In the spacious hall, several little carrot heads were sitting or standing, completing their homework happily or distressedly.
Zhou Baoer is currently learning calligraphy from his master, trying hard to identify the uncommon characters in the book of inner strength and mental skills.
Apart from her, He Tingxiao, who has been wandering around and has never known a word, and Chen Xinzhi, who is very young, are also in the stage of learning calligraphy.
The three boys and girls Chen Yizhi, Chen Lizhi and Chen Zhizhi have passed this initial stage and are now learning various basic martial arts to exercise and lay the foundation for the next step.
If you really think about it, only Chen Renzhi, the eldest among the seven little carrot heads, has obtained Grandpa's permission to officially practice internal energy.
After the half-day reading course was completed, Zhou Bao looked up at Chen Chen who was close at hand and asked.
"Master, why can only one person practice internal strength now? Don't they already know how to read?"
Chen Chen looked at his apprentice lovingly and explained.
"Bao'er, you can't practice internal strength just by being able to read. You also need to understand the internal strength thoroughly and have a deep understanding, otherwise you will go crazy."
Zhou Baoer tilted his head and asked again while others were looking at the warrior.
"Master, what is obsession?"
Chen Chen thought for a while and told everyone in terms that children could understand.
"The so-called obsession can range from falling ill and being unable to practice inner strength to being unable to practice inner skills, and can only be an ordinary person for the rest of his life. To the worst, bleeding from the seven orifices, loss of life, and never being able to see family and friends again."
Zhou Baoer was shocked, and the others were not much better. No wonder Chen Renzhi went through many tests before being allowed to practice. I'm afraid if there is even the slightest negligence, you will die.
After a few breaths, Chen Chen looked at the pensive disciple and asked.
"Bao'er, what are you thinking about?"
Zhou Baoer raised his head and replied in a milky voice.
"Master, I'm thinking, what if someone else gets the inner skill and mental method?"
Chen Chen was slightly stunned and asked, "Why do you ask that?"
Zhou Baoer pouted her pink and moist mouth and answered awkwardly.
"I have memorized everything Master has taught me. What if someone catches me and tortures me to get the inner strength and mental skills that I have recited from me?"
Chen Chen laughed, touched his apprentice's bun, and replied with a smile.
"Bao'er, if you can think of this problem, others can naturally think of it too. So from the beginning, we have various anti-piracy measures."
Zhou Baoer blinked his eyes in confusion and looked at Chen Chen intently, with the words "hope for answers" written on his face.
Chen Chen didn't hide his words and said calmly under the expectant eyes of his disciples and grandchildren.
"Look at this book of inner strength and mental skills in my hand. Can you understand it? I'm not asking if you can read it. I'm asking if you can understand it?"
Everyone, including Zhou Baoer, shook their heads. There are so many uncommon words in this book of internal energy and mind skills, which is enough to show how profound and difficult it is to understand.
Even if you know all the characters, you may be blinded when you come across this kind of book. I don’t understand what it means at all! Anyway, it’s not what it means literally.
Chen Chen nodded and said affirmatively.
"It's natural that you can't understand it. Without me teaching you how to interpret the contents, you would never be able to understand it in your lifetime."
Zhou Baoer blinked slightly and asked again.
"Master, even a very smart person can't do it?"
Chen Chen nodded and said confidently: "Of course."
"Why?"
This was asked by Zhou Baoer again, and no one else had the courage.
Chen Chen snorted and answered confidently.
"In order to guard against such people, our ancestors deliberately took some small measures. As long as one wrong word is used, the internal skills and mental methods will be completely different, full of errors and omissions."
Zhou Baoer asked again: "What if someone even knows the method of interpreting the internal energy and mental methods?"
"It doesn't matter if you know it," Chen Chen said, "because you will only know the real content of the first level. In the days to come, we will teach you one by one according to your progress. If anyone wants to know the whole content, I'm afraid Only the strongest person who threatens the practice of this inner strength and mental method. But such a person will look down on such inner strength and mental method, so we don’t need to worry at all."
Zhou Baoer's eyes sparkled again and again, and he asked again.
"Master, I mean what if, what if there really is such a person?"
Chen Chen had veins popping out on his head. Why do children have so many problems? For the sake of the future of his family, he endured it.
"Apprentice, master tells you honestly, if you want to learn the internal skills and mental methods, even if you know the internal skills and mental methods, you won't be able to do it."
Zhou Baoer then asked: "What else is there?"
Chen Chen sighed and replied.
"There are also matching martial arts, matching medicated baths, matching methods for soothing the meridians, and methods for strengthening the muscles and bones, etc. Without a family to back you up, even if you learn all the internal skills and mental methods, you will not be able to become a master in the future. . And if there is a slight mistake or omission, if it cannot be treated in time, the person will become disabled."
Zhou Baoer was stunned and asked in disbelief.
"Master, why is it so troublesome to learn martial arts?"
Chen Chen touched his apprentice's bun and sighed.
"You have to pay for what you want to get, and the same is true in the process of becoming a strong person."
Zhou Baoer shook his head and said.
"Master, I don't understand."
Chen Chen took a deep breath and simplified what he just said.
"If you want to become a strong person, you have to put in effort, time, hard work, various medicinal materials, and gold and silver..."
With that said, everyone understands. If you think about it carefully, learning martial arts is not an easy task. Especially if there is a family inheritance, there are an astonishing number of various rules. But if you don’t follow the rules, don’t even think about surpassing others.
Seeing Zhou Baoer and Chen Chen getting along happily, their questions and answers were full of warm emotions between master and disciple.
He Tingxiao, who once wandered between cities and villages and was originally an orphan, asked a question cautiously.
"Grandpa, I have heard of some legendary stories. The protagonist in the story got a secret book after falling off a cliff, and then gained powerful power through practice, and avenged himself..."
Before he finished speaking, Chen Chen said with a sneer.
"What you said has happened in reality. However, the protagonist who obtains the martial arts secret book must be literate and know the meaning of some proper nouns. Otherwise, even if the secret book is obtained, he will not know how to practice."
"Grandpa, this seems to be somewhat inconsistent! Doesn't it mean that most people don't know the meaning of proper nouns?"
He Tingxiao asked cautiously and lowered his head in shame.
Chen Chen glanced at his godson with hatred, but still explained patiently.
"There are some common nouns. Although ordinary people cannot understand them, martial arts students can understand them at a glance. In other words, under normal circumstances, as long as they get the secret book and meet certain conditions, they can use it without any problem. Obstacled practice.”
Zhou Baoer half understood and asked before He Tingxiao.
"Master, that is to say, those internal skills and mental methods are not kept secret. As long as you get them, you can practice them. But why? Aren't the consequences of doing so known to everyone?"
Chen Chen looked at the little carrot heads surrounding him and asked.
"Let me ask you, apart from some basic, incomplete, limited, or low-level internal skills, do you know any other internal skills?"
Everyone shook their heads and said they had never heard of it. Those who can become popular goods have certain flaws. Unless there is no other way, absolutely no one would practice it.
Chen Chen explained: "Good internal skills and mental methods are generally hidden by people and are not easily revealed to others. If someone is found to have learned secretly, they will be hunted for thousands of miles and will not stop. Under such strict and bloody rules, it is very easy to There are very few people who practice internal skills and mental methods that are not their own without permission."
Zhou Baoer tilted his head and said innocently and cutely.
"Master, even if there are such rules, I'm afraid it won't be able to stop the evil in people's hearts. Otherwise, there won't be so many bad people with bad conduct and murderous people in this world."
Chen Chen nodded and explained.
"You are right, but for the sake of inheritance, they are unwilling to set more restrictions for fear of accidentally cutting off the inheritance."
"Why!"
Zhou Baoer exclaimed with an expression of disbelief on his face. The same goes for other little carrot heads who listened with their ears perked up.
Seeing how lively the little carrot heads were, Chen Chen lost his previous restraint. He rarely let go of his serious expression and told stories about the world to his juniors.
"In history, there were many internal skills and mental methods that were glorious for a while, but now they have basically been lost. It's not that no one knows the specific content of these internal skills and mental methods. Many families and sects actually have collections of them, and they haven't missed a word. It's that there are no People know how to interpret this internal skill and practice it smoothly. It is said that many people have tried it, but no one has succeeded."
The little carrot heads were extremely surprised. It turned out that there was such an inside story. Especially Zhou Baoer, who had never been exposed to martial arts before, was even more elated.
Chen Chen knocked on the wooden table with his fingers, making a "dong-dong-dong" sound. When everyone's attention was focused on him, he continued to speak.
"As the saying goes, history can be used as a mirror to determine the ups and downs. Some families and sects are trying to prevent some accidents, such as the death of all senior officials due to an accident, or the annihilation of the family, and the inheritance is cut off. They just I don’t make the internal skills and mental methods of my family and sect so mysterious, just to enable people to pass on the inheritance after they obtain the internal skills and mental methods. Facts have proved that this is still effective, and every once in a while, there will be Certain inheritances have emerged and are prominent in the world. Others have made extinct inheritances bigger and stronger, and once again gained a certain status in the world."
The little carrot heads suddenly realized that there was such an inside story. No wonder there are always lucky people of this kind in some legendary stories. It turns out that all this has been planned by someone.
As soon as the words changed, Chen Chen continued.
"On the contrary, take our Chen family as an example. We have set up many restrictions to prevent any outsiders from practicing our family's internal skills. Because we are very confident that the Chen family can continue to pass it on and never cease."
When the other little carrot heads heard this, they were moved by Chen Chen's confidence. They will eventually serve as a link of inheritance, passing on what they learned from the previous generation from generation to generation.
Zhou Baoer is the only one who doubts, are these two methods really safe? If the Chen family is wiped out, the Chen family's inheritance will be cut off. Even with the internal skills and mental methods, I don’t know how to continue practicing.
As for the other one, it is also not very safe. Books are easily damaged. If they are not carefully maintained, they may end up in pieces. Moreover, if someone who is illiterate or doesn't understand martial arts sees it, they probably won't take it to heart at all, and may instead use it to light a fire.
Such thoughts suddenly flashed through his mind, and Zhou Baoer quickly shook his head. These are all things in the future, why should we be so pessimistic
But then again, it is really difficult for ordinary people to learn martial arts.
First of all, you must have an inner strength and mental method. It doesn’t matter if it’s bad. Then you need to be able to read and write, and be able to know what is written on the inner strength and mental methods? Finally, we also need to find out how to interpret the internal skills and mental methods to know how to practice them.
Under such circumstances, it is not necessarily possible to successfully practice and become a martial arts master. Because in the process of cultivation, various deviations are likely to occur, leading to obsession.
Just when Zhou Baoer was having wild thoughts, Chen Chen knocked on the table again and said solemnly.
"Now that you have rested enough, let's continue learning. Bao'er, Xinzhi, Tingxiao, you continue to learn to read with me. Everyone else should practice boxing and strengthen their muscles and bones. The road to learning martial arts is long, and it is not just about practicing internal skills. Just the mentality will do.”
As soon as the words fell, the little carrots who had been enjoying listening to the story immediately dispersed and went to do whatever they had to do.
Hearing the sound of the gong ringing in his ears, Zhou Baoer turned his head in surprise and looked at the direction from which the sound came.
"Don't look, it's the soldiers training."
Chen Chen seemed to see through Zhou Baoer's thoughts and explained casually.
"Train more in peacetime and bleed less in wartime."
Zhou Baoer nodded, feeling a little doubt in his heart. Who said what Master just said? It always feels like it makes sense.
After this phase of the literacy course was completed, Zhou Baoer asked this question.
When the other little carrot heads heard this, they also looked at Chen Chen.
In fact, they also had many questions to ask, but Grandpa was too majestic and they did not dare to be presumptuous at all.
Children are indeed very curious creatures and always have a hundred thousand whys. This disciple fulfilled this sentence. He wanted to ask everything, and when he asked, he wanted to know the answer to everything.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Chen thought helplessly and gave an accurate answer.
"This sentence was said by the Founding Patriarch. The Quotes of Tai/Ancestor that are spread all over the world today are compiled by later generations based on the words spoken by the Founding Patriarch. You can read more if you have time. Although some of the contents are obscure. , more inconsistent, or absurd. But some of the content is very profound, and people benefit a lot."
Zhou Baoer nodded and continued.
"I have heard of the founder of the country. He was a very powerful person. However, he was a little confused in family matters and refused to listen to his advice."
Speaking of this, the little carrot heads suddenly exploded.
Chen Renzhi nodded angrily and followed Zhou Baoer's words.
"The Tai/Ancestor was so stupid that he actually made all his wives and concubines queens. As a result, all the princes and princesses born were legitimate sons and daughters. Later, these princes and princesses fought so hard that they almost destroyed the country."
Chen Lizhi, the only girl present, was very unhappy and said angrily.
"I admit that Tai/Ancestor was a man of great talent and strategy, but he was too contradictory when it came to treating us girls. He said that women can hold up half the sky, but in the blink of an eye he enacted polygamy. Harm the interests of the principal wife.”
Chen Yizhi was also a little dissatisfied with this and said angrily.
"Polygamy is simply the source of chaos in the family. Those who agree with Emperor Taizong's laws and marry many wives can only watch helplessly as legitimate sons and daughters of different mothers compete with each other, and it is so easy to ruin their lives. My own family. Fortunately, after Emperor Taizong won the throne, he corrected the chaos and abolished this system. Otherwise, the world would have been in chaos by now."
Chen Chen saw the little carrot heads getting more and more excited as they talked, and slapped them one by one.
"Although Emperor Tai/Ancestor made mistakes, it is not for you, the younger generation, to comment. Shut up, and after a period of rest, we will continue to practice calligraphy and martial arts."
Hearing such harsh words, the little carrots had no choice but to shrink their necks and swallow the words they had not yet spoken.
Only Zhou Baoer raised his hand and continued to ask with a smile.
"Master, don't we need to continue training with those soldiers?"
Chen Chen shook his head and explained.
"You are still young now, so you only need to practice early. When you grow up, I will increase the training time as appropriate. And you are different from them. You are more about learning martial arts and practicing mental skills, rather than exercising. Physically, enhance the quality in all aspects.”
Zhou Baoer nodded in understanding, looked at Chen Chen eagerly, and asked one after another.
"Master, are those soldiers practicing differently from us?"
Chen Chen quietly pressed his temples and said bluntly.
"Of course it's different. They are outsiders, and they don't have any talents that are conducive to martial arts. I won't go to all the trouble to teach them the Chen family's inherited skills."
Zhou Baoer transformed into a curious baby and broke the casserole to ask the truth.
"Master, what do they practice?"
The corner of Chen Chen's mouth twitched, trying to make himself look less scary, and trying to pretend to be amiable.
"They practice several internal skills and mental techniques that are widely circulated in the military. They seem to be specially designed for soldiers to learn. It is said that if there are really talented people, they can practice this kind of skills to the extreme and become A famous master. In the early years, there were rumors that our Emperor Taizong became the best in the world by practicing this kind of technique, and finally won the throne in troubled times."
"real or fake?"
Zhou Baoer's eyes flashed with surprise and he couldn't wait to ask.
Chen Chen is really impatient. Why are there so many questions? After giving himself a lot of psychological hints, he continued to answer.
"It's just rumors. I don't know if it's true or not. However, the inner strength and mental methods practiced by Emperor Taizong at that time have not been spread. Even his children practiced the inner strength suitable for them according to their respective talents and physiques. Mental method.”
The little carrot heads were excited and excited. This is all kinds of secrets that cannot be heard under normal circumstances. They were lucky enough to hear such things, thanks to such a grandfather.
After Chen Chen said the last words, he stood up from the soft cushion, waved and left, leaving only a plain word.
"You guys need to rest first. I'll come back to give you lessons after a while. Remember, don't practice martial arts when I'm not around. It's easy to get carried away."
The little carrot heads nodded obediently and started playing happily. Although they are in a military camp, their treatment is much better than that of the sergeants. Delicious food, fun, everything is available, and no one will treat them badly.
Unexpectedly, Chen Chen, who had already left, breathed a sigh of relief. Why do children have so many problems? He couldn't even answer. Fortunately, Bao'er, the apprentice, asked common questions. Otherwise, he wouldn't know how to answer, and how could he maintain his dignity as a master
Seven little carrot heads gathered together. After playing for a while, Zhou Baoer asked curiously.
"Can you tell me about Emperor Taizong? I only know that Emperor Taizong is very powerful, and he is very confused in family matters. I don't know the rest."
As the eldest brother, Chen Renzhi answered immediately.
"We don't know much, but we can tell you what we know."
"Yeah!"
Zhou Baoer clapped his hands and said happily.
"Come on, tell me, I can't wait to hear the story."