"You two should get acquainted."
"Han Mo is a squad leader in the City Guard. If you need anything in the future, you can ask him."
Liang Song sat down beside the stone table and spoke leisurely.
"I'm Han Mo, a squad leader in the City Guard."
"It's been a long time since I visited Master Liang. I came by today to see him, and didn't expect he'd taken on a new disciple." Han Mo said with a smile.
He was stationed outside the city during the day and rarely had free time. Only occasionally could he visit Master Liang in the evening.
And today was only Lin Zheyu's second time coming by in the evening, so despite all this time, the two of them were meeting for the first time.
"I heard Master Liang taught several people martial arts. How come I've never met any of them?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.
"The City Guard has to defend the outskirts, and we often spend ten days or half a month away suppressing bandits, so of course you wouldn't have run into me."
"As for the other three, I've only met them a few times."
"I heard they fled here to Songyi City from other cities to escape disaster. After learning martial arts, they returned to their hometowns for revenge. I never saw them again."
"I wonder how they're doing now."
Han Mo sighed. In these chaotic times, some people turned a corner and were never seen again.
"You go out to suppress bandits?"
"With so many bandits these days, can you really wipe them out?"
Lin Zheyu asked, puzzled.
After the rebel armies appeared, bandits sprang up everywhere. Unless the problem was solved at its root, no amount of suppressing bandits would help.
"Even if we can't wipe them out, we still have to fight 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 outlaws would become even more lawless." Han Mo said helplessly.
"Enough chatting for now."
"Lin Zheyu, practice for a while and sweat out the alcohol." Liang Song said.
Han Mo smiled and cupped his hands to Lin Zheyu, then walked over to stand beside Liang Song and watch him practice martial arts.
Beneath the bright moonlight,
Lin Zheyu took off his outer garment and began practicing the Golden Goose Technique.
After practicing for the past few days, his footwork had grown increasingly nimble.
His figure darted and shifted through the courtyard, his movements strange and unpredictable, leaving onlookers unable to guess his next move.
"Isn't that the Golden Goose Technique? Junior Brother Lin really has remarkable comprehension. I envy him."
Han Mo watched Lin Zheyu, his eyes full of envy.
At first, 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 learned what kind of person he was, he had taught him the Golden Goose Technique as well.
Unfortunately, Han Mo's comprehension was only average, and he couldn't master such a refined and intricate technique.
After practicing for several years, he still wasn't as good at it as Lin Zheyu was after just a few days.
"Don't envy him. With your aptitude, mastering the Six Harmonies Saber Technique will serve you for the rest of your life."
Liang Song glanced at him. "You've been fighting out there for over a month. Have you reached the threshold of the Blood Energy Realm?"
"No."
"It's too difficult. When a fight reaches its fiercest point, I can feel my blood and energy boiling."
"But as soon as the fighting stops and I try to focus on it, I can't sense the blood and energy at all." Han Mo sighed, looking rather frustrated.
"Good. At least you can sense your blood and energy while fighting."
"The Blood Energy Realm is a major threshold. Most martial artists make no progress because they can't sense and comprehend their blood and energy."
"Keep engaging in intense battles. Once you're familiar with that feeling, you'll naturally enter the Blood Energy Realm."
Liang Song spoke calmly.
The two sat at the stone table, eating side dishes and chatting as they watched Lin Zheyu practice.
Time passed slowly.
Lin Zheyu practiced for over an hour. The alcohol left his body with his sweat, and he was completely sober.
"Go on."
"You and Lin Zheyu can spar." Liang Song said.
"Yes, Master."
Han Mo took off his jacket, leaving on a tight short-sleeved shirt that showed off his solid muscles.
Moonlight spilled over him, revealing a dozen or so scars of varying sizes on his exposed arms.
Han Mo picked up a blunt practice saber from the courtyard and gave it a few swings. It felt comfortable enough in his hands.
"I practice the Six Harmonies Saber Technique. All my skill is in my weapon. Without it, I lose more than half my strength."
Han Mo smiled and swung the blunt saber in his hand. "A saber or sword has no eyes, Junior Brother Lin, so be careful."
"I've practiced martial arts for over ten years, but I'm stuck at the peak of Organ Refining and can't advance."
"Master told me you reached Bone Forging in less than two months. You're gifted. I expect you'll surpass me soon."
"When you first start practicing martial arts, progress comes quickly. Later, it slows down." Lin Zheyu said modestly.
He stood two meters away from Han Mo and assumed the Golden Goose Technique's stance.
Before this, Lin Zheyu had only sparred with his master using fists and kicks. He hadn't yet tried fighting with them against someone wielding a weapon.
"As they say, an inch longer is an inch stronger, while an inch shorter is an inch more dangerous."
"Long and powerful, its edge laid bare; short and tricky, with death lurking unseen."
"When fighting a martial artist with a weapon, you have to understand its strengths and weaknesses, then counter it with the flexibility and unpredictability of your fists and feet."
Master Liang spoke leisurely. "You may begin."
"Senior Brother Han, forgive me!"
Lin Zheyu cupped his hands, then took his stance.
The Six Harmonies Saber Technique was plain and unadorned, simple and direct. Every stroke carried solid force and an imposing presence.
It was an extremely practical saber art. Once mastered, the saber moved with the body, the two becoming one as it shifted freely in any direction.
But no matter how simple and direct it was, it still lacked the flexibility of bare-handed techniques.
To defeat Senior Brother Han, Lin Zheyu had to close to within a meter and fight at close quarters.
Under the moonlit sky, Lin Zheyu shot forward, quickly closing in on Han Mo.
Han Mo gripped the blunt saber. Moonlight fell across it, and its blade flashed coldly. With a horizontal slash, he forced Lin Zheyu back.
He stepped forward with his right foot, the saber flashing fiercely as he brought it down toward Lin Zheyu's head.
Lin Zheyu abruptly bent backward and shifted nimbly, closing in while Han Mo had no time to bring his saber back.
"Heh!"
Han Mo chuckled, thoroughly familiar with Lin Zheyu's approach.
He had sparred with Master Liang for over a decade and had long since worked out how to handle this kind of footwork.
Though Han Mo lost to Master Liang after just a few moves, against the inexperienced Junior Brother Lin, he displayed his saber skills to the fullest.
"So strong!"
Lin Zheyu backed away, breathing lightly.
That fierce assault just now had taken a lot out of him.
Han Mo's saber technique was formidable. He had already mastered the ability to move the saber with his body and shift it freely.
Under his defense, Lin Zheyu couldn't break through the saber's guard at all, much less get close.
"The saber follows the body. The body moves, and only then does the saber follow."
"Keep your eyes on your opponent's movements. No matter how fast the saber is, it takes time for force from the hand to reach it."
"Catch that instant, see through the saber's trajectory, and you can predict its path in advance." Liang Song called out.
Lin Zheyu carefully thought back over his attack. Then he let out a long breath and charged in again.
In the courtyard,
Han Mo wielded the blunt saber with a fierce, whooshing rhythm and astonishing force.
Lin Zheyu used his nimble footwork to dodge Han Mo's attacks again and again, seizing every opportunity to strike back.
The two traded blows back and forth.
"Junior Brother Lin has a real gift for combat, too!" Han Mo exclaimed.
As the fight went on, Lin Zheyu lasted longer and longer against his saber, gradually figuring out how to deal with him.
Caught off guard, Lin Zheyu was knocked backward by the flat of Han Mo's saber.
"Again!"
Lin Zheyu rubbed his back. Luckily, Han Mo was much gentler than Master Liang.
Under the moonlit sky,
one figure stood firm, swinging the blunt saber in a tight, airtight arc, its wind howling.
The other was nimble beyond compare, dodging and weaving beneath the saber, constantly looking for a chance to close in.
The two fought for over an hour, only stopping when Master Liang called an end to it.
Han Mo panted lightly, looking at Lin Zheyu with new eyes.
Was this kid some kind of beast? Didn't he ever get tired?
He was already pale and gasping for breath, yet he could still keep launching attack after attack. His perseverance was truly astonishing.
"No wonder Junior Brother Lin has achieved so much. His perseverance alone is enough to earn anyone's respect!" Han Mo said with a sigh.
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