Chapter 9: Cultivating the Tree, First Nourish the Roots; Practicing Martial Arts, First Stance the Horse

  At this time, Yue Fei arrived at Mr. Zhou's residence, and Mr. Zhou was already standing there. Yue Fei bowed and greeted him.

  Mr. Zhou said, "Today, I will teach you the first stance of martial arts - Zhan Zhuang (standing like a tree). This stance is used to cultivate internal energy and strength."

  Yue Fei listened carefully and followed Mr. Zhou's instructions. He stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, back straight, and hands in a fist.

  Mr. Zhou said, "Remember the key points of Zhan Zhuang:

  * The head should be held high like it is being lifted by a string.

  * The shoulders should be relaxed, and the elbows should be sunk.

  * The spine should be stretched and relaxed like a big bell.

  * The tailbone should be centered, and the knees should be empty.

  * The entire body relies on the soles of the feet to work.

  When standing up, it should be like a tree growing roots. When bowing down, it should be like walking on thin ice."

  Yue Fei practiced Zhan Zhuang for a while, and then Mr. Zhou said, "Now, let's practice some movements."

  Mr. Zhou demonstrated a few moves, and Yue Fei followed him. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't keep up with Mr. Zhou's speed.

  Mr. Zhou suddenly appeared behind Yue Fei and kicked him in the buttocks, causing Yue Fei to fall to the ground again.

  Yue Fei stood up, rubbed his sore nose, and looked at Mr. Zhou with a mixture of shock and admiration.

  Mr. Zhou said, "You see, practicing Zhan Zhuang can improve your speed and agility. If you practice well, you can be as fast as a tiger pouncing on its prey or as quick as a rabbit escaping from danger."

  Yue Fei nodded enthusiastically and said, "Yes, it's amazing! I want to learn more!"

  Mr. Zhou smiled and said, "Okay, let's continue practicing Zhan Zhuang. Remember the key points I taught you earlier."