The Wudang Junior Master

Chapter 229 Ding Shimaan's Confusion and Consultation

In the evening, in the backyard of Qingwei Palace.

Zhang Wuling finished his work, cleaned up, and sat on a rock to chat with Ding Shiman.

"Tell me, why did you come all the way to Wudang to find me?"

Based on Zhang Wuling's understanding of Ding Shimaan, he would not behave like this if it was not an important matter.

Ding Shimaan gazed at the Golden Summit in the distance and said, "Actually, I'm a little confused."

"Confused?" Zhang Wuling took out a pear and asked while eating, "What's confusing you?"

"Strength." Ding Shimaan said concisely.

Zhang Wuling said, "Oh, so you want to make progress. Tell me more about it and I'll see if I can help you."

Ding Shimaan gathered his words before continuing, "In the past, I have been constantly improving my skills, seeking out people to challenge and enhance my strength."

"I've been doing this for so many years, and my strength has been improving. Gradually, there are fewer and fewer people who can beat me, and my progress is getting slower and slower."

"So, I was confused, not knowing where the road ahead was or where the destination was, until I met you for the first time. You defeated me. At that moment, I was so happy. I felt that I had the strength to move forward again."

"For so many years, I have never given up on training myself and improving my martial arts. I thought the gap between you and me would become smaller and smaller, but it wasn't until I met you again that I realized how ridiculous my idea was..."

Ding Shimaan seemed to be making fun of himself, but his expression was very calm. The evening sun shining on his face was also warm and peaceful.

"I originally thought that this was the difference in talent between you and me, but after following you, I discovered so many geniuses, such as Wang Ye, Zhang Lingyu, Xiao Zizai, and... Feng Baobao."

"Although I am amazed by the countless talented people in the world, that's all I can say. They don't bring me any pressure."

"It wasn't until the Lu family banquet, when I had a duel with Bao Bao and was defeated by her, that I suddenly realized that I had lost myself."

At this moment, a trace of bewilderment appeared in Ding Shiman's eyes. "I want to continue to improve myself, but I don't know how. I want to catch up with you, but I don't know where to start."

"Zhang Wuling, tell me, what's wrong with me? What should I do next?"

Zhang Wuling listened quietly, threw away the remaining pear core, and nodded, "I see. That's how it is."

"Do you understand?"

"Nonsense, you explained it in such detail, if I still didn't understand, wouldn't I be a fool?" Zhang Wuling clapped his hands.

"In your case, simply put, you have the skills but no principles."

"You have skills but no principles?" Ding Shimaan looked like he was seeking an explanation.

Zhang Wuling stretched out a finger, shook it, and said, "To put it simply, you eat from a hundred families and learn a hundred arts. This proves that you are popular and talented. However, you eat from a hundred families but don't have your own stove, and you learn a hundred arts but don't have your own roots. Therefore, when your strength reaches a certain level, it is normal to feel confused."

Ding Shimaan thought thoughtfully, "You mean, I've learned too many things?"

"Yes and no," Zhang Wuling said, "The problem isn't that I'm learning a lot of different things. The problem is that I'm not systematic and I don't have a main focus."

"To use an analogy, those of us who practice Taoism aim to become immortals, and those who study Buddhism aim to become Buddhas. In short, we all have a goal, and the methods and paths to this goal have been paved by our ancestors. Therefore, whether we are Taoists or Buddhists, we will not be lost. We practice according to the methods, and ultimately, it is a question of whether we can practice well or not, and whether we can achieve success."

"As for you, you may know why you practice and have your own reasons, but reasons are just reasons, not a goal, nor an end."

"What do you want to do when you practice martial arts? To become the best in the world?"

"Then I can tell you that being number one in the world is just a result, a bonus after your cultivation reaches a certain level."

"If you want to eat fruit, you have to plant the tree first. After planting the tree, you have to take good care of it and wait for the right time. It will bear fruit when it blooms. After the fruit is ripe, you have to wait until it is ripe before you can pick it. This is the way of nature."

"If a person doesn't think about planting trees, isn't willing to irrigate them, lacks patience, doesn't understand the solar terms (timing), lacks the determination to pick fruit before it's ripe, then he won't be able to eat the fruit, or won't be able to eat good fruit. This is in accordance with the way of nature."

"But before that, there's another, more important thing: what kind of tree to plant to get the flowers and fruits it will produce. Should I plant an apple tree, a pear tree, or a peach tree? It all depends on the individual."

"If you don't know what to plant in your own 'field,' you'll just dig holes, plant rice, and sow seeds haphazardly. It may seem like hard work, but in the end, you'll gain nothing. This is where most of the world's suffering lies."

"Therefore, cultivating the Tao is not just about becoming an immortal or a Buddha. A person with the Tao doesn't necessarily have to move mountains or fill the sea, or call the wind and rain. Those who understand their own path, know how to plant the crops, and when to harvest, are already not far from the Tao."

"Your pain lies in the fact that you've learned a ton of skills, but lack the most important seed. This is like learning the art, but losing the path. Over time, this will inevitably lead to confusion."

In the setting sun, Zhang Wuling sat on a rock, speaking in a gentle and steady tone, explaining the truth in great detail and simplicity.

Even an ordinary person can understand it, so there is no need to say more about Ding Shimaan.

His eyes were bright and he was extremely happy. He said excitedly, "I knew I'd come to you if I had anything to do. That's great!"

Zhang Wuling smiled and said, "Don't worry. I just cleared up your confusion. What comes next is the most important thing. You must understand your own 'Tao' and find your footing. Otherwise, you won't be able to move forward. Even if you continue to train yourself, it will be in vain."

Ding Shimaan nodded repeatedly and asked hurriedly, "Then how should I find my own path?"

Zhang Wuling held up two fingers and said, "Actually, the method is very simple. One is [stillness] and the other is [movement]."

Ding Shimaan lowered his head in thought. After a while, he raised his head and asked, "What do you mean?"

“…”Zhang Wuling.

To prevent the other party from treating him as a fool, Ding Shiman hurriedly said, "I know the movement, but what does it mean specifically and what should I do?"

At this moment, Ding Shiman, who was already in his forties, was like a student in front of Zhang Wuling.

If I tell this to others, I'm afraid few people in the circle will believe it.

After all, these are two heroes, Ding Shimaan. Even if he is not the second best in the world, he is one of the strongest fighters. Will he need guidance from others?

But for Ding Shimaan, the reason why he came to Wudang Mountain after the Lu family banquet was because he didn't know where to go next.

To put it bluntly, he didn't know how to continue improving his strength.

What he wants to improve now is not the horizontal width, but the vertical length. Learning any other tricks will be of no help at all and will not be the right medicine for the disease.

The reason he came to Wudang Mountain was because he thought Zhang Wuling could help him.