Kang Gu’s boxing and footwork combined would make even an international fighting king retreat, but for Su Jie, they had no effect.
Even the world’s second-ranked fighter, Greenland, was no match for Su Jie. Currently, only the number one, Solo, could give him a real fight.
In Su Jie’s view, Kang Gu’s strength was considerable, but he still had some gap to close with Feng Hengyi and Wen Ting…he hadn’t yet truly comprehended that level of realm.
However, Kang Gu was the closest to reaching it.
He was on the verge of breakthrough…one slight push and he could step right in.
But right now, Kang Gu was stuck somewhere.
Su Jie could see clearly: Feng Hengyi’s path was about stripping away human nature to extract so-called “divinity,” while Odell and Kang Gu followed the ancient traditional path of unity between heaven and man.
How to choose was a dilemma for Kang Gu…and also why he had been unable to step into the “exceptional” realm.
Both the “Living Dead” realm and the path of extracting “divinity” could greatly enhance physical ability, bringing about a complete transformation.
From the current perspective of human evolution, these two paths couldn’t yet be distinguished as superior or inferior.
Which was correct? Even Su Jie himself wasn’t sure…he was still researching.
It was natural for Kang Gu to be caught in this confusion.
Facing Kang Gu’s swing punch attacks, Su Jie didn’t dodge. He bound his hands together, like an eagle snatching a snake…his claws striking in rapid succession. In an instant, he had seized Kang Gu’s pulse point.
Kang Gu’s attacks were neutralized in that instant, his whole body immobilized. Though Su Jie had only grabbed his pulse point, he had actually controlled his entire body…this was a tendon-seizing technique from Tai Chi.
Only with finger strength reaching a divine level could such grappling skill be executed.
This was also the “eagle grab” technique from the Adze-Hand method…its variations never departed from the core principle.
Kang Gu had lost in one move, with no ability to counter. But Su Jie released him and began to speak: “You and I were trained by the same coach…we walk the same path. If you change your philosophy and take a different route, that won’t be a good thing. I’ve always believed that human nature is our most precious possession. To discard it is like buying a casket and returning the pearl…you gain a glittering box, but lose the pearl within. A person who only cares about themselves cannot awaken the latent power in their genes. But for the sake of loved ones, for family, for country…that’s when their potential is truly unleashed. And that is human nature. I’m not brainwashing you here…this is scientific research.”
Though Kang Gu was deaf-mute and couldn’t hear any sound, Su Jie knew that by watching his mouth movements, he could understand what was being said.
He continued: “Take a mother, for example…if she faces danger alone, she might be killed by a criminal, unable to overcome him. But if her child is with her, protecting that child can unlock extraordinary abilities…she may fight off the criminal or even sacrifice herself to stop him. This is also studied in Buddhism: the Lesser Vehicle seeks personal perfection, becoming an Arhat. The Greater Vehicle seeks to save all beings, to show compassion for all…even as one’s own body fades, still pitying the suffering of the world. In truth, serving all beings is serving oneself. Only by serving others can one go further. This is the expression of human nature…this is cultivation.”
This insight had come to Su Jie only moments ago.
Playing with the koi king had helped him truly understand something…and had strengthened his conviction in the path of “humanity.”
So now he shared his insight with Kang Gu, hoping he would find his own understanding.
Kang Gu quietly “listened”…or rather, watched Su Jie’s lips. He understood perfectly what Su Jie was trying to convey.
After Su Jie finished, Kang Gu fell into deep thought.
He too had encountered a difficult choice.
For someone like him, whose heart was a hundred times more sensitive than an ordinary person’s, he knew that the next step was critical…a fork in the road of his evolution. One wrong step and there would be no turning back.
Now, having experienced Su Jie’s skill first-hand, he knew he was no match. But what shook him even more deeply was Su Jie’s words.
It wasn’t mere preaching…it was backed by facts.
Indeed, many studies showed that protecting others more easily unlocked potential than protecting oneself.
This was the greatness of human nature.
To completely discard that greatness would surely be a lifelong regret.
After speaking, Su Jie stood quietly, watching Kang Gu. He knew Kang Gu understood everything he had said. Now it was up to him to choose…if he still chose the path of extinguishing humanity, Su Jie would have nothing more to say.
For a long while, no one spoke.
Even Zhuang Tianyun seemed to sense something, watching Kang Gu intently, hoping he would make the right choice.
Suddenly, Kang Gu looked up, as if he had made up his mind. He began signing.
Su Jie couldn’t understand the sign language, but it conveyed a clear goodwill.
After finishing his signs, Kang Gu extended his hand.
Su Jie reached out and grasped it.
Su Jie knew…Kang Gu had ultimately been persuaded, choosing to return to the path of human nature, to strengthen it.
Liu Long could see it too…Su Jie had accomplished something significant.
“Hahahaha…” he laughed heartily.
At this moment, Zhuang Tianyun walked over and looked at Su Jie: “You are a true master…I find it hard to believe. If I’m not mistaken, you’re not even twenty, but your presence and form tell me you’re like an old master who has cultivated for over sixty years.”
“Master Zhuang also knows martial arts…I can see you practice Wudang boxing,” Su Jie said. He was now intimately familiar with all styles. On one hand, he trained diligently and searched for materials online…in this information age, anything could be found with a little effort. On the other hand, Odell’s videos included explanations of various styles.
Wudang boxing was gentle, emphasizing self-cultivation and physical movement over combat…more about circulating energy than fighting, with many subtle details like flicking the ears, swallowing saliva, rubbing acupoints…pure health qigong.
This kind of practice, once you entered the right state, could extend lifespan…far more effective than other martial arts.
Su Jie could tell that Zhuang Tianyun had cultivated Wudang skills deeply, excelled in health preservation, had abundant vitality, and was always in a relaxed, happy state.
Additionally, Zhuang Tianyun had trained in hand techniques like eagle claw…finger strength…which was crucial for massage. To achieve divine skill in massage, one needed strong penetrating force.
However, he seemed to lack combat experience…clearly never having fought anyone in his life, not accustomed to aggression. No matter how good his skills, his practical fighting ability would be limited.
But Su Jie didn’t underestimate him. As his cultivation deepened, he realized that fighting was only a small part of martial arts. True martial arts was studying the mysteries between heaven, earth, and man.
If one could truly understand that, they would indeed have divine assistance.
“I have some good tea here…shall we have a cup?” Zhuang Tianyun invited.
Su Jie gladly agreed.
The four sat in a small tea room with a view of the entire courtyard…a feeling of ease arose naturally. The tea room was pleasantly cool; though it was hot outside, a cool draft…not from air conditioning…flowed through, drying the air and dissipating all discomfort.
This cool air came from natural wind, cooled and channeled into the small tea room.
This was a naturally cool spot created by the terrain and architecture.
If you viewed the courtyard through the eight trigrams, this spot was the Kan position…water. The wind entrance was the Xun position…wind from Xun, accelerated through the corridor, converged over the pond, cooled by the water, then blew into the tea room, creating this natural coolness.
This was advanced architectural design.
Also advanced feng shui knowledge.
Zhuang Tianyun’s feng shui skill was clearly no less than Masters Luo and Ma’s…making Su Jie realize once again that the world was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
“Ah Long, who is this…” Zhuang Tianyun asked after they were seated.
“This is Su Jie…a true grandmaster, who has already reached the Living Dead realm,” Liu Long introduced. “Old Zhuang, you can see the wonders in him too. We came today to find Kang Gu, hoping to persuade him.”
“Living Dead!” Zhuang Tianyun’s hand trembled, nearly spilling his tea. “So young? Are you sure? Without experiencing life’s vicissitudes and the changes of life and death, one cannot reach that level of complete enlightenment.”
“Times have changed,” Liu Long said. “The information young people experience now is ten times that of our era. Today’s elementary school kids can talk about international financial trends, the latest AI technology, and future developments with authority…in ancient times, they’d be the ‘Sleeping Dragon’ or ‘Young Phoenix’ who could guide the nation.”
“That’s reasonable too.” Zhuang Tianyun sighed. “Times change faster and faster…we can no longer keep up. We can only hold onto ancient traditions, hoping they won’t be lost.”
“Every era has its own way of living.” Su Jie said. “In every age, there are wise ones who comprehend the mysteries of heaven, earth, and man. The highest spiritual understanding has nothing to do with the era.”
“That’s true…thousands of years ago, there were true sages like the Buddha, Laozi, Confucius, and Zhuangzi.” Zhuang Tianyun’s melancholy was lifted by Su Jie’s words.