The Way of Restraint

“I’m a vice president of the Massage and Tuina Association along with Uncle Mang. Every year, I spend a month at Minglun Martial Arts Academy, specializing in research on massage, meridians, and joints,” Zhuang Tianyun said. “Kang Gu was introduced by Uncle Mang as someone who could withstand his heavy-pressure massage techniques. I was curious too, so I massaged Kang Gu for quite a while and found that his tolerance was indeed beyond compare.”

“Have you ever tried electrical stimulation massage?” Su Jie was also researching this topic.

Electrical stimulation was highly effective for increasing cellular activity. However, during stimulation, it was necessary to take internal medications and apply topical ointments to achieve the best results.

When Uncle Mang had experimented on Su Jie, he had first taken internal strengthening wine, then applied a secret ointment externally, and only then performed the stimulation…which had stretched his muscles to a degree that exercise alone could never achieve.

“Uncle Mang is doing research in that area,” Zhuang Tianyun said. “But I lack volunteers here to conduct experiments. We’ve done theoretical testing, though. No matter what physical movements you do, ordinary exercise can’t push muscle and joint strength beyond a certain point. But with electrical stimulation, it’s entirely possible. Moreover, repeating certain movements a thousand or ten thousand times isn’t very effective. Many muscle groups and subcutaneous tissue layers can’t be trained through exercise alone…only acupuncture stimulation can make them denser and firmer. But even acupuncture is far less effective than electrical stimulation.”

Su Jie could tell that Zhuang Tianyun had done extensive research on electrical stimulation for muscles. Though these massage therapists inherited ancient methods, science had given them the principles behind their ancient techniques, allowing them to understand their craft more deeply.

“That’s natural. Take pacemakers, for example…they use electrical current to stimulate the heart muscle, restoring its function, saving countless lives. The smooth muscles inside the body can’t be trained through exercise, but electrical stimulation can enhance their vitality,” Su Jie explained through his professional knowledge.

In ancient times, no matter how one trained, some areas could never be reached.

But in the modern era, with electrical stimulation, everything was different.

For instance, two people reaching the Living Dead realm at the same age…if one had the benefit of electrical stimulation, their physical capability would far surpass the ancient practitioner’s.

Mental state could indeed greatly enhance physical ability, but modern technology could do the same.

These studies were very common at Larich’s life sciences laboratory.

Su Jie needed to research another topic upon his return: whether people’s potential was more greatly activated when protecting themselves or when protecting others.

He believed this research would open up an entirely new model of cultivation.

The research could start with animals.

For example, if a snake went after a bird, would the bird’s resistance be stronger when alone or when protecting its young? This data could reveal certain truths.

If this was conclusively proven, future paths would be built on firmer ground.

This research needed to be prioritized.

Su Jie was a scientist at heart.

As he talked with Zhuang Tianyun, Liu Long left to prepare for the contract matters. Kang Gu listened with great interest.

As they talked, Zhuang Tianyun grew increasingly astonished…he found that Su Jie’s understanding of massage, meridians, acupoints, even yin-yang and the five elements, and the energy of the four seasons, was far deeper than his own. And his explanations weren’t mystical…all grounded in the most modern medical theory.

This man was no martial arts grandmaster…he was a great scientist.

Unknowingly, they talked until sunset, and Zhuang Tianyun still wanted more.

Su Jie also gained much from him. As an expert in health preservation, massage, and acupuncture, Zhuang Tianyun’s inheritance of centuries of accumulated imperial medical knowledge gave Su Jie many new inspirations.

“Let’s have dinner, then continue,” Zhuang Tianyun said, rising as the sky darkened, preparing to invite Su Jie to eat.

But Su Jie declined: “I need to go back and train. I’ve gained a lot today…I need to verify it all.”

His spiritual realm had clearly advanced today. Riding this momentum, he wanted to train his hidden weapons intensely and push further.

At this point, Kang Gu signed: “I’ll come back with you to train.”

He had lost to Su Jie and recognized him as a true master. He was very interested in training with Su Jie. At Haoyu Sports, Feng Hengyi didn’t have time to train with him daily…and barely even communicated. Kang Gu trained alone, occasionally sparring with other professional fighters.

Though he didn’t find such days depressing, he lacked a true master to stimulate his potential. Now he’d found Su Jie…someone he could truly spar with.

Su Jie nodded…Kang Gu would make an excellent training partner.

Among his friends, the only real masters were Liu Long and Zhang Jinchuan. But Kang Gu seemed stronger than both.

After bidding farewell to Zhuang Tianyun and leaving the Hall, Su Jie returned to Liu Long’s club training room and began practicing his hidden weapons.

Still using needles.

Needles had shorter range than throwing knives, but they were small, easy to carry in large numbers, difficult to detect, and hard to dodge. Within ten paces, they were ideal for striking the eyes or acupoints.

Kang Gu followed him in and watched Su Jie practice. His body barely moved, yet with a slight flick of his fingers, the needles shot out, hitting their targets…even penetrating wooden boards. If aimed at human eyes, they would pierce through eyelids and destroy the eyeball even with eyes closed.

As Su Jie moved freely, one needle after another shot out, every one hitting its mark with devastating penetration.

Whoosh!

In a corner, an unnoticed mosquito was also killed by Su Jie’s needle.

Kang Gu felt a chill run down his spine. He knew that if he and Su Jie weren’t sparring but fighting to the death, he could hardly escape a needle through the eye or the heart.

“How about we start training together? You move, and I’ll throw needles…it’ll also train your dodging ability. And I can teach you the techniques, so we can practice throwing needles at each other,” Su Jie said. He’d wanted someone to practice with for a long time.

He’d originally wanted to train with Zhang Jinchuan, but that man was too busy…always traveling for business, never stopping, wasting his youth on trivial pursuits.

Zhang Jinchuan’s talent was top-tier. If he’d devoted himself single-mindedly to cultivation, he might now be on par with Su Jie. But his interests weren’t limited to cultivation…business was also a great passion.

That was understandable.

Fortunately, Kang Gu’s mind was pure…he hardly cared about worldly matters, focusing solely on cultivation. He was Su Jie’s ideal training partner.

Su Jie immediately taught Kang Gu his hidden weapon techniques, and Kang Gu began practicing.

Kang Gu’s learning ability was extraordinary…even surpassing Su Jie’s own comprehension skills in the beginning.

Within hours, his needle-throwing was already quite proficient.

Hidden weapons were mostly about technique, not physical strength. And Kang Gu was already a top-level fighter…once he learned the techniques and built muscle memory through repetition, he would quickly become a hidden weapon master.

After Kang Gu became familiar with the needles, they began sparring.

Both wore motorcycle helmets and protective gear over their vital areas, shooting needles at each other.

Swish, swish, swish!

Kang Gu threw several needles at Su Jie’s eyes.

In a flash, Su Jie threw his own needles…they collided in mid-air, knocking Kang Gu’s needles away. Then, with another flash…

Crack!

The hard plastic visor on Kang Gu’s motorcycle helmet cracked…a needle embedded in it, nearly piercing through and into his eye.

Even Kang Gu was startled.

“My hand strength is this great?” Su Jie was slightly surprised himself. He hadn’t even used full force…just a casual flick…yet the needle’s penetration was almost unbelievable.

If he’d used full power, Kang Gu would be blind right now.

“We need a thicker helmet visor,” Su Jie said.

Kang Gu picked up the fallen needles, equally astonished that Su Jie could intercept his throws.

For both to throw needles and one to accurately intercept the other’s…that was even more incredible. Like two people shooting bullets that collide mid-air.

What marksmanship that would require!

After just this short training session, Kang Gu found Su Jie increasingly unfathomable…limitless.

“I devote myself wholly to training and contemplation, without distraction, yet I still can’t match Su Jie. Where exactly is the gap?” Kang Gu couldn’t understand.

Su Jie paid this no mind, had Kang Gu switch to a thicker helmet, and continued training.

This was true combat practice…attacking each other, separating, throwing needles, dodging, throwing again.

For half a month, Su Jie and Kang Gu trained intensely in secrecy. Su Jie’s hidden weapon skills and footwork improved further, and Kang Gu’s abilities grew greatly as well.

They ignored the outside world, training ceaselessly…while the outside world had been turned upside down.

News of Kang Gu’s departure had begun to leak.

Bang!

In Haoyu Group’s sports department office, Feng Hengyi slammed his hand on the table, cracking it. Everyone in the office could feel his murderous intent. Even Zhou Chun, the strongest fighter there, was trembling like a chicken.

Zhou Chun had experienced brutal underground fighting and had seen blood, yet in front of Feng Hengyi, he felt genuine terror.

“Kang Gu! He actually dared to jump ship!” Feng Hengyi was truly enraged.

He had never been this angry before.

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