thefictionvixens Chapter 8 Morning Light and Standing Posture Exercises
Chapter 8 Morning Light and Standing Posture Exercises
When I woke up again, it was already broad daylight.
Xu Mo opened his eyes, enveloped by a long-lost, almost unfamiliar, refreshing feeling. His mind was clear, no longer groggy; the low fever that had bothered him last night seemed to have completely subsided, and even the dryness and itchiness in his throat had vanished without a trace. For a moment, Xu Mo almost thought he had fully recovered and returned to his healthy state.
He subconsciously tried to sit up quickly, but a noticeable weakness in his waist, abdomen, and arm muscles, like an invisible rope, pulled Xu Mo back to reality.
"Heh..." Xu Mo couldn't help but chuckle self-deprecatingly. He slowed his movements, supported himself with his arms, and slowly sat up.
This brief burst of energy made Xu Mo realize that the feeling of being "completely healed" was more of an illusion caused by two consecutive days of relatively stable rest and the sudden reduction in the burden on his body after the peak of inflammation. It was like a machine that had been barely repaired after being overloaded; the core fault had been eliminated, but the various parts were still worn out and needed time and energy to slowly restore its original performance.
Xu Mo carefully assessed his body's condition: his body temperature was normal, which was the best news; he was full of energy, thanks to ample rest; but his limbs, especially his thighs and shoulders, still felt a deep weakness, as if most of his strength had been drained away. This reminded him that the road to recovery was not yet over, and it was far from time to relax.
Standing up, Xu Mo moved his hands and feet, doing a few simple stretching exercises. He felt a slight soreness in his joints, but no pain, which made him feel more confident.
Walking to the window, Xu Mo cautiously observed the outside again. The streets remained empty and deathly silent, just as they had been yesterday. This temporary "safe" window of opportunity was the best time for him to recover and prepare.
After eating half a pack of compressed biscuits and slowly swallowing them with water, Xu Mo broke off a small piece of chocolate and put it in his mouth, feeling the sweetness slowly melt and replenishing his energy. Having filled his stomach, Xu Mo began to think about his specific plans for the day.
The next "opening" won't be until tomorrow evening, and I can't just sit idly for over a day. My body needs to recover, but pure rest seems to be less efficient. I need a low-intensity activity that can effectively stimulate my body and accelerate the recovery process.
His thoughts shifted, naturally landing on the "Thirteen Bodyguards' Horizontal Training." The scene of his second uncle boasting about it with great enthusiasm resurfaced, and one sentence in particular stuck with Xu Mo:
"Practicing boxing without practicing stances is like living a dream in old age."
Xu Mo found this quite reasonable; stance training was the foundation. Unlike boxing, it didn't expend as much physical energy, but rather focused on finding movement within stillness, honing the muscles, breath, and overall coordination. For his current body, which was "worn out," it seemed to be the most suitable choice.
Clearing a small space in the center of the room, Xu Mo recalled the key points of the stance training taught by his second uncle: feet parallel and shoulder-width apart, toes slightly turned inward, as if rooted to the ground; knees slightly bent, as if sitting but not sitting; shoulders relaxed and elbows dropped, arms held loosely in front of the chest, as if embracing a large tree; chin slightly tucked in, as if the top of the head was being gently lifted by a thread.
Once the posture is assumed, the first few dozen seconds are fine; one feels that the body structure is stable and the center of gravity is lowered. But soon, changes occur.
The muscles on the front of his thighs began to tremble slightly, and a soreness spread from above his knees, becoming increasingly pronounced. His arms, which he had been holding loosely, also felt heavy, and a tingling or numb sensation came from near his shoulder blades. Xu Mo tried hard to maintain the "chest in, back out" posture, but felt the muscles in his back tense. His breathing also became somewhat rapid without him realizing it, losing its previous steady rhythm.
"It's only been... a little over a minute, less than two minutes?" Xu Mo was secretly shocked. This seemingly still posture required far more physical exertion and muscle strength than he had imagined.
Adjusting his breathing, Xu Mo tried to relax the overly tense parts of his body, focusing his mind on the words "relaxation" and "sinking." The trembling and soreness persisted, but he tried his best to maintain his posture.
He didn't know how much time had passed, maybe only two or three minutes, but Xu Mo felt his legs trembling uncontrollably and his arms were sore and numb. Finally, he slowly straightened up.
"call……"
Letting out a long breath, Xu Mo felt as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from his shoulders. In just a few short minutes, he felt more tired than if he had walked several kilometers. But strangely, this tiredness wasn't unpleasant; instead, it gave him a pleasant feeling of his body being completely "awakened." His previously sluggish blood and energy seemed to have become much more active.
Xu Mo didn't force it, knowing that too much of a good thing can be bad. He sat down on the sofa and rested while reflecting on the physical sensations he had experienced while practicing standing meditation. He compared these sensations with the vague instructions in his memory and pondered how to adjust his posture to be more effortless and in accordance with the essentials.
After resting for about half an hour, and once the soreness in his muscles had mostly subsided, Xu Mo got up again, returned to the open space, and resumed his stance.
This time, Xu Mo had the experience from before, so he deliberately guided himself to relax, especially his shoulders and back. Sure enough, he could hold the position for a little longer than the first time, although it was still short, but the progress was real.
Thus, eating, resting, and standing meditation constituted Xu Mo's entire day.
Each time he practiced standing meditation, he was able to hold the position for more than ten seconds longer than the last time, and he gradually found a sense of control over his body muscles and coordination with his breathing.
As evening approached, Xu Mo finished his last standing meditation. Although his body felt exhausted, his mind was unusually clear. He could clearly feel that the lingering, deep-seated weakness had been dispelled considerably, and his hands and feet felt stronger.
Watching the sunset gradually sink below the horizon outside the window, Xu Mo felt a sense of peace. He had not wasted this day. He was using this most ancient and fundamental method to repair his body little by little and accumulate strength.
That evening, Xu Mo leaned back on the sofa covered with sheets, holding the empty bottle of cola in his hand, taking small sips. The sweet liquid slid down his throat, bringing a touch of comfort.
Although the standing meditation sessions during the day were arduous, leaving him drenched in sweat and with aching muscles each time, resting now brought a sense of comfort deep within his body, as if he had been warmed up. Xu Mo knew that this amount of training would have a negligible impact on his strength, and even whether it could accelerate his recovery was still unknown.
However, this similar scene—focusing on oneself, feeling the trembling of the muscles and the flow of power—is like a key, inadvertently unlocking the gates of long-sealed memories.
The old man's boastful voice, thick with his local accent and spittle flying everywhere, seemed to echo in Xu Mo's ears once more. Along with those descriptions of realms that he had thought were fantasy at the time, but now found captivating, they appeared clearly in his mind:
First Realm: The Ox-Hide Realm
Core ingredient: Boil and beat the skin to enhance its toughness.
Characteristics: Dense skin, resistant to ordinary scratches, bites, and sticks. Sharp blades can cut, but are difficult to penetrate deeply; personal strength is doubled.
Strange phenomenon: When practicing, the skin turns yellow and becomes rough like old cowhide.
Second Realm: Iron Bone Realm
Core principle: Strengthen your bones and muscles, and solidify your foundation.
Characteristics: Fascia is like a bow, bones are like iron. Ordinary swords and knives are difficult to injure, and it can withstand pistol bullets. Strength can be ten times that of an average person.
Strange phenomenon: When exercising, the muscles and bones resonate together, producing a muffled thunderous sound.
Third Realm: Golden Body Realm
Core principle: Seamless integration, from the outside in.
Manifestations: The body becomes completely vulnerable, with significantly increased muscle density, making it difficult for even rifle bullets to penetrate. At this point, the body's Qi and blood reach their peak, igniting the first wisp of "True Qi Fire" in the Dantian, officially transitioning from external to internal. The physical body is perfected, making it immune to viruses.
Extraordinary phenomenon: A faint golden light flows around the body, like a Vajra in a temple, with a solemn and dignified appearance.
Recalling this, Xu Mo unconsciously tightened his grip on the Coke bottle.
"Invulnerable to swords and bullets... immune to viruses..."
Xu Mo repeated these words softly, his gaze piercing through the window to the dark, perilous world outside. In this apocalypse, what did such an ability mean? It meant being able to ignore the claws and bites of zombies, to walk calmly through the ruins, and to possess the power to control one's own destiny!
"If I could reach that level..." An incredibly strong thought arose in Xu Mo's mind, "Even just the lowest level, the 'Hide-like' realm, enough to withstand ordinary bites and scratches, would give me a qualitative leap in my chances of survival! If I could reach the 'Iron-Bone' realm or even... then perhaps I could truly survive steadily in this hellish world?"
This is not an unrealistic fantasy, but the most instinctive and fervent desire of someone who sees a glimmer of hope in dire straits. The door connecting to supplies provided the foundation for survival, while the seemingly ethereal "Thirteen Bodyguards' Horizontal Training" pointed to a possible path to "power."