Chapter 2: Blade Technique
Chapter 2: Blade Technique
The old wooden doors, weathered by time, were tightly shut from the inside. Chen Mu knocked gently, announcing his return. From within, he heard the sounds of movement and delighted voices.
Thump, thump.
The sound of bare feet running across the floor grew louder as they approached the door, which was then unlatched.
"Brother!"
A small figure, wearing a coarse cloth jacket, appeared from behind the door. Her height barely reached Chen Mu's chest, and she stood barefoot on the ground, looking up at him with a charming, innocent smile.
Chen Yue, now fourteen years old, should have been at the age where she would be blossoming into a young lady. However, she had always been a bit malnourished, and even now, she retained a frail appearance. Unlike most girls her age, her skin had a slightly yellowish hue.
In this harsh world, it was unrealistic for a commoner's family to raise a stunning beauty. But despite her condition, Chen Yue had a decent foundation, in Chen Mu's eyes. If they could become more prosperous and provide better care, she would likely grow into a pure and graceful lotus. For now, she could only endure the hardships with her brother.
"Why are you running around barefoot again?" Chen Mu asked, gently rubbing her small head with affection. In his previous life, he had no sister, but in this one, he found solace in his younger sister's sweet and obedient nature amidst the chaos and coldness of the city.
Yue tilted her head back and giggled, "I'll put them on before going out. If I wear them too much at home, they'll get ruined, and that would be such a waste."
Chen Mu picked her up and carried her to the inner room, placing her on the heated brick bed. He touched her small feet, feeling their icy coldness, and couldn't help but scold her, "Winter is coming, and you'll get frostbite. If they get ruined, we'll just mend them."
He understood why Yue was reluctant to wear shoes. Her previous pair had completely worn out, and her feet had grown a bit, so they no longer fit. Chen Mu had bought her a new pair, which she cherished like a precious treasure, not wanting to wear them out. After all, she didn't go out anyway.
"Okay, okay," Yue replied, her face filled with conflict.
Indeed, if she got frostbite, they would have to spend money on medicine.
Chen Mu handed her a steamed bun, instructing her to wash her hands before eating. But the little girl insisted on running barefoot to wash her hands, so Chen Mu brought a wooden basin over instead.
After washing her hands and feet, Yue's face flushed, and she eagerly took the bun. Her eyes, filled with admiration, looked up at Chen Mu. He hadn't always been this kind to her, but after a severe illness, his attitude had changed, and he had become increasingly affectionate. She cherished this new life, even if it meant staying indoors all day. Eating plain white rice buns, she was content and happy.
"It's been a long time since I took you out to play, hasn't it?" Chen Mu said, looking at Yue thoughtfully.
Ever since he arrived in this world and discovered the chaos and danger outside, he had strictly forbidden Yue from going out. He even threatened to disown her if she dared to leave, which terrified the little girl so much that she cried for half a day before he could finally calm her down.
"Four months," Yue replied, munching on the bun and gesturing with her fingers.
Chen Mu smiled slightly, "Alright, in a while, I'll take you out to play again."
Keeping a girl of her age locked up at home constantly weighed on his conscience. He couldn't take her out without some precautions, so he planned to smudge her face, mess up her hair, and dress her in old clothes. Then, carrying her on his back, he would go out with familiar colleagues like Liu San and Li Liu, just as he had done before.
Although there was still some risk, keeping her locked up like this was no different from being in prison.
"Yay!" Yue exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy at Chen Mu's words.
But after the initial excitement, she looked at Chen Mu with caution. "If I... if I go out to play, will it cause trouble for you, brother?"
Chen Mu patted her head gently and said, "Stay inside the room, I'm going to the firewood room."
"Okay," Yue nodded obediently.
...
The firewood room was spacious, but it was almost empty, with only a few scattered pieces of firewood stacked here and there. Firewood had become increasingly expensive, as a group of woodcutters had gone missing in the western mountains, scaring off many others from venturing there.
Now, only the braver ones dared to go out and cut firewood, hoping to earn more while the prices were high. As a result, the supply had dwindled, and ordinary families had to be frugal.
Chen Mu carefully took out a small booklet from his pocket, the same one he had found earlier.
The booklet's cover was worn, and only the characters 'Wind Blade Technique' could be made out. Chen Mu studied the first character carefully and thought it should be 'Gale.' So, the name of the technique was likely 'Gale Wind Blade Technique.'
"A blade technique..."
Chen Mu held the booklet in his hand, deep in thought.
In this world, the idea of finding a martial arts manual and becoming a master through solitary practice was purely fictional. Even such worn-out manuals weren't considered very valuable.
The reason was simple. To train in martial arts, whether it was with fists, palms, legs, fingers, or weapons like swords and sticks, one needed proper guidance from a master. Practicing from a manual alone could lead to muscle and bone injuries, and no one would take responsibility for that.
As a patrol officer, Chen Mu had some blade training in the City Guard. However, the leader only taught basic horizontal and vertical slashing techniques, not advanced blade skills. So, after two and a half years of practice, Chen Mu could only handle ordinary people who didn't know proper forms.
Chen Mu had asked Liu Song and Li Liu about this, and they had given him the same answer.
Obtaining a blade technique manual wasn't difficult or expensive; one could usually buy one for a dozen or so silver taels at a pawnshop. But the idea of mastering a technique solely from a manual with a few fixed moves was a pipe dream.
One had to go to an inner-city martial arts academy and learn from a martial arts instructor, who would teach proper force stances and other techniques). That was the proper way.
In the chaotic world of the Great Xuan Dynasty, intelligence and wit held little meaning. Instead, it was a place where cunning could cost one's life, and only those who treaded carefully could survive. Chen Mu, a poor scholar with little money and no influence, found himself in a predicament. He dreamed of learning martial arts, but the cost of training at the prestigious Inner City Martial Arts Academy was far beyond his reach. Even the wealthy Liu Song and Li Liu would struggle to afford it.
Chen Mu's eyes lit up as he considered a potential solution. "If I could learn a sword technique and gain some martial prowess, everything would be different. Not only would the local gentry and powerful clans be willing to hire me as a bodyguard, but I'd also rise in the ranks of a gang. Even in the City Guard, I might catch the attention of the higher-ups and rise from a mere patrol officer to a senior one."
Chen Mu's heart sank as he realized the challenge ahead. "It's too difficult to comprehend a martial art solely from a manual. Without a master from the same lineage guiding me, it's nearly impossible to grasp the intricacies."
Despite the odds, Chen Mu was determined to give it a try. Flipping through the manual, he found a page describing the sword technique—a chaotic wind technique from the Wind Lineage of the Eight Trigrams. "Shape the chaos, but keep the intent calm. Like a thousand winds passing through, wrapping around muscles and scraping bones. If one can perfect this technique, they'll harness the power of a chaotic wind."
The first page lacked illustrations, but Chen Mu's curiosity grew as he turned to the next page. There, a figure holding a saber stood out on the yellow paper. The saber was guided by a dotted line, slanting diagonally from bottom to top, labeled as 'Chaotic Wind First Move.'
Chen Mu studied the image for a moment, then stood up and drew his own patrol saber. Mimicking the illustration, he swung the saber, and to his surprise, the move seemed somewhat decent. However, he felt something was off, and the force behind the strike was weaker than his usual horizontal and vertical slashes.
"Just as Li Liu said, a manual can only teach the postures. Understanding how to apply force and transform the moves is a whole different story," Chen Mu thought to himself.
The following three pages showcased variations of the Chaotic Wind First Move, each tailored to different opponent strategies—diagonal thrusts, horizontal slashes, and straight slashes. Chen Mu memorized these variations and began practicing them. After a while, he managed to execute the moves, albeit with a vague understanding of the proper force application. He wasn't sure if these moves contradicted the fundamental principles of martial arts.
As he practiced, Chen Mu realized that these half-baked moves might not be as effective as his usual horizontal and vertical slashes. If he used these in a real fight, he might not gain any advantage and could even suffer a significant loss.
"It's probably an issue of force application and direction. A single manual indeed doesn't provide much information." Chen Mu pondered.
After this revelation, Chen Mu acknowledged that he wasn't the type to grasp the intricacies of a martial art from mere illustrations. Directly comprehending and practicing the techniques from the manual seemed unlikely. If the subsequent moves were also half-baked like this, even if he managed to master them, they might not differ much from ordinary slashes. The manual might only be worth a couple of silver for some meat.
"Brother, drink some water."
As Chen Mu paused his practice, a voice interrupted his thoughts. It was Chen Yue, carrying a rough clay pot with clear water. She had been warned several times by Chen Mu about the importance of boiling water before drinking. In this backward world, life expectancy was directly linked to one's diet and hygiene.
Chen Mu took the pot, drank a few sips, and returned it to her, gently patting her head.
"Is brother practicing martial arts?" Chen Yue asked curiously, noticing the manual and the illustrated moves on the stove.
Chen Mu nodded. He had initially thought this might be his chance to change his fate, but now he realized it was a bit optimistic. To truly learn martial arts, he might need to save up some money and seek a master at the Inner City Martial Arts Academy.
However, just as Chen Mu was about to put away the manual, he froze. Floating in mid-air, a few words appeared before his eyes. Blinking in disbelief, he confirmed it wasn't an illusion.
【Martial Arts: Gale Swordsmanship (Unranked)】
【Experience: 2 Points】
A smile finally graced Chen Mu's face as he realized this wasn't a hallucination.
(End of Chapter)
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