The Way of Restraint

Chapter 28: Muscle Activation and the Union of Inner and Outer Techniques

Su Jie recalled how, during his training with Odell, the first step involved focusing strength on the small of his back, aligned with his navel, creating elasticity. If he couldn’t grasp it initially, Odell would use acupressure techniques to induce pain, forcing Su Jie to resist and channel his strength. Over time, with just a thought, Su Jie could concentrate power on his lower back, which grew increasingly strong.

In martial arts, the waist is considered the ruler of the body, the source of all strength. Yet, it is also the most vulnerable part. All martial arts include waist training. Whether it’s hammer swinging, tire rolling, or weightlifting, they all serve to strengthen the waist. However, the waist is prone to injuries during such training.

“Focus now, adjust your mind, and prepare for stimulation,” Uncle Mang said as he adjusted the machine before pressing a button.

Click!

In an instant, Su Jie experienced unbearable pain throughout his body. The pain was indescribable, far exceeding that of being sliced to death—ten times worse, even surpassing the pain of childbirth. Someone with weaker nerves would have passed out immediately.

Fortunately, Su Jie had a wooden chopstick in his mouth; otherwise, he might have bitten off his tongue. Even so, the chopstick was bitten into pieces.

“Here, bite down on this rubber pad,” Uncle Mang said, replacing the chopstick with a pad.

At this point, Su Jie realized his lower body was soaked. The intense pain had caused him to lose control, resulting in both urinary and fecal incontinence.

Uncle Mang was unfazed, swiftly helping Su Jie change his clothes and take a shower. He also replaced the massage table before continuing the stimulation.

“That was just to give you a taste of what top-tier agents go through in daily training. Among all forms of torture, electric shocks are the most cruel and inhumane. However, if used correctly, they can also serve as a vital method to enhance physical capabilities. In ancient Chinese philosophy, the ‘I Ching’ states that ‘Thunder emerges from the mountain, and all things spring forth.’ Scientifically, amino acids, the building blocks of life, were believed to have formed when lightning struck the ocean, creating the earliest cells. Electric stimulation is a modern, scientifically validated training method. Even pacemakers rely on electrical principles to stimulate cardiac and pulmonary function. Your loss of control is normal. With repeated exposure, your nerves will adapt,” Uncle Mang explained.

“Let’s do it again,” Su Jie gritted his teeth. The thought of enduring a second round was daunting. Compared to the earlier electric stimulation, the pain from massages and acupuncture was insignificant.

After all, this was the first time pain had caused him to lose control of his bodily functions.

“This is one of the training regimens for the world’s top agents. Just imagine how terrifyingly resilient those elite agents must be,” Su Jie thought, deeply shocked by the sheer determination of such individuals.

Buzz, buzz, buzz…

The second round of electric stimulation began. Even though Su Jie was mentally prepared, fully focused, and employing all his strength, the electric current completely overwhelmed him. His muscles lost all control, rendering any tension or relaxation utterly useless.

‘I once read a news report about internet addiction centers using electric shocks to treat students. Those who were shocked became docile and stopped playing games. Now, I finally understand how horrifying it is. This is pure hell,’ Su Jie thought, unable to articulate his feelings.

Fortunately, after each session, Uncle Mang applied medicinal ointments and had Su Jie drink a tonic.

“You’ve undergone hard-body conditioning, so your tolerance is much higher than that of ordinary people. Consider this: in the past, revolutionaries captured by the Ja*panese endured electric shocks and other tortures but never revealed a word. The human spirit can be unimaginably strong. Also, I’ve calibrated the electric current to suit your body’s limits using a computer algorithm, ensuring maximum training efficiency,” Uncle Mang explained. “This artificial intelligence system, which I brought back from abroad, makes precise adjustments to the stimulation. Only AI can provide such optimized training, far beyond human capability.”

“So that’s why,” Su Jie thought, suddenly understanding why Odell, despite being a top-tier martial arts coach, was outclassed by artificial intelligence. The precision required to enhance a human body’s potential through electric stimulation was beyond human capability.

“Has Minglun Martial Arts Academy adopted this training method?” Su Jie asked.

“Not yet. No one is willing to endure this level of pain. Without pushing the body to its limits, the effects are minimal. Of course, it’s still beneficial, but it won’t lead to significant breakthroughs. Those who can’t even handle my massages could never endure this training,” Uncle Mang replied. “As martial artists, we must embrace modern advancements to stay ahead.”

Zzzzzz…

The faint electric current stimulated his body once again.  

Su Jie felt as though he was dying over and over, but each time, he used his willpower and nervous control to resist by coordinating his muscles and bones.  

Two hours passed, and Su Jie was drenched in sweat. He felt more exhausted than training nonstop for ten days and nights.  

“That’s it for today’s stimulation. We’ll continue tomorrow,” Uncle Mang’s words filled Su Jie with an overwhelming urge to escape from this place forever.  

Dragging his body, which felt as if it might collapse at any moment, back to the bedroom, Su Jie still gritted his teeth and persisted in writing in his journal.  

[August 15th: I actually managed to beat Josh in a street fight once, but I think if we fought a few more rounds, I’d probably lose more than I’d win. Zhang Manman turned out to have been a bounty hunter—what a fascinating world. I really need to go abroad someday to broaden my horizons.  

Today, I endured the electric current stimulation from the agent training. It was unbearable. I’m just a high school student. Shouldn’t I be focusing on my studies instead of enduring this torture? Should I quit tomorrow? No, Su Jie, you’ve already endured so much. How can you not push through this final challenge?  

This electric stimulation is the most modern training method. My martial arts, if subjected to long-term training like this, might reach a level unimaginable to ordinary people. Uncle Mang is providing me with experimental data through this training, along with fortified wine and plenty of nutritional supplements.  

I think I have to persevere to reap the greatest rewards. If I back down now, how will I achieve great things in the future? How will I defeat that person…?]

Though utterly exhausted, Su Jie meticulously documented his psychological changes and the events of his day.  

Then, he climbed into bed and fell into a deep sleep using the “Great Corpse State.”  

He slept so soundly that he completely lost consciousness.  

At 3 a.m., he woke up, feeling entirely refreshed. It seemed that the electric stimulation not only pushed his limits but also alleviated his fatigue and eased his mind.  

He searched online using his phone and discovered that many professional athletes abroad also used electrode massages to relieve lactic acid buildup in their muscles and reduce fatigue, which enhanced their performance.  

Uncle Mang’s electric stimulation, however, was far more scientific and precise.  

Hungry!  

That was Su Jie’s first physiological reaction upon waking.  

He realized that the electric stimulation likely caused his muscles to tense up and consume a lot of Qi.  

Thankfully, his bedside was stocked with plenty of nutritional supplements like chocolate and Qi bars. With 130,000 yuan in his pocket—earned from small arena fights—he was far from lacking money.  

If not for the recent overcrowding that limited his participation, he might have earned even more.  

After eating a few pieces of chocolate and Qi bars to ease his hunger, Su Jie went to the bathroom, washed up, and drank warm water—something he always did to maintain the warmth of his digestive system.  

Odell had once taught him this small but important trick. During physical activity, the body’s internal heat is expelled through sweat, leaving the internal organs cold. Drinking cold water afterward only makes it worse, leading to a weakened stomach and spleen over time. Warm water, however, restores internal warmth and helps maintain the body’s overall balance.  

Never underestimate such details—they’re the key to sustaining peak physical condition.  

After breathing exercises to expel the turbid air from his lungs, Su Jie practiced Odell’s joint exercises and flexibility routines. He felt noticeably lighter, and movements that once felt stiff now flowed effortlessly.  

“Could the electric stimulation really have such a significant effect?” he muttered to himself, surprised by his clear improvement.  

When he focused his thoughts on a particular part of his body, that area would harden like iron. The moment he shifted his focus away, the area would immediately relax, soft and powerless like cotton.  

“Have my martial arts progressed again?” Su Jie gleefully continued practicing different movements. He even managed to increase his push-up sets.  

“Not bad! When Qi and strength align, and intention and Qi unite, you achieve the Six Harmonies. Any punch that incorporates the Six Harmonies qualifies as internal martial arts. Without it, it’s merely external martial arts. The so-called distinction between internal and external martial arts is really about levels of mastery. External means being an outsider, while internal means you’ve entered the inner circle.  

Even in kickboxing, if your movements achieve the Six Harmonies, it’s internal martial arts. Without them, it’s external.”

At 5 a.m., during Su Jie’s training, he happened to run into Gu Yang, who was also out for exercise.  

“I understand that Chinese martial arts emphasize the Six Harmonies: the external harmonies of hands and feet, elbows and knees, and shoulders and hips are straightforward enough to grasp. But what exactly are the internal harmonies of mind and intention, intention and Qi, and Qi and strength? Coach, could you explain it to me?” Su Jie immediately asked.  

Having gained limited knowledge from Odell due to time constraints, he seized every opportunity to learn more. At this stage, he had completed the basic physical shaping exercises and needed to rely on his own comprehension while absorbing a wealth of theoretical knowledge.  

Ancient martial arts manuals and theories had now become invaluable resources to him.  

For ordinary people, ancient manuals might seem like nothing more than martial arts myths. Even if given a hundred books, they wouldn’t understand them. But for Su Jie, these resources held great potential. 

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