A Life of Attributes Starting as a Nobleman in the Republic of China Era

Chen Che smiled, put away his tactical stick, and sat down on the sofa.

"How is it? How do you feel?" Chen Shi asked.

Chen Che thought for a moment: "It's strange. I didn't think about anything when I was practicing, but now that I've stopped, I feel particularly clear-headed. Some things that I couldn't understand before don't seem so complicated anymore."

Chen Shi took a sip of water: "That's how you practice. You have to pull your mind away from all sorts of distractions and focus on yourself. When your body is in good condition, your mind will be in good condition too."

Chen Che and Chen Shi practiced in the training room for three days. When they opened the panel, they found that they had already made some progress in the three miscellaneous martial arts manuals.

[Stance training: 5-star Yin-Yang stance: mastered to perfection; 4-star Wuding Fengbo stance: slightly accomplished]

[External Skills: 5-Star Wind God's Guidance: Masterful; Grandmaster Nameless Staff Technique: Masterful; 5-Star Flowing Light and Afterimage Sword: Slightly Proficient; 4-Star Azure Wave Fist Manual: Slightly Proficient]

During the practice of the Flowing Light and Shadow Sword Technique, Chen Che used two sticks. He could feel that his proficiency with the [Grandmaster Nameless Stick Technique] had also improved, and the entry for it was flashing slightly.

It has been more than a week since I last visited Sun Congzhou and Chen San.

That day, Chen Che asked Manager Zhao to arrange for two Fords to pick up the two of them and take them back to the Peace Hotel.

The car departed from the Peace Hotel, passed the Bund Avenue, and soon arrived at Sacred Heart Hospital in the southern part of the city.

Chen Che got out of the car and looked up at the slightly old French-style building. Several half-withered vines climbed the mottled walls, trembling slightly in the autumn wind.

Having informed the hospital in advance, Sun Congzhou and Chen San were already waiting downstairs in the inpatient department.

Sun Congzhou still had that lean and refined appearance, but his complexion was much better than a week ago, and his eyes were brighter. Chen San stood beside him, carrying an old canvas bag. When he saw Chen Che's car, a simple and honest smile appeared on his dark face.

"Master, Third Brother," Chen Che greeted him, "How have you been these past few days?"

Sun Congzhou nodded, his gaze lingering on Chen Che for a moment: "Little Chen, your... kung fu has improved again."

Chen Che smiled and said, "Master has discerning eyes."

The four got into the car. Chen Che sat in the passenger seat and glanced at Sun Congzhou in the back seat through the rearview mirror: "Mr. Sun, your health..."

"It's alright." Sun Congzhou waved his hand. "Chen San, on the other hand, has been able to get out of bed for a while now. He's been bored keeping me company these past few days."

Chen San grinned: "It's not boring. There's an open space behind the hospital where I practice boxing twice every morning to warm up."

As the car drove through the narrow streets of the southern part of the city, the old houses on both sides rushed past.

Sun Congzhou suddenly asked, "Che'er, what level have you reached in your nameless staff technique?"

Chen Che's heart skipped a beat. The old gentleman had a sharp eye: "Your skill is superb. But I feel like something's missing, it seems..."

"It seems to lack some spiritual energy?" Sun Congzhou interjected.

"Yes!" Chen Che turned around abruptly, "That's the feeling! I'm familiar with all the moves, and my strength is flowing smoothly, but at the end, I always feel a bit unsatisfied, like not finishing the last stroke of a character properly."

Sun Congzhou smiled but didn't reply. He simply said, "When you have time, call me and let me take a look."

The car drove through several streets and soon returned to the Peace Hotel.

Manager Zhao personally came out to greet him, arranged for someone to take Sun Congzhou's luggage into his room, and prepared a table of food and drinks to welcome him.

After the welcoming banquet, the sound of sticks whistling filled the training room.

Chen Che practiced the nameless staff technique several times, his forehead covered in sweat. Sun Congzhou stood three meters away, watching silently.

"There's been a change." Sun Congzhou nodded. "The killing intent is there, but it still belongs to someone else."

Chen Che wiped his sweat: "Mr. Sun, I don't quite understand."

Sun Congzhou walked up to him, reached out and grasped his tactical staff: "This staff technique of yours was created for you by Master Ren. But once you've mastered it to perfection, you should have already felt that this staff technique has its own temperament."

"temperament?"

"That's right." Sun Congzhou loosened his grip and slowly walked away. "Every martial art is honed little by little by the person who created it, incorporating their own temperament, experiences, and insights gained from fighting. Your nameless staff technique is fierce and aggressive, with every move an attack. Even the defensive stances contain a counterattack hidden within, simply because Master Ren is a decisive and unyielding person."

Chen Che nodded thoughtfully.

"By practicing his kung fu, you're just learning his temperament." Sun Congzhou turned around. "But you're Chen Che, not Ren Zhan. At best, practicing according to his personality will only result in a mere 'similarity'."

Chen Che remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, "Master, how can I make Master Ren's kung fu my own?"

Sun Congzhou walked to the center of the training room: "Come on, attack me. Use your best move, any move will do."

Chen Che gripped his tactical baton tightly, took a step forward, and pointed the tip of the baton diagonally at Sun Congzhou's shoulder, which was the "Stick One" move from the Nameless Battling Technique.

Sun Congzhou slightly turned his body and shook his head: "This is his, not yours. Let's try again."

Chen Che took a deep breath and thrust out with his staff again.

Sun Congzhou blocked him again: "It's still his. Let's do it again."

The third strike, the fourth strike, the fifth strike...

Sun Congzhou effortlessly deflected every blow.

After striking for the tenth time, Chen Che suddenly stopped.

He stood there with his eyes closed, beads of sweat sliding down his forehead and dripping onto the floor.

Sun Congzhou didn't urge him, but just watched him quietly.

After a long while, Chen Che opened his eyes.

He struck again with his stick.

It was the same move, "Staff One," but this time, the staff strike was a bit slower than before. However, before striking, he tightened his body inch by inch.

A glint of light flashed in Sun Congzhou's eyes as he went to meet him.

Sun Congzhou's arm crossed with the tactical baton, making a soft sound.

This time, Sun Congzhou did not completely release his force and took half a step back.

"Good!" Sun Congzhou praised, "That strike really showed your skill. Tell me, what were you thinking just now?"

Chen Che put away his stick and wiped his sweat: "I'm thinking... how I would fight if I were the one doing it."

"Oh?"

"I don't like to use all my strength right away," Chen Che said slowly. "I'm the kind of person who observes carefully before I act. Just now, I deliberately slowed down my strike by half a beat, just to see how Mr. Sun would react. I only struck after I had a clear view."

Sun Congzhou laughed heartily, his laughter echoing in the training room.

"Understood?" He pointed at Chen Che. "That's your personality, so modify your kung fu accordingly. This nameless staff technique was created by someone who would rather break than bend, which is why you always feel like you can't catch your last breath when you practice it. Because you're not that kind of person! Your personality is steady, you observe before you act, you see through your opponent before striking with deadly precision. How are you going to catch your last breath?"

Chen Che was stunned, as if a bolt of lightning had struck his mind.

"Kung Fu must be developed within yourself. The first step is to understand yourself." Sun Congzhou slowly walked to the window, gazing at the gradually brightening sky outside. "You should practice the style that suits you. If you try to imitate someone else's temperament, you'll only ever be their shadow until you die."