Tang Bowen was undoubtedly very excited. In fact, in his youth, he had also learned some superficial martial arts, but at that time, his focus was not on martial arts, so he did not delve into it later.
However, upon hearing that cultivating to become a martial arts master could restore his ability to move freely, this undoubtedly pointed Tang Bowen to another path.
This feeling was like seeing a lighthouse suddenly appear in the vast darkness, giving him hope!
"Then let's begin!" Xiao Yunlong said.
"It's starting already? Don't we need to do some preparation?" Tang Bowen asked, stunned.
"No need. You just need to sit down and try to calm your mind!" Xiao Yunlong said lightly.
Then he helped the other person out of the wheelchair and had him sit cross-legged. However, Tang Bowen was still extremely excited, and it seemed he would need some time to calm down.
Xiao Yunlong did not rush him but walked to the study next to the bedroom to browse.
The study was not large. Besides a desk, bookshelves lined all four walls, filled with various books, including traditional classics from the Hundred Schools of Thought, as well as modern Chinese and Western poetry and novels.
Tang Bowen had always loved reading books, especially after his legs were crippled. He spent his days with books as his companion, and it seemed he had read no less than a few thousand books.
Not long after, Tang Bowen finally calmed his mind. He thought for a moment and asked, "Yunlong, in practicing martial arts, do I just need to sit cross-legged like this?"
"Yes, you don't need to do anything else. Remember one thing: try to calm yourself down and feel the changes within your body!" Xiao Yunlong said seriously.
"Okay, I understand!" Tang Bowen nodded.
Xiao Yunlong slowly sat down cross-legged, his breath sinking. He reached out his palm and gently pressed it on the other person's lower abdomen.
As his brow furrowed, a subtle internal energy force entered the other person's body through his palm.
At this moment, Tang Bowen's body trembled noticeably, and he subconsciously frowned.
"Maintain your state of mind. You must have read many books on Taoism. Try to achieve a state of pure, effortless thought. Don't think about anything, just feel yourself!"
Xiao Yunlong reminded him softly, while also striving to control that wisp of hair-like energy, guiding it along the meridians of the other person, following the path of the small circulation.
In fact, this was an extremely taxing process for Xiao Yunlong, requiring a very high level of mastery over his internal energy. Even peak Huajin Grandmasters would probably not dare to do this.
Even ordinary masters who had achieved the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, or Martial Kings, might not dare to guide energy for someone just starting to practice martial arts!
After all, if there was the slightest mistake, for example, if the wisp of energy that entered the other person's body was not controlled properly, it could directly cause their meridians to rupture. At best, it would lead to severe injuries, and at worst, it could result in immediate death!
Even Xiao Yunlong dared to guide energy for others only after cultivating the ancient divine art, the Three Thousand Divine Kingdoms Technique!
Tang Bowen was indeed the most intelligent among the younger generation of the Tang family. After Xiao Yunlong's reminder, he was able to achieve a state as calm as water.
Unlike when he taught Liu Ruyan last time, this time Xiao Yunlong did not tell Tang Bowen about the great and small circulations or the dantian, to avoid increasing his psychological burden.
"If possible, remember the sequence of changes within your body, that is, the circulation path!" Xiao Yunlong reminded him again.
This was because he found that the other person seemed to be able to sense the presence of that wisp of energy, which truly surprised Xiao Yunlong slightly.
Under Xiao Yunlong's skilled control and guidance, the fine, silver-thread-like energy slowly circulated along the path of the small circulation.
Finally, when the small circulation was more than half complete, Tang Bowen finally felt a wave of pain, and his body trembled slightly.
This pain was like all of a person's pores suddenly opening, and then a strong wind and waves rushing into the pores, causing the whole body to swell, with an indescribable discomfort and pain.
"Endure it, otherwise all your efforts will be in vain, and you will have to sit in a wheelchair for the rest of your life!" Xiao Yunlong shouted sternly.
Hearing this, Tang Bowen seemed to be greatly moved. His entire being erupted with a powerful willpower, causing him to quickly calm down.
Xiao Yunlong nodded secretly upon seeing this, thinking that his cousin's mental fortitude and willpower were quite good.
After another half an hour, the silver-thread-like energy completed the small circulation, which meant that his cousin had a certain degree of martial arts talent.
Of course, this was far from enough. The next step was to circulate the great circulation!
However, just as Xiao Yunlong was adjusting his breath to drive and circulate that wisp of energy, preparing to follow the path of the great circulation, the sound of car horns suddenly blared from outside the Tang family compound.
Judging by the sound, there seemed to be quite a few cars arriving. Bright headlights shone through the windows, illuminating the bedroom.
Then came the bustling sound of footsteps. It sounded like many people were entering from outside, at least dozens of them, and many were shouting.
From this, even without Xiao Yunlong going out to see, he could tell that the Lei family had brought the so-called experts from the Martial Alliance to settle scores.
Tang Bowen's body suddenly trembled, and his brow twitched incessantly. Even though his willpower was good, the intense pain combined with the shouting and noise outside was enough to disturb and distract him.
Seeing this, Xiao Yunlong quickly reminded him, "Don't worry about the people outside. Jun Bufan and the others are guarding the entrance, and you'll be fine for now. Focus on completing the energy guidance. If it's interrupted, all your efforts will be in vain, and even I won't be able to help!"
Only then did Tang Bowen calm down slightly.
Xiao Yunlong frowned and continued to circulate and drive the energy for guidance. However, his speed had slightly increased, and Tang Bowen's pain naturally became greater. Fortunately, the young man's tolerance was not weak, and he could still endure it.
At this very moment, dozens of people had truly arrived at the Tang family compound. They were all wearing martial arts training attire, indicating that they were practitioners, and their skills seemed to be not weak.
As these people poured into the Tang family compound, the rain that had stopped suddenly began to pour down again, accompanied by occasional flashes of lightning and thunder.
Several servants who were busy were frightened on the spot, as was Aunt Tang, Ni Hongyan.
"They're here! The Lei family has indeed brought people from the Jiangdong Martial Alliance to cause trouble. What should we do? What can we do now?" Ni Hongyan exclaimed in panic under the eaves of the main hall.
A burly man with muscles like coiled dragons walked out of the rain and roared, "Which one is Xiao Yunlong? Get out here and die!"
His roar was like thunder, and Aunt Tang, Ni Hongyan, was instantly startled awake and shouted, "Yes, yes, they're here for Xiao Yunlong. Where is Xiao Yunlong? Hurry up and let him out!"
"Madam, Mr. Xiao is in the bedroom treating the eldest young master's legs!" a servant reminded her.
"What kind of leg treatment is this at a time like this!" Ni Hongyan yelled and hurried inside with trembling legs.
Soon, Ni Hongyan arrived at her son's bedroom door, but Liu Ruyan, Jun Bufan, and Liang Bendao were standing at the entrance.
"Xiao Yunlong is inside, isn't he? Hurry up and let him out! Haven't you heard? The people from the Jiangdong Martial Alliance have come to our doorstep!" Ni Hongyan shouted.
Liu Ruyan said in a deep voice, "Aunt, you'd better speak softly. Don't say I didn't warn you. Yunlong is treating eldest cousin's legs, and it might be at a critical moment. It's best to remain quiet at this time. If your shouting disturbs them, leading to any uncontrollable situation, then..."
Hearing this, Ni Hongyan could only lower her voice and interrupt, "But the people from the Jiangdong Martial Alliance have come to our doorstep, and they're specifically looking for Xiao Yunlong. At this time, he can't just hide like a turtle, can he?"
Liu Ruyan stood her ground, unwavering, and said word by word, "In short, at this time, without Yunlong's orders, no one can go in!"
Ni Hongyan's face darkened, and she coldly said, "What are you talking about? What if that troublemaker surnamed Xiao escapes through the window at this opportunity? What will we do then? He caused this mess, and now, at this critical juncture, he's acting like a coward. This is simply shameless!"
Liu Ruyan was extremely speechless with this aunt. She thought that Yunlong was currently treating her son's legs, and this person was too shameless.
She was too lazy to bother with her anymore and turned to Jun Bufan and Liang Bendao, saying, "It seems Yunlong won't finish anytime soon, and Third Uncle and the others probably can't hold them off. You two go out and help. I'll stay here."
Jun Bufan and Liang Bendao knew Liu Ruyan's strength, so they immediately stepped out without hesitation.
"You, get out of the way quickly! At this critical juncture, I can't let that troublemaker surnamed Xiao slip away!" Ni Hongyan said coldly with her arms crossed.
"What if I don't let you?" Liu Ruyan stood her ground, unwavering.
"Not moving? You little brat, what do you think you are? This is..."
However, before she could finish, Liu Ruyan slapped her, sending Ni Hongyan flying to the ground.
"Let me tell you, I've tolerated you for a long time. Yunlong, being a junior, wouldn't do anything to you, but I won't tolerate you. If you dare to curse me again, believe it or not, I'll slap your foul mouth until it's swollen!" Liu Ruyan shouted angrily.
Ni Hongyan lay on the ground, looking up at Liu Ruyan with angry eyes. However, upon seeing the powerful aura emanating from her, she suddenly burst into tears.
"I can't live anymore! I can't live anymore! My husband was killed, my son became a cripple. I've suffered so much injustice at home, and now even an outsider is bullying me. I can't live anymore!"
Ni Hongyan suddenly wailed loudly, but though her cries were loud, there were no tears.
Liu Ruyan rolled her eyes at her and said coldly, "If you really don't want to live, there's a knife in the kitchen. Just slit your own throat, and it'll be over. However, that might be too bloody, and the process might be very painful, which you probably can't endure."
After saying this, Liu Ruyan sneered and added, "Actually, you could also choose to jump off the building. But your Tang family villa isn't very high. Jumping from the fourth floor might not kill you, and instead, you'll become permanently disabled, becoming neither human nor ghost. I suggest you find a building tens of stories high and jump from there, and I guarantee you'll die completely, without even blinking an eye!"
Ni Hongyan suddenly stopped crying and got up from the ground, cursing, "You truly are a devil!"
After saying that, she cursed and walked away. Liu Ruyan couldn't help but shake her head.
Meanwhile, outside the courtyard, Tang Zengshou and his son Tang Tianbao slowly walked from the hall to under the eaves.
The rain was still pouring, as if a large hole had opened in the sky.
Tang Zengshou leaned on his cane and laughed heartily, "I didn't expect that dozens of experts from the Jiangdong Martial Alliance would come today. They really think highly of my Tang family!"
The burly man with muscles like coiled dragons shouted, "Old man, if you don't want to die, get out of the way and quickly call out that kid Xiao Yunlong!"
Tang Zengshou said in a deep voice, "Although my Tang family is no longer as prosperous as it once was, it's not a place that anyone can trespass upon. I advise you to leave now, otherwise, you won't be able to bear the consequences!"
"Ignorant old man, attack him! Cripple him!" The burly man with coiled dragon-like muscles roared, and two men in training attire behind him immediately leaped out from the rain.
The two moved extremely fast, like fish in the heavy rain, reaching under the eaves in an instant, and then simultaneously struck out with two palms.
"Father, be careful!" Tang Tianbao exclaimed in alarm and instinctively wanted to step forward.
However, at that very moment, Jun Bufan and Liang Bendao appeared directly in front of Tang Zengshou. Both of them struck out with a punch at almost the same time.
With a loud bang, their fists met the palms, and the two disciples from the Jiangdong Martial Alliance, who were flying over, were instantly sent flying backward like broken kites.
They crashed heavily onto the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood on the spot, their right hands hanging limply, seemingly broken.
The dozens of disciples from the Jiangdong Martial Alliance present erupted in a commotion upon seeing this, and even the burly man with coiled dragon-like muscles seemed quite surprised.
"Truly ignorant fools! Do you think you can act recklessly just because you have the Jiangdong Martial Alliance behind you? Get lost, or don't blame us for being impolite!"
Jun Bufan stood tall under the eaves and shouted.
The burly man with coiled dragon-like muscles had a fluctuating expression. However, at this moment, two old men slowly walked forward from behind the crowd in the courtyard.
"Two inexperienced youngsters, aren't you being too presumptuous? Do you really think that once you reach the Huajin Grandmaster level of martial arts, you are invincible?"
As the words fell, two gray-haired old men walked to the forefront.
Their figures were not particularly tall. One wore a black long gown, and the other wore a white robe. The black and white looked quite complementary, and their movements were almost identical, appearing very coordinated.
What was even more incredible was that even though it was pouring rain, neither of the two old men held an umbrella, yet the rain did not wet their clothes, not even a single drop.
It was as if there was an isolation shield around their bodies, automatically repelling the pouring rain.
Jun Bufan and Liang Bendao's expressions changed drastically upon seeing this. They exchanged glances, and both saw shock and solemnity in each other's eyes.
Clearly, they had encountered masters tonight!