I am dying of old age, and I have awakened to the character of longevity.

Xie An followed the knife-wielding man up the steps, past the two large stone lions in front of the gate, and entered the martial arts hall.

Bypassing the screen wall carved with dragons and tigers, a huge training ground came into view.

Dozens of young and strong apprentices, stripped to the waist, were practicing their punches with 'huh' and 'ha' sounds. Some apprentices, under the guidance of instructors, were practicing with broadswords and spears, the clashing of weapons creating a harsh 'clang' sound.

Xie An couldn't help but stop, staring in a daze.

A fiery feeling of youthful exuberance and youthful passion rushed towards him, stimulating Xie An's heart to beat faster.

Xie An then regained his senses and hurriedly followed.

After passing through a winding corridor, they finally arrived at a secluded courtyard. The stone walls were covered with ivy, and a simple wooden plaque hung on the gate, with three large characters written on it: Hundred Herbs Garden.

From the Hundred Herbs Garden to the Three Flavors Study?

"This is the place," the knife-wielding man pointed towards the gate, "Master Tang is a friend of the hall master and a master of health cultivation techniques. He has come to the martial arts hall as a guest and to promote health cultivation. For the next month, you can use this plaque to attend classes at the Hundred Herbs Garden. Remember to avoid making noise on the way."

Xie An thanked him and then took the wooden plaque and entered the Hundred Herbs Garden.

Compared to the imposing training ground in front, this courtyard was much smaller, about four hundred square meters. A total of seven apprentices stood crookedly in the center of the courtyard, while under the eaves in front, a teacher's chair was placed, with a middle-aged man with a crew cut sitting on it.

He wore a gray scholar's robe. Although he was old, he was strong and upright, with an inherent refined and restrained aura, making him quite extraordinary.

After Xie An arrived, no one else came.

The crew-cut man glanced at the sundial. It was already late morning. He couldn't help but frown and muttered, "Why are there so few people? Is the price of two taels of silver too expensive?"

In this chaotic time, it was not easy for the common people to survive. Anyone who had the means would practice martial arts.

Health cultivation techniques were too lackluster, and there were few practitioners… The crew-cut man was mentally prepared for this. However, out of the more than 20,000 people in the entire Black Bridge Town, only eight people came to practice health cultivation… This was too few.

Gathering his thoughts, the crew-cut man said, "My surname is Tang, my name is Qingfeng, my courtesy name is Wenyuan. I used to teach at the Qingwu County Martial Arts Hall, but now I am old and retired, helping my teacher promote some health cultivation techniques. I hope that the people of Qingwu County will be strong and healthy, unafraid of the cold and heat, and live longer. You can call me Master Tang."

Everyone felt that the crew-cut man was amiable and kind, so they all called him Master Tang.

Xie An, however, felt that Tang Qingfeng was elegant in speech and demeanor, and looked like someone who had studied.

"In fact, during the prosperous period of the previous dynasty, health cultivation techniques were popular for a time. From princes and high officials to common people, everyone would practice it. Now that the world is in turmoil, people have lost this interest. But as long as you practice diligently, it will greatly benefit your body."

Master Tang娓娓道来, "There are many types of health cultivation techniques. The most basic are the Five Animal Frolics, the Eight Brocades, and the Fetal Breathing Technique. Higher levels include guiding techniques, breathing methods, and meditation. Further up are Tai Chi and the Muscle Change Classic…"

Xie An listened, secretly clicking his tongue.

The Eight Brocades and the Fetal Breathing Technique… easy to understand.

But Tai Chi and the Muscle Change Classic no longer belonged to health cultivation techniques, right? Instead, they were top-level martial arts that combined killing techniques.

Could it be said that… health cultivation, when practiced to the extreme, could also master killing techniques?

However, after thinking about it, Xie An felt relieved.

It was said that medicine and martial arts were inseparable, and health cultivation was originally a martial art.

Martial arts, when practiced to the extreme, how could it not involve killing?

"Now, I will mainly talk to you about the Eight Brocades and the Five Animal Frolics…"

Xie An listened very carefully.

Especially when Tang Qingfeng talked about the Five Animal Frolics, Xie An's eyes shone with a strange light. As Tang Qingfeng demonstrated the Five Animal Frolics, Xie An compared it to his own practice and found that there were indeed problems.

He immediately followed Tang Qingfeng's movements, imitating them and correcting the wrong moves and force exertion techniques one by one.

Sure enough, the effect was much better, and his body was much more coordinated and comfortable.

Two hours later.

His muscles and bones warmed up, and his limbs became active.

[Five Animal Frolics: Combination of Movement and Stillness (14/100)]

He was indeed a professional.

Although Xie An had a cheat, as long as he worked hard, he could improve his progress. But if he could master the correct techniques and absorb the successful experiences of his predecessors, he could undoubtedly speed up his progress.

"That's all for today. I will be lecturing here every morning for the next month." Seeing that it was past noon, Tang Qingfeng told everyone to go back and rest.

Most people left listlessly, obviously feeling that it was not very interesting, and feeling that the two taels of silver had been spent in vain. There were also a few who were deliberately brought by the hall master to support Master Tang, so as to avoid the scene being too shabby.

However, Xie An was excited when he left, as if he had found a treasure.

"What is your name? How old are you this year?"

Xie An heard Tang Qingfeng's voice behind him as he reached the door. He hurriedly turned around and cupped his hands. "My name is Xie An. I just turned fifty."

Tang Qingfeng nodded slightly. "To be so energetic at the age of fifty is the benefit of practicing health cultivation. Have you practiced the Five Animal Frolics before?"

During the whole morning practice, Xie An was the most serious and invested, and his Five Animal Frolics were quite skillful. Tang Qingfeng naturally saw this. At first, he thought that Chen Lei had brought him to make up the numbers, but later he found that this old man was not simple…

Xie An did not hide anything. "I have practiced it."

"Which health cultivation master in Qingwu County did you learn from?" Tang Qingfeng almost instinctively thought that Xie An had learned from a master.

Xie An did not want Master Tang to think that he was exceptionally talented, so he found an excuse. "When I was working outside before, I met a kind old master who taught me a few moves."

Tang Qingfeng revealed a "as expected" expression and encouraged him, "The world's understanding of health cultivation is too shallow. They only think that health cultivation is just a show like the Five Animal Frolics and the Eight Brocades. But they don't know the power of guiding techniques and breathing methods. Heaven rewards diligence. Although you are old, as long as you persist, you will surely succeed."

Xie An wanted to ask about the secrets of guiding techniques and breathing methods, but thinking that he was not familiar with Tang Qingfeng, he did not ask too much. He thanked him and turned to leave.

The next morning, two fewer people came to the Hundred Herbs Garden to learn health cultivation, leaving only six people.

Tang Qingfeng's face revealed undisguised disappointment.

Xie An, however, was always the first to arrive every day, listening carefully and actively asking Tang Qingfeng for advice when he encountered difficulties.

Tang Qingfeng's original intention was to teach a few talented young people. If there were any outstanding performers, he might be able to recommend them to his teacher, enter the sect, and strengthen the family. However, young people were not interested in health cultivation, but Xie An, this middle-aged old man, gave him an unexpected surprise.

Every time Xie An came to ask, he explained in detail.

Unknowingly, a month passed, and only two people persisted in coming to the Hundred Herbs Garden to learn health cultivation.

One was Xie An, who had persisted from the beginning, and the other was Chen He, who had joined halfway. As for the few people Chen Lei had brought to make up the numbers, Tang Qingfeng drove them away in anger because of their improper attitude…

At first, Chen He did not take health cultivation seriously, but every time Xie An went to the pharmacy to get medicine, his energy and spirit improved a lot.

Chen He, who was over 49 years old, could not stand this kind of stimulation?

So he joined in.

It was worth mentioning that after more than half a month of guidance from a famous teacher, Chen He clearly felt that his body had improved significantly. However, compared to Xie An, the difference in effect was too great… which made Chen He extremely envious.

On this day at noon, Tang Qingfeng finished teaching the lesson and looked at Xie An for a long time. Finally, he seemed to have made a certain decision. "You come with me to the room."