Dad, Please Try a Little Harder-Chapter 17 - Went Off to Azure Bay to Make a Solid Effort

Qian Wenlin was satisfied with the responses he got from Qian Quan and Ding Linlang, seeing the expected effects.

"Did it seem ordinary to you?" Qian Wenlin asked with a smile.

"No, it's quite challenging. We're practicing it too, even competing to see who can master it first," Ding Linlang replied.

Qian Quan nodded. After mastering all the skills of Wing Chun, he realized that building a strong foundation wasn't easy.

A towering skyscraper begins from level ground.

"Feeling it's difficult isn't wrong. This 'Little Idea' has some interesting origins. In the past, it was called 'Three Bows to Buddha'. Later, through generations of martial artists' improvements and under the guidance of Grandmaster Yip Man, it transformed from 'One Spread, Two Subdue' to 'One Spread, Three Subdue.' Gradually, it ceased to be known as 'Three Bows to Buddha' and adopted the name 'Little Idea.' Do you know why it was renamed 'Little Idea'?"

Qian Quan answered, "When the little idea is not correct, the whole life won't be correct. The name chosen has a dual meaning. On the one hand, it assesses and screens the disciple's mental comprehension and physical ability to determine the degree of instruction they'll receive."

"On the other hand, it reminds martial practitioners that even the tiniest notion should follow the right path. Otherwise, if one lacks martial virtue, the higher their skill, the greater the harm they could cause."

"Ah, right, that's about it," Qian Wenlin felt like his lines were stolen by his son, so he decided to raise the topic's difficulty level. "I mentioned 'One Spread, Three Subdue' just now. In fact, it's the essence and focus of the entire Little Idea routine. Do you know what the key points of practicing this routine are?"

"Slow, as slow as possible. During practice, it's done with millimeter-level speed, then relaxed. The body must be relaxed while coordinating with breathing-slow breaths, punches, and returns. Finally, it's about training the awareness of keeping the elbows centered, guarding the centerline, using the centerline..."

"Right, that's about it."

Qian Wenlin glanced at his son and thought, "This kid seems to have more theoretical knowledge than me. I've never even heard of this millimeter-level concept." Without further inquiry, he went on to add:

"When you truly grasp the essence of this 'slow,' once you've mastered this set of forms, practicing it will make your body emit heat even in the middle of winter. It's like the steam rising from those martial arts masters in Martial arts dramas when they practice their skills."

Qian Quan and Ding Linlang nodded earnestly, absorbing the lesson.

"After I spend a couple of years mastering Little Idea, I'll continue with the intermediate routine called 'Seeking Bridge.' That one can be used for real combat but is more challenging."

Naturally, Qian Quan understood. "Seeking Bridge" mainly focuses on cultivating straightforward, direct, and effective skills for striking, a point that's evident in the "Yip Man" film series.

"I think I'll stick to practicing the wooden dummy. It feels more fun," Qian Quan playfully said.

"You're a classic case of wanting to run before learning to walk," Qian Wenlin jokingly scolded, not genuinely opposing. He didn't have any expectations for his son to become a martial arts expert in the future.

"I'll head back now, Mr. Qian," Ding Linlang said, needing to get back to her writing.

"Okay."

After demonstrating to the two kids, Qian Wenlin felt satisfied. He now needed to go to the school as the new term was approaching, and there were some preparations to be made.

Qian Quan stood before the wooden dummy alone. His expression was calm, without a hint of frivolity.

Feet apart, horse stance.

Slowly extending his arms, he assumed a "Wen Shou" position, then started striking the wooden dummy with deliberate yet rhythmically paced movements.

Thud, thud, thud...

Each move was precise, like clockwork.

Initially, it was just his hands, his feet firmly planted, stance unwavering.

Then, hands and feet worked in unison, the speed gradually increasing.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud...

Qian Quan showed no intention of slowing down. He maintained the same forms and footwork but at an even faster pace.

Palm strikes, punches, elbow strikes, kicks, and finger jabs fell upon the wooden dummy like a fierce storm.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud...

The sound formed a continuous rhythm.

Even in comparison to scenes from movies, this was a level of speed not seen before. By the end, it was several times faster than combat scenes depicted in movies.

Qian Quan's body and skills cast a trail of afterimages.

If Qian Wenlin and Ding Linlang had witnessed this, they would undoubtedly have been left speechless in astonishment.

In the realm of martial arts, each style and training method has its own intricacies, but the unchanging principle remains encapsulated in these words - "Only Speed Unbreakable."

In actual combat, Tai Chi isn't just about calmly tracing Tai Chi patterns.

Qian Quan continued to strike at full speed for nearly five minutes, gradually slowing down his movements until he returned to his initial state.

Thud, thud, thud...

As he continued, there were even moments of pause, as if he were contemplating and pondering something.

"It's a pity the wooden dummy can't move."

Suddenly, Qian Quan wished to spar with a real person, seeking a worthy opponent for an exhilarating exchange of skills.

He regretted not agreeing with Zhao Baiyu that day. If he had, she could have introduced him to some true Wing Chun experts, and they could have corroborated each other's skills.

However, he wondered how many individuals in today's martial arts world could truly match his level.

Initiating a challenge with someone else?

Would it be too ostentatious and traditional?

Or should he wait until he arrives in Azure Bay, find an opport