Fantasy Novel: Paradise

Hotel    26

【Twenty-Five】Husband and Wife Train in Martial Arts Together

92

Father John Chen called Lin Xiaoyang and his wife to Room 505 and personally handed the set of double weapons to the newlyweds.

Father John Chen said, “Princess Maria asked Brother Stelong and me to deliver these to you as a wedding gift.”

Huang Minhua held the long sword in both hands and asked in confusion, “I don’t even know how to use a sword. This gift from the princess…”

Father John Chen said, “The princess means for you to train in martial arts with Xiaoyang and develop your own martial skills. Sooner or later, Xiaoyang will definitely need your help.”

Stelong smiled and said, “I heard from my senior brother that on the night Xiaoyang fought Rufu and Anderson, he showed off a sword technique of his own invention and sliced Anderson up like a toy doll until he was reduced to a human ball. Xiaoyang’s martial arts skills are truly unfathomable!”

Huang Minhua looked at Lin Xiaoyang and still expressed her doubts. “But swords and blades have no eyes, and besides, I have never had any desire to learn martial arts.”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Minhua, as long as you are willing to learn, learning martial arts is just like learning to paint. There are methods and techniques to it. It really isn’t difficult at all.”

Father John Chen said, “Here’s the situation. Before you two got married, Princess Maria summoned us to Sky Castle and entrusted us with a difficult mission. To carry out this mission, the two of you must go together. Only then will we have a chance of completing it.”

Huang Minhua said, “But I only know how to paint. What could I possibly contribute by going with you?”

Lin Xiaoyang asked, “What kind of mission did the princess assign?”

Father John Chen briefly explained the details of the mission. As Huang Minhua listened, her face gradually turned pale. She thought to herself, “This mission is so dangerous. Isn’t she basically sending the two of us to our deaths?”

Seeing the worry on Minhua’s pale face, Xiaoyang quickly encouraged her. “Starting today, you’ll focus on learning martial arts with me. I believe that if the two of us work together with one heart, we will definitely be able to complete this mission.”

93

Huang Minhua was eventually persuaded by Lin Xiaoyang, and her memories of her previous life gradually returned. She learned that in her previous life she had been Eileen, the princess’s personal maid. Even so, she could not help worrying that David, reincarnated as Xiaoyang, would once again lose his life for the sake of the princess.

In Room 504, Lin Xiaoyang showed Minhua two martial-arts comics. “My internal energy and sword techniques were originally inspired by these two comics.”

Minhua flipped through the comics and asked skeptically, “But all these moves in the comics are extremely difficult. I’m not athletic at all. How could I possibly do them?”

Lin Xiaoyang said optimistically, “You can definitely do it. I’ll teach you one step at a time. First, follow me and learn to meditate. Relax the muscles throughout your body, then slowly empty your mind until there is nothing but blankness and not a single distracting thought.”

Huang Minhua reluctantly followed Xiaoyang and sat cross-legged on the floor to meditate. Xiaoyang placed the fingers of his right hand against Minhua’s left wrist.

“First, follow me and take deep breaths. Learn how to regulate your breathing. Come on, like this.” Xiaoyang demonstrated several times, and Minhua followed along.

“Close your eyes and relax the muscles throughout your body, starting from the soles of your feet, then your calves and thighs, and gradually moving upward…” Xiaoyang continued guiding Minhua with verbal instructions. “Yes, Minhua, just like that. Relax your back and abdomen, and let your breathing become slow and even. Relax your shoulders and neck muscles. Relax the muscles in your face. Relax your scalp… You’re doing very well. Next, gradually clear away the images and distracting thoughts in your mind. Fade them one by one and remove them until your mind is completely blank.”

Lin Xiaoyang switched to transmitting his voice through their heart meridians and guided Minhua. “That’s right. Fade the image of David and the image of me, further and further, and then fade your own image as well. Let only a little mist and fog remain in your mind. That’s it. You’re doing very well. Keep going. After a while, the mist will disappear, and there will be nothing but emptiness…”

After the meditation, Xiaoyang helped Minhua to her feet. Her calves were somewhat numb and sore. Xiaoyang poured her a glass of electrolyte water to quench her thirst and had her sit in a chair. He placed both hands on top of Minhua’s head and slowly guided his internal energy into her body.

“How does it feel?”

“It feels like a warm current flowing down from the top of my head.”

Xiaoyang asked considerately, “Does it feel comfortable?”

“Mm-hmm. My body is gradually becoming warm and relaxed…”

“I’m using my internal energy to accelerate the blood flow in your body and help relieve your fatigue.”

“This is truly amazing, Xiaoyang. I never knew you had so many abilities.” Minhua closed her eyes, feeling the affection Xiaoyang had for her.

94

At dinnertime, Margaret brought them a light meal: freshly squeezed juice, warmed milk, and several slices of multigrain toast.

The newlyweds were enjoying their meal together when Father John Chen knocked on the door and entered.

Father John Chen asked with a smile, “How is the training going?”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Minhua has just started getting the hang of it. She learns very quickly.”

Father John Chen said, “Once the two of you are able to communicate with one another heart to heart, the training will progress much more smoothly.”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Give me half a month, Father.”

Father John Chen said, “No problem! During that time, Brother Stelong and I can practice a set of Tai Chi techniques together.”

Lin Xiaoyang smiled and said, “Father, you really know your stuff! Tai Chi is profound and far-reaching. Use your opponent’s force to your advantage, and use slowness to overcome speed.”

Father John Chen praised him. “Ha! In just eight words, you captured the essence of Tai Chi. You will definitely become a grandmaster of martial arts someday.”

Lin Xiaoyang waved his hand and said, “I have no desire to become some grandmaster of martial arts! Being a painter, photographer, or travel writer would make for such a carefree life!”

Father John Chen said, “That’s true. Once this mission is completed, I want to return to Kunming, Yunnan, and visit my family. I’ve been away from home for twenty years. When I first came to Europe to study philosophy, I never imagined that I would eventually become a priest in the Vatican.”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “I also want to take Minhua back to Taiwan for a visit and introduce her to my parents and family.”

Father John Chen said, “Minhua, Xiaoyang is not only your husband but also your martial-arts teacher. Ha! You two really are a legendary martial-arts couple.”

Minhua joked, “Someday, Father, bring me a golden eagle and teach me how to ride it through the sky.”

Father John Chen thought for a moment and said, “That might not be impossible. Once the mission is over, I’ll discuss it with the Dragon Rider and ask him to let you ride a flying dragon.”

95

In Room 504, under Lin Xiaoyang’s careful instruction, Minhua’s brain waves soon gradually synchronized with Xiaoyang’s, and the two became able to communicate with one another heart to heart. Through Xiaoyang’s brain waves, Minhua received many of the essentials of practicing internal energy and gradually acquired some of Xiaoyang’s supernatural abilities. During her cultivation of internal-energy techniques, Minhua gradually let go of her resistance and learned from Xiaoyang how to control the internal energy within her body, directing it to flow through the acupuncture points and meridians.

“Minhua, guide your internal energy into your palms. Then concentrate completely and try to move that pencil on the table without touching it.”

“Okay, I’ll try!” Minhua first regulated her breathing and adjusted her energy, slowly extending both hands and gathering the internal energy in her palms.

Xiaoyang said, “That’s right. Now focus your mental energy and concentrate your thoughts on the pencil.”

Minhua concentrated completely on the pencil lying on the tabletop and pushed her internal power out through her hands. The pencil trembled slightly twice.

“Mm. Next, imagine that you are picking up the pencil with your fingers and holding it in your palm.”

Minhua regulated her breathing again, summoned the internal energy throughout her body, and infused it into her palms. She slowly rotated her hands, and the pencil was lifted several inches into the air, floating above the tabletop. After slowly rotating once, it finally fell back down. By then, beads of sweat had appeared on Minhua’s forehead and temples.

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Take a break. This afternoon, we’ll practice in the small woods behind the square. I’ll teach you some new exercises.”

Huang Minhua gave a wry smile and said, “Teacher Xiaoyang, your teaching pace is even faster than the cram-school teachers in their pre-exam intensive classes!”

Lin Xiaoyang picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped the beads of sweat from Minhua’s face. “Of course. It’s because you absorb and digest everything so quickly that I can speed up the training.”

At that moment, Margaret knocked on the door and entered carrying a lacquered tray. On the tray was a milky-white glass bottle and a stemmed glass.

Margaret said, “Boss, the princess sent someone to deliver this tonic to you. She said it is for the two of you to strengthen and restore your bodies.”

Xiaoyang asked, “What is inside this glass bottle?”

Margaret smiled and said, “I’m guessing it’s dragon marrow fluid. I’ve never had any, but I once heard Wilson mention it. Dragon marrow fluid is supposed to be a sacred tonic with extraordinary restorative properties.”

Xiaoyang asked, “All right. When you get a chance, please send word back and thank the princess for her concern.”

“Of course. I’ll go respond to the messenger right away.” Margaret finished speaking, turned around, and left.

Xiaoyang picked up the bottle of milky-white liquid and read the instructions printed on it aloud. “Every person should drink one glass on an empty stomach early tomorrow morning, and continue drinking it for ten consecutive days.”

Xiaoyang said, “Minhua, starting tomorrow, we’ll begin drinking it.”

96

At three o’clock in the afternoon, Lin Xiaoyang and Huang Minhua were in a mahogany forest. The two of them were dressed in traditional Chinese martial-arts training clothes, with leg wraps around their lower legs, and each held a wooden saber and a wooden sword.

Xiaoyang said, “Minhua, I’ll demonstrate a set of Tai Chi saber techniques first. Watch carefully.”

“Okay.” Minhua held the wooden sword in her right hand, feeling just like a female martial-arts hero in a wuxia movie.

Xiaoyang said, “After I finish this set of saber techniques, I’ll ask you what you saw.”

“Mm, go ahead and use the saber, Teacher Xiaoyang.” Minhua pressed her lips together and secretly smiled.

Xiaoyang initially held the saber handle in reverse grip with his right hand. Then he raised his internal energy, switched to a forward grip, and slowly performed one move after another. At first, Minhua paid attention only to the techniques. After about ten moves, she suddenly realized that although the saber techniques appeared gentle and slow, every move concealed a fierce killing intent. With one sweeping, spinning saber strike, the force of the saber wind reached several yards ahead and actually sliced through the trunk of a small tree, leaving an even and smooth diagonal cut. Minhua watched without blinking. Even as she was shocked, she thought to herself, “If that had been an enemy’s body, wouldn’t it have been cut cleanly in half? And when Xiaoyang spun around, he used one foot as the center of the circle and the other foot as the radius. Where on earth did that tremendous force come from…?”

After watching the entire set of Tai Chi saber techniques, Minhua’s mind was filled with questions, yet for a moment she did not know where to begin.

After Xiaoyang finished the saber routine, Minhua suddenly noticed that dozens of yards around them, more than a hundred small tree trunks had been cut down around the perimeter. The small branches extending downward from five or six yards above the ground along the circumference had all been neatly sliced away by the wooden saber, forming a perfect cylinder. The sight left Minhua completely baffled.

Xiaoyang smiled and asked, “Minhua, what did you see just now?”

Minhua shook her head and smiled wryly. “I saw a whole head full of question marks. I don’t even know where to start asking.”

Xiaoyang said, “All right, take it slowly! Let me borrow your wooden sword. This time I’ll demonstrate a set of Tai Chi sword techniques.”

Minhua handed the wooden sword to Xiaoyang and carried the wooden saber for him.

Xiaoyang likewise held the sword handle with his right hand, but instead of a reverse grip, he used a forward grip. He slowly extended the wooden sword, thrusting, chopping, lifting, hooking, turning, slicing… One sword technique followed another, flowing as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water. Minhua then noticed that wherever the sword blade passed, leaves began falling one after another. Even more astonishingly, the leaves never reached the ground. Instead, they clung to the sword blade and moved along with it. Minhua watched as if entranced.

Before she knew it, the sword routine was over. After Xiaoyang withdrew the sword, the leaves unexpectedly formed a circle around him, about two yards in diameter, while Xiaoyang’s feet stood exactly at the center of the circle. Minhua seemed to grasp something from the scene.

“Minhua, what did you see this time?” Xiaoyang returned the wooden sword to her and took back the wooden saber.

Minhua gathered her thoughts and said, “I saw that the saber and sword techniques embody a balance between hardness and softness, with yin and yang complementing each other.”

“Bingo! My wife really is exceptionally intelligent. Today, I’m going to teach you how to use Tai Chi sword techniques. This martial-art system combines saber and sword techniques. I developed these paired yin-and-yang saber-and-sword formations from what I understood from the Tai Chi Bagua diagram. Since you and I are connected heart to heart, when our saber and sword techniques are combined, the power of this formation should not be underestimated!”

Xiaoyang then took a wooden Tai Chi Bagua diagram board from his backpack, placed it over his right index finger, and slowly spun it. Xiaoyang asked, “Tell me what you see, Minhua.”

Minhua hesitated for a moment before saying, “I see a vortex.”

Xiaoyang prompted her, “Keep looking. Concentrate.”

After a while, Minhua said, “I see a cycle repeating itself over and over.”

Xiaoyang smiled and said, “You’re very close to the answer!”

This time, Minhua thought for a long while, but finally shook her head and said, “No! I don’t know the answer!”

Xiaoyang burst out laughing. “Wife, don’t you see how devotedly your husband is training you?”

Hearing that answer, Minhua suddenly burst into laughter and protested, “How is that an answer? Stop pulling my leg!”

Xiaoyang put on a completely serious expression and said, “We deeply love each other, so we can communicate heart to heart.”

As Minhua listened, a sweet feeling spread through her heart like ripples on water. She smiled radiantly and said, “All right! I accept that answer.”

The newlyweds continued practicing their saber and sword techniques in the woods. Yet every movement they made and every word they exchanged was heard clearly by Father John Chen, who was pretending to be a fisherman on the lakeshore outside the woods.

Satisfied, he lifted the fish from his water bag and poured the entire bag of fish back into the lake. He packed up his fishing rod and left with light steps, heading back toward the hotel.