Starting from Robinson Crusoe

The night is deep.

After practicing spear and saber techniques, Bi Kai seemed exceptionally weary, as if his muscles and bones had been drained.

Sitting back on the bench, he draped himself in animal hide again and forced himself to stay alert, picking up a tree branch to write and draw on the ground, further explaining the essentials to Chen Zhou.

During the process of imparting martial arts, Bi Kai worried the most about Chen Zhou’s poor memory, fearing he would forget what he was taught.

Although the martial arts mantra strives for rhyme in parts, most of the main content is awkward, mixed with many technical terms, acupoints, and meridian names.

Ordinary people who train in martial arts, except for soldiers who only learn forms, must start from acupoints and meridians, and only after they are familiar can they officially enter the discipline.

Different schools have varied understandings of the human body’s acupoints, leading to diverse interpretations.

In childhood, one’s talent is most extraordinary; once something is remembered, it won’t be forgotten even at seventy or eighty, whereas adults, even if they temporarily remember, will forget unless they review it daily.

Martial artists are not afraid of forgetting what they’ve learned or remembering thoroughly; they only fear remembering some parts and forgetting others, rendering it ineffective and potentially harmful.

Bi Kai’s concern was precisely this, so even though Chen Zhou was his benefactor, he didn’t dare lower his standards in this aspect, speaking each word with careful scrutiny.

Unexpectedly, Chen Zhou’s performance in terms of memory also far exceeded his expectations.

The spear and saber techniques he had just recited totaled at least three to four thousand characters and were read only once. Chen Zhou, having heard it once, could recite it back verbatim, even imitating his accent perfectly.

This kind of display truly amazed Bi Kai, prompting sincere praise multiple times during the explanation—

"With such talent, my benefactor could be a grand minister in civil matters, a marquis in martial ones, and even if he doesn’t wish to ascend the political ranks, entering the martial world would still earn him a lasting reputation as a great hero."

...

Once confirming Chen Zhou’s correct understanding of the mantras and guidelines, even though he was extremely fatigued, Bi Kai continued to instruct Chen Zhou on the specific techniques, how to exert force, and the key points of each movement.

Chen Zhou’s performance was impeccable in this aspect as well—

His extraordinary neural response made his body resemble memory-capable metal; whatever movement he performed several times would be deeply engraved into his muscles and then replicated precisely.

Bi Kai had encountered individuals who could remember poetry and literature at a glance but had never seen someone like Chen Zhou who could remember martial arts techniques equally well.

In his view, Chen Zhou only lacked most martial arts common sense, insufficiently understanding the effects different martial arts focus on producing through force and technique.

Given sufficient time to supplement this knowledge, Chen Zhou could become a living martial arts encyclopedia—

This means not only remembering martial arts manuals but also having the terrifying ability to replicate anyone’s technique just by watching it once. At that point, anyone relying on exquisite techniques to win dare not display their skills before Chen Zhou.

Once engaged, no matter how sophisticated their family-inherited martial arts are, they would inevitably become part of his benefactor’s arsenal.

Moreover, due to Chen Zhou’s extraordinary muscle and tendon strength, the same technique wielded by him wields greater power—something envy could not replicate.

With such guidance, the further he taught, the more Bi Kai felt regret.

He estimated that after tonight, he would have at most three days before his life ended.

If he continued to forcefully exert energy and martial prowess, he feared he wouldn’t survive 12 more hours.

If it weren’t for this, he would certainly impart all the supreme skills he had mastered to Chen Zhou.

It was akin to a jade sculptor discovering an exceptionally rare unpolished jade, even if enveloped in a thick layer of skin, uncovering it would reveal fresh, vibrant jade.

With such material, how could a jade sculptor not be tempted?

To Bi Kai, if there had to be someone in the world who could, like his ancestor Bi Kun, practice swordsmanship to the point of ascending in daylight, it would be Chen Zhou.

If the family-inherited sword manual could be completed, perhaps Chen Zhou could truly achieve what he couldn’t in his lifetime.

Unfortunately, the sword manual is incomplete, and his days are numbered, rendering everything mere talk.

...

The techniques and movements of the Yue Family Spear don’t incorporate strategy, more suited to those who operate in formations.

The Head-wrapping Saber is likewise an easy-to-learn saber technique, without any sophisticated maneuvers, mostly linked to basic saber technique.

Proper study of these two martial arts would take most three to five months to learn the basics, yet how far one progresses with them depends on individual talent.

Though the skills are simple, finishing teaching them in one night was a challenge for Bi Kai and Chen Zhou.

Knowing he likely lacked the energy for a second lesson, Bi Kai was determined to convey everything thoroughly and clearly once, to prevent Chen Zhou from straying onto the wrong path.

Thus the teaching continued throughout the night.

Until daylight broke, and the resting Great Horned Deer rose, waiting for Bi Kai to lead them outside, only then did Bi Kai finish teaching.

During the explanation, Chen Zhou exhibited great comprehension, despite not knowing much about martial arts common sense, asking many amusing questions, yet proving himself a prodigy in learning techniques.

At the end, Bi Kai once more had Chen Zhou display each technique, confirming no errors, finally unable to hold on.

He merely said he needed to return to his shelter to rest, promising to teach the art of deer-taming after waking, then staggered away from the campfire and into the shelter, leaving Chen Zhou alone outside.