Chapter 12
The master took me to the top of a small hill outside the village. I was familiar with this place, but I really couldn’t understand what could be trained here. “Lanley Ross, why did you bring me here? To enjoy the view?” There was nothing but dirt and big trees around us. The master slapped me on the forehead and said irritably, “Enjoy the view? You seem more like a nuisance than anything else, constantly talking nonsense.” His angry expression was actually quite funny. He didn’t hit me very hard, so I couldn’t help but laugh secretly.
The master pretended to be serious and said, “I’ve brought you here so that you can absorb the vital energy of heaven and earth, you fool.” After saying that, he found a clear spot, sat down with his legs crossed, and began to meditate. “Lanli Ross, what exactly is this ‘vital energy of heaven and earth’ you’re talking about? Where is it? How do we absorb it? Do we just breathe deeply?” I was extremely curious and kept asking questions. The master patiently explained, “This vital energy is a colorless, formless substance created by God. We need to absorb it into our bodies for use in our spiritual practices. Drawing talismans requires this energy. It also helps to strengthen the body and prolong life. I’ve chosen this place after much consideration. It will only bring you benefits, no harm at all. Meditate properly and follow my instructions.”
After hearing what the master said, I couldn’t wait to try meditating in his manner. But when I heard that it could prolong life, I started to wonder: Could this Lanli Ross be some kind of old witch? Maybe he’s already lived for hundreds of years. The thought alone was terrifying. The master noticed that I was staring at him with a strange expression and couldn’t help but ask, “You little rascal, what kind of mischief are you up to now?” “Oh, master, I’m just curious how old you are. Maybe you’re some old witch who’s lived for ages, hahaha!”
I never expected that after hearing what I said, the master wasn’t angry or punished me at all. Instead, he frowned and began to think deeply. After a while, he looked troubled and said, “To be honest, I can’t even remember how long I’ve lived. But it’s been quite a while, anyway. Enough of these thoughts. Concentrate on meditation now.” This answer certainly didn’t satisfy me. That damn Lanli Ross has a terrible memory. While I was still pondering this, the master hit me on the head again, this time with more force than before. “What are you daydreaming about? Concentrate! Close your eyes, clear your mind. Don’t think about anything. Consider yourself as part of this space—just like a pebble or a grain of sand. Gradually blend in with it.”
The blow caused excruciating pain, and it instantly brought me back to my senses. I closed my eyes, trying to calm down, but the noises around me were too much—the sound of the wind, insects chirping non-stop. It was impossible to settle down. I felt extremely irritable, wishing I could make them all shut up. I couldn’t help but open my eyes, clearly frustrated. The master noticed my mood but didn’t scold me. Instead, he patiently said, “Don’t worry, kid. It’s normal to fail on your first try. Just remember how to meditate. Once you get familiar with it, you can practice slowly. Everything’s difficult at the beginning. Let’s go back. It’s time for lunch.”
In truth, the master knew full well that it was impossible to achieve mental tranquility during one’s first meditation session. Even he himself took two months to truly begin channeling the energy of heaven and earth. Today, he simply wanted me to experience it for myself. After hearing the master’s words, I stopped blaming myself and resolved to work harder. From that day on, I went to the mountaintop to meditate at dawn every day. The master said that this was when the energy was most abundant and easiest to perceive. I never failed to go, despite not succeeding at first. I didn’t get discouraged. I gradually realized that the more anxious I became, the less able I was to sense the energy.
At first, my master would go with me and give me some guidance from time to time. But later, he let me practice on my own. After all, the master only shows the way; the actual learning depends on the individual. The rest can only be understood through one’s own efforts. Before I knew it, a month had passed in a flash.
That day, as usual, I went to the mountaintop to meditate. But this time, I finally achieved something. I slowly calmed my mind. In that moment, it felt as though I had merged with the natural surroundings. Everything around me disappeared, leaving only a powerful energy surrounding me. It was warm and comforting, as though this energy belonged to me by right. With my eyes closed, I wasn’t aware that my pores were wide open. Like a person breathing, I absorbed the vital energy of nature in large gulps. What I exhaled, however, was blackish substance, like mud. With each breath, my body became covered in this black mud.
Lost in my thoughts, I had no idea that I had turned into a “clay figure.” I felt as though I were soaring through the sky, flying like a bird, surrounded by soft clouds. I was incredibly happy, with the feeling that I could control the entire sky and go wherever I wanted. Gradually, this feeling disappeared. When I opened my eyes, I realized I had been there all day. It was already dark, but I wasn’t hungry at all. It was too dark to see any changes in my body. After moving around a little, I didn’t feel any stiffness from sitting in meditation all day. Instead, I felt refreshed. So, I got up and headed home.
Recently, my sister-in-law has gotten used to me leaving early and returning late. When she heard the door open, she didn’t come out to greet me. But when I entered the house, both my master and sister-in-law were shocked. They asked in unison, “Who are you? Who are you looking for?” Confused, I followed their gazes and looked down. To my horror, my entire body was covered in black mud, as if I had rolled around in a mudpit. “Sister-in-law, master, it’s Leonardo!”
“Hahaha, Leonardo, did you go steal landmines and get yourself blown up like that?” My sister-in-law couldn’t help but laugh at me. The master said with a smile, “Leonardo, there’s nothing to be surprised about. You’ve absorbed the energy of heaven and earth and gotten rid of the impurities in your body. Not bad at all! You’ve succeeded in just one month. You’re much more talented than I was back then. It seems you truly are a genius at practicing martial arts.” But that layer of black mud smelled terrible. Seeing them covering their noses, I couldn’t stand it myself.
What I didn’t know was that my master was actually annoyed with me: “You idiot! You don’t even realize you’ve succeeded on your own. You need us to remind you. How utterly foolish you are. How did I end up with such a disciple? But then again, at least you learn quickly.” “Leonardo, go take a bath already. You smell terrible,” my sister-in-law said impatiently. I blushed and rushed off to take a bath. It was truly embarrassing. But after bathing, I felt refreshed and energetic, more so than ever before.
But I didn’t have time to be happy. I immediately rushed to find my master: “Lanli Ross, I’ve successfully mastered the energy of heaven and earth. Can I now draw talismans?” The master nodded. “That’s right. But don’t focus only on drawing talismans. You must also continue with your other practices. Go eat now.” Hearing his affirmative reply, I was so excited I almost jumped onto the roof. I noticed that the master had pointed at the food on the table. My heart warmed—although he often scolded me, he was actually a kind person. He had even prepared food for me. I decided not to take his words to heart. If the master knew what I was thinking right now, he’d probably be furious. The thought made me laugh.
