Lonely Nine Swords and Clear Breeze Art

"Wuying, do you have any women under you who are like female bodyguards?" Zhou Yao asked.

"Young master, I have a twenty-woman squad that specializes in serving as bodyguards and carrying out assassinations and the like," Wuying replied.

"Recruit more women from now on, specifically to serve as bodyguards and carry out assassinations and the like. Remember, the women you recruit must be loyal, and then you must train them well."

"Yes... young master."

"Today, the authorities sent me twin sisters as wives. They told me they were the twin daughters of a former vice minister of personnel of the Great Zhou State. But this father-in-law of mine offended the current second prince, and his home was ransacked and he was beheaded."

"The two sisters were too young, so they were sent to a military camp to wash clothes, cook, and do hard labor. The women of their family were sent to the border to do hard labor."

"My twin wives are called Yang Aijin and Yang Ailian. I want you to go to the border and bring all the women of their family here. Of course, if they're all dead, then slaughter everyone who abused them. Don't leave a single one alive."

"Yes, young master."

"I'll also give you a hundred thousand taels in silver notes to fund your female bodyguard force. If you need more money later, just tell me. Your young master has more money than he could ever spend."

"Thank you, young master. Wuying will not let you down."

"Also, keep the second prince, Zhou Xian, and the current prime minister, Pei Yuanli, under close and comprehensive surveillance. I want to know their every move, as well as every move the imperial court makes."

"And bring me everything on the princely residence's former connections, along with any other useful information. I want to look through it carefully."

"Lastly, compile all the information on those who kicked our family while we were down and stabbed us in the back when my cheap father, Prince Zhou Shun, fell on hard times and our home was ransacked. Then bring it to me."

"Some grudges must be repaid slowly, while others must be repaid at once. It would be rude not to return the favor. I want to know everything about these people, down to the smallest detail. If their crimes are heinous enough, then wipe out their entire clan!"

Hearing what Young Master Zhou Yao said, Wuying trembled all over, but her eyes shone with golden light.

"Yes... young master. Wuying guarantees she will complete the task."

"One last thing: your martial arts are still a little lacking. Now your young master will teach you a sword technique. Watch closely."

"First move, Sword-Breaking Stance: used to counter the sword techniques of every school and sect under heaven. It emphasizes using lightness to control weight and speed to overcome slowness."

"Second move, Saber-Breaking Stance: used to counter all manner of saber techniques, including those of the single saber, double sabers, willow-leaf saber, ghost-head saber, great chopping saber, and horse-slaying saber."

"Third move, Spear-Breaking Stance: encompasses methods for countering all manner of long weapons, including long spears, great halberds, serpent spears, eyebrow-height staffs, wolf-fang clubs, white-waxwood poles, monk's staffs, and monk's spades."

"Fourth move, Whip-Breaking Stance: used to counter short weapons such as steel whips, iron maces, acupoint-striking spikes, crutches, Emei piercers, daggers, broad axes, iron shields, octagonal hammers, and iron awls."

"Fifth move, Rope-Breaking Stance: used to counter flexible weapons such as long ropes, soft whips, three-section staffs, chain spears, iron chains, fishing nets, flying hammers, and meteor hammers."

"Sixth move, Palm-Breaking Stance: used to counter techniques involving fists, feet, fingers, and palms, including long-range boxing, close-quarters striking, grappling, acupoint striking, demon claws, tiger claws, and the Iron Sand Divine Palm."

"Seventh move, Arrow-Breaking Stance: used to counter all kinds of hidden weapons. One must first learn to identify weapons by listening to the wind, then use a long sword to knock aside the various hidden weapons an enemy fires and borrow their force to send them back."

"Eighth move, Qi-Breaking Stance: used against enemies possessing superior internal energy. Grasp its mysteries and keep them within your heart."

"Ninth move, God-Breaking Stance: with this move, slay any god, buddha, or demon that stands in your way, and return everything to chaos."

"Wuying, did you see it clearly?"

"This... this... this..." As Wuying watched Young Master Zhou Yao demonstrate the sword technique, a rumble went off in her head. Her eyes and mouth opened wide, and she trembled all over. The shock and astonishment in her heart were unimaginable.

"Young... young master... this... this... what is this sword technique...?" Wuying asked, trembling all over.

"This sword technique is called the Lonely Nine Swords. Once you've mastered it, you'll be invincible throughout the entire jianghu. Then you'll know what a luxury it is to wish for a single defeat in your lifetime. It's lonely at the top!"

Hearing Young Master Zhou Yao's words, Wuying nodded. Having practiced martial arts and sword techniques since childhood, she had a deep appreciation of how profound and formidable the technique was.

"Watch closely. Your young master will teach you a set of lightness-skill movements as well. Once you've learned it, you'll be like a fish in water."

"First form, Swallow Skims the Water Three Times: once you've mastered it, you'll be as light as a swallow and swift on your feet when passing through forests, alleys, and cramped spaces."

"Second form, Treading on Snow Without a Trace: once you've mastered it, you can walk on snow without leaving any trace."

"Third form, Gecko Climbs the Wall: once you've mastered it, even scaling a city wall dozens of zhang high will be easy."

"Fourth form, Sparrowhawk Turns Over: once you've mastered it, you can dodge every hidden weapon fired at you and every attack in the world."

"Did you see everything clearly, Wuying?"

"This... this... this... I... I... I..." Wuying said, excited beyond compare.

Then she continued in a trembling voice, "Young... young master, what... what is this lightness skill called?"

"This lightness skill is called the Clear Breeze Art. Once you've mastered it completely, you'll be like the wind, coming and going without a shadow or a trace."

At that, Wuying dropped to both knees and kowtowed to Zhou Yao three times. Then she said, "Wuying thanks you, young master, for teaching and passing on these peerless sword and lightness skills. Wuying has no way to repay you."

"All right, get up! I've already said we're all family. But remember, you mustn't tell anyone that your young master knows martial arts. Understood?"

"Yes... young master. Wuying knows nothing."

"I'll give you this Lonely Nine Swords manual and this illustrated manual of the Clear Breeze Art's lightness-skill movements. Once you've read them through and committed everything to memory, burn them. You mustn't let a third person in this world know they exist. Understood?"

"Young master, Wuying will remember."

"All right! Go on, then! Go take care of the things I just told you to do!"

"Yes... young master. Wuying will go right away."