Временные трудности / Temporary hardships: Глава 14

Chapter 14, in which the hero realizes that words entail worries, and mushrooms can be delicious as well as dangerous

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:09

* * *

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:09

In the end, Feng just couldn't take it anymore. He snapped, unable to watch this mockery of everything he had done and aspired to so far. These pathetic dumbasses weren't doing anything right. Staying focused while watching someone else's stupidity or clumsiness proved to be very difficult. One could take it as another way of training. But Feng didn't do that. After all, inner peace and peace with oneself were also very important to a true warrior. So he decided to intervene.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:13

And somehow, it turned out that simple attempts to point out the oblique stance, wrongly bent knee, or the wrong rhythm of breathing imperceptibly turned into full-fledged training, at which Feng now acted as a teacher.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:14

Of course, not the same rascal who bullies his students, no. If he shouted, it was only for good reason because these crooked idiots did not understand in a good way. And he had to take a long bamboo stick only because the "students" kept increasing, and there was no time to explain to each of them in detail.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:15

There wasn't enough time for anything - Feng had enough to do as it was, training, chores, and responsibilities piled up, threatening to crush him under its enormous weight. He would even have abandoned the idea, having dispersed those willing to learn the "city tricks," but suddenly, he noticed a strange, almost supernatural effect. While he was trying to explain what exactly to do and why what the "student" was doing now was wrong, he had several small insights. This led to a deeper understanding of his qi flow and allowed him to improve it, making it more efficient and a little stronger. Perhaps it was the energy of the heart dantian that helped, or perhaps there was a more fundamental principle at work, where teaching others taught the teacher himself - something Feng, unfortunately, had no idea about. The effect persisted even when he didn't bother to explain but rather said something like, "Keep your feet straight, you crooked-armed miscarriage of a goat!" and hit the negligent "student" with a bamboo stick to reinforce the knowledge.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:18

Now, he had found the answer to the question that had plagued Han Nao back in his previous life. Why were all the Hidden Experts, various Hermits, Heads of Pavilions of sects, and mysterious immortals so eager to find a talented disciple? Why would they, persons of great power and might, owners of long or even infinite lives, mess around with essentially pathetic brats, helping them solve problems not worth even the movement of an eyebrow for such a master? Well, now, in his new life, Feng had a clear and comprehensive answer.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:20

The first training session, where Feng acted as a teacher, also showed the main disadvantage of training: time. Feng was already desperately short of time, so it was a pity to waste it on brats. During the training of the others, only the spirit of the Great Triad could be trained because it required a great deal of patience to watch these foolish and armless fools unable to even make a proper stance.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:21

It didn't take long to find a solution to this problem. Feng had long since gotten used to doing several things, combining one training session with another. He had a long and time-consuming occupation - storytelling, and it was during such storytelling that the training had actually begun. This meant that storytelling and training had to be combined as well.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:22

"...Ao Pei came running to him with a face contorted with pain from his many wounds and an expression of furious anger. "Sun Yu," Ao Pei whispered, "my family... they died. Died because of that monster, Xiao Chen."

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:22

The crowd sighed loudly and whispered. Feng changed his stance with a slight movement, leaning on his half-bent leg and the other straight leg backward. His arms rose like the wings of a crane. He did not need to look around to see the students, who, for better or worse, repeated the "Crane in the air" stance after him.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:23

"Sun Yu grabbed his friend's shoulder, determination sparkling in his eyes. "We will find Xiao Chen and make him answer for your family's death," he promised. Torn by anger and pain, Ao Pei only nodded briefly. Together, they set out on the path of vengeance in search of Xiao Chen and his gang of villains."

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:24

Feng leaned backward, bending in a cartwheel, almost touching the ground with his outstretched arms in 'Wind Clinging Bamboo.' The disciples clumsily adopted the same stance.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:27

"At night, they crept up to Xiao Chen's hiding place. They walked slowly to avoid stepping on branches and then ran from shadow to shadow. The guards were alert, whether their villainous instincts sensed danger or whether something important had happened before the heroes arrived."

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:28

Feng's hands closed over his head like the beak of a bird of prey. He moved forward in a "Falcon looking for prey" stance.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:28

Feng continued the story, changing stances and postures, watching the students repeat the exercises while he flowed qi through the meridians and swirled it in the three dantians. Dividing his attention simultaneously between his energy flow, watching the students, and telling the story was insanely difficult. At times when students made particularly egregious mistakes, he had to pick up a bamboo stick from the ground and quickly, without distracting himself from the story, reprimand the most distinguished. He tried to strike sharply, painfully, but without consequences - he had enough healing practice with his family to cure other people's injuries.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:30

"You are paying for the death of my family," Ao Pei said, raising his mace above his head and lowering it sharply," Feng finished. "And after Faithful Wind and Ao Pei had paid Xiao Chen with justice, they didn't stop there. They swore an oath to protect the poor and infirm from the villains, raising the flag of justice and hope!"

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:31

The crowd roared with admiration. The story of Sun Yu, nicknamed Free Wind, seemed to have found a special place in their hearts, so they did not hold back their feelings.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:31

When the enthusiasm subsided, relative silence prevailed in the main village square, and someone's disgruntled voice sounded.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:46

"Everything would be fine if only those fools didn't wave their arms! You too, Feng! You'd just stand there and talk! Without all that bouncing around!"

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:49

There was a slight rumble symbolizing either indignation at the interference or agreement with the loudmouth.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:50

"In order to become strong, agile, healthy, and live for many hundreds of years, I need to train," Feng replied, his amplified qi voice overpowering the noise around him. "And if I have to choose between continuing to train or telling you stories, guess what I'll do? If anyone doesn't like the way I tell stories, they can go to the city and read in the library all they want!"

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:50

The threat seemed serious to the villagers. Everyone instantly fell silent, and a hush descended over the village.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:51

"Feng, don't listen to that asshole!" Brother Kang shouted.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:51

"Who are you calling an asshole, you little brat?" The same voice shouted again.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:52

"Shut your scoop, Jiang! said Father Shirong in a strong voice. "Come on, Feng, let's go home. You have a family to tell everything to. And you can do whatever you want, even stand on your head."

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:53

The crowd became excited again. The threat of losing the main attraction of the past few months seemed serious to them. They were all aware that as long as Feng was still a child who had not been given an adult name, his father's word was law.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:54

"Don't get so excited, Shirong!" Headman Wang suddenly took the floor. "Jiang's words are empty swamp wind. I don't mind Feng waving his arms and legs. I don't mind the rest of you waving your arms and legs. It doesn't break any laws. So, that's fine!"

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:55

Feng smirked. Of course, if he were to consider stopping the training of his fellow villagers, it would certainly not be because of the voice of a single fool.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:56

"Hey, why is Feng practicing," a familiar childish voice exclaimed, and Feng tensed up, "and we are the only ones repeating after him while everyone else is standing there doing nothing? They only listen to stories, and for free!"

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:57

The crowd murmured again, but the outrage was now directed at Bokin, who had dared to interfere in adult conversations. Everyone hissed, and there was even the sound of a slap.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:58

"You little brat!"

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:00

"No one asked you, you little brat!"

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:01

"You'll be bossing your mommy around!"

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:01

The indignant cries were interrupted by Master Yi.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:07

"The kid says a thing!" he said. "If some people work and others only listen and poke their noses, it's not fair."

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:08

"Hey, Feng!" Basketmaker Yao asked. "Do these jiggles of yours really help? You said, "Live long and be healthy." But my health is not at all good. I feel that the underground demons will take me away, if not today, then tomorrow."

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:09

Feng thought for a moment. The qi in Yao's body was indeed flowing intermittently and with difficulty, and he resembled an almost extinguished fire with barely smoldering embers. But the qi was still flowing, which meant that there was no problem it couldn't solve.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:10

"They sure do!" Feng said confidently. "But you, Grandpa Yao, will have to try hard, and I don't know whether you want to or not. It will be very hard and very, very painful!

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:11

"You silly little snot, Feng!" laughed the basket maker. "Young and healthy, you think you know everything! I'm already in pain, especially my knees and sides! Do you think a new pain will stop me? Hey, if you're not waving your arms, get outta here! Feng and I are busy!"

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:12

"My back's a little sore, too," nodded the headman. "We've always kept it simple in our village: lazy people don't belong here. So get out of here, Jiang, we're busy, we're practicing! And anyone who doesn't want to practice, get out too!"

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:15

"Hey, what are you guys up to?" Jiang exclaimed. "I just wanted to ask a question! I wouldn't mind becoming as strong as Feng!"

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:16

Feng laughed loudly and without restraint. He was laughing not at the other peasants, but at himself, who had suddenly carried the whole village on his back. Well, more students, more exercise for him.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:25

"You won't become like me, Uncle Jiang! I'll teach you what I know, but it's up to you. The sun hasn't set yet, so there's plenty of time. Today, I'll tell you how Sun Yu and Ao Pei stole the jade statue from the sneaky moneylender Liao. And to hear my story better... Everyone gets into a dabu stand, you miserable swamp eggs! Without it, you can't become a carp and jump the dragon's gate!"

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:17

* * *

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 08:09

Feng picked up the brush and scrutinized the tip. It took several squirrels and one chipmunk to create this "masterpiece" until the result resembled anything resembling a brush rather than his mother's broom used to sweep dust and debris from the hut.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:00

He took a deep inhale and exhale and ran his hand over the tabletop of his new table. The rough planks looked nothing like the polished wood of Han Nao's desk, though they were much more valued here in Duojia. To obtain them, one had to first fell the wood and then cut it with an iron saw forged by Master Yi like everything else.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:21

Several inkpots made of coarse clay by Kun, the potter, contained various inks - from forest poisonous berries, from the decoction of swamp herbs, and simply from soot mixed with water.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:22

A stack of yellowish paper with uneven edges, rough and lumpy, the result of the whole family's work, lay next to plates of wood, bamboo, burnt clay, large dried leaves, and even two precious little plates of iron and copper.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:22

Taking another sheet of paper, Feng smoothed its edges, dipped it in ink, and slowly, carefully dosing it with qi while visualizing the desired result, wrote out two characters: "Heavy burden." He could see that the intention conveyed by qi was working. The raised edges of the paper instantly stuck to the boards of the table as if pressed down by an invisible weight. But after just a few breaths, the same thing that always happened - the paper shattered, partially crumbling into dust and partially disintegrating into small, uneven shreds. Feng sighed and piled them into the basket, along with the rest of the scraps of wood and stone.

Camrad_RIP 16.01.24 в 09:20