"You two should get to know each other."
"Han Mo is the captain of a squad in the City Guards. If you ever need anything, you can find him."
Liang Song sat beside the stone table and spoke leisurely.
"I am Han Mo, a captain in the City Guards."
"It’s been a long time since I came to visit Mr. Liang. I didn’t expect Mr. Liang to take on a new apprentice during this visit." Han Mo said with a smile.
He is stationed outside the city during the day and rarely has free time, occasionally visiting Mr. Liang at night.
And today was only the second time Lin Zheyu came over at night, so it’s the first time the two have met.
"I’ve heard Mr. Liang has taught several people martial arts. Why haven’t I seen any of them?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.
"Our City Guards have to station outside the city, frequently going out for ten days or half a month to fight bandits, so naturally, you wouldn’t meet them."
"As for the other three, I’ve only met them a few times."
"I heard they fled to Songyi City from other places to escape troubles. After learning martial arts, they went back home for revenge and were never seen again."
"I don’t know how they are doing now."
Han Mo sighed. In such a chaotic world, some people vanish just like that.
"Fighting bandits outside the city?"
"With so many bandits around, is it even possible to eliminate them?" Lin Zheyu was puzzled.
Ever since the chaotic armies appeared, banditry has been rampant. Without resolving the root cause, no amount of fighting bandits will be effective.
"Even if they can’t be wiped out completely, we still have to fight them. Otherwise, the trade routes would be cut off."
"Without the City Guards clearing the way and maintaining open trade routes, those bandits would become even more uncontrollable," Han Mo said helplessly.
"Let’s stop chatting for now."
"Lin Zheyu, you go practice first and work off the alcohol." Liang Song said.
Han Mo smiled and cupped his hands towards Lin Zheyu, then walked beside Liang Song to watch Lin Zheyu practice martial arts.
Under the bright moonlight.
Lin Zheyu took off his shirt and began practicing the Golden Swan Skill.
With the practice of the past few days, his footwork became more and more agile.
His figure maneuvered back and forth in the courtyard, with unpredictable and elusive movements that puzzled others.
"This is the Golden Swan Skill, indeed. Mr. Lin has such exceptional comprehension that it’s enviable."
Han Mo watched Lin Zheyu with admiration in his eyes.
Initially, Liang Song only taught him a third-rate saber skill, but after Han Mo had followed Liang Song for a long time and Liang Song understood his character, he also taught him the Golden Swan Skill.
Unfortunately, Han Mo had average comprehension and couldn’t learn this intricate and complex skill.
After practicing for a few years, he still wasn’t as good as Lin Zheyu after just a few days.
"No need to envy him. With your aptitude, being able to master the Six Harmonies Blade is enough for a lifetime."
Liang Song gave a fleeting glance at him: "Have you reached the threshold of the Qi Blood Realm after more than a month of battle outside?"
"No."
"It’s too difficult. During intense battles, I feel my blood boiling."
"But as soon as the battle stops and I try to understand it further, I can’t sense the presence of blood and energy," Han Mo lamented, his face looking a bit frustrated.
"Not bad, at least you can sense the Qi Blood during combat."
"The Qi Blood Realm is a significant threshold. Most martial artists are stagnant because they can’t perceive or understand the Qi Blood."
"Participating in more intense battles will familiarize you with that feeling, and you’ll naturally enter the Qi Blood Realm." Liang Song said calmly.
The two sat beside the stone table, eating small dishes, chatting, and watching Lin Zheyu practice martial arts.
Time slowly passed.
Lin Zheyu practiced for more than an hour, and the alcohol evaporated from his body along with his sweat, leaving not a trace of drunkenness.
"Go ahead."
"You and Lin Zheyu practice a bit." Liang Song said.
"Yes, master."
Han Mo took off his jacket, wearing a tight short-sleeve, revealing his sturdy muscles.
The moonlight showered upon him, revealing over a dozen scars of various sizes on his exposed arms.
Han Mo took a dull saber for sparring from the courtyard and swung it around; it was quite handy for him.
"I practice the Six Harmonies Blade, and my martial skills rely entirely on weapons. Without weapons, half my strength is gone." Han Mo smiled and waved the dull saber: "Blades and swords have no eyes, Mr. Lin, be careful."
"I’ve been practicing martial arts for more than ten years, stuck at the Peak of Refining the Internal Organs without progressing further."
"I heard from our master you reached Bone Forging in less than two months, with exceptional aptitude. It won’t be long before you surpass me."
"Just starting with martial arts, initially it’s fast, but it slows down later on," Lin Zheyu said modestly.
Standing two meters away from Han Mo, he assumed the stance of the Golden Swan Skill.
Previously, when sparring with the master, it was all hand-to-hand combat, and he hadn’t tried using hand combat techniques against a weapon yet.
"The saying goes, ’An inch longer is stronger, an inch shorter is riskier.’
"The long is strong, dominating; the short is tricky, concealing lethal intent."
"When fighting a martial artist with a weapon, you need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of weapons and counter them with the flexibility and variability of hand combat,"
Mr. Liang said leisurely: "You may begin now."
"Mr. Han, I beg your pardon!"
Lin Zheyu clasped his hands, then assumed his stance.
The Six Harmonies Blade was plain and straightforward, concise and quick, with every strike powerful and imposing.
The practicality of the saber skill was extremely high. Once mastered to a certain level, the saber moved with the body, seamlessly integrating with it, allowing for limitless variations.
Yet, no matter how concise and quick, its flexibility could never match hand combat techniques.
To defeat Mr. Han, Lin Zheyu needed to approach within a meter of him for close combat.
Under the moonlit night, Lin Zheyu’s figure shot forward, quickly closing in on Han Mo.
Han Mo wielded the dull saber, with the moonlight reflecting cold glimmers off the blade, making a horizontal strike that quickly forced Lin Zheyu to retreat.
He stepped forward with his right foot, the blade flashing fiercely, chopping down at Lin Zheyu’s head.
Lin Zheyu quickly bent low, nimbly moving, seizing the moment when Han Mo couldn’t retract his blade to approach closely.
"Hey!"
Han Mo chuckled, being well aware of Lin Zheyu’s patterns.
He had sparred with Mr. Liang for over ten years, already figuring out how to counter this body technique.
Although he would lose to Mr. Liang in a few moves, against Mr. Lin, who was inexperienced, Han Mo’s saber technique was displayed to its fullest potential.
"So strong!"
Lin Zheyu distanced himself, slightly panting.
The intense assault just now left him somewhat overwhelmed.
Han Mo’s saber technique was formidable, reaching a level where the saber moved with the body and varied freely.
Under his defense, Lin Zheyu couldn’t break through the saber defense circle and approach him.
"The saber moves with the body; only when the body moves does the saber follow."
"You need to focus on the opponent’s body movements; no matter how fast the saber is, it takes time for the hand’s strength to transmit to the saber."
"Seize this gap, see through the opponent’s saber technique trajectory, and make predictions in advance," Liang Song reminded him.
Lin Zheyu carefully recalled the process of his earlier attack, exhaled slowly, and launched another assault.
In the courtyard.
Han Mo brandished the dull saber vigorously, with an imposing demeanor.
Lin Zheyu utilized his flexible body technique, constantly dodging Han Mo’s attacks and seizing opportunities to launch counterattacks.
The two engaged in a back-and-forth battle.
"Mr. Lin’s combat talent is impressive!" Han Mo sighed.
As the fight progressed, Lin Zheyu managed to endure longer and longer under his saber, beginning to grasp the knack of countering.
In a careless moment, Lin Zheyu was sent flying by Han Mo’s saber blade.
"Again!"
Lin Zheyu rubbed his back. Fortunately, it was Gentler than Mr. Liang’s hand.
Under the moonlit night.
One figure stood firm, wielding the dull saber tightly and powerfully.
The other figure, nimble beyond measure, maneuvered dexterously under the saber, continually looking for chances to close in.
Their combat lasted more than an hour until Mr. Liang called a halt.
Han Mo was slightly panting, but the way he looked at Lin Zheyu changed.
This kid is a beast, doesn’t he tire?
Though clearly exhausted, face pale and breathing heavily, he could still launch attack after attack—a truly astonishing stamina.
"No wonder Mr. Lin has achieved so much; his perseverance alone is admirable!" Han Mo exclaimed.
...