Starting from the mid-to-late 1980s, a nationwide qigong craze swept across China. People practiced the Five Animal Frolics, Crane Stance, Arhat Gong, and later, Xiang Gong. In just a few years, qigong enthusiasts reached over 60 million, with dozens of qigong newspapers and magazines, various academic works on qigong, qigong medical clinics, and qigong performances flourishing everywhere. In fact, the tai chi craze was actually a byproduct of the qigong boom.

Brian Perry took a walk around but didn’t spot Samantha Ford; those practicing tai chi were mostly elderly men and women, who all seemed to be retired teachers or staff from the school.

Brian Perry wandered around the training facility area for two hours, but never saw any sign of Samantha Ford, and had to leave in disappointment. Still, he didn’t give up, and on the third day, he got up early again and quietly sat at the edge of the arena, waiting patiently.

Four days in a row, he still didn’t see Samantha Ford.

Just as Brian Perry was feeling disappointed and considering other options, on the fifth day at 10 a.m., as he was about to leave the training facility area, he saw, not far ahead on a tree-lined path, seven or eight young men and women in white tai chi uniforms walking side by side—clearly students from Jinghua University.

Brian Perry looked over, and his eyes immediately lit up, the corners of his mouth twitching with excitement.

Although the image of Samantha Ford in Brian Perry’s mind was fixed as the mature, charming, and noble businesswoman from his previous life, as someone observant, he still recognized at a glance the Samantha Ford of this era, a little inexperienced but full of youthful energy.

Even though her white baseball cap covered her coiled long hair and half her face, her stunning beauty and elegant bearing were impossible to hide. The oversized black sunglasses allowed Brian Perry to see only the perfect curve of her lips, which exuded a confident and reserved grace.

At the same time, Brian Perry also spotted a familiar face, a junior from the Chinese Department, Steven Joyce.

Steven Joyce was carrying a single-cassette recorder. The group of students quickly lined up on the field, and as soon as Steven Joyce played the music “Clouds and Water, Zen Heart,” they all began to practice tai chi.

There are many schools of tai chi in China, but the tai chi popular in universities doesn’t actually belong to any particular school. Instead, it’s a new style adapted by the National Sports Commission, focused on fitness and with more emphasis on performance.

Brian Perry watched for a while from the side, secretly shaking his head. To have practiced tai chi to such a superficial, showy level—he couldn’t help but feel it was a sad fate for this national treasure.

Steven Joyce and the others practiced for half an hour before their coach, Charles Goodwin, finally arrived, fashionably late.

Charles Goodwin clapped his hands, and Steven Joyce immediately ran over to turn off the music. Then everyone gathered around, smiling.

“…Everyone must remember: tai chi emphasizes lightness and composure, the balance of hardness and softness. Every movement should be light and composed, neither floating nor stiff, soft on the outside and strong within. The force should be complete and elastic, never clumsy… Today, we won’t learn new moves. We’ll review the first sixteen forms. First, we’ll practice together twice, then each person will perform once, and I’ll give individual guidance. All right, let’s do that.”

Charles Goodwin waved his hand, signaling Steven Joyce to play the music again and continue practicing.

The gentle, elegant music drifted like a few white clouds floating leisurely across the vast sky. But in Brian Perry’s eyes, the tai chi movements of Steven Joyce and the others didn’t match the music at all, and they were far from achieving the harmonious state of unity between man and nature.

He crossed his arms over his chest and slowly approached the edge of the field, a faint, mocking smile on his lips. If it weren’t for the chance to get close to Samantha Ford, he would never have chosen to draw attention in this way.

As a result, quite a few team members noticed his presence, and Steven Joyce immediately recognized Brian Perry.

Charles Goodwin frowned, glanced at Brian Perry, and waved for him to move farther away so as not to disturb the team’s practice. But since Brian Perry had come with a purpose, there was no way he would leave.

Brian Perry clapped his hands and said with a casual smile, “Practicing like this won’t do. You have the form but no spirit, and there’s no talk of balancing hardness and softness or moving the form with intention. All you get from this flashy routine is a sweaty workout, but you won’t even achieve the goal of strengthening your body.”

With Brian Perry’s interruption, the group couldn’t continue practicing. Charles Goodwin angrily pressed the button on the recorder, looked up at Brian Perry, and scolded, “Who are you? What are you doing here causing trouble?”

Samantha Ford, clearly the organizer of the group, frowned and stepped forward, glancing at Brian Perry, “What are you doing? Which department are you from?”

Steven Joyce also came over, frowning, “Brother Perry, what are you doing here? Didn’t you already graduate and go back to Xin’an?”

Brian Perry chuckled, “I’m in the capital on business, so I came back to visit the school. Little Steven, you’re preparing for the performance for the 50th anniversary celebration, right? The flashy moves are fine, but they only look the part, not the spirit. You won’t get much out of it.”

“What do you know?” Charles Goodwin waved dismissively, but before he could finish, Brian Perry interjected calmly, “Tai chi? I know a little, even if it’s just the basics, but it’s still better than flashy routines.”

Charles Goodwin was furious, almost ready to storm off.