Chapter 22: What is Martial Arts

  The next day at noon, Fang Yaoli and Fang Xuanling left the Fang Mansion together. One went to the Ministry of Works, while the other went to the Qin Mansion. Upon arrival at the Qin Mansion, a servant from the Fang Mansion respectfully said: "Young Master, you've arrived! The Old Master is waiting for you in the guest hall!"

  Fang Yi'ai nodded, Qin Chong had no children, his only relative was this new apprentice of his, and it was only natural for the servants to address him as "Young Master". After entering the living room, Fang Yi'ai respectfully said: "Master, I'm here!"

  "Jun Er, very good, you didn't disappoint me. From now on, do as I say and remember that you absolutely cannot be lazy. A martial artist can't afford to be even slightly careless, because a small flaw can cost you your life." Qin Qiong said seriously, leaning on his cane.

  "Master, rest assured that the apprentice will definitely do as you say." Seeing Fang Yiai being so obedient, Qin Chong stroked his beard and said: "Jun'er, come with me." Originally, Fang Yiai still wanted to help Qin Chong up, but Qin Chong pushed away Fang Yiai's hand and seriously smiled: "Jun'er, the master has not yet reached the point of needing someone to support him. If he needs others to support him, then the master would rather die. Because on the battlefield, no matter how tired or bitter you are, you must grit your teeth and persevere, because as long as you can still stand up, you can protect your comrades beside you, do you understand?"

  Fang Yu's love was shocked by Qin Qiong's words, aren't Qin Qiong's words the mutual trust of later generations? Isn't it a kind of trust to hand over one's back to one's comrades-in-arms as often said in later generations? Isn't what Qin Qiong expressed just this meaning? Rather die in battle than drag down comrades, as long as there is still a breath left, you must let your comrades survive.

  "Master, I understand." Qin Qiong nodded his head in satisfaction after hearing Fang Yiai's words and walked outwards until he reached the edge of the lotus pond. He pointed to a patch of muddy water in the pond and said: "Do you see that patch of mud? You are now standing in the mud, holding your knife to chop at the big stone in front of you. Remember to move one position after each chop. Remember to chop 500 times every day. From now on, I won't remind you again. Every day, come here and chop the stone by yourself. After chopping 500 times, you can leave the Qin Manor until I tell you to stop. Do you understand?"

  "Disciple obeys, will definitely do as master requires." Fang Yiai understood that Qin Chong was planning to train his lower body strength, endurance and agility.

  "Ah, Jun'er, you must persist, remember that the way of martial arts is actually very simple, it's just diligence. The way of martial arts is to never give up!" Qin Qiong's words opened another window for Fang Yili, originally the way of martial arts was like being a person, one must never give up, those who give up will fail, get hurt or even die!

  The first day, Fang Yiai was chopping stones with all his might, moving to a different place after each chop. The knife was specially made by Qin Qiong and weighed over 300 catties. After more than 50 chops, Fang Yiai's hands had several large blisters, his legs were slightly sore, and the tiger's mouth on his right hand was oozing blood. However, Fang Yiai did not give up. He had to persevere, thinking of Qin Qiong's words that the way of martial arts is never to give up. Fang Yiai knew he had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue chopping.

  After this day was over, Fang Yu Ai's exhausted body wanted to lie down in the lotus pond directly, but thinking of Qin Qiong's spirit, he persisted and didn't fall down, making an effort to crawl out of the lotus pond, walking unsteadily back to the Fang residence. Under Ling Long's care, he changed into a new set of clothes, bandaged himself, then carried his doll and went to the imperial palace.

  After Fang Yu'er left, Qin Meng, the steward of the Fang Mansion, came to Qin Chong's bedroom and said respectfully: "Master, Young Master has finished watching the 500 knives with great respect, and didn't even take a rest before leaving the Qin Mansion." Qin Chong smiled and asked: "Ah Meng, did Jun'er not rest at all?"

  "Yes, I thought the young master would rest by the lotus pond for a while, but he swayed and left as soon as he got ashore." Upon hearing Qin Meng's words, Qin Qiong burst out laughing, "Great, this kid really has some spirit! Meng, you keep an eye on Jun'er from now on, don't let him slack off!"

  "Don't worry, old master. With young master's determination, I probably won't even need to keep an eye on him!" Qin Qiang nodded in agreement, but he had to have Qin Meng keep an eye on him because he needed to know exactly how far Fang Yilai had progressed in his training.

  After Fang Yiai arrived at the imperial palace, she took out her waist card and came to Baifu Hall very smoothly. After entering Baifu Hall, Empress Changsun was practicing the Tai Chi boxing that she had taught her. Fang Yiai waited until Empress Changsun finished practicing before smiling and saying: "Your Majesty, I'm bothering you again."

  "Jun Er, is this plush toy in your hand the big one that Xiao Zi mentioned?" Fang Yi Ai smiled and handed the giant panda to Empress Zhangsun. Empress Zhangsun also liked it, but she thought to herself that at her age, she couldn't compete with her daughter for a plush toy. After looking at the plush toy for a while, Empress Zhangsun noticed the bandages on Fang Yi Ai's hands and frowned, asking: "Jun Er, what happened to your hand?"

  "Oh, it's nothing, I just got my hand scraped during martial arts practice." Fang Yiai said with a gentle smile.

  The Empress nodded and smiled: "So that's how it is, it seems that Jun'er wants to be a general. No wonder he can write poems like 'But let the dragon city fly, don't teach the barbarian horse to cross the Yin mountain'. I'm afraid our great Tang Dynasty will produce another famous general. In this world, there are not many talented and martially skilled people."

  "The queen is overpraising me, I even dream of being a general, but just thinking about it is useless, I still have to rely on myself to strive for it," said Fang Yiai happily.

  "Jun Er has this ambition, that's good. Practice your martial arts well and don't forget to study the art of war thoroughly. I wouldn't want you to become a roughneck who only knows how to shout 'kill' like Cheng Zhi Jie. Just thinking about him makes me exasperated." Empress Changsun shook her head, probably this Tang Dynasty had only one such extreme character.

  "The Empress also knew about that matter, to be honest I was really going crazy, but that demoness Cheng even the Emperor couldn't handle her, so I'm even more unable to provoke her." Mentioning this matter made Fang Yu'ai feel a belly full of gloominess, and instead of finding Li'er, they found a mother tiger. The Empress Changsun sighed and shook her head, saying "Jun'er, don't worry too much, by the way, that girl named Li'er hasn't been found yet?"

  "The Empress said, mentioning this matter makes me feel strange. Li'er clearly told me that her father and my father were colleagues in the same court, but when I asked everyone, no one knew who Li'er was. Now I'm all confused." Fang Yiai thought about it and felt strange. The Longsun Empress saw Fang Yiai looking worried and comforted him with a smile: "Jun'er, believe me, we will definitely find Li'er. When the time comes, I'll let the Emperor personally preside over your wedding!"

  "Thank you, Empress Dowager. I'll put this doll here for now, so that Xiaozi won't complain to me again." The Empress Dowager nodded and smiled, "Jun'er, since it's like this, you should go to the Imperial Academy first. Kong Yingda is a bit of a stickler, if you're late, he'll definitely give you trouble." After bidding farewell to the Empress Dowager, Fang Yiai arrived at the Imperial Academy. As soon as she entered, Li Mingda ran over and smiled, "Yiai brother, has my big doll arrived?"

  "Little rabbit, don't worry, Brother Yi'ai has already helped you send the big plush toy to your mother's place." Fang Yi'ai bent down and pinched Li Mingda's adorable little face. Li Mingda excitedly spun around in circles, and after a while, he said to Fang Yi'ai: "Brother Yi'ai, I want you to hold me."

  Fang Yi Ai stroked the black line on Li Ming Da's forehead, and despite having injuries on her hands, she still picked him up and smiled: "You little scamp, what's wrong with letting me hold you?"

  "Hehe, this way I'm as tall as Gege now!" Upon hearing this, Fang Yu Ai and Li Xue Yan both burst out laughing. This little kid's thoughts are really peculiar! Fang Yu Ai sat down on the chair and let Li Ming Da sit on his lap, smiling and asking: "Little rabbit, then can't I carry you for a lifetime?"

  "Hey, this... I thought when I wanted to grow taller, you could just hold me and it would be fine." Upon hearing this, Li Xueyan burst out laughing on the table, but unexpectedly Li Mingda asked very seriously: "Sister Xueyan, what are you laughing at? Is what Mingda said wrong?"

  "Little Xiaozi, Snow Goose sister didn't laugh at you, she was laughing at me. Look at my two hands wrapped like a rice dumpling, isn't it very ugly?" Seeing Li Xueyan being asked back, Fang Yiai had to help her out of the situation. Li Mingda stared with his bright big eyes and said happily: "So that's how it is."

  Before long, Li Zhi ran over and shouted to Fang Yuai: "Brother Yuai, can you also make a doll for me?" Fang Yuai hadn't spoken yet when he heard Li Mingda say with displeasure: "Imperial brother, Brother Yuai will absolutely not agree to your request!"

  "Why?" Li Zhi shook his little head, looking very pitiful.

  "It's simple, you're a boy and I'm a girl, boys can't play with dolls." Li Mingda spoke like a little adult, but when Li Zhi heard this, tears came out. Looking at Li Zhi, he was speechless. This is the future Tang Gaozong, what a crybaby!

  In the following days, Fang Yiai persisted in chopping stones every day, not stopping for a single day, whether it was raining or windy. He even voluntarily increased his daily quota from 500 to 600, then to 800, and eventually to 1,000. In this way, four months passed in Fang Yiai's frenzied stone-chopping.

  Qin Qiong was very satisfied with Fang Yizhi's behavior, he felt that being able to accept Fang Yizhi as his apprentice was a blessing from heaven, at this moment Qin Qiong felt that heaven was fair, although he had cut off his own descendants, but gave him such an excellent apprentice.

  The heavens thunder, rain falls and strong winds blow, but in the cold, persist, for the martial way is never giving up!