Gale Saber Technique

Before long, news that both Zhao Ya and Luo Feng had broken through to Bone Refinement Mastery spread throughout the entire Escort Agency.

For a time, all the menial workers in the Escort Agency were in an uproar.

"Damn, I never thought Luo Feng would break through in such a short time too."

"Is that so surprising? Take a look at who Luo Feng's second uncle is. He's a powerhouse at Tendon Transformation Mastery. What's so strange about Luo Feng breaking through?"

"I remember Zhao Ya hadn't been in the Escort Agency for long, had he? He usually kept such a low profile, yet he managed to break through too. I really didn't expect it."

"If you ask me, the funniest one is Zhou Hua. Didn't that brat usually act like he was so great he could fly into the heavens? He never greeted anyone he met, always looking like he'd become an escort master sooner or later. And now? Out of the four of them, he's the only one left."

"Shh, stop talking!" someone cut him off, secretly pointing into the distance.

Everyone turned to look and saw Zhou Hua standing some distance away, his face dark as iron, silent as a grave.

"Hmph, so what if he heard? I'm not afraid of him."

The menial worker who had spoken spat awkwardly, then hurried away.

The remaining workers scattered as well.

Zhou Hua did not move. He merely stood there quietly, his gaze gradually turning deep and shadowed.

Only after a long while did he slowly turn around and leave on his own.

That day's noon meal was more lavish than usual, and there was even, quite unusually, an extra jar of wine.

Meng Lei was glowing with health as he raised his wine cup first.

"Come, this cup is for the two of you."

Luo Feng and Zhao Ya, seated below, hurriedly rose and raised their cups in response.

After downing the wine, Zhao Ya felt a warm current rise within his stomach, setting the blood and qi throughout his body boiling. He could not help but feel surprised.

This wine could actually increase one's blood and qi.

It was not just him. Luo Feng's face also showed surprise.

"Hahaha, this wine is Grand Prosperity Tower's exclusive fine brew from the Inner City. Precious medicinal ingredients are added to it, nourishing blood and qi while strengthening the sinews and bones. It is greatly beneficial to those of us who practice martial arts, but it is extremely expensive. Ordinary people simply cannot buy it."

Meng Lei explained briefly, then said, "To celebrate the two of you breaking through, I specially brought out a jar this time."

"Thank you, Chief Escort!" the two said in unison.

"Enough, enough. It is only a jar of wine. What is there to thank me for? You two are the ones who have given me a great surprise."

Meng Lei set down his cup and looked at Zhao Ya and Luo Feng with considerable appreciation.

There was no need to mention Luo Feng. With his uncle Luo Qiang around, breaking through to Bone Refinement was not actually too difficult.

What Meng Lei had not expected was that Zhao Ya would break through so quickly as well.

After all, from the time he had entered the Escort Agency until now, only half a year had passed at most.

Although this rate of progress could not compare to Wei Yu's, it was still exceptionally rare.

Luo Feng chuckled happily.

At that moment, he did not even know what to say.

But something stirred in Zhao Ya's heart. He cupped his hands and said, "This is all thanks to Chief Escort and the Escort Agency's cultivation. Without it, relying on my own strength alone, I could never have broken through so quickly."

"Hahaha, well said." Meng Lei was clearly in high spirits that day. He drank another full cup before continuing.

"Since you two have also broken through, there is naturally nothing more to say. From today onward, you will both be promoted to Escort Guards, with a monthly salary of five taels."

"Furthermore, your noon meals will be raised another level. In addition to the nourishing soup, you will receive an extra serving of specially prepared flesh and blood."

Although Zhao Ya had known his treatment would improve after breaking through, hearing it for real still made him unable to suppress his excitement.

There was no other reason.

The current Zhao Ya desperately needed things that could replenish his blood and qi.

"Thank you, Chief Escort!"

This time, Zhao Ya's thanks came entirely from the bottom of his heart, without the slightest hint of perfunctoriness.

Because he knew that even escort masters might not receive such treatment, let alone Escort Guards.

Meng Lei chuckled and continued, "Also, now that you have become Escort Guards, you can be considered part of the Escort Agency's middle ranks. Besides mastering the Five Tigers Fist I taught you before, you should also begin working with weapons."

"Starting this afternoon, you will begin practicing the Gale Saber Technique."

"Yes!" the two answered together.

Afternoon.

The small training ground in the rear courtyard of the Prosperity Escort Agency.

Meng Lei held a long saber and said solemnly, "The Gale Saber Technique lives up to its name. It is a saber technique that counters speed with speed, its attacks fierce and swift like a raging gale."

"Its key lies in strong wrists, a supple waist, and nimble footwork."

"With strong wrist strength, you can hold the saber steady. But you cannot grip it stiffly and drag it forcefully. Your wrists must be steady yet relaxed, only then can the saber move as naturally as an arm or finger."

"With a supple waist, your dodges and turns will be agile, and your saber technique can flow without end, striking where the enemy is unprepared. Nimble footwork is even more important. The saber's advance and retreat depend entirely on the speed of the legs."

"You must remember these three key points firmly. Now, I will demonstrate them for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Lei held his long saber horizontally, assumed a stance, and began to perform the technique.

In an instant, saber light flashed through the small courtyard, saber shadows layering upon saber shadows.

Zhao Ya watched with complete concentration. He felt that the saber in Meng Lei's hands was no longer a saber, but had transformed into a gale, surging forward with fierce speed.

Wherever it passed, the wind of the blade howled, sending chills down one's spine.

It was not just Zhao Ya. Luo Feng was already dumbstruck as well.

At last, after completing the entire saber routine, Meng Lei abruptly withdrew his moves and settled into a stance, then smiled at Zhao Ya and Luo Feng.

"Well?"

"It is truly an incomparably formidable saber technique!" Luo Feng immediately said.

"Haha, incomparably formidable would be an exaggeration. But if you can train it to my level, you will be able to make a name for yourselves in the martial world," Meng Lei said with considerable pride.

For the rest of the afternoon, Zhao Ya and Luo Feng immersed themselves in the sea of saber techniques.

They began with the most basic saber moves: hooking, pushing, pulling, chopping, lifting, thrusting, and wiping.

With the foundation of the Five Tigers Fist they had built earlier, combined with their Bone Refinement Mastery, both of them progressed quickly.

By evening, the two had already begun to look fairly competent.

Meng Lei was quite satisfied with this and could not help offering a few words of praise.

Luo Feng was overjoyed by this, convinced that he was a martial arts genius found only once in ten thousand.

But that thought was quickly shattered.

Because Wei Yu came by that evening and picked up a saber to perform a set of the Gale Saber Technique.

Watching Wei Yu execute the entire routine with impressive form and grasp several traces of its true essence,

Luo Feng, who had just been brimming with confidence, did not say another word.

Zhao Ya, however, did not pay much attention to it.

He focused wholeheartedly on practicing the most basic saber techniques. No matter how dull and tasteless the movements were, he never showed the slightest slackness.

At last.

Just as he was about to head home, Zhao Ya saw a prompt.

[Gale Saber Technique Proficiency +1]

When he opened the Attribute Panel again, there was indeed another line in the skills section.

[Gale Saber Technique (Beginner 1/100)]

Only then did Zhao Ya let out a breath of relief.

As long as he could gain the skill, it proved that his practice was not wrong.