Arhats Subduing Demons: Starting with The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber

Chapter 41 The Art of Cultivating Character

Wang Xiaotian's eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "You knew everything?"

Chang Kong smiled and said, "The Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms is a yang palm technique. When I tried the move 'Regretful Dragon' just now, I felt that although the move was simple, the power circulation was infinitely mysterious. If there is a problem, the true qi will inevitably backfire and the yang qi will be blocked."

The "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms" is the most powerful palm technique in the world. Back then, Hong Qigong and Guo Jing relied on it to look down on all the heroes. How powerful it was! However, the changes in the moves are extremely simple. The essence lies entirely in the application of force.

Yun Changkong's "Arhat Subduing Demon Skill" is a culmination of Buddhist internal martial arts, with numerous variations.

Along the way, during his spare time, he pondered the profound meaning of Quanzhen martial arts. The more he thought about it, the clearer he understood the principles of martial arts, and the more he experienced them. A simple sentence, when applied to martial arts, has endless variations.

Therefore, upon hearing the secret of "the dragon soars too high and regrets it," he pondered it for a moment, and when he used it, it surpassed Wang Xiaotian's many years of effort, far beyond what Wang Xiaotian could have imagined.

“You’re right!” Wang Xiaotian sighed. “Now that things have come to this, I won’t hide it from you, Brother Yun. My master’s arms have been paralyzed for many years. In fact, not only that, our gang, like the Demonic Sect, is also in a state of disarray. More than ten years ago, a huge change occurred in the gang, which led to the betrayal of the gang by the ‘Eight-Armed Divine Sword’, the leader of the four elders!”

When my master heard this, he was powerless to suppress it. Now, the four elders have different powers and cannot threaten my master's position as the gang leader. But he always said that he had made a once famous gang the best in the world into this state. He had even practiced the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. Alas, he was too ashamed to face his ancestors after death. That's why he was in a hurry to find martial arts heroes to entrust with the gang's affairs!
"Our Beggars' Sect welcomes members from any sect as long as they are not from the Demonic Sect. Therefore, although I do not know Brother Yun's sect, seeing that you are an enemy of the Heavenly Eagle Sect, I am willing to introduce you."

Chang Kong said, "I haven't seen your master's injuries, and even if I had, it's hard to say whether they can be cured. But there are some things I can't say even if I see him, so it's better if you convey them to me!"

Wang Xiaotian bowed and clasped his hands in greeting: "I am all ears!"

Chang Kong helped him up and said, "The fundamental principle of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms lies in having inexhaustible reserves and boundless strength. I hear you highly praise the way of fierceness, but in the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, this is only the most superficial and basic aspect."

The saying, "The dragon soars too high and regrets it; fullness cannot last," emphasizes the word "regret." It tells you that you shouldn't exhaust your strength or go to extremes. This elucidates the essence of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, yet it is also the most difficult to practice and understand.

Wang Xiaotian scratched his head, looking embarrassed, and said, "Master also said that the 'Regretful Dragon' palm technique is the general principle. When you strike someone, you should use as much force as you want, but you should save some extra power. But no matter how much I practice, I can only achieve the fierce and swift movements. He said that this approach is not right, and he was afraid that I would get hurt, so he stopped letting me practice it!"

Chang Kong slowly said, "Your master is indeed doing this for your own good. I have heard the secret of 'The Dragon Regrets Overreaching,' and I understand it now. There is a saying in Taoism: 'Great fullness seems empty, yet its use is inexhaustible.' The Buddhist saying 'Sweeping the floor may harm the lives of ants' is actually the same as 'The Dragon Regrets Overreaching,' which is to teach people to restrain themselves."

In martial arts, it is said that when you make a move, you should always leave room for maneuver. Firstly, if you make a move to kill, it goes against the principle of benevolence. Secondly, if you have spare strength in your body, no matter how skilled your opponent is or how they change, you will have room to respond and will not be caught off guard.

Although the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms consists of only eighteen moves, the palm force is ever-changing, and this is the reason why.

Just like the "Regretful Dragon" palm strike, whether I strike directly or pull back inward, we can adapt to the enemy's changes and not be controlled by them. The premise is that your strength is not exhausted.

Therefore, those who have achieved mastery of Buddhist and Taoist internal martial arts can achieve twice the results with half the effort when practicing the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, simply because their nature aligns with this principle; they do not intend to kill when they strike, and naturally retain some strength.

“I understand now.” Wang Xiaotian clapped his hands and said, “No wonder the old gang leader Hong and the great hero Guo were able to make a name for themselves in the martial arts world with this palm technique. It was because of their benevolence.”

"That's right!" Chang Kong nodded and said, "Why is the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms called Subduing Dragon, and not called Slaying Dragon or Killing Dragon?"

Is it just a matter of whether it sounds good or not? The "Dog-Beating Stick Technique" isn't necessarily that good-sounding.

This is because the palm technique itself is designed to subdue, not kill.

However, most of those who received the teachings believed that the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms was a unique martial arts technique. They thought that the old gang leader, Master Guo, was incredibly powerful back then. He could split mountains and shatter rocks with this palm strike, breaking the opponent's tendons and bones. Wouldn't that be exhilarating?
Little did they know that the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms was a compassionate skill, a righteous and awe-inspiring skill of a king, requiring a heart of benevolence and great love, and was by no means a killing technique sought by executioners.

Therefore, even if one knows the palm techniques and studies their secrets, if one's mindset and understanding of the essence are not aligned, no matter how profound one's inner energy, practicing this palm technique will inevitably result in insufficient internal strength, leading one astray.

Wang Xiaotian listened in a daze and asked, "I understand the part about mindset and the essentials of palm techniques you mentioned, but I don't quite understand the part about having abundant true qi but insufficient internal strength!"

Chang Kong said, "The fact that you asked this question shows that you simply regard internal force as true qi."

Wang Xiaotian asked in surprise, "Isn't that right?"

Chang Kong shook his head and patted his lower abdomen: "True Qi is only a part of internal strength; most of it is stored in the Dantian."

This internal strength is extracted from the three treasures of the human body: essence, qi, and spirit, relying on internal cultivation techniques. Therefore, mental strength, physical strength, and qi strength all fall under the category of internal strength, and are by no means just true qi.

Therefore, when masters fight, they must concentrate their minds and clear their minds so that their internal strength can be brought to its fullest potential. Why?

It's simply because it involves mental effort.

If the mind does not go where it will, where will the strength come from?
For example, healing others and fighting with others both consume internal energy.

But why is it that the internal energy consumed in a day of fighting is perhaps less than the internal energy consumed in an hour of saving someone?

The reason is that when you're fighting, you only need to consider how your internal energy circulates within your body and how to execute your moves.

However, when saving lives, there is no room for error. The true energy not only circulates within one's own body but also within the other person's body. One cannot even make a mistake on acupoints that are an inch apart. Therefore, when concentrating one's mind, what is consumed is not only physical strength but also incomparable mental strength.

For example, many masters with superb internal strength and extraordinary martial arts skills may not show any signs of defeat, but they may feel that their internal strength is insufficient and that they cannot resist. In reality, they are too nervous, have exhausted too much mental energy, and lack mental fortitude. However, in fact, their true energy is still abundant.

Similarly, many people possess exceptional martial arts skills and profound internal energy, yet their practice can lead to numerous ailments and even qi deviation. This isn't due to insufficient internal energy, but rather to mental and emotional issues. It's simply because the practitioner's thoughts and intentions contradict the true essence of the martial art they are practicing!

"Ah!" Wang Xiaotian gasped, "Is a lack of temperament really that harmful?"

It should be understood that the reason why the Beggars' Sect's Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms Divine Skill is incomplete and fragmented to this day is not because the practitioners of each generation cherished the secret technique, nor because the Beggars' Sect's leaders and Guo Jing's disciples were dull or stupid.

Whether one can grasp the essence of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms has nothing to do with intelligence or wisdom. In fact, the more intelligent a person is, the less likely they are to master it. It all comes down to one's temperament.

This move, "The Dragon Regrets Its Ascent," requires both a powerful attack and the ability to reserve some strength.

Many people can only strike with fierce and swift force, but they don't retain any internal strength, so their attacks can be easily dodged and countered by others.

Either you have spare strength, but when you strike with your palm, it's weak and feeble, not enough to subdue a dragon but enough to subdue an insect, making it impossible to defeat the enemy.

This seemingly simple principle, if not understood by those with a weak mind, will never be applied to martial arts, let alone master the "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms".

It's like this: even if you put the answer and the book here, very few people will still understand a calculus problem.

Chang Kong slowly said, "Martial arts are all created by people. As the saying goes, what kind of person creates what kind of martial arts. And those superior martial arts all emphasize the harmony between mind and intention. For example, Shaolin martial arts focus on subduing the enemy rather than killing them. If one's mind is full of thoughts about how to kill, no matter how high one's talent is, how diligent one's practice is, or how overflowing one's true energy is, if one's mind does not conform to the principles, one will inevitably suffer from qi deviation!"

For example, Wang Chongyang, the founder of the Quanzhen School, once said that his junior brother Zhou Botong lacked the magnanimity to help people and save the world, and therefore his martial arts skills could not reach the pinnacle.

However, Zhou Botong later inherited his title and ranked among the Five Greats; his martial arts skills might not be inferior to his!

"In that case, wouldn't it mean that Master Wang made a mistake?" Wang Xiaotian said.

Chang Kong said very seriously, "That's not the case. It's just that when he said that, all the martial arts Zhou Botong learned were passed down to him and were in line with his personality."

Later, Zhou Botong understood many principles and created his own martial arts, which differed somewhat from the martial arts he had taught, leading to his later achievements.

If Zhou Botong had continued to learn Wang Chongyang's martial arts, given his personality, he would naturally never have caught up with his senior brother.

This is why Zhou Botong, upon meeting Guo Jing, said that Master Wang would be delighted to see him and could even pass on his unparalleled martial arts skills to him. It wasn't that Guo Jing was particularly clever, but rather that Zhou Botong realized Guo Jing's temperament was the same as Master Wang's. Do you understand?

"I understand!" Wang Xiaotian seemed to realize something and let out a long breath: "No wonder you said these things because it was inconvenient for you to do them yourself, and you asked me to pass them on to Master. In fact, you wanted him to pay attention to cultivating his character."

Chang Kong nodded slightly and said, "The mystery of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms lies in teaching people what kind of person to be. Your master is the leader of a major gang and a senior in the martial arts world. If I were to say this to him, it would sound like I'm teaching him how to be a person, and I might offend people!"
Our friendship is so deep, I won't stand on ceremony.

Wang Xiaotian sighed and said, "But the way you're doing it makes it sound like you're making arrangements for your own funeral, which is quite unsettling!"

Chang Kong laughed and said, "This is not about making arrangements for the future, but about always having a way out and making the worst-case scenario plan. This is a lesson that the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms teaches us, and it is also something that one must do in the martial arts world!"

"This is the price of being a hero!" Wang Xiaotian suddenly said.

Yun Changkong was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "Perhaps, who doesn't dream of being a hero at some point? Especially someone like me who has received the great inheritance!"

Wang Xiaotian said seriously, "Alright, don't say 'tomorrow.' Things are unpredictable. I'll wait for you at General Yang's Temple for three days. If you don't come, I'll leave..."

He paused for a moment and then said, "If you've only been delayed and are out of danger, go to the 'Welcome Inn' in the small town at the foot of Mount Wutai and tell the innkeeper my name."

Chang Kong said, "Alright!"

They were all men who planned to accomplish great things, and after explaining everything clearly, they didn't say much when they parted.

The two bowed to each other, and Wang Xiaotian turned and mounted his horse.

Yun Changkong watched him disappear into the distance, fearing that someone might be following and investigating, so he followed him for several miles before turning back and changing his clothes at a farmhouse.

Before we knew it, the sun had set and dusk was falling. The number of pedestrians on the street had also decreased. A huge villa-style building stood tall in the west of the city. A pair of auspicious lions stood proudly in front of the gate. The two vermilion doors were studded with yellow nails. Under the setting sun, it looked magnificent.

Not only at the entrance, but also on the streets, there was a heavy guard of Yuan soldiers, all wearing armor, carrying weapons, and armed with bows and arrows.

Suddenly, a farmer dressed in hemp clothing and wearing a straw hat arrived at the street corner, glanced at the scene a few times, and then walked away.

This is naturally the vast sky.

Normally, with his martial arts skills, he wouldn't need to be so careful, but since Chang Kong knew that the other party was Zhao Min, he had no choice but to be cautious!

This is because the woman is incredibly clever and, being "love-struck," is devoted to her lover, which makes her even more endearing.

But that's from Zhang Wuji's perspective. If Zhao Min were to shed this identity, it would be a disaster for everyone.

In the original story, Zhang Wuji led the Ming Cult masters and unknowingly poisoned her. If Zhang Wuji hadn't won her heart, Zhao Min would have gone too far and withdrawn the Yuan soldiers.

This renowned Ming Cult, which had been passed down for thirty-four generations, was destroyed by a woman.

And they didn't even know who the other person was!

Therefore, even if Yun Changkong only wanted to find out the woman's intentions, he had to be extremely cautious and dared not be careless in the slightest. He first came to scout out the place. Then he found an inn and checked in under an alias.

Chang Kong sat cross-legged on the bed, recalling his experiences since entering the martial world. Apart from the Sky Eagle Sect, his actions had not affected anyone else. But now, he was changing the fate of others, and his own fate was also being changed because of others.

He also understood that the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, though seemingly an external martial art, was actually a method for cultivating one's character.

This explains why Guo Jing could master fifteen palm techniques in a month after learning the Quanzhen Sect's internal energy cultivation for two years. His nature was perfectly suited to it, just like Shi Potian practicing the Arhat Subduing Demon Skill and Zhang Wuji practicing the Great Shift of the Universe. Everything just happened naturally.

He originally didn't want to get involved in this important matter concerning the nation and its people, but he had come across it. If he didn't do his best, he would be letting down this opportunity and wasting all his knowledge.

An oil lamp shone through the gauze curtain onto Yun Changkong's face. After this colorful day, his boyish face seemed to have matured considerably.

Yun Changkong thought for a while, then began to review what he had learned in his mind. When a ray of moonlight shone into the room, he got up, changed into black clothes, covered his face with a black cloth, and only took his sword and hidden weapons. He didn't take any money or anything else with him.

In a battle between masters, the difference is often just a hair's breadth. A slight increase in lightness of body translates to a slight increase in agility, which in turn increases safety.

Chang Kong stepped out of the room, leaped up, and floated gracefully onto the roof, landing on the tiles without making a sound. With long, flowing strides, he moved like a dark shadow in the cold moonlight!

The moonlight was like water, and the entire city of Kaifeng was quietly bathed in its clear glow. Most of the oil lamps had been extinguished, and squads of Yuan soldiers patrolled the streets from time to time.

Relying on his divine skills, Chang Kong was fearless and only climbed walls and scaled buildings in the city. However, when he reached the vicinity of the Prince's Mansion, he hid behind a roof ridge, meditated, and circulated his energy to recover his strength.

He had to ensure he was always full of energy, and he also had to listen for any sounds before entering, lest Zhao Min had laid a trap for him, which would be no fun.

Just as he was gathering his strength to listen, he suddenly heard the sound of clothes rustling through the air. He glanced over and saw a dark figure flash by, moving swiftly towards the direction of the Prince's mansion.

Chang Kong was surprised, but also delighted: "For such a master to act in this way, he must be doing something he doesn't want to tell anyone, just like me." He immediately followed after him.

(End of this chapter)