Chapter Sixteen: The Strange Man Beneath the River

Although underwater vision was not their specialty, Hua Feng and his companions were by no means ignorant of it. Moreover, after their cultivation, their physical abilities had all been enhanced, allowing them to see underwater even without goggles. The chilly river water was something most of them hadn’t quite adapted to yet, but after a brief adjustment, the six of them gathered atop a massive rock at the riverbed to discuss their strategy. The instrument Hua Feng carried indicated that the water was ten meters deep and the temperature just two degrees Celsius. He had already been underwater for over three minutes; with the aid of inner energy, it was effortless to swim submerged for an hour or more. If they were even more advanced, they could breathe through their skin underwater, but unfortunately, their skills were still at the beginner’s stage. Nevertheless, they felt no discomfort.

Above them, oars sliced the water as other trainees passed by. Hua Feng glanced up at his classmates moving overhead, remaining silent and detached as agreed upon earlier—they had decided to complete their task by surprise. It was ten in the morning, a time they usually set aside for meditation and cultivation.

Wang Yue and Yang Tian were about to surface when Li Long, seizing inspiration, suggested they try meditating underwater to see if the effects were any different from on land. With no objections, Li Long immediately sat down and began.

Meditation, for cultivators, was a spiritual experience and a process of insight—an epiphany of the Way. Progress couldn’t be rushed, for everyone advanced at their own pace; some might sit for a thousand years awaiting enlightenment, while others might achieve sudden clarity in an instant.

The essence of the Flying Dragon Technique, taught by their camp leader, lay in the balance between form and formlessness, between technique and intuition. Having grasped some rudiments from meditation, they quickly entered a state of deep focus. A moment before, they seemed to hear someone above say, “Looks like it’s going to rain; let’s finish our task quickly!”

All soon returned to tranquility. Only the occasional fish darted by, and water weeds swayed lightly in the river’s current—an eerie stillness enveloped them. So absorbed were they in the sensations of training at the riverbed that they let down their guard, unaware that someone had approached until Hua Feng and Li Long finally noticed him. The man smiled faintly, inscrutable. He looked every bit the reclusive ancient hermit in his loose gray Daoist robe, long hair tied with a jade hairpin, and distinctive white eyebrows.

What caught Hua Feng’s attention was that, despite being underwater, the old Daoist’s clothes were completely dry, the surrounding river held at bay by a shimmering barrier. Instinctively, Hua Feng knew this man was a master—anyone who could approach unnoticed was far beyond their abilities.

“Who are you?” Hua Feng asked in recently learned underwater hand signals, voicing everyone’s question.

“Young man, mind your manners. I just saved your lives. Never mind a thank you, you don’t even know how to address your elders properly?” the old man replied with a smile, his voice resonating directly in their minds.

“Elder, if I have offended, please forgive me. The water makes things inconvenient; would you come to the surface so we can speak properly?” Hua Feng responded courteously, sensing the gravity of the situation.

“That’s better. Come along!” With a satisfied smile, the old man tapped the river rock with his foot and shot upward like an arrow.

What astonishing speed, Hua Feng thought in amazement.

“Elder, what did you mean when you said you saved us?” Hua Feng asked after surfacing with the old Daoist. The others joined them, stepping onto the bamboo raft secured by ropes.

“You youngsters, barely novices in cultivation, dare to meddle with such practices without anyone to safeguard you. One misstep, and you could easily lose your lives to inner devils,” the old man replied slowly, a faint smile on his face. “I was fishing at the riverbank when I noticed the current speeding up—thought it was a big fish, but instead, I found you lot. The river’s dampness had already begun to invade your bodies, so I halted its spread. If I’m not mistaken, your cultivation method is the ‘Flying Dragon Technique’ created by Xiao Chen, yes?”

“Indeed, thank you, elder, for saving us,” Li Long interjected. “Elder, do you know our camp leader?”

“No need for thanks. Your leader, Chen Sheng, is more than an acquaintance. Strictly speaking, by seniority, he should call me uncle-master. Meeting you here by chance is fate; let me offer you some guidance.” The old man’s words left Zhang Yu speechless—a camp leader’s uncle-master, with unfathomable power. Thankfully, he didn’t seem hostile, so Zhang Yu chose to observe and stay alert. Li Long, Wang Yue, Shuang Ning, Yun Meng, and Yang Tian, however, felt differently; not everyone shared Hua Feng’s caution. An opportunity for instruction from a true master was not to be missed.

“In that case, we’d be honored,” Li Long replied on behalf of the group.

The old Daoist glanced around and said slowly, “Do you remember how it felt to swim underwater?”

“Yes, of course,” Yang Tian answered for everyone.

“Now, imagine the air as water and swim through it. This is the highest realm of lightness skill. Try it and see if you can grasp it today.”

The group exchanged glances and nodded. Suddenly, Hua Feng recalled having seen something similar in a movie—never imagining he’d witness such a defiance of physics in real life. Had it not been for this master, it would never have crossed his mind. While he pondered, the others sprang into action.

Li Long leaped into the air, assuming a swimming posture, channeling inner energy throughout his body, but as his initial force waned, he fell hard despite his protective energy. Wang Yue and Yang Tian also tumbled awkwardly in their attempts, blaming Hua Feng for not catching them. He could only offer a wry smile, apologizing, “Sorry, brothers, I got distracted.”

Despite the rough start, no one was discouraged. Determined to set an example, Hua Feng called out, “Let me try!” The others watched as, after several attempts, he began to show signs of success. Ten minutes later, he was gliding through the air like a flying dragon, swift and effortless, leaving his companions envious.

The old Daoist noticed Hua Feng’s difference, thinking to himself that this youth was truly gifted. With so many prodigies in the world, he was not overly surprised, but he couldn’t help but praise him: “Such remarkable comprehension!”

After hundreds of failed attempts, Li Long, Wang Yue, Yang Tian, Yun Meng, and Shuang Ning gradually mastered the technique, able to glide through the air like swallows—if not as skillfully as Hua Feng, still impressively well, and they were all delighted.

Hua Feng explained to his companions, “The key insight is whether we can sense the air’s presence, just as we do with water when submerged.”

The others, inspired, tried several more times and improved greatly.

“You’re doing very well—take your time. What’s his name?” The old Daoist pointed at Hua Feng.

“He’s Hua Feng,” Wang Yue, acting as temporary leader, replied.

“Hua Feng—excellent! A fine young man, and you’re all outstanding. It seems Chen’s Flying Dragon Camp is truly a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. The younger generation is to be feared indeed!” The old Daoist laughed heartily.

“Elder, you flatter us. It’s getting late, and we still have tasks to complete. Once we’re finished, we’ll visit you properly to thank you for saving our lives. What do you think?” Hua Feng glanced at the time—over two hours had passed. If they didn’t hurry, they’d fall behind the other teams.

“In that case, very well. Practice diligently, and you’ll surely achieve great things. Remember, heaven rewards diligence! As for Li Long, I’ve taken a liking to him. Once you finish your task, I’ll speak to your camp leader and accept him as my disciple. That’s all. Farewell!”

With that, he vanished like lightning, truly coming and going as if a celestial being.

Upon hearing that the camp leader’s uncle-master wanted to take Li Long as a disciple—and Li Long had no objections—the group was overjoyed. Though they might be apart for some time, it would be to his benefit, so no one minded.

Before leaving, the elder also awakened a latent potential in Li Long—a sensitivity to water, granting him a water affinity. With mastery, he could merge into water, making him nearly invincible in aquatic combat—a true king of the waters. Through their conversation, they learned the old Daoist was named Li Yun, who had studied under the same master as their leader, Chen Sheng, and now lived in seclusion on Mount Lu.

To have chanced upon the camp leader’s uncle-master by accident left Hua Feng feeling both amused and helpless.

Yun Meng urged them on—there was still a mission to accomplish. With their newly acquired skill, they set out once more, riding the wind like tigers with wings.