NOVEL SIMPLE The Lazy Tiger Takes a Stroll
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By the time Li Wei entered his seventh year, whispers about his quiet strength fluttered around the village like leaves in the autumn breeze. "That boy moves like a tiger," they'd say, though Li Wei would prefer if the tiger moved a little slower. If there was one thing he learned in his previous life, it was that progress—like a well-cooked meal—shouldn't be rushed.
His favorite secret weapon? A book he read in his past life called Atomic Habits. "Small changes lead to big results," the author promised, which sounded like exactly the kind of slow-paced philosophy Li Wei could get behind. In his last life, he had been rather, well, laid-back (not to be confused with lazy, he reminded himself), and now that philosophy would serve him well in mastering the Tiger Boxing Manual. All he needed was to make a few tweaks to his daily routine, and soon enough, he'd become a 3rd-rate warrior. Eventually. Probably.
One cool autumn morning, Li Wei stood at the edge of the village, squinting down the mountain path like he was evaluating whether walking down it was worth the effort. The elders always warned the children about the dangers of the mountain—tigers, bandits, evil spirits... and steep inclines, which seemed just as intimidating. He wasn't particularly worried about any of those things. What concerned him was the fact that 10 kilometers of steep terrain was between him and Longjiang.
"Do we really need to walk?" Li Wei muttered, glancing at his father.
His father, of course, was not the type to let his son contemplate rolling down the mountain as a means of transportation. He gave Li Wei the look—the one that said, "Don't even think about it."
With a sigh, Li Wei accepted his fate and followed. As they made their way down the treacherous path, he mentally ticked off how many calories he'd burn and how much muscle definition this would add. "Every step is a win," he told himself, quoting Atomic Habits in his mind, while his body was screaming, "Why aren't we there yet?"
When they finally reached Longjiang, Li Wei felt a slight sense of accomplishment. Not because he had conquered the mountain path, but because he had managed to do so without tripping over a rock and tumbling down like a runaway cart.
The town itself was buzzing with life. People bustled from one place to another, and Li Wei watched, bemused. "So this is what civilization looks like," he thought. His village seemed so small now in comparison. Here, merchants shouted their deals, blacksmiths hammered steel, and one stall was selling what looked like fried... scorpions? Li Wei made a mental note to stay far away from that stand.
They were here on business, but Li Wei was more interested in observing how people moved. The way they negotiated prices, the way they carried themselves—all of it was like a different kind of martial art. "Hmm, maybe if I study these merchants, I'll learn how to haggle for better equipment in the future," he mused.
As his parents spoke with the mayor, Li Wei wandered around, blending into the background. He moved quietly, taking in the sights without drawing attention to himself. After all, why stand out when you can just... stroll?
The highlight of the trip was when they passed a martial arts shop. Li Wei's eyes widened as he saw an array of weapons and gear. His father caught his expression and chuckled. "Looks like you found something interesting."
Li Wei didn't answer right away, mostly because he was too busy calculating if Atomic Habits would justify adding a morning visit to this shop every day. "Just a few small adjustments," he reasoned. "Wake up, eat, lift weights, come to town, casually browse weapons—totally doable."
The shopkeeper, noticing his interest, tried to sell him a sword. "This blade was forged by master blacksmiths," the man began, launching into a long-winded sales pitch about the sword's craftsmanship, balance, and tiger-slaying capabilities.
Li Wei nodded politely, though he was internally thinking, Do I really need a sword? I mean, the Tiger Boxing Manual hasn't let me down yet. But just in case, he smiled and promised to come back later. "After all, you never know when you'll need a fancy sword to make your strolls more interesting," he mused.
The return trip up the mountain was, predictably, slower than the descent. As they trudged back, Li Wei reflected on the town and how different it was from his village. He didn't feel the pull to leave his peaceful home behind, but he also felt like there was more out there he could learn. He just wasn't in a rush. Atomic Habits had taught him well—one small step at a time.
Back at the village, life resumed its usual, steady pace. His training with the Tiger Boxing Manual continued, but Li Wei had a secret weapon now. He'd created a new habit loop: wake up, practice martial arts, eat breakfast, meditate, and then—most importantly—take a nap. After all, a well-rested mind was just as crucial as a strong body.
The villagers might have admired his strength, but what they didn't know was that Li Wei had mastered the art of doing the bare minimum... brilliantly. His progress was slow but steady. Sure, he could have rushed things, pushed his body to the limit every day, but why do that when you could build habits that practically worked for you?
In the end, Li Wei was content to keep strolling through life like the lazy tiger in his manual—calm, deliberate, and always ready to take another small step forward. Even if that step included a well-timed nap along the way.