Chapter 17: Extending Life Through Martial Arts

Hearing Gu Ya’s words, Lin Le couldn’t help but pause in surprise.

“Beg me? You’re from the Gu family of Haizhou. I’m just a poor student from an unremarkable household. If you asked for stars from the sky, the space agency might even get them for you. Why would you ever need me?” Lin Le continued to complain, still harboring his petty grievances.

This time, however, Gu Ya was already used to it. Not only was she not angry, but she even covered her mouth and began to laugh.

“Haha, alright, I’ve already admitted it was our fault. Are you still going to be mad?” Gu Ya continued to shake Lin Le’s arm playfully.

With that, the gloom in Lin Le’s heart completely dissipated. After all, she was the eldest daughter of the Gu family, yet she had lowered herself to admit fault so directly. If he kept pushing, it would be out of line.

After Lin Le left, Gu Huaishan gave Guo Zhao a thorough scolding.

“Didn’t I tell you it was just a friendly sparring match? Why would you go so far as to use internal energy and explosive punches?”

“Lin Le is a master of internal strength. Don’t you realize what it means to use such a punch against him? You were practically challenging his bottom line!”

“If you really drove Lin Le away, just see how I deal with you!” Guo Zhao had been at Gu Huaishan’s side for many years, so Gu Huaishan didn’t hold back in his reprimand.

“Old Master Gu, I’m sorry. I did go too far this time. I swear, I will bring Lin Le back to you!” Now, Guo Zhao was already fully convinced of Lin Le’s strength.

“Old Master Gu, look, he’s back!”

Seeing that Lin Le had been persuaded to return by Gu Ya, a smile finally appeared on Gu Huaishan’s face.

“Mr. Lin, Guo Zhao was out of line earlier. Please forgive him,” Gu Huaishan apologized sincerely.

“Lin Le—no, Mr. Lin—I went too far just now. Please accept my apology,” Guo Zhao hastily added.

“Forget it. I was being petty. Gu Ya just said Old Master Gu invited me here today for something important. May I ask what it is?” Lin Le asked directly.

“There is indeed something I wish to ask your help with. Giving you the villa was not only to thank you for saving my life last time, but also as compensation for this favor I am about to request. I hope you won’t refuse,” Gu Huaishan said.

Hearing this, Lin Le felt a bit better.

“Let’s get to the point first. I don’t even know if I have the ability to help you, Old Master Gu.”

Old Master Gu then stated his request.

“What? You want me to help you continue your martial cultivation?” Lin Le was a little surprised.

“Old Master Gu, you should be more aware than anyone of your current physical condition. If you continue to train, you’re risking your life!”

“I know. That’s why I’m asking you for help, to see if you can come up with a way for me,” Gu Huaishan replied.

Gu Huaishan had already consulted many doctors and martial arts masters, but all reached the same conclusion: he was no longer fit to practice martial arts.

Now, he was placing his last hope on Lin Le.

But to his disappointment, Lin Le shook his head. “I’m sorry. I wish I could help you, but I truly can’t.”

Upon hearing Lin Le’s answer, Gu Huaishan was visibly disheartened, seeming to age in an instant.

“I don’t understand, Old Master Gu. With your position and status, why are you so obsessed with martial arts?” In Lin Le’s view, martial cultivation no longer held much meaning for Gu Huaishan at this stage of his life.

“Yes, Grandpa, you can’t risk your life just for a hobby,” Gu Ya also urged.

To be honest, even Gu Ya couldn’t understand why her grandfather was so insistent on martial arts.

Only Guo Zhao seemed hesitant to speak. “Miss, actually, there is a reason for Old Master Gu’s persistence in martial arts…”

He glanced at Gu Huaishan but didn’t dare to continue.

“Oh? Would you care to tell us, Old Master Gu?” Lin Le asked.

Gu Ya looked at her grandfather with a puzzled expression.

“It’s not something I can’t say,” Gu Huaishan paused, then looked at Lin Le and spoke softly. “You, too, are a martial artist, a master of internal strength. Have you ever heard of ‘prolonging life through martial arts’?”

“Prolonging life through martial arts?!” Lin Le was startled, but quickly understood the reason for Gu Huaishan’s obsession.

“Grandpa, what does ‘prolonging life through martial arts’ mean?” Gu Ya asked in confusion. “Could it be…”

“That’s right, it’s exactly what you’re thinking,” Gu Huaishan replied. The phrase was simple enough, but Gu Ya found it hard to believe.

“You mean, martial cultivation can actually extend one’s life?” Gu Ya found it all too absurd.

Gu Huaishan lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and said, “Our Gu family has been prominent in Haizhou for five hundred years, though we were always merchants. Three hundred years ago, during the chaotic transition between the Ming and Qing dynasties, our family was swept into the turmoil. It was then, through a good deed, that our ancestor met a great martial master and was introduced to the mysterious world of martial arts.”

Because Gu Ya was a girl and had never been interested in martial arts, this was the first time she had heard about her family’s past.

“Our ancestor trained with that martial master for over twenty years, gaining some small achievement. Through this master, he learned about ‘prolonging life through martial arts.’ Ever since then, every generation of our family has had someone attempt this, not for any other reason but to seek a new and higher path for the Gu family.”

After hearing all this, Gu Ya was stunned.

“But Grandpa, isn’t this idea of prolonging life through martial arts too exaggerated? Did our ancestors really believe such an outlandish claim from that martial master? What if he was just making things up?” Gu Ya was entirely skeptical.

“Of course it wasn’t that simple!” Gu Huaishan said bluntly. “Do you know how old that martial master was when our ancestor met him?”

“How old?” Gu Ya asked.

“One hundred and fifty-six,” Gu Huaishan said in a deep voice.

“What…” Gu Ya gasped.

This revelation completely upended her worldview.

“Maybe he just lied about his age?” Gu Ya replied weakly.

Gu Huaishan snorted. “One hundred and fifty-six is worlds apart from eighty or ninety. Our ancestor was wise enough not to be fooled by such a thing. Accept the truth, Ya. The true world of martial arts is a realm utterly unfamiliar to you.”

At that, the last bit of Gu Ya’s certainty crumbled, and her understanding of martial arts was completely shaken.

“What do you think, Mr. Lin?” Gu Huaishan asked.

From the moment “prolonging life through martial arts” was mentioned, Lin Le had fallen silent, which made Gu Huaishan curious.

“That concept comes from ancient martial arts. It seems your ancestor’s master must have been an inheritor of those traditions.” Lin Le’s tone was calm.

After joining the Kyushu Bureau, Lin Le had encountered many things inaccessible to ordinary people. It was then he learned that in this world, there truly were ancient martial artists who could punch through steel plates, espers who survived falling from ten thousand meters, and immortal cultivators who could fly and live for centuries.

So, hearing Gu Huaishan mention prolonging life through martial arts, he was not surprised in the least.

“Exactly!” Gu Huaishan exclaimed excitedly.

Gu Ya looked at Lin Le with disbelief. “You can’t mean that you really believe in prolonging life through martial arts?”

“Of course! Martial arts is the pursuit of the physical body’s limits. In that process, all aspects of one’s physiology improve. When one’s martial arts reach a certain level, the body undergoes a qualitative transformation.

“Simply put, people have different lifespans because of variations in physical health and bodily functions. Long life or short life stems from that. True martial arts can hone the body’s functions to perfection. That is what Old Master Gu means by prolonging life through martial arts. In fact, this can be explained scientifically; it’s not as mystical as you think.”

Lin Le explained at length, hoping Gu Ya would understand.

Gu Huaishan and Guo Zhao both appeared astonished. Previously, they only knew of the mystical aspect, but Lin Le’s words gave them a clearer understanding.

“I didn’t expect you, Mr. Lin, to have such insight into martial arts at such a young age. Remarkable!” Gu Huaishan praised.

“I once hoped to use my abilities to break through the limits that have held our family for centuries, to refine the ‘golden body’ and prolong my life through martial arts. But now…” Gu Huaishan was despondent.

Now over seventy, though much healthier than his peers, Gu Huaishan could no longer practice martial arts, and his lifelong pursuit had come to an end.

But just then, Lin Le spoke calmly: “Old Master Gu, do you think you can endure pain that pierces to the bone?”

Gu Huaishan was stunned, then immediately understood, nodding eagerly. “I can! Of course I can!”

“In that case, perhaps I can try…”

Upon hearing these words, Gu Huaishan’s eyes lit up.

“Mr. Lin, are you saying you can help me continue my martial cultivation?” Gu Huaishan was overwhelmed with excitement.

“As long as you can endure the pain, I can help you.”

To be honest, Lin Le didn’t hold out much hope, since the method he intended to use was not something most people could withstand. He could only hope Gu Huaishan wouldn’t give up halfway.