Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System-Chapter 79: Chain Slashes
Chu Lingguang was taken aback.
Since ancient times, it had never been a good thing when the Government Office came "borrowing" from the common folk.
But this was a matter between Xu Wenhai and Guo Wei, so it wasn’t Chu Lingguang’s place to ask too many questions. He could only escort Chief Ma and his two men into the reception hall, prepare tea for them, and wait for Guo Wei to return and handle things himself.
Half an hour later, Guo Wei and Hei Hu finally returned from Cyan Cloud Mountain.
Chu Lingguang told Guo Wei that Chief Ma was waiting in the reception hall. After hearing this, Guo Wei handed Red Boy over to Chu Lingguang to take care of and went to see Chief Ma himself.
"Master Guo, allow me to thank you in advance on behalf of Lord Xu. We’ll see you then."
"Alright."
As Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu returned from the stables, they happened to see Guo Wei seeing Chief Ma and his men off.
After the three had left, Guo Wei said to Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu, "Tomorrow, I must leave on a long journey. While I am away, go to the Weiyuan Escort Agency and find Leader Ma. He will teach you the Continuous Slash Saber Technique. How much you learn will depend on your own abilities."
"Yes, sir!"
Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu replied in unison.
The two finally understood why Da Wang and Xiao Wang’s Mounted Archery and Lance Kung Fu had improved so noticeably after their return more than ten days ago.
It turned out Leader Ma and Guo Wei had made a trade.
As for Guo Wei’s long journey, that was likely the reason Lord Xu had sent Chief Ma to find him.
But as for what that reason was, both Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu were sensible enough not to ask.
「The next day.」
Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu saw Guo Wei off, then packed their bags and rode their horses toward the Weiyuan Escort Agency.
The Martial Arts Examination was imminent, with only three months left. Everyone was in the final sprint. Da Wang and Xiao Wang had been sparring intensely since early morning. After arranging accommodations for Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu, Leader Ma had them start by sparring with Da Wang and Xiao Wang.
Da Wang and Xiao Wang were still brooding over the results of their fight a month ago. Both wanted to test Chu Lingguang’s Kung Fu again, and they took turns sparring several rounds with him.
In the end, Chu Lingguang lasted less than ninety rounds against them.
Da Wang and Xiao Wang had improved by leaps and bounds over the past month. It was as if they’d had a sudden breakthrough in all their Kung Fu skills, and they pressed Chu Lingguang so hard he could barely defend himself.
Afterward, Hei Hu also fought several rounds against them and was similarly defeated within ninety rounds, completely suppressed by Da Wang and Xiao Wang.
"This is outrageous! How did you get so strong? I’ll defeat you both one day!"
Hei Hu exclaimed, exasperated.
"I refuse to believe I can’t ever beat you! Again!"
Hei Hu raised his saber and went for Xiao Wang.
"I don’t believe it either. Wang, let’s go again."
Chu Lingguang took his stance and shouted at Da Wang.
Hei Hu glanced back at him, a faint smile in his eyes. Guo Wei had instructed them that on this trip to the Weiyuan Escort Agency, they must learn to feign weakness. This would make Da Wang and Xiao Wang lower their guard, and it would also make Leader Ma less hesitant about teaching them the Continuous Slash Saber Technique.
That was why in their earlier spars with Da Wang and Xiao Wang, neither Chu Lingguang nor Hei Hu had used their full strength.
Otherwise, if they had gone all out, Chu Lingguang—though he still couldn’t beat Da Wang and Xiao Wang—could definitely have lasted more than a hundred rounds against them without any issue.
And even if Hei Hu couldn’t reach a hundred rounds, he certainly wouldn’t have been defeated in under ninety.
At the courtyard entrance, Leader Ma was both surprised and delighted by Da Wang and Xiao Wang’s performance today. It also made him suspicious of Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu.
However, when he thought about Chu Lingguang’s dull aptitude and honest appearance, he figured the boy probably wouldn’t lie to him. He dismissed his doubts and, after lunch that day, began teaching Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu the Continuous Slash Saber Technique as promised.
Hei Hu was visibly excited, wishing he could cram every single word Leader Ma said into his brain and memorize every key movement.
Chu Lingguang, for his part, was completely focused, not wanting to miss a single detail. But upon careful reflection, he found that while he remembered much of what Leader Ma said, he just couldn’t grasp the core principles. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
Although he could perform a decent-looking Five Blades Continuous Slash, the effect of each strike was more or less the same. He couldn’t replicate what Da Wu did: Borrowing Strength to make each slash stronger than the last, with the final slash fusing the power of the previous four.
After a few days, Hei Hu, with his exceptional talent, was already performing the Continuous Slash Saber Technique with considerable power. Though the force of his strikes didn’t vary much, Leader Ma was already beginning to regret his Kung Fu exchange with Guo Wei after seeing his performance.
Because of this, he secretly told Da Wang and Xiao Wang to spar with Hei Hu whenever they had time, and to insist that Hei Hu use his Spear Technique, hoping to slow down his progress in mastering the Continuous Slash Saber Technique.
As for Chu Lingguang, he just kept practicing the Five Blades Continuous Slash every day. Even though the force of each slash was roughly the same, and he couldn’t find the trick to Borrowing Strength—sometimes even making his later strikes weaker than the first—he continued his daily practice without distraction.
Seeing his performance, Leader Ma maintained a serious expression on the outside, but inside, he was blooming with joy. Guo Wei had said that Chu Lingguang had gotten where he was today solely through perseverance, and Leader Ma believed it now. ’Still,’ he thought, ’with talent like Chu Lingguang’s, by the time he finally learns the Five Blades Continuous Slash, Da Wang and Xiao Wang will probably already be taking the Imperial Examination!’
Guo Wei had meticulously taught Da Wang and Xiao Wang Mounted Archery and Lance Kung Fu for fifteen days. In return, Leader Ma would teach Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu the Continuous Slash Saber Technique for fifteen days.
The days flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the fourteenth day.
Word had arrived from Guo Wei; he would come to the Weiyuan Escort Agency tomorrow to pick them up.
"I’m dead tired."
Hei Hu flopped onto his bed. For the past dozen or so days, his life had been incredibly full, learning the Continuous Slash Saber Technique from Leader Ma while being hounded by Da Wang and Xiao Wang for sparring practice.
Even with Hei Hu’s simple mind, he could naturally tell that Da Wang and Xiao Wang’s relentless pursuit was Leader Ma’s idea. However, since he was here to "steal" techniques anyway, and since sparring could also improve his skills, Hei Hu accepted all challengers, exhausting himself to the bone every day.
"Where are you going?"
Hei Hu saw Chu Lingguang run out again just after finishing his meal, his seat not even warm yet.
"Out to practice some more."
Chu Lingguang took his saber and went out into the main courtyard.
He checked his status panel.
Favors: None
Tidal Breathing Technique (299/300)
Turtle Breath Technique (61/500)
Heaven and Earth Technique (102/1000)
(Remaining Lifespan: 97 years)
After half a month of arduous training, the Continuous Slash Saber Technique had still not been registered on his panel. This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, though. He didn’t dwell on it and continued practicing the Five Blades Continuous Slash, trying to find the trick to Borrowing Strength.
As for this "trick," Leader Ma had already explained it, and Hei Hu had also mentioned it to Chu Lingguang several times in private. Chu Lingguang could understand the words, but he just couldn’t learn the skill.
SHIIING!
The Sword Sound tore the night to shreds.
In his study, Leader Ma, who was reviewing the Escort Agency’s recent business earnings, looked up toward the courtyard and couldn’t help but smile. He sighed with emotion. ’If only my own disciples had Chu Lingguang’s perseverance,’ he mused, ’with their talent, just how far could they go in the future?’
It was just a pity that this most precious quality—perseverance—had appeared in a boy with such dull aptitude.
THWACK!
THWACK!
Chu Lingguang was immersed in his practice. The darkness hid all gazes, both good and bad, allowing him to empty his mind and repeat the slashes over and over again.
VMMMM!
Suddenly, Chu Lingguang felt a strange sensation from the slash, as if a force within a torrent was pushing him forward. He was startled. Seizing that feeling, he slashed down again. The long saber felt weightless, as if he had grasped the principle of Lifting Heavy as Light, and the remaining three slashes became faster and faster.
When he unleashed the fifth slash...
A piercing roar, like a sudden clap of thunder, exploded through the Escort Agency in the dead of night.
Leader Ma, who had just been about to have a small drink and get a good night’s sleep, was so startled by the roar that he spat out a mouthful of old wine. He rushed to the doorway and looked out into the courtyard. Seeing Chu Lingguang executing his continuous slashes, each one faster and lighter than the last, all thoughts of sleep vanished from his mind.
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