Introduction to Swordsmanship

"Lei, is there any progress on my third brother's matter?"

Boss Ma's face had a hint of flattery on it.

Before him sat a young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes. The fuzz around his mouth still showed his immaturity, but his aura was calm and deep.

"The person is already dead, why are you in such a hurry?"

"Since I promised my father I would help you find the real culprit, I will definitely give you an answer."

The young man glanced at Boss Ma, his words leaving no room for argument.

Ma Lei is the eighth son of Li Laomafu.

Ma Fu had Ma Lei when he was forty years old. Because he had a son late in life, he doted on his youngest son. He even invited a martial arts master from the city to teach Ma Lei martial arts when Ma Lei was eight years old.

They did not disappoint Ma Fu.

Ma Lei possesses exceptional talent and has recently become a disciple of the master of the Benhu Martial Arts School in the city.

Although he is not very learned and probably won't pass the imperial examinations, with his martial arts skills and the support of the Ma family, his future is sure to be bright.

The younger generation in Xiahe Village is already implicitly led by Ma Lei. Whether the Ma family can surpass the Xu family in the future depends on Ma Lei.

So even though Ma Lei calls Ma Laoda "cousin" based on their status, Ma Laoda is actually the one who bows his head when they get together.

"Yes."

Boss Ma nodded with slight reluctance.

Ma Lei softened his tone:

"Cousin, don't worry. It was my third brother who died. Father has already given instructions that I will definitely give you an explanation for this matter."

Boss Ma sighed softly, then asked another question:

"Ah Lei, my third brother died because of Old Man Zhong. Since we can't find the murderer, we shouldn't let that old bastard surnamed Zhong get away with it..."

He hadn't finished speaking.

Ma Lei slammed his hand on the table, displaying the imposing presence of a martial arts expert.

It instantly sobered up Boss Ma.

"If Old Man Zhong dies now, the Ma family's reputation will be completely ruined. Do you want to become a sinner of the family?"

Boss Ma's legs trembled immediately: "Ah Lei is right."

Seeing this, Ma Lei stood up and patted Boss Ma on the shoulder: "Don't worry, by next year, the villagers will have almost forgotten about this. You can deal with that old man as you see fit, and I will make the arrangements."

Boss Ma gritted his teeth:

"good!"

"Then let that old man surnamed Zhong live another year."

Ma Lei smiled and changed the subject: "By the way, has the Sand Gang made any moves over the irrigation canal?"

"The irrigation canal is now open, and the Sha Gang members have left."

Boss Ma recounted the information he had gathered over the past few days.

"I see."

Ma Lei nodded.

"It seems that tripping up Xu Mao won't be easy."

The Ma family all say he is mature beyond his years.

Actually, it's because he's seen too many true geniuses.

Although he became the personal disciple of the master of the Benhu Martial Arts School, the old man kept his secrets and was unwilling to pass on his true skills to him.

Breaking through the bone-strengthening stage is extremely difficult.

Moreover, unless one can become the curator or deputy curator, it's not as comfortable as being a village head in Xiahe Village.

Ma Lei knew he wasn't cut out to be the deputy curator.

So when he reached the late stage of skin refining, he decisively resigned from his position as the head of the academy and returned to the village.

Xu Mao is only in his early forties this year.

It won't be easy to outlast Xu Mao, so we must fight for him.

Moreover, he's almost thirty and has lost the patience to wait.

If you're unwilling to endure it, then you have to think of other ways.

Ma Lei beckoned to Boss Ma: "Come with me for a bit."

"Lei, where are we going?"

Ma Lei didn't turn his head, but simply uttered three words: "Wanderer's Bay".

"!!"

Boss Ma's heart skipped a beat.

The Sand Gang's territory!

You should know that he was also in the crowd when he was fighting with Hu Liu for water that night.

After a slight hesitation, but faced with his shrewd cousin who was ten years younger than him, Boss Ma could only lower his head and quickly follow.

......

......

Inside the thatched hut.

Zhong Xuan held the wooden sword behind him, remaining motionless like a wooden stake.

This is the sword stance.

This is the foundation of sword nurturing in the initial explanation of Eagle Strike Sword Technique.

"According to the founder of Flying Eagle Martial Arts School, in order to master swordsmanship, one must have a thorough understanding of the sword. Many details will be overlooked when moving. That's why the sword stance was created, so that disciples can start slowly and then become fast."

Zhong Xuan thought to himself.

They stood there for a full two hours.

He then slowly moved the wooden sword from behind him.

However, the speed at which he drew his sword remained slow.

Sweep or pick.

This is the Eagle Flight Form, one of the three guiding forms of the Eagle Strike Sword Technique.

The swordsmanship, as its name suggests, is like an eagle taking flight, with wide, sweeping movements. At first glance, one might even mistake it for a knife technique.

Zhong Xuan practiced until his hands and feet were slightly sore before putting away his wooden sword.

After resting for half an hour, he continued practicing the Eight Pieces of Brocade.

Some people are born with good genes.

Instead, they fail to cherish what they have, and even squander their talents by indulging in frivolous pursuits.

Only someone like Zhong Xuan, who has truly endured hardship and whose destiny has been altered, would train with such relentless dedication.

If it weren't for the worry that my body couldn't handle it, I could even go without sleep.

It continued until dusk.

Zhong Xuan then finished his daily training.

Enter the kitchen.

He then realized that the rice jar was already empty.

"Practicing martial arts is really expensive."

Zhong Xuan was helpless.

There's a saying in Baisha County: "A half-grown boy can eat his father out of house and home."

Since he started practicing martial arts, his appetite has surpassed that of a young man.

It was originally expected to last for six months, but it was all eaten up in just two months.

If Zhong Xuan hadn't had four taels of silver in savings, he would probably have been living a life of hunger and deprivation.

"The Zhang family hasn't invited me to copy books for ten days. Could it be that the second young master of the Zhang family is no longer in Baisha County?"

Zhong Xuan pondered.

Since that water dispute, the steward of the Zhang family has never asked him to copy books again.

However, this is not unusual.

After all, before the second young master of the Zhang family returned, the Zhang family would only hire a copyist once every one or two months.

"Looks like we need to think of a way."

Otherwise, given his current appetite, four taels of silver wouldn't last long, let alone enough to buy him medicinal herbs to replenish his health. He absolutely cannot afford to live off his savings.

At his current age, no one would hire him if he went to work.

As for becoming a teacher at a private school, the tuition would be generous, but he was just an old student and no one would want him.

Think about it.

Zhong Xuan planned to go hunting in the mountains first.

With his current martial arts skills, he could survive even if he encountered a large tiger, making him even more formidable than the old hunters in the village.

Moreover, eating meat is better for the body than eating grains.

Once I become a scholar in a few months, my career prospects will be much better, and I can then look for a proper job.

Having made up his mind, Zhong Xuan found the rusty hunting fork in the corner of the room.

It has been twenty years since I last used it.

I bought this hunting fork only to drive away wild boars that came down from the mountain and destroyed my fields. I never thought it would still be useful in my sixties.

Zhong Xuan polished the hunting fork to a shine in the courtyard, and then quietly headed towards the back mountain of Xiaohe Village one early morning when there were few people around.