Chapter 80 - 71: Saber Technique Genius
Mu Zhenhai was in high spirits. He raised his Constable’s Saber again and said, "Since you’ve come humbly seeking guidance, I will naturally do my best to offer a few pointers. I’ll let you see just what a Perfect Level Saber Technique is capable of.
My Saber Technique is called the Eighteen Iron Blood Sabers. It is an orthodox technique of the Great Yu Government Office, and it is also a Mid-level Saber Technique.
Most of the constables in the City Guard Department learn this very technique."
As Mu Zhenhai spoke, he turned to the other constables and said loudly, "All of you must also watch carefully. How much you can comprehend will depend entirely on your own aptitude."
With that, he moved again. His Saber Technique’s forms, however, had completely changed. They were now as sharp and swift as lightning, carrying an indomitable, iron-blooded aura that seemed capable of crushing all opposition and cutting down everything in its path...
Chen Cheng and the other constables watched, their hearts pounding in awe. Even after Mu Zhenhai finished his demonstration, they were still replaying his movements in their minds, contemplating each and every move as they tried to grasp its profound subtleties, remaining silent for a long time.
As the Instructor Constable, seeing Chen Cheng and the other constables so eager to learn and improve warmed Mu Zhenhai’s old heart.
Only when everyone slowly came back to their senses did he continue, "Practicing a hundred times is not as good as sparring once. All of you, find a partner and practice your Saber Techniques."
Hearing this, the constables all found partners to spar with. Liao San excitedly approached Chen Cheng and said, "Ah Cheng, let’s practice a few moves."
Chen Cheng smiled and was about to agree when Mu Zhenhai spoke up. "Liao San, your Saber Technique is far too lacking compared to Ah Cheng’s. Go find someone else to practice with."
"Yes, sir." Liao San didn’t dare disobey Mr. Mu. He could only turn sullenly toward Li Ze, who was nearby, and ask him to spar.
Only then did Mu Zhenhai say, "Ah Cheng, your Saber Technique is much stronger than theirs. You’ll gain little from sparring with them. How about I practice a few moves with you instead?"
This was exactly what Chen Cheng had hoped for. He quickly cupped his hands in a salute. "To receive Elder Mu’s guidance is my greatest honor."
"Mm. You are so young, yet so humble. That’s quite rare. I am very pleased."
Mu Zhenhai praised him repeatedly before continuing, "Mastering a Saber Technique is not an overnight task. You cannot be impatient for success. You must cultivate diligently and progress step by step.
And you must not be hasty in fully comprehending the subtleties of a Saber Technique. As they say, ’Knowing a thousand moves is not as good as perfecting one.’ Although your Saber Technique has already reached Great Success, it is still far from sufficient in its finer points and subtleties.
For now, practice each move again, one by one, with great care."
This was the first time Chen Cheng had heard such teachings. He felt they made great sense and was secretly grateful to the Instructor Constable. He quickly cupped his hands in another salute.
"Yes, sir."
With that, he began to practice, starting with the Riding the Wind Technique.
After he finished the move, Mu Zhenhai nodded slightly. "This move emphasizes speed. The key is to strike with the force of a sudden thunderclap, catching the enemy off guard. If executed with precision and paired with a fast Body Technique, you can often catch an opponent unprepared, gain the upper hand in one move, or even kill them with a single strike.
Your form is certainly practiced and flawless, but you focus too much on the follow-up combinations and transitions, neglecting the true power of this single move. Watch me."
...
This Mr. Mu was truly teaching him. Not only did he point out the shortcomings in Chen Cheng’s forms one by one, but he also constantly used various Saber Techniques to spar with Chen Cheng, feeding him moves to practice against.
For a time, the old man and the young man became completely absorbed, losing themselves in their Cultivation in the middle of the training grounds.
Under Mu Zhenhai’s meticulous guidance, many of Chen Cheng’s previous points of confusion became clear. Even when Mu Zhenhai’s instructions were too profound or obscure to grasp at first, with the help of his Panel, Chen Cheng was able to fully comprehend and master them by the second or third repetition.
[Wind Chasing Saber Technique Cultivation Progress increased.]
...
[Wind Chasing Saber Technique Cultivation Progress increased.]
...
The Panel’s notifications appeared frequently as Chen Cheng’s Cultivation Progress in the Wind Chasing Saber Technique soared.
[Skills: Wind Chasing Saber Technique (Great Success 1668/10000)]
In just an hour, his Cultivation Progress for the Wind Chasing Saber Technique had increased by more than three hundred points. It was no exaggeration to say his progress was advancing by leaps and bounds.
Meanwhile, the more Mu Zhenhai taught, the more astounded he became. He could feel that the boy’s aptitude was simply heaven-defying. He understood everything after being taught just once. Even the most profound and obscure subtleties, he could fully grasp after three or four repetitions at most.
Chen Cheng learned so quickly that the old man began to wonder, ’Am I some legendary grandmaster? Is every word I speak a pearl of wisdom?’
Of course, as an expert who had been at Saber Technique Perfection for decades, he also had his own insights while teaching Chen Cheng. Flashes of Spiritual Wisdom would occasionally appear in his mind, and it seemed he was just a hair’s breadth away from touching the threshold of Saber Momentum.
This was actually easy to understand. It was like a middle school math teacher teaching a difficult problem to an elementary school student. The teacher is often confined by more advanced knowledge and overlooks the simpler solutions that are available with just elementary-level knowledge.
The feeling was truly profound. For a time, the old man was lost in teaching and the young man was lost in his Cultivation, completely unaware that the appointed hour had long passed.
It wasn’t until Liao San came over to remind him that Chen Cheng finally bid farewell to Mu Zhenhai and went on duty.
Watching Chen Cheng’s departing figure, Mu Zhenhai still felt a sense of wanting more. He murmured to himself, "To think there’s such a Saber Technique genius in this day and age. The younger generation is truly formidable!
This boy’s future accomplishments will likely far surpass my own!"
After sighing with emotion, a secretive, gleeful expression that didn’t match his age appeared on his face. He chuckled. "My own aptitude is decent, but nothing more. I’ve been stuck at the Saber Technique Perfection Realm my whole life. I never thought that in my old age, thanks to this kid, I might actually be able to touch the threshold of Saber Momentum. This is truly wonderful! I must have a few extra drinks tonight! Fantastic, fantastic! Hahaha!"
Caught in a sudden burst of youthful vigor, Mu Zhenhai abruptly began to swing his Constable’s Saber on the training grounds, practicing his Saber Technique.
On the training grounds, a one-armed old man could be seen. His saber moved like a dragon, accompanied by the rumble of wind and thunder, its power shaking the heavens!
The few people who passed by thought the old Instructor had gone mad and gave him a wide berth. Even the constables who had planned to use their day off to practice their Saber Technique gave up the idea and returned home.
...
「In the following days」
News of Chen Cheng moving to Shisong Street spread. Many of the gentry, wealthy households, merchants, and other influential figures from all walks of life in the Ruyi District either visited him personally or sent people with all sorts of precious gifts and silver coins to express their goodwill.
After all, during the assessment competition, Chen Cheng had killed Zhou Fang, who was at Great Success in the Skin Grinding Realm, in a single move. With such Martial Arts Power, he could be considered the number one expert in the Ruyi District Sub-Department, second only to the Chief Constables.
Furthermore, he was favored by Chief Constable Shen Qingshuang and was openly backed by the Shen Family, one of the Four Great Clans of the Inner City. It was only a matter of time before he would be promoted to Chief Constable and become a major figure in the Ruyi District.
In response, Chen Cheng greeted them all with a smile and turned no one away, accepting all gifts and silver coins that were offered.
Among these people, surprisingly, was Jiang Rongxuan. That fellow sent someone to deliver thirty taels of silver. The messenger also said that Master Jiang invited Chen Cheng to be a guest at the Jiang Family estate and mentioned that if Chen Cheng were to dine at the Jiang Family’s restaurant, he could do so at half price.
Chen Cheng had previously looked into the Jiang Family’s background. Jiang Rongxuan’s sister was married to a member of a side branch of the Zhou Family.
And this so-called side branch of the Zhou Family was even more distant than Zhou Fang’s own remote branch. They merely shared the Zhou surname and had deliberately cozied up to the main family to be recognized as relatives.
Jiang Rongxuan’s gesture was clearly born out of fear that Chen Cheng would come looking for him to settle old scores.
Naturally, Chen Cheng had no time to waste on him. He took the silver coins and sent the messenger away.
Taking stock, not counting the gifts, he had received nearly two hundred taels of silver in cash.
Adding the one hundred taels of silver from Shen Qingshuang, the thirty taels of silver in tribute from Luo’s Shop, and the silver coins he had saved up before, Chen Cheng’s net worth suddenly skyrocketed to over four hundred taels of silver, making him a bona fide wealthy man.
Such a huge gain made Chen Cheng keenly aware of the many benefits that came with great Martial Arts Power combined with a position of authority.
Of course, Chen Cheng was also very clear-headed. He knew that as his Martial Arts Power grew and he gained significant influence, the dangers he faced would also increase.
Although the Zhou Family hadn’t made a move yet, they would definitely not let the matter rest. He feared they were plotting something against him behind the scenes. He had to increase his Martial Arts Power as quickly as possible.
Right now, the fastest way to improve his combat ability was, naturally, to cultivate his Saber Technique.
Ever since that day of instruction, Mr. Mu had constantly urged Chen Cheng to come and practice his Saber Technique. Sometimes, if Chen Cheng was even a little late, he would be harshly reprimanded.
The old man wasn’t just truly teaching him; he actually seemed more eager for Chen Cheng to improve than Chen Cheng himself was. Although Chen Cheng didn’t understand why, he was more than happy to be able to cultivate under his guidance, and he always remained polite, humble, and eager to learn.