Seeing the student before him dressed in martial training robes and bowing in the traditional etiquette of old, Cheng Zitong felt immense satisfaction and sentimentality.
How to put it? This was exactly the feeling!
On top of that, the boy was remarkably handsome—the experience was simply off the charts. Taking him on as a student had truly been the right call.
He quickly said, "Come, come, sit. You're far too courteous, always minding your manners."
Chen Chuan said, "Thank you, Master." He gave another bow before taking his seat.
A broad smile on his face, Cheng Zitong said, "Good. Before learning jin, there is a principle you must understand: an adept fighter's combat system must be built by himself—both for the present and for the future. It is something that spans a fighter's entire life."
Chen Chuan said, "When members of the Mutual Aid Society tried to recruit me before, they mentioned something similar. I have a rough idea, but I'm not clear on the specifics."
Cheng Zitong said, "I've never been fond of that Mutual Aid Society, but they have backers, so they do have some real substance. Here at Wuyi, aside from the Weapons Division, instruction nowadays usually begins with unarmed combat, followed by weapons, and then paired with other advantageous equipment, ultimately shaping an adept fighter capable of independent combat and handling all sorts of situations.
"The crux, however, is that this process must harmonize with the growth of mutated tissue.
"To give an example: most students in the Grappling Division currently prioritize Wrapped Robe Jin. Its defining characteristic is that while grappling, seizing, and throwing, the jin—coordinated with mutated tissue—spreads across the entire body in an instant, serving offense and defense simultaneously.
"There is a real necessity for this. In close-quarters fighting, your vital points are pressed right up against the enemy. This isn't ring combat; nobody plays by rules. Whether it's your head, facial features, or the back of your skull and spine, being seized or struck is perilous. For instance, in sanshou, there is a move like this..."
Saying this, he loosely curled his fingers. Keeping his upper arm still, he merely raised his forearm slightly, then brought it down gently. With a sharp crack, the small rosewood table beside him shattered into flying splinters and chunks.
He said, "This move is called Air-Shattering Mallet. When unleashed, force shoots through to the fingertips. It releases quickly with minimal motion, specifically meant to counter low-dive takedowns and tackles."
Looking at the shattered remnants of the table on the floor and the piece of wood that had rolled to his feet, Chen Chuan could well imagine that taking such a blow to the back of the head in a fight would shatter it just the same.
Cheng Zitong said, "Yet against someone trained in Wrapped Robe Jin, as long as the jin covers their body, they could withstand this strike. From there, the fight swings decisively in their favor.
"From a practical combat perspective, because jin must be mobilized through breathing and is unleashed in the blink of an eye, it cannot be detected from the outside. Real combat is therefore a grueling test of experience and judgment. Life and death are often decided in a split second, and having a superior jin does not guarantee victory; it depends on application and seizing openings. But that isn't the point today, so we'll leave it aside.
"Returning to jin: depending on the jin method practiced, the direction in which mutated tissue grows will also differ. Taking Wrapped Robe Jin as an example again, repeatedly practicing Wrapped Robe Jin stimulates the growth of mutated tissue, gradually forming a robust and resilient mutated membrane beneath the skin.
"Every time a student exerts force, their breathing tightens and stretches this membrane, naturally creating a protective layer over the body as if wrapped in a tough, thick leather armor. That is where Wrapped Robe Jin gets its name.
"And with this membrane, even when not actively channeling jin, it still affords the fighter solid protection while granting greater strength. That's why most students in the Grappling Division have impressive durability.
"Ancient texts describe it as: 'When Wrapped Robe engages jin, it withstands iron, stone, and shot.' Back in the era of cold weapons, if such a man were equipped with full iron armor, he would be a vanguard general charging the lines. Imagine being on the enemy side facing dozens, or hundreds, of such men charging at you—how would that feel?"
Chen Chuan pictured the scene, a chill running through him.
Cheng Zitong said, "Take Zhong Wu, whom you defeated during the second round of exams. I looked at his injury report. The most crucial strike landed on his chin, followed by the base of his ear. If not for your immense strength and perfect timing, taking him down would have been virtually impossible."
Chen Chuan acknowledged this. The decisive factors had been that first and second kick: the first caught him off guard, and the second relied on sheer speed to strike during a gap in his breathing. Those two kicks determined everything that followed. In combat, life and death truly hung on a single moment.
Cheng Zitong continued, "Having covered the Grappling Division, let's talk about the Joint-Locking Division. The jin methods practiced there mostly drive the mutated tissue into the sinews and bones, integrating with and encasing the skeleton to make it tough and sturdy, granting greater resilience and flexibility, which also facilitates better force generation.
"Mind you, it's not that the Grappling Division prevents mutated tissue from penetrating the bones; it's simply a matter of prioritization to develop combat capability. With continued stimulation and training, the mutated tissue gradually grows in distinct ways, becoming ever more suited to one's chosen fighting style and path."
Chen Chuan thought it over and nodded in understanding.
Cheng Zitong went on, "I brought up these examples simply to show you that whatever jin method you choose must suit your own combat style and personal inclinations. Don't chase sheer destructive power or blindly follow others into choosing a jin that goes against your nature or feels unnatural to you. What suits you best is what is best."
Chen Chuan looked at him. "Master, do you mean you're leaving the choice of which jin to cultivate entirely to me?"
Cheng Zitong said, "That is my thought. Other advising instructors might believe their rich experience allows them to make a better, more farsighted decision than the student could. But you must understand: this starting point will define a student's entire life. How could one not be prudent?
"From our previous sessions, I can tell you're a student with a mind of your own. I'll provide guidance and references, and you can make the pick yourself. Of course, if you feel you can't make the call and trust me, I can decide for you."
Chen Chuan considered it and said, "Then I would like to first learn what jin methods the academy currently has to offer."
Cheng Zitong pointed toward the bookshelf nearby. "Most of the jin methods the academy can impart are over there. You can go browse through them yourself."
Chen Chuan glanced over, stood up, and walked to the bookshelf. He casually pulled down a bundle of bamboo slips inscribed in archaic script: "Hoof-Grinding Jin."
Cheng Zitong said, "That is a jin meant specifically as an auxiliary method to build physical strength. Anyone training in a greater jin can choose it. There is also Spring-Swallowing Jin, which has a similar effect. These lesser jin are either auxiliary arts used in tandem with a greater jin or condensed versions of them. Just skim through it for now."
Chen Chuan glanced through it briefly, then put it back. He looked up and took down another bundle of bamboo slips labeled "Python-Body Jin."
Cheng Zitong's voice came from behind: "That is a required jin for the Joint-Locking Division. It channels twisting, coiling power through the root, middle, and tip sections, with both hard and soft variations. Taking the soft jin as an example: an adept practitioner seizing just a single point on an opponent can shake their sinews and bones apart..."
Chen Chuan unrolled it and looked. Inside were numerous hand-drawn figures posing in various stances.
Cheng Zitong continued, "Every jin must be trained in conjunction with stance work. Stances are divided into fixed stances and flowing stances. In the old era, they were all fixed stances, but after modern improvements, flowing stances are now the norm.
"Fixed stances are tedious, difficult to master, and once you pass a daily time limit, additional practice yields little benefit. Without a specific knack for it, most people simply cannot master them. Flowing stances are far easier for different people to practice, and they can be aided by various training apparatus. For instance... this is the ancient stance for Wrapped Robe Jin."
With that, he stood up. Clenching his fists tight against his chest and abdomen, his head lowered and body curled inward with his toes hooked under, he looked like an infant in the womb. Yet he balanced his entire body on nothing more than the tops of his toes touching the ground—and stood rock-steady.
Chen Chuan waited until the demonstration ended and Cheng Zitong straightened up before asking, "Master, I've heard Wuyi has an art called Hunyuan Jin?"
Cheng Zitong nodded. "Indeed! That's the standard jin of the Sanshou Division. Once mastered, coordination, agility, and overall strength will all increase dramatically. For example, that Air-Shattering Mallet I demonstrated just now used Hunyuan Jin."
Saying this, he placed a hand over his lower abdomen beneath the navel and said gravely, "And once practiced to an advanced stage, it will first form a cluster of mutated tissue in the dantian."
Chapter 51