Dad, Please Try a Little Harder

Qian Quan returned to his dorm room and took a quick inventory of his assets.

Excluding the card from Lin Xiaohuang, he had over 400,000 in cash. With the martial arts competition prize money, it would surpass 500,000.

However, he had already decided that once he received the prize money, the first 30,000 would go to his parents.

Besides cash, he also possessed a black and a red card from Funing One and 20 shopping cards with a total value of 100,000.

Moreover, the annual 50,000 scholarship set up by Lin Xiaohuang for him was more than he could ever spend.

For a college student, financial worries for the next four years were a thing of the past.

He was free to focus on his studies, fully immerse himself in the college experience, and engage in meaningful activities.

As the old saying goes, “One is fearless with fortune.” In the mundane world, money was undoubtedly one of the most empowering tools.

After safely storing away all his cards, Qian Quan decided to practice the Wudang Secret Circulation Skill, also known as “Wudang Inner Peace Practice”.

His meeting with Gong Xuanzhu was insightful.

Having studied martial arts for decades, Gong Xuanzhu’s knowledge and practical experience were extensive. His profound insights were eye-opening for Qian Quan.

For instance, Gong Xuanzhu mentioned that the human body was the altar, and the spirit it worshipped was its deity. Thus, one should always maintain the body’s strength, cleanliness, and health. Only by doing so could the spirit remain resilient and strong, highlighting the true essence of martial arts.

He spoke of the concept of unity with nature, using the example of how butterflies and sparrows avoid humans because of the unique “human aura.” Only by eliminating this aura, allowing butterflies to flutter around and sparrows to perch on one’s shoulder, could one truly integrate with nature.

One was about movement, the other stillness.

With master-level Wing Chun skills, Qian Quan excelled in the “movement.” Hence, exploring “stillness” became more relevant to him.

In reality, many magnates from politics and the business world were fond of meditation, a form of cultivating stillness.

Standing facing south, Qian Quan closed his eyes and relaxed his body, calming his mind. He concentrated, regulated his breathing, and focused his energy on Dantian (the lower abdomen). His breath naturally rose, from the base of his spine up to the back of his head, then down to the front, and back to the abdomen.

This cycle continued, aligning him with the universe, making his breathing more steady and elongated, and his thoughts clearer.

The next day, Qian Quan went to class with his roommates as usual.

Before he reached the classroom, he unexpectedly received a message from Li Zihe, who invited him to lunch, saying there was something important to discuss.

After the martial arts competition ended, Qian Quan remembered that he had sought himself out, seeming to have something to say. However, after spotting Zhao Chunjia, he changed his mind at the last moment.

Qian Quan was a bit curious, speculating in his mind that this time it definitely wouldn’t be for a stone-kicking performance. He responded, “Alright.”

That morning, they had two Ancient History classes, taught by the popular Professor Zhou Wenhan.

Students affectionately referred to him as “Passionate Zhou” because of his passionate teaching style and clear-cut views. He could make even ancient history come alive and resonate deeply with the students.

For example, every time Professor Zhou introduced a new batch of students to his class, he would pose two questions:

“Do you know the four great ancient civilizations?”

Almost every student would answer.

“Ancient Babylon, Ancient Egypt, Ancient India, and China.”

Upon hearing the answer, he would then ask, “Do you know why the prefix ‘Ancient’ is attached to the first three but not to China?”

At least half of the students would be stumped.

At that moment, Professor Zhou would passionately explain to the students.

“Because the 5,000-year splendid history of China has been continuous since its inception. It’s never been interrupted!”

Next, he would enlighten everyone on why the history of Chinese civilization embodies benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust, as well as kindness, humility, modesty, and restraint, and at the same time, it’s a history of battling the heavens and the earth, and bravely resisting adversity.

“Moderation, humility, kindness, and restraint are our national spirit, but voicing out against injustice and bravely resisting are equally our national foundation.”

Delving into ancient Chinese myths, all emphasizing that these stories were filled with courage and determination.

“So 1 often tell my students that Chinese history is not only a story of love, peace, and morality but also a tale of defiance, resistance, and unyielding heroism.”

The young and energetic freshmen were easily inspired by these words, feeling an immediate sense of national pride.

Under this tone, Professor Zhou began his teachings for the new term.

During that day’s lecture, the topic somehow shifted to a debate where some scholars, both domestic and international, believed that China’s civilization spanned 3,000 years, not 5,000 years. Professor Zhou grew passionate again. “Where is the most regrettable aspect of this? It’s not their denial but that some of us accept their denial. We’ve succumbed to their standards!”

He continued, “These foreign scholars might not intentionally defame or belittle our history, but they surely seek dominance in discourse and the power to define..”