Proving God begins with the principle that no effort is wasted.

The cane struck the bluestone slab heavily, causing the lantern to sway.

"Jiang Lan! Come out here!"

Grandpa's roar slammed open the courtyard gate. Jiang Lan had just gotten up from the medicine tub, covered in the smell of herbs, and grabbed her training clothes.

At the courtyard gate, his grandfather's gaze swept over the martial arts school uniform he was wearing: "The money I gave you to learn a trade, a total of twenty taels, you threw it all away at the martial arts school?"

"Yes." Jiang Lan stood inside the threshold, not retreating an inch, firmly protecting her mother behind her.

"You've gone too far!" The cane slammed into the ground, sending stone chips flying. "Your father worked himself to death at the docks! To death! And you want to follow in his footsteps, risking your life? I won't allow it!"

Madam Cheng rushed out to shield her son, her voice trembling, "Father, A-Lan just wanted to..."

"Shut up!" Grandpa interrupted sharply. "You spoiled his father back then! Now you want to drag this child into the fire too?"

Jiang Lan felt a pang of pain in her heart. She pulled her mother behind her and looked directly at her grandfather: "Grandpa, I will pay back those twenty taels within a year. If I can't pay them back, I will never touch martial arts again in my life."

The old man paused, then sneered, "A year? How will you pay me back? With the coarse rice from the martial arts school, or with your mother weaving nets until she goes blind?"

"I'll rely on myself." Jiang Lan clenched her fists, her eyes showing no sign of backing down.

He knew no one would believe him.

But hard work pays off, and no effort is wasted. What others take years to build, he can make up for in just one year through hard work.

"Fine! I'll give you a year!" The old man finally relented, but left with a harsh threat, "If you can't pay it back by then, you'll not only have to return the money, but you'll also have to kowtow and admit your mistake!"

Watching her grandfather's departing figure, Madam Cheng's hands trembled uncontrollably. Jiang Lan gripped her hand tightly: "Mother, it's alright."

Inside the room, he counted the less than ten taels of silver he had left and took a deep breath. There was no turning back; this gamble was a gamble with all his dignity at stake.

The next day, before dawn, on the wooden stakes of the martial arts school.

Jiang Lan closed his eyes and concentrated, his feet planted firmly on the ground. He didn't practice punches like the other disciples; he simply stood there, unwavering. Standing meditation nourishes the qi and blood; only with sufficient qi and blood can one open acupoints. This was the first step towards the path of martial arts, and also his only way to pay off his bet.

Instructor Liu approached, carrying a knife, and glanced at him: "How long have you been standing there?"

"Half an hour." Jiang Lan's breathing remained perfectly steady.

Coach Liu nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

In the days that followed, Jiang Lan devoted all her time to practicing stance training.

He stood from dawn till dusk, his legs trembling like leaves, his back soaked with sweat that frosted over. His roommate, Sun Gengsan, couldn't bear to watch any longer: "Are you crazy? Your stance training is good enough, don't ruin your health!"

Jiang Lan thanked him and, as always, arrived first and left last the next day.

He didn't have Jiang Hao's innate martial arts talent, nor did he have the resources his family provided. His only asset was his willingness to endure and his ruthlessness.

In his mind, golden text flashed: [Crushing Mountain Stance Skill: 178/300]...[185/300]. With each increase, the heat in his dantian intensified, bringing him one step closer to his goal of twenty taels.

In the moment when he couldn't hold on any longer, he closed his eyes and recalled his mother's swollen and festering fingers, his grandfather's mockery, and the tragic scene of his father dying of exhaustion at the dock.

We can't give up!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

A few days later, in the evening.

After the disciples dispersed, Jiang Lan had just stepped down from the wooden stake when Instructor Liu called her back.

"I've seen your stance training firsthand." A hint of approval flashed in Coach Liu's eyes as he looked him up and down. "Although your stance training isn't perfect, your physical body has accumulated enough strength, and your qi and blood are abundant. You're ready to open your acupoints."

boom!

Jiang Lan's heart skipped a beat.

Opening the acupoints! This is a crucial step towards becoming a martial artist!

"Come to the backyard tomorrow morning, and I will protect you." Instructor Liu patted him on the shoulder.

On the morning of the second day, the training ground was deserted.

On the futon, Jiang Lan had a bowl of dark, pungent medicinal soup in front of her, the hot, spicy steam rising straight into her nostrils.

"This is a medicinal guide to help your blood and qi surge," Instructor Liu said in a deep voice. "Drink it, concentrate your mind and gather your qi in your dantian. Remember, water overflows when it's full, do not force it. Wait for your blood and qi to overflow naturally, and let it flow down to open the first acupoint in one go."

Jiang Lan picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

The scalding hot medicine entered his throat, instantly transforming into a raging inferno that surged through his veins and spread throughout his body. He could feel the heat raging wildly within him, like a runaway horse, impossible to control.

"Take a deep breath and draw your energy into your dantian," Coach Liu commanded steadily.

Jiang Lan held her breath, forcibly pulling her qi and blood together, trying to gather the chaotic heat.

The harder I pulled, the more disorganized it became. My meridians throbbed with pain, and cold sweat dripped profusely from my forehead.

"Don't rush, go with the flow."

Jiang Lan suppressed his agitation and slowly inhaled and exhaled. Finally, the heat began to gather in his dantian, but it was still lacking that final, overflowing feeling.

"Now!" Jiang Lan hardened her heart and, with brute force, pulled downwards!

boom--

Excruciating pain!

Like a red-hot iron needle piercing his dantian, the energy exploded along his meridians. Jiang Lan groaned, his body lurching forward as he exhaled a breath of stale air.

"Failure." Coach Liu's voice was calm. "Your Qi and blood are not yet fully replenished; forcing it will only damage your meridians. Rest for a while, then try again."

Jiang Lan gasped for breath, his lower abdomen throbbing with pain. But there was no sign of discouragement in his eyes, only an even stronger resilience. This path was one of constant tempering and refinement.

The second time, the vital energy and blood dissipate at the critical moment.

The third time, the stinging pain in the meridians was even more intense, but the meridian still did not break.

As the sun rose, Instructor Liu looked at Jiang Lan, who was drenched in sweat, and slowly said, "Your foundation is solid enough; you were just too impatient. Acupuncture points are about letting things flow naturally, not forcing them. Go back and continue your standing meditation. When you can naturally feel your Qi and blood overflowing without having to consciously guide it, come find me again."

Jiang Lan bowed and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Disciple understands!"

Three more days passed.

Jiang Lan has an additional task: meditation.

He stopped forcibly controlling his breath and instead emptied his mind, quietly sensing the flow of qi and blood within his body. He finally grasped the true essence of stance training: it is not only about training the bones, but also about training the mind.

Three days later, at dusk, the setting sun dyed the river surface red.

Jiang Lan stood on the wooden stake with her eyes closed.

A warm sensation rose from the soles of his feet, traveled down his leg bones and spine, and slowly sank into his dantian. This time, he didn't try to gather it or pull it; he simply let it flow naturally.

It's like pouring water into a water tank; when it's full, it will naturally overflow.

The heat gathered in the dantian, becoming increasingly concentrated and scalding, until it finally reached a critical point where it could no longer be contained.

It's full.

Without hesitation, Jiang Lan gently guided the unstoppable overflowing force downwards.

boom--!!!

A thunderclap exploded in my mind!

There was no excruciating pain, only an unprecedented sense of ease and comfort! Like a river that had been blocked for many years bursting its banks, the Qi and blood in the Dantian surged out like a flood through the meridians, instantly filling the limbs and bones!

Every pore is opening up, and every bone is humming with joy!

Become!

Jiang Lan suddenly opened his eyes, gasping for breath, his body radiating an unprecedented power!

A flash of golden light appeared in his mind, and the panel suddenly appeared:

Heaven rewards diligence; no effort is ever wasted.

[Acupoint: First acupoint, already activated]

【Crushing Mountain Stance Exercise: 197/300】

[Martial Arts Comprehension: 2]

His fist was clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

He's hit the acupoint!

Although his stance training was not yet perfected, his Qi and blood were already sufficient. More importantly, his improved martial arts comprehension allowed him to instantly grasp the mental techniques he had previously only half-understood, and the root cause of his three previous failures became crystal clear!

He jumped off the wooden stake and kowtowed deeply to Instructor Liu: "Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

Coach Liu helped him up, his eyes filled with satisfaction: "You've persevered through it all. Opening the first acupoint is just the beginning. The road ahead is even harder. Don't be arrogant until you've completed your stance training."

"This disciple will never forget!"

As I left the martial arts gym, night fell.

The streets were sparsely populated, and a gentle evening breeze caressed her face. Jiang Lan could clearly perceive every grain of dust and every drop of moisture in the wind.

This is the perception of a first-level martial artist!

He walked home, his steps light and his blood boiling.

The first acupoint has been opened.

The bet of twenty taels a year finally had a solid foundation.

Grandpa said he couldn't catch up with Jiang Hao even in ten years, so he'll spend a year slapping that face to pieces!

Pushing open the door, I saw Cheng sitting there weaving a net, with blood-soaked strips of cloth still wrapped around her fingers.

"Mother, I'm back." Jiang Lan walked over and pressed her mother's hand as she tried to get up.

Mrs. Cheng looked up and saw her son's rosy face and unusual demeanor. She was taken aback and asked, "Alan?"

"I'll talk to Grandpa, don't worry." Jiang Lan smiled, suppressing the bitterness in her heart. "I will definitely pay back the money within a year. From now on, I won't let you suffer like this anymore."

He went outside, squatted at the bow of the boat, and put his hands into the icy river water.

In his mind, the words "[Martial Artist: First acupoint, already opened]" shone brightly.

Twenty taels a year.

It's not enough now, but he already has the capital to turn things around.

Jiang Lan looked up at the dark, vast river flowing eastward.

Grandpa said he had already embarked on the path that he thought was impassable.

He will surely earn the stability that his father couldn't earn in his entire life.

The night wind howled, and Jiang Lan slowly straightened his back, like a javelin facing the wind.

At this moment, he was no longer that mediocre boy who was ridiculed by everyone.

He is Jiang Lan, a martial artist!