Chapter 90: Living with True Clarity

Hu Erleng’s interruption did nothing to quench Duan Bowen’s curiosity. “Mr. Yang, by your account, these adepts were so powerful. Why have their arts all come to be seen as nothing more than a trick for charlatans?”

Yang Meng said, “It’s exactly the same as with traditional martial arts. The blame lies with people, not with the martial art itself. Let me put it this way, using Tai Chi as an example. Since the day it was born, Tai Chi has been renowned as a combat method of formidable lethality, especially suited to situations where the weak overcome the strong and the few defeat the many. Take Yang Luchan, the founder of Yang-style Tai Chi. Once he stepped into the ring, blood was bound to be drawn and victory was all but certain. He swept through the Northern Capital without a single rival and earned the nickname Yang the Unbeatable. He was once considered the equal of Dong Haichuan, the founder of Bagua Palm. Yet by now it has somehow become something little different from calisthenics. Is the problem that Tai Chi is weak, or that its inheritance went wrong? Isn’t the answer obvious?”

“The same is true of the various esoteric arts. They have been handed down without interruption for thousands of years, so why have they become superstition in modern times? Because some people learn only a little and then begin putting on airs, while those who truly practiced the arts? Without the right chance, even decades of bitter training may not bring you to the threshold. These people ruined the reputation of the esoteric arts. Then, during certain periods, the country itself did not recognize them, so many lines of transmission were cut off. That is why people now think spells are nothing special. In plain terms, it is only a case of mistaking a single leaf for the whole forest.”

After hearing Yang Meng’s explanation, Duan Bowen grew even more intrigued. “Then, Mr. Yang, how far have you actually taken your understanding of the esoteric arts?”

Yang Meng smiled. “Only to the level of a little familiarity. I know just the barest surface.”

Duan Bowen drew in a sharp breath. “You only know the barest surface, and you have abilities like a god? Now I really believe you when you say Kua’e was an unrivaled master of the arts. Mr. Yang, I have another thing I don’t quite understand. Since the esoteric arts are so powerful, why do you still train in martial arts?”

Yang Meng smiled. “Don’t underestimate martial artists. The saying that one great strength can shatter a thousand techniques is not just an empty slogan. As for whether martial artists or adepts are stronger at the same level, that still has no final answer. And my martial skills are actually a little stronger than my esoteric arts. So tell me, why wouldn’t I train?”

Duan Bowen’s eyes shone like little stars. Hearing this, he hurriedly asked, “Mr. Yang, I don’t think I have the talent for martial arts, so do you think I have any gift for learning the esoteric arts?”

Yang Meng studied him from head to toe. “As a matter of fact, you still count as having a little talent. It’s just that a few things have held back your development.”

Duan Bowen looked delighted. “Mr. Yang, what things? I can change them!”

Yang Meng said gravely, “It’s nothing serious, really. Just your hands, your feet, and your head.”

The smile froze on Duan Bowen’s face. How could he still not understand? Yang Meng was teasing him.

Hu Erleng patted Duan Bowen on the shoulder. “Secretary Duan, don’t overthink it. If he could teach it, do you think he wouldn’t teach us first? Just take it as nonsense. This guy spends all day acting mysterious; he’s basically a street swindler.”

Yang Meng blinked. “Sigh, these days there are fewer and fewer fools around. Even a simpleton like you is getting hard to fool.”

Duan Bowen was a smart man. Hearing the exchange, he understood that Yang Meng did not want to discuss the matter further, so he promptly changed the subject.

The three of them chatted and laughed as they made their way to the training room where Long Teng and the others were. The two rings were still locked in fierce combat. Seeing Yang Meng arrive, everyone greeted him at once.

Yang Meng asked, “How many bouts have there been?”

Bai Chao, Bai Ze’s younger brother, happened to be nearby. He answered, “This is the last one.”

Yang Meng nodded. “And how are the results?”

Bai Chao looked proud. “Coach Long won three, my brother won five. As the matches went on, everyone’s stamina kept dropping, so it’s very hard to score a knockout within three minutes. My brother was also unlucky. The first two opponents he drew were both tough ones; otherwise, he might have won two more.”

Yang Meng shrugged. “Luck is part of strength. Long Teng has been disadvantaged by being rich this time.”

Hu Erleng asked in confusion, “Disadvantaged by being rich? What does that mean?”

Yang Meng pointed at Bai Ze. “Bai Ze definitely doesn’t have as much money as Long Teng. Every cent he earns is blood and sweat, so he wants to win more badly and lose as little as possible. But Long Teng has money. He doesn’t care much about a few hundred thousand, so of course he won’t fight as desperately as Bai Ze.”

Hu Erleng looked at the two rings and suddenly asked, “Which one is Long Teng and which one is Bai Ze?”

It was no wonder he asked. By now, both men looked like swollen pig faces. After all, one of Yang Meng’s rules was that if either man could be knocked out within three minutes, the prize money would be doubled.

Bai Chao answered immediately, pointing to the ring on the right. “The one attacking right now is my brother, Bai Ze!”

The words had barely left his mouth when he saw his brother struck senseless on the ring. His opponent was not tall. As Bai Ze kept throwing punches in succession, the man sprang upward and drove his own head into Bai Ze’s jaw. Bai Ze fell straight to the mat, unconscious.

“Foul! That’s a foul!” Bai Chao cried, hopping with urgency as he watched his brother go down.

Yang Meng patted him. “Calm down. I told you long ago, there are no rules here.”

Bai Ze’s opponent on the ring also said, “Bai Chao, didn’t you use tricks like grabbing below the belt and bending fingers when you fought Coach Long just now? Why is it a foul when it’s my turn?”

Hu Erleng said, “...Mengmeng, I may not be educated, but I’m not stupid. What kind of training is this supposed to be?”

Duan Bowen gave a wry smile. “Actually, I’ve wanted to ask that for a long time.”

No sooner had the two of them spoken than they heard Long Teng roar on the ring. Everyone turned to look and saw him slam his last opponent to the mat. Yet his own condition was not much better. He stood there swaying, and when the bell signaled the end, his legs gave way and he sat down hard on the ring.

Seeing Yang Meng nearby, he strained to lift four fingers. “I won four bouts today. Tomorrow I’ll win even more!” As soon as he said it, he collapsed backward from exhaustion.

The emergency medics at the venue rushed up at once to examine him. Duan Bowen was tense to the point of anxiety, but at last the doctor gave a thumbs-up. “Just exhaustion.”

Only then did Duan Bowen finally relax.

Hu Erleng sighed. “When I was a kid, I used to think I was unlucky because I wasn’t born into a good family. Now I can see it clearly: even if you set aside the question of birth, I still might not be able to outdo others. Just look at how hard Long Teng is fighting. Who would have thought he was a rich second-generation heir?”

Duan Bowen smiled after hearing this. “Mr. Hu, if someone heard that, they’d surely say Long Teng can do what he loves only because he has money. If he were struggling to feed himself, could he still do these things?”

Yang Meng shook his head. “That is indeed part of it, but it also depends on the person. Look at Xiong Chaozhong, the first Chinese boxer to win a world-class professional title. He started mining in a pit at seventeen, working more than ten hours a day for ten yuan in wages. It wasn’t until he was twenty-three that he began professional boxing training, and two years later he won the championship title. Was he doing what he loved because he was rich? Fate is the excuse of losers, while luck is the modest phrase of the successful. We don’t need to talk about others. Let’s talk about you, Secretary Duan. You usually keep a low profile, but when it comes down to it, how many people in the world at your age could reach your height? You have money, connections, ability, and yet you are still so modest.”

Duan Bowen shook his head slightly. “Mr. Yang, you flatter me. Listening to you makes me sound like some ancient monster. As for modesty, that too depends on the person. After all, I am still a young man. I have moments when I lose my composure as well.”

Hu Erleng sighed. “When I was little, I thought rich people were all arrogant, domineering, and ruthless. Only after I grew up did I realize that many of them are knowledgeable, experienced, serious about their work, and generous and reasonable in life. In fact, they can be easier to deal with than poor people. I used to sell cars, and I really noticed this: the customers buying cheap cars were always the most troublesome, while those buying luxury cars were usually much less demanding. Of course, that doesn’t include overnight millionaires.”

Yang Meng pointed to his own nose. “Are you talking about me? I’m a genuine overnight millionaire now—though not exactly a blazing one.”

Hu Erleng burst out laughing. “I may poke fun at overnight millionaires, but let me tell you, I dream of becoming one. Everything I work for now is so that one day I can truly become an overnight millionaire!”

Yang Meng glanced at him. “Too bad that even if most people work all their lives, they only manage to go from fourth-rate living to third-rate living. Have you ever seen a coal miner who became a coal baron just by digging hard?”

“Haha, I’ll drink this bowl of poisonous chicken soup!” Hu Erleng said, not the least bit offended.

Duan Bowen looked at Yang Meng and Hu Erleng. “Mr. Yang, I’ve noticed something. Your mindset, and the mindset of your friends, is really excellent.”

Yang Meng shrugged. “Excellent mindset? Is that a compliment? Isn’t it only because we’ve taken enough losses? People like us actually go through many stages. At first our hearts are higher than the sky and we’re full of drive. Then we discover that the world doesn’t reward effort on its own. After that, we begin blaming the world, thinking it’s unfair to us—why can others succeed when we are no worse than they are? Then we realize the world wasn’t wrong after all; if anyone is to blame, it’s ourselves, because we’re ugly and broke. So then we enter a third stage: avoidance. We lose all drive for anything. I have to say, laziness is a very convenient excuse.”

Hu Erleng added, “Exactly. It makes it sound as if simply becoming diligent would really let you do something grand. We spent that whole period playing games every day and still seemed to have a pretty good time.”

Duan Bowen asked curiously, “Then what stage are you in now?”

Hu Erleng answered, “No fantasies, no evasions. Just do what should be done. That’s all.”

This time Duan Bowen gave a thumbs-up. “If you can truly do that, then all of you are wise men. You understand life far better than the vast majority of people in this world.”