Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Guarding the Heart

Everyone heaped praise upon Chu Lingguang.

Worried that too much praise would make Chu Lingguang lose his focus, and not wanting Hei Hu to feel awkward alone, Guo Wei quickly took his leave, leading them out of the county seat and back to the Martial Arts Hall.

On the way back, Guo Wei earnestly pointed out the mistakes Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu had made in their duels. He also analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of Da Wang, Xiao Wang, Da Wu, and Xiao Wu, teaching the two disciples how to defeat them.

The quick-witted Hei Hu benefited greatly from the advice.

Chu Lingguang, however, carefully pondered the hidden meanings in Guo Wei’s words.

After returning to the Martial Arts Hall, Guo Wei had Guo Fang go ahead to Xiaoyue Building and order a table full of food and wine. He then demonstrated on the spot how to break Da Wu and Xiao Wu’s Saber Technique, how to last sixty rounds against them, then a hundred, and even how to defeat them outright.

Having already gained some insight from Guo Wei’s guidance on the way back, Hei Hu’s eyes lit up with understanding after watching his master’s personal demonstration and hearing the detailed explanation again. He couldn’t help but perform the Iron Mountain Saber Technique, executing a set of defensive and counter-moves for Guo Wei and Chu Lingguang based on his new enlightenment.

The moves were still from the Twelve Iron Mountain Saber Techniques.

But with his new understanding, Hei Hu’s defense and offense seemed to become flawless. It was clearly the same Saber Technique, yet it carried a different flavor.

Guo Wei was overjoyed. Hei Hu had turned his shame into courage. As long as he calmed his mind and trained diligently, he could still achieve great things in the future.

Chu Lingguang looked on with envy. He could also understand Guo Wei’s instructions, but he couldn’t attain enlightenment as quickly as Hei Hu. Even after watching Guo Wei’s demonstration, there were still many things he didn’t quite grasp. ’It seems my only choice is to find more opportunities to ask Master for guidance,’ he thought.

When it came to talent, he was completely crushed by Hei Hu.

“Master, I have another question I need your help with.”

After finishing his Saber Technique and memorizing the key skills, Hei Hu looked at Guo Wei with an urgent gaze.

“Speak freely.”

Guo Wei was in high spirits, wishing he could cram all of his knowledge directly into Hei Hu’s head.

“I want to know, if you run into someone like Junior Brother, who has practiced every Kung Fu move to the point of Perfection, how should you deal with them?”

Hei Hu asked, taking a deep breath.

Chu Lingguang had shone brilliantly today.

Not only had he lasted fifty rounds against Da Wu, but he had also defeated Liu Quan in just over ten rounds. Everyone’s focus was on him. Guo Wei had already pointed out that Chu Lingguang’s victory was entirely due to his perseverance, which allowed him to cultivate his moves to Perfection and achieve such an unexpected result today.

Guo Wei and Chu Lingguang were both taken aback.

Neither of them had expected Hei Hu to ask this question.

Chu Lingguang pricked up his ears, planning to memorize every single word Guo Wei was about to say. He would carve them onto his wall when he got back and study them diligently every day, to prevent himself from ever being defeated by this very weakness.

“It’s actually very simple. You just have to disrupt his moves.”

Guo Wei said, looking at Chu Lingguang.

Hei Hu frowned and forced himself to ask again, “How do I disrupt them? Please enlighten me, Master.”

“Give the spear to Lin Guang.”

Guo Wei said.

Chu Lingguang obediently took the Long Spear that Hei Hu had fetched from the Soldier Landing Platform. He realized Guo Wei was about to personally demonstrate how to disrupt his Spear Technique.

Sure enough, as soon as Chu Lingguang gripped the Long Spear, Guo Wei’s figure blurred. He launched the Mountain Ascending Technique from the Iron Mountain Fist straight at Chu Lingguang’s face.

Chu Lingguang instinctively raised his spear to block.

He retreated rapidly at the same time, trying to prevent Guo Wei from getting in close. But Guo Wei’s footwork grew faster and faster, his Fist Technique pressing right toward his face. Chu Lingguang felt like he couldn’t wield the Long Spear properly, as if he were trapped in a narrow alley. Growing anxious, he instinctively gripped the spearhead to use it like a dagger. But with a single punch, Guo Wei broke through all his defenses. The terrifying Fist Force struck the spear’s shaft, and Chu Lingguang’s body slammed into the Soldier Landing Platform behind him.

“Master, so ’disrupting’ means seizing the initiative.”

Hei Hu said with a delighted surprise.

Guo Wei’s strength far surpassed the two of them, yet he had used less than twenty percent of his power just now. Even so, while bare-handed, he had completely suppressed Chu Lingguang, forcing him into a constant retreat until he couldn’t even execute a single complete Spear Technique move.

“You’re only partially correct.”

Guo Wei shook his head and looked at Chu Lingguang. “Lin Guang, what do you think?”

Chu Lingguang didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he carefully replayed the scene in his mind. When Guo Wei had thrown that punch at him, a thought had flashed through his mind: ’Master may be strong, but there’s no way he can disrupt my Spear Technique bare-handed.’

But as soon as that thought appeared, he felt Guo Wei’s Fist Technique crash down on him like a tidal wave. His master was instantly in front of him, pressing him so hard he couldn’t even perform a complete set of moves.

“Junior Brother, Master is asking you a question.”

Hei Hu thought Chu Lingguang was still dazed.

“Master’s talk of ’disrupting’ should have multiple layers of meaning. I think one of them must be to disrupt the opponent’s state of mind.”

Chu Lingguang answered.

“Correct. I didn’t expect you to have this kind of enlightenment.”

Guo Wei said, his face full of pleasant surprise.

Chu Lingguang was famously dull-witted. After Guo Wei’s demonstration of the counter-skill, he had remained silent, not as animated as Hei Hu. It was clear he hadn’t been able to grasp it right away.

He hadn’t expected him to show a deeper understanding than Hei Hu on this matter.

“Just now, when Master was bare-handed, I felt a sense of contempt. I never expected to have my defense broken by a single punch. My mind was thrown into chaos, which is what made me realize that Master’s talk of ’disrupting’ must have multiple meanings.”

Chu Lingguang explained.

“Lin Guang, you have perseverance. As long as you can keep your heart from falling into chaos, no matter the situation, then no one can easily disrupt your Spear Technique or your other Kung Fu.”

Guo Wei said meaningfully.

“This disciple understands.”

Chu Lingguang said with a bow.

Only then did he realize that while Guo Wei seemed to be answering a difficult question for Hei Hu, he was actually tempering Chu Lingguang’s mind and teaching him the importance of Guarding the Heart.

“Sigh, what a case of a fool’s luck.”

Hei Hu muttered under his breath.

He had always believed that the reason Chu Lingguang could cultivate his moves to Perfection, besides his day-and-night repetitive training, was his one-track mind. He could practice the same Kung Fu without any distractions, something Hei Hu could never do.

“Now you try to disrupt Lin Guang’s Spear Technique.”

Guo Wei ordered, clearly having heard Hei Hu’s muttering.

“Oh! Junior Brother, please go easy on me!”

Hei Hu had an awkward expression as he cupped his fists at Chu Lingguang.

“Senior Brother, I’ll use the same moves I used on Liu Quan against you.”

Chu Lingguang grinned. He immediately launched the Cyan Dragon Emerges from Water Linked Spear at Hei Hu’s upper body. He was copying his master, attempting to disrupt Hei Hu’s state of mind from the very start.

Hearing this, Hei Hu instantly felt a sense of dread. Although he found Liu Quan repulsive, he had to admit that Liu Quan was stronger than him. In the end, even Liu Quan had only lasted a dozen or so rounds against Chu Lingguang. If Chu Lingguang used the same moves on him, how long could he possibly last?

The more he thought about it, the more flustered he became, and his Saber Technique fell into disarray.

Guo Wei stood to the side, wanting to praise Chu Lingguang while also wanting to slap Hei Hu a few times. He could tell at a glance that the move Chu Lingguang was using now hadn’t been used on Liu Quan at all. Yet, Hei Hu was already scared out of his wits. This disciple of his had good talent, but his mental fortitude was just too poor. Guo Wei was both angry and anxious.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep