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“For the first time, you must brew it with boiling water. After that, it doesn’t matter. Drink it all within three days, and after a month, even if you don’t undergo a complete transformation, you’ll feel rejuvenated inside and out.” The old Taoist packed a large bag for Qian Quan and reiterated the instructions. “Thank you, Master. Also, can ordinary people drink this tea?”

The old Taoist looked at Qian Quan, chuckled, and said:

“Yes, they can, but there’s no need. First, this tea is not easy to prepare, and giving everyone just a piece or two is wasteful and insignificant.

Secondly, this tea is most effective when consumed in combination with Wudang Mountain’s meditation. Otherwise, it might just burden the drinker with unnecessary thoughts.”

“I understand.” Qian Quan decided to try it himself first. If it was fine, he would send some to his father.

The old Taoist said, “Since ancient times, there’s been a misconception about martial arts practice. People think using external aids is impure and might hinder progress. But this is not true.”

“Look at athletes; apart from their training, don’t they follow strict dietary regimens?

“Doesn’t it seem ludicrous to think that just by meditating and practicing a few routines, we become invincible? Even rockets need fuel.”

“Even in the pursuit of becoming immortals, we should apply science and not be superstitious!”

Frankly, Qian Quan found it hard to reconcile the words “becoming immortal” and “science.”

But looking from another perspective, “science” has indeed achieved many “immortal” feats:

Traveling thousands of miles in a day (high-speed trains), communicating over vast distances (telephones), striking from afar (missiles), and reaching the moon (spacecraft).

That night, Qian Quan stayed on Wudang Mountain and listened to the old Taoist, Wang, who told many old stories and shared invaluable martial arts experiences not found anywhere else.

He demonstrated a Tai Chi sequence that had no particular pattern or predefined moves but flowed naturally and seemed spontaneous. It reminded Qian Quan of the Tai Chi he tried to mimic as a child after watching a movie.

Yet, both Qian Quan and Zhang Xiang’er sensed an indescribable natural fluidity in the old Taoist’s movements, as if watching wild grass swaying in the wind.

“Mastering martial arts isn’t the ultimate goal. Only when one delves deeper can they have a slim chance of survival against a bullet.”

The old Taoist said, emphasizing the concept of “sensing danger and avoiding it.” He advised, “However, if the shooter is more than ten steps away, don’t hesitate; just run.”

“Remember this: vanishing before the bullet is fired is the true ‘sensing and avoiding danger.”‘

The old Taoist shared this wisdom from his personal experiences.

As the old Taoist conversed with Qian Quan and Zhang Xiang’er about the urgency of fleeing from bullets, inside a tatami apartment hotel in Hangzhou, Igarashi Yuugiri was also discussing the matter of bullets over the phone with his senior, Kunio Okawachi.

“Unless they can split a real bullet in half with a single cut or catch it with their bare hands, neither Ichiro nor Tori will stand a chance against him,” he remarked.

After his encounter with Qian Quan, Igarashi Yuugiri shared his impressions with his senior.

The Ichiro he referred to was Shimizu Ichiro, a disciple of Okawachi’s, while Tori was the adopted daughter and treasured disciple of Igarashi, a true prodigy selected from nearly 20,000 children.

“Didn’t you say he failed to catch your maple leaf technique the first time?” Kunio Okawachi asked gently.

“His reflexes are incredibly fast, beyond what Ichiro and Tori can handle.

Moreover, it might just be my imagination, but it seems like he can read my mind,” Yuugiri replied.

“How so?”

“I saw undisguised anger in his eyes. With just a brief observation, he seemed to guess my intentions. That’s the primary reason I changed my mind.”

“It’s not necessarily that he saw through you. The younger generation in China still cares deeply about that part of history. Their government hasn’t stopped propagating it, so we have a long way to go in that respect. We need to change minds generation by generation.”

“No, the way he interacts with Ichiro is entirely different from me. I can feel the difference. If it was just hostility due to ideological differences, he wouldn’t exude such an alarming aura when facing me.”

“Yuugiri, just to clarify, are we discussing the century-old Taoist or the 18-year-old Qian Quan?”

“It’s Qian Quan,” Igarashi Yuugiri sighed, “I sometimes feel it’s unfair. Why wasn’t such a character bom in our country?”

“They have a population of 1.4 billion. The odds are naturally higher,” Kunio Okawachi reasoned.

“That’s why we have to settle it this way: I’ll trade blows with him, and the rest will be up to Tori and Ichiro.”

“If that’s the case, Tori will have to step into the spotlight a decade earlier than planned,” Kunio Okawachi noted.

“If she wants to reach the pinnacle of the martial arts world, then this is the fate she has to bear. All I can do is clear the greatest obstacles in her path,” Igarashi Yuugiri said calmly.

“There’s a movie in China that says there are two kinds of people in this world: those who show face and those who work behind the scenes. I’m the latter.” Understanding Yuugiri’s temperament, Okawachi decided not to push further, asking, “And the old Taoist?”

“He’s as stubborn as ever, but to me, he’s still the best witness and audience,” Yuugiri replied.

The two discussed some finer details before ending the call.

Igarashi Yuugiri then played a video showing Qian Quan battling Shimizu Ichiro using stainless steel chopsticks.

The next day.

Qian Quan and Zhang Xiang’er left Wudang Mountain.

Before they departed, the Taoist imparted some wisdom to Qian Quan. “When 1 was young and full of energy, I frequently sparred with others and even challenged dojos. Back then, my master taught me a phrase, and today, I’ll pass it on to you.”

Eagerly waiting, Qian Quan responded, “Please share, Master.”

The Taoist solemnly advised, “Before facing an opponent, refrain from intimate relations for seven days.”

Qian Quan almost had an on-the-spot, prop-less “falling off a stool” performance. He really wanted to say, “Master, if you don’t have any profound, sage-like parting words to bestow, you don’t have to speak.”

Can you imagine the absurdity if, before the heroes went to give a sudden attack, the leader called them over and left them with such a remark?

“I’ll remember,” Qian Quan said.

He vaguely recalled hearing about athletes abstaining before significant competitions.

After leaving the mountain, Zhang Xiang’er teased, “Now you know why I was at a disadvantage the first time we met? It’s because I didn’t heed my master’s words.”

Qian Quan playfully countered, “So, should we spar now?”

Zhang Xiang’er, doing some quick calculations, replied, “Still no.”

The two shared a laugh and parted ways.

By 5 p.m., Qian Quan was back at school.

He first went to the supermarket to buy a teacup with a lid. After washing it, he filled it with boiling water and dropped it into a tea tablet.

Contrary to expectations, nothing extraordinary happened, not even the fizzing of the tablet.

The tea leaves were slowly dissolving.

In Taoist philosophy, there’s a saying: “When a golden elixir is swallowed, one realizes that fate isn’t determined by the heavens.”

One couldn’t help but wonder what kind of miracle would unfold after drinking a piece of tea leaf.

The answer was revealed shortly after Qian Quan finished his first cup of tea.

It was incredibly refreshing..