Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing-Chapter 30: Saber Moves With The Body

Chapter 30: Saber Moves With The Body
"You two should get acquainted. Han Mo is a squad leader in the City Guard. If you need anything in the future, you can go to him," said Liang Song leisurely, sitting down by the stone table.
"I am Han Mo, a squad leader in the City Guard. It’s been a long time since I last came to visit Master Liang. I didn’t expect to find he’s taken in a new disciple today," said Han Mo with a smile.
During the day, he was stationed outside the city and rarely had free time, so he only occasionally came by in the evenings to visit Master Liang. For Lin Zheyu, this was only his second evening coming over, which was why it had taken so long for the two of them to meet.
"I heard Master Liang has taught martial arts to several people. Why have I never seen them?" asked Lin Zheyu curiously.
"My City Guard unit often has to garrison outside the city, sometimes going on bandit suppression campaigns for ten days to half a month, so of course, you wouldn’t run into us. As for the other three, I only met them a few times.
"I heard they were refugees from other cities who fled to Songyi City. After learning martial arts, they went back to their hometowns for revenge, and I never saw them again. I don’t know how they’re faring now," said Han Mo with a rueful look. In these chaotic times, some people turned their backs, and you never saw them again.
"You're suppressing bandits outside the city? With so many bandits these days, can they really be wiped out?" asked Lin Zheyu in puzzlement.
Ever since the rebel army appeared, waves of banditry had sprung up without end. Without addressing the root cause, no amount of suppression would truly solve the problem.
"Even if we can’t wipe them all out, we still have to suppress them. Otherwise, the trade routes would be cut off. If the City Guard doesn't suppress the bandits to keep trade routes open, those bandits will become even more lawless," said Han Mo helplessly.
"Enough talk for now. Lin Zheyu, practice a bit first and work off the alcohol," said Liang Song.
Han Mo cupped his hands with a smile toward Lin Zheyu, then walked over to stand beside Liang Song, also wanting to watch Lin Zheyu practice his martial arts.
Under the bright, clear moonlight, Lin Zheyu removed his shirt and began practicing the Golden Goose Technique. After several days of training, his footwork had grown increasingly nimble. His figure darted and twisted around the courtyard, his movements strange and unpredictable, leaving others unable to grasp his rhythm.
"This must be the Golden Goose Technique. Junior Brother Lin, your comprehension is truly extraordinary, enough to make one envious," said Han Mo.
Han Mo watched Lin Zheyu with deep envy in his eyes. At first, Liang Song had only taught him a third-rate saber technique. Later, after spending more time together and understanding Han Mo’s character, Liang Song had also passed on the Golden Goose Technique to him.
Unfortunately, Han Mo’s comprehension was average, and he was unable to master such an intricate and complex technique. Even after practicing it for years, he still couldn't do what Lin Zheyu had achieved in just a few days.
"Don’t envy him. With your aptitude, fully mastering the Sixfold Saber will be more than enough to benefit you for a lifetime." Liang Song cast him a glance and said, "After more than a month of fighting outside, have you touched upon the threshold of the Blood Qi Realm?"
"No. It’s too difficult. When fighting at the height of battle, I can feel the blood and qi boiling in my body, but once the fighting stops, I can no longer feel its presence even when I try to carefully sense it," said Han Mo with a sigh, his face showing frustration.
"Not bad. At least you can sense the blood and qi during combat. The Blood Qi Realm is a major threshold. Most martial artists cannot progress further because they fail to sense and comprehend their blood and qi. Engage in more intense battles in the future. Once you become familiar with that feeling, you will naturally break through into the Blood Qi Realm," Liang Song spoke in a calm tone.
The two of them sat at the stone table, eating side dishes, chatting, and watching Lin Zheyu practice. Time slowly passed. Lin Zheyu trained for over an hour, the alcohol evaporating from his body with the sweat until not a trace of drunkenness remained.
"Go on. You and Lin Zheyu should spar a little," said Liang Song.
"Yes, Master," replied Han Mo. He removed his outer coat, revealing a tight short-sleeved shirt that showed his solid muscles. Moonlight spilled over him, revealing more than a dozen scars of varying size on his exposed arms. Han Mo picked up a blunted practice saber from the courtyard, gave it a few swings, and found it serviceable.
"I practice the Sixfold Saber. All my martial skill lies in weaponry. Without a weapon, half my strength is gone." Han Mo chuckled and swung the blunted saber, saying, "Blades have no eyes, Junior Brother Lin. Be careful. I’ve practiced martial arts for more than ten years, and I'm stuck at the peak of the Organ Forging Realm, unable to advance an inch. I heard from Master that you reached the Bone Forging Realm in less than two months. With such aptitude, you’ll surely surpass me soon."
"At the beginning, progress comes quickly. It'll slow down later," replied Lin Zheyu modestly.
Standing two meters across from Han Mo, he set himself in the stance of the Golden Goose Technique. Previously, Lin Zheyu had only sparred with his master using fists and kicks. He had never tried pitting them against weapons.
"As the saying goes, an inch longer grants strength, an inch shorter brings danger. A long weapon is powerful, its edge blatant; a short one is cunning, concealing lethal intent. When fighting a weapon-wielding martial artist, you must grasp the strengths and weaknesses of the weapon, and counter it with the agility and versatility of fists and kicks," Master Liang lectured.
"You may begin."
"Senior Brother Han, forgive my offense!" said Lin Zheyu as he cupped his hands in salute, then shifted into his stance.
The Sixfold Saber was plain and unpretentious, simple and direct, every stroke brimming with force and momentum. It was an extremely practical saber art. Once mastered, the weapon moved as an extension of the body, man and saber as one, fluid and adaptable.
Yet no matter how straightforward and swift, it could never match the flexibility of unarmed techniques. If Lin Zheyu wanted to defeat Senior Brother Han, he would need to close within a meter to launch close-quarters combat.
Lin Zheyu’s figure shot forward, swiftly closing in on Han Mo. Han Mo gripped his blunted saber. Under the moonlight, the edge gleamed coldly as he swept it across, forcing Lin Zheyu to retreat in haste.
Han Mo's right foot then stomped forward as the saber’s glow sharpened, cleaving down toward Lin Zheyu’s head. Lin Zheyu suddenly bent low, his body moving with agility, seizing the instant when Han Mo had yet to recover his blade to close the distance.
"
Heh!
"
Han Mo let out a laugh, already very familiar with Lin Zheyu’s tactics.
He had sparred with Master Liang for over a decade and long since devised counters to this kind of movement technique. Though he would lose to Master Liang within a few moves, against the inexperienced Junior Brother Lin, Han Mo’s saber skills were displayed to their fullest.
"So strong!" exclaimed Lin Zheyu, pulling back to create distance, breathing lightly.
The fierce exchange just now had left him struggling to keep up. Han Mo’s saber technique was formidable; his saber moved seamlessly with his body, and it adapted at will. Within his defensive circle, Lin Zheyu found no way to break through and close the distance.
"The saber moves with the body. When the body moves, only then does the saber follow. You must watch your opponent’s body movements. No matter how fast the saber, it still takes time for strength to travel from hand to steel. Seize that interval, see through the trajectory of his saber, and you’ll be able to anticipate in advance," said Liang Song, reminding Lin Zheyu.
Lin Zheyu carefully recalled the previous exchange, exhaled deeply, and launched another attack.
In the courtyard, Han Mo’s blunted blade swept with the force of a gale, his aura awe-inspiring. Lin Zheyu relied on agile movement techniques, constantly evading Han Mo’s strikes while seeking chances to counterattack. The two exchanged blows in a balanced contest.
"Junior Brother Lin’s natural combat talent is also remarkable!" exclaimed Han Mo.
As the battle wore on, Lin Zheyu lasted longer and longer under Han Mo's saber and began to grasp the key to countering him. But in one careless moment, Han Mo struck him with the flat of the saber, sending him flying.
"Again!" said Lin Zheyu while rubbing his back. Fortunately, Han Mo’s strikes were much lighter than Master Liang’s.
Beneath the moonlit night, one figure stood firm, swinging the blunted saber in a dense, impenetrable flurry, fierce as a storm. The other darted nimbly beneath the saber, twisting and maneuvering, ever seeking an opening to close in.
Their battle lasted for more than two hours before Master Liang finally called for a halt. Han Mo panted lightly, his gaze toward Lin Zheyu having changed.
This kid is like a beast, does he not tire at all?
Even with his face pale and his breath ragged from exhaustion, he could still keep pressing forward with attacks. His perseverance is truly astonishing,
thought Han Mo.
"No wonder Junior Brother Lin has achieved so much. His perseverance alone commands respect!" said Han Mo with admiration.