stonecrandall Chapter 144 The Cultivator on the Crest of the Wave
Chapter 144 The Cultivator on the Crest of the Wave
Chapter 144: The Cultivator on the Crest of the Wave
Lin Yan carried Xiao Qi back to the room, temporarily putting aside his chaotic thoughts about "the Way of Heaven" and "the Way of Humanity." Since he couldn't figure it out, he simply stopped thinking about it. After calming down, his mischievous side resurfaced. He pressed Xiao Qi down onto the soft bed and, with both hands, began to rub the fluffy little creature until its fur stood on end, making it look like a white ball with its fur standing on end.
"Hahaha, our Little Seven has turned into a dandelion!" Lin Yan pointed at it and laughed mischievously. Little Seven howled angrily and pounced on him, biting his fingers with its still-growing baby teeth. The two of them immediately started wrestling on the bed, making the expensive mahogany bed creak and nearly fall apart. In the end, Lin Yan used his size and strength advantage to easily subdue Little Seven several times, finally ending this "battle".
After a few days of lounging at home, Lin Yan couldn't sit still any longer. The hustle and bustle of Los Angeles had become tiresome, and places like Hollywood film sets held no appeal for him. He picked up the phone and called Carlos: "Any fun places nearby? I'm going to rot if I stay here any longer."
Carlos thought for a moment on the other end of the phone and asked, "Lin, do you surf? Lots of young people ride the waves at Malibu Beach." Surfing? The word instantly ignited Lin Yan's interest. Riding the waves? It sounded even more wild and unrestrained than flying on a sword. This young master can't handle earth-shattering events for now, but isn't treading on mere waves a sure thing? Thinking of this, he immediately felt an irresistible urge.
"Let's do it!" He hung up the phone, rushed downstairs like a whirlwind, and shouted to Lin Er, who was polishing silverware, "Get the car ready! To Malibu Beach!" He then waved to Lin Gang, who was practicing boxing in the courtyard, "Call Xiao Qi, let's go out to sea for a bit!"
Charles stood on the porch, watching the group hurriedly get into the car and drive away. He could only shake his head with a smile and mutter to himself, "Young people, they're really full of energy."
The car emerged from the shade of Beverly Hills, merging into the afternoon traffic of Los Angeles. The cityscape gradually receded, replaced by expansive views and a salty sea breeze. Driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, the Santa Monica Mountains stretched on one side, and the boundless blue Pacific Ocean on the other. Sunlight shone on the shimmering sea, and white seagulls circled overhead. Occasionally, brightly colored surf shops and motels flashed by, and young people in loose beach shorts, their skin tanned to a bronze, walked by, chatting and laughing with surfboards in hand; the air was filled with an atmosphere of freedom and vitality.
Upon arriving at Malibu Beach, a vibrant atmosphere immediately envelops you. A radio on the beach blares powerful guitar music by Dick Dale, mingling with the harmonious, upbeat harmonies of the Beach Boys. The rhythms of surf rock intertwine with the crashing waves. Under the sun, tanned men and women either ride the waves or lie on the sand basking in the sun, creating a classic scene of late 50s California beach culture.
Lin Yan immediately assigned tasks: "Lin Er, go buy three surfboards and a few pairs of swim trunks!" Lin Er responded and quickly returned with three heavy longboards common in this era—mostly made of wood or early foam cores with fiberglass. Carrying these boards towards the sea felt like carrying a mark of an era. Lin Yan then instructed Lin Gang: "Find some experienced surfing instructors; price is not a problem." Xiao Qi, already attracted by the waves, excitedly barked and rushed to the beach to wade and play in the water.
Lin Gang invited three dark-skinned, lean surfing instructors. The lessons began on the beach.
The first step is paddling. The instructors guide them on how to lie on the board, lift their heads and chests, look straight ahead, keep their fingers together, and rhythmically paddle left and right along the sides of the surfboard, adjusting their center of gravity to ensure the nose of the board is slightly above the water.
The second step is the crucial takeoff. The coach drew a diagram on the beach and explained the key points of the movement: when you feel the acceleration of the wave, place your hands parallel to the bottom of your chest to support your body, and jump onto the board instantly, with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and lower your center of gravity to maintain balance. Lin Yan and the other two practiced this movement repeatedly on the beach. Their control over their bodies was far beyond that of ordinary people, and their movements quickly became standard and fluid.
The third step is turning. The instructor briefly explained the technique of turning the board by shifting the center of gravity and using the head and hips to propel the nose. He also mentioned how to deal with large waves, such as diving over (suitable for shortboards) or turtle flip (suitable for longboards).
After basic land-based practice, Lin Yan, Lin Gang, and Lin Er, carrying heavy longboards, stepped into the cool seawater. The instructors followed behind, ready to provide guidance at any time. They estimated that if these beginners could successfully paddle on their boards in the whitecaps and occasionally try to stand up without falling into the water, they would be considered quite talented.
However, what they saw next completely overturned their understanding.
Lin Yan was the first to venture into the wave zone. He lay on the board, his arm movements initially a little clumsy, but after just two or three waves, his strokes became extremely efficient. Each entry, backstroke, and arm recovery was precise and powerful, like a human motor, easily overtaking the other surfers who were still struggling to paddle outwards. His spiritual sense quietly spread out, keenly perceiving the surging underwater currents and the energy accumulating in the waves behind him.
A large wave began to rise behind him, like a moving wall of water. The coach was about to shout, "This wave is too big, beginners get out of the way!" when he saw a sharp glint in Lin Yan's eyes.
It's now!
Just as the wave was about to push the tail of the board, instead of using his palms to prop himself up as usual, his core muscles suddenly unleashed astonishing power, like a spring compressed to its limit being released. At the same time, his ten toes, like hooks, gripped the surfboard tightly, providing a stable foothold. The entire take-off was lightning fast; it wasn't a "jump" onto the board, but rather as if he was instantly "launched" to his feet by an invisible force!
"Stand firm! Lower your center of gravity!" the coach shouted instinctively.
But Lin Yan stood extremely steady. The physical strength of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, amounting to 100,000 jin, and his perfect control over every muscle in his body made the surfboard beneath his feet seem like an extension of a flying sword. The roaring waves lifted him up, not because he was going with the flow, but because he was using his physical strength to control this force of nature!
He wasn't content to simply drift along. With a subtle thought, a barely perceptible wind manipulation technique was applied to the tail of the board and himself. He didn't fly directly, but rather skillfully adjusted the direction and speed of the nose. To onlookers, it appeared as if he had executed an extremely bold and fluid turn on the wave wall. The nose of the board suddenly swerved, not gliding along the wave wall, but instead rushing upwards against the current towards the several-meter-high wave wall!
The seawater parted before him, the immense resistance seemingly nonexistent. He slightly bent his knees, shifted his weight backward, and used the power of his waist and legs to continuously propel the board, like a sharp blade piercing the crest of a wave! This scene stunned everyone—what terrifying core strength, balance, and courage that required!
At the very moment he reached the crest of the wave, he paused, looking down at the sloping, cliff-like surface below. A thrill, similar to flying on a sword but much closer to the elements of nature, surged through him. The next instant, he shifted his weight forward, pressed down on the board, and plunged down the near-vertical wave wall!
Speed surged instantly! The whistling wind and thunderous roar of the water filled his ears. White waves chased after him, yet he always left them several body lengths behind, truly "leaving the waves to eat his dust." This was no longer surfing; it was conquest, provocation, the carefree act of trampling the mighty power of nature beneath his feet!
Meanwhile, Lin Gang and Lin Er also successfully took off. Lin Gang was composed and steady, like a mountain, unmoved by the raging waves. He used subtle shifts in his center of gravity to carve straight and powerful paths along the wave walls, specifically challenging the highest and thickest ones, using brute force to overcome skill. Lin Er, on the other hand, was more agile. He fully utilized the reaction speed of a cultivator, performing various sudden stops and turns on the wave walls, his figure elusive, like a dancer on the crest of a wave.
Most astonishingly, after a perfect dive, Lin Yan bent down and placed the excitedly squealing Xiao Qi directly onto the surfboard. The little guy gripped the front of the surfboard tightly with all four paws, facing the wind and waves, his silvery-white fur blown completely back, yet he let out a long, excited howl. "Brother, it's fun, it's fun, faster, faster!" Lin Yan, with Xiao Qi in tow, charged towards another giant wave, their figures amidst the blue sea and sky, exuding a sense of unbridled freedom and boundless joy.
With each impact, glide, and dive, Lin Yan's skin could clearly feel the power of the seawater—its resistance, its support, its fury and its gentleness. This was no longer the distant perception of "the might of heaven and earth," but a tangible experience of "the power of water." A realization gradually arose: the highest good is like water, which benefits all things without striving, yet its power can also penetrate stone and capsize a boat. The balance of strength and gentleness, going with the flow, may also be the great way.
"God...are they aliens?" A coach's mouth hung open for a long time.
"Half an hour...this is an insult to the careers of us old guys..." Another coach looked at the three figures who were swimming like fish in water in the waves and even doing all sorts of unbelievable moves, and fell into complete self-doubt.
On the beach, whistles, cheers, and shouts blended together. All the surfers, men and women alike, stopped what they were doing and watched as the three Asian men "ravaged" the waves in a way they had never imagined. It wasn't a display of skill; it was a declaration of power, a celebration of freedom! At that moment, Lin Yan and his team embodied the core spirit of surfing culture—the pursuit of limits and the challenge of nature—in the most breathtaking way.
As the setting sun painted the sea a golden-red hue, Lin Yan and his companions reluctantly returned to the beach with their surfboards. He paid the instructors a generous bonus, far exceeding the agreed-upon price.
On the way back, Lin Yan leaned back in his seat, feeling the slight soreness in his body from constantly battling the waves—a long-lost feeling of pure exhaustion and satisfaction brought about by physical exertion. Xiao Qi was fast asleep, nestled on his lap, tiny sea salt crystals still clinging to her beard.
The Pacific Ocean outside the car window continued its undulating waves. Today, without using any magical powers, he conquered the waves solely through physical learning and skills. This pure sense of accomplishment and joy, belonging to "humanity," seemed to have given him a slightly different understanding of "the Tao."