Chapter 17: Zhou Tong: Have You Heard My Story?

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“Even the company commander has offered his respects; as an elder, how can I show no sign of gratitude?” Zhou Tong said cheerfully as he led Cai Fu outside, around to a secluded spot in the woods behind the thatched hut.

“Nephew, do you know what my nickname was when I was young?” Zhou Tong asked tentatively.

Most people wouldn’t know, for Zhou Tong was old now. Although his youthful moniker once struck awe across the land, as the saying goes, great talents emerge with each generation, each ruling the scene for centuries.

Zhou Tong’s era had passed.

Fortunately, Cai Fu knew—he had read the original story.

“Sir, your nickname was the ‘Iron-Armed Hero of Shaanxi’!”

Zhou Tong felt a bit uncertain asking, having long since left the martial world decades ago. He hadn’t expected Cai Fu to answer immediately, and his heart leapt with joy.

“You’ve heard of my story?”

Cai Fu blinked. “Of course, nephew has long heard of your great name!

“Legend says you once earned the favor of the righteous Judge Bao.

“First, you served as a soldier defending the homeland, then taught at the Imperial Martial Arts Academy in the capital.

“The Academy had three master instructors—Heaven, Earth, and Man—and you were the ‘Heaven’ teacher, the most esteemed.

“You also served as chief instructor of the Eight Hundred Thousand Imperial Guards in Dongjing. Lin Chong succeeded your position…”

When Cai Fu mentioned Lin Chong, Zhou Tong’s expression soured, so Cai Fu hastily changed the subject, focusing on praise of Zhou Tong’s martial skill.

Flushed with pride, stroking his beard, Zhou Tong said, “Nephew, forgive my frankness. Though your nickname is ‘Northern Blade King,’ your blade technique doesn’t fully live up to the name—only your first strike is truly sharp.

“So, as a gift, I’ve decided to pass on my lifelong secret art, the ‘Rolling Dragon Blade Technique,’ to you.

“This blade style emphasizes ‘the blade flowing like dragons and snakes, with power penetrating the eight directions,’ and requires a special breathing method to master.

“Once you master it, you will truly be the ‘Northern Blade King!’”

Zhou Tong spoke with great confidence, and he had good reason—just look at his disciples: Lu Junyi, Lin Chong, Shi Wengong, and his final disciple Yue Fei. None were undeserving of their renown.

Without hesitation, Cai Fu bowed deeply, “Thank you, master, for passing on your skill!”

Though he accepted without question, Cai Fu still harbored some doubts. After all, Lu Junyi, Lin Chong, Shi Wengong, and Yue Fei were all spear experts.

Would teaching him blade techniques really work?

“Nephew, please rise. It’s not that I’m unwilling to take you as a disciple; it’s just that I’m old now, and you’re no longer young.

“I don’t have much time to teach you, and you don’t have much time to learn from me.

“Besides, I’ve already taken a final disciple—passing this blade technique to you completes our fate.”

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Zhou Tong sighed regretfully.

He could see Cai Fu had great potential with the blade, but the timing was wrong…

It was like when Zhou Tong was in Dongjing and first met a plump monk at the Great Prime Minister’s Temple, then later a local official from Yanggu County delivering gifts to the capital—they were all the wrong time, the wrong place…

Had Zhou Tong met them in their youth, he could have trained them into great generals!

What a pity…

Shaking off the memories, Zhou Tong began explaining his blade technique to Cai Fu:

“In fact, I had another nickname: ‘Iron-Armed Golden Blade.’

“My blade technique is no less formidable than spear skills; it’s simply taught according to the student’s nature.

“For those suited to the spear, I teach spear techniques; for those suited to the blade, I teach blade techniques.

“You also have the nickname ‘Iron-Armed,’ with arms capable of tremendous strength—perfect for mastering the ‘Rolling Dragon Blade Technique.’

“The moves themselves aren’t difficult. I’ll first teach you the special breathing method that accompanies it.

“Listen carefully: bala bala bala…”

Cai Fu’s eyes sparkled as he listened. Even just memorizing it, he could feel the profound mystery of this breathing method.

Combined with the blade technique, even his signature decapitating strike would be vastly more powerful.

“Nephew, try breathing now,” Zhou Tong patiently instructed.

“Coordinate your breathing rhythm with your blade strikes, your force, and your movements…

“When this breathing becomes second nature, your blade will cleave mountains and split rocks!

“Since you are older, forcibly changing your long-habituated breathing won’t be easy.

“So don’t rush; adapt over half a month first…”

“Inhale, inhale, inhale! Exhale—inhale, inhale, inhale! Exhale—”

Before Zhou Tong finished, Cai Fu entered a wondrous state, his breathing falling into a strange rhythm.

Suddenly, Cai Fu’s eyes widened; his treasured blade flashed from its sheath!

“Swish—”

The blade’s gleam cut into a tree trunk as thick as a water bucket.

Yet the tree offered no resistance; the blade flashed through, and Cai Fu was already sheathing his sword.

The water-bucket-thick tree showed no damage except for a perfectly straight circular mark around the trunk.

“Flap flap—”

A woodpecker flew over and landed on the thick tree, pecking with its sharp beak.

“Tap tap tap—”

Huh? The woodpecker was stunned. How could such a thick tree fall with a single peck?

It must be a scam!

“Crash—”

The upper half of the thick tree fell straight down, startling the woodpecker, which flapped its wings frantically and flew away.

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“Boom—”

The thick tree crashed to the forest floor, sending up clouds of dust. The woodpecker was so shocked it could not close its beak.

Was it really me who did that?

“Caw caw caw—”

The woodpecker spread its wings proudly and flew off, searching for others of its kind to boast. This feat it could brag about forever!

Zhou Tong was also amazed: so soon?

“This breathing method truly fits the blade technique!”

Cai Fu sheathed his blade and eagerly asked, “Sir, what were you just saying?”

Zhou Tong cleared his throat. “Nothing…

“Today you simply adapt to the breathing method. Tomorrow I’ll teach you the blade technique…

“No, wait—I’ll teach it to you all at once today!”

Zhou Tong felt even more regretful.

Originally, he thought Cai Fu’s talent for the blade was inferior to that Yanggu County official…

But now he realized Cai Fu’s gift was insight—his comprehension was astonishingly fast!

If Cai Fu had learned martial arts from childhood like Lu Junyi or Yue Fei, he would surely be an ‘Iron-Armed Golden Blade’ at the very least!

What a great pity…

…

Daming Prefecture.

Chai Jin, feeling humiliated after being misled by the “Drummer Flea” Shi Qian’s false intelligence, drank alone and soon became thoroughly drunk.

Upon waking, his head still buzzing, he heard a noisy commotion outside that stirred his already foul mood.

“Annoying!” Chai Jin angrily stormed out, shouting at the ruckus, only to be stunned…

A group of government soldiers were searching every room of the inn. Spotting Chai Jin as the leader, they immediately surrounded him.

Several soldiers interrogated him fiercely while others ransacked his room.

Quick-witted, Chai Jin tried to talk his way out, but the soldiers uncovered a large stash:

“Captain, look—so much gold!”

The commanding officer’s eyes gleamed as he grabbed Chai Jin by the collar.

“Bold rebel, where do you think you’re going?”

Chai Jin: “……”