Immortality begins in Goose City

Chapter 4 Luck-Driven Warriors

Xiuer, who was standing next to her, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Wu Zhichong had boasted about the glorious history of this martial arts champion countless times; she was practically tired of hearing it.

Huang Shujian didn't laugh; instead, his expression became even more serious: "I want to practice martial arts."

"what?"

Wu Zhichong was stunned, his drunkenness subsiding somewhat. He looked Huang Shujian up and down, his frame rather thin, and hesitated before asking, "Young Master...you're not joking, are you?"

"I'm serious." Huang Shujian's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable firmness.

Wu Zhichong opened his mouth as if to say something, but his gaze finally fell on Huang Shujian's left chest.

A knowing glint flashed in his eyes, as if he had guessed the reason behind Huang Shujian's actions.

"Well... practicing martial arts to strengthen the body is naturally a good thing." Wu Zhichong carefully considered his words.

"If the young master wishes to learn, our family will certainly teach him everything we know, without holding anything back. But..."

He then changed the subject, adding a touch of admonition.

"Young master, we need to be clear from the start; things are different now."

"In this age of guns and cannons, no matter how skilled you are in martial arts, one shot will take you down."

"Practicing martial arts... is really not very useful anymore."

"Really?" Huang Shujian looked at him sharply. "Even you, a former martial arts champion, are so pessimistic about martial arts?"

Wu Zhichong was stunned for a moment when asked the question. A complex and incomprehensible emotion flashed across his face, including reminiscence, loneliness, and resentment.

He sighed deeply, as if he had shed some kind of disguise: "Fine, since young master really wants to ask, I won't hide it from you."

"In modern martial arts cultivation, there are roughly four realms: Enlightenment, Qi Absorption, Foundation Building, and Core Formation."

"Each realm is worlds apart."

"The first stage is the opening stage, which requires strengthening the body, enriching the blood and qi, opening the twelve major acupoints throughout the body, and reaching the state of having skin of copper and bones of iron before one can enter the qi-absorbing stage."

"However, there is no single path to follow in the martial arts world."

"Aside from unorthodox sects like spirit mediums and puppeteers, there are many paths in the martial arts world."

"Martial arts practitioners are just the most basic core; depending on the cultivation method and emphasis, they can branch out into many other areas."

"For example, there are martial artists who specialize in killing with weapons; martial artists who use their spirit to kill people at night; martial artists who use their divine sense to control people, etc... all sorts of different types."

"Oh? Have you ever heard of the Beast Blood Warrior?" Huang Shujian thought of the class on his panel.

"Never heard of it!" Wu Zhichong shook his head.

Then, he patted his chest, and the arrogance of a martial arts champion reappeared on his face.

"No matter which path you take, it's not as good as the one our family took back then."

"Oh?" Huang Shujian asked curiously.

Xiuer secretly pouted to herself.

"Back then, our family cultivated the most powerful and domineering style—the Qi Luck Martial Artist!"

"A martial artist with destiny?" This was the first time Huang Shujian had ever heard this title.

"Exactly!" Wu Zhichong's eyes shone brightly, as if he had returned to the moment when the names were called in the Golden Hall.

"A Qi-destined martial artist, officially conferred by the imperial court, embodies the dynasty's dragon energy!"

"Within the same level, he is virtually invincible, overwhelming all other martial arts branches!"

"Back in the day..." He took a deep breath, lost in thought.

"Our family is blessed with good fortune, possessing the combined strength of the entire Great Victory Martial Arts Sect. We are capable of lifting a cauldron and severing a river with our fists!"

"What demons and monsters? They can't even get within three zhang of my body."

"All martial artists under heaven who see him must bow down, and none dare disobey!"

"Like that beast in the Azure Pool today, all I need to do is gather my inner energy and let out a roar to shatter its internal organs. Why go through all that trouble and rely on firearms?"

Wu Zhichong became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had returned to his peak, full of ambition and beaming with joy.

"Ahem..." Xiu'er couldn't stand Wu Zhichong's rude and spittle-flecked manner any longer and reminded him, "Instructor Wu, the Great Victory has been gone for eight years..."

Wu Zhichong seemed to be jolted awake by a blow to the head; the light in his eyes quickly dimmed, turning into a deeper and heavier sigh.

"Yes... the Great Ying Dynasty is gone, and its forces have scattered like monkeys when the tree falls. It's been eight years..."

"Our cultivation level is most deeply intertwined with the dynasty's fortune; it greatly benefited us back then, and now we are suffering the greatest backlash..."

"His cultivation level has plummeted again and again, and now..."

"Sigh, I can only work as a militia instructor in Goose City, barely making a living."

At this point, Wu Zhichong suddenly realized he had misspoke, quickly composed himself, and apologized to Huang Shujian with a hint of fear.

"Young master, please forgive me! We have no complaints whatsoever! Master Huang has been incredibly kind to us; it is our honor to serve the Huang family!"

Huang Shujian waved his hand, indicating that he didn't care about these things.

What he cares about more is the martial arts itself.

Seeing his resolute attitude, Wu Zhichong continued to persuade him: "Young master, if you want to learn some skills to defend yourself because of the assassination attempt you had before, in my opinion, you should practice your marksmanship more."

"I've heard that in Shanghai, the Westerners have even created some kind of armored soldiers, made of steel and invulnerable to swords and bullets..."

"In short, times have changed..."

"Back in the day, muskets and shotguns were like mosquito bites to us."

"But now? Others can just slam a Mauser pistol on the table without even pointing it at my head, and we have to kneel down! And kneel down cleanly and decisively!"

Huang Shujian nodded in agreement: "Instructor Wu is right, I certainly won't fall behind in spear technique."

But he immediately changed the subject, his gaze becoming firm.

"However, I still need to practice martial arts."

"I don't expect to become a master, but at least I need to make my body more sturdy, stronger, and faster."

"In a critical moment, this might provide an extra way out."

Seeing the unwavering determination in Huang Shujian's eyes, Wu Zhichong finally stopped trying to dissuade him.

"Since that's the case, and young master is so determined, our family has nothing to hide!"

"If it weren't for the Huang family taking me in, I, Wu Zhichong, would be scrambling for food in some remote corner of the world right now!"

He straightened his back, and the air of a martial arts champion seemed to return somewhat: "Young master, please follow me!"

Wu Zhichong led Huang Shujian away from the pavilion, across the training ground, and to a private training room on the side, which was reserved for instructors.

The room was simply furnished, with swords, spears, and halberds on the weapon rack, and stone locks, barbells, and other tools for training one's strength piled up in the corner.

Wu Zhichong walked to a locked mahogany cabinet, took out the key, opened it, and carefully took out a booklet wrapped in oilcloth.

The booklet was yellowed and worn at the edges, clearly indicating that it was quite old.

He held the booklet in both hands, walked up to Huang Shujian, and solemnly handed it to him.

Huang Shujian took it and felt the booklet was quite heavy.

He untied the oilcloth, revealing the writing on the cover.

Those were five simple yet powerful characters written in ink:

Tiger Subduing Blade Technique!

"Young Master, the Great Victory Fist that our family practiced back then was too deeply bound to the dynasty's fortune, and it's now completely useless. We can't teach it to you."

Wu Zhichong rubbed his hands together, a hint of regret on his face, but he quickly became serious again.

"However, when my family traveled in our early years, we also acquired a few good secret manuals."

"This book, 'Tiger Subduing Absolute Blade Technique,' is one of them. I obtained it by slaying a Japanese in the East China Sea, and it's of considerable quality!"