Republic of China Era: Entering the Dao through Divine Strike

Chapter 87 Though of humble rank, I dare not forget my duty to the country

They practiced for half an hour.

Li Xin roughly grasped the wonders of soft power, and felt that he was gradually gaining a more peculiar understanding of force in his mind.

I have also gained some insights into the process of transforming extreme hardness into softness and generating the first wisp of soft energy.

While I was pondering this.

Then they heard Senior Sister Feiyan shout.

"Watch the punch."

With this punch, Cheng Feiyan delivered a sharp and swift movement, her body turning rapidly.

With a staggered step, he turned and threw a punch that shattered the air and sent a gust of wind crashing down.

"Good timing."

A lingering feeling lingered in my mind and echoed in my heart.

Li Xin did not choose to confront them head-on this time.

He reached out as if catching a fish, his palm pressing lightly as if it were nothing, his palm sinking in and undulating, like a cow swallowing grass.

Cheng Feiyan's fist struck his palm.

A muffled thud.

It was like being plunged into a swamp.

With a slight contraction of the palm, the power was completely exhausted.

Even her body shifted to one side, almost crashing headfirst into it.

"it is good."

Cheng Feiyan chuckled softly and turned around again.

It flashed past Li Xin's left side.

He shook off the dragging force and stood still without making another move: "Junior brother is truly amazing. He has mastered the soft force fighting method so quickly. Senior sister has nothing more to teach him."

"Once things calm down, we'll practice a few more times to solidify our listening skills."

"That's great, but it's a bit tiring for you, Senior Sister."

Li Xin was also very happy.

The method of listening to energy involves placing your hands together in the early stages to feel the transmission of power.

In the middle stage, one listens to the wind and understands its strength, sensing the fluctuations in the air.

In the later stages, one must listen to the opponent's strength before it is released and respond to their needs with one's mind.

At that time, one could listen for the opponent's strength even when there seemed to be none, and anticipate their moves.

Even with his eyes closed, he could adapt to any situation, counter any move, and defeat the enemy as easily as blowing dust.

Of course, to reach this level, you need someone to spar with; you can't possibly fight against thin air alone.

Now, he has undoubtedly grasped the true essence of the power transmission in the early stages.

Whether it's hard force or soft force, or overt or covert force, as long as it's an attack, it has a direction and can be divided into hard and soft.

By grasping this unseen force, one can deflect and neutralize its force, and use it against oneself.

In this way, the actual combat scenarios can be even more varied.

This is far superior to the previous approach of merely dodging and counterattacking, and engaging in brute force.

Their combat strength will naturally improve.

"It's not tiring at all. I'm also improving very quickly by sparring with my junior brother." This was true, and Cheng Feiyan couldn't help but smile, revealing two small dimples.

"Don't go back for lunch, have lunch here."

She smiled and left Li Xin behind, then skipped happily into the kitchen, where she personally cooked a few dishes.

When their master returned, the group ate a quiet meal together.

Cheng Feiyan prepared to leave: "Junior brother, I stay at home every morning, and in the afternoon, I have to go listen to the lectures of several teachers."

Of course, it wasn't just about attending classes.

The main concern is that during this period, the conservatives have suffered repeated defeats, and we must be wary of them being unwilling to admit defeat and resorting to desperate measures.

"Is it in the embassy district?"

Li Xin frowned slightly.

"Yes, only in foreign territory can those people be more cautious, as it is much safer than other places."

Cheng Feiyan's expression was slightly embarrassed.

Clearly, she herself felt that what she said was somewhat unpleasant.

The ministers and learned men of our own country cannot even guarantee their personal safety on our own territory.

On the contrary, it is somewhat shameful to ask for the power of foreign countries and nations.

But that's the truth, and there's no denying it.

"After a while, once the new policy is implemented, the die is cast, and there will be no need for this."

Her eyes lit up as she spoke with unwavering certainty.

Clearly, he was very confident about the reform movement.

"Since it's so dangerous, perhaps Senior Sister shouldn't get involved in this matter."

Li Xin thought for a moment and then earnestly advised him.

"At this critical juncture of great change, although I am just a woman, I must do my part for the revitalization of the country and cannot stand idly by."

Cheng Feiyan shook her head and chuckled softly, "Senior sister has practiced martial arts since childhood and doesn't have much worldly experience. However, over the years, she has seen the world become increasingly incompetent."

Today they cede territory here, tomorrow they pay reparations there; it seems the imperial army has become a mere formality overnight.

In previous years, life was very difficult for ordinary people, but it wasn't like it is now. Now, it's almost impossible to survive.

This was the first time Li Xin had heard Cheng Feiyan reveal her true feelings like this.

Seeing the sorrow between her brows, I couldn't help but feel a chill run down my spine.

This must be the kind of "though of humble status, one should not forget one's duty to the country" described in the poem.

It's astonishing that a woman, an ordinary person, would be concerned with matters of national importance.

In his past life, he would have thought this person was probably insane.

Is this something you should be considering?

Do you really think you can take over the business?

However, when Cheng Feiyan said it here, it had a particularly sincere feel to it.

On the contrary, it inspires awe.

She continued, "I've heard from several gentlemen that in recent years, the imperial court has made a series of mistakes with its actions."

This is because the problems are deeply entrenched and difficult to change, corrupt officials and bureaucrats run rampant, and they are stuck in their ways.

If we don't learn from the world's advanced technologies and cultures, we will always lag behind others.

If you fall behind, you will be bullied.

If we continue to ignore the need for change, humiliating and loss-making events like those in the naval battles, Qingdao, and Jiaozhou will continue to occur.

Those humiliating wars will soon return.

"To surrender national sovereignty and humiliate the country? Hah..."

Upon hearing this, Li Xin couldn't help but laugh.

"Whose rights are being lost? Whose country is being humiliated?"

He stopped circulating his qi and blood, stared into Cheng Feiyan's eyes, and said seriously, "Senior sister, tell me the truth, what right do you have after all these years?"

Is it tariff power, fiscal power, military power, or human rights?

Let's not talk about you, but about the ordinary people around us. In the past, they had to kneel down when they saw officials or foreigners.

They are never full, work themselves to the bone, and live only a short time.

Now that the imperial court has been defeated, the common people still have to kowtow to officials and foreigners.

Ironically, some people even manage to get a full meal thanks to foreigners.

Have you noticed that nowadays, a large number of people in Beijing are more friendly towards foreigners than towards government officials, wealthy merchants, and other important figures?

Even you, who go to the embassy district every day, have lost your guard against foreigners.

I didn't even think about those Japanese and Westerners. They should actually be enemies, not friends.

"Is that so?" Cheng Feiyan was slightly dazed.

Upon closer reflection, it is indeed true.

During this period, she was inspired by the passionate reforms and theories of modernization advocated by some gentlemen.

However, upon closer examination, it turns out that they are simply copying some of the systems and cultures of Westerners and Japanese.

Learning from advanced culture cannot be considered wrong.

But really, it seems that no one is prejudiced against foreigners anymore.

They even call them mentors and regard them as guiding lights in life.

How can we defend against this?

How can we take back lost power from others by using their methods and their culture?

Besides, with the high-ranking officials of the court having lost their power, why should these common people worry about it? Do they even care?

"And then there's the matter of insulting the nation..."

Li Xin's voice drifted over again.

"Senior sister, do you believe it or not, after a while, as the image of foreigners gets better and better..."

If anything changes, the people of the capital will spontaneously move ladders and transport grain.

They worked tirelessly for foreigners, all to overturn the mountain that was weighing down on them.

Do you think they did the right thing or the wrong thing? Shouldn't they have fought to the death for their master?

Or is it that it wasn't their country that was destroyed, but someone else's country that was humiliated?

………………