Chapter 55: Chapter 55: A Gift

The Heaven and Earth Kung Fu was a technique that could transfer damage into the ground. Chu Lingguang had never quite understood it and hadn’t been focusing on it recently. He had used the technique purely on reflex.

He hadn’t given it any thought.

Just like when he fought Li Yishan on Cyan Cloud Mountain half a month ago, he had also used this Kung Fu unconsciously, transferring the force into the ground, and hadn’t even remembered it afterward.

But Guo Wei, as an experienced master, noticed something was amiss. It seemed as though Chu Lingguang had taken the full force of Boss Zhuang’s attack.

However, while Guo Wei had heard of a Kung Fu like the Heaven and Earth Kung Fu that could transfer damage into the ground, he had never seen it, nor did he believe Chu Lingguang could have learned such a skill.

So now, seeing the cracks in the stone tiles beneath Chu Lingguang’s feet, his first thought was that Chu Lingguang had used his Pile Skill to forcefully endure the Skillful Force.

He didn’t think he had transferred the Power into the ground.

It seemed more likely that Chu Lingguang had used all his might to root his feet to the ground to keep his balance, causing the tiles to crack. This display of power was deeply impressive.

HUPH!

Chu Lingguang paid it no mind. He was overjoyed to find he could withstand Boss Zhuang’s Skillful Force. ’If I run into Liu Quan,’ he thought, ’I probably won’t lose.’

At this thought, his Spear Technique grew faster and faster as he tried to break through Boss Zhuang’s defense.

Boss Zhuang’s fighting spirit was ignited. The Sword Cry grew increasingly intense, the blade swaying like a stormy wave as waves of Skillful Force surged madly toward Chu Lingguang.

The cracks in the stone tiles beneath Chu Lingguang’s feet multiplied until, with a BANG, the tiles shattered, and his feet sank several centimeters into the ground.

The soles of his shoes cracked, the fabric disintegrated, and his toes were exposed.

“HAH!”

Boss Zhuang roared. Gripping his saber with both hands, he brought it down on Chu Lingguang’s Long Spear with all his might.

This was Boss Zhuang’s strongest strike.

Chu Lingguang couldn’t block it.

The impact sent him stumbling backward. He held onto the Long Spear in a death grip, but the frequency of its vibrations threw his breathing into disarray.

Left with no choice, Chu Lingguang braced the Long Spear against the ground to disperse the force. This kept him from falling, and he never let go, keeping a firm grip on his weapon.

“Incredible. I, Zhuang Baihe, nearly had my lifelong reputation ruined at your hands.”

Boss Zhuang exclaimed in amazement.

Not only had Chu Lingguang lasted ten rounds against him, but he had also forced him to use his Skillful Force. Even then, he had barely gained an advantage, as Chu Lingguang had neutralized the technique several times in a row. It wasn’t until he gripped his saber with both hands and delivered his strongest strike that he finally managed to push the boy back.

And even then, Chu Lingguang had only stumbled back; he hadn’t fallen, nor had he even dropped his Long Spear.

He was an absolute freak of nature.

“Lin Guang, thank Boss Zhuang for his generous guidance,” Guo Wei said, suppressing a smile.

’With Chu Lingguang’s Kung Fu, passing the Martial Arts Examination to become a Martial Scholar will be a sure thing. If he keeps improving, he might even contend for the top ten.’

“Thank you for your guidance, Senior.”

Chu Lingguang said, steadying himself even as his hands trembled.

’Even though I withstood most of Boss Zhuang’s Power, that last strike was simply too strong,’ he thought. ’I didn’t even have time to neutralize it with the Heaven and Earth Kung Fu. My arms are completely sore and numb now. It’s a good thing Boss Zhuang knows his place; if he had attacked again, I wouldn’t have been able to take it.’

“Master Guo, you’ve taken on a fine disciple,” Boss Zhuang said, his voice full of envy.

“I am endlessly grateful that you would personally instruct my two disciples, Boss Zhuang,” Guo Wei said, clasping his hands.

“Take the weapons. Consider them a gift to your two disciples.”

Boss Zhuang tossed the long saber back onto the Soldier Landing Platform and said, as if having made up his mind.

Both Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu were caught off guard by his words. Hei Hu’s expression fell; he knew it was only because of Chu Lingguang that Boss Zhuang was gifting them weapons worth three hundred taels. Chu Lingguang, on the other hand, looked toward Guo Wei. For over a year, Guo Wei had shouldered all their living expenses. Getting a few weapons for free would certainly lighten his master’s burden.

“No,” Guo Wei refused. “We had an agreement. If my disciple could last ten rounds against you, you would sell us these weapons at half price. Here are one hundred and fifty taels in silver notes. Please accept them, Boss Zhuang.”

However, Guo Wei refused.

Accepting the weapons for free would mean that he, Chu Lingguang, and Hei Hu would all owe Boss Zhuang a significant Favor. If Boss Zhuang ever needed help in the future, it would be very difficult for the master and his two disciples to refuse.

It didn’t matter much for an old man like himself, but Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu were just beginning their careers. It wouldn’t do for their futures to be constrained by a debt to Boss Zhuang, all for a few weapons.

Furthermore, business is business. Boss Zhuang’s offer was probably a spur-of-the-moment decision. Getting the weapons at half price was already a bargain, and Guo Wei knew not to be greedy.

This one hundred and fifty taels had to be paid!

“You… *Sigh*. Fine. In that case, let me at least give you two sabers!”

Boss Zhuang shook his head with a wry smile, understanding Guo Wei’s reasoning. While his offer had been spontaneous, it was also a long-term investment. He was betting that Chu Lingguang would do well in the Martial Arts Examination. If the young man became an official and the military needed weapons, he might remember the Zhuang Family Iron Shop.

“Thank you.”

Since it was just two sabers, Guo Wei accepted them with pleasure.

Seeing how Guo Wei handled the situation, Chu Lingguang fell into deep thought before finally nodding to himself. He sighed inwardly at how shortsighted his earlier thoughts had been.

Getting a few weapons for free would have been nice for a time.

But the Favor owed to Boss Zhuang would have to be repaid someday. And Boss Zhuang’s establishment was an iron shop that forged weapons and had ties to the Government Office. In the future, if he became an official, he might have been forced to bend the rules to repay this Favor.

By paying the one hundred and fifty taels, Guo Wei had both secured a bargain and shielded him and Hei Hu from future trouble. Even if a small Favor remained, Boss Zhuang could only approach Guo Wei about it in the future; it wouldn’t be a burden for him or Hei Hu.

Chu Lingguang only belatedly understood these social complexities after seeing Guo Wei’s refusal. He firmly committed the lesson to memory: he must not allow a small, immediate gain to constrain his future.

Even if a Favor might help improve his strength, he had to refuse those that could negatively impact his future, bring him trouble, or put him in danger. He couldn’t let such things cloud his judgment.

“Boss Zhuang, please do not mention what happened today to anyone.”

Before they left, Guo Wei made a point of warning Boss Zhuang. As the saying goes, “The tree that stands tallest is the first to be felled by the wind.” Guo Wei was worried Chu Lingguang would attract unwanted attention. He was also afraid that if the young and impetuous Chu Lingguang became famous too quickly, he might lose sight of his original goals.

“Don’t worry, Master Guo. I know the score.”

Boss Zhuang nodded gravely. He hadn’t gained the upper hand in the spar and was actually hoping no one else would find out, so Guo Wei bringing it up first was perfect.

Chu Lingguang was lost in thought again, his respect for Guo Wei growing even deeper. Everyone knew that Guo Wei and Tie Zhennan were rivals, constantly at each other’s throats. Logically, since he had held his own against Boss Zhuang today, if news of it spread, outsiders would praise Guo Wei’s superior teaching methods, and Tie Zhennan would lose face yet again.

But Guo Wei cared nothing for such fame and prestige. For Chu Lingguang’s sake, he had willingly suppressed the renown he was due. This not only saved face for Boss Zhuang but also allowed Chu Lingguang to settle down and focus on his training.

Chu Lingguang silently filed this lesson away for future use.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep