Though the zoo was small, it had its own charm. Zhou You could enjoy VIP treatment here. In a big zoo, you'd be lucky if the tigers didn't bite you.
After riding for half an hour, he felt like he was getting into the groove. "Master, let me try running on my own." He asked the trainer to step back a bit to avoid any accidents.
Zhou You decided to give it a shot himself. The horse was black, and he was yellow. Though they had different skin colors, their hearts were connected.
"Hey horse, even though I'm riding you, we're family, you know?" Zhou You kept brainwashing himself and the horse. Seeing that the horse didn't talk back, he took it as agreement.
He clamped his legs tightly around the horse's belly and gripped the reins. Softly, he chanted: "Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up."
The sound of hooves rang out endlessly. Zhou You could feel the wind brushing past his ears and couldn't help but laugh out loud on the horse. "Laughing up at the sky, I stride out the door—how could I ever be a mere commoner?"
The three people below were stunned. "Is his speed even 10 kilometers per hour?" "Well... everyone's standards are different. In his mind, he might think he's hit 40." "But he's genuinely happy." "Yeah, somehow I feel a bit envious."
Zhou You didn't care what they were saying. He was completely immersed in the joy of riding. He felt a sense of unrestrained freedom.
No wonder the ancients often said, "Wild horses, dust, living things blown by the breath of life." A true man should be like this—roaming freely between heaven and earth.
This feeling was completely different from driving a car. It stimulated adrenaline.
No wonder in movies and TV shows, those galloping warriors and knights always seemed so thrilling. This was the wildness etched into human bones.
At that moment, Zhou You wished he could draw a bow and shoot an arrow, or wield a saber and charge forward.
In others' eyes, Zhou You was just trotting along slowly. In his own perception, he felt omnipotent, lost in the vastness of the world.
Alright, that was an exaggeration. The sheer joy of galloping on a horse is something words can't capture.
"Qian Ge, help me get two horses—both gentle ones. Riding is way too fun." Zhou You's butt hurt from sitting, so he dismounted and went straight to Yu Qian.
"Sure, no problem. Stay here for a few days and let the trainer teach you more. I'll find you two horses, tame them first, and then send them over." Yu Qian wasn't stingy; he liked sharing hobbies with like-minded people.
In ancient times, sharing lofty ideals was called "having the same aspirations." Those with low, despicable goals were said to be "in cahoots."
Either way, people naturally gravitate toward those similar to themselves. If you love reading novels and someone else does too, and you discover you love the same one, you'll have plenty to talk about, and before you know it, you'll grow closer.
Sometimes in society, it's not that you lack ability or have poor character—it's just that you haven't met the right person with the same interests. As the saying goes, "If the superior loves something, the inferiors will go all out."
When the King of Chu loved slender waists, many in the palace starved to death. Playing table tennis with your boss could also open up a whole new world.
As for work ability—what's that? If they say you're good, you're good, even if you're not! If they say you're bad, you're bad, even if you're good!
Alright, that's a bit off-topic. The point is made.
At noon, they ate at the zoo, where everything was freshly slaughtered. As they say in crosstalk: "These dishes are fresh—just watered this morning with artificial organic water."
Unfortunately, Zhou You wasn't interested in the rest and just glanced around. Falconry or pigeon keeping took too much time, and he had no place for it. Dogs and cats were even more trouble—he could barely be bothered to take care of himself, let alone them.
"Jing Ge, you practice traditional martial arts. Do you know Baduanjin?" Zhou You suddenly remembered that his version of Baduanjin was just a simplified one.
"Yeah, I do. What's up? You practice it too?" Wu Jing was a bit curious.
"Yeah, every day. After doing it, my whole body feels great." Zhou You felt like something was missing if he skipped a day.
"There are several versions. I practice the Wudang version. I'll teach you later." Wu Jing didn't hold back; this stuff was easy to find online anyway.
"Oh, I forgot to mention yesterday—my wife Xie Nan is from Luzhou. I was too drunk to remember yesterday." Wu Jing scratched his head. It only came to him last night during a video call with his wife.
Zhou You was a little surprised. He wasn't much of a fan of celebrities and only knew a few. As for Xie Nan, he had no idea she was from Luzhou.
"What a coincidence? After we finish up here in a few days, bring your sister-in-law along for a visit. But better wait—I just bought a villa, still under renovation. It's almost done, just needs to air out before we can move in." Zhou You only realized what he said after finishing.
He couldn't help but laugh: "Going back to Luzhou is like going to your in-laws' place. There's no way you'd stay at my house."
Wu Jing burst out laughing: "Not necessarily. We're not married yet. If I get kicked out, I'll crash at your place."
Yu Qian hadn't realized yesterday that they had that connection. What a coincidence?
They often say, "No coincidence, no story." Otherwise, how could you write millions of words?
After lunch and a short rest, Wu Jing started teaching Zhou You the complete version. He taught in great detail.
Baduanjin stretches the tendons and promotes blood flow! The key is the tension and release—tension with intent.
The various methods and versions mostly share the same framework. Breathing also has a basic rule: inhale when tensing, exhale when relaxing.
First: "Two Hands Hold Up the Heavens to Regulate the Triple Burner" Arms straight beside the ears, head up, fingers crossed or not—it doesn't matter. The intent should reach the middle and ring fingers, not the palm base.
Second: "Drawing the Bow to Shoot the Eagle" When pulling, form a "figure-eight" palm, with intent in the thumb and index finger.
Third: "Regulating the Spleen and Stomach by Raising One Hand" Slightly pigeon-toed, intent on the inner legs to the abdomen. Hands are just supports to expand the core; use the palm base, not the fingers.
Fourth: "Looking Back to Relieve Five Strains and Seven Injuries" Turn the palms, rotate with the spine as the core, intent on the little finger.
Fifth: "Shaking the Head and Tail to Quench Heart Fire" It's not the head and butt that shake—it's the head and tail of the spine.
Sixth: "Holding the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys and Waist" Spine moves from top to bottom and back to front. When holding the feet, the crown of the head points down, pulling the back line of the legs. When rising, fix the feet, stretch hands forward, and feel the spine being pulled forward.
Seventh: "Clenching Fists and Glaring to Increase Strength" Horse stance, feet slightly turned out, spine as the core. Intent on the outer legs to the armpits. The hips drive the shoulders, fists close to the armpits when punching.
Eighth: "Bouncing on the Toes to Eliminate All Diseases" Relax and drop, intent on the center of the soles. When rising, slightly arch back; when dropping, slightly arch forward. Don't let the force land on the heels.
Wu Jing demonstrated once. Zhou You practiced once.
With a foundation in the national standard version, learning this was much easier. The breathing method was also adjusted slightly based on the individual, with subtle differences at different stages, mainly to help him adapt to his own body.
Yu Qian stood by, grinning foolishly. Who would've thought that young people nowadays were so into health preservation? In the past, it was old folks trying to extend their lives. Now, it's young people trying to retire safely!