Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Sparring Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Sparring Editor: Atlas Studios Yang Xiaoyun’s family has a profound tradition of learning martial arts; his father, Yang Yizhi, was enlightened and made notable achievements at a young age under the guidance of a notable master.
He later took the Kumu Taoist from Miao Cang Mountain as his master.
Before becoming a monk, Kumu Taoist was renowned in the Martial Arts world for his excellent Canglong Bahuang Dianyun Spear technique.
After becoming a monk, he learned the authentic Inner Strength of the Mystical Sect.
After decades of cultivating both internally and externally, he has reached a transformative realm.
Yang Yizhi studied the spear for ten years and profoundly grasped its essence, thus establishing a great reputation for the Iron Blood Escort Agency.
From a young age, Yang Xiaoyun was keen on martial arts and has been practicing the Canglong Bahuang Dianyun Spear since childhood, supported by the Mystical Sect’s Da Shang Xuanting Scripture, which is extremely formidable.
At this moment, even though he has not used his Inner Strength and is substituting his hand for the spear, his execution of the boundless and deadly spear technique is still impressively powerful.
Su Mo immediately shifted his stance, reacting with the Ziyang Sect movement technique. He flicked his hand and fingers as if strumming a lute, effortlessly deflecting the ‘spear tip’, which slightly startled Yang Xiaoyun.
“Pretty good, so this is the Great Opening Sun Dispersal Hand? I remember seeing Uncle Su use this martial art when I was a child. It’s a skillful martial art that requires controlled opening and closing, and advancing and retreating.
“Uncle Su once told me that the essence of the Great Opening Sun Dispersal Hand is encapsulated in four words: ‘clumsiness hides cleverness.’
“From the move you just displayed, you’ve already reached quite an impressive level.
“However, if you were to actually face an enemy, you would still need to employ Inner Strength. Otherwise, if I were wielding a Silver Spear and channeling the Da Shang Xuanting Scripture, with your lower level of Inner Strength, you would not be able to deflect the spearhead.
“In that case, you would be the one getting injured.”
People in this world practice martial arts, often cultivating both internal and external aspects—internal cultivation refines the energy of the Dantian, and external training strengthens the muscles and skin. It takes both Inner Strength and techniques to unleash their fullest power.
In today’s world, zeal for martial arts is widespread.
The path of martial arts is like a blossom of a hundred flowers; each sect’s martial arts have their unique aspects.
As for which sect or style can dominate,
Opinions vary widely.
In fact, among those in Jianghu, who dares to claim they are the best in the world?
Even if one’s name shakes the heavens, in critical moments it’s still the same old saying… Victory or defeat is only known after the fight!
This time escorting with two missions, Su Mo had already received the Great Perfection Inner Strength of Longxiang Wisdom Skill, which is rare in this world.
Subsequently, he acquired the extremely fierce Seven Injuries Fist.
With the Great Achievement Realm experience of Seven Injuries Fist, he often found analogous insights during the seven days he practiced martial arts at home.
In a short period of time, his Ziyang Sect martial arts improved by leaps and bounds.
Starting with one move, hearing Yang Xiaoyun’s words, he immediately nodded:
“Let’s go again!”
He extended his arms, rushing forward, still using the Great Opening Sun Dispersal Hand.
“Great!”
Yang Xiaoyun was even more delighted, with a sparkle in his eyes, and without retreating, he clashed fiercely with Su Mo in a blink of an eye.
Of course… this bout was still a friendly exchange and not a life and death fight.
The two primarily focused on dissecting each other’s moves, not using Inner Strength, and only lightly testing lethal techniques.
After this exchange, Su Mo truly appreciated the true meaning behind Uncle Fu’s words.
Isolating oneself at home building a cart is not a long-term plan; in martial arts, progress comes faster through exchanging insights with others.
While being immersed in this match, a considerable portion of half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.
Su Mo didn’t feel anything special, but Yang Xiaoyun was already dripping with sweat. Unable to hold back any longer, she leapt into the air and flew back, extending her hand as she said:
“Stop!”
In Su Mo’s mind, he had already considered what moves to make in the next three steps to catch his opponent off guard.
Suddenly hearing this, he couldn’t help but be stunned. Looking up, he could only respond with a smile mixed with tears: “Tired?”
“…You were frivolous in your younger years, how come your body hasn’t been drained? Without relying on Inner Strength, and actively fighting for half an hour, yet still breathing easily? How did you manage this? Couldn’t it be that during your visits to the brothel in the past, you learned some bizarre and unnatural Dual Cultivation Method?”
Yang Xiaoyun marveled in wonder, immediately adjusting her Inner Strength and evening out her breath.
Su Mo’s mouth twitched uncontrollably: “Can’t you, a lady, refrain from always bringing up those words from the brothel? And where did this Dual Cultivation Method come from? You should read less of those sensational historical romances.”
Yang Xiaoyun was momentarily stunned, not expecting Su Mo to retort and actually start lecturing her.
She didn’t get angry, just a bit unaccustomed.
For a moment, she was somewhat abashed: “If… if you don’t want me to mention those words, then I won’t say them anymore. Although these sensational tales often fabricate stories, they also mix in a lot of real observations. After all, the events in Jianghu are unpredictable, and you never know when you might encounter them.”
“Hmm, you make a sensible point.”
Su Mo nodded.
“However, your martial arts progress is indeed delightful, and today I’ve come to realize you are quite a prodigy. The Great Opening Sun Dispersal Hand initially only exhibited a fraction of its power, but as we continued to spar, it became more adept.
“Although not yet Mastery, you really have entered the room, so to speak.”
At this point, Yang Xiaoyun’s smile was completely genuine.
“It’s naturally because of your corrections that I was able to advance so quickly.”
“Then I will spar with you and feed you moves every day from now on.”
“…”
Su Mo blanked out. How did the conversation get to this point?
Just as he didn’t know how to respond, he suddenly heard rapid footsteps approaching.
Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun looked up to see a servant arriving, who bowed from a distance to Yang Xiaoyun: “Miss, Lord Wu has come again.”
“How is he still not giving up?”
Yang Xiaoyun slightly furrowed her brows.
Su Mo was somewhat curious, straining his ears temporarily.
As a result, Yang Xiaoyun told him frankly: “Luoxia City belongs to the Luofeng Alliance, and the Third Alliance Leader Wu Daoyou is the Deputy City Lord of Luoxia City. Who this Lord Wu is, I suppose there’s no need for me to say, right?”
“Wu Chengfeng?”
Su Mo was startled; how could he not know this man?
Being a native of Luoxia City, if Su Mo hadn’t figured out the local matters in these two years, it would have been a wasted life crossing.
As he understood, Wu Chengfeng was also considered a young talent, his martial arts being exceptional among his peers, and his reputation was generally good, rarely displaying any spoiled behavior.
As he was thinking, he heard Yang Xiaoyun say: “Go tell him that I am not at home, and to come back in ten years.”
Ten years later? Really?
Su Mo was dumbfounded, only to see the servant, not at all surprised, agreeing, and then turning to leave.
“Come, let’s have some tea.”
As if it were nothing, Yang Xiaoyun pulled Su Mo to sit down in the pavilion in the backyard.
