Chapter 29: Those Who Overwhelm with Strength Are Despicable; Those Who Command with Authority Are Magnificent!

Liu Shen seemed afflicted with a strange fever; his brows were tightly knit, his eyes vacant, and he kept murmuring the words “overwhelm with force…” again and again.

Master Song, observing his sudden look of realization, was taken aback. Having practiced martial arts himself, he recognized this state as “enlightenment”—a rare and invaluable opportunity on the path of martial cultivation. The greatest taboo in such moments was to disturb the person, for afterwards one’s skill would either advance, or one’s understanding deepen. Some martial prodigies, in this state, could devise new techniques or break through the constraints of old methods. The benefits were many…

The technique of “overwhelm with force” was something he himself had comprehended during such a moment of enlightenment in his youth, combining his authority with experience in confronting adversaries. Aside from that, he had never had a second enlightenment.

Master Song gazed blankly at the man before him, his aged face drawn tight, muttering, “This young man has only just entered the realm for a few hours, and with just a few words from me, he’s grasped the use of force?”

Recalling his investigations of the previous days, even with his vast experience, he sighed inwardly, “Are there truly those born with innate understanding?”

Perhaps due to limited exposure, Liu Shen clearly felt he had gained insight, yet after pondering for a long time, could not discern the connection between the two concepts…

“Unseen, intangible, yet undeniably real…”

“Overwhelm with force… overwhelm with force…”

Liu Shen repeated the phrase, his brows furrowed, then looked in confusion at Master Song and asked, “Master Song, what exactly is this ‘force’ you speak of?”

Master Song regarded the young man before him, caught in enlightenment, and hesitated, wondering whether to assist him further. Thinking of his own lonely life, with no heirs and only his daughter-in-law to rely on, he felt a surge of resentment toward Liu Shen, who openly flirted with his daughter-in-law, his intentions undisguised.

Yet he admitted the young man’s talent; if he could help him, it would be a good turn for his daughter-in-law, whose circumstances mirrored his own.

With a sigh, Master Song lowered his gaze and replied, “A hundred people have a hundred interpretations of ‘force.’ To me, a word, a gesture—these are force.”

Liu Shen’s brows remained tightly knit, still not comprehending. He asked again, “Master Song, what then is ‘force’ to you?”

Master Song pondered for a moment before answering, “It is advancing cautiously, posturing; it is seizing the initiative, bluffing; it is the majority intimidating the minority, relying on strength to oppress; it is bravery overcoming fear, unstoppable momentum!”

Seeing Liu Shen’s eyes gradually clear, Master Song smiled in satisfaction and solemnly admonished, “All these, are force…”

“All these, are force…”

Liu Shen nodded thoughtfully.

In a daze, he seemed to suddenly come to his senses, glanced around in confusion, and saw Master Song staring intently at him, which made him flush with embarrassment.

He hurriedly cupped his hands in apology, “Just now, hearing your teachings, I was suddenly enlightened and lost myself for a moment. I beg your pardon, Master.”

“It’s nothing…”

Master Song tapped the table indifferently and asked, “Since you’ve gained some insight from my words, what have you understood?”

“Hmm…”

Liu Shen gazed into the old man’s cloudy eyes and pondered for a while, then suddenly grinned, “Those who oppress with strength are despicable; those who overwhelm with force are formidable!”

Master Song’s face twitched at these words, a mix of comfort and melancholy, and he repeated softly, “Those who oppress with strength are despicable; those who overwhelm with force are formidable… Ha… ha ha ha, what a phrase!”

He seemed reminded of his own life by these words. After repeating them, he burst into hearty laughter, his watery eyes glistening, pounding his chest and coughing, unable to suppress his joy.

“Master…”

Seeing the old man trembling with laughter and covering his mouth to cough, Liu Shen hurried over to pat his back and help him catch his breath.

“Master, please stop laughing, take it slow. At your age, if anything happens, wouldn’t young mistress strangle me?”

Master Song nearly rolled his eyes at this, his face darkening as he scolded, “You’ve got a sharp tongue! Is that how you talk to your elders?”

“I’m just worried about your health.”

Liu Shen shrugged off the rebuke, smirked, and recalled the peculiar state he’d been in, guiding his energy to probe, only to discover that six more meridians in his body had inexplicably opened!

The eight extraordinary vessels—Ren, Du, Chong, Belt, Yang Linking, Yin Linking, Yin Heel, and Yang Heel—were all connected!

“In just a moment’s distraction, I’ve inexplicably stepped onto the threshold of the third stage of the first realm?!”

Liu Shen was astonished, though he didn’t understand the reason, he knew it must be tied to that trance-like state he’d just experienced.

With an old cultivator before him, he shamelessly asked, “Master, you’re knowledgeable; what happened to me just now? How did my meridians suddenly connect further?”

Master Song glanced at him, knowing he’d only just begun martial arts, and explained, “After enlightenment, martial artists often see their skills advance.”

“Enlightenment?”

Liu Shen was intrigued by the term and muttered, “If I often have enlightenment, wouldn’t my skills improve rapidly?”

“You’re dreaming, boy!”

Master Song snorted, “Such profound states are rare opportunities for martial artists, requiring the right time, place, people, and a bit of luck. It’s not something you can summon at will.”

“So I got lucky?”

Liu Shen was startled, and once he recovered, he respectfully saluted, “I’m deeply grateful for your guidance, Master.”

Everyone says you shouldn’t hit a smiling face, especially as he coveted the old man’s daughter-in-law and had been caught; lowering his stance couldn’t hurt.

“All right, enough…”

Master Song feigned impatience, but was secretly pleased by Liu Shen’s respectful attitude, and deliberately warned him, “The fact that you gained insight from my words proves you have some talent for martial arts, but remember—there’s always someone better. You must not become arrogant.”

“Thank you for your teaching…”

Liu Shen bowed again, replying earnestly, “I will always remember your words, Master.”

“Cough, cough, cough…”

Master Song coughed again, and when Liu Shen moved to help, he waved him off, saying, “No need for false concern. To be frank, I don’t mind telling you—I actually find you quite annoying, and just now even considered getting rid of you.”

Liu Shen’s steps froze at these words, and after a long silence, he asked, “Is it because of young mistress?”

“Yes, and no…”

Master Song stared at him with his cloudy eyes, “I can see that Xue Yan has some affection for you, a feeling she never showed even for Quan. Xue Yan is a child with a hard life, so I don’t blame her—I understand her…”

“I even support her, hoping she’ll find someone who can give her a good life while she’s still young, so she won’t end up as lonely as I am in old age.”

“But you’re too young, and too clever. Xue Yan can’t control you, and you’re not the kind to settle down to a quiet life.”

“So I can’t help but be annoyed by you.”

Liu Shen smiled wryly and shook his head, self-deprecating, “I’ve worked diligently at the docks for four years, always thought I was an honest man, but in your eyes, Master, it seems I’m not someone who can lead a stable life.”

“Yes, it’s strange.”

Master Song sighed deeply, “The Liu Shen I investigated and the one I see before me are like two different people, but I… I trust my own eyes.”

He paused, clicking his tongue, “Raising dragons underwater won’t work. Some people spend half their lives in the mud, seemingly ordinary, but if they seize the right opportunity, they rise like a hidden dragon breaking free—even the deepest mire can’t bind them!”

Liu Shen only smiled at this, and asked, “So Master thinks I, a mere dock worker, might have the potential to be a hidden dragon breaking free?”

“Perhaps…”

Master Song didn’t elaborate, but shifted the topic, “Do you know why, despite my annoyance, I still speak so much with you?”

“I don’t know, Master…”

“It’s not because of Xue Yan, nor because of you—it’s because of that treatise, ‘Child’s Skill’…”