Saber Technique Improvement (Please Keep Reading)

He knew Tang Zuier must have been crying, and it gave him a bit of a headache.

Then he looked around and suddenly said, "Auntie Zhao, where are you going?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Tang Zuier sprang to her feet as though electrocuted. Only when she saw that the alley was empty did she realize she had been tricked.

But Tang Zuier was not angry. She did not even bother wiping the tears from her face as she broke into a smile.

"Brother Ya, you must be hungry. Hurry inside and change clothes. I'll go make you something to eat!"

As she spoke, she took Zhao Ya's luggage from him and hurried excitedly into the house.

Watching Tang Zuier's retreating figure, Zhao Ya smiled faintly.

He knew the girl must not have had an easy time these past few days. After all, he had been gone for several days, and the heavy snow on the road had delayed him.

That was why she had been so emotional when they met.

Still, that hug just now had stirred something in Zhao Ya's heart.

Suppressing those thoughts, Zhao Ya returned to his room. A stack of clothes had been neatly folded beside the bed, and Tang Zuier had even prepared socks for him.

By the time Zhao Ya had changed, Tang Zuier had finished cooking.

The two sat facing each other and began eating. As they ate, Tang Zuier chattered nonstop, her rosy cheeks brimming with delight.

Zhao Ya said nothing. He simply smiled throughout and listened quietly.

Late at night.

Tang Zuier had already fallen into a deep sleep, while Zhao Ya was still practicing in the courtyard.

During the past few days escorting the shipment, Zhao Ya had only practiced the Five Tigers Fist in his spare time. He had not trained the Eight-Part Vajra Art.

After all, that was his greatest trump card. Though it would probably be useless even if others learned it, Zhao Ya still tried his best to avoid displaying it before others.

Now that he was home, Zhao Ya naturally practiced the Eight-Part Vajra Art once first.

After finishing, Zhao Ya felt refreshed and invigorated, the sinews throughout his body trembling faintly.

Zhao Ya's heart stirred.

Recently, the sensation of all the sinews in his body moving together had become increasingly pronounced.

This was clearly a sign that he was about to break through.

Once he did, he would become a martial artist of the Sinew-Tempering Realm.

Though that level could not be considered particularly high among the martial world, it would at least give him some ability to protect himself.

More importantly, Zhao Ya had only been practicing martial arts for just over half a year. Such progress was truly astonishing.

Zhao Ya drew a deep breath and practiced another set of Five Tigers Fist. Soon, his entire body grew hot, and his blood and qi surged.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Ya took out the Meteoric Iron Saber. First, he lovingly ran a hand over it, then gently drew it from its sheath.

The Meteoric Iron Saber's craftsmanship was exceptionally exquisite, and the hilt had been designed with great care.

With the saber in hand, Zhao Ya felt that its weight and length were both perfect, as though it had been custom-made for him.

Zhao Ya took a deep breath, then began practicing the Gale Saber Technique.

The more he practiced, the more he felt that the treasured saber in his hand moved exactly as he wished. By the end, he even felt as though man and saber had become one.

As his excitement mounted, Zhao Ya simply unleashed the Grass-Skimming Movement and began dancing around the courtyard.

Saber shadows overlapped, and saber winds howled. It was as though a gale had swept through the small courtyard, even blowing much of the snow from the eaves.

Suddenly.

Zhao Ya spun around and slashed at a large water jar in the courtyard.

With a crisp crack, the Meteoric Iron Saber cleaved straight through it. A fissure appeared down the middle of the jar.

The crack rapidly widened, then the jar split into two halves and slowly toppled apart.

[Gale Saber Technique proficiency increased by 20]

Zhao Ya sheathed his saber, his eyes filled with joy.

It was not merely because his proficiency had increased greatly, but more importantly because his own strength had grown.

That water jar was as large as a millstone, and the water inside had frozen solid, making it extraordinarily sturdy.

Yet he had split it in two with a single stroke, and the cut was smooth as a mirror. Its sharpness was plain to see.

Zhao Ya's confidence soared.

Even though he had not yet broken through, with this saber in hand, Zhao Ya's strength could surpass that of an ordinary second-realm martial artist.

Zhao Ya fondly stroked the blade, but he also quietly reminded himself.

He absolutely could not become complacent. In particular, he could not casually reveal this saber to anyone. Forge-Iron Manor was still searching for this treasured weapon.

If word got out, it would be extremely disadvantageous for him.

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, he could not use this saber. Once he did use it, he would have to eliminate every possible danger.

Having made up his mind, Zhao Ya put away the saber and fell into a deep sleep.

The exhaustion of the past few days made this sleep exceptionally sweet.

It was not until the next morning that Zhao Ya was awakened by the sounds of Tang Zuier cooking.

After breakfast, Tang Zuier was about to wash the clothes Zhao Ya had changed out of, but Zhao Ya stopped her.

"Forget it. Those few clothes can be washed anytime. Come on, go into town with me."

"What are we going into town for?"

"To buy things, of course!"

With the New Year approaching, the market, which had been desolate for so long, had finally regained some life.

Zhao Ya took Tang Zuier on a shopping spree. Rice, flour, grain, oil, and all sorts of foodstuffs were naturally a given.

The important thing was clothing.

Zhao Ya took Tang Zuier to a ready-made clothing shop. Ignoring her protests, he firmly bought her several new outfits.

At noon, Zhao Ya took Tang Zuier to eat at a rather famous restaurant, then returned home carrying armfuls of packages.

"Go try them on," Zhao Ya said.

In this era, clothing shops did not have fitting rooms, so one could only buy clothes and try them on at home.

Tang Zuier nodded shyly and turned to enter the room.

A moment later, Tang Zuier lifted the curtain and stepped out timidly.

"Do... do they look good?"

Zhao Ya looked up, and his eyes immediately lit up.

Tang Zuier had grown a little taller and filled out somewhat since before. This had shed some of her childish immaturity and added a touch of a young girl's youthful vitality.

Especially now that she had changed into new clothes, her natural prettiness left even Zhao Ya momentarily entranced.

"They look good," Zhao Ya said sincerely.

Tang Zuier's face brightened with delight, but then she lowered her head and said with some distress, "But they were so expensive!"

Zhao Ya smiled faintly. "Not expensive at all. Zuier, remember this: as long as you look pretty, Brother Ya can still afford a few sets of clothes for you!"

Tang Zuier's eyes curved into crescents from her smile.

"Mm, I know."

The escort agency had already given Zhao Ya leave, so during the days before the New Year, he went nowhere and focused entirely on practicing at home.

At last, New Year's Eve arrived.

Early that morning, Zuier got up and began tidying up, chopping meat filling and mixing sauces. She was busy beyond measure.

Zhao Ya had wanted to help as well, but Tang Zuier pushed him out.

In her words, such things were women's work, and there was no need for Zhao Ya to do them.

Left with no choice, Zhao Ya began pasting up couplets and hanging lanterns.

By evening, red lanterns hung high in the small courtyard, while the couplets on the doorframe added even more festive cheer.

By then, Zuier had also finished preparing the meal.

The table was filled with dishes, with a steaming platter of dumplings in the middle.

Zhao Ya and Zuier sat facing each other, each with a bowl of wine poured before them.

"Happy New Year!"

After clinking bowls, they drank at the same time, then smiled at each other.

Just then, someone outside set off fireworks.

"It's New Year!" Zuier's little face was flushed as she gazed dreamily at the fireworks constantly blooming in the sky.

"Mm, it's New Year," Zhao Ya said.

The firelight in the stove flickered while the cold wind howled outside.

All at once, Zhao Ya felt something called home.