Volume One: The Soul-Guiding Gourd and the Soul-Burning Lamp Chapter 53: Fuxi Serpent Fist

Before he could finish his practice, Gu Mo suddenly felt darkness sweep over his eyes. With a swift movement, Elder Chu hooked his foot around Gu Mo’s ankle, causing him to lose his balance and crash heavily into a painful split. The tearing sensation along the inside of his thighs made Gu Mo howl in agony, his cries echoing like a soul tormented.

Ah—

As the saying goes: Drink your wine sip by sip, walk your path step by step. If you take too big a stride, you're bound to pull something vital!

(Some internet blogger once remarked: "The pain down there is akin to giving birth to 160 children at once, or breaking 320 ribs simultaneously!")

In that moment, Gu Mo truly experienced the agony that makes one wish for death. Cold sweat poured from his brow like bamboo shoots after the rain, his face drained of all color—a basic reaction, really. Even his voice trembled as he spoke.

“Ow! Chu… Grandpa Chu, what… what are you doing?!”

Looking up at Elder Chu, Gu Mo wore an utterly bewildered expression. But Elder Chu, towering above him, simply shook his head in disappointment, as if grieving over wasted potential.

“Your posture and steps are far too stiff. Your foundation is abysmal! Full of flaws and utterly hopeless! If you weren't bluffing, then those twelve people must have been letting you win on purpose!”

Crack!

Gu Mo’s heart lurched. Thunder rumbled in his mind, leaving him more confused than ever by this unprecedented sensation.

“No… that's impossible. Master Xiao was there at the time.”

As soon as he finished speaking, enlightenment struck: “Ah, the tortoise shell!”

Only then did Gu Mo realize. His sense of independence was nothing but an illusion; without the talisman given by the scruffy Taoist, he would have met a grim fate.

Elder Chu helped Gu Mo to his feet, and relief swept over him, easing the pain that felt as if his soul had been shattered. Then Elder Chu pointed to the base of the wall and spoke.

“Mo’er, go over there and stretch your legs. From now on, you must warm up before every practice. Today, I’ll teach you something different!”

Gu Mo could only waddle over, careful as a penguin, to prop his leg up against the wall. Xiao Yulou, meanwhile, sat nearby on a stone bench, grinning mischievously.

But Elder Chu slowly turned his sharp gaze toward Xiao Yulou.

“Foolish boy, since you’re at Mo’er’s side, why don’t you give him a few pointers?”

At his words, Xiao Yulou immediately rose and bowed respectfully.

“Senior Chu, sometimes I feel like a teapot boiling dumplings—there’s wisdom inside but I can’t pour it out!”

Elder Chu could only shake his head and sigh.

“Ah…”

Then, with a deep breath, Elder Chu lifted his left leg and demonstrated the Seven Star Heavenly Gang Steps.

Swish, swish, swish!

He stepped lightly, tracing the seven stars with agile movements, his black training robe stirring the air around him. Under Elder Chu’s mastery, the Seven Star Heavenly Gang Steps flowed like water, seamless and graceful. Sometimes nimble as a serpent, swift beyond words; sometimes awkward as an old tortoise, blending offense and defense. Yet every step landed in a position so unassailable, not a flaw could be discerned.

After only a few steps, Gu Mo, still stretching, felt utterly ashamed. He now understood what it meant to "show off your axe at Lu Ban’s door" or "brandish your blade before Guan Yu." His own attempts had been more like a crab scuttling sideways.

Though Elder Chu was advanced in years, his physique rivaled that of a robust young man. Soon, he finished his demonstration without breaking a single bead of sweat.

Gu Mo now clearly saw the gap between himself and Elder Chu. As the saying goes, "Comparing people leads to despair; comparing goods, to discarding." But then again, Elder Chu had practiced for decades to achieve such mastery. Gu Mo, on the other hand, had only begun his cultivation days ago—no comparison could be made.

Cultivation, after all, depends greatly on one’s aptitude!

Before Gu Mo could speak, Elder Chu lowered his stance and slowly raised both arms.

“Mo’er, watch carefully!”

With deliberate slowness, Elder Chu extended his arms. By the looks of it, he was preparing to teach Gu Mo the Fuxi Serpent Fist.

Suddenly, Elder Chu’s eyes snapped open, gleaming with a fierce golden light. He stomped his foot, and Xiao Yulou and Gu Mo felt the ground beneath them tremble slightly.

At the same time, Elder Chu shook his hands forward, formed fists, and raised them from his abdomen. After stepping forward with his left foot, he threw three punches in quick succession. His sleeves struck the air with cracking sounds.

Yet these punches didn’t resemble the Serpent Fist at all. Could there be such a gulf between the ordinary Serpent Fist and the Fuxi Serpent Fist?

With every breath, Elder Chu seemed to move like a swimming dragon, his whole body twisting as he slid beneath a blossoming peach tree. A mantra, strong and resolute as iron, echoed forth.

“Energy flows smoothly throughout; knees guide the stance below.”

Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou quickly engraved this mantra in their hearts, reciting it silently. It seemed the Fuxi Serpent Fist truly evolved from serpent movements—but how effective was this technique?

Elder Chu’s fists powered through, arms whipping the air.

Crack, crack, crack!

A surge of force swept over them; even from a distance, Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou felt Elder Chu’s immense strength.

Gu Mo’s nerves tightened, his body shivering. He hadn’t expected Elder Chu to be such a hidden master!

With awe widening his eyes, Gu Mo feared missing even a single detail.

Elder Chu slowed his movements, clearly so Gu Mo could absorb every nuance of the Fuxi Serpent Fist. After a few more strikes, Elder Chu glanced at Gu Mo and spoke in a low voice.

“A punch follows the mind, a serpent follows the form; winding through tangled branches!”

Suddenly, Elder Chu’s fists morphed into serpent heads, his arms shifting positions to launch attacks from all sides. Each strike and withdrawal was precise beyond measure, the changes dazzling to behold.

Then, Elder Chu gathered strength and struck the peach tree before him.

A chorus of cracking sounds echoed.

The blossoming peach tree shuddered, and countless delicate pink leaves fluttered down.

In a flash, Elder Chu twisted his exaggerated form, punching at the falling petals.

Gu Mo, slack-jawed, felt his worldview being reshaped.

Elder Chu’s body seemed wondrous; spine, limbs, every cell and nerve had been refined to their limits. Could any human really move this way?

After several punches, Elder Chu stilled, opening his calloused palm. The pink petals that had just fallen were now resting atop his hand, not one lost.

Gu Mo, still stretching, twisted his features in astonishment.

“A strong dragon and an earth serpent break through; hold your breath, focus, and wind silk threads!”

With these words, Elder Chu’s right hand shaped into a serpent, twisting along the thick peach branches. In a fraction of a second, his thin arm wrapped around the tree like rubber, firmly gripping the limb.

Suddenly, Elder Chu let out a thunderous shout, twisting his body.

Crack!

The branch, thick as an axle, snapped and fell, carrying the fragrance of peach blossoms.

Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou instantly tensed, petrified by the spectacle.

Elder Chu drew a deep breath, slowly retracting his hands from chest to abdomen.

“Mo’er, this Fuxi Serpent Fist surpasses ordinary Serpent Fist by far. One word: ‘弹’—spring. Another: ‘缠’—coil. The body, mind, and steps are crucial; strength is all up to you! The essence of the ancient texts can be summarized as ‘spring, coil, collapse, block, whip.’ Once you master it, not just twelve people—even an armed platoon could not harm you!”

Gu Mo smiled, understanding.

“Grandpa Chu, I will remember.”

But Elder Chu placed his hands behind his back and looked at Gu Mo with calm eyes.

“However, unless your life is truly at stake, never reveal the Fuxi Serpent Fist lightly.”

Gu Mo was left bewildered.

Wasn’t learning martial arts meant to protect oneself and uphold justice? Surely he couldn’t just stand by and get beaten?

While Gu Mo pondered deeply, Elder Chu approached, hands clasped behind him.

Suddenly, Elder Chu hooked his foot again, nearly sending Gu Mo sprawling.

“Grandpa Chu…”

Elder Chu, a head shorter than Gu Mo, scolded:

“Martial arts require perseverance—never slacken. You lazy boy, you even shirk your stretching! If you don’t push to the limit, how can you succeed?”

After speaking, Elder Chu gazed at the distant peaks, sighing with deep melancholy.

“Ah! You really are like that ‘idle old smoker who plays at life.’”

Gu Mo raised an eyebrow in thought.

‘It’s obvious that Elder Chu means my grandfather, Gu Yanzhi. Could their relationship run deeper than just being chess companions?’

After some time, Elder Chu emerged from the house carrying a chessboard and an ancient book, one hand clutching a chess piece, the other holding a yellowed scroll.

(Why am I always surrounded by these ancient books lately? The sea of knowledge is boundless—Gu Mo dared not dwell on it.)

“Sit!”

The brief, commanding word brooked no refusal.

Gu Mo flexed his numb legs and sat respectfully opposite Elder Chu.

“Have you learned Go from your grandfather?”

“I played a few games when bored.”

“Good. Let’s have a match, just the two of us.”

Elder Chu glanced at the ancient book, letting Gu Mo take the first move.

Gu Mo played cautiously, while Elder Chu struck swiftly, each move bold and decisive.

Xiao Yulou, observing, frowned slightly, recognizing the subtleties of the unfolding game.

The chessboard filled, the battle growing intense. Elder Chu’s sharpness was undiminished by age, while Gu Mo balanced his moves carefully, serving his pieces with patience. As the game progressed, Gu Mo switched strategies, becoming more aggressive. Elder Chu only grew steadier, reading his book and keeping an eye on the board.

Soon, sweat rolled down Gu Mo’s brow like rain. In his mind, armies clashed, blades flashed, blood flowed—a final defeat, city lost!

Suddenly, a thump!

Elder Chu struck him on the head with the book, snapping him out of his reverie. The weight on his chest finally lifted.

Gu Mo, dazed and clumsy, calmed himself, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked at Elder Chu.

“Grandpa Chu!”

Elder Chu smiled kindly, producing a pair of black and white stones and placing them in Gu Mo’s hand.

“Young man, life is not always as you imagine—black or white. The world is full of unknowns and uncertainties. Too much stubbornness only leads you deeper into the mire.”

Gu Mo nodded, mulling over Elder Chu’s words, pondering their deeper meaning.

After a while, Gu Mo bowed respectfully.

“Grandpa Chu, we’ve disturbed you long enough. Xiao Yulou and I should be going.”

As they prepared to leave, Elder Chu smiled.

“Mo’er, next time just bring some fruit. Grandpa neither smokes nor drinks.”

“Of course!”

Elder Chu watched their departing figures, deeply moved. Memories surfaced before his eyes, lingering with regret.

“If only Fourth Sister were here—it would be so much better.”

…