Iron-Tin Stele, Zui'er's Talent (Please Follow Along)

"Tinware isn't worth much. Add another tenth of a tael of silver!"

"Fine!"

Zhao Ya paid the silver, then left.

The iron tiles and iron vest Zhao Ya had made today were actually training tools recorded in the manual for Swallow Three Skims the Water.

The manual called them Iron-Tin Steles.

However, according to the book, ordinary people without any foundation should begin with lead tiles made from lead blocks, only advancing to iron tiles after adapting to them.

Naturally, Zhao Ya did not need to go through all that trouble. He went straight to the maximum.

The tin tiles, meanwhile, had been prepared for Zui'er.

After all, Zhao Ya had received a modern education and knew that lead was poisonous, especially harmful to fertility.

Everything was as usual when he arrived at the escort agency. Another day spent slacking off.

After getting off work, Zhao Ya once again refused Luo Feng's enthusiastic invitation and went to the ironworking shop.

Everything had already been finished. Zhao Ya inspected it and found the workmanship excellent. Clearly, the blacksmith had put his heart into it.

So Zhao Ya gave him a little extra as a reward before carrying the items home.

After returning home, Zhao Ya had Zui'er sew cotton padding according to the size of the Iron-Tin Steles.

Once it was done, Zhao Ya put them on to try them out.

Ten iron tiles plus an iron vest weighed roughly forty to fifty jin in total.

At first, Zhao Ya did not feel much after putting them on, but once he moved a little, he felt their heavy weight. Every movement was greatly restricted.

An idea struck Zhao Ya, and he began practicing the Eight-Part Vajra Art in this state.

As Zhao Ya's core cultivation technique, the Eight-Part Vajra Art had already been practiced to perfection. Every movement was deeply engraved in his mind, and he was incomparably familiar with them.

Yet this time was different.

Movements that had once been effortless were now slightly distorted by the Iron-Tin Steles.

Though the distortion was extremely slight, accumulated over time, it became a tremendous error.

To correct those distortions, Zhao Ya could only use greater strength and more precise muscular control to execute each movement.

This invisibly gave him a deeper understanding of every movement in the Eight-Part Vajra Art.

After completing all seventy-two repetitions, Zhao Ya was drenched in sweat, but his face was full of unconcealed delight.

[Eight-Part Vajra Art proficiency +10]

Other than when he had first begun practicing, this was the first time Zhao Ya had gained so much proficiency.

Overjoyed, Zhao Ya immediately began practicing the Five Tigers Fist.

[Five Tigers Fist proficiency +8]

Sure enough, the Five Tigers Fist's proficiency had increased as well.

Zhao Ya then enthusiastically practiced the Gale Saber Technique and even the Grass-Skimming Movement once each, gaining even greater rewards from all of them.

Tang Zuier watched Zhao Ya's fists and kicks stir the wind in the courtyard, her eyes filled with fascination.

At some point, if she did not hear Zhao Ya practicing his fists, kicks, and saber techniques every night, Tang Zuier could not sleep peacefully.

During the days before the New Year when Zhao Ya had gone out on an escort mission, Tang Zuier had suffered insomnia nearly every night. Even when she fell asleep, she often woke with a start, feeling as though someone outside was knocking on the door.

That was why she had been so excited when Zhao Ya returned safely.

At last, Zhao Ya finished his daily training. His clothes were soaked through with sweat.

Tang Zuier hurriedly handed him the hot towel she had prepared in advance.

"Brother Zhao Ya, wipe your sweat first!"

"Mm!"

After wiping all the sweat from his face, Zhao Ya tossed a piece of dried Green Bamboo Snake into his mouth. He immediately felt refreshed, every part of his body clear and invigorated.

Name: Zhao Ya. Age: 17. Remaining lifespan: 40 years (+69 days)

Skills: Eight-Part Vajra Art (Mastery 601/2000) Five Tigers Fist (Mastery 1456/2000) Gale Saber Technique (Mastery 67/2000) Grass-Treading Flight (Minor Accomplishment 12/1000)

[Heart unlock progress: 10%]

Not only had his various martial arts skills improved, even the heart unlock progress had increased by 1%.

This greatly excited Zhao Ya.

At this rate, his heart would be unlocked before long.

Suppressing his thoughts, Zhao Ya said to Tang Zuier, "Come on. I'll teach you some basic movements first."

"Alright!"

Although Zhao Ya wanted Tang Zuier to develop in the direction of lightness skills, foundational strength training was also indispensable.

Leg work was especially important for movement techniques.

So Zhao Ya first taught Tang Zuier several leg stretches and waist bends, allowing her stiff tendons and muscles to loosen up.

But once they began, he discovered that Tang Zuier could easily complete all those movements after only a little practice.

She casually spread her legs and performed a perfect split, then looked at Zhao Ya with some confusion.

"Brother Zhao Ya, what are these movements for?"

Looking at her long legs, Zhao Ya coughed lightly and turned his gaze away. Somewhat awkwardly, he said,

"Oh, they're for building a foundation. But it looks like your foundation is already very good, so let's move on to the next step."

"Mm-hm!"

Tang Zuier nodded. She felt that Zhao Ya was acting a little strange, as though he did not dare look at her.

"All movement techniques and footwork begin with the most basic thing: running. There are tricks to running too. First, when a person runs, there's a line of center of gravity. That line is very important. If the point where your sole touches the ground is too far from your center-of-gravity line, it creates backward resistance, which hinders your forward movement."

"So we should try to place the point of contact closer to the center-of-gravity line, preferably directly beneath it. At the same time, when your foot lands, bend your knee quickly to cushion the impact..."

Zhao Ya began explaining the essentials of running in detail, occasionally demonstrating them himself.

Tang Zuier listened with full concentration. Whenever she did not understand something, she immediately asked.

An hour later, as Zhao Ya watched Tang Zuier run around the courtyard with growing proficiency, he felt as if he had found a treasure.

This girl could no longer be described merely as clever. She was practically a genius.

She understood every principle he explained as soon as she heard it, learned it as soon as he taught it, and quickly mastered it. She could even draw inferences from one example and make even better adjustments.

It made Zhao Ya feel a little defeated.

After all, he had progressed so quickly only because of the golden finger's support.

Even so, when he had first started, he had spent a great deal of effort figuring out the tricks involved.

Yet the problems that had troubled him were not problems at all for Zui'er. She solved them effortlessly.

Was this what they called being exceptionally gifted?

Zhao Ya was genuinely envious.

Soon, after completing ten laps, Tang Zuier stopped, breathing a little heavily.

"Brother Zhao Ya, wh-what do we learn next?"

"Nothing else. That's enough for today. It's getting late, so you should rest early too!"

"Eh? That's all? We're only learning this much today?" Tang Zuier asked in surprise.

She felt like she had barely begun learning. How could it already be over?

Zhao Ya: "..."

Then he took out a strip of dried earthworm meat.

"You've only just started cultivating, so you don't need much blood and qi yet. You can divide this strip into three portions."

"I don't want it!" Tang Zuier firmly refused.

"Why?" Zhao Ya was somewhat baffled.

"Because this is for your cultivation. I can eat something else, so you should save these for yourself, Brother Zhao Ya."

Following along during the new book period is extremely important. I hope all you esteemed readers will try not to stockpile chapters and will follow along every day. Moonlight will be endlessly grateful!

(End of chapter)