Chapter 51: Basic Blade Techniques (Revised)

“You don’t need to worry too much. Our Seven Stars Martial Hall has been rooted in Crane County for many years, and our eyes and ears are everywhere. I’ve already sent word out—if any unfamiliar soldiers appear, I’ll know at once,” said Zhao Qing, a smile on his face but a murderous gleam in his eyes. Yang Shu looked anxiously at her husband, while only little Rui seemed carefree, still licking her bowl clean.

“Master, when those things were handed over, didn’t the higher-ups react at all?” Ling Chi asked in confusion.

“Captain Sun has his own plans. The man named Li isn’t alone; there are others behind him, and they’re competing with Lord Sun,” Zhao Qing revealed the truth.

“Master, what were you and Sixth Brother talking about?” Xiao Zhan interjected, as the eldest disciple, feeling he should be privy to any secrets.

“A few days ago, our yamen found a bundle of letters—proof that Li Changyuan had colluded with bandits. The letters spoke of a major conspiracy. I immediately sent them to Captain Cao, who then passed them on to Captain Sun.”

“Your Sixth Brother here snuck off to Hezhou and wiped out the entire Lanshan Bandit gang—over three hundred people. He brought back those letters as well.”

“Lanshan Bandits and Sixth Brother share a blood feud. You must all keep this in mind. You know what’s at stake—anyone who can’t keep their mouth shut will be expelled from the sect.”

Everyone was stunned, eyes wide. Zhao Shanhe, who knew Ling Chi fairly well, had suspected something, but never imagined his enemy would be one of the Twelve Great Bandits, the Lanshan Gang.

“I’m telling you because you’re not outsiders. I want you to be aware and prepared. Captain Cao will surely demand an explanation from Li,” Zhao Qing reassured them.

“Since Sixth Brother joined us, he’s trained without fail every day. We never guessed he carried such a deep vendetta. Sixth Brother, you should have told us—how could I let you face such danger alone?” Xiao Zhan and the other senior disciples looked at Ling Chi with concern and reproach.

“I’m grateful for my brothers’ and sisters’ care, but this is a personal grudge. I couldn’t risk involving you all. I tried to avoid trouble, but in the end, it still found its way to our home.”

“But I heard that last night, the Yingzhou Guard was attacked by unknown assailants; every officer above the rank of hundred-household was slain. Li Changyuan likely won’t have the time to deal with us now.”

If I don’t admit it, then it wasn’t me.

Even Zhao Qing couldn’t help but twitch his brow—‘Heard about it’? It was clearly this boy’s handiwork. Despite his handsome and gentle appearance, he possessed a ruthless streak.

Yang Shu pinched Ling Chi, unable to help herself—her sunny youth was gone.

After explaining everything, Ling Chi felt relieved. If his personal matters had endangered his brothers and sisters, they deserved to know the truth so they wouldn’t be caught unawares.

Everyone ate and drank together until afternoon, then went their separate ways. Ling Chi bid farewell to Zhao Qing and Yang Shu, returning to Willow Town.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived home, he ran into Heiwa and two other children outside the courtyard. Upon questioning them, he learned they wanted to learn martial arts from him.

Heiwa was the boy who had delivered meals to him every day before, son of Wang Chuan, the Banner Commander of the Jing’an Bureau.

Ling Chi examined their bones and, since Cao Hubao was due to arrive soon, decided to accept them—after all, one sheep or a flock, it made no difference.

He would simply teach them some basic stance work, laying the foundation for future martial training.

“The first year, I’ll teach you to stand still and hold the horse stance. The second year, you’ll learn moving stances and begin physical conditioning. Strength of body is the cornerstone of martial arts—your physique determines how far you can go.”

Ling Chi stretched out his arm, revealing muscles as solid as cast bronze. “Come, squeeze as hard as you can.”

Heiwa gripped with both hands, exerting all his strength, but failed to leave even a finger mark.

“Sir, I want to be as strong as you,” Heiwa said, his face full of hope.

“So you must work hard,” Ling Chi encouraged him.

He called Pei Shinan, who gathered a group of laborers and masons to clear a training ground of one or two acres in the courtyard.

Ling Chi busied himself arranging for several hired maids to tidy up the rooms.

After another round of shopping, he headed to the Jing’an Bureau.

In his previous life, someone like Ling Chi, absent from work without reason, would have been fired long ago; but in Willow Town, no one could restrain him.

Pei Shinan proved a capable assistant, keeping the bureau orderly; his colleagues had even brought their families over.

“Old Pei, anything major happen lately?” Ling Chi asked, flipping through case files.

“Nothing. It’s been peaceful. After the incident in Li Village, news spread everywhere, and even the security improved. The refugees settled here dare not make trouble now.”

Pei Shinan understood Ling Chi well; though young, the Willow Town Captain was dedicated to cultivation and fascinated by strange cases and evil spirits.

He had little desire for power, even leaving the Iron Captain’s seal on the desk, letting Pei Shinan handle official documents himself.

Ling Chi used to train at the Lying Ox Valley, only summoned for difficult cases. Now, with Heiwa here, he trained at the new practice ground, going out only to summon lightning; the rest of his time was spent at home.

He practiced breathing techniques, studied fist and blade forms, and spent much time contemplating the knife forms Zhao Qing had described.

Ling Chi suspected these knife forms were akin to the “sword intent” he’d read about in novels, belonging to the realm of artistic conception.

He now practiced basic knife techniques: chop, slice, sweep, intercept, scrape, lift, stab, draw, cleave, coil, fan, block, slide, and point.

Thrust: The thrust is the foundation of the blade; it pursues souls and claims lives, with frontal or upward thrusts aimed at throat and abdomen, and arcing side thrusts seeking kidney and heart.

Pierce: The blade moves with the mind, swift as the wind, retracts instantly and always draws blood; piercing is as fast as lightning, killing without needing ten paces.

Slash: The slash is like a raging dragon crossing wild waves; step forward, body and blade move as one; when the opportunity arises, strike without hesitation—even the talented cannot escape.

Cleave: Cleaving is like a fierce tiger breaking its cage, the whole body supporting the blade’s might; step forward and unleash the snowy edge—slay the enemy in an instant.

Sweep: The sweep is like a storm rolling dark clouds, its chilling dominance shattering the enemy’s soul; turn and move to guard the rear, this technique shines in group combat.

Lift: The lift begins without leaving a trace; before the enemy’s blade moves, yours has already struck. Attack the femoral artery, counter by targeting the wrist.

Push: Push has no fixed form, changes with the opponent; reverse or standard grip, freely chosen. Push from all directions, best suited for mobile combat; arms form a cross for defense.

Slice: Slicing needs no second strike; control the opponent’s arm, and there’s no escape. Slice throat and arteries, and in an instant, blood drains and life ends.

Ling Chi gradually entered a state of total absorption, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes gentle and languid, sometimes fierce and swift.

Without using the lightning sea within his body, he wielded the Evil Punisher with pure physical strength—blade light flowed endlessly, dancing up and down.

He combined the Nine Palace Eight Trigram footwork, moving through the practice ground as whistling sounds tore through the air, until the blade’s radiance converged into a brilliant silver-white line. Ling Chi’s understanding of the blade deepened.

Early in the morning, Heiwa woke and prepared to call Ling Chi to breakfast, knocking on the door but receiving no answer.

He gently pushed the door, which wasn’t locked, and it swung open easily.

“Sir… where are you?” He entered but saw no sign of Ling Chi—so early, yet he was gone?

Turning to search the practice ground, he spotted Ling Chi, seated cross-legged on the roof opposite.