Chapter 252: Qinggong
Editor: Atlas Studios
Fei Bai opened his mouth wide and asked, “Master, you’re not hunting anymore?”
He turned back to look at the deer herd, only to find that the herd they had been waiting for all morning had long fled in shock. He sighed in frustration and could only follow.
After all, Qi Haoran was familiar with qinggong. Coupled with his deep internal energy, he soon caught up with Mu Yangling and even rushed to the front to watch her. He carefully observed Mu Yangling’s actions and gradually realized something.
Qi Haoran’s martial arts talent was outstanding to begin with. When he saw that Mu Yangling’s every jump had its trajectory and her footsteps became lighter, he knew that Mu Yangling had comprehended another rule.
He had once heard from his uncle that there were many ways to achieve qinggong. One was to practice internal energy like him and then learn qinggong. With more training, one would naturally be able to achieve it. This was also common knowledge.
The other method was to practice qinggong through body tempering. For example, tying heavy objects on one’s calf to practice jumping and running. As the days passed and the years passed, one should increase the weights. When one reached a limit and removed the heavy objects, they would become lighter and master qinggong.
However, the second method was inferior to the first method, but the benefits were obvious. Those who had internal energy as the foundation would not be able to use qinggong after using up their internal energy. Unlike the second type of practitioner whereby the qinggong had already become a part of their body. As long as they could move, they would be able to utilize qinggong.
However, this body tempering method was too difficult. One had to persevere for ten years.
Qi Haoran looked at Mu Yangling’s pursuit with bright eyes. Her method was different from the above two methods mentioned. Instead, it seemed to be a combination of the two. Although it was very subtle, he could still sense the internal energy brought about by her actions.
She had cultivated internal energy.
Obviously, she had figured out this method herself.
The pheasant seemed to have reached its limit as it flapped its wings and flew out. Mu Yangling chased after it relentlessly. Behind the bushes was Luocong Mountain. The weeds on the mountain were all dead, with only a few low trees growing sporadically. The panicky pheasant had flown itself into a dead end.
Qi Haoran also flew out, followed by Mu Yangling. With a tap of her toes on the rock, she pounced forward and pressed down on the pheasant. The pheasant let out two weak cries before completely quietening down.
Exhausted, Mu Yangling lay on the rock and wiped her sweat. She reached out and handed the pheasant to Qi Haoran. “Take it. I want to rest.”
Qi Haoran took it and asked, “How did you come up with this training method?”
“By chance. I sensed it when I was chasing after the pheasant just now. I thought I was hallucinating a few days ago, but it turns out that I’ve really cultivated internal energy.”
Although she had yet to succeed up till now, she had already developed a habit. Every night before sleeping, Mu Yangling would meditate and practice the internal cultivation technique that she had not made any progress in. A few days ago, she’d felt a heat in her lower abdomen and thought that she had cultivated internal energy. No matter how hard she held her breath, she could not express it. She thought that it was just her imagination, but today, she realized that it was real.
Mu Yangling lay on the rock as she looked at the blue sky and white clouds. “I think I might have used the wrong method to use internal energy. Otherwise, why couldn’t I do it two days ago?”
Qi Haoran smiled when he heard that. “You didn’t use the wrong method. It’s just that your internal energy isn’t enough to release the Qi to begin with.” At this point, Qi Haoran became serious and said, “Since you’ve already cultivated your internal energy, things will be much smoother from now on. If you persevere every day, there will be a day when you can become an expert.”
Mu Yangling sat up and said with bright eyes, “Don’t worry. If nothing else, I don’t lack perseverance and willpower. One day, I’ll be able to master qinggong to the point where I can tread on the snow without leaving a trace.”
Qi Haoran touched her forehead. “You don’t have a fever. Why are you talking nonsense? Do you think you can achieve such qinggong with your little internal energy? I’ve never heard of anyone’s qinggong allowing one to walk on the snow without leaving a trace.”
Mu Yangling said in a daze, “Isn’t that what the books say? Is there no one in the pugilistic world who can walk on the snow without leaving a trace, or float on the water or something?”
Qi Haoran couldn’t help but hold his stomach and laugh. “I told you to read fewer such books, but you didn’t listen. Those are all nonsense written by people who don’t understand. Moreover, I don’t see such characters described in any books. There must be a leverage for qinggong. For instance, on water, unless there’s a floating board or rock in the water to leverage on, how can a person float on the water?”
“How far can you float on the water with your qinggong?”
“If I have a good leverage point on the shore and use the water as a second leverage point, I can leap 40 feet at most.” Qi Haoran patted her head earnestly and said, “So don’t believe what’s written in the books.”
However, Mu Yangling was not depressed. Instead, she said happily, “That’s good. I was originally worried that there would be such a person in the world. Wouldn’t we be very unsafe if that were the case? I’m stronger than ordinary people. If I can master qinggong on top of that, I won’t have to be afraid of anyone in the future.”
Qi Haoran said solemnly, “If you want to master it as soon as possible, the method you used today is actually not bad. You can circulate your internal energy and practice your lightness at the same time. In the future, you can also tie sandbags on your feet to practice. The effect will be enhanced.”
Mu Yangling couldn’t help but pat the rock under her and said excitedly, “Then help me come up with a plan. At the same time, teach me how to circulate this internal energy in detail. When I was circulating my internal energy just now, I didn’t dare to speak, afraid that the Qi would get disrupted if I spoke.”
This was not difficult for Qi Haoran. He waved the pheasant in his hand and said, “Then should we go back first or roast it first?”
“Let’s eat first before going back. I’m starving.” Mu Yangling had already been busy the entire morning. Coupled with the fact that she had been fully focused on chasing this pheasant, she had utilized a lot of mental and physical strength. Now, she only felt so hungry that she couldn’t walk.
Qi Haoran found a rope from her basket and tied the poor pheasant up. Then, he said to Mu Yangling, “Then I’ll go pick up some dry firewood. Wait here.”
Mu Yangling nodded eagerly.
When Fei Bai finally caught up, the two of them had already started a fire behind a rock. Mu Yangling was eagerly watching Qi Haoran deal with the pheasant.
Fei Bai’s heart was about to jump out of his chest from running. When Qi Haoran saw him, he instructed him, “Where’s the kettle? Hurry up and bring it up.”
Fei Bai couldn’t even catch his breath, but he still carried Qi Haoran’s bow and placed it on the ground. He took out the kettle and washed the pheasant for Qi Haoran.
Fei Bai looked at his master and then at Miss Mu. Thinking of their appetite, he looked pitifully at the slaughtered pheasant. He was hungry too!
Qi Haoran didn’t think of this problem, but Mu Yangling did. Hence, she searched in the basket on her back and took out the sleeve arrow that Qi Haoran had given her previously. She handed it to Fei Bai and said, “Take it to catch a pheasant or rabbit. You know how to use this, right?”
“Yes, thank you, Miss Mu.” Fei Bai received it with a smile and touched it cherishingly. This sleeve arrow was a treasure.
Qi Haoran glanced at him and said, “Don’t damage it. Hurry up and come back.”
Fei Bai responded and ran into the forest happily.
Seeing that Qi Haoran was unfamiliar with marinating the pheasant, Mu Yangling wanted to help him. Unexpectedly, the moment she stood up, the rock behind her fell, startling the two of them.