Chapter Eight: The Four Great Methods of Refinement

Luo Yanzong paused, as if pondering how to explain, and after a moment he said, “The Four Great Methods of Body Refining are refining the tendons, bones, skin, and flesh. None is superior to the others. People in the martial world like to divide tendon and bone refining as ‘external’, while skin and flesh refining are considered ‘internal’. According to my master, this is a great misconception.”

“The Four Methods, those with breathing techniques are internal, those without are external. For example, you can refine your tendons using internal methods, but also via external methods. Internal and external merely describe the approach, not the outcome.”

“What’s the relationship between the Four Methods and fighting techniques?” Kou Li asked with a frown.

“It’s the unity of force and body refinement,” Luo replied. “Old boxing masters say that mastering one form of force allows you to refine your body once. But in my experience, rarely does one force suffice; most often, you need two.”

“As I said, the ultimate of fighting technique is the mastery of force. Force is the profound skill of a boxing style. At its core, each style is an extension of the body, a substitute for weapons. Because fighting techniques differ, every style emphasizes something different, and the results of body refinement also differ. Some focus on tempering the twelve major tendons, like the Wave-Turning Palm of Monster Wave Force; others, like the Cold Snap Bounce internal style, focus on relaxing the skin and hair. So, the Four Methods and fighting techniques are two sides of the same coin.”

“The same applies to force. Rarely does a style produce force on its own; often, two or three styles are needed. Take my Monster Wave Force: not only did I master the Wave-Turning Palm, but also perfected the Bamboo Joint Bone Refining style. At last, after meditating by the sea for seven days, watching the ebb and flow of the tides, I was inspired and combined the two styles, finally forging Monster Wave Force.”

Kou Li frowned, thinking for a while before replying, “So, you mean to achieve unique force, you must fuse two or three boxing styles, and to refine the body, you need two forces combined.”

“So, to refine the body once, you must master at least four boxing styles?”

Luo Yanzong’s eyes brightened and he praised, “Brother, you’re truly gifted. Of my six junior brothers, you grasp these concepts the fastest. Back when Brother Yue studied this, it took him three days and nights to truly understand the relationship between fighting techniques, practice methods, and the Four Great Methods.”

“You flatter me,” Kou Li said calmly.

“Secrets are not to be passed lightly. What I’m telling you is among the most hidden knowledge in the martial world. Don’t speak of this to outsiders. Many veterans never step into the door of body refining simply for lack of this insight. If you carelessly reveal it, you may invite deadly trouble,” Luo Yanzong said gravely.

“I understand,” Kou Li nodded, then suddenly asked, “Brother, how many times have you refined your body?”

Luo Yanzong was taken aback by the question, hesitated, but then answered honestly, “I’ve reached the threshold of the second method.”

Kou Li’s eyes narrowed slightly. This meant his nominal elder brother had mastered at least eight boxing styles, and at barely thirty years old. Even an outsider like himself could see that this man was a true genius.

No wonder he’s the chief disciple of the Burned Body Martial Hall, one of the three great schools in Yue Province. He has the ability and the confidence.

Seeing Kou Li’s shocked expression, Luo Yanzong gave a wry smile and a hint of melancholy flickered in his eyes. “Brother, don’t be fooled by our current prestige. When you reach my age, you’ll realize that advancing further is as difficult as ascending to heaven.”

“What lies beyond?” Kou Li asked urgently.

“In legend, when all four thresholds are crossed, one can refine the qi, nourish the marrow, use it to create blood, leaden blood and mercury water, the organs become like oil. At the final step, you can ignite the fire and burn the body, shatter the void, and forge the grand elixir within.”

“Burn the body,” Kou Li immediately thought of the name of the school—Burned Body Martial Hall.

“That’s also the lifelong pursuit of my master and myself,” Luo said with a smile, perhaps sensing Kou Li’s thoughts.

“The last threshold—is it truly just legend, or has anyone reached it?” Kou Li pressed.

“Absolutely someone has,” Luo answered solemnly. “That person was hailed as a martial genius appearing once in five centuries. Since the era of the former Zhou, he became a human immortal. His name was Guo Dian, and through martial arts, he became mad.”

Kou Li let out a long breath, feeling excitement mixed with calm. The path he sought, he had finally found.

Seeking immortality through alchemy means living at the whim of others; knocking at the gates of immortality through martial arts depends on one’s own skill. He preferred the latter.

Luo Yanzong, seeing Kou Li’s excitement, seemed to forget his original intent and couldn’t help but dampen his spirits. “Brother, not everyone has the talent of Elder Guo, nor the fate for such achievement.”

“I may not have that fate, but I have a life!” Kou Li declared, each word ground out like steel, cold and gleaming. “I will knock at the gates of immortality with martial skill!”

For an apprentice who couldn’t even stand properly in the basic stance, claiming he would knock at heaven’s door with martial arts would be a joke to any veteran. They wouldn’t even bother encouraging such ambition.

But Luo Yanzong heard in these words a spirit of shattering one’s body for the cause. A spirit he once had, now worn away by hardship.

Perhaps, he thought, the reason he hadn’t succeeded in bone refining was that he had lost that spirit, broken the backbone of perseverance.

Suddenly, Luo’s expression grew solemn and he bowed deeply. “Thank you, brother, for enlightening me.”

“What do you mean, brother?”

“Nothing much. Time is short, let’s head back,” Luo Yanzong said with a gentle smile, seeming to have laid down a heavy burden; his manner had subtly changed.

“Yes, let’s return,” Kou Li agreed, indeed time was running short. But once he unlocked the secret of the Child Stance, he would surely shorten his training time dramatically.

“Oh, brother, do you have some innate ailment?” Luo suddenly asked.

“Huh?”

“No matter. There are several in the martial world born with disabilities but who become skilled fighters. Kidney deficiency and cold constitution aren’t much. Seeing your shocked expression, I think I’ve guessed the truth. It’s nothing, Brother Yue told me that stance training isn’t about speed but patience.”

“I meant this as encouragement, but it turns out your physical limitation and strong will have enlightened me instead. I’m ashamed as your elder brother; I must reflect on myself when we return.”

Looking at Luo’s concerned expression, Kou Li stood dumbfounded for a while before blushing and shouting, “My kidneys are not weak!!”

...

In the training grounds, after finishing his stance practice, Zheng Bao’er felt sore all over and was about to rest when he heard a call, “Ninth brother, wait up!”

Turning, Bao’er saw a youth in fine cloth approaching with a friendly smile. “Are you heading back? We’re going to fly kites. Come with us!”

Bao’er recognized him as one of the boys who trained stances together, though they hadn’t spoken recently. Today, for some reason, he suddenly spoke up.

“Well...” Bao’er was still at an age where fun was tempting, and hesitated.

“Come on, let’s go to the seaside—the wind is strongest there!” Jiang Shuiyuan said, grabbing Bao’er’s hand, a sly gleam in his eye.

The next day, after stance training, Jiang Shuiyuan came again. “Uncle Bao, let’s catch shrimp in the canyon—this time without the others.”

And so, again and again, young and indecisive, Bao’er began thinking about play even during stance training, his efficiency dropping. And as an official disciple of the school, even Wu Tou didn’t dare scold him. Jiang Shuiyuan finally revealed a satisfied, scheming smile.

“Kou brother, I’m back,” Bao’er said guiltily. Today, he nearly fell asleep during stance practice—last night, he’d watched fireflies in the creek and lost track of time.

“Ah, you’re back,” Kou Li replied, looking ragged but with eyes shining. He’d been busy, but finally found the truth he sought. With that method, he could not only shorten the time needed for stance practice but also solve the issue of his unstable foundation.

But his gaze shifted as he noticed something, and he said seriously, “Bao’er, you haven’t been practicing your stance properly these days, have you?”

Bao’er hung his head in shame, silent.

“Whose fine-woven shirt is that?”

“Jiang Shuiyuan lent it to me,” Bao’er said, clutching the hem.

In the Tidewatch region, a child with coarse cloth was already well off; most went bare-chested and dark-skinned. Only a few had fair skin, clearly from good families—Jiang Shuiyuan was one. With family wealth, he had ties even among older apprentices. Seeing Bao’er’s uncertain expression, Kou raised his brow—so, a little scheming, it seems.

“Kou brother, I’ll practice properly from now on, no more playing,” Bao’er promised in a small voice, but guilt lingered in his tone.

You can’t expect much self-control from a six-year-old; that’s a virtue reserved for adults.

Suddenly, Kou Li grinned. “Go play—why not? Balance work and rest for better training. That’s what my elder brother told me.”

“Really?!” Bao’er’s eyes lit up.

“Of course. When have I ever lied?”

“Kou brother is the best!” Bao’er exclaimed, full of admiration, bouncing with joy.

“But you still need to practice your stance well. Let me teach you the basics of the Foundation Stance...”

Early the next morning, Kou Li and Bao’er returned to the training ground. Jiang Shuiyuan’s eyes lit up and he waved, “Ninth brother, over here!”

Kou Li showed an amused smile, patting Bao’er’s head. “Go ahead.”

Most in the training ground ignored Kou Li. Today, Yue Wuho was absent, only a teacher named Zhao was present, apparently instructing a set of boxing techniques.