The Way of Restraint

Master Zhuang, the massage therapist, also looked over and, recognizing Liu Long, nodded slightly.

On the way there, Su Jie had already heard from Liu Long that the owner of “Ke Yi Massage Hall” was named Zhuang Tianyun…also a man of great skill, from a family of generations of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. His ancestors had even served as imperial physicians in several dynasties, heading the Imperial Medical Academy.

In his generation, he had inherited the family tradition, practicing massage, bone-setting, tuina, and acupuncture with remarkable efficacy.

In ancient times, to serve the imperial court, one had to possess extraordinary skills.

For example, the Nie family’s private kitchen offered dishes that were not only visually appealing and flavorful but also nutritionally rich and well-balanced, providing immense physical and mental enjoyment.

Neither Su Jie nor Liu Long disturbed Zhuang Tianyun’s massage.

They sat down by the fish pond.

The pond contained many koi, with one giant koi king nearly the size of a small child. It swayed its head and, seeing people approach, swam up eagerly and opened its mouth wide, as if begging for food.

Su Jie reached his hand into the water and stroked the koi king’s head.

The koi king seemed very comfortable, as if sensing the deep calm within Su Jie. It gently swished its tail, enjoying his touch.

In this communion between man and fish, in a state of harmony, Su Jie felt as if he were resonating with the entire courtyard…and communicating with the koi king on a spiritual level.

The core of the entire courtyard was this fish pond, and the core of the fish pond was this koi king.

Whoever had arranged the feng shui of this courtyard was also a master. In general, feng shui had formations, and formations had central array eyes. However, most feng shui layouts had static array eyes…using a living creature as a feng shui array eye was rare, requiring exceptional feng shui manipulation skills.

Because living creatures could die.

If this koi king died, the feng shui pattern of the entire courtyard would be severely compromised.

But as long as it lived, the whole courtyard was brimming with vitality…far superior to using inanimate objects as the array eye.

Su Jie played with the koi king with great delight, becoming like an innocent, carefree child.

The koi king and all the other koi seemed to like him too, eager to play with him, swimming around competitively to be stroked.

In this play, Su Jie was completely absorbed, forgetting even the purpose of his visit…to talk to Kang Gu about switching teams.

But it didn’t matter anymore.

He had entered a wondrous state.

In playing with the koi king, his consciousness radiated outward, enveloping the entire courtyard. He could sense the feng shui fluctuations, the magnetic fields, the life-force wavelengths of the space.

This was a very subtle perception…an ability only those well-versed in feng shui and possessing highly acute mental sensitivity could experience.

What is feng shui? It is a complex created by the arrangement of airflow, humidity, light and darkness, furnishings…all influencing psychological and physiological changes in people.

For example, this courtyard’s feng shui: upon entering, the square, spotless space…not even moss…gave a feeling of uprightness, cleanliness, freshness, and meticulous order. Then seeing the deep pond with its koi brought a sense of vitality.

The koi swam about, playful and endearing.

In this space, there was tranquility and vitality, uprightness and self-discipline.

Now, as Su Jie played with the koi king, he gradually replaced it, becoming the array eye of this small world.

This sensation was mysterious beyond words.

Yet it truly existed.

From the perspective of sociology and interpersonal relationships, this was the “focus.”

Some people have such strong presence that they become the focus of any gathering.

When everyone’s attention is fixed on one person, a certain field naturally forms.

But this was merely a theory of social and interpersonal dynamics. To become the focus of nature itself was far more difficult…this could be called the beginning of unity between heaven and man.

Wherever a person goes, that space centers around them…like the emperor’s tour, where all spirits submit and all gods clear the way.

Su Jie hadn’t expected that by coming to this courtyard and playing with the koi king, he would perceive this realm and enter this state.

This was immensely beneficial to his cultivation.

He had long been studying the relationship between body, mind, and environment.

The so-called three powers: heaven, earth, and man.

“Hmm?” Zhuang Tianyun was startled, because he noticed that the feng shui of the entire courtyard had changed. He had arranged this courtyard…every blade of grass, every brick and stone…so he was intimately familiar with it. That was precisely why he could sense the subtle shifts in feng shui energy.

The courtyard’s feng shui was excellent, its core the koi king.

Koi were minor dragons; giant koi possessed extraordinary spirituality. As feng shui fish, they could enhance wisdom, uplift the mood, and dissolve pent-up frustration.

But now, he found that the feng shui core was no longer the koi king…it was this young man playing with the koi. Somehow, with every movement, this young man had fully grasped the feng shui field of the entire courtyard. All the plants, all the buildings…their energy fluctuations were now centered on him.

The courtyard’s feng shui had been enhanced.

With this person present, the feng shui had at least doubled in quality.

At this moment, Su Jie had also become a living spiritual being.

In this courtyard, the koi king was a feng shui spiritual creature…it could both enhance the courtyard’s feng shui and absorb the courtyard’s feng shui power to live longer and grow more spiritually aware.

In some ancient temples, there were such guardian spiritual creatures…usually turtles living in wells.

In many ancient legends, some spiritual creatures could develop supernatural powers, become spirits, demons, or even dragons.

Of course, these were just legends. But Su Jie could clearly sense that this koi king was far more intelligent than the other koi.

It seemed to have the intelligence of a three- or four-year-old child.

*This young man is extraordinary…definitely a true master,* a thought arose deep within Zhuang Tianyun’s mind.

Kang Gu’s expression also changed. Though he didn’t have Zhuang Tianyun’s deep perception of feng shui, watching Su Jie play with the koi king stirred something in him…a feeling that he could never defeat this man.

This was something he had never felt even with Feng Hengyi.

Kang Gu sensed that Su Jie’s mental state was perfectly attuned to the surrounding nature…and that this small world was his ally. If Kang Gu opposed him, the environment itself would reject him. Fighting Su Jie would mean not only being unable to use the environment, but being actively hindered and despised by it.

*This man cannot be made an enemy. To oppose him is to oppose heaven and earth,* a thought arose deep within Kang Gu’s heart.

The feeling was uncomfortable, yet serene.

This was the first time Kang Gu had seen such a person.

Such a realm.

Such wonder.

Su Jie suddenly snapped out of this state. His gaze fell upon Kang Gu.

He walked to the doorway and nodded at Kang Gu, speaking: “Kang Gu, we met once at Minglun Martial Arts School. Though we never kept in touch, I’m sure you remember me.”

“He’s deaf-mute…he can’t hear you,” Zhuang Tianyun said.

“He can understand,” Su Jie said.

Kang Gu stood up and walked outside the door, looking at Su Jie. He suddenly made a “please” gesture.

It seemed he wanted to fight Su Jie.

Then Kang Gu leaped into the courtyard, remaining silent…clearly his deaf-mute condition hadn’t been cured by Feng Hengyi.

Su Jie also entered the courtyard, standing face to face with Kang Gu. Liu Long watched with a smile.

Boom!

Kang Gu moved…a forward step, a big swing punch.

This was his signature move. He seemed to have trained this single technique to the point where the spirit moved before the intention.

Even top-tier national professional fighters couldn’t withstand his swing punch.

And when his swing punch came at you, even though you could see its trajectory and try to block it, the punch would suddenly change direction mid-course and strike elsewhere.

But Su Jie simply raised his hand and accurately blocked Kang Gu’s punch. No matter how Kang Gu tried to change course, he couldn’t escape Su Jie’s control.

When their arms met, Su Jie had already sensed Kang Gu’s weakness. He channeled his force through like a needle, applying a slight touch.

Pfft!

Kang Gu’s entire body lost balance and was thrown outward. If not for his exceptional balance, he would have fallen flat.

Whoosh!

At this moment, Su Jie was again before Kang Gu, but didn’t strike. Yet under the interaction of their energies, Kang Gu threw another big swing punch.

This time, the swing punch came from both sides…alternating left and right, changing unpredictably. In an instant, the swing punch had covered Su Jie’s head, waist, neck, and other areas.

No one could tell which of Kang Gu’s punches would land.

But Su Jie didn’t even look…he simply blocked.

Their arms crossed again.

At the moment of contact, Kang Gu felt his balance point being instantly destroyed. All his power was completely useless, his foundation gone…he stumbled outward again.

He was like an animal with a broken spine, his ability to move gone in an instant.

The feeling was terrible.

Su Jie had been training in hidden weapons for a month. The improvement in his technique was secondary…more importantly, he had learned to concentrate his attacks on a single point to strike at the opponent’s weakness.

This was the true meaning of “four ounces deflecting a thousand pounds.”

When they touched, it was as if there were internal energy, sending the opponent flying. Though it looked magical, it perfectly conformed to Hooke’s Law in physics.

Roar!

Twice in a row, nearly thrown off balance…Kang Gu was enraged. He made a sound, air expelled from his chest, not his vocal cords.

As the air burst out, he attacked, his entire being going berserk.

His fists fell like a meteor shower driven by a cosmic storm…sweeping horizontally, dropping vertically, all arcs. The swing punches would make any boxer ashamed. His footwork was lightning-fast, weaving and bobbing, barely seeming to touch the ground…a hint of “walking on snow without leaving tracks.”

This was because his speed was so great, his power had already penetrated into the ground and rebounded back, making him appear to float in midair.

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