Chapter 30: Changing the Blade with the Body

"Get acquainted, you two."

"Han Mo is a squad leader in the City Guard. You can seek him out if you need anything in the future."

Liang Song sat down by the stone table and spoke leisurely.

"I am Han Mo, a minor squad leader in the City Guard."

"It has been a long time since I last visited Master Liang. I came by to pay my respects today, but I didn't expect Master Liang to have taken on a new disciple," Han Mo said with a smile.

He was stationed outside the city during the day and rarely had free time, only occasionally coming by at night to visit Master Liang.

Since today was only Lin Zheyu's second night here, it was the first time the two of them had crossed paths in such a long time.

"I heard Master Liang has taught martial arts to several people, but why have I never seen them?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

"The City Guard is required to station outside the city and frequently goes out on bandit suppression missions for ten days or half a month at a time, so naturally, you wouldn't run into them."

"As for the other three, I only saw them a few times."

"I heard they were refugees fleeing from other cities to Songyi City. After learning martial arts, they returned to their hometowns to seek revenge, and I haven't seen them since."

"I wonder how they are faring now."

Han Mo spoke with a sigh of lament. In these chaotic times, some people turned away and were never seen again.

"Bandit suppression?"

"With so many bandits around now, can they ever be truly cleared out?" Lin Zheyu asked, puzzled.

Since the emergence of rebel armies, banditry had become rampant. Unless the problem was solved at its source, no amount of suppression would be effective.

"They must be suppressed even if they can't be fully cleared, otherwise the trade routes will be severed."

"If the City Guard didn't suppress the bandits to keep the trade routes flowing, those outlaws would become even more lawless," Han Mo said helplessly.

"Let's stop chatting for now."

"Lin Zheyu, you should practice first to burn off the alcohol," Liang Song said.

Han Mo bowed toward Lin Zheyu with a smile and walked to Liang Song's side to watch Lin Zheyu practice.

Under the bright moonlight.

Lin Zheyu stripped off his outer garments and began practicing the Golden Goose Skill.

With several days of practice, his footwork was becoming increasingly agile.

His figure darted and pivoted throughout the courtyard, his movements shifting in strange and unpredictable ways that left one unable to grasp his patterns.

"That is the Golden Goose Skill, isn't it? Junior Brother Lin's comprehension is truly extraordinary; it's enviable."

Han Mo watched Lin Zheyu, his eyes filled with envy.

Back then, Liang Song had only taught him a third-rate saber technique. Later, after Han Mo had followed Liang Song for a long time and Liang Song understood his character, he had also passed down the Golden Goose Skill.

Unfortunately, Han Mo's comprehension was mediocre, and he could not master such an exquisite and complex technique.

After practicing for several years, he was still not as proficient as Lin Zheyu was after only a few days.

"There is no need to envy him. With your aptitude, being able to master the Six Harmonies Saber is enough to serve you for a lifetime."

Liang Song glanced at him. "After fighting on the front lines for over a month, have you touched the threshold of the Blood-Qi Realm?"

"No."

"It's too difficult. When the battle reaches its peak, I can feel my blood and qi boiling."

"But once the fighting stops and I try to sense it closely, I can no longer perceive the existence of the blood-qi," Han Mo sighed, looking somewhat frustrated.

"Not bad. At least you can perceive the blood-qi during combat."

"The Blood-Qi Realm is a major threshold. Most martial artists fail to make any progress because they cannot perceive or internalize the blood-qi."

"In the future, engage in more intense combat. Once you become familiar with that sensation, you will naturally be able to enter the Blood-Qi Realm," Liang Song said calmly.

The two sat by the stone table, eating snacks and chatting while watching Lin Zheyu practice.

Time passed slowly.

Lin Zheyu practiced for over an hour, and the alcohol in his system evaporated with his sweat, leaving him completely sober.

"Go on."

"You and Lin Zheyu, spar a bit," Liang Song commanded.

"Yes, Master."

Han Mo took off his outer coat, revealing a tight short-sleeved shirt that showed off his sturdy muscles.

As the moonlight fell upon him, one could see over a dozen scars of various sizes on his exposed arms.

Han Mo picked up a blunt training saber from the courtyard and swung it; it felt quite familiar in his hand.

"I practice the Six Harmonies Saber. My martial arts are entirely centered on my weapon. Without it, I lose more than half my strength."

Han Mo smiled and swung the blunt saber. "The blade has no eyes. Be careful, Junior Brother Lin."

"I have practiced martial arts for over a decade, but I have been stuck at the peak of the Organ Refining stage without making any progress."

"I heard from Master that you entered the Bone Forging stage in less than two months. Your talent is remarkable; you will surely surpass me soon."

"I have only just begun practicing; I was fast at first, but I've slowed down since," Lin Zheyu said modestly.

Standing two meters away from Han Mo, he took up a Golden Goose stance.

Previously, Lin Zheyu's spars with his master had all been with unarmed combat; he had not yet attempted to use his strikes in conjunction with a weapon.

"As they say, an inch longer is an inch stronger, and an inch shorter is an inch more dangerous."

"Long is strong and exposes its edge; short is deceptive and hides killing intent."

"When fighting a martial artist with a weapon, you must understand the pros and cons of that weapon and use the flexibility of your limbs to counter it."

Master Liang said leisurely, "You may begin."

"Senior Brother Han, forgive my rudeness!"

Lin Zheyu cupped his fists and then took his stance.

The Six Harmonies Saber was unadorned, simple, and swift. Every strike carried heavy force and an imposing momentum.

The saber technique was highly practical; once mastered, the blade moved with the body, becoming one with the user, changing at will.

But no matter how simple and swift it was, its flexibility could not match unarmed combat.

If Lin Zheyu wanted to defeat Senior Brother Han, he needed to close within a one-meter range to engage in close-quarters combat.

Under the moonlight, Lin Zheyu's figure shot forward, rapidly closing in on Han Mo.

Han Mo gripped the blunt saber. As the moonlight hit the blade, it reflected a cold light. With a horizontal slash, he quickly forced Lin Zheyu back.

He lunged his right foot forward, the saber's light piercing through the air as he swung downward toward Lin Zheyu's head.

Lin Zheyu ducked sharply, his body moving flexibly. Taking advantage of the gap before Han Mo could recover his blade, he pressed forward.

"Heh!"

Han Mo chuckled; he was extremely familiar with Lin Zheyu's patterns.

He had sparred with Master Liang for over a decade and had long since figured out the techniques to counter such movements.

While he would have been defeated by Master Liang in a few moves, facing the inexperienced Junior Brother Lin, Han Mo's saber skills were displayed to their fullest extent.

"So strong!"

Lin Zheyu pulled back, breathing slightly heavily.

The intense offensive just now had been somewhat difficult for him to handle.

Han Mo's saber technique was formidable, achieving a state where the blade moved with the body, changing at will.

Under his defense, Lin Zheyu simply could not break through the defensive circle of the saber, making it impossible to close the distance.

"The blade moves with the body; only when the body moves will the blade follow."

"You must watch the opponent's body movements. No matter how fast the blade is, it takes time for the strength from the hand to reach the blade."

"Catch that gap, see through the trajectory of the saber, and you will be able to make a preemptive prediction," Liang Song reminded him.

Lin Zheyu carefully recalled his recent offensive process, let out a long breath, and launched another attack.

In the courtyard.

Han Mo swung the blunt saber with such force that it whistled through the air, his momentum impressive.

Lin Zheyu used his agile footwork to continuously dodge Han Mo's attacks, seizing opportunities to launch his own strikes.

The two fought back and forth.

"Junior Brother Lin's combat talent is also very strong!" Han Mo remarked.

As the fight progressed, Lin Zheyu was able to hold out under his blade for longer and longer, and he began to figure out the knack for countering.

With one slight slip, Lin Zheyu was sent flying by the flat of Han Mo's blade.

"Again!"

Lin Zheyu rubbed his back. Fortunately, Han Mo's strikes were much lighter than Master Liang's.

Under the moonlight.

One figure stood firm, swinging the blunt saber with absolute coverage, whistling through the air.

The other was incredibly agile, darting and weaving under the blade, constantly looking for an opening to close in.

The battle between the two lasted for over an hour, only stopping when Master Liang called a halt.

Han Mo panted slightly, and the look in his eyes as he looked at Lin Zheyu had changed.

*Is this kid a beast? Isn't he tired?*

Even though his face was pale and he was breathing heavily from exhaustion, he was still able to launch continuous attacks. His perseverance was truly astonishing.

"No wonder Junior Brother Lin has achieved such success. This perseverance alone is admirable!" Han Mo remarked.

...

(End of Chapter)