The Saber Moves with the Body

"Why don't you two get acquainted?"

"Han Mo is a squad captain in the City Guard. If you need anything in the future, you can look for him."

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

"My name is Han Mo, a squad captain in the City Guard."

"It's been a long time since I last came to visit Master Liang. I came by tonight to see him, but I didn't expect Master Liang to have taken in a new disciple." Han Mo said with a smile.

He guarded the outskirts of the city during the day and rarely had any free time. Only occasionally did he come to visit Master Liang at night.

Lin Zheyu had only come by at night for the second time today, so despite all this time, it was the first time the two had met.

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

"The City Guard has to guard outside the city, and we often go out to suppress bandits for ten days or half a month at a time, so of course you wouldn't run into us."

"As for the other three, I've only met them a few times myself."

"I heard they fled to Songyi City to take refuge from other cities. After learning martial arts, they returned to their hometowns for revenge, and I never saw them again."

"I wonder how they're doing now."

Han Mo's face was filled with emotion. In these chaotic times, some people disappeared forever the moment they turned away.

"Going out to suppress bandits?"

"With so many bandits now, can they really be wiped out?"

Lin Zheyu did not understand.

After the Rebel Army appeared, banditry sprang up one wave after another. Without solving the problem at its root, no amount of bandit suppression would help.

"Even if they can't be wiped out, we still have to suppress them. Otherwise, the trade routes will be cut off."

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

"Enough talking for now."

"Lin Zheyu, go practice for a while and sweat off the effects of the wine," Liang Song said.

Han Mo smiled and cupped his hands toward Lin Zheyu, then walked over to Liang Song's side to watch Lin Zheyu practice martial arts.

Under the bright moonlight.

Lin Zheyu took off his clothes and began practicing the Golden Goose Skill.

After several days of training, his footwork had become increasingly nimble.

His figure darted and shifted through the courtyard, his movements strange and ever-changing, impossible to make head or tail of.

"That's the Golden Goose Skill, isn't it? Junior Brother Lin truly has extraordinary comprehension. It's enough to make anyone envious."

Han Mo watched Lin Zheyu, his eyes full of envy.

Back then, Liang Song had taught him only a third-rate saber technique. Later, after Han Mo had followed Liang Song for a long time and Liang Song had come to understand his temperament, Liang Song had taught him the Golden Goose Skill as well.

Unfortunately, Han Mo's comprehension was ordinary, and he could not learn such an intricate and complex Cultivation Method.

He had practiced it for years, yet he was still inferior to Lin Zheyu after only a few days.

"There's no need to envy him. With your aptitude, fully mastering the Six Harmonies Saber will be enough to serve you for a lifetime."

Liang Song glanced at him. "After fighting outside for over a month, have you touched the threshold of the Qi and Blood Realm yet?"

"No."

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

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

"Not bad. At least you can sense blood and qi during battle now."

"The Qi and Blood Realm is a great threshold. Most martial artists are unable to advance even a single step because they cannot sense or comprehend blood and qi."

"Fight more intense battles in the future. Once you become familiar with that feeling, you'll naturally enter the Qi and Blood Realm."

Liang Song spoke calmly.

The two sat beside the stone table, eating small dishes and chatting as they watched Lin Zheyu practice martial arts.

Time slowly passed.

Lin Zheyu practiced for over an hour. The alcohol in his body evaporated with his sweat, leaving him without the slightest trace of drunkenness.

"Go on."

"You and Lin Zheyu can spar," Liang Song said.

"Yes, Master."

Han Mo removed his outer robe, wearing only a tight short-sleeved shirt that revealed his solid muscles.

Moonlight fell over him, revealing more than a dozen scars of various sizes across his bare arms.

Han Mo took a blunt practice saber from the courtyard and gave it a few swings. It sat well in his hand.

"I practice the Six Harmonies Saber. All my martial skill lies in my weapon. Without one, more than half my strength is gone."

Han Mo smiled and swung the blunt saber in his hand. "Blades and swords have no eyes. Be careful, Junior Brother Lin."

"I've practiced martial arts for over ten years, yet I'm trapped at Peak Viscera Refining without being able to advance even an inch."

"Master said you entered Bone Forging in less than two months. Your aptitude is remarkable. I imagine you'll surpass me soon enough."

"I was faster when I first began practicing martial arts. Things will slow down later," Lin Zheyu said modestly.

He stood two meters away from Han Mo and assumed the stance of the Golden Goose Skill.

Previously, Lin Zheyu had only exchanged fist-and-foot techniques with his Master. He had never tried using unarmed martial arts against a weapon.

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

"Long weapons are strong, their edge laid bare; short weapons are cunning, with killing intent hidden in the dark."

"When fighting a martial artist armed with a weapon, you must understand the weapon's strengths and weaknesses, then use the flexibility and ever-changing nature of your fists and feet to restrain it."

Master Liang said leisurely, "You may begin."

"Senior Brother Han, forgive me!"

Lin Zheyu cupped his hands, then assumed his stance.

The Six Harmonies Saber was Simple and Unadorned, concise and swift. Every strike carried deep force, its Momentum pressing down on its opponent.

The saber technique was immensely practical. Once practiced to mastery, the saber moved with the body, saber and man becoming one, changing as one pleased.

Yet no matter how concise and swift it was, it could not match unarmed techniques in flexibility.

To defeat Senior Brother Han, Lin Zheyu needed to force his way within one meter and engage in close combat.

Under the moonlit night, Lin Zheyu shot forward, rapidly closing in on Han Mo.

Han Mo gripped the blunt saber. Moonlight spilled over it, and the blade reflected a Cold Light. With a horizontal slash, he forced Lin Zheyu back at once.

His right foot stamped forward, Blade Light sharp and fierce as he chopped down toward Lin Zheyu's head.

Lin Zheyu suddenly bent backward at the waist, his body shifting nimbly. Taking advantage of the moment before Han Mo could draw back his saber, he pressed in close.

"Hey!"

Han Mo gave a low laugh. He was extremely familiar with Lin Zheyu's approach.

He had sparred with Master Liang for more than ten years and had long worked out techniques for dealing with this kind of movement.

Though Han Mo would lose within a few exchanges against Master Liang, when facing the still-green Junior Brother Lin, his saber techniques were displayed in full splendor.

"So strong!"

Lin Zheyu pulled back, breathing lightly.

That fierce attack had taken a great deal out of him.

Han Mo's saber technique was formidable. He had already achieved the state where the saber moved with the body, changing at will.

Under his defense, Lin Zheyu simply could not break through the circle of defense formed by his saber and had no way to press in close.

"The saber moves with the body. Only when the body moves does the saber follow."

"You must keep your eyes on your opponent's body movements. No matter how fast the saber is, it still takes time for the strength in the hand to reach the blade."

"Seize that gap. See through the path of your opponent's saber technique, and you'll be able to predict it in advance." Liang Song spoke up to remind him.

Lin Zheyu carefully recalled the course of his earlier attack, let out a long breath, and launched another assault.

In the courtyard.

Han Mo wielded the blunt saber with roaring force, its momentum astonishing.

Lin Zheyu used the agility of his movement technique to constantly evade Han Mo's attacks, striking back whenever he found an opening.

The two fought back and forth.

"Junior Brother Lin has a strong talent for combat too!" Han Mo exclaimed.

As the battle continued, Lin Zheyu lasted longer and longer beneath his saber, gradually working out the knack of dealing with him.

With one careless mistake, Lin Zheyu was sent flying by the flat of Han Mo's saber.

"Again!"

Lin Zheyu rubbed his back. Fortunately, Han Mo was far gentler than Master Liang.

Under the moonlit night.

One figure stood unmoving, wielding the blunt saber in an airtight defense, each swing roaring with force.

The other was incomparably nimble, darting and shifting beneath the saber, constantly seeking chances to close in.

Their battle lasted for more than two hours before Master Liang called a halt.

Han Mo breathed lightly, and the way he looked at Lin Zheyu had changed completely.

Is this kid a beast? Doesn't he get tired?

He was clearly exhausted, his face pale and his breathing ragged, yet he could still launch attack after attack. His perseverance was truly astonishing.

"No wonder Junior Brother Lin has achieved so much. This perseverance alone is worthy of admiration!" Han Mo said with feeling.