Chapter 6: Despicable Sword Technique, Showing Weakness to the Enemy

Watching Tang Lin'er walk confidently into the arena, Zhou Ping'an's spirits lifted as he watched intently.

Perhaps it was during the Red Lotus Army's charge that his opponent's performance had been too "eye-catching", and he always felt that this guy might be well versed in the art of concealment, and his true skills might not be so simple.

The current recruitment of Protectors by the Lin Family, promising the teaching of Superior Martial Arts, clearly set the rule that the more impressive the performance, the more benefits one would receive. He probably couldn't hide anymore.

At that moment, a suppressed light laugh reached his ears, faint yet distinct.

If it were someone else, they might have thought they heard wrong.

Back when Zhou Ping'an was at the Security Academy, he had taken a course on "Detailed Analysis of the Five Senses" which included "Thirty-Six Emotions of Sound."

He could immediately tell from this barely audible chuckle that it concealed feelings of pride and mockery.

Oh...

Pretending it was unintentional, Zhou Ping'an turned his head and saw a man in his forties or fifties with a goatee, curiously observing the selection scene in the arena.

He seemed no different from the people of all ages gathered around watching.

It was as if he was just joining the crowd.

"Sir, do you think there is anything improper about the Lin Family's recruitment of Protectors?"

Zhou Ping'an felt slightly odd, as he realized that the elder's curious demeanor seemed a bit feigned.

Yes, having excelled in the course Micro-Expressions Psychology, Zhou Ping'an...

Despite the goatee man's calm complexion, with not a hint of a smile,

from the tightness of the skin near his eyes and the undisrupted gleam in his pupils, it was quite clear... he had just laughed, though it was unclear at what.

The goatee man turned his head in surprise and said, "What's wrong with it? The Third Miss Lin has made great achievements recently and has gained the appreciation of the Official Government. I've heard that the share of medicinal materials has increased by thirty percent.

Now, they are recruiting people aggressively. Dominance in the medicinal trade within Qingyang County seems just a matter of time.

If I were about ten years younger, I would join them to learn Superior Martial Arts too."

"Indeed, it's a rare opportunity."

Zhou Ping'an didn't say much more, just casually agreed.

He thought to himself that this old guy didn't speak a single true word, all fake.

Maybe he was sent by some rival of the Lin Family to scout out the situation; however, it was unclear what he was proud of.

But, whether there was an issue or not, it was not his place to care for now.

For now, he would just follow Tang Lin'er's lead and join the Lin Family first.

He had just listened carefully to what the people nearby were saying; in Qingyang City, there weren't many places where one could learn skills to establish oneself.

Places like the Spirit Snake Spear, Shocking Waves Pavilion, and Wild Wind Blade martial arts schools, while they recruited students to teach fist techniques and weaponry, required a large amount of silver for admission...

Most of the time, they didn't promise to teach any real powerful skills.

Ordinary people who entered these schools to learn martial arts would spend years but only obtain superficial skills.

A generous force like the Lin Family was truly unique...

Whether you could learn it or not, at least they promised they indeed would teach.

Regardless of the private practices of wealthy households, they still place great emphasis on reputation publicly, especially such promises made in front of many people; they seldom break their word.

...

After Tang Lin'er entered the arena, she indeed stopped being discreet and daintily lifted up a hundred-pound stone weight, casually throwing it down.

She chose a wooden sword from the arena, held the hilt loosely, and said with a smile, "I have some understanding of sword techniques, not skilled in fists and feet, may I ask Brother Wei to be gentle?"

"Go ahead, I'll go easy."

Wei Dazui had just been pushed back seven or eight steps by a strike from a man in gray clothes, which had left a red streak on his wrist. Although he was not seriously injured, it was extremely painful.

The opponent was a Strength-Training Martial Master, and he truly couldn't overcome him.

However, losing too easily also greatly embarrassed him.

At this moment, he was holding back a fit of rage...

Though his mouth said to go easy, his eyes harbored a faint brutality.

Any observant person would know that his move would certainly not be gentle.

His stature slightly stooped, Wei Dazui took a large step forward, like a giant bear pouncing on its prey, and with a swish, he was right in front of Tang Lin'er.

His arms spread wide, one hand shaped like an eagle's claw aiming for the shoulder, and the other like a tiger's claw pinching the waist.

Just by seeing Wei Dazui's massive body and the gust of wind his strike brought, one would know the immense strength behind this move.

Once caught by him, it would essentially be over.

Yet, Tang Lin'er seemed to have anticipated this. In the instant Wei Dazui lunged forward, she twisted her left foot slightly and swiftly sidestepped, moving to Wei Dazui's left side, and counter-attacked with the sword aiming straight at the back of his neck.

That was fast.

A series of soft gasps came from the surrounding crowd.

However, although Wei Dazui's body was huge, his movements were not slow at all. He scoffed coldly and cleverly counter-attacked with a sideward slap...

His palm hit the blade of the sword, the dark red wooden sword recoiled, almost flying out of her hands.

His basic skills were obviously extremely solid.

With just a half-move, Zhou Ping'an's brows twitched as he watched.

He even felt that this fiercely ugly man with a surprisingly large mouth, skilled in fist techniques, was not much inferior to Master Dong Qingshan whom he had seen when he first learned to fight.

In terms of musculature strength, he was even more superior than Master Dong.

Both hands swung like iron pillars, and those with lesser strength simply couldn't break through.

How could they continue fighting then?

Then, Tang Lin'er was seen stumbling as if he hadn't steadied himself, and with a thud, he fell to the ground.

The blade in his hand, which had been knocked away, somehow moved like a venomous snake, sliding under his armpit and with a "whoosh," thrust diagonally toward the center of Wei Dazui's buttocks.

This move was strange yet clever, a fight for life from the brink of death.

Wei Dazui, surprised, turned around to dodge, the dark red wooden blade leaped up, stabbing toward his eyebrows.

At that moment, Tang Lin'er had completely lost any semblance of poise.

Rolling and flipping on the ground, his stature low, akin to a raccoon, he moved with extreme slickness.

His blade kept aiming at his opponent's lower body, striking both fast and fiercely.

Wei Dazui was left yelping incessantly, unable to use his strength effectively.

It was incredibly frustrating, especially since he couldn't catch hold of his opponent.

It wasn't that he couldn't fight back...

Tang Lin'er's strength wasn't very strong, and he was armed with a wooden blade.

Even if it meant taking a hit, one could grab him and throw him half to death.

But no one could just watch as their groin was being stabbed.

Even if it wasn't too damaging, it would still be very painful.

Only those who have experienced it know the feeling.

Such a style of fighting.

"Too filthy."

"Way too low, really."

Laughter erupted from the crowd.

It didn't affect Tang Lin'er's swordplay at all.

The bearded man was so startled he nearly choked on his spit, coughing several times before he praised, "His sword technique is unconventional and his foundation weak, but his strikes are fiercely decisive and full of tactical change. This kid passes."

Is that so?

Zhou Ping'an looked at the bearded man doubtfully, suspecting he was being sarcastic.

However, what followed proved that the old man hadn't lived his years in vain, for he spoke with utter precision.

Tang Lin'er rolled and struggled on the ground for a while. Whenever he seemed outmatched, he would somehow manage to persevere.

Finally getting out of danger, he quickly dragged the wooden blade backward, sprung with his legs close to the ground, and slid backward through the dust to retreat more than two zhang.

Standing up, he smiled, "Ten moves have passed, right? I wonder if that counts as a pass?"

Indeed, although he hadn't landed a single hit on Wei Dazui.

But then again, Wei Dazui hadn't touched even a bit of his clothing, and with both sides cautious, they had exchanged more than just ten moves.

"You passed, with thirteen moves,"

the old housekeeper of the Lin Residence said, smiling warmly as he approached.

"I don't know your honorable name, sir. Please, come rest over here."

"Despicable..."

Wei Dazui's already dark face turned even darker, his large mouth almost deforming with anger.

Amidst the laughter of the crowd, seeing an opportunity, someone picked up a stone lock and stepped forward to challenge.

Unexpectedly, the first move was caught by Wei Dazui.

With a "bang," he smashed it heavily to the ground, causing blood to spurt from the mouth...

Someone quickly carried the injured away and administered first aid.

The next two challengers suffered nearly severe injuries, frightening others who were just there for the excitement, deterring them from stepping forward.

"Now's the chance."

Zhou Ping'an watched as almost everyone in the crowd hesitated, while Wei Dazui, standing in the middle of the arena, took a deep breath, his presence once again imposing, showing no trace of his earlier disarray, knowing now was the time.

He stepped out of the crowd.

"Let me have a try."

Walking up to the stone lock, he lifted it with one hand, his face reddening.

The veins on his forehead and neck bulged, his knees slightly bent, and only by tilting his body sideways was he able to lift the stone lock above his head.

After holding it for a while, he dropped the stone lock, his right hand visibly trembling slightly.

I'm supposed to be practicing martial arts routines, you know.

And you're asking me to lift weights?

Zhou Ping'an lifted it, albeit a bit embarrassedly.

The stone lock, said to weigh around a hundred jin, actually felt much heavier than modern weights, approximately one hundred thirty or forty jin, barely avoiding embarrassment.

However, hearing the sighs around him, and even seeing a hint of relief in Wei Dazui's eyes, Zhou Ping'an knew he had made it this time.

...