Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Injured

Guo Wei’s display today had left Chu Lingguang utterly astounded.

It was only then that he realized Guo Wei was the man who had trained Yang Shaorong. After all, Yang Shaorong had excelled in both the Daoist Examination and the Provincial Examination. After becoming a Martial Arts Scholar, he went on to pass the Imperial Examination.

He had been promoted from Captain of the South City to a Captain in the Governor’s Mansion.

Now, even Wang Chao had gone to join him.

For Guo Wei to have been Yang Shaorong’s master, how could his strength possibly be underestimated?

’With my current abilities, I probably couldn’t even harm a single hair on Guo Wei’s head.’

At this thought, Chu Lingguang cleared his mind of everything and focused on cultivating Skillful Force. Given his lack of natural talent, he held no hope of achieving Enlightenment in this Kung Fu anytime soon.

He only hoped to master the first level of Skillful Force before the Daoist Examination—just enough to be able to knock an opponent’s weapon aside.

Guo Wei knew Chu Lingguang was untalented, but his strength lay in his steady temperament and his ability to persevere through anything. Once he achieved Enlightenment, his progress would surpass everyone else’s.

Thus, he harbored no hope that Chu Lingguang would grasp it quickly. He simply stood to the side, explaining the essentials of Skillful Force over and over, correcting Chu Lingguang’s mistakes and guiding him in the right direction.

「Seven days passed in a flash.」

Chu Lingguang only remembered one thing: the fundamental principle of the first level of Skillful Force was to create a resonance between his Qi Blood and his weapon.

The Form Realm of Spear Technique involved making one’s breath and the Long Spear vibrate in unison, keeping them on the same frequency. This not only enhanced the power of the Spear Technique but also made it feel effortless to execute. Usually, he would only feel exhausted after performing the Basic Spear Skill a dozen times or more.

Skillful Force, however, used Qi Blood to find that resonance.

One could control their breath and clearly feel its presence, but this thing called Qi Blood was different. Aside from occasionally feeling a surge of heat in his chest or a tangible sensation when executing the Heavenward Force, Chu Lingguang couldn’t grasp that Qi Blood at all.

Let alone making his Qi Blood resonate with the weapon in his hands. And this was only the first stage of Skillful Force. So, after seven days, besides knowing the basic principle of the first level, Chu Lingguang still didn’t even know where that Qi Blood was in his body.

Guo Wei had long been mentally prepared for this, but seeing Chu Lingguang fail to even locate his Qi Blood for seven consecutive days, he couldn’t help but feel a little anxious.

This morning, he had explained the key points several more times and guided Chu Lingguang in searching for that flow of Qi Blood.

Chu Lingguang did as he was told, not daring to forget a single point. He diligently applied the principles Guo Wei had imparted one more time.

But he found that no warmth appeared in his palm.

Only when a flow of heat appeared and his palm turned bright red could it be considered that he had found his Qi Blood.

Guo Wei stared at Chu Lingguang’s hands, which were fairer and more delicate than a woman’s, and was speechless for a long moment.

“Keep practicing as I told you.”

Guo Wei said after a moment, clearly uncomfortable. With that, he turned and walked toward the front courtyard.

“Yes.”

Chu Lingguang didn’t dare say more, simply repeating the principles Guo Wei had taught him over and over again.

“SMACK!”

“Who taught you to practice your Fist Technique like that?”

“What kind of sorry excuse for Pile Skill is that stance?”

“SMACK!”

“And you! You punch like a girl! You’re ruining my damn reputation.”

Soon, Guo Wei’s furious curses echoed from the front courtyard. Several students with improper form were either slapped across the face or kicked to the ground.

Chu Lingguang felt a pang of guilt. All he could do was readjust his mindset and, following Guo Wei’s instructions, try to grasp the Qi Blood within him and gather it in his palm.

Only by finding the Qi Blood and then learning how to use it could he make it resonate with his weapon and master the first level of Skillful Force.

“Junior Brother, want to take a break and practice some Spear Technique with me?”

Hei Hu, hearing the commotion, couldn’t resist showing off a Flower Dance Spear flourish in front of Chu Lingguang.

For days, Guo Wei had been in the back courtyard teaching Chu Lingguang how to use Skillful Force. Hei Hu had picked up a few things just by listening in, and though he only remembered the basic principles, he couldn’t help but want to snicker seeing how Chu Lingguang was driving Guo Wei to despair.

Chu Lingguang ignored him, standing in the corner and trying again and again to gather Qi Blood in his palm.

Not wanting to be snubbed, Hei Hu was about to return to his corner to practice his Spear Technique when he turned and saw Guo Wei coming back from the front courtyard with a bunch of grapes in his hand. “Let me practice with you,” Guo Wei said to him. “Watch my mouth!”

“PFFT!”

Guo Wei spat a mouthful of grape seeds mixed with Qi Blood right into Hei Hu’s face.

Chu Lingguang hadn’t been able to find his Qi Blood for seven straight days, and Hei Hu still dared to disturb him. The sight alone made Guo Wei furious.

At lunch, Hei Hu’s face was covered in red dots.

Guo Fang came in with a letter and said, “Father, a letter has come for you from Senior Brother Wang.”

Guo Wei took the envelope, sat down to the side, and opened it to read.

Wang Chao’s letter was an investigation report on the identity of the Big Saber Gang’s leader, Gao Qingxiong, and the reason the gang had chosen to establish itself in Baiyang County.

According to Wang Chao’s investigation, it turned out that Gao Qingxiong had no connection to Big Saber Hong at all. The only reason Gao Qingxiong had named his group the Big Saber Gang was to gather Big Saber Hong’s former subordinates and establish a foothold in Baiyang County.

Guo Wei had suspected as much.

This sort of thing—using someone else’s name to swindle people—happened every day in the Jianghu.

But Wang Chao’s last sentence presented Guo Wei with a difficult problem.

The letter said that Gao Qingxiong was one of Young Master Yan’s men—the very same Government Mansion Young Master who had previously fallen into Big Saber Hong’s hands.

Everything became clear.

Gao Qingxiong establishing the Big Saber Gang in Baiyang County and gathering Big Saber Hong’s men was all at the behest of Young Master Yan. The goal was simple: to find Big Saber Hong and get revenge.

Gao Qingxiong’s invitation for him to attend the gang’s founding ceremony was undoubtedly a message intended for Big Saber Hong, implying that the new Big Saber Gang was full of his own people, hoping to lure him back.

Therefore, Guo Wei could not attend the Big Saber Gang’s founding ceremony in a few days.

But Wang Chao’s investigation had gone so smoothly, even uncovering Young Master Yan’s involvement, that Guo Wei worried Young Master Yan had intentionally let the information slip. He wanted to force Guo Wei to choose between Big Saber Hong and the Yan Family.

“Father, what did Senior Brother Wang say? You look so worried.”

Guo Fang saw that after reading the letter, Guo Wei had just been sitting there without moving. Neither Hei Hu nor Chu Lingguang dared to pick up their chopsticks.

“It’s nothing. Eat.”

Guo Wei decided not to dwell on it for the time being.

But time flew by. In the blink of an eye, another seven or eight days had passed, and the day of the Big Saber Gang’s founding ceremony was tomorrow.

“Master Guo, our leader sent me to ask if you will be able to attend our Big Saber Gang’s ceremony tomorrow?”

Li Yishan had come to the Martial Arts Hall once again.

“Please inform your leader that I will bring my disciples to attend tomorrow. Oh, by the way, you’ve come to my Martial Arts Hall twice now, and I haven’t taught you anything. I see your Saber Technique is quite good. How about I teach you a few moves?”

Guo Wei said with a smile.

“To receive instruction in the Saber Technique from Master Guo is a blessing I, Li Yishan, must have earned in a past life.”

Li Yishan’s face lit up with joy, and he quickly bowed.

“Don’t mention it. I just happened to be in the mood. Watch carefully. The secret to the Saber Technique is…”

Guo Wei appeared kind and approachable as he demonstrated the Saber Technique for Li Yishan, explaining as he went. Gradually, his saber moved faster and his footwork grew more urgent.

“AH!”

Suddenly, he cried out in alarm and collapsed onto a chair, clutching his chest.

“Master!”

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu cried out in shock.

“Master Guo, what’s wrong?”

Li Yishan was startled.

“I suffered an internal injury a few years ago. Just now, in my haste to explain the principles of the Saber Technique to you, I failed to control my Qi Blood properly, causing my old wound to act up. It seems I can only send my disciples to attend your Big Saber Gang’s ceremony tomorrow.”

Guo Wei said, his voice weak and faint.

“Er…”

Li Yishan froze.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep