You nibble your lip as you ponder what flavour of face punching you want to do, worrying over ifs, and what fors, and even thoughs. You immediately strike from consideration Southern Iron Strike, because you just do not have the stature, nor the bulk, to really make use of the style. So it comes down to Northern Long Fist and that other slow, ponderous one.
In the end, you find a bench to sit on, and a sticky bun to eat (don't tell Father) as you work through what you want to do. In the end, you end up consulting that odd book by this Sun Wukong person. Better to start after the map bit.
Flipping the book open you settle down to read:
Now that you have a map, make sure you don't use it. Well, you should probably figure out where you are at the end of each day but the thing about maps is that someone had to draw them and to do that they had to go there first. If you follow the paths that someone else has made you'll never lose your way; and how are you supposed to find something without losing it first?
What, but it said to...you are confused. No, do not let a book confuse you. Books are not confusing, only the way you read them is confusing...no, the book is confusing. Well, okay, better to flip a bit ahead, see if there is a section for face pun- ah, there is.
If you want to fight someone then fight them. If you want to hug someone then hug them. If you're trying to do both at the same time then maybe you're in the wrong line of work.
Well, okay, that makes sense, you guess. Like, it makes sense and should be obvious, so why didn't..no, do not think on this. Thinking on this may result in madness. Best to just keep reading on, so you skip a bit ahead and find this:
Sure, the secrets of the universe are neat and a wise old sage who teaches you by having you teach yourself is a classic but generally speaking sitting around and meditating on the philosophy of martial arts is a really good way to learn how to block fists with your face. And not much else.
Hm, this is true too...well, looks like Northern Long Fist is the style you will learn.
* * * * *
"I have decided that you will be the one to teach me how to face punch effectively," you say as you approach the sifu confidently, stopping an arms length away as you stare in defiance at the man, daring him to reject you. "And face kicking, too, I suppose."
"I will, will I?" the elderly man says, crossing his arms over his chest. The man actually looks rather wiry, and solid, but still thin. "And why would I take a disrespectful young lady such as yourself as a student?"
"Because I am Resplendent Lotus," you blurt out, before taking a deep breath and centering yourself. You take another deep breath, slowly releasing it, and begin again. "Because I am Resplendent Lotus, and I will learn. I will learn what you have to teach, and you will learn what I have to teach. I will be the perfect student. The one from whom you learn from teaching."
You're...not sure where the words come from, or where the
idea comes from, but the words you speak. They seem to,,,you can
feel them
resonate in the very fabric of the
Tao. In everything. They are correct and true, because you have made, somehow,
made them correct and true.
"Hm. Very well, student, let us see what I may learn," the elderly man -your sifu- says, before turning abruptly and leading the way to an open practice area in the small school situated in the district adjacent to the one you live in.
What follows once you reach the practice area is the beating of your lifetime.
* * * * *
"I did not know a person could
bend like that," you grumble as you limp back to the bakery, bruised and battered, but unbowed. You bent, but you did not break. You withstood your sifu's onslaught, and learned from it, as he learned from your fierce desire to be his student. "At least I am learning to face pun-" you pause, and flinch. Sifu did not like that flippancy, and you understand now why. Face punching is just the
beginning of what you are learning to do! Okay, so Sifu will probably chastise you for that thought, too. "Stuffy old men."
"What was that and by the sage's what happened to you,k daughter?" your mother starts to say, only to then demand an answer when she sees your roughed up state. "Who did this too you? I knew you shouldn't have run off after those thugs on your own. Are you alright? They didn...did they? Oh no, dear? DEAR?! OUR DAUGHTER IS HOME!"
"Mother, mother, MOTHER! Calm down, I'm okay,:" you desperately try to calm your mother down, waving your hands in front of you. "I found Sifu..er, a sifu, and he showed me how not to look like an idiot when I get into a fight, that's all, that's all! Do not...you do not need to worry!"
"What's this now? Daughter! Who did this to you I will beat them to death with my wok!"
"Faaaather!"
* * * * *
After you manage to get your parents off your back, and get in a good scrubbing, to clean the dirt and sweat off. You are left with not much to do, honestly. You could help out with the bakery, you could go to the bathes and have a good, proper soak. You could meditate on what you have learned today. Or you could just give up and go to bed. Well, or you could read some more of the book.
So, what now?
[X] Early Bed
[X] Go to the Bathes
[X] Help in Bakery
[X] Meditate
[X] Read the Book
Special thank you to
TotalAbsolutism for the koans in the book. Without his help, this wouldn't be nearly as amusing.
