reliable; the only thing that can truly protect oneself and one's family is real strength.

His strength is still meager, but he sees real hope and feels a sense of peace he has never felt before.

After resting for a while and waiting for the tooth-grinding pain to subside slightly, Zhou Tong couldn't wait to stand up again, get back into position, and once again immerse himself in the fun-filled "game" with his own body.

Before we knew it, it was dusk.

Chen Zong passed through the moon gate from the backyard to the training ground in the front yard.

On the field, dozens of students were practicing stance training like Zhou Tong, while others were sparring with each other.

Chen Zong stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes sharp as he slowly swept over the trainees in the arena, observing each person's movements, breathing, and mental state. Sometimes he nodded slightly, and sometimes his expression turned somber.

Finally, his gaze shifted to the corner of the venue and landed on Zhou Tong.

The next moment, his previously calm gaze paused slightly, a hint of surprise appearing in his eyes.

At this moment, Zhou Tong was immersed in martial arts practice, his expression focused, constantly adjusting his movements.

Although Chen Zong felt that Zhou Tong's movements were still clumsy and his body was somewhat stiff, it was much better than before when he made so many mistakes.

The progress is visible to the naked eye!

Furthermore, Zhou Tong's focused state of being so engrossed in martial arts practice that he was oblivious to everything around him also caught his eye.

"Your comprehension is quite good, and your focus is also rare."

Chen Zong nodded slightly, but did not go forward to praise him. He looked him over for a moment and then looked away.

……

After a day of practice, Zhou Tong dragged his tired body out of the martial arts gym, but his eyes were much brighter than when he left.

As soon as I stepped out of the alley where the martial arts school was located, I saw Afu's familiar figure.

Ah Fu jogged up to greet him, a smile plastered on his face: "Young Master, you've finally come out! You must be exhausted. The car is waiting up ahead."

Zhou Tong nodded slightly and got into the car.

Back at the Zhou residence, after washing up, Zhou Tong sat down at the rosewood round table in the dining room.

The table was now laden with food, quite different from its usual light and delicate presentation.

In the center is a large bowl of steaming hot pork hock stewed with soybeans, the broth milky white. Next to it is a plate of braised pork belly in a glossy, dark brown sauce, as well as steamed fish and stir-fried vegetables, all emitting an enticing aroma.

Yao Wanru personally ladled a bowl of rice overflowing from her son's head and handed it to him, then smiled and pointed to the dishes on the table, saying:

"Knowing that you expend a lot of energy practicing martial arts and your body can't be too weak, I specifically asked several of the guards in the family who practice martial arts. They all said that at this time you should eat some substantial meat, and it would be best to supplement it with some warming and nourishing medicinal herbs."

This pork hock has some astragalus and goji berries added; it's excellent for boosting energy, so you should eat more.

As she spoke, she picked up the soup ladle again and ladled a full bowl of pork hock soup for him, then added several pieces of braised pork to his bowl.

"Thank you, Mother."

Zhou Tongchong's mother smiled and began to eat heartily.

Watching him wolf down his food, Yao Wanru felt both heartache and relief, and softly asked:

"Tong'er, are you settling in well at the martial arts school? Is Master strict? Are you getting along well with your fellow disciples?"

Zhou Tong swallowed the food in his mouth and replied briefly, "I didn't see Master today. It was my eldest brother who taught me the skills. He's a very good and responsible person."

Yao Wanru carefully observed her son's expression and saw that although he looked tired, his eyes were still peaceful and he didn't seem to have been wronged, so she was relieved.

Zhou Tong noticed this, put down his chopsticks, and smiled, "Mother, I'm not a child anymore, so don't worry."

"Yes, Tong'er is different from before," Yao Wanru said with a smile.

"By the way, where's my dad?"

"Didn't your father withdraw from the family business association and look for new work? He should have been busy with social engagements these past few nights. Don't worry about it, just focus on your martial arts practice."

The mother and daughter chatted casually, and after Zhou Tong had almost finished eating, Yao Wanru said again:

"The guards at home said that after practicing martial arts, you need to loosen your muscles and bones in time so that your blood and qi can flow smoothly. My mother has already asked someone to invite the master from Baoyuantang to come over."

After you finish eating, rest for a while, then go to your room and let him give you a good massage to loosen up your muscles and bones.

This old master has a family-inherited skill; he specializes in treating muscle and joint fatigue. Your father twisted his back before, and he was the one who massaged it and fixed it.

Zhou Tong nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, Mother."

After sitting for a short while after the meal, Zhou Tong returned to his bedroom.

Inside the room, a bright halo of light shone from a Western-style chandelier, and in the corner, a rosewood-framed bed was covered with soft silk quilts.

An elderly master craftsman, dressed in a clean blue cotton jacket and around fifty years old, was waiting in the room with his hands at his sides. On a small table next to him was an open wooden box containing several porcelain bottles and medicine jars neatly arranged.

A faint aroma, a blend of herbs and oils, filled the air.

"Thank you for your trouble, Master." Zhou Tong lay down on the bed covered with a soft towel.

The old master didn't say much, only replying, "Young master, just relax," before rolling up his sleeves to reveal a pair of hands with large, calloused knuckles.

He first poured some warm medicinal oil from the porcelain bottle into his palm and rubbed it to warm it. Then he began to massage Zhou Tong’s shoulders and neck with steady and skillful movements.

At first, the massage process was not pleasant, accompanied by waves of soreness and swelling. However, as the pressure gradually increased, the muscles that had become stiff due to excessive force were loosened.

The soreness dissipated, replaced by a deep relaxation and warmth, a feeling of comfort that was hard to describe.

Zhou Tong felt a surge of lightness in his body, his tense nerves completely relaxing. In his hazy state, the last thought that flashed through his mind was: 'The enjoyment after this arduous training is truly...comfortable.'