Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

After lunch, the sun finally struggled to peek out from behind the thick clouds, casting a few weak rays of light onto the cold ground of the courtyard. In the east wing, He Damin finished the leftovers his sister-in-law had heated up—two cornbread buns, a bowl of cornmeal porridge so thin you could see your reflection, and a small dish of pickled vegetable shreds—then got up and walked to the moon gate.

He reached out and fully opened the wooden door that Lü Bingxin had pounded on the night before and hurriedly opened and closed this morning. He used a half-brick to prop the door open, leaving a narrow gap. The cold wind outside immediately found its way in through the gap, carrying with it the faint sounds of conversation and coughing from the houses in the front yard.

Lu Bingxin was clearing away the dishes when she saw this and asked with some confusion, "Damin, isn't it cold with the door open?"

"Get some fresh air, and let your mind clear up a bit." He Damin turned around, a faint, almost reassuring smile on his face. "Sister-in-law, are you ready? Shall we begin?"

Lü Bingxin quickly stacked the last bowl and wiped her hands with a cloth. The effects of the Marrow Cleansing Pill seemed to be continuing; she felt light and healthy, her hands and feet warm, and even the gloom in her heart seemed to be dispelled by the warm current from the pill. However, the thought of her husband's unknown whereabouts still weighed heavily on her. Hearing He Damin mention learning boxing, which was something she had promised before, and also because she vaguely felt it might actually help her stop overthinking, she nodded: "Alright. This boxing… how do I learn it?"

He Damin walked to a slightly more spacious open space in the center of the courtyard—this place had originally been piled with some miscellaneous items, which he had simply tidied up in the corner that morning. The space was not large, the blue brick floor was uneven, and withered yellow moss grew in the cracks.

"Wing Chun emphasizes 'maintaining the center and using the center, short bridges and narrow stances.'" He stood still, his posture natural and relaxed, and spoke clearly, "It doesn't rely on brute force, but on skill and speed. The moves are direct, without too many frills, focusing on vital points, making it especially suitable for close-quarters combat, and also suitable for training in a small environment like ours."

As he spoke, he assumed a starting stance—the "Two-Character Sheep-Piercing Horse" stance. His feet were turned inward, his knees slightly bent, his center of gravity was stable, and his hands were placed in front of him, one in front and one behind, with his palms slightly clenched, seemingly relaxed yet not quite.

Lü Bingxin watched intently and tried to imitate her, but her posture was stiff, and she seemed unsure of where to put her hands and feet.

"Sister-in-law, don't rush. Let's learn standing meditation first." He Damin walked over, gently straightened her shoulders, and adjusted the distance and angle of her feet. "Don't let your knees go past your toes, feel your center of gravity in the middle of your feet... Yes, keep your back straight, but not stiff, it should be relaxed and sinking... Push your head upwards, imagine there's a string holding you up..."

His voice was steady, with a guiding force. Lü Bingxin adjusted as instructed. At first, she felt awkward, but slowly she seemed to find a way to feel it. The warmth that flowed from her dantian (she didn't know it was the dantian, she only felt it was her lower abdomen) seemed to nourish her limbs more smoothly with the adjustment of her posture.

"Okay, hold it. Breathe naturally, don't hold your breath. Look straight ahead." He Damin took two steps back and looked at her. Standing meditation is the most basic of the basics. It can not only strengthen the lower body and stabilize the foundation, but also allow beginners to have a preliminary experience of the combination of "qi" and "form". More importantly, it is a process that requires focus and patience, which can effectively help Lü Bingxin temporarily detach her mind from her worries about her husband.

Time slipped by with slow breathing and subtle adjustments. The afternoon sun slanted into the courtyard, dancing on Lü Bingxin's slightly sweaty forehead. She could feel her calves starting to ache and her back feeling a little tight, but the warm current within her seemed to be fighting against these discomforts, allowing her to persevere. Her gaze, initially blank and lost, gradually became focused, fixed on the mottled wall in front of her, and her breathing gradually became longer and more even.

In the middle courtyard, Yi Zhonghai came out to empty the furnace ash. He caught a glimpse of his uncle and sister-in-law practicing strange postures, one teaching the other, through the moon gate of the east wing. He paused, shook his head, said nothing, and turned back. Behind the window of the Jia family's house, Zhang Cuihua's face flashed by. She pursed her lips and muttered something under her breath, probably something like "unfaithful" or "making a fuss over nothing."

He Damin's spiritual sense swept almost imperceptibly across the front yard, taking in all the commotion without a ripple in his heart. He didn't care what others thought; the open moon gate was less about ventilation and more about a posture of composure, a silent declaration to the outside world: the He family is not in chaos.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Lü Bingxin's body began to sway slightly, and her forehead was covered in sweat. He Damin spoke up at the right moment: "That's enough, sister-in-law, relax a bit and stretch your arms and legs."

Lu Bingxin felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She let out a long breath, lowered her arms, and felt that her legs were sore and numb. But strangely, her spirits were much better. The feeling of panic and confusion seemed to have been suppressed by the sustained focus and physical fatigue.

"How are you feeling?" He Damin asked.

"I'm tired... but it seems... I'm not so panicked anymore," Lu Bingxin said honestly, wiping her sweat.

"That's right. Practicing boxing is also about cultivating one's mindset." He Damin nodded. "Next, I'll teach you a few basic techniques. Watch carefully."

He assumed a stance again, moving very slowly. "The Sun-shaped Fist is the most commonly used and direct attacking technique in Wing Chun. The power originates from the ground, twisting the waist and hips, sending the shoulder out to deliver the punch, with the fist traveling along the center line." As he spoke, he demonstrated, slowly throwing out a punch. The movement was simple, but it contained a short, sharp force that was not yet released, and a barely audible sound seemed to echo in the air.

Lü Bingxin stared wide-eyed, trying her best to imitate. Her movements were clumsy, her punches weak and powerless, and her direction was off. He Damin patiently corrected her posture again and again, explaining the key points of power generation. "Don't use the strength of your arms, use your body... Yes, push off the ground with your feet, turn your waist... The punch must be fast, as fast as... as fast as pulling back, that's called 'inch power'."

After teaching her the Chongquan (冲拳) technique, he then taught her several basic defensive and neutralizing techniques, including Tanshou (摊手), Bangshou (膀手), and Paishou (拍手). He Damin personally demonstrated the moves to her, showing her how to block with the outside of her forearm (Qiaoshou, 桥手), how to deflect attacks with her palm, and how to deflect force with Bangshou. At first, Lü Bingxin was clumsy and disorganized, but with He Damin's patient guidance and the improved coordination brought about by the Xi Sui Dan (洗髓丹), she gradually grasped the basics. Although still somewhat awkward, at least her movements were starting to look somewhat professional.

The sun had set further in the west, and the light in the courtyard gradually dimmed, with a chill returning. But in the east wing, a little warmth had been generated by the teaching and learning activity. Lü Bingxin had already taken off her cotton-padded coat, wearing only a light jacket. Sweat dampened her forehead and temples, her cheeks were flushed from exercise, and her eyes sparkled as she intently followed He Damin's instructions, repeating the monotonous basic movements over and over again.

Seeing the focused look gradually gathering in his sister-in-law's eyes, He Damin knew the time was almost right. Her body, after the initial transformation by the Marrow Cleansing Pill, was already able to withstand the impact of the skill card inheritance; her mind, thanks to the focused training over the past half day, had also stabilized from extreme panic and was in a relatively open and accepting state.

"Sister-in-law, take a break and have some water." He Damin gestured for her to stop, then walked up to her, his expression becoming unusually serious. "Next, I'm going to teach you a set of Wing Chun's mental techniques and more refined power generation techniques. This might be a bit... special. You'll feel something in your mind and your body will react a little. Don't be afraid, just go with the flow."

Although Lü Bingxin didn't understand what "mental techniques and formulas" meant, seeing He Damin's serious expression, she nodded earnestly: "Yes, I'm listening."

He Damin extended his finger and, seemingly casually, gently touched the acupoint between her eyebrows. His fingertip was slightly cool, and his movement was gentle.

"Close your eyes and relax," he whispered.

Lü Bingxin closed her eyes as instructed. The instant she closed her eyes, He Damin had a thought, and the Wing Chun skill card in his spiritual sea transformed into an invisible stream of light, silently flowing into the depths of Lü Bingxin's consciousness along the finger he was pointing at her brow.

Lü Bingxin's body trembled slightly!

In an instant, countless pieces of information, images, and insights flooded into her consciousness like a burst dam! It wasn't fragmented knowledge imparted through language, but a "lineage" of the entire Wing Chun system, imprinted deep within her soul! The basic framework of Siu Nim Tao, Chum Kiu, and Biu Gee; the exquisite application of core techniques such as Inch Punch, Plow Hand, Lifting Hand, Slap Hand, Suffocating Hand, and Tan Da; the unique methods of Listening to Energy, Sticky Hand, and Close-Combat Power Generation; and even some of the training insights and combat experiences of generations of Wing Chun practitioners…

This information was vast and well-organized, instantly connecting and merging with the rudimentary postures and power generation techniques she had just learned that afternoon! She seemed to "see" a blurry figure, moving nimbly and swiftly within a small space, its fists like lightning, its defense as solid as a mountain; she also seemed to "feel" her own hands, sensing, guiding, and unleashing power in some mysterious way...

"Uh..." She let out a short groan, not of pain, but a strange feeling of information overload mixed with dizziness and enlightenment. Her body trembled slightly uncontrollably. The warmth that had flowed through her body during her afternoon standing meditation and practice now seemed to have been infused with a soul and direction, and began to automatically accelerate along some complex path, cleansing her meridians and nourishing her muscles and skin.

He Damin withdrew his finger and observed quietly. The fusion process of skill cards varies from person to person. His sister-in-law had no foundation, but she was relatively simple-minded and had just undergone the Marrow Cleansing Pill, so she should be able to receive it smoothly.

Sure enough, the dizziness on Lü Bingxin's face gradually subsided, replaced by a deep, meditative tranquility. Her eyes remained closed, but her body naturally returned to the stance of the "Two-Character Horse Stance," more precise and serene than the posture He Damin had corrected countless times that afternoon, subtly blending into her surroundings. Her breathing became extremely long and subtle, almost inaudible, yet her chest rose and fell rhythmically and deeply.

The light in the courtyard grew dimmer. A cold wind blew through the cracks in the moon gate, ruffling her sweat-dampened hair. But she seemed oblivious, completely immersed in the fusion of the new, surging power within her body and the vast principles of martial arts in her mind.

He Damin could clearly sense that his sister-in-law's aura was undergoing subtle changes. The residual medicinal power of the Marrow Cleansing Pill was being fully activated and guided, merging into her blood and qi. Her body, which was originally only slightly stronger than that of an ordinary woman, was being rapidly transformed and strengthened by the inherited boxing principles and the circulating blood and qi. At the microscopic level, her muscle fibers were becoming denser and stronger, her bones were more resilient, and her reflexes were becoming more acute…

This is a kind of empowering transmission, directly skipping the long period of exploration and imprinting the "soul" and "method" of Wing Chun on her. What remains is to transform this transmission into tangible "techniques" and "power," which requires time and practice, but the starting point has been elevated to a level that ordinary martial artists can hardly reach.

Time slipped by quietly. Families in the front yard began preparing dinner, wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys, the air filled with the mingled aromas of various foods. There seemed to be some commotion at the Jia family's house, but it quickly subsided. From the Yi Zhonghai family's house came the hoarse voice of a radio broadcasting the news, with words like "Imperial Army," "sweep," and "victory" faintly audible.

The east courtyard, however, seemed isolated from all of this. Only the deepening twilight and the figure of a woman standing like a sculpture in the twilight, her aura both restrained and vibrant.

Finally, as the last rays of sunlight were swallowed by the distant rooftops and the courtyard was completely shrouded in a bluish-gray twilight, Lü Bingxin's long eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.

In that instant, He Damin seemed to see an extremely sharp glint flash in her eyes, so fast it was almost an illusion. Then, her gaze returned to its usual gentleness, yet it seemed to have gained something—a quiet strength.

She exhaled softly, and her breath condensed into a straight white line in the cold air, shooting out more than a foot before slowly dissipating.

"Damin..." she began, her voice slightly hoarse, yet carrying a strange sense of stability, "I...I think...I understand a lot." She looked down at her hands, then tried to move her body, feeling a light and abundant power coursing through her limbs. The stiffness and clumsiness she had felt during her afternoon practice had largely disappeared, replaced by a lively and eager energy. In her mind, the boxing techniques and power generation methods were crystal clear, as if she had practiced them hundreds of times.

He Damin carefully sensed her aura, and a slight thought stirred in his heart. The Marrow Cleansing Pill had helped her establish her foundation, the skill card had been passed down and infused, and with her focused practice all afternoon and this sudden enlightenment... her blood and qi flowed smoothly and powerfully, her strength contained yet revealing a penetrating quality.

This is actually... a sign of the early stage of internal strength!

Although he had only just begun to grasp the basics and his strength was not yet fully developed, far from reaching the level of a master of internal energy, he had indeed touched the threshold of internal energy! This progress was even faster than He Damin had anticipated. It seemed that the skill card combined with the Marrow Cleansing Pill was particularly effective for ordinary people with no foundation.

"Sister-in-law, I'm right. You've already mastered the basics," He Damin affirmed. "What I just taught you is the foundation of Wing Chun. With diligent practice and careful understanding, you'll not only improve your health, but also make it impossible for three or five ordinary men to get close to you."

Upon hearing this, Lü Bingxin's face revealed a mixture of surprise, disbelief, and a hint of realization. She flexed her wrists, feeling the newly generated, ever-flowing power within her body. Recalling the clear and profound principles of boxing in her mind, she suddenly felt that this cold and dangerous world was no longer so hopeless. At least, she was no longer that weak woman who could only cry helplessly and be slaughtered at will.

"Damin... thank you." She looked at He Damin, her eyes welling up with tears. She knew that what her brother-in-law had given her was far more than just a few punches and kicks.

"We're family, let's not talk about these things." He Damin shook his head, looking at the sky that had completely darkened, his eyes deep and unfathomable. "Sister-in-law, you've just started, you still need to consolidate your skills. Practice your stance again tonight, and reflect on it. I'm going out for a bit to inquire about my elder brother's whereabouts."

Lu Bingxin now trusted He Damin completely. Although she was still concerned when she heard this, she was no longer as panicked as she had been in the morning. She simply told him, "Then be careful and come back soon."

"Mm," He Damin responded, turning to walk towards the moon gate. Before stepping over the threshold, he paused slightly, without turning back, his voice carrying clearly back: "Sister-in-law, remember the feeling you had when you were practicing your boxing. No matter what happens, stay calm and guard the center line."

After saying that, his figure disappeared into the deepening darkness of the courtyard house.

Standing in the twilight-shrouded east courtyard, Lü Bingxin felt the warmth and strength flowing through her body. She glanced in the direction where He Damin had disappeared and clenched her fist tightly. That fist was no longer soft.