Though Chu Lingguang's Saber Technique hadn't yet produced a Sword Sound, his mastery of the Twelve Knife Skills was on par with Hei Hu's. With the added advantage of his Basic Body Technique, if he were to fight with all his might, Chu Lingguang could leave Hei Hu utterly defenseless.
However, Chu Lingguang had no intention of revealing his full strength, especially the fact that he had mastered Body Technique Martial Arts.
He could find a casual excuse to explain away the Basic Breathing Technique, but mastering a Body Technique on top of that would easily arouse Guo Wei's suspicion.
Besides, the Jianghu was a treacherous place; there was no need to lay all his cards on the table.
Furthermore, a Body Technique wasn't as easily exposed as a Breathing Technique. As long as Chu Lingguang didn't use it in front of Guo Wei, Guo Wei would never know he had mastered Body Technique Martial Arts.
CLANG! CLANG!
Chu Lingguang launched a series of attacks from the Lower Three Knife Techniques. Hei Hu, defending as he retreated, had learned his lesson from before. This time, he handled the assault with ease and quickly gained the upper hand. With a final move, Hungry Wolf Pouncing on the Moon, Hei Hu broke through Chu Lingguang's defense and struck his shoulder with the flat of his saber.
"You let me win, Junior Brother."
Hei Hu laughed aloud once more.
"You're too strong, Senior Brother. I wholeheartedly admit defeat,"
Chu Lingguang said with a serious expression. He had thrown the fight on purpose, hoping Hei Hu wouldn't get any strange ideas and cause unnecessary trouble.
"That's enough practice for today. We'll go at it again tomorrow."
Completely satisfied, Hei Hu took his long saber and started practicing by himself. Chu Lingguang naturally didn't object and began practicing the Iron Mountain Saber Technique off to the side. Although he had intentionally thrown the match, his bout with Hei Hu hadn't been fruitless. He practiced the moves Hei Hu had just used against him, sensing that combining them could produce unexpected results.
After dinner, Hei Hu was in high spirits and invited Chu Lingguang out for a drink. Since Chu Lingguang had treated him before, he agreed. When they arrived at a small tavern, Hei Hu took the initiative. "Junior Brother, did you know Master's birthday is in half a month? I hear all our senior brothers will be coming back to celebrate with him."
"Senior Sister Guo often says our senior brothers who serve in the Court are so busy with official duties that they can only return once a year. Does that mean they always wait for Master's birthday to come back?"
Chu Lingguang asked, munching on some peanuts.
"That's right."
Hei Hu nodded and said conspiratorially, "I heard that Eldest Senior Brother's Martial Arts are superb, truly outstanding. He placed third in the Daoist Examination and seventh in the Provincial Examination. After that, he became the Captain of the South City. They say his achievements over the years have been remarkable. After celebrating Master's birthday this time, he's apparently going to be transferred from South City to the Governor's Mansion to serve as a Captain."
"Eldest Senior Brother is incredible. I'd be happy if I could achieve even half of what he has,"
Chu Lingguang said, his face full of admiration.
A Captain of his rank was a regimental military commander in charge of three hundred soldiers. In a small place like South City, such a person was on equal footing with the heads of the County Yamens.
A Captain at the Governor's Mansion was a prefectural military commander, commanding anywhere from two to three thousand soldiers. That was practically a General, someone on equal footing with the top official of South City itself.
From the perspective of someone in Baiyang County, Guo Wei's eldest disciple was essentially the chief administrator of an entire city.
Chu Lingguang didn't aspire to be a major player in the Court who could command the wind and rain; he would be satisfied just to follow in his Eldest Senior Brother's footsteps and become the head of a city or county.
"But it's not all smooth sailing at the top," Hei Hu lowered his voice. "Eldest Senior Brother has been on rather unhappy terms with Master for the past two years, all because of Master's son."
Chu Lingguang didn't reply this time. He knew Hei Hu came from a wealthy family and had people handling his affairs, allowing him to learn things ordinary people couldn't.
But this matter concerned the reputations of both Guo Wei and Eldest Senior Brother. It wasn't something Chu Lingguang felt comfortable discussing, especially in a crowded tavern with prying ears.
"So, what gift are you planning to get for Master's birthday, Junior Brother?"
Hei Hu, who was no fool, quickly changed the subject.
"I thought I'd take this opportunity to buy him a few things he uses regularly."
'The gift from Butcher Hu was converted into silver taels by Guo Wei and given to me. I haven't found a chance to repay him this past month. His birthday is the perfect opportunity to use those silver taels to buy a gift and give it back to him in another form.'
"'Master likes to eat Osmanthus Cake with strong tea—specifically, Swallow Tea from South City. He also likes to fiddle with prayer beads, even ones made of ordinary materials are fine.'"
Hei Hu listed them off with ease. Clearly, he paid close attention to Guo Wei's habits.
"Mm."
Chu Lingguang nodded. The things Hei Hu mentioned were indeed items Guo Wei used regularly. 'But they aren't his favorites,' he thought. 'I already have another plan in mind.'
There wasn't much time left before the Daoist Examination.
The two only had a few drinks at the tavern before heading their separate ways home.
As was his habit, Chu Lingguang checked his status panel.
Favors: None
Iron Mountain Fist (43/100)
Basic Breathing Technique (87/100)
Heavenward Force (42/100)
Iron Mountain Saber Technique (36/100)
Basic Body Technique (37/100)
(Remaining Lifespan: 58)
'It's disappointing that the Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques still haven't registered on the panel.'
'Still, this past month of hard training has yielded clear progress in my other skills, even if I haven't made a breakthrough with the Spear Technique. The only exception is the Basic Body Technique. Since I don't dare practice it at the Martial Arts Hall, it hasn't improved at all due to lack of training time.'
'Second Aunt brought me lard again.'
Chu Lingguang walked into the kitchen and found a large bowl of lard and a couple pounds of eggs.
Of the five pounds of white flour he had received last month, Chu Lingguang had given three to his Second Aunt.
'My intention was twofold: to thank Second Aunt for making me two sets of clothes, and also to earn some Favor Points. But who would've thought that none of these recent gifts would generate any Favor Points.'
'After mulling it over, I realized it's not that Second Aunt is ungrateful. It's just that the flour wasn't as critical or urgent a need as when I helped her find a job, secured her position at the Martial Arts Hall, and improved her family's living situation.'
'The flour was just a simple exchange of gifts; her family could take it or leave it.'
'Unlike the job and the silver taels, which were things she desperately needed at the time. When I helped them obtain what they needed most, they naturally owed me Favors.'
Chu Lingguang stored the lard away.
Although he ate all three of his daily meals at the Martial Arts Hall, sometimes his training was so intense that his Qi Blood consumption was too great. On those occasions, Chu Lingguang had to go home and cook something extra for himself. The lard and eggs from Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family would come in handy.
The days passed one after another. In the blink of an eye, ten more had gone by.
Chu Lingguang was in a foul mood. It was as if the Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques were being blocked; they still hadn't registered on his panel, and he had been completely unable to grasp the skills.
Guo Wei noticed something was wrong and had personally come to instruct him several times, but to no effect. Chu Lingguang began to worry that this particular Kung Fu would take a full year to master. He was afraid he would run out of time and be unable to practice his other skills.
Today, he trained at the Martial Arts Hall until nightfall.
After dinner, he practiced in the rear courtyard for another two hours. By the time he left, the streets were bathed in hazy moonlight. Chu Lingguang cut through a wheat field on his way back to his courtyard.
CLANG!
Suddenly, a large saber, its blade glinting coldly, flew out of the wheat field and landed on the path about ten feet in front of Chu Lingguang.