Chapter 177: Immortal Fist Fighting
Chapter 173 of "The Great Ming in the Box" starts with unexpected events: After watching Ground Rabbitâs performance, Li Daoxuan recalled something. The âArmy Combat Techniquesâ videosâdozens of... Find out more!
After watching Ground Rabbitâs performance, Li Daoxuan recalled something. The âArmy Combat Techniquesâ videosâdozens of gigabytes sought from the military history forumâhad been downloaded long ago, but he hadnât found a suitable chance to teach them to the little people.Cheng Xu had recently been instructing the militia on formations, spear arrays, crossbows, and other chaotic equipmentâbasic military knowledge like camping. In his spare time, he would guide everyone in Guanzhong Hong Fist.
Frankly, the schedule was packed tight.
The militia soldiers were exhausted from daily training. Observing this, Li Daoxuan temporarily set aside the Army Combat Techniques without immediately adding them. He planned to incorporate it once they had a solid foundation.
But seeing Ground Rabbitâs âeager for skillsâ demeanor stirred him a bit.
Perhaps it was just him thinking they were tired, while they themselves might crave desperately learning more.
In the end, he decided to provide it to them and let them choose whether to practice or not. If afraid of fatigue, then skip it; if unafraid, then practiceâeach took charge of their own life.
But how to teach them?
The best way was surely to hand it off to Cheng Xu for him to digest thoroughly before teaching other soldiers. Yet that didnât seem amusingâhe wondered if there was a funnier method, a more interesting approach?
Instantly, Li Daoxuan transformed from the âNanny Deityâ to the âPranks Deity.â Alright, time to start some mischief.
Wasnât there a scene in Mr. Jin Yongâs novel? In Wuliang Mountain stood the Wuliang Jade Wall. At moonrise, the fortunate could witness immortals practicing swords on the mountain faceâŚ
Hehehe!
Heâd borrow this little tale for a playful prank.
That same nightâŚ
The moon was brilliant and stars sparse!
Gaojia Village was deep in slumber, with only two patrolling troops circling the city walls.
Dragging his weary body, Ground Rabbit climbed into bed.
A day spent drilling in formations and Hong Fist, plus several Thought Lessons, left him physically and mentally drained. But his spirits were highâheâd long aspired to be a mighty general, yet never found his way before.
Now in the militia, training daily under Instructor He, he felt much nearer to his dream.
Reflecting on this, he impulsively threw a punch at the ceiling: âHei!â
âDid I land this Hong Fist strike perfectly?â
âHappy!â
âToo bad I couldnât find any secret manuals better than Hong Fist⌠Sigh⌠Hong Fist was decent, but a widely available boxing styleâmastering it wouldnât make him outstanding.
âIf only he could get a rare manual, heheâŚâ
Just then, Li Daoxuan took a thin toothpick and lightly tapped Ground Rabbitâs window.
Hearing a âdongâ from the window, Ground Rabbit started, flipping upright instantly: âWhoâs there?â
No one replied!
Ground Rabbit dashed a swift step to the window, pried it slightly open to peer out. Beyond lay the quiet, peaceful Short-term Workers VillageâŚ
Though heâd joined the militia, his character evaluation remained incomplete. Thus, he lacked permission to live in the main fortress and stayed in a separate plastic house in the Short-term Workers Village.
He scanned outside from the window for agesânobody out there.
âPerhaps a wild bird or such bumped the window, whateverâback to sleep.â
He went back to bed and had just lain down. âThump,â the window made a sound again.
Ground Rabbit sprang up quickly, grabbing the ancestral long sword by the pillow, and darted to the window. He looked out once more, still seeing no one outsideâŚ
Really, what the hell!
Li Daoxuan picked up a pre-prepared small black plastic soldier, tied it with a fishing line, and put it in a box. From above the roof opposite Ground Rabbit, he pulled it swiftly, and it drifted by with a swishâŚ
Ground Rabbit saw it this time: âWho?â
He pushed open the window and jumped out with a swish.
He was just about to sound a loud alarm when he suddenly discovered the figure on the opposite roof had disappeared. He thought to himself: What if it was just my eyes playing tricks? If I sound the alarm and alert everyone, after they search for ages and find nothing, theyâd surely beat me up and mock me for being paranoid. I need to confirm clearly.
He quickly opened the door, squeezed out, and headed toward where the figure disappeared earlier to search.
After looking for a long time without finding anything, he spotted another figure sway near a distant field ridge, flying swiftly toward the faraway valley with a swish.
Ground Rabbit commented: âHuh? Thatâs the valley Daoist Ma mentioned, where immortals and monsters fight.â
He hurriedly ran toward it, moving farther and farther from the village.
Soon, he arrived at the valley.
It was quiet here, with nothing at all.
Ground Rabbit rubbed his eyes. Could it really be that I saw something wrong?
Just then, he suddenly noticed a blurry figure on one side of the valley wall, striking punchesâŚ
What a massive figure, as large as the entire cliff face. That definitely wasnât humanâhuman shadows donât get that big. This had to be an immortal, for only immortals possess such majestic and grand bodies.
That immortal punched and kicked, appearing fierce and powerful, full of momentum, brimming with killing intent. His movements were clean and purposeful, with no wasted effort.
Each move was deadly!
âWow!â
Ground Rabbit was utterly mesmerized: âThis⌠this⌠what an amazingly powerful immortal boxing art⌠Itâs not the same style as Guanzhong Hong Fist. I⌠I must learn it⌠I must follow alongâŚâ
He swished swish swish, mimicking a couple of punches, but suddenly snapped awake: âNo, I shouldnât learn it alone. I should share this excellent thing with the militia brothers. If only I learn it, Iâd betray my brotherhood, with no loyalty in jianghu.â
Ground Rabbit felt conflicted inside: I should go call them, but what if this boxing ends while Iâm on my way? How about when I return and canât see it anymore?
It was a tough call, the most difficult choice Mr. Rabbit had ever faced.
Mr. Rabbit! You had to make the right decision.
Would you learn alone or bring your brothers to enjoy together?
Are you⌠a real man?
Aahh!
Ground Rabbit plopped to the ground with a thud, orz. After one second, he pushed off with both palms on the ground and sprang up with a swishâhis leaping ability astonishing, no surprise as a rabbitâand roared: âImmortal, please wait for Mr. Rabbit, Mr. Rabbit will be right back.â
He stretched his legs and bolted with all his might toward Gaojia Fortress. Reaching the fortress wall, he pounded the fortress door frantically: âQuick, let Mr. Rabbit in! Mr. Rabbit needs to find Instructor He, Gao Chuwu, Zheng Daniu⌠and all the militia brothers! Hurry, hurry, let Mr. Rabbit in⌠no time leftâŚâ
Li Daoxuan silently watched this performance, and a curve couldnât help but form at the corner of his mouth. This rabbit wasnât bad, actually thinking of others. Truthfully, if you hadnât called them, heâd have found another prank move to teach them. But with your call, heâd regard you more highly from now on.