I achieved mastery of martial arts during the Republic of China era.

Chapter 30 Breaking Through Stone Muscles

Zhou Tong didn't hide anything and respectfully cupped his hands, saying:

"I am also a martial artist, and I will inevitably have to fight with others in the future. I would like to ask the senior to give me some pointers on what martial artists should pay attention to when fighting, as well as the underhanded methods used in the martial arts world."

That way, if we encounter something like that in the future, we'll be prepared and won't fall into a trap without realizing it.

Shopkeeper Hu picked up his pipe, his cloudy old eyes lingering on Zhou Tong's face for a moment before he nodded slightly.

"You've hit the nail on the head."

He leaned back, and the worn-out armchair creaked softly.

"In the battles of the martial world, if you're outmatched in open combat, you can only accept it. But if you're clearly strong enough, and you get outmaneuvered by those unseen and unimaginable underhanded tricks, that's incredibly frustrating."

Zhou Tong nodded in sincere agreement, refilled the other man's wine cup, and said with a smile, "What you say is true, senior. I would be grateful for your guidance."

As dusk fell outside the window, the light inside the pharmacy grew increasingly dim.

"Then let me tell you about it."

Manager Hu glanced at Zhou Tong, and in the dim light of the day, spoke in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft:

"The underhanded tricks used in the martial arts world can generally be divided into two categories. One category involves methods using 'material' elements such as poison, hidden weapons, and traps;"

Another type is psychological warfare—exploiting human weaknesses to make you jump into a trap yourself.

He paused, then asked, "Have you heard of 'Returning Soul Smoke'?"

Zhou Tong shook his head: "I've never heard of it."

"It's something that came from Southeast Asia."

Shopkeeper Hu extended two withered fingers and tapped them lightly on the table:

"It looks like ordinary water pipe tobacco and smells like sandalwood. But it contains spores of 'ghost mushroom'—a poisonous mushroom that grows on decaying wood in the rainforest. After being dried and ground into powder, it is colorless and odorless."

The pharmacy fell silent, save for Manager Hu's deep voice:

"Years ago, I witnessed someone being attacked at a teahouse at the pier in Penang. Two martial arts instructors who worked on boats got into an argument, and one of them took out his own pipe and said, 'Let me have a smoke to calm down.'"

The other person, caught off guard, took the cigarette and smoked it twice. Then, under the pretext of apologizing, the person invited the other person to drink with them.

As a result, after drinking for a short while, the man's eyes glazed over, and he answered every question, even revealing the location of his hidden money in his hometown.

Zhou Tong's heart tightened upon hearing this.

"The most toxic aspect isn't the drug's effects."

Shopkeeper Hu narrowed his eyes. "It's a method of drugging. The tobacco is real, but the bottom layer is mixed with spore powder. When you smoke it to the end, the spore powder turns into smoke and enters your lungs without you even noticing."

Once the effects of the drug wear off, inexperienced people, even if they've been affected, will only remember having a dazed conversation with someone, unable to recall the specifics of the conversation, assuming they were drunk and never suspecting the cigarettes were the culprit.

He took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and continued, "Let's talk about psychological warfare. About twelve years ago, I saw a group of people in the Minnan area conducting a 'mourning clothes scheme'."

Zhou Tong sat up straight.

"That group specifically targeted businessmen who traveled far from home. They would first send someone to pretend to be a fellow villager and tell the businessman that his elderly mother was seriously ill and that his family was selling their possessions to pay for her treatment."

As the merchant hurriedly rushed back, he happened to run into a relative dressed in mourning clothes, weeping and wailing, who said, "The old lady passed away last night; the mourning hall has already been set up."

Shopkeeper Hu leisurely recounted, "The merchant was devastated, and the 'relative' kindly reminded him, 'According to our custom, you must change into mourning clothes before entering the mourning hall, otherwise you'll bring bad luck and harm to your descendants.' So, after the merchant changed into the mourning clothes they had prepared—guess what happened?"

Zhou Tong had already realized: "Is there something wrong with the mourning clothes?"

"The linen of the mourning clothes was sewn with aphrodisiac."

Manager Hu nodded. "After wearing it for about fifteen minutes, he started to feel dizzy. The group then pretended to be concerned and helped him to a pre-prepared room to rest. When he woke up, all the banknotes and invoices on his body had been taken."

He looked at Zhou Tong: "What's so insidious about this scheme? It's insidious because it takes advantage of people's filial piety and reverence for funeral customs. Even if the merchant is accompanied by a martial arts master, the master will assume that the merchant is overwhelmed with grief and has lost his mind, and will let the merchant's 'relatives' take him to his room without taking any precautions."

There are countless scams like this in the underworld. I'm telling you about them, and you might think it's nothing special, too simple, and that you could easily be fooled.

Manager Hu sneered and said, "But you only realize how serious many things are when they actually happen to you."

These schemes are ever-changing, but frankly speaking, they are all designed to exploit people's weaknesses.

They will find out your temperament and background in advance, and different people will be assigned to different situations.

If you have a gambling addiction, I'll throw the chance to get rich overnight in front of you; if you're lustful, I'll tempt you with beautiful women; if you're sentimental, I'll threaten the safety of your relatives and friends to make you lose your composure...

Zhou Tong nodded slowly.

Then Manager Hu gave several more examples, which broadened Zhou Tong's horizons.

Afu had lit the oil lamp sometime during the night, and its dim yellow light spread across the medicinal soup, casting the shadows of the two people onto the mottled wall.

Zhou Tong bowed respectfully and asked, "May I ask, senior, how does one guard against such tactics when traveling the martial world?"

Manager Hu picked up the now-cold tea and took a big gulp before slowly saying, "Actually, in order to prevent these things, I've summarized it into four points over the years."

Zhou Tong focused his mind, knowing that the crucial part of the drama was approaching, and immediately listened attentively.

Shopkeeper Hu extended his first finger:

"First, you need to be discerning. In the world of martial arts, nine out of ten dangers come from other people. So the ability to recognize and judge people is extremely important—this takes time to develop and can't be rushed."

As he spoke, he stared at Zhou Tong's eyes and brows, his tone carrying a distinct meaning:

"You can look through the books on face reading when you have time. Many people think it's nonsense, but it's actually the experience summarized by generations of old masters who have seen countless people and experienced countless events. Although it's not always accurate, it's definitely not unfounded."

He paused, then said calmly, "Secondly, you need to hone your skills in this world. The more you deal with all sorts of people from all walks of life, the more you'll be able to see through their subtle thoughts at a glance."

Zhou Tong recalled his previous "relentless pursuit" and thought the other party was referring to him. He couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed and nodded.

Shopkeeper Hu ignored his expression and extended his second finger:

"Secondly, one must be cautious and know how to exercise restraint. The world of martial arts is turbulent, but it's not as unpredictable as many people think."

Often, if you just act cautiously, you can spot many things that are amiss.

He tapped the table: "As for self-control—don't be greedy for small gains, don't be curious about things you shouldn't be curious about, and don't get angry easily. If you can do these 'three don'ts,' you can avoid at least 30% of the risks."

Zhou Tong pondered for a moment, then solemnly replied, "Senior is right."

"As for the third point," Manager Hu held up his third finger, "you must know how to leave yourself some trump cards and room for maneuver. Before others target you, they will definitely think they have figured out your secrets, but if you have a trump card up your sleeve, that trump card will be your lifesaver."

Zhou Tong's heart stirred, remembering the "Shadowless" secret technique he was determined to hide, and he slowly nodded.

"As for the last point..."

A stern look appeared on Manager Hu's face as he slowly extended his fourth finger:

"If you don't cut the weeds at the root, they will grow back in the spring breeze."

The pharmacy fell silent for a moment, with only the occasional crackling sound of the oil lamp wick.

Zhou Tong narrowed his eyes slightly.

Manager Hu's voice continued, carrying a cold, leisurely quality:

"Once you find yourself being targeted, don't hesitate, don't be soft-hearted. Find a way to strike first. Many troubles in the underworld are the result of being too soft-hearted in the past."

Zhou Tong remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Thank you for your guidance, senior. I understand."

"Got it?"

Shopkeeper Hu raised an eyelid, a hint of mockery flashing in his cloudy old eyes. "You know nothing!"

Zhou Tong: "???"

Manager Hu stared at him and sneered, "I've spent most of my life risking my life, gaining experience that I've earned with blood. You sit here and listen for an hour, and you dare say you understand?"

Zhou Tong quickly said, "Senior, that's not what I meant."

Shopkeeper Hu ignored him, picked up his pipe, tapped the ash on the edge of the table, and said to himself:

What I just said was just a general direction. When something actually happens, the situation can change in an instant, and the details will be different each time.

Who is this person? What is their background? Where are they located? Why are they targeting you? These are all factors to consider, and often the situation is urgent, requiring you to make quick decisions.

"There is a mountain between knowing the principles and being able to apply them."

Manager Hu looked at him and said, word by word, "The saying 'knowing is easy, doing is hard' refers to the weight of the word 'implementation'."

Zhou Tong was taken aback by these words and quickly replied, "Senior is right; I was being frivolous."

Manager Hu waved his hand.

With that topic concluded, Zhou Tong, seeing that the other party was unusually in a good mood, spoke up again: "Senior, this junior has another matter to ask you."

"explain."

"How much do you know about those... demonic and evil things, senior?" Zhou Tong asked.

Manager Hu picked up a piece of braised beef, put it in his mouth, chewed it slowly, and swallowed it before saying:

"You'll have to figure out when to hide, when to reveal yourself, when to nip things in the bud, and when to leave room for maneuver in your actions—you'll have to learn these things gradually."

Zhou Tong paused, thinking the other person hadn't heard him clearly, and said again, "Senior, I was asking about demons and monsters. I heard some things from those refugees..."

"files!"

Manager Hu tapped the edge of the table with his chopsticks, looking at him with displeasure:

"How come you're sometimes frighteningly smart, and other times so stupid it's infuriating?"

Zhou Tong: "???"

Shopkeeper Hu put down his chopsticks, picked up his pipe, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled smoke from his nostrils.

"When someone evades the question or pretends not to hear you, you shouldn't press them. They lack even this basic tact; how can they expect to survive in this world?"

Zhou Tong: "???"

I understand the logic, but your unpredictable behavior is really hard to figure out. How am I supposed to know if you genuinely didn't hear me or were so engrossed in your conversation that you didn't notice my question?

Seeing Zhou Tong's speechless expression, Manager Hu suddenly chuckled and started laughing again.

After the laughter subsided, he waved his hand, a look of weariness on his face: "That's enough for today. I'm full and should rest now."

Zhou Tong tactfully stood up, solemnly clasped his hands in a bow, and said, "Thank you for your teachings, senior. I will remember them."

Shopkeeper Hu ignored him and closed his eyes to rest, with only the pipe in his hand occasionally flashing a red light.

......

In the days that followed, Zhou Tong no longer visited Huichuntang to buy medicine every seven days as before.

He ran around even more frequently.

Sometimes every three days, sometimes every five days, I would always find some excuse to go to Zhengyang Old Street—either because I was "just passing by," or because I "remembered that I still have a medicinal herb to buy," or simply because I wanted to "ask a senior for advice."

Manager Hu's attitude towards him escalated from initial dislike to extreme dislike, and he would glare at him and blow his beard every time he saw him.

I brought him some snacks this time, but he said he didn't want anything sweet. I brought him some wine and meat tomorrow, but he said he wanted something sweet today. I'm just finding ways to find fault with him.

Zhou Tong: "???"

He realized that the old man was simply making fun of himself.

However, although the old man seemed to dislike him, whenever Zhou Tong actually sat down on the bench and started rambling on about his experiences in the martial arts world and the customs of Southeast Asia, the old man would grumble and mutter a few words.

Sometimes it's a thrilling past event, sometimes it's a strange tale from a certain place, and sometimes it's just a few seemingly casual words that actually contain profound meaning.

Zhou Tong listened attentively each time and gradually figured out the old man's temperament.

When he really doesn't want to talk, he'll just close his eyes and pretend to be asleep; but as long as he's still willing to talk to you, even if his words are harsh, he's not actually disgusted.

......

Meanwhile, Zhou Tong still came to the martial arts school every day without fail to practice stances and swordsmanship, repeating the same routine over and over again.

During this period, the fellow disciples at the peak of the Iron Skin Realm and Stone Skin Realm in the hall cultivated with exceptional diligence.

People often arrive before dawn, and even late at night, some practice by the light of lanterns.

He knew that these people were all after the police station position that his third senior brother had mentioned.

The former aims to improve combat skills, while the latter hopes to break through to the Iron Muscle level before the competition, so as to participate in the contest.

In the casual conversation after the meal, the words "police station," "small competition," and "quota" appeared more and more frequently.

The atmosphere among the disciples who had already reached the Iron Skin Realm became subtle.

On the surface, they seem harmonious and happy, but when their eyes meet occasionally, there's always a hint of scrutiny and competition between them.

Zhou Tong observed the situation coldly, without getting involved.

With his current cultivation level, he doesn't even qualify to participate in the minor competition.

One must eat one bite at a time. His current goal is to stabilize his cultivation and break through to the Stone Muscle stage first.

......

The 28th day of the first lunar month, early morning.

Senior disciple Chen Zongru walked out of the moon gate in the front courtyard as usual, his gaze sweeping over the disciples practicing in the arena, and suddenly spoke:

"Stop for a moment."

The sound wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to every corner.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him.

Chen Zong stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm: "Your third senior brother has already made arrangements. The martial arts school will hold a small competition in seven days."

After he finished speaking, he said no more and turned to go back to the backyard.

The front yard was deathly silent for a moment, then it exploded with a "boom"!

The sounds of discussion, exclamations, and frustration mingled together.

The atmosphere became exceptionally lively.

Standing in the corner, Zhou Tong could clearly feel the tension permeating the air.

Those Iron-Skin Realm disciples had undisguised fighting spirit in their eyes.

Zhou Tong glanced around briefly, then looked away, glanced at the countdown on the panel, his expression calm, and continued cultivating.

Before we knew it, another three days had passed.

That afternoon, Zhou Tong applied the Golden Jade Ointment, drank the medicinal powder, and began his routine muscle-building exercise.

With each move he made, he could clearly feel the saturation in his muscles, the muscle fibers swelled slightly, and his body felt slightly warm as his blood flowed.

Again and again, at one point, Zhou Tong suddenly stopped, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes.

The Stone Skin Realm is complete!