The Enlightened Woman

"An axe is the ancestor of all tools. It can split mountains and cleave stones; nothing is beyond its power. This is the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique..."

Tie Feng began reciting the mnemonic for Zhang Lingshan.

Though it was called a mnemonic, it was really more like a catchy rhyme—or rather, a doggerel poem. It was easy to remember, and every line was simple and easy to understand.

Clearly, that martial arts master had taken Uncle Tie's rough nature into consideration and had tried his best to teach him in plain, understandable words.

But even so.

Uncle Tie had not fully understood what the man meant, or else his axe technique would not have been so terrible.

But Uncle Tie could not be blamed for that.

After hearing Tie Feng's recitation, Zhang Lingshan was also lost in the clouds and fog, unable to make heads or tails of it.

Tie Feng said, "It's fine. That master said that as long as you focus your mind on these acupoints and the circulation route, then practice these Three-Move Axe Technique moves several times, you will surely grasp the meaning of the mnemonic he passed down."

"So that's how it is. How has your practice gone?" Zhang Lingshan asked.

Tie Feng shook his head awkwardly. "I'm still completely confused. I haven't figured out the slightest trick to it. Maybe my comprehension is too poor. With Mountain Senior Apprentice Brother's comprehension, you should surely succeed."

Zhang Lingshan shook his head speechlessly. "You really think too highly of me."

Tie Feng hurriedly said, "If Mountain Senior Apprentice Brother feels you can't master it, then don't waste your time on it. To be honest, I also think this Mountain Splitting Axe Technique can't be mastered. But my father said that since the master passed it down, he must have had his reasons. That's why he insisted I bring it to you, hoping it might be of some help."

"Then I should thank Uncle Tie for his kindness. By the way, how is Uncle Tie? I heard he collapsed from exhaustion too?" Zhang Lingshan asked with concern.

Tie Feng sighed. "Yes, he was worn out—mainly from fright. So my father is extremely grateful to Mountain Senior Apprentice Brother. He said he owes you a life. If there is ever anything you need my father and me for, just give the word."

Zhang Lingshan's heart stirred, and he immediately said, "Perfect. This trip outside made me keenly aware of how lacking my strength is. I want to learn more martial arts. You've seen much and experienced much in the Feng Family. Do you know of any connections?"

"This..."

Tie Feng thought for a moment and said, "I'll go back and speak to my father first. As far as I know, some of the Herb Gathering Guards came from outside the city and have a bit of skill. We can ask whether they would be willing to teach you."

"Good! Notify me the instant you hear anything."

Zhang Lingshan was overjoyed.

In the blink of an eye, a path had opened up. Truly, one more friend meant one more road.

Tie Feng was also delighted that he could help Zhang Lingshan. "Rest assured, Mountain Senior Apprentice Brother. The moment there's news, I'll come straight to your door."

"Good, good, good. But I don't think I remembered that Mountain Splitting Axe Technique mnemonic very clearly just now. Could you recite it for me again?"

"No problem."

Over the next while, Zhang Lingshan used simplified Chinese to write down the mnemonic Tie Feng recited. Tie Feng could not read it anyway, so Zhang Lingshan fobbed him off by claiming it was a special memorization method.

Afterward.

Zhang Lingshan returned the peach for the plum and gave him a few pointers on cultivating the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture.

Tie Feng was immensely grateful.

As the sky gradually darkened, Zhang Lingshan returned to the Feng Family with Tie Feng to mooch some medicinal soup, then went once more to the infirmary ward.

"Hey, weren't you already better? Why are you back again?"

The physician's apprentice asked in surprise.

Zhang Lingshan smiled. "I'm not fully recovered yet, so I came to ask for another dose of medicine."

"Uh..."

The physician's apprentice looked utterly speechless. "Fine. Sixth Young Master favors you, so I won't say anything. But medicine is poison in three parts. No matter how good a tonic is, drinking too much of it can still kill someone."

"Thank you for the reminder, Doctor."

"I'm not a doctor. I'm only an apprentice." The physician's apprentice shook his head.

Zhang Lingshan did not care whether he was an apprentice or not.

Having grown familiar with the man, Zhang Lingshan asked him about acupoints and meridians whenever he had nothing to do at night, such as the Juque Acupoint, Shanzhong Acupoint, Jimen Acupoint, Tianfu Acupoint, and many others mentioned in the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique.

The physician's apprentice answered every question one by one.

Knowing that Feng Shaolong valued Zhang Lingshan, he explained everything in great detail, striving to leave Zhang Lingshan with a good impression. Then he emphasized, "My name is Su Mu, the same name as the medicinal ingredient sappanwood, which promotes blood circulation and clears the channels."

"Alright, I understand, Doctor Su Mu. As for the Yongquan Acupoint..."

The more Zhang Lingshan talked, the more energized he became. He clung to Su Mu and kept asking questions all night, until Su Mu could no longer endure it and fell asleep.

But Zhang Lingshan could not sleep.

He felt that he had already touched upon something, with only a single layer of window paper separating him from it.

As long as he poked through that paper window, he would surely comprehend the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique.

The next day.

Zhang Lingshan borrowed an axe from Su Mu and began practicing the three moves of the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique in the courtyard.

The first move—chop!

Zhang Lingshan sank into a half-squat horse stance, gathered all his strength, concentrated the power of his entire body into his right arm, and then chopped down with all his might.

Buzz!

With that chop, he seemed to see the trail of the axe.

But it lasted only an instant. His head immediately spun, all his strength was sucked dry, and he toppled sideways onto the ground, looking just as miserable as Uncle Tie had when they first fought.

"I understand."

Zhang Lingshan suddenly attained enlightenment.

This first move was not meant for chopping people. It was meant to train strength.

That single chop drove every ounce of strength in his body into motion. With his current strength, it could actually drain him completely dry. That showed just how high its demands on strength were.

In other words, this move tempered the muscles of every part of the body.

As long as he persisted in practicing it, he would surely increase his strength and step into another level.

As for the other two moves, he could only practice them after succeeding with the first move.

Having understood this point.

Zhang Lingshan saw the Panel undergo a sudden change.

Name: Zhang Lingshan

Martial Arts: Mountain Splitting Axe Technique (Not Initiated), Red Thread Fist (Minor Accomplishment), Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture (Perfection)

Energy: 1

It's been recorded. As long as I have enough Energy later, I can directly add Stat Points. For now, there's no need to practice it further.

Zhang Lingshan thought to himself.

Practicing the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique was rather taxing. Rather than waste time on it, he might as well practice the Red Thread Fist.

Of course, it would be best if he could find an easier Stance Skill to practice. That was the only way to make the fullest use of his time.

What delighted Zhang Lingshan was that Tie Feng did not let him down.

That very afternoon, he brought good news.

"Mountain Senior Apprentice Brother, there's a Herb Gathering Guard named Wu Zheng who knows a leg technique. He excels at traveling through mountain terrain and is fairly well-known among the Herb Gathering Guards. He happens to be short of money and is willing to teach it, but he wants fifty taels of silver."

"That much?"

Zhang Lingshan was somewhat startled.

Tie Feng said, "He says it's a secret family technique, and there's no bargaining. The fifty taels are already because we all work for the Feng Family."

"Then I don't have that much money for now. Can I pay in installments and have him teach me the simpler parts first? Like what Stance Skill needs to be practiced before cultivating the leg technique?"

"This... should be negotiable."

"Then go ask him tomorrow."

"Alright."

Tens of thousands of kilometers away from Jin City, inside a dilapidated Mountain God Temple.

"Ming Ge, by my calculations, my elder sister should have arrived long ago. Why hasn't she come yet? I've been feeling uneasy lately. Could something have happened to my elder sister?"

A woman in a red dress, wearing red embroidered shoes, paced back and forth anxiously as she asked.

If Zhang Lingshan were here, he would discover something.

This woman looked seventy to eighty percent similar to the woman he had encountered on Qinghe Road, the one who had declared, "The Netherworld is conducting business. Idlers, stay away!"