Chapter 268: Sparring
Chapter 268: Sparring
Chen Chuan held the Snowjun Blade in his hand and returned the bow, saying, "Senior Zheng, please guide me."
Teacher Zheng stood by and reminded, "Student Chen, in a moment, I will ask you to only parry and not counterattack or dodge. Just stand in place and use the method I taught you to unload and transform force. Once you master these techniques, we'll move on to the next stage."
Zheng Tongtong gracefully twirled the heavy-backed blade in her hand and said, "Student Chen, please draw your sword."
Chen Chuan reached out and gripped the hilt, slowly drawing the Snowjun Blade. As the blade's gleam gradually revealed itself, the entire training ground seemed to fill with a chill.
"Oh? A transformed weapon?"
Teacher Zheng paused, surprised. Such craftsmanship was a rare sight nowadays, and not many possessed this skill. Moreover...
His expression turned solemn, and the blade's chilling glow gave off an indescribable sense of threat. It was clear that many skilled fighters had fallen to this blade.
Zheng Tongtong waited until the Snowjun Blade was fully drawn, and Chen Chuan assumed a defensive stance. "Be careful, Junior Chen," she said, and with that, she leaped forward with a chopping strike. Her movements were incredibly agile, like an inflated balloon, bouncing towards him.
Recalling Teacher Zheng's instructions, Chen Chuan didn't dodge. Instead, he used the method taught by Teacher Zheng to manipulate his transformed organs, meeting the Snowjun Blade with a horizontal parry. With a loud clang, a powerful force was transmitted, causing his feet to sink into the specially designed floor, which also depressed under the impact. The force pressed down on him for a while before dissipating.
Instead of continuing her attack, Zheng Tongtong took a few steps back, giving Chen Chuan time to adapt and think. Clearly, this wasn't her first time sparring, and she was very experienced.
Chen Chuan understood her intentions. After some thought, he realized that although he had deflected her previous strike, his transformation was too slow. Under the condition of not being able to dodge, if Zheng Tongtong had followed up with another strike, he would have been knocked off his feet, and his entire defensive stance would have crumbled. Therefore, he needed to improve his force transformation as much as possible.
After understanding this, he nodded at Zheng Tongtong.
Zheng Tongtong's previous strike was just a test of his endurance, and now she knew how far to push him. She raised her blade for another powerful chop.
With a loud clang, Chen Chuan firmly received the blow. This time, his feet sank into the floor with a well-calculated distribution, hinting at a potential counterattack stance.
Zheng Tongtong praised him, "Well done, Junior Chen!"
She had intended to hold back a little, but Chen Chuan caught her strike. Although his force transformation was not yet perfected, it was very standard and executed precisely.
"Junior Chen, your foundation is solid. So, I won't hold back from now on," she said.
She raised her blade again and brought it down, but this time, it wasn't just one strike. She unleashed a barrage of over a hundred slashes at him!
Each of her chopping motions was identical, whether in terms of the distance or the force of her swings. Each time she followed up with another strike, it was always at the precise moment when Chen Chuan had just unloaded the force, leaving him no room to breathe. She demonstrated an incredibly solid foundation and control.
Under this relentless pressure, Chen Chuan had no choice but to mobilize his transformed organs to unload the force. Although he struggled to adjust during the first dozen strikes, Zheng Tongtong's skilled sparring methods helped him quickly adapt and master the technique. By the time she had executed several dozen slashes, he had become more composed.
Teacher Zheng observed from the sidelines. After Zheng Tongtong had unleashed over a hundred chops, and Chen Chuan had fully adapted to her attacks, he spoke up, "Alright, let's take a break."
Zheng Tongtong immediately stepped back, returning to her previous position. Despite maintaining such high-intensity attacks, her breathing remained steady, and her overall state seemed relaxed, indicating that the previous sparring session was not exhausting for her.
Chen Chuan adjusted his breathing, looked up at Zheng Tongtong, and nodded in gratitude.
She was no ordinary opponent. Aside from her combat prowess, her sparring skills were exceptional. With such a partner, he didn't need to worry about anything else. His partner would naturally respond appropriately, guiding him to reach his best state.
If he were to practice alone, achieving that final state would likely take an entire day, at best. But with her guidance, all that was condensed into those hundred slashes.
Now, he felt like his transformed organs had memorized the technique of unloading and transforming force. This was the inevitable feedback after receiving external stimulation and the need for self-awareness.
No wonder fighters were willing to pay a high price for a good private trainer. The assistance of a skilled sparring partner was indeed invaluable.
Teacher Zheng said, "Student Chen, I'll have Tongtong increase the difficulty. Get ready." He called out to his daughter, "Tongtong."
Zheng Tongtong acknowledged and warned Chen Chuan, "Junior Chen, I'll increase the force of my chops. Be careful."
Chen Chuan agreed and adjusted his stance.
Zheng Tongtong, seeing that he was ready, didn't hesitate. She unleashed another powerful chop, and the force behind it was evidently stronger than the previous strikes.
Chen Chuan didn't wait for her to bring the blade down. Instead, he slightly raised his hand, causing the Snowjun Blade to glide upwards.
After the clash, instead of a strong impact, there was only a slight pressure from the force of the blade, as if the strike hadn't been a chop but rather a gentle placement.
Teacher Zheng observed with satisfaction. The essence of skill is to utilize all favorable conditions to mitigate unfavorable factors, and when the opponent's strength changes, one must proactively seek new breakthroughs. This move was proactive, and it didn't exceed the limits of his current level.
"Very good," Teacher Zheng said, pleased. It's no wonder his combat decision-making skills were rated highly during the entrance assessment. It was this talent that convinced me to take him under my wing. Technique and physical qualities can be improved through practice and other methods, but this innate combat talent is rarely seen and almost impossible to enhance through external means.
Zheng Tongtong, an excellent sparring partner, noticed his proactive change and responded by increasing the difficulty of her attacks. Her offensive techniques were no longer limited to straightforward chops but included more challenging moves like left and right horizontal chops, diagonal thrusts, and push stabs, followed by slash sweeps. With each adjustment, she seamlessly transitioned to a new attack, leaving no gaps in her relentless assault.
Chen Chuan initially struggled with the increased difficulty but quickly adapted. Once he became comfortable, Zheng Tongtong smoothly transitioned to the next move, ensuring a continuous and intense training session.
"Let's take a break here for now and continue this afternoon," Teacher Zheng said.
Zheng Tongtong, ever efficient, swiftly sheathed her blade.
Chen Chuan checked the time and was surprised to find it was already 11:30 AM. Unbeknownst to them, the entire morning had flown by.
Teacher Zheng said, "Tongtong, go and prepare for the next session."
"Okay!" Zheng Tongtong replied.
She turned and headed outside. After hours of intense swordplay, she showed no signs of fatigue, not even breaking a sweat. Her force and breathing techniques were clearly at an advanced level.
Teacher Zheng approached Chen Chuan and examined him from head to toe. He showed no signs of exhaustion, and his eyes remained bright and spirited. "Chen Chuan, your foundation is solid. Based on your performance, we'll increase the intensity this afternoon, focusing on force power."
Chen Chuan took a deep breath and replied, "Okay, Teacher Zheng."
He understood that the training had been relatively easy so far because Zheng Tongtong, as the attacker, had only varied her sword techniques without employing any force power changes, which were the real test of a fighter.
Teacher Zheng offered some additional pointers and then led Chen Chuan to the front yard, where a barbecue grill had been set up. Zheng Tongtong was skewering pieces of meat onto the grill.
"Sharpening your skills is like sharpening a knife; it's all about the right stimulation. Good food gives you the energy to train harder. I believe every academy, whether focused on academics or martial arts, should have a barbecue pit nearby. Students who perform well get to eat, and those who don't, well, they'll be motivated by the smell of delicious food to study harder!"
Zheng Tongtong couldn't help but interject, "Dad, that's just your personal preference."
"How can this be just my preference?" Teacher Zheng countered. "The greatest pleasures in life are eating and sleeping. For us martial artists, good food and rest are essential to building the strength needed for combat."
He stepped forward, grabbed a skewer of freshly grilled meat, and tossed it to Chen Chuan. "Try it."
Chen Chuan caught it and took a bite, immediately surprised by the taste.
The meat was exceptional, with a crispy exterior and tender, juicy interior. Each bite was warm and satisfying, quickly replenishing his energy. It felt like he was consuming a nutrient gel.
Teacher Zheng smiled and explained, "This isn't ordinary mutton. It's high-cliff goat meat from a special region, obtained through Zhan Tong United. It's specifically provided for us martial artists. It's one of the benefits the Processing Bureau offers to us and our students."
Chen Chuan considered this. Compared to expensive drugs, good ingredients were relatively inexpensive but could bring immense joy and satisfaction. The Processing Bureau's approach to welfare easily fostered a sense of belonging and was a cost-effective way to boost morale.
As for Zhan Tong United, Chen Chuan hadn't heard of this company before. After checking its boundary token, he discovered that it specialized in procuring various niche items and exotic objects. No matter how rare or unusual the item, if one could afford it, Zhan Tong United would find a way to acquire it.
After finishing the skewer, Zheng Tongtong handed him another ten or so. He took them and said, "To fully absorb the nutrients, you need intense exercise. This meat will fuel your training this afternoon."
"The force I've taught you, you've grasped the basics, but it's not truly yours yet. Just as everyone has their habits, each person also has their unique force. So, this afternoon, you need to find your own force!"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
