Chapter 13: Embarking on Martial Arts

The next day, while Liu Tan was deeply immersed in his dreams, he suddenly felt someone shaking him. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, General Zhao is waiting outside… Your Majesty, Your Majesty…”

Liu Tan mumbled, half-awake, “What time is it now?”

“Your Majesty, what did you say?”

At that moment, Liu Tan recognized the Empress’s voice. He sighed and repeated, “I’m asking what hour it is.”

“Your Majesty, it’s already past dawn. General Zhao received your imperial command and has arrived…” the Empress replied.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!” The Empress was somewhat exasperated; how could the Emperor have fallen asleep again?

Just as she was about to give up, the Emperor suddenly sat up straight, still groggy, and said, “Empress, help me dress. I made an agreement with General Zhao—three daily sessions at dawn to learn martial arts. I must not be late, my word is my bond… huff, huff…”

“Oh, Your Majesty, how can you fall asleep again? You’re such a sleepyhead.” The Empress complained as she dressed him, serving as if he were an infant, though Liu Tan weighed ten times more than a child, leaving her drenched in sweat once she finished.

Liu Tan finally opened his eyes, recalling the habits of his previous life, when several alarms were needed to wake him, and only the last one would get him out of bed.

“Empress, rest a while longer. I must go train.” Now fully awake, Liu Tan jumped off the bed, washed his face quickly in the basin placed in the corner, then left the hall.

“Uncle Zilong, I’ve kept you waiting. I am deeply ashamed…” Liu Tan apologized.

Zhao Yun bowed to Liu Tan and stood up, saying, “I thought Your Majesty wouldn’t come. Was about to head back.”

Liu Tan replied, “General, you jest. I am the Son of Heaven. My word is ironclad. Once I make a promise, even if the sky falls, I must fulfill it.”

Zhao Yun nodded, “Your Majesty, don’t make bold claims so lightly. Three feet of ice does not form in a single day. Martial arts require skill, but ultimately, perseverance is the deciding factor. May I ask, are you prepared to endure hardship? If not, I’d be better off returning to the battlefield…”

Liu Tan seized Zhao Yun’s arm, “Uncle Zilong, let us go to the garden behind the hall. I truly admire you generals, especially you, who lived through that era of heroes.”

At this, Zhao Yun was lost in memory, tears shimmering in his eyes.

That era forged heroes, bringing forth many legendary figures—from Dong Zhuo at the beginning to the eighteen regional warlords that followed. There were countless warriors of immense might, as well as sage strategists who could decide the outcome from afar.

Yet as time passed, those talents gradually faded away. The land of China seemed bereft of greatness, descending into chaos and disorder—the era of the Five Barbarians.

After a long silence, Zhao Yun sighed, “I am old now, never again as brave as in my youth…”

“Uncle Zilong, do not grieve. Men grow old and die, but your loyalty and courage will be remembered for generations.”

“I hope so. Ah, how I miss those days…”

As they conversed, they arrived at the garden, where all kinds of flowers, trees, rockeries, and streams surrounded an open space with stone tables and stools.

Liu Tan said, “Uncle Zilong, what do you think of this place? I’ve decided to train here from now on, but these tables and stools are a bit in the way!”

Zhao Yun chuckled, “That’s easily solved, Your Majesty. Please step aside and let me clear the space for you.”

Liu Tan stepped back. There were four stone stools, each weighing about a hundred pounds, and the stone table even heavier. He had tried to move them before, but they wouldn’t budge.

In the next moment, Zhao Yun shouted sharply, upending two stone stools with a kick. With a flick of his toe, one stool soared through the air, and as it landed, Zhao Yun caught it steadily in his palm.

“Excellent!” Liu Tan exclaimed.

“Let’s do another!” Zhao Yun shouted again, using the same method to lift the other stool.

“Your Majesty, shall I place them over there?” Zhao Yun, unfazed, looked toward the edge of the open space.

Liu Tan nodded.

“Go!” Zhao Yun exerted his arms, flinging both stools outward. They arced gracefully and landed solidly at the edge, producing a dull thud.

He stooped once more, gripped the edge of the stone table, and shouted, “Up!”

The stone table was slowly hoisted by Zhao Yun and likewise thrown to the edge beside the stools. Following the same routine, he moved the remaining two stools to the designated spot.

Zhao Yun dusted off his hands and wiped his brow, “Your Majesty, I’m truly old. In the past, this would have been a trivial task.”

Liu Tan laughed heartily, “Uncle Zilong, your strength stirs something deep within me. Teach me martial arts at once!”

“To learn martial arts, one must first build a foundation. Your Majesty is already twenty years old, well past the age for basics, so you must work doubly hard to achieve anything.” Zhao Yun paused and asked, “May I ask, is Your Majesty learning martial arts merely for health?”

Liu Tan declared, “I wish, one day, to be as brave as you, to lead armies to war and sweep across the realm.”

Zhao Yun’s eyes brightened, “Then you must endure hardship! Are you prepared?”

Liu Tan nodded firmly.

Seeing the Emperor’s resolve, Zhao Yun said, “In martial arts, the body must be as strong as iron. Let us begin with the horse stance…”

Liu Tan touched his nose; he had guessed correctly. He parted his legs, lowered his center of gravity, and clenched his fists at his sides.

“Uncle Zilong, is this right?” His stout figure looked rather comical.

Zhao Yun nodded, then shook his head, “Spread your legs wider. Open your arms!”

Liu Tan complied.

Zhao Yun nodded, then sat on a stone stool at the edge, remaining still.

Just then, the Empress arrived, carrying tea, with two maids behind her holding a water basin and towels.

Zhao Yun rose, bowing, “I pay my respects, Your Majesty.”

The Empress replied, “Uncle Zilong, no need for such formality!” She glanced at the Emperor holding his horse stance, “Uncle Zilong, how long has His Majesty been at it?”

“Just started, barely a moment,” Zhao Yun answered.

Barely a moment? How was the Emperor already drenched in sweat?

She picked up a towel, intent on wiping Liu Tan’s sweat.

“No!”

“No!” Liu Tan and Zhao Yun spoke in unison.

“Empress, my body is too weak. Just a short time and I’m sweating already. Don’t wipe it, or it’ll drain my energy!”

“Your Majesty, don’t speak!” Zhao Yun said.

Time ticked by. Liu Tan’s sweat poured even more; his legs felt as if bearing a thousand pounds, trembling slightly, and his arms drooped as if weighed down.

Seeing this, Zhao Yun said, “Your Majesty, hold the stance. It’s not even half an hour yet…”

Liu Tan gritted his teeth and corrected his posture. Finally, when he felt he could go no further, Zhao Yun asked, “Your Majesty, do you feel the heat flowing in your body?”

As he spoke, Zhao Yun moved before Liu Tan, guiding the heat to his lower abdomen.

Liu Tan tried to direct the warmth as instructed, and Zhao Yun suddenly pressed a finger at a point on his body.

Drawing energy to the central region nourishes the organs.

Following Zhao Yun’s guidance, Liu Tan suddenly felt another wave of warmth inside.

Moments later, Zhao Yun said, “Send energy through the Spirit Gate, pass through the Sea of Qi, reach the Conception Vessel, and the energy will flow into the legs’ meridians.”

Following Zhao Yun’s finger, Liu Tan suddenly felt his legs lighten, their trembling diminished.

Zhao Yun continued, “Send another current upward to the breath center, nourishing the arms.”

“This completes a small circulation. Your Majesty, do your best; I’ll see how many cycles you can endure!”

Liu Tan clenched his teeth, following the method. Each time the energy passed, his limbs felt comfortable, but as it faded, the pain intensified.

So he ran the small circulation faster and faster.

Yet the pain in his body grew ever sharper…

“Your Majesty, when I was five, my first time practicing this small circulation lasted two full hours. Now, Your Majesty has only lasted half an hour; you must not lose to my five-year-old self!”

“Damn it!” Liu Tan cursed internally. Just as he was about to give up, Zhao Yun taunted him thus.

Hmph, I won’t let you beat me.

He gritted his teeth, kept going, and sped up the circulation.

The Empress watched the Emperor’s sweat streaming down, feeling pity, but knowing only perseverance would yield results.

At last, she stamped her foot and said, “Your Majesty, I’ll prepare bath water for you…” With that, she left with the maids.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Liu Tan gritted his teeth, kept adjusting his posture to meet the standard.

Gradually, he lost sense of time, as if everything had become tranquil.

Finally, he heard Zhao Yun say, “It’s been two hours!”

Liu Tan’s body went limp and collapsed to the ground.

Zhao Yun laughed, hoisted Liu Tan onto his shoulder, and carried him back to the main hall, placing him into the wooden tub the Empress had prepared.

“Uncle Zilong, is His Majesty all right?” the Empress asked anxiously.

Zhao Yun stroked his beard, “His Majesty is fine, just fainted from pain. He’ll recover soon. In my opinion, Your Majesty is a rare talent for martial arts. If he persists, in time, he will surely surpass me.”

The Empress was delighted, “Really?”

Zhao Yun laughed, “Your Majesty, you don’t know. When I was five, I couldn’t even last an hour for my first practice, but His Majesty endured two hours… ha ha…”

The Empress sensed the playful look in Zhao Yun’s eyes.

“Uncle Zilong, are you deceiving His Majesty?”

Zhao Yun nodded with a smile, “Your Majesty, keep it secret for me. The firmer the foundation, the greater the future achievement!”

The Empress pondered, then nodded. Zhao Yun took his leave, saying, “Please inform His Majesty I won’t be coming for the next few days. Once he can run the small circulation smoothly, I’ll return to instruct him. I ask Your Majesty to supervise strictly, making him practice daily to the limit, never allowing him to quit halfway!”

The Empress watched Zhao Yun depart, looked at the Emperor lying limp in the bath, and stuck out her tongue, “I dare not be stern with His Majesty anymore…”