Weirdness Appears, Chopping Iron Four Forms

It took considerable effort for Jiang Yan to squeeze his way near Tang Long, though he didn't press right up against him.

If real danger struck, being closest to Tang Long—and Tang Long failing to react in time—would spell disaster.

This position was just right for Jiang Yan: close enough to seek shelter, far enough to flee from danger.

No one in the group spoke, only the chaotic rustle of hurried footsteps filled the air.

Suddenly, from up ahead came a faint but clear sobbing sound—plaintive yet stirring, impossible to ignore.

Tang Long's steps faltered, and the group behind him grew unsettled, pairs of eyes staring nervously ahead.

Tang Long's expression darkened as he barked, "Keep moving! Don't stop!" With that, he pressed forward again.

Their pace unbroken, as they drew nearer, Jiang Yan spotted a white figure huddled outside the Talisman Path, back turned to them, shoulders trembling slightly, the faint weeping drifting over.

Tang Long looked up at the Blazing Talisman on his wooden staff, fixed his gaze on the white figure for a moment, and seeing no further movement, lifted his foot to continue onward.

"Ignore it. Let's keep going."

The group moved on, the figure merely curled up outside the Talisman Path, weeping softly.

Gradually, the sound faded.

"Sir, is that a Weird?" Jiang Yan quickened his pace a couple of steps, looked up, and put on a shy, curious expression.

Tang Long didn't turn back, still walking briskly, and replied with some impatience, "Of course it is. That's a Human Wraith—a minor one. It won't dare attack us when there are this many people."

Human Wraith?

Jiang Yan shook his head. He'd never heard of that kind of Weird. Having his soul cross over into another world without even a convenient headache to merge with his predecessor's memories made him feel like a lousy transmigrator.

Suddenly, another faint but clear sob drifted into his mind.

Jiang Yan looked up. Up ahead, a white figure was huddled outside the Talisman Path...

Only this time, Jiang Yan noticed it had moved closer to the path.

Tang Long saw the same Human Wraith, but he didn't stop. He passed it by and kept going, as if he hadn't seen it at all.

After a while longer, the village ahead came into view, a few specks of light dotting the darkness.

Tang Long let out a breath of relief too. At least they could make it back to the village safely.

Just then, directly in front of their group, a white figure stood upright, letting out a weeping sound...

When Jiang Yan saw this figure, his pupils contracted—because it was standing right on the Talisman Path!

"Die!"

The moment Tang Long saw it, he lunged forward, sword leaping from its sheath in a straight thrust!

That strike was violent, sudden—in Jiang Yan's eyes, Tang Long seemed to cross a dozen meters in one step, stabbing straight at the Weird.

But even such a lightning-fast attack was dodged with ease; the white Human Wraith simply sidestepped, evading the lethal blow.

The next moment, the white figure turned. It had no facial features, raised pitch-black nails, and lunged straight forward.

Even from a distance, Jiang Yan could clearly see the Wraith's sharp claws.

Then something unexpected happened. Tang Long's right hand stayed still, but his left hand flicked up—a far brighter sword light slashed instantly into the charging Human Wraith.

It was as if the Wraith had thrown itself willingly onto the blade.

The Human Wraith was cleaved in two, and before it even hit the ground, it burst into black ash with a "puff," scattering into the air.

Jiang Yan's mind reeled. So this was true martial arts.

Tang Long, wielding his sword with both hands, had killed the Weird in an instant.

Hm?

Jiang Yan suddenly felt his left hand turn cold. A stream of black ash—invisible to ordinary eyes—flew out from the dispersing remains, circled once, and merged into his left hand.

Martial Arts Modifier:

Weird Value: 5

"So that's it. Weird Value comes from dead Weirds," he thought to himself.

Tang Long had killed the Weird in just three moves: lunge, thrust, upward slash.

Simple. Efficient.

But Jiang Yan noticed that after killing the Weird, Tang Long removed a Yellow Talisman from his sword.

What kind of talisman was that?

He felt more and more that a mysterious, unfathomable world was revealing a dazzling corner to him.

After the Weird was slain, the group settled down. No further incidents occurred, and Tang Long and Fei Shan smoothly led everyone into Yuyang Village.

After hastily arranging lodgings, the two of them also went to rest.

Early the next morning, Jiang Yan and the others were roused from sleep and led to a square at the center of the village.

The square was empty, with a few brick buildings at the edges, their doors tightly shut and padlocked.

As soon as Jiang Yan arrived at the square, he was drawn to a tall stone platform at its center. At the top of the platform, a pitch-black carp about two feet long hovered in midair, looking ordinary, like a weathered wooden carving left untouched for years.

He immediately guessed what it was.

This must be a Rune Soldier.

Rune Soldiers were specially crafted by the authorities to defend against the Weirds in the wild, and they were the most precious asset of any village settlement.

"Jiang Yan, see that? The Rune Soldier here is a big carp," Ren Tao said, unfazed by the hovering soldier, though a bit surprised by its shape.

"What shape was the Rune Soldier in your previous village?"

"It was a snow-white longsword, very beautiful," Ren Tao replied casually.

"Do different shapes of Rune Soldiers have different functions?" Jiang Yan asked, staring at the motionless carp on the stone platform.

Ren Tao choked up—how was he supposed to know that?

"Rune Soldiers in villages serve more or less the same purpose; the different shapes just come from different materials used in their creation," Tang Long said as he walked in from the other side of the square, answering Jiang Yan's question offhandedly.

"Captain Tang," the group said, stopping their chatter and bowing with clasped fists upon seeing him arrive.

Turning around, Tang Long smiled. "Now that you've joined the Patrol Mountain Hall, we're brothers from here on out. We don't have many rules here, so no need to be so stiff."

His expression grew serious. "Next, I hope you'll remember every word I say, because it's important to you!"

Jiang Yan pricked up his ears, listening intently.

The crowd gradually gathered around him as Tang Long spoke: "We have two things to do this morning. First, teach you all to practice martial arts. Second, go over some precautions for regular patrols. Now, spread out and follow my movements."

Without any hesitation, Tang Long began the instruction directly. As the sky grew brighter, a few villagers from Yuyang Village could be seen passing by with hoes over their shoulders.

The technique Tang Long taught was a martial training method called the Chopping Iron Four Forms, a standard practice method for low-ranking members of the Dahe Gang.

It consisted of four forms. Performing these movements perfectly would gradually strengthen the body until one developed a sense of Qi. He demonstrated the four forms five times, letting the group memorize them roughly, then focused on the Chopping Iron First Form.

This first form was the same move he'd used yesterday to kill the Human Wraith—a straight thrust.

Tang Long turned his hand into a blade and began the demonstration.

It was easy to see: Tang Long stamped his left foot down, and a ripple of muscle movement traveled from his leg and hip, through his waist, chest, arm, and fingers, layer by layer, like a swordsman wielding a longsword, power amplifying from the soles of his feet upward, converging at the blade to thrust straight at the enemy.

He repeated it five more times.

"The purpose of the straight thrust is to engage every muscle and joint in the power generation, fully training your physical condition. When you master this form, your blood and Qi will surge. Those with good talent will develop a sense of Qi, and at that point, you'll become a Martial Apprentice," he continued. "Once you practice it smoothly, you'll gain strength and agility. And the Chopping Iron Training Method has another benefit—this form is both a martial practice and a combat technique. I suggest you practice with a weapon once you're stronger."

Then, the group began their practice.

Tang Long walked among them, occasionally correcting their movements.

Jiang Yan made the straight thrust motion with a serious expression. Though his muscles were stiff and his movements slow, his form was fairly accurate.

He repeated the motion over and over, striving to feel the collective force of most of his muscles working together, adjusting his movements step by step.

Before long, he felt soreness throughout his body.

This was normal. The reason was that this practice involved many muscles. As a former medical student before crossing over, he understood this principle.

It was a good sign.

It meant the Chopping Iron Training Method could truly strengthen him.

He had officially set foot on the path of martial arts.