Chapter 49: A Disciple’s Request, A Late-Night Lesson
Lin Tianlu stared at the gleaming weapons, stunned.
“Miss Cheng, what is this…”
“Please forgive me, Sir.”
Cheng Yishi smiled faintly and curtsied gracefully. “I would like to learn some self-defense techniques from you.”
“Learn techniques?”
Lin Tianlu was surprised.
Cheng Yishi continued softly, “Although you present yourself as a scholar, Sir, I can tell that you possess extraordinary abilities. Miss Hua seems to be a skilled martial artist, but she still follows you closely. I assume it’s because she’s diligently practicing to please you.”
“…”
Why did that sound so strange?
Lin Tianlu chuckled awkwardly and gestured towards the courtyard. “Why don’t you come inside first, Miss Cheng?”
It wasn’t exactly appropriate for a woman to be standing on the street with a sack full of weapons. It would scare the passersby.
“But I’ll carry these weapons for you… Eh?”
He stopped mid-sentence, his expression frozen.
Cheng Yishi was dragging the sack into the courtyard with ease.
That bag full of real weapons, it must weigh a couple of hundred pounds, right?
“—Ah…”
Cheng Yishi suddenly stopped, her face stiffening as if she had just realized something. She quickly released the sack and turned around, forcing a smile. “S-Sir, my arms are a bit weak. Could you lend me a hand? This is… quite heavy.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled and walked over, helping her lift the sack. “You’re quite strong, Miss Cheng.”
Cheng Yishi blushed, speechless.
…
Back in the courtyard, Lin Tianlu set the weapons down and dusted off his hands.
“Why do you want to learn martial arts, Miss Cheng?”
For a well-educated young lady from a wealthy family to suddenly want to learn how to fight…
It was rather strange.
Cheng Yishi gently touched her still-warm cheeks and said softly, “I’ve absorbed Yin energy, Sir. I’m now half-human, half-ghost. My strength is much greater than before. I thought I should learn some martial arts techniques to make good use of this new power, so I won’t be defenseless if I encounter any danger in the future.”
Lin Tianlu looked at her with a hint of surprise.
It seemed that the tragedy at the Cheng residence had truly changed her.
But it was a good thing.
Even though it was unusual for a delicate young lady like her to learn martial arts in this era, it was still a practical skill, allowing her to protect herself and improve her health.
Although, with her current Yin energy constitution, she was probably immune to most illnesses anyway.
Seeing his silence, Cheng Yishi lowered her eyes and said softly, “Sir, am I being too bothersome? Have I disturbed your peace? If it’s inconvenient, I won’t impose myself. I’ll just leave…”
“It’s alright. It’s still early for me to rest. And I admire your determination, Miss Cheng. I’ll help you if I can.”
“But I’m making you go through all this trouble, Sir. I’ll definitely repay you handsomely afterwards!”
“Your goodwill is enough, Miss Cheng.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and waved his hand dismissively. “Now, back to business. Although I can’t teach you any advanced martial arts, I can offer some basic guidance.”
With his newfound immortal abilities, even though he had only been exposed to martial arts for a couple of weeks, he couldn’t claim to be a master. But guiding a beginner was still within his capabilities.
Cheng Yishi’s eyes lit up. “Please enlighten me, Master Lin!”
“Before I start, I have to ask… what kind of weapon do you want to learn, Miss Cheng?”
Lin Tianlu picked up a sword from the sack and weighed it in his hand. “Swordsmanship?”
“Eh?”
Cheng Yishi was stunned.
She hadn’t expected to make this decision herself. “Do I have to choose, Sir?”
She didn’t know much about martial arts, only having heard a few stories. She had assumed that her ‘master’ would guide her, which was why she had brought so many weapons.
But now, she was overwhelmed by the choices.
“The weapon you use should be based on your preference.” Lin Tianlu smiled. “Why practice with something you don’t like?”
“You’re right, Sir.”
Cheng Yishi looked conflicted, her eyes scanning the various weapons. After a long moment of contemplation…
Her gaze settled on the…
Axe.
Lin Tianlu’s eye twitched.
A delicate young lady and a heavy iron axe… what a combination.
It seemed that she had used this same axe to kill her sister.
Could this be considered fate?
“Sir, is it strange to use an axe?” Cheng Yishi also seemed to sense the incongruity, her expression troubled.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s just a weapon for self-defense. Swords, axes, spears, they’re all the same.”
Lin Tianlu picked up the axe and weighed it in his hand.
With his current strength, the thirty-pound axe felt as light as a feather.
“Miss Cheng, I’m not an expert in martial arts. The little I know, I learned from observing Miss Hua. Just watch carefully, and you’ll need to practice and refine it yourself.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Sir!”
Lin Tianlu walked to an open space in the courtyard, holding the axe, lost in thought. He slowly raised the blade.
He had never used an axe before, neither in his previous life nor in this one. But all martial arts shared a common origin. He could adapt some moves from the Thirteen Forms of the Star-Breaking Sword, adding his own insights and modifications.
Cheng Yishi watched intently, her eyes wide with focus.
Lin Tianlu swung the axe, his movements swift and powerful, his steps precise. He performed a series of nine moves, then, gathering his strength, he brought the axe down in a powerful strike.
Of course, it was just a rough demonstration.
“Something like that.”
Lin Tianlu nodded slightly, lowering the axe and turning to the woman in the pavilion. “Miss Cheng, did you understand anything?”
But Cheng Yishi looked completely lost.
She hadn’t grasped anything from his simple demonstration.
“It seems I have no talent for teaching.” Lin Tianlu coughed awkwardly.
He had been able to guide Hua Shuya quite effectively. Why wasn’t it working now? Could it be that teaching methods varied depending on the student?
He beckoned her over. “Why don’t you try it yourself, Miss Cheng? I’ll give you some pointers.”
Cheng Yishi walked over obediently.
She carefully took the axe, her hands gripping the handle, and assumed a stance.
But after a moment of silence, she turned to him with a helpless expression. “Sir, I… I don’t know how to use this.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled inwardly and stepped forward, placing his hand over hers on the axe handle. He guided her movements, swinging the axe slowly.
“Pay attention, Miss Cheng. This is how you use an axe. You can’t just rely on your arm strength. You need to use your whole body.”
“…”
Cheng Yishi blushed, her shoulders hunching slightly.
Feeling his warmth so close to her, she felt a wave of heat surging through her body. She forgot about the axe and the technique, her mind focused solely on Lin Tianlu, who was practically embracing her.
The embrace she had longed for…
Was right behind her, just inches away.
As he guided her through the axe movements, they walked back and forth in the courtyard, swinging the weapon together. But Cheng Yishi’s mind drifted further and further away, her earlobes burning with embarrassment.
But in a daze, she felt a strange sensation, a surge of emotion she could barely contain.
Her eyes, like blood-red jade, suddenly lit up, and faint markings appeared beneath her ruqun, tracing a lotus pattern along her delicate collarbone.
Instead of taking a step forward, she instinctively stepped back, pressing her body against Lin Tianlu’s, her body trembling. A soft, almost satisfied moan escaped her lips, her face flushed with a seductive charm.
“Eh?”
Lin Tianlu froze, surprised by her sudden change in behavior.
Wait!
He frowned, sensing something strange. He quickly released the axe and stepped back. To his astonishment, Cheng Yishi, who had been struggling just moments ago, was now smoothly performing the axe movements, her figure spinning gracefully, the blade whistling through the air.
Yin energy swirled around her as she raised the axe and swung it towards the sky.
Hum—!
A faint ripple of energy spread through the air, a chilling wind sweeping through the courtyard.
Lin Tianlu watched in amazement.
How did that work?
“Ha—”
Cheng Yishi panted slightly, beads of sweat on her forehead.
But then, a seductive smile spread across her face. She tilted her head, her red eyes narrowed, gleaming with a blood-red light.
She dropped the axe to the ground with a thud, sparks flying, and walked towards him, her movements graceful and predatory.
“Mas~ter~ Lin~”
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