The sun had already set.
The sunset glow was still burning in the sky. The mountains far away in the distance were covered in a thick layer of grey ash, gradually turning to black.
In the academy, a day's class was over. The students walked out from the academy in groups of twos and threes.
"I am really happy today, I learned quite a few things. Especially how I got to learn how to use the Moonlight Gu."
"The way the moonblade flies in the air looks so cool. It's too bad that my talent isn't enough, so in the future, I can only be a logistics Gu Master, I won't be able to go onto the battlefield." The young teenagers happily chatted away.
A few of them called their friends over.
"Let's go and eat, we can drink some rice wine while we are at it, what do you think?"
"Sure, that's not a bad suggestion."
"You guys go on first, I need to go to the store beside the academy's Gu room and buy a grass puppet. It will be easy to practice at home with it."
Today after the class Fang Yuan decided to go to the store beside the academy's Gu room.
He walked to the building beside the Gu room – it was a small store.
In the store, there were seven students, each of them negotiating over the counter with the store owner for buying grass puppets.
Over the last few days besides refining the two wisdom path Gu worms Fang Yuan had also waited around the inn in hopes of running into this store owner – Jiang Ya, he got to meet him two days ago at the inn and struck up a conversation with him. Thanks to the five hundred years of memories he inherited Fang Yuan knew how to approach and get close to people, as such he was able to get close to Jiang Ya during their first meeting itself.
The one he wanted to meet was Jiang Ya's elder brother Jiang He. But Jiang He was stationed out and was guarding the village in which Old Wang lived. This was why he wanted to get close to Jiang He he needed the location of Old Wang's house.
"Oh, it's you, junior." When Jiang Ya saw Fang Yuan he immediately greeted him with a smile.
"Senior." Fang Yuan simply nodded in greeting. Jiang Ya had told him that he worked in this store when they shared a drink last time.
After the others left Fang Yuan placed a primeval stone on the counter and asked for ten moon orchid petals.
"Oh, yes. Senior where did you say your brother was stationed? I am planning to go out of the village to hunt some boar for practice, maybe I can go say hi to him if it on the way?" Fang Yuan asked casually while receiving the moon orchid petals.
"That's excellent timing, junior. I was fretting over when I would get the chance to go meet my brother as something came up recently and I wanted to ask him for advice regarding it. Now I can simply write a letter and ask you to pass it to him. Don't worry there are quite a few wild boars near the village that he is stationed. The hunters in his village make a living by mainly hunting these wild boars, you can just ask these mortals to show you their usual hunting spots." Jiang Ya happily replied.
"Oh? That's great then. Senior just pass me the letter when you have written it. I will deliver it to your brother for you." Fang Yuan said. Having achieved what he came for Fang Yuan bid goodbye and left.
...…
Three days later.
"Lowering your body to dodge, that is the usual technique of restraining against a flying fist. When your enemy comes and attacks you, quickly squat down and at the same time do a counterattack, striking his crotch and abdomen. Do not be afraid of swinging your fist. Usually, those who come up and start swinging their fists at the first moment are people who have no brains and are impulsive and rash."
On the martial arts field, the academy's martial arts instructor spoke while he performed actions to demonstrate. The students were looking at the demonstration in a circle, but most of them were lacking in spirit, showing very little interest.
The academy taught a variety of courses and this lesson was the one that taught the foundation of martial arts. Using fists and legs to exert oneself was too inferior to the handsome and cool attack style of the moonblade, making almost all the students absent-minded.
The young teens whispered to one another, their minds long gone from the lesson. They were all worried about the assessment in the next class. Just for this assessment, they had practiced hard for a long time after class, and now they were flexing their hands and feet, looking forward to the assessment.
The sounds of the student's discussion had reached the instructor's ear, and the martial arts coach jerked his gaze back at them, shouting, "No talking allowed in class, all of you keep your mouths shut and pay attention!"
He was a Rank two Gu Master, his body rather muscular. His upper body was naked and robust, the bronzed skin littered with countless scars on it. With a loud shout, he showed a threatening manner, pressing down on all the students in the field.
Silence fell in the martial arts field.
"The foundation of martial arts is the most important among important things. Especially in the early stages of a Gu Master's cultivation, it is more important than anything else. All of you better focus your attention on me!"
After he finished scolding, the martial arts instructor showed another battle tactic demonstration.
After demonstrating he explained to the students," When facing a huge and tall enemy in close combat, do not be afraid. Ruining the opponent's center of gravity is a type of sensible tactic to pin down your enemy."
The students nodded repeatedly, but most of their eyes showed disapproval. The coach saw all of this and laughed bitterly in his heart. The instructor shook his head and was about to carry out explaining when a student caught his gaze. Unlike the other students, this one was watching him closely and was focused on his every move. This pleasantly surprised the instructor as in every batch the students hardly paid any attention to his class during the first few days, only after learning the hard way would they start paying attention and come to seek his guidance.
As such he decided to focus his attention on this student and continued to explain.
"…Remember, in close combat, your sight must not always stare at the enemy's eye. It should focus on the enemy's shoulder. No matter punching or kicking, the enemy's shoulder will always move first…"
"…In close combat your speed is very important, the speed I am talking about in this context is not the speed of your fists, but the speed of the movement of your legs…"
"…Distance is the best defense…"
"…Keep your legs elastic, then you will be able to easily burst out your strength…"
"…When striking with your fists, maintain triangle support. Otherwise, you will lose your footing. The enemy has not fallen, yet instead, you fell first…"
The instructor patiently explained while he demonstrated.
Fang Yuan was the only one who listened to the teachings of the instructor from beginning till the end. After listening to everything the instructor said he would compare it with the memories in his head and make notes for himself and things he needs to look out for during a battle.
In this manner, the basic martial arts class was finally over.