Chapter 52: Training Methods and Combat Styles, the Four-Sided Blade

"Training methods and combat methods?" Lu Qing was surprised.

"Correct," the old doctor said.

"The so-called training method, also known as the cultivation method, means exactly what it says: a way to nourish the body, temper the physical form, and enhance one's own physical strength."

"The Body-Nourishing Fist I taught you is actually a physical tempering technique of my own creation."

"As for combat methods..."

The old doctor paused to organize his thoughts before continuing.

"Martial artists who cultivate the martial path possess vigorous blood and qi and full spirits. Most of them possess strong personalities, making it inevitable that they will be competitive and prone to conflict."

"Therefore, throughout long periods of struggle, in order to achieve victory, martial artists gradually created many highly aggressive techniques—these are the combat methods."

"Combat methods are also known as killing methods. Most of these martial arts are not intended to nourish or temper the body; instead, they focus on how to unleash the greatest destructive power and lethality in the shortest amount of time at the lowest cost to strike down an opponent."

"Thus, in terms of pure lethality, combat martial arts are far superior to training martial arts."

"Nourishing methods and killing methods..." Lu Qing pondered these two terms carefully.

But from these two names alone, he could sense the turbulence on the path of martial arts—it was likely a cruel path where life and death could be decided at any moment.

"Master, you said Body-Nourishing Fist is a training method, so what is the combat method of our lineage?" Lu Qing couldn't help but ask.

"Our lineage has no combat method."

The old doctor's next sentence left Lu Qing stunned.

"There is no need for that expression," the old doctor said with a hint of amusement. "Your master is not skilled at fighting; what is strange about not being able to create a powerful combat method?"

Only then did Lu Qing remember that his master was a physician—and a very kind-hearted one at that—who disliked conflict.

Perhaps his lack of a competitive drive was the very reason he hadn't created a powerful combat method.

"However, although I am not skilled at fighting, I do have a few decent combat martial arts in my possession. Do you want to learn them?"

"Huh?" Lu Qing was stunned again. "Master, didn't you just say our lineage has no outstanding combat methods?"

"Our lineage indeed has no outstanding combat methods," the old doctor said.

"Your grandmaster, who was my master, was merely an ordinary wandering physician in the martial world back then, knowing only a few common fist and foot techniques for self-defense."

"Later, when I was young, I had some fortuitous encounters, which allowed me to luckily create the Body-Nourishing Fist."

"So, saying our lineage has no outstanding combat methods is not a lie."

Lu Qing: "Then Master, you just said..."

"Most of the combat martial arts I have were obtained during my travels in years past. Some were given to me as medical fees by certain martial heroes I treated, some I scavenged from markets in large cities, and others I stumbled upon while gathering herbs in the mountains."

With just a few simple sentences, the old doctor allowed Lu Qing to hear the extraordinary nature of his life experiences.

However...

"Master, can martial arts techniques actually be bought directly?" Lu Qing found it somewhat unbelievable.

In his impression, martial arts manuals should be the most precious things to a martial artist; who would put them up for sale?

"Haha, the world is vast and full of wonders. Once you have the chance to go out into the world, you will realize that not only do people sell martial arts manuals, but there are even those who publicly engrave their life's work for the whole world to learn," the old doctor chuckled.

"Who would be that generous?" Lu Qing asked in shock.

"That was a great martial artist whom all martial artists in the world look up to and admire."

The old doctor seemed to be thinking of something, his face filled with longing as he fell into a momentary silence.

After a long while, he snapped out of it. "Alright, I've wandered too far off. Let's not talk about that."

"A-Qing, although as physicians our duty is to treat and save people, when traveling abroad, one inevitably encounters unpredictable events. Therefore, one must have some skills for self-defense."

"Body-Nourishing Fist is fine for dealing with ordinary people, but if you face another martial artist, it will not be enough."

Lu Qing nodded.

It wasn't that Body-Nourishing Fist couldn't be used against enemies, but if he faced combat martial arts capable of unleashing massive lethality, he would clearly be at a disadvantage.

"You have already stepped into the Blood and Qi Realm and become a true martial artist, so it is time to choose a combat martial art to practice."

"Then Master, what kind of combat martial arts can I learn?" Lu Qing asked expectantly.

"Although I have many combat martial arts, most are quite ordinary and can only be applied up to the Blood and Qi Realm. There are only three that can truly be called exquisite. Wait for me a moment."

With that, the old doctor walked into the house and, not long after, brought out three books.

"Among these three martial arts, one is staff techniques, one is saber techniques, and one is sword techniques. Each one is a Bone-Tempering Realm martial art. Which one do you want to learn?"

Lu Qing's gaze drifted across the three manuals.

He did not say something foolish like "I want them all."

Even though he possessed a special ability, he understood the principle of not being greedy at the expense of mastery.

He was currently only a minor Blood and Qi Realm martial artist; focusing on a single martial art was the best choice.

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Qing finally said, "I choose the saber techniques."

"Are you sure? Once you choose, it may affect your future path on the martial road," the old doctor said solemnly.

"I have decided. I choose the saber," Lu Qing said firmly.

He had little interest in staff techniques, and his interest in sword techniques was mediocre.

On the contrary, he was very interested in the saber.

After all, the saber was more domineering, which suited his taste.

"Since you have decided, then take this manual."

The old doctor handed one of the manuals to Lu Qing.

Lu Qing took the manual, flipped to the first page, and his eyebrows twitched. "The 'Four Directions Saber'?"

"Correct. This saber technique is called the Four Directions Saber. I discovered this manual by accident in a cave while gathering herbs in the mountains."

"In that cave, there was a corpse that had already become dry bones. In front of the bones lay an oil-paper package containing this 'Four Directions Saber' manual."

"After I buried the remains, I took the manual."

Lu Qing was shocked.

He realized that his master seemed to have quite a few fortuitous encounters.

To be able to discover an unnamed technique like Body-Nourishing Fist in his youth, and to stumble upon a martial arts manual while gathering herbs in the mountains...

This luck was truly incredible.

"A-Qing, I have only read this Four Directions Saber technique; I have never practiced it. Since you have chosen this, I can at most give you some training advice, but I cannot teach you step-by-step."

"Therefore, how far you can cultivate it depends entirely on yourself."

"I understand," Lu Qing nodded.

"However, although the Four Directions Saber is exquisite—to the point where even a Bone-Tempering Realm martial artist would find it difficult to withstand a single strike once it reaches a profound level—with your martial talent, mastering it should not be difficult."

The old doctor's confidence in Lu Qing made him feel a bit sheepish.

If it weren't for his special ability, he might truly have disappointed his master.