From a paper-making apprentice to a celestial master

Chapter 15 Six Yang Stance Exercise

Liu Quan's courtyard is located at the east end of the village. It is a detached house with rammed earth walls. A Bagua mirror hangs on the lintel, its surface covered with a layer of dust, indicating that it has been there for many years.

As you push open the courtyard gate, a faint scent of sandalwood wafts out.

The courtyard was very clean. There was a main house on the left and a side room on the right. Facing the gate was the main hall, whose door was half-open. You could vaguely see an altar with several memorial tablets on it.

In the corner of the courtyard stood a simple shed, under which were piles of bamboo strips, colored paper, thin wire, and several bundles of sorghum stalks. That was where Liu Quan made paper crafts.

"Come in."

Liu Quan walked straight into the main room, lit three incense sticks, bowed to the ancestral tablets on the offering table, and then inserted the incense sticks into the incense burner.

Qin Shuang followed behind and bowed three times, just like her master.

After Liu Quan waited for him to finish bowing, he pointed to the side room on the east side and said, "You will stay in that room."

It used to belong to my eldest apprentice. After he moved out, it was empty, but it still had a bed and blankets.

Tell me what you need.

"Eldest disciple? Master, how many disciples do you have?"

Qin Shuang was taken aback and quickly asked.

"My eldest apprentice, Xu Zhen, is currently in town. Besides him, I also have a second apprentice."

However, he is also from Liujia Village, and he has a place to live at home, so he doesn't need to live here.

During the off-season for farming, or when I'm busy, I'll come and help out.

Liu Quan explained briefly, then gestured for Qin Shuang to put the things away.

Qin Shuang nodded and walked towards the side room.

Opening the door, Qin Shuang looked around. The room wasn't large, containing a wooden bed, a table, and a wooden cabinet. It was spotless. The windows were covered with white paper, so the light coming in was dim, but it didn't feel oppressive. He placed a small bundle he was carrying on the table, feeling quite satisfied.

This will be his living quarters from now on.

Then, as if remembering something, he took out the small cloth bag that his teacher, Huang Guan, had given him as payment for following his master. He had wanted to give it to his master directly, but his master said that since it had been given to him, he should keep it himself. So he kept it.

Because I was in a hurry on the way, I didn't have time to look at it.

Then I remembered and quickly opened it.

Inside, they found a piece of bluish-gray cloth, not long, about a meter long, but enough to make a single garment.

In addition, there was a book and a small piece of silver.

The book was the Book of Poetry. Although he had already read it, Huang Guan's gift of it at this time clearly indicated his hope that he would not neglect his studies.

As for the silver, the amount was not large, about one tael, which was not a small amount for an ordinary family, enough for an adult's expenses for half a month.

"Come out when you're ready."

Soon, Liu Quan's voice came from the courtyard.

Qin Shuang walked out of the side room and saw Liu Quan sitting on a small stool under the shed. Next to him was a woman who looked to be in her thirties or forties. She had an ordinary appearance but exuded a capable and efficient air.

"This is your Aunt Zhou. She's actually from your maternal family, a distant relative. She works for me now, helping with cooking and other chores."

Liu Quan explained.

"Hello, Aunt Zhou."

Qin Shuang quickly greeted them.

"Okay, sure."

Zhou Wan smiled and responded, then looked at Liu Quan and joked, "Uncle, whose child is this? He's really handsome! Is he married yet?"

As he spoke, he looked at Qin Shuang again.

"The child is still young."

It should be fourteen by now, right?

It is your sister Yuehong's child.

Something happened a couple of days ago, so now I'm teaching him a skill.

As Liu Quan spoke, he waved his hand and said, "It's almost noon, add two more dishes. It's the child's first time here, so put in some meat."

"Okay."

Zhou Wan responded and walked towards the kitchen.

Qin Shuang smiled shyly and said, "Master, I'm fifteen."

"Same as above."

Don't get married before you're eighteen; it's not good for you.

Liu Quan knew that children in rural areas tend to get married early, and given that he had previously mentioned that those in their line of work have limited family ties, he was genuinely worried that the child's parents would pressure him to get married sooner. He wanted to avoid this situation, or at least have a child first.

"I know."

Qin Shuang nodded quickly. He was still a child and didn't want to get married so early.

"It's not that I'm trying to stop you from doing anything, it's just that people in our line of work inevitably have to deal with those kinds of things."

If you encounter them, it's fine if you're skilled in Taoism; but if you're not skilled and your virginity is broken, they can easily get close to you or even possess you.

If you get possessed, it will be troublesome to force it out, and you'll be weak for three to five days.

Kung Fu skills can also be easily ruined.

What I'm going to teach you next is also a skill to strengthen your body.

If you lose your virginity, your martial arts skills will suffer, so you might as well go home and get married.

Liu Quan explained, and said.

"Master, I know."

Qin Shuang nodded quickly, feeling a little excited.

I've finally started learning something.

Strengthening exercises?

Could it be martial arts?

What does this have to do with spiritual practice?

However, he was interested in anything that could enhance his abilities.

Not to mention.

He wasn't entirely without confidence.

Those nine points of psionic energy were his greatest guarantee.

"Next, I will teach you a stance training exercise."

This is the Six Yang Stance Exercise.

Only by mastering the stance training and nourishing your Qi and blood can you better cultivate and nourish your spirit.

Otherwise, if your stance training isn't effective, your qi and blood will be insufficient, and your energy expenditure won't keep up. The more energetic you are, the weaker your body will become. At that point, forget about fighting any magical battles; you'll be blown over by the wind.

As Liu Quan spoke, he stood up and began to stand in the stance.

Qin Shuang looked intently and saw that her master's feet were shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, arms crossed in front of his chest, fingers touching, palms facing inward, his whole posture was like embracing an invisible tree.

"Did you see that clearly?"

Liu Quan maintained his posture and spoke in a steady voice, "The Six Yang Stance emphasizes 'embracing Yin and Yang externally and guarding the true fire internally'."

Feet grip the ground firmly, knees should not extend beyond the toes, chest slightly concave, back straight, tongue touching the upper palate.

The most crucial word is "embrace"—not with your arms, but with your entire spine, using intention, not force.

Qin Shuang carefully observed every detail of her master, from the direction of his toes to the spacing between his fingers, memorizing it all.

"You give it a try."

Liu Quan stopped his stance and gestured for him to stand over there.

Qin Shuang walked to the open space in the courtyard, stood in the same position as her master, feet apart, knees bent, arms crossed...

As soon as he got into position, Liu Quan shook his head.

"Turn your toes outward by half an inch."

Qin Shuang made adjustments.

"Loosen your knees a little more, don't tense them up."

Qin Shuang made another adjustment.

"Sink your shoulders, don't shrug."

You're putting on airs, not relaxing.

Liu Quan corrected him seven or eight times in a row, and finally reached out and gently patted his lower back: "Turn your coccyx forward a little, and open your Mingmen point."

Qin Shuang did as instructed, and gradually felt a soreness spreading up her calves, and her thigh muscles began to tremble slightly.

Before long, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.