Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Deal

Guo Wei’s display today was truly astounding.

In the following days, hoping to earn Guo Wei’s true teachings, Da Wang and Xiao Wang revealed even greater skill while sparring with Chu Lingguang.

CLANG!

Da Wang executed a wide sweep with his spear.

Chu Lingguang tried to counter with his Linked Spear, but Da Wang was too fast. Infused with Qi Blood, Da Wang’s attack shattered Chu Lingguang’s offense, forcing him onto the defensive.

CLANG!

CLANG!

Seizing the opportunity, Da Wang unleashed another Five-Gun Sweep, trying to knock the Long Spear from Chu Lingguang’s hands.

Chu Lingguang resisted with all his might.

He had been able to withstand Da Wang’s Five-Gun Sweep during their first spar. Over the past month, their Spear Techniques had clashed countless times, and Chu Lingguang had even had a breakthrough with Skillful Force, learning to channel his Qi Blood into his Long Spear. He was confident he could block these five strikes.

But starting from the second strike, Chu Lingguang felt something was wrong.

Da Wang’s Spear Technique also contained a burst of Skillful Force. The vibrating wave of Qi Blood made it feel as though his Long Spear might be torn from his grasp.

CLANG!

CLANG!

CLANG!

The remaining three sweeps were faster, stronger, and the vibrations from the Skillful Force intensified. The tighter Chu Lingguang gripped his Long Spear, the greater the impact that shot up his arms.

When the fifth sweep came down,

Chu Lingguang’s grip on one end of his Long Spear failed, and the weapon flew sideways. Fortunately, he managed to grab the other end in time, executing a Lion’s Head Turned Down to block Da Wang’s follow-up Thrust.

BANG!

But he was also sent back seven or eight steps, slamming into the courtyard wall.

Chu Lingguang panted, his expression grim. ’It seems Da Wang has been hiding this move from the very beginning. If he had used Skillful Force during our first meeting, I wouldn’t have been able to block his Five-Gun Sweep even after my own awakening.’

’Thinking back, Da Wang must have been deliberately hiding his true strength because we’ll be taking the Daoist Examination together; he didn’t want to reveal his trump card. He’s only showing it now because he wants Master Guo’s approval so he can learn real Kung Fu in Mounted Archery and the Lance.’

Guo Wei was off to the side, eating grapes.

He remained silent, as if he had expected this all along, and continued to watch everyone train.

Da Wang could hide his strength from Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu, but not from Guo Wei’s discerning eyes.

After dinner that evening,

Da Wang sought out Chu Lingguang.

With the Martial Arts Examination approaching, Guo Wei had required Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu to live at the Martial Arts Hall for safety and to prevent others from spying on their progress. They couldn’t leave without his permission.

Da Wang and Xiao Wang also ate and lived at the Martial Arts Hall.

Normally, Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu lived in the rear courtyard, with only a study separating their room from Guo Wei’s bedroom. Da Wang and Xiao Wang, however, lived in the Inner Courtyard, in a brick-and-tile house near the laundry room.

“What can I do for you, Wang?”

Chu Lingguang asked, puzzled.

The two had interacted frequently over the past month, but every evening after dinner, they would return to their respective rooms to contemplate what they had learned that day. This was the first time Da Wang had pulled him into a corner after a meal.

“I want to make a deal with you,”

Da Wang said with a smile.

“What kind of deal?”

Chu Lingguang looked completely baffled.

“Master Guo’s Three-Star Linked Pearls is too advanced; it would be hard to master without a decade of bitter practice. But your Hundred-step Piercing Willow might help my brother and me break through our bottleneck.”

Da Wang said seriously.

“What do you mean?”

Chu Lingguang was confused. ’Don’t tell me Da Wang wants me to be his master! I’d have to ask Master Guo if that’s even allowed.’

“You saw my Spear Technique today. I know you’ve had some insights into Skillful Force, but fully mastering it isn’t so easy. How about this: if you help me learn Hundred-step Piercing Willow, I promise that whenever we spar from now on, I’ll use my full strength to help you master Skillful Force.”

Da Wang said with a sincere expression.

“Well…”

Chu Lingguang scratched his head, thought for a moment, and said, “Our masters put us together so we could improve our strength together, so it’s not like I can’t help you while you help me. The only thing is, I don’t know how to teach you Hundred-step Piercing Willow.”

“That part’s simple. When we go out to practice Archery, just shoot with your full power every time. I’ll do the same when I spar with you. As for who learns what in the end, that will be up to our own fortunes.”

Da Wang had already thought of this.

“I have to ask my master.”

Chu Lingguang felt it was necessary to tell Guo Wei.

“I don’t think that’s necessary. Master Guo definitely won’t object to something like this. It’s just as you said: we were put together to improve our strength.”

Da Wang was worried Guo Wei would think Chu Lingguang was getting the short end of the stick. After all, Chu Lingguang’s aptitude was indeed rather dull, and it would be difficult for him to learn Da Wang’s skills.

“It’s fine, I’m still going to ask!”

Chu Lingguang didn’t dare not to ask.

Everything he knew had been taught by Guo Wei. Even if it was just a mutual exchange, he still had to ask for his master’s permission.

“Agree to it.”

A short while later, when Guo Wei heard Da Wang’s idea, he said without any hesitation.

He had brought Da Wang and Xiao Wang over precisely so they would spar with Chu Lingguang at full strength. How could Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu improve if their opponents were always holding back?

Besides, while he didn’t know if Chu Lingguang could learn Skillful Force from Da Wang, he was certain that with Chu Lingguang’s aptitude, he definitely wouldn’t be able to teach Da Wang Hundred-step Piercing Willow.

In any case, Chu Lingguang wouldn’t be the one losing out.

“My master agreed.”

Chu Lingguang gave Da Wang the good news.

「The next day.」 Chu Lingguang and Da Wang first practiced their Spear Technique all morning. Under the assault of Da Wang’s Skillful Force, Chu Lingguang was suppressed from start to finish, retreating step by step.

In the afternoon, Chu Lingguang and Da Wang went out to practice Archery. As Chu Lingguang shot his arrows, he kept thinking about how to achieve the Three-Star Linked Pearls like Guo Wei.

Da Wang could only stare blankly. Chu Lingguang’s Hundred-step Piercing Willow seemed to be performed at will, looking almost too simple. He tried to mimic him, drawing his bow and nocking an arrow, but he could never seem to hit the target.

When he asked Chu Lingguang for the trick or the key principles, Chu Lingguang couldn’t give him any answers. Da Wang could only take his own notes and go back to study them with Xiao Wang.

「The days flew by.」

Only one day remained of their two-month agreement.

Only four months were left until the Daoist Examination.

“ARGH!”

Da Wang, his face full of frustration, unleashed a Five-Gun Sweep at Chu Lingguang.

Just as Guo Wei had predicted, Chu Lingguang’s aptitude was dull, and he had no idea how to teach. Da Wang had been training with Chu Lingguang for about twenty days, but aside from seeing Chu Lingguang’s hand speed get faster and faster, he hadn’t grasped any of the essentials of Hundred-step Piercing Willow himself.

’I should have just watched Guo Wei’s Three-Star Linked Pearls instead. At least that was astounding to see.’

The thought that he had to return to the Escort Agency tomorrow to report on his work filled Da Wang with frustration. He wanted to knock the Long Spear from Chu Lingguang’s hand just to vent.

CLANG!

CLANG!

Chu Lingguang repeatedly blocked the attacks.

The Skillful Force coming from Da Wang’s Long Spear shot straight into both his arms. At first, the numbing ache in his arms was difficult to dispel, but now he was able to resist it using his Qi Blood.

CLANG!

Just then, Chu Lingguang felt the Power in Da Wang’s third strike surge.

The urge to let go of his Long Spear was stronger than ever. In his desperation, he flipped his hands, and the Qi Blood in his arms flowed into the Long Spear. The spear’s shaft began to spin on its own.

HUMMM!

A low hum emanated from Chu Lingguang’s Long Spear. When Da Wang’s next sweep landed, he felt a repulsive force.

Using that repulsive force, Chu Lingguang easily secured his grip on his Long Spear.

Chu Lingguang blocked all five strikes of Da Wang’s Five-Gun Sweep. In the end, he even launched a counterattack, forcing Da Wang back several steps with a Linked Spear technique.

Guo Wei, with two grapes in his mouth, quietly watched this turn of events.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep