High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

「Early morning on the first day of the New Year.」

Xu Wuyi woke to the soft murmur of his parents’ voices from downstairs, accompanied by the crisp clang of a spatula against a wok.

He got up, dressed, and went downstairs.

In the living room, Father Xu was fiddling with the TV, trying to find the morning news. Mrs. Xu peeked out from the kitchen, a smile on her face. ”Ah Yi, you’re awake? Go wash up. Breakfast is almost ready.”

”Mom, Happy New Year,” Xu Wuyi said.

”Happy New Year, Happy New Year.” Mrs. Xu nodded again and again before turning back to her work in the kitchen.

After washing up, Xu Wuyi walked into the living room. The television screen showed the celebration in Xingjing, hosted by an announcer in festive red attire with a cheerful tone.

”Dad, Happy New Year.”

Father Xu turned and smiled. ”Happy New Year. Did you sleep well last night?”

”Yes, very soundly.”

’It really was a sound sleep. No Cultivation, no Visualization—just a deep, dreamless sleep until dawn.’

Breakfast was sweet rice balls and dumplings.

The sweet rice balls had been made the night before. They had sesame filling, thin skins, and were generously stuffed, filling his mouth with sweetness at every bite. The dumplings were filled with a three-delicacy mixture. Mrs. Xu had intentionally made extra, citing the saying, ”Dumplings on the first day, noodles on the second,” for good luck.

The family sat around the dining table, eating breakfast in comfortable silence.

Outside, the sound of firecrackers popped intermittently, and the occasional peal of children’s laughter drifted in from down the street.

The television continued to show celebrations from around the country, the feed switching between one festive city square and the next.

”After breakfast, we need to go to your uncle’s for a New Year’s visit,” Father Xu said. ”He called yesterday and insisted you come over.”

Xu Wuyi nodded. ”Okay.”

His uncle lived in the Red River Old Town District, a twenty-minute drive away.

In previous years, Father Xu and Mrs. Xu had always gone by themselves. Xu Wuyi was usually busy with his Cultivation or at Star Martial, so he rarely participated in such family gatherings.

But this year was different.

He was now a ”Federation Hero,” the most accomplished of the Xu Family’s younger generation. His uncle had specifically asked for him to come; it wasn’t just about familial affection, but a form of recognition from the clan.

Xu Wuyi understood this, but he didn’t mind.

’To live in this world is to have attachments and ties. Family is one of the purest of these bonds. Even if it’s mixed with other things, its essence is still warm.’

After breakfast, Mrs. Xu began to pack the gifts they would bring.

Two boxes of high-end tea, two bottles of fine wine, and several health supplements. Father Xu had prepared them all in advance. They were exquisitely packaged and clearly expensive.

”Isn’t this a bit too extravagant?” Mrs. Xu hesitated.

”His brother’s family has always been good to us,” Father Xu said. ”Back when we weren’t well-off, they never looked down on us. Now that Ah Yi is successful, it’s time we reciprocate.”

Xu Wuyi said nothing, simply helping to carry the gifts to the car.

At nine o’clock, the family departed.

The car drove through the Red River City District. The streets were adorned with festive lanterns and banners. Most shops were closed for the holiday, with only a few convenience stores remaining open.

Pedestrians were sparse, but occasionally they would see children in new clothes setting off firecrackers on the sidewalk.

The New Year spirit was palpable.

Xu Wuyi gazed out the window, feeling calm.

Twenty minutes later, the car pulled up to the entrance of an old residential complex.

His uncle lived on the third floor, and there was no elevator.

Xu Wuyi carried the gifts and led the way, with Father Xu and Mrs. Xu following behind. The stairwell was decorated with New Year’s couplets and characters for good fortune, and the air was thick with the faint smell of cooking fumes.

He knocked. The door was opened by his cousin, Xu Yan.

”Uncle, Auntie, Wuyi!” Xu Yan greeted them with a smile. ”Come in, come in! It’s cold out there.”

The living room was already full of people.

His uncle, Xu Jianguo; his aunt; his cousin, Xu Siyao; and a few distant relatives Xu Wuyi didn’t recognize.

Everyone stood up as they entered.

”Second Brother, you’re here!” Xu Jianguo walked over with a smile and clapped Father Xu firmly on the shoulder. ”Ah Yi, come, have a seat.”

”Uncle, Happy New Year.” Xu Wuyi placed the gifts in a corner.

”Happy New Year to you, too.” Xu Jianguo pulled him down onto the sofa. ”You rascal, you’ve been back for so long and haven’t come to see your old uncle. If I hadn’t seen it on the news, I never would’ve known you’d become a Federation Hero!”

His tone was a mixture of pride and mock complaint.

Xu Wuyi smiled. ”Things have been hectic recently, so I didn’t get the chance.”

”Of course, of course,” his aunt said, bringing him a cup of tea. ”You’ve just returned from the front lines; you must need your rest. How are you? You weren’t injured, were you?”

”No, I’m fine.”

”That’s wonderful, just wonderful.” His aunt nodded again and again, then turned to Mrs. Xu. ”You’re so lucky, to have raised such an accomplished son.”

Mrs. Xu beamed, unable to hide her smile. ”It’s all thanks to his own hard work.”

The atmosphere in the living room grew lively.

The relatives crowded around Xu Wuyi, peppering him with questions about the battlefield, the award ceremony, and his plans for the future.

Xu Wuyi answered what he could and was vague about the rest.

They stayed at his uncle’s house for lunch.

The table was laden with a feast, all handmade by his aunt.

Toasts were exchanged throughout the meal. Father Xu and Xu Jianguo drank a fair amount and grew more talkative, reminiscing about embarrassing childhood stories, their late parents, and the changes the Xu Family had undergone over the years.

Xu Wuyi listened quietly, occasionally taking a bite of food.

He rarely attended such family gatherings, but he didn’t dislike them.

’Blood ties were a strange thing. Even if you didn’t keep in touch often, there was still a natural sense of closeness when you were all together.’

After the meal, they chatted for a while longer before the three members of the Xu family took their leave.

Back in the car, Father Xu was slightly tipsy and leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest. Mrs. Xu said softly, ”Your uncle was so happy today.”

”He was,” Xu Wuyi agreed.

He could tell his uncle’s happiness was genuine.

It wasn’t just because he had become a Federation Hero. It was because the Xu Family had produced an accomplished heir, bringing honor to the entire clan.

’These were the values of ordinary people—simple, direct, and yet warm.’

...

Over the next few days, Xu Wuyi accompanied his parents on a tour of all their relatives in Red River City.

His second aunt’s house, his third uncle’s, his other aunt’s... At each home, they would stay for an hour or two, eating, chatting, and accepting all manner of praise, some sincere, some merely polite.

Xu Wuyi’s attitude remained consistent through it all.

He was neither arrogant nor overly modest. He spoke when appropriate and listened quietly when it was time for silence.

When elders asked about the battlefield, he shared a few trivial anecdotes. When his peers asked about Martial Arts Cultivation, he gave a simple explanation.

His calm demeanor, in turn, helped his more reserved relatives to relax.

Gradually, the conversation shifted away from his accomplishments and back to everyday matters: whose child was preparing for college entrance exams, which family’s elderly parent was in poor health, who was having a good year in business...

Xu Wuyi listened quietly to all the trivial details.

’This was what life was really like. It wasn’t all grand, earth-shattering events. More often, it was about the daily grind, the small family dramas, and the affection and warmth shared between ordinary people.’

In the quiet moments between visiting family and friends, he still maintained his daily Cultivation.