Chapter 71: Martial Arts


    Martial arts, at its core, is about delivering the most effective attacks or counterattacks against an opponent. It is a skill that adapts to different adversaries and their varying methods of attack.


    In this world, martial arts holds a different meaning compared to the martial arts of Earth. The most significant difference is that martial arts here does not emphasize fixed techniques or routines. Instead, it focuses on awareness—understanding the flow of combat and the opponent''s intentions.


    For example, if you face a strong, brute-force opponent, you shouldn''t engage in a direct clash of strength. Instead, you should use flexibility and agility to render their power useless. Conversely, if you face a nimble opponent, you shouldn''t try to match their speed. Instead, you should overwhelm them with relentless, powerful attacks, sealing off their movements and using simplicity to counter their complexity.


    At first glance, this might seem contradictory. Han Ming was puzzled by Li Xiaotian''s explanation.


    Li Xiaotian smiled and continued, "At first, it might sound contradictory—using flexibility against brute force, and then using brute force against flexibility. But this is precisely where martial arts shines. If you''re the agile one facing a powerhouse, you naturally want to use finesse to overcome their strength. But they, too, will try to use their strength to crush your finesse. The outcome then depends on who has the stronger combat awareness."


    "Now, attack me with your fastest moves," Li Xiaotian instructed.


    Han Ming, deep in thought, suddenly darted forward, his fists a blur as he launched a rapid series of attacks.


    Li Xiaotian stood still, smiling calmly.


    Just as Han Ming''s fist was about to connect, Li Xiaotian moved. With his hands clasped together, he struck Han Ming''s chest with a palm strike, causing Han Ming''s punch to miss entirely.


    *Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!*


    Han Ming staggered back, clutching his chest in pain.


    "Now, attack me with your strongest, most powerful strike," Li Xiaotian said, still smiling.


    Han Ming roared and charged, no longer relying on agility but instead unleashing a devastating punch.


    This time, Li Xiaotian didn''t remain stationary. His movements weren''t fast, but they were precise. He targeted Han Ming''s weak points—his armpits, waist, groin, and collarbone—with pinpoint strikes.


    Han Ming yelped in pain and retreated, only stopping when he realized Li Xiaotian wasn''t pursuing him. "How is this possible?" he asked, bewildered.


    Li Xiaotian chuckled. "This is where combat awareness comes into play. The moment your right shoulder twitched, I knew you were going to throw a punch and where it would land. Naturally, I could dodge in advance. When you throw a right punch, your right side becomes vulnerable. Your left hand can''t suddenly stretch to cover it, can it?"


    Han Ming nodded thoughtfully. "So, this also requires a lot of combat experience?"


    Li Xiaotian shook his head. "Yes and no. Experience is important, but it''s not everything. What matters most is your judgment in combat. You need to understand your opponent''s style, even their species. For example, humans only have two hands, two feet, and a head—five points of attack. No one is invincible. You must understand the limits of human movement."


    Han Ming was still a bit confused. "Earlier, when I used my agility against you, you didn''t move, yet you still defeated me. Why is that?"


    Li Xiaotian explained, "You need to understand your opponent''s goal. No matter how flashy or fast their movements are, their ultimate goal is to hit you. No matter how well they hide their movements, the moment they attack, they must reveal themselves. That''s your best opportunity to counter. Everyone can only execute one move at a time—maybe two if they use both hands. If you stand firm and wait for that final move, you can counter and win."


    Han Ming''s head was spinning. "But when you used agility against me, why did I still get hit?"


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    Li Xiaotian laughed. "You''re circling back to the same question."


    Han Ming scratched his head, embarrassed.


    Li Xiaotian continued, "Martial arts is ever-changing. Even between two equally skilled fighters, a single move can decide life or death. This is the ultimate test of combat awareness. You''re still inexperienced and need time to learn. Now, let me show you another counterattack method."


    Li Xiaotian assumed a stance, his movements simple yet deliberate. He extended his right hand and said, "I''m too injured to demonstrate this properly, but I want you to understand its effectiveness. Attack me with your strongest moves again, but limit your strength to one-third of your usual power. Otherwise, this old man won''t survive."


    Han Ming nodded eagerly and launched a powerful punch, expecting Li Xiaotian to dodge. Instead, Li Xiaotian mirrored Han Ming''s move, throwing an identical punch.


    Their fists collided, and Han Ming was forced back half a step. He then kicked, and Li Xiaotian responded with an identical kick, again forcing Han Ming back.


    For dozens of exchanges, Han Ming attacked fiercely, but Li Xiaotian countered each move with the same technique, always pushing Han Ming back. Eventually, Han Ming grew hesitant and stopped attacking altogether.


    "No more! This is cheating! It hurts like hell!" Han Ming complained, sitting down.


    Li Xiaotian laughed. "Actually, I''m in more pain than you are. But I didn''t show it. This is a simple way to break your opponent''s morale. No matter how they attack, you counter with the same move, always staying one step ahead. This makes them feel like they can''t win, no matter what. It''s simple and effective, but it has limitations. You must be stronger than your opponent. If your arm breaks in the first clash, the fight is over."


    "That makes sense! So, if I hadn''t held back, I would have won?" Han Ming asked, his eyes lighting up.


    Li Xiaotian nodded. "This method works best against weaker opponents or those of equal strength. It confuses them and breaks their will to fight, giving you the upper hand."


    Han Ming nodded enthusiastically. "What about using agility? Can this method work then?"


    Li Xiaotian smiled. "Yes, but you must be able to match their speed. Both methods rely on one fundamental principle: your understanding of martial arts. You must anticipate your opponent''s moves, predict their next action, and know how they''ll fight when they''re confident or desperate."


    Han Ming rubbed his head, overwhelmed. "This is so complicated. Just listening to it makes my head spin. How am I supposed to master all this?"


    Li Xiaotian chuckled. "This is just the basics. There''s so much more to learn. For example, how do you handle a long-range attacker? How do you deal with ambushes? How do you turn the tide when you''re injured? How do you finish off an injured opponent quickly? How do you handle multiple attackers? How do you coordinate with allies against a single target?"


    Han Ming waved his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I give up. You''re a madman."


    Li Xiaotian laughed heartily.


    "Wait! What if—just what if—I develop my own set of simple attack patterns, my own style, but keep them flexible and adaptable? Wouldn''t that make me even stronger?" Han Ming asked, thinking of the martial arts from his homeland.


    Li Xiaotian''s eyes lit up with approval. "Excellent! You''re already thinking at an intermediate level. Developing your own style is a sign of advanced understanding. You''re on the right track."


    Han Ming grinned proudly. Of course, he could think of this. His country had a rich history of martial arts, passed down for thousands of years. How could it be simple?


    Seeing Han Ming''s smug expression, Li Xiaotian smiled. "However, this is where I differ from many martial arts masters. They believe that developing a unique style and set of techniques can give you an edge in combat. I agree, but I also believe it has its drawbacks. Once you have a fixed style, your weaknesses become more apparent. If your opponent studies your style, they can adapt and exploit your weaknesses. In the end, you might be at a disadvantage."


    Han Ming frowned. "So, having a unique style is useless if your opponent knows your moves?"


    Li Xiaotian''s expression turned somber, as if recalling something painful. "Not entirely. While it''s true that a fixed style can be exploited, it also depends on the quality of your techniques. Many spend their lives perfecting their styles, trying to create flawless, unbeatable techniques. But this often leads to a vicious cycle. They become so focused on perfecting their techniques that they forget the essence of martial arts—understanding combat and adapting to the situation. In the end, they lose sight of what truly matters. Do you understand?"


    Han Ming''s eyes widened with realization. Of course, he understood. He was Chinese, after all, and had grown up surrounded by stories of martial arts.


    It was like the tales of swordsmen who mastered the basic Hua Shan Sword Style, then sought the more advanced Purple Cloud Divine Skill, only to find it inferior to the Solitary Nine Swords, which in turn paled before the Sunflower Manual. (Note: The debate over whether the Solitary Nine Swords or the Sunflower Manual is stronger is ongoing. This is just an example, so let''s not dwell on it.)


    These stories illustrated a clear point: different martial arts have their strengths and weaknesses. Techniques are rigid, but people are flexible. Overemphasizing technique can be limiting. Han Ming didn''t know if this was good or bad, but he knew one thing for sure—a regular person couldn''t defeat a martial arts master. That much was certain.


    Li Xiaotian fell silent after his explanation, his gaze distant as if lost in memories.


    Through their time together, Han Ming had come to respect Li Xiaotian deeply. Although the old man had never formally accepted him as a disciple, Han Ming already regarded him as his first master.


    As the saying goes, "A teacher for a day, a father for life."


    Han Ming didn''t know the full extent of Li Xiaotian''s extraordinary life, but he knew one thing: Li Xiaotian had shown him kindness and had taken the time to guide him. Han Ming was not an ungrateful person—not now, and not ever.