Practicing Martial Arts

Walking west from the main hall, passing through the corridor to its end, one arrives at the Hundred Flowers Sect's side courtyard. Rippling emerald waters encircled a earthen-red yellowstone rockery, a clear stream cascading down through the stone crevices, splashing droplets that fell, spreading ring after ring of ripples. A few more steps forward, and the view opened up into a vast training ground paved with stone slabs, with all kinds of equipment and tools arranged along one side of the wall.

Jiang Shuo and Li Zicheng arrived at the training ground early in the morning, where many disciples were already practicing.

Bathed in the rising sun, their youthful vigor burst forth as they threw punches and kicks, each movement whistling with force. The two of them gawked around like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, their blood boiling with restless excitement.

Ever since joining the Hundred Flowers Sect, Yu Yuhan had kept them running from place to place, and only now did they truly grasp the depth of the Hundred Flowers Sect as a Martial Arts Sect.

"You two, come over here." Feng En, who had been waiting for some time, waved them over.

They stepped forward, and Feng En gave them a once-over, a look of approval on his face. He then continued, "Unlike other Martial Arts Sects, the Hundred Flowers Sect has no unique Cultivation Method. Instead, it embraces all rivers, gathering techniques collected from other sects. Of course, these martial arts manuals weren't stolen—Martial World experts who come seeking refuge are welcomed without exception. If they have conflicts with their original sects, the Hundred Flowers Sect issues a Hundred Flowers Order, granting them the same rights as sect disciples. They bring some techniques, and other Martial World individuals, indebted to the sect, gift us their manuals in repayment. Through long-term goodwill, the Hundred Flowers Sect has amassed a vast and diverse collection of techniques, covering not only fist and footwork but also swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks. As for internal cultivation methods, due to their sensitivity, the sect possesses few. If you wish to learn, I can teach you within my authority. Alright, after all this talk, I just want to know what you'd like to learn, and I'll arrange for someone skilled to teach you."

Martial arts training depends not only on talent and effort but also on interest. Though Feng En was highly skilled, he couldn't possibly master everything.

Hearing this, Li Zicheng lowered his head, pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up and asked, "Master Feng, what are you best at?"

Yesterday, he'd heard Jiang Shuo mention how Feng En had defeated Zhao Zhi in a single move, and he held great admiration for him. Rather than learning from someone else, he'd prefer to learn from the man himself.

"Hm?" Feng En paused, then smiled as he glanced at Li Zicheng, thinking to himself how sharp the boy was. "I'm best at swordsmanship."

"Then I most want to learn the sword," Li Zicheng replied immediately.

"You, you!" Feng En shook his head with a helpless chuckle, but he rather liked Li Zicheng's quick wit. He then turned to Jiang Shuo and asked, "And you, Jiang Shuo?"

Li Zicheng kept tugging at Jiang Shuo's sleeve, urging him to join in, but Jiang Shuo fell silent.

Since emerging into the world, he had faced countless life-and-death dangers, witnessed the coldness and warmth of human relationships, and felt indignation many times. The sword was the gentleman of all weapons—though perilous and born for killing, Jiang Shuo always felt something was missing.

"Jiang Shuo, what's wrong?" Li Zicheng asked, worried.

Jiang Shuo's dazed eyes steadied, and he stepped forward to bow to Feng En. "Master, I am new to the world, inexperienced, and unsure how to choose."

This answer surprised Li Zicheng. Suddenly struck by a thought, he asked, "I heard Yuhan mention you have decent Martial Arts, and the people of Yulin City say you know some strange technique. You must have learned Martial Arts before. Is it your past experiences that make you hesitate?"

In the Martial World, some sects forbade disciples from learning techniques from other schools, with severe punishment for violations. Feng En assumed Jiang Shuo was worried about that.

"That's not it. What I learned was just crude family Martial Arts, likely self-taught in isolation. It has some offensive power, but the moves and techniques are strange, which is why rumors spread so wildly," Jiang Shuo shook his head, thinking to himself that the Martial Arts of the outside world were different from his own. From now on, unless absolutely necessary, he must never use them again.

"In that case, I'll have someone teach you the basics first. Once you've thought it through, you can tell me then," Feng En said.

"Thank you for understanding, Master." Jiang Shuo clasped his fists in gratitude.

Feng En then called over a Middle-aged Man: "His name is Sun Man, your Martial Uncle. He's skilled in external boxing. Jiang Shuo, you'll start by learning from him."

With that, Feng En turned to Sun Man and instructed, "Your Martial Nephew Jiang Shuo's hand injury hasn't healed yet. Keep that in mind."

"Understood, Senior Brother," Sun Man said.

Feng En gave Jiang Shuo a few more words of advice before leading Li Zicheng to the other side. Li Zicheng was reluctant to part with Jiang Shuo but respected his choice.

After the two left, Jiang Shuo finally got a good look at Sun Man. The man stood Nine Chi tall, with a tiger's back and a bear's waist, his limbs thick and powerful, the fabric of his clothes bulging high as if about to burst from the muscles beneath.

"So you're the Jiang Shuo who followed Yu Yuhan and stirred up Yulin City?" Sun Man suddenly asked.