Cangmang Asks the Way 1: Guardian of the Lamp

Zhou Zhenhua called Cang Tianci to his office alone. For the first time ever, he poured Tianci a glass of water, his face showing unprecedented seriousness and eagerness.

"Tianci, there are no outsiders here, so your coach will be frank with you. This national competition is your gateway. With your comprehension and foundation, you have the ability to compete for the championship. Think about it, what does a national championship mean? It's not just about getting extra points on the college entrance exam; it's a direct ticket to the national team. In the future, you'll represent the country in world-class combat sports competitions and win honor for Chinese martial arts on the world stage. This is the world that a hidden dragon like you should be exploring."

His words were incredibly inspiring, painting a magnificent and glorious picture that instantly ignited the passion in Cang Tianci's heart. On the arena, with everyone watching, he was bringing glory to his country… which young man wouldn't be filled with excitement?

He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and met Coach Zhou's expectant gaze. He said firmly, "Coach, I understand the importance of this opportunity. I will devote all my energy to training and will never slack off. However... I cannot abandon my studies, even temporarily. Please believe me, I can manage both, and I promise I will not let my training be affected."

Deep within his heart, a stubborn and almost arrogant thought cried out: this was not only a promise to others, but also a brutal test of the "Tao" he sought. The core of the "Hibernating Dragon Technique" and the "Thirteen Postures of Tai Chi" taught by his master, Chen Jiren, was "harmony of Yin and Yang" and "seeking stillness in movement." He was determined to find his own unique path of balance, combining both literary and martial arts, amidst this seemingly impossible rupture of opposites.

Looking into his eyes, Zhou Zhenhua saw not only the stubbornness of a young man, but also a certain unwavering resolve, almost like that of a spiritual practitioner, that Zhou Zhenhua couldn't fully comprehend. Knowing he could no longer persuade him, he could only wave his hand and sigh, "Fine, fine, you have your own ideas. I just hope you don't ruin your health."

A day later, the homeroom teacher, Xu Wenyuan, also invited Cang Tianci to his office.

"Tianci, I heard you're going to participate in the national martial arts competition? You're one of the top science students in our junior class, and even in the whole Ji County. Your logical thinking and concentration are gifts from God, destined to explore scientific truths."

Xu Wenyuan adjusted his glasses and continued his earnest advice: "Cultural learning is the foundation of one's character and the cornerstone of building the future society. If you study well, you can engage in scientific research or contribute to construction, which is the right path to make greater and more lasting contributions to the country. As for martial arts, it's good for your health and can be a hobby, which I fully support. But if you want to devote yourself to it, even at the expense of your studies, frankly speaking, in this day and age, the future prospects are limited. You're wasting your cultural talent; you're putting the cart before the horse!"

Teacher Xu's words were like a precise carving knife, severing his self-perception of being "both literary and martial," and clearly indicating which side was the "right path."

These two opposing forces from adult authority nearly tore him apart. And a more direct crisis soon manifested itself: the extreme exploitation of his physical potential began to extract exorbitant interest, like a loan shark demanding huge sums.

In class, his brain, which used to be able to quickly grasp the teacher's train of thought, now felt sluggish and dull. His eyelids felt like they were filled with lead, constantly drooping, and the formulas and words on the blackboard became distorted and blurry. A forty-five-minute class felt longer and more unbearable than ever before. When the bell rang, he no longer had the energy to review his notes or discuss with his classmates as he used to; his only thought was to slump over his desk and try to catch up on sleep as quickly as possible. Lin Wanqing, Lin Ruoxi, Wang Xiuzhu, Song Wei, and the others looked at the dark circles under his eyes and his tired sleeping face, their eyes filled with worry, exchanging helpless glances. They all consciously refrained from disturbing his brief respite.

However, these few minutes of brief sleep were nothing compared to the exhaustion in his body. In the next class, drowsiness returned with even greater force. He tried circulating the Hidden Dragon Technique to dispel the weariness, but his once effortless internal energy flowed sluggishly, like being stuck in mud, with little effect against sleep. He then tried pinching his tiger's mouth hard with his fingernails; the brief sting brought a moment of clarity, but it was quickly overwhelmed by deeper fatigue.

To completely overcome his drowsiness, he decided to stand while listening to the lecture. However, standing in his original position would inevitably disturb his classmates. So he asked Teacher Xu for permission to sit in the last row.

When he made this application to Teacher Xu, Teacher Xu gazed at Cang Tianci's haggard face and advised, "Tianci, your grades in the recent quizzes have dropped significantly. This has already sounded the alarm. The school and the county have high expectations for you, hoping you will become a model of 'well-rounded development.' You must make a choice immediately and refocus on your studies. Otherwise, you will not only ruin your grades, but also your health and future."

"Thank you, teacher, I can persevere!"

Seeing the stubbornness in Cang Tianci's eyes, Xu Wenyuan could only sigh helplessly.

The moment the seating arrangement changed, the classroom resembled a silent drama.

Zheng Tao, with his undisputed high score, became Lin Ruoxi's deskmate, fulfilling his long-held wish. At that moment, his joy and pride reached their peak, as if this was not only a victory for seating but also a reaffirmation of a certain order.

Lin Ruoxi, looking at Zheng Tao beside her, felt a sudden and inexplicable sense of loss. Her former deskmate, with whom she had engaged in brilliant intellectual exchanges, her quiet and resilient figure, now stood alone at the back of the classroom. She had lost more than just a deskmate; she had lost a kind of spiritual connection.

Wang Xiuzhu suddenly lowered her head, her eyes instantly reddening. The hazy longing and heartache in her heart turned into tears at this moment, surging up in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away with the back of her hand, not wanting anyone to see.

Song Wei frowned deeply, her gaze following the lonely figure walking towards the back of the classroom, her lips unconsciously pursed into a thin line.

Lin Wanqing, sitting in the front row, never turned around. She simply kept her back ramrod straight, as if resisting something. However, her fingers, gripping the pen, turned white from the force. As Cang Tianci dragged his feet past her, heading towards the back of the classroom, her eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly before drooping, concealing the deep pain and helplessness surging in her eyes—a pain more profound than anyone else's. She knew this feeling of draining her life too well; it was the breath she had taken in the abyss.

From then on, in every class, Cang Tianci stood alone at the back of the classroom, like an exiled sentinel, relying on his tenacious willpower to fight against gravity and maintain his precarious consciousness.

Occasionally, when he swayed slightly from exhaustion, he would feel a gaze fall silently upon him from the side. The gaze was weightless, yet carried a worry that pierced through the noise. He knew who it was, but he dared not respond, and could only straighten his back even more, as if that silent gaze were another heavy shackle he had to bear.

His struggles were all observed by Zheng Tao and the others.

"Oh, so this all-rounder is aiming to become the 'God of Standing'?" Zhao Xiaohu said sarcastically.

Wang Yaowu scoffed, "I think he's about to 'become an immortal' and become detached from worldly affairs."

Zheng Tao, on the other hand, maintained a detached calm throughout. He didn't even glance at Cang Tianci, but simply tidied the books on his new seat with an elegant air, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips.

The training hall became another place where Cang Tianci was publicly tortured.

The Cang Tianci who could instantly enter a state of "identifying qi and timing" and whose movements were sharp and precise was gone. In his place was a figure with slow reactions and stiff movements. During a defensive counter-attack training session, he watched helplessly as his opponent's straight punch came at him. His brain issued the command, but his body felt like it was stuck in mud. His shoulder blade was hit solidly, and a dull pain came through.

"Cang Tianci, where is your soul?" Zhou Zhenhua's roar landed on him with unprecedented sharpness.

"Tianci, are you alright?" Senior Brother Chen Gang supported his swaying body.

Cang Tianci shook his head and said in a low voice, "Thank you, senior brother. I'm fine."

He gritted his teeth, trying to concentrate on the next confrontation, but he felt like a rusty machine, his joints stiff, his punches weak and powerless, the penetrating "whole force" he once possessed vanished without a trace. Worse still, a surge of internal heat rose from his chest, causing his vision to occasionally blur and double.

"Keep up with my footsteps, are you sleepwalking?"

"Give it your all! I need you to give it your all! What kind of limp wimp are you?"

Zhou Zhenhua's roars grew more frequent, the anger, confusion, and disappointment in his voice lashing at him like a whip. He could feel the pity and incomprehension in the gazes of some of his fellow disciples.

During a training break, he slumped against the wall, panting heavily, feeling like he didn't even want to move a finger. Wu Bin and Li Qiang walked over together. Wu Bin patted Tianci on the shoulder and laughed, "Tianci, I think you've been training too hard. You can't keep doing this. Lie down, we'll help you relax."

"Okay, thank you!" Tianci was touched and knelt down as instructed.

The care and help from his senior classmates warmed Tianci's heart and gave him even greater motivation. He couldn't let down those who cared for and loved him. He continued to grit his teeth, desperately pushing his potential to the limit amidst repeated reprimands, trying to regain his former form.