Chapter 10: The Book of Changes. The First of the Classics.

  The previous chapter ended with Yue Fei learning from Mr. Zhou about the stance of "zhan jiang". Yue Fei watched Mr. Zhou for a while, then imitated him and asked, "How do you make your head feel like it's floating on top?"

  Mr. Zhou stood up, walked over to Yue Fei, and untied his hair. He took out a strand from the middle and lifted it up, saying, "This is what 'ti ding' means. When the entire head, including the upper half, is lifted by this strand, that's when you achieve the correct posture."

  Mr. Zhou further explained, "The Book of Changes is the foundation of all classics. It's a book that contains the rules and patterns of the universe, from the movement of the stars to the changes in human affairs." He drew three circles on a piece of paper, representing the heavens, the earth, and humanity.

  "These three circles are connected by a line," Mr. Zhou said. "This line represents the harmony between heaven and humanity. Our ancestors discovered these rules and patterns and recorded them using mathematical models, which we call 'gua' and 'yao'. These models can be used to understand the changes in the universe, from the weather to human affairs."

  Mr. Zhou pointed to the paper and said, "This line divides the three circles into six semicircles. When you straighten these semicircles, they become six lines, which form a 'qian' gua. The qian gua is the first gua, and it represents the beginning of all things."

  Yue Fei listened intently as Mr. Zhou explained the secrets of the Book of Changes. He felt like he had finally found a true master.

  Mr. Zhou continued, "The reason why each gua only has six yao is that our ancestors believed that the universe is a three-dimensional space, and all physical changes can be divided into six stages. The seventh stage would mean destruction or transformation into something new."

  Yue Fei's eyes widened as he listened to Mr. Zhou's explanation. He felt like he was unlocking the secrets of the universe.

  Mr. Zhou handed Yue Fei a diagram and said, "This is the twelve zodiac gua chart, which is a secret transmission from our school. By using this chart, you can predict the changes in the weather and the movements of the stars."

  Yue Fei's eyes sparkled as he looked at the diagram. He felt like he had finally found the key to understanding the universe.

  Mr. Zhou smiled and said, "Learning the Book of Changes is not easy. But with dedication and hard work, you can master it."

  From that day on, Yue Fei followed Mr. Zhou's teachings, practicing martial arts during the day and studying the classics at night.

  To be continued...