《天堂旅館》長篇奇幻愛情小說

【二十五】夫妻同心練武術

92
陳約翰把林曉陽夫妻找去505號房，當面把那套雙刀劍交給小倆口。
陳約翰說：「瑪莉亞公主託我們師兄弟轉交給你們，當作新婚賀禮。」
黃敏華手捧著那柄長劍，不解地問：「我又不會使劍，公主的這份賀禮…」
陳約翰說：「公主的意思是要妳跟著曉陽練就一身武藝，將來曉陽一定會需要妳幫忙他。」
史特龍微笑說：「我聽我師兄說，曉陽在對決魯夫和安德森那晚，露了一手自創的劍法，把安德森像削玩偶似地，削成一顆人球，曉陽的武功可高深莫測呢！」
黃敏華望著林曉陽，仍有疑慮地說：「可是，刀劍不長眼，何況我從來沒有學武藝的想法。」
林曉陽說：「敏華，只要妳有心學，學武術就跟學繪畫一樣，有方法和訣竅的，真的一點兒都不難。」
陳約翰說：「事情是這樣的，在你們結婚前，瑪莉亞公主把我們找去天空城堡，交付給我們一項艱钜的任務。執行這趟任務一定要妳們夫妻倆一同前往，才有可能達成。」
黃敏華說：「可是我只懂得繪畫，跟著你們去，我能幫上什麼忙呢？」
林曉陽問：「公主交代了怎樣的任務？」
陳約翰約略把任務內容說了一遍，黃敏華聽著臉色逐漸發白，心想：「這個任務如此危險，不是擺明要我們夫妻跟著去送死嗎？」
曉陽從敏華發白的臉色，看出她心裡的憂慮，曉陽連忙打氣說：「從今天起，妳跟我專心學武術，我相信我們夫妻同心，一定可以完成這趟任務的。」

93
黃敏華還是被林曉陽說服了，而敏華也逐漸回復前世記憶，知道她的前世是公主的貼身侍女愛琳，可是，她仍不免憂心，轉世的大衛，再一次為公主而斷送性命。
在504號房裡，林曉陽給敏華看了兩本武俠漫畫：「我的內功和劍法，最初就是從這兩本漫畫裡得到靈感的。」
敏華翻閱漫畫，半信半疑問：「可是漫畫裡的這些招式，都是些高難度的動作，我沒運動細胞，哪可能做得來呢？」
林曉陽樂觀地說：「妳一定可以的，我一樣一樣教會妳。妳先跟著我學打座，放鬆身體肌肉，然後慢慢放空腦袋，讓腦海裡一片空白，毫無雜念。」
黃敏華勉為其難，跟著曉陽席地盤腿學打座，曉陽打右手指搭在敏華的左手腕上。
「先跟著我深呼吸，學習吐納，來，像這樣。」曉陽示範了幾次，敏華跟著做。
「請閉上眼睛，放鬆身體肌肉，從腳掌、小腿、大腿一路往上延伸……」曉陽以指令引導繼續敏華：「嗯，敏華，就是這樣，放鬆背部和腹部，讓呼吸緩慢而均勻…，放鬆兩肩和脖子肌肉，放鬆臉部肌肉，放鬆頭皮……妳做得很好。接下來，逐漸清除腦海裡的影像和雜念，一個個把它淡化，剔除出去，直到腦海裡一片空白。」
林曉陽改以心脈傳音，引導敏華：「就是這樣，把大衛和我的影像淡化，再淡化，然後把妳自己的影像淡化，妳的腦海裡只剩一些雲霧，就是這樣，妳做得非常好，保持下去，等一會兒這些雲霧就會消散掉，然後會是一片空白……」。
打坐過後，曉陽扶起敏華，敏華小腿有些痛麻。曉陽倒了一杯電解水給敏華解渴，讓
她坐在椅子上，曉陽雙手放在敏華頭頂，以真氣徐徐導入敏華體內。
「感覺怎麼樣？」
「感覺一股暖流，從頭頂往下流動。」
曉陽貼心地問：「舒服嗎？」
「嗯！身體漸漸暖和舒暢了…。」
「我用真氣加快妳身體內的血流，幫妳消除疲勞。」
「這真的很神奇，曉陽，原來你有那麼多本事。」敏華閉上眼睛，感受著曉陽對她的愛意。

94
晚餐時間，瑪格麗特送來清淡的餐飲，手打果汁、溫過的鮮奶和幾片雜糧吐司。
小倆口甜蜜地用餐，陳約翰敲門進來。
陳約翰微笑著問：「進度如何？」
林曉陽說：「敏華剛進入狀況，她學得很快。」
陳約翰說：「等你們能夠心意相通，接下來的進展就會更順暢。」
林曉陽說：「給我半個月時間吧？神父。」
陳約翰說：「沒問題！這段期間我和史特龍師弟，剛好可以一起練一套太極拳法。」
林曉陽微笑說：「神父是內行人！太極拳法博大精深，借力使力以慢卸快。」
陳約翰讚賞說：「哈！你只用八個字，就點出太極拳法的精隨。將來你肯定是一代武學宗師。」
林曉陽搖手說：「我才不想當什麼武學宗師呢！當個畫家、攝影師或者旅行作家，這樣的日子多自在啊！」
陳約翰說：「說得也是，等這趟任務完成，我想回去雲南昆明，探望家人。離家20年，當初來歐洲讀哲學，壓根兒沒想到竟然成了教廷裡的神父。」
林曉陽說：「我也想帶著敏華回去一趟台灣，見我的父母和家人。」
陳約翰說：「敏華，曉陽不只是妳的夫婿，還是妳的武學老師，哈！你們實在是一對神鵰俠侶。」
敏華開玩笑說：「改天請神父牽來一隻金雕，教我怎麼騎著牠飛行。」
陳約翰想了一下說：「這也不是不可能，等任務完成，我跟龍騎士商量一下，請他叫妳騎乘飛龍。」

95
在504號房裡，林曉陽的悉心調教下，很快地敏華的腦波就逐漸接上曉陽的腦波，兩人心意相通。敏華從曉陽的腦波裡接收了許多內功運習的要領，也逐漸具有曉陽的一些超能力。在修練內功心法的過程裡，敏華逐漸卸下抗拒的意念，跟著曉陽學會如何控制體內那股真氣，指揮真氣在身體的穴脈間流動。
「敏華，把真氣引導到手掌上，然後全神貫注，試著隔空移動桌上的那枝鉛筆。」
「好的，我試試看！」敏華先行吐納調息，引導體內真氣，徐徐推出雙手，把真氣匯集在手掌上。
曉陽說：「就是這樣，接著灌注精神，把意念集中在鉛筆上面。」
敏華全神貫注著桌面上那枝鉛筆，把內力從手杖上催出，鉛筆輕微晃動了兩下。
「嗯，接著想像妳用手指把鉛筆拿起來，握在手掌裡。」
敏華重新調習，提起全身真氣，灌注到手掌上，徐徐轉動手掌，那枝鉛筆被淩空叼起幾公分，漂浮在桌面上，緩緩旋轉了一圈後才落下。這時，敏華的額頭上和鬢角已透出汗珠。
林曉陽說：「休息一下，下午我們在廣場後方的小森林裡練習，我會教妳一些新的科目。」
黃敏華苦笑一笑說：「曉陽老師，你的教學進度，比補習班裡考前衝刺班的老師還快著呢！」
林曉陽拿起手帕幫敏華擦拭臉上汗珠，溫柔地說：「當然是妳消化吸收得快，我才有辦法加快進度囉。」
這時，瑪格麗特端著一隻漆盤敲門走進來，盤上是一瓶乳白色的玻璃瓶和一隻高腳杯。
瑪格麗特說：「老闆，公主派人送使者來這瓶補品，說給兩位調養身體。」
曉陽問：「這玻璃瓶裡面裝的是什麼？」
瑪格麗特微笑說：「我猜想應該是龍髓液，我沒喝過，但是曾聽威爾森提過，龍髓液可是滋補的聖品，功效大著呢。」
曉陽問：「好吧！回頭幫我傳口信，謝謝公主關心。」
「好的，我這就去回覆使者。」瑪格麗特說完，轉身離去。
曉陽拿起那瓶乳白色的液體，念出上面的說明文字：「明天清早空腹時，每人喝一杯，連續喝十天。」
曉陽說：「敏華，從明天起，我們就開始喝吧？」

96
午後三點，林曉陽和黃敏華在桃花心木森林裡，兩人穿著中式練功服，腳上打著綁腿，
兩人手上各持一柄木刀和木劍。
曉陽說：「敏華，我先使一套太極刀法，妳專心看著。」
「好的。」敏華右手持木劍，感覺就像武俠電影裡的女俠。
曉陽說：「走完這套刀法後，我會問妳看到些什麼。」
「嗯，你使刀吧！曉陽老師。」敏華抿嘴偷笑著。
曉陽右手反手握刀柄，這時提起真氣，換成正手握刀柄，徐徐舞出一招一式。起初，敏華只注意到招式，約莫十招過後，這才驚覺看似柔緩的刀法，每一招都隱含著淩厲的殺氣，一招迴旋劈刀，刀風所及，前方幾公尺外的小樹幹竟然被削斷下來，斜口切面整齊且光滑，敏華看得目不轉睛，驚駭的同時，心想：「這要是敵人的身體，豈不是一分兩半？而曉陽竟然在迴旋時，以單腳為圓心，另一隻腳為半徑，這威猛的力道究竟是從哪來的…？」
敏華看完這套太極刀法，滿腦袋都是問號，一時間卻不知該從哪裡問起。
曉陽收刀後，周圍數公尺外，敏華這才發覺上百枝小數幹圈在外圍，而圓周邊緣從樹幹上面五六公尺往下的小枝幹，都被這柄木刀整齊地削落下來，成一個圓柱體，這景象真的令敏華百思不解。
曉陽微笑著問：「敏華，剛才妳看到些什麼？」
敏華搖頭苦笑說：「我看到一腦袋的問號，不曉得該從何問起。」
曉陽說：「好的，慢慢來！你的木劍先借我一用，這回我使一套太極劍法。」
敏華把木劍交給曉陽，幫他拎著木刀。
曉陽同樣右手握劍柄，卻不是反手而是正手握住劍柄，徐徐推出木劍，刺、劈、挑、拈、翻、削…一招接一招，劍招如行雲流水般，這時敏華發覺劍刃所及之處，一片片葉子紛紛然落下來，而且更神奇的是這些葉片並不曾落地，反而黏著劍刃遊走，敏華看的如癡如醉。不知不覺，劍招走完，曉陽收劍後，那些葉片竟然環繞著曉陽，成一隻寬約兩公尺的圓形，而曉陽的雙腳正踩在圓心位置上，敏華心中似乎悟出一些道理來。
「敏華，這回你看到些什麼？」曉陽把木劍還給敏華，換回那柄木刀。
敏華整理了一下思緒說：「我看到刀法和劍法，呈現剛柔相濟，陰陽互補。」
「Bingo！我老婆果然聰慧過人，今天，我要教會你使用太極劍法，這套刀劍相濟的武學，是我從太極八卦圖領悟出來的兩儀刀劍陣式，妳我心意相通，刀劍合璧，這陣式威力不可小覷喔！」曉陽隨即從背袋裡取出太極八卦圖木板，套在右手食指上徐徐轉動，曉陽問：「告訴我妳看到什麼？敏華。」
敏華遲疑了一會兒說：「我看到漩渦。」
曉陽提示說：「妳再看下去，集中精神。」
過了一會兒，敏華說：「我看到循環往復。」
曉陽微笑說：「答案很接近了！」
敏華這回思考了許久，卻搖頭說：「沒有！我不知道答案！」
曉陽笑出聲來：「老婆，妳沒看到妳老公我這麼盡心盡力的調教妳嗎？」
敏華聽到這答案，「噗哧」一聲笑出來，抗議說：「這哪是答案啊？你少唬爛我！」
曉陽一臉正色說：「我們深愛著彼此，所以能夠心意相通啊！」
敏華聽著，心裡一股甜蜜意如漣漪般擴散開來，嫣然笑著說：「好吧！這答案我接受。」
小倆口在林子裡練刀劍，兩人的一舉一動和對話，卻被林子外湖濱上，佯裝成釣客
的陳約翰，清清楚楚地聽進耳裡，他滿意地把水袋裡的湖魚提起，整袋的魚倒回湖裡，
收拾釣竿，腳步輕盈地離開，往旅館走回去。

[Twenty-Five] Husband and Wife, United in Heart, Practice Martial Arts

**92**

Father John Chen called Lin Xiaoyang and his wife to Room 505 and personally handed the matched set of saber and sword to the young couple.

Father John Chen said, “Princess Maria asked my senior brother and me to give these to you as a wedding gift.”

Huang Minhua held the long sword in her hands and asked in confusion, “But I don’t know how to use a sword. Why would the princess give me such a wedding gift…?”

Father John Chen said, “The princess wants you to train with Xiaoyang until you have mastered martial arts. Sooner or later, Xiaoyang will definitely need your help.”

Father Stylon smiled and said, “I heard from my senior brother that on the night Xiaoyang fought Ruf and Anderson, he showed off a sword technique he had created himself and sliced Anderson into a human ball as easily as if he were carving up a doll. Xiaoyang’s martial arts skills are truly unfathomable!”

Huang Minhua looked at Lin Xiaoyang and said hesitantly, “But swords and sabers can hurt people, and besides, I’ve never had any intention of learning martial arts.”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Minhua, as long as you are willing to learn, learning martial arts is just like learning to paint. There are methods and techniques to it. It really isn’t difficult at all.”

Father John Chen said, “Here’s the situation. Before you two got married, Princess Maria summoned my senior brother and me to Sky Castle and entrusted us with an extremely difficult mission. To carry out this mission, the two of you must go together. Only then will there be a chance of accomplishing it.”

Huang Minhua said, “But I only know how to paint. If I go with you, what can I possibly do to help?”

Lin Xiaoyang asked, “What kind of mission did the princess assign?”

Father John Chen briefly explained the mission. As Huang Minhua listened, her face gradually turned pale. She thought to herself, “This mission is so dangerous. Isn’t she basically sending the two of us to our deaths?”

Seeing the worry on Minhua’s pale face, Xiaoyang quickly encouraged her, saying, “Starting today, you and I will focus on learning martial arts. I believe that if we work together as husband and wife, we will definitely be able to complete this mission.”

**93**

Huang Minhua was eventually persuaded by Lin Xiaoyang, and her memories from her previous life also gradually returned. She learned that in her previous life, she had been the princess’s personal maid, Aileen. Even so, she could not help worrying that David, reborn in this life, would once again lose his life for the sake of the princess.

In Room 504, Lin Xiaoyang showed Minhua two martial-arts comic books. “My internal energy and sword techniques were initially inspired by these two comic books.”

Minhua flipped through the comics and asked skeptically, “But all these moves in the comics are highly difficult movements. I’m not athletic. How could I possibly do them?”

Lin Xiaoyang said optimistically, “You definitely can. I’ll teach you one thing at a time. First, follow me in meditation. Relax the muscles throughout your body, then slowly empty your mind until there is nothing in your head and no distracting thoughts.”

Reluctantly, Huang Minhua followed Xiaoyang, sitting cross-legged on the floor to meditate. Xiaoyang placed the index finger of his right hand on Minhua’s left wrist.

“First, follow me and take deep breaths. Learn how to regulate your breathing. Come on, like this.” Xiaoyang demonstrated several times, and Minhua followed along.

“Close your eyes, relax the muscles throughout your body, starting from the soles of your feet, then your calves, your thighs, and gradually moving upward…” Xiaoyang continued guiding Minhua with verbal instructions. “Yes, Minhua, that’s it. Relax your back and abdomen. Let your breathing become slow and even… Relax the muscles in your shoulders and neck. Relax the muscles in your face. Relax your scalp… You’re doing very well. Next, gradually clear away the images and distracting thoughts in your mind. Fade them one by one and eliminate them until your mind is completely blank.”

Lin Xiaoyang switched to transmitting his voice through their heart meridians to guide Minhua. “That’s it. Fade away the images of David and me, more and more, and then fade away the image of yourself. Let only a little mist remain in your mind. That’s it. You’re doing very well. Keep going. After a while, the mist will dissipate, and your mind will become completely blank…”

After meditating, Xiaoyang helped Minhua to her feet. Her calves were somewhat painful and numb. Xiaoyang poured her a glass of electrolyte water to quench her thirst and had her sit in a chair. He placed both hands on the top of Minhua’s head and slowly guided his vital energy into her body.

“How do you feel?”

“I feel a warm current flowing downward from the top of my head.”

Xiaoyang asked considerately, “Does it feel comfortable?”

“Mm! My body is gradually becoming warm and relaxed…”

“I’m using my vital energy to speed up the flow of blood in your body and help you get rid of your fatigue.”

“This is really amazing, Xiaoyang. I never knew you had so many abilities.” Minhua closed her eyes, feeling the love Xiaoyang had for her.

**94**

At dinnertime, Margaret brought them a light meal: freshly hand-pressed fruit juice, warmed fresh milk, and several slices of multigrain toast.

The young couple enjoyed their meal together sweetly when Father John Chen knocked on the door and entered.

Father John Chen smiled and asked, “How is the progress?”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Minhua has just gotten into the rhythm. She learns very quickly.”

Father John Chen said, “Once the two of you can become attuned to each other, your progress will become much smoother.”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Give me half a month, Father?”

Father John Chen said, “No problem! During this period, Father Stylon and I can happen to practice a set of Taiji boxing techniques together.”

Lin Xiaoyang smiled and said, “Father, you really know your stuff! Taiji boxing is profound and extensive. It borrows force to apply force, using slowness to neutralize speed.”

Father John Chen said admiringly, “Ha! You summed up the essence of Taiji boxing in just eight words. In the future, you will definitely become a grandmaster of martial arts.”

Lin Xiaoyang waved his hand and said, “I don’t want to become any kind of martial-arts grandmaster! Being a painter, photographer, or travel writer—that would be such a carefree life!”

Father John Chen said, “That’s true. After we complete this mission, I want to return to Kunming, Yunnan, to visit my family. I’ve been away from home for twenty years. When I first came to Europe to study philosophy, I never imagined that I would eventually become a priest in the Holy See.”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “I also want to take Minhua back to Taiwan and visit my parents and family.”

Father John Chen said, “Minhua, Xiaoyang is not only your husband but also your martial-arts teacher. Ha! The two of you really are a legendary couple of martial-arts heroes.”

Minhua joked, “One of these days, Father, please bring me a golden eagle and teach me how to ride it through the sky.”

Father John Chen thought for a moment and said, “That isn’t impossible either. Once the mission is complete, I’ll discuss it with the Dragon Knight and ask him to let you ride a flying dragon.”

**95**

In Room 504, under Lin Xiaoyang’s careful instruction, Minhua’s brain waves soon gradually connected with Xiaoyang’s, and the two became attuned to each other. Minhua received many essential principles for practicing internal energy from Xiaoyang’s brain waves and gradually acquired some of Xiaoyang’s supernatural abilities. During the process of practicing the internal-energy techniques, Minhua gradually let go of her resistance and followed Xiaoyang in learning how to control the vital energy within her body, directing it to flow through the body’s acupoints and meridians.

“Minhua, guide your vital energy into your palms. Then concentrate completely and try to move that pencil on the table without touching it.”

“Okay, I’ll try!” Minhua first regulated her breathing, guided the vital energy within her body, and slowly pushed both hands forward, gathering the vital energy in her palms.

Xiaoyang said, “That’s it. Next, infuse it with your mental energy and focus your thoughts on the pencil.”

Minhua concentrated completely on the pencil on the tabletop and urged her internal power out through her hands. The pencil trembled slightly twice.

“Mm, now imagine using your fingers to pick up the pencil and hold it in your palm.”

Minhua adjusted her breathing again, summoned the vital energy throughout her body, and infused it into her palms. She slowly rotated her palms, and the pencil was lifted several inches into the air, floating above the tabletop. After slowly rotating once, it finally fell back down. By this time, beads of sweat had appeared on Minhua’s forehead and temples.

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Take a break. This afternoon, we’ll practice in the small forest behind the plaza. I’ll teach you some new skills.”

Huang Minhua gave a wry smile and said, “Teacher Xiaoyang, your teaching pace is even faster than the instructors in cram-school exam-prep classes!”

Lin Xiaoyang picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from Minhua’s face. “Of course, it’s because you absorb and learn things so quickly. That’s why I can speed up the lessons.”

At that moment, Margaret knocked on the door and entered carrying a lacquered tray. On the tray was a milky-white glass bottle and a stemmed glass.

Margaret said, “Boss, the princess sent an envoy to deliver this tonic and said it was for the two of you to nourish and restore your bodies.”

Xiaoyang asked, “What’s inside this glass bottle?”

Margaret smiled and said, “I guess it’s probably dragon marrow fluid. I’ve never had any, but I once heard Wilson mention that dragon marrow fluid is a sacred tonic with powerful nourishing effects.”

Xiaoyang asked, “All right! Later, please pass along my thanks to the princess for her concern.”

“Okay. I’ll go reply to the envoy right away,” Margaret said, then turned and left.

Xiaoyang picked up the bottle of milky-white liquid and read the instructions printed on it aloud: “Tomorrow morning, drink one glass each on an empty stomach. Continue for ten days.”

Xiaoyang said, “Minhua, starting tomorrow, shall we begin drinking it?”

**96**

At three in the afternoon, Lin Xiaoyang and Huang Minhua were in a mahogany forest. The two were wearing Chinese-style martial-arts training clothes, with leggings wrapped around their lower legs.

Each of them held a wooden saber and a wooden sword.

Xiaoyang said, “Minhua, I’ll first perform a set of Taiji saber techniques. Watch carefully.”

“Okay.” Minhua held the wooden sword in her right hand, feeling just like a female martial-arts hero in a wuxia movie.

Xiaoyang said, “After I finish this set of saber techniques, I’ll ask you what you saw.”

“Mm, go ahead and use the saber, Teacher Xiaoyang.” Minhua pursed her lips and secretly smiled.

Xiaoyang held the saber handle in a reverse grip with his right hand. Then he summoned his vital energy, changed to a regular grip, and slowly performed one move after another. At first, Minhua paid attention only to the movements. After about ten moves, she suddenly realized that although the saber techniques appeared gentle and slow, every move contained fierce killing intent. With one sweeping spinning slash, the force of the saber cut through the air, and a small tree trunk several yards ahead was actually sliced off. The angled cut was clean and smooth. Minhua stared without blinking. While shocked, she thought to herself, “If that had been an enemy’s body, wouldn’t it have been cut cleanly in two? And when Xiaoyang spun around, he used one foot as the center of the circle and the other foot as the radius. Where on earth did that tremendous force come from…?”

After watching the entire set of Taiji saber techniques, Minhua’s mind was full of questions, yet for a moment she did not know where to begin.

After Xiaoyang sheathed the saber, Minhua noticed that, several yards away around them, hundreds of small tree trunks formed a circle around the perimeter. Along the edge of the circle, all the smaller branches extending five or six meters downward from the trunks had been cleanly sliced off by the wooden saber, forming a cylindrical shape. The sight truly left Minhua unable to understand how he had done it.

Xiaoyang asked with a smile, “Minhua, what did you see just now?”

Minhua shook her head and gave a wry smile. “I saw a head full of question marks. I don’t know where to begin asking.”

Xiaoyang said, “All right, take it slowly! Let me borrow your wooden sword. This time, I’ll perform a set of Taiji sword techniques.”

Minhua handed the wooden sword to Xiaoyang and carried his wooden saber for him.

Xiaoyang likewise held the sword handle with his right hand, but instead of a reverse grip, he used a regular grip. He slowly thrust out the wooden sword—thrusting, chopping, raising, flicking, turning, slicing… one move following another. His sword techniques flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and flowing water. At that moment, Minhua noticed that wherever the sword blade passed, leaves came falling down one after another. Even more amazingly, the leaves never touched the ground. Instead, they clung to the sword blade and moved along with it. Minhua watched, completely mesmerized.

Before she knew it, Xiaoyang had finished the sword routine. After he lowered the sword, the leaves actually circled around him, forming a circle about two meters wide, while Xiaoyang’s feet stood exactly at its center. Minhua seemed to have grasped some of the underlying principles.

“Minhua, what did you see this time?” Xiaoyang returned the wooden sword to Minhua and took back the wooden saber.

Minhua organized her thoughts for a moment and said, “I saw that the saber and sword techniques embody the balance of hardness and softness, with yin and yang complementing each other.”

“Bingo! My wife really is exceptionally intelligent. Today, I’m going to teach you how to use the Taiji sword techniques. This martial art, in which the saber and sword complement each other, is a Two-Instrument Saber-and-Sword Formation that I came to understand from the Taiji Bagua diagram. Since you and I are attuned to each other, when the saber and sword are combined, the power of this formation will be formidable!”

Xiaoyang immediately took a wooden Taiji Bagua board from his backpack, placed it over the index finger of his right hand, and slowly spun it. Xiaoyang asked, “Tell me what you see, Minhua.”

Minhua hesitated for a moment and said, “I see a vortex.”

Xiaoyang prompted her, “Keep looking. Concentrate.”

After a while, Minhua said, “I see a cycle repeating over and over.”

Xiaoyang smiled and said, “You’re getting very close to the answer!”

This time, Minhua thought for a long while, but then shook her head and said, “No! I don’t know the answer!”

Xiaoyang burst out laughing. “Wife, don’t you see how wholeheartedly I’m teaching you?”

Hearing this answer, Minhua burst out laughing and protested, “How is that an answer? Stop kidding me!”

Xiaoyang put on a serious expression and said, “We love each other deeply, so we can become attuned to each other!”

As Minhua listened, a sweet feeling spread through her heart like ripples on water. She smiled sweetly and said, “All right! I accept that answer.”

The young couple practiced saber and sword techniques in the forest, but their every movement and every word they exchanged were clearly heard by Father John Chen, who was pretending to be a fisherman on the lakeshore outside the forest.

Satisfied, he lifted the fish from his water bag, poured the entire bag of fish back into the lake, packed up his fishing rod, and left with light footsteps, walking back toward the hotel.