52 – Training Methods and Combat Techniques, The Four Way Blade

“Training methods and combat techniques?” Lu Qing was surprised.

“That’s right,” the Old Doctor said.

“A training method, also known as a nurturing method, as the name implies, is a technique for nurturing the body, tempering the physical constitution, and enhancing one’s physical strength.

The Body Nourishing Fist that I taught you is essentially a form of martial arts I created myself, aimed at tempering the body.

As for combat techniques…”

The Old Doctor paused to organize his thoughts before continuing.

“Practitioners of martial arts often have vigorous vitality, abundant energy, and strong personalities prone to competitiveness. To win in their countless conflicts, martial artists gradually developed many aggressive techniques, known as combat techniques.

Combat techniques are also referred to as killing techniques. These martial arts focus more on how to unleash the greatest destructive power and lethality in the shortest time and with the least cost, rather than nurturing the body and tempering the physical form.

Therefore, in terms of destructive power, combat techniques are much stronger than training methods.

Nurturing methods and killing methods…” Lu Qing pondered these two terms carefully.

From these names alone, he could sense the perilous journey of martial arts, possibly a brutal path where life and death are constantly at stake.

“Master, you said the Body Nourishing Fist is a nurturing method. What is the combat technique of our lineage?” Lu Qing couldn’t help but ask.

“Our lineage does not have a combat technique.”

The Old Doctor’s next sentence left Lu Qing speechless.

“There’s no need to make that face.” The Old Doctor chuckled, “Your master is not adept at fighting, so it’s not surprising that I can’t create effective combat techniques.”

Lu Qing suddenly remembered that his master was a healer, a very kind-hearted healer who disliked conflict.

A lack of a fighting spirit might be the reason he couldn’t create effective combat techniques.

“However, even though your master is not good at fighting, I do have a few decent combat techniques in my hand. Do you want to learn them?”

“Huh?” Lu Qing was stunned again. “Master, didn’t you just say our lineage doesn’t have outstanding combat techniques?”

“Indeed, our lineage doesn’t have outstanding combat techniques,” agreed the Old Doctor.

“Your ancestor, who was my master, was just an ordinary itinerant healer who knew some basic martial arts for self-defense.

Later, I had some fortunate encounters when I was young, which allowed me to create the Body Nourishing Fist technique.

So when I say our lineage doesn’t have outstanding combat techniques, I’m not deceiving you.”

Lu Qing: “But Master, you said…”

“Most of the combat techniques I possess were acquired during my travels. Some were given to me by martial heroes I treated, some I bought in markets of large cities, and others I stumbled upon while gathering herbs in the mountains.”

With a few simple words, the Old Doctor revealed to Lu Qing his extraordinary experiences.

However…

“Master, can these techniques be bought directly?” Lu Qing found it unbelievable.

In his impression, martial arts manuals should be the most cherished possessions of practitioners. Who would sell them?

“Hehe, the world is vast and full of wonders. Once you have the chance to travel, you will find out that not only do people sell martial arts manuals, but some even publicly engrave their lifetime of knowledge for everyone to learn,” the Old Doctor chuckled.

“Who has such generosity?” Lu Qing asked in surprise.

“That was a great martial artist whom all practitioners admire and revere.”

The Old Doctor, lost in thought, wore a look of admiration and fell silent for a while before coming back to his senses. “Alright, I digressed. Forget about that.”

“Ah Qing, although we, as healers, should prioritize curing illness and saving lives.

Sometimes, when you travel, you may encounter unexpected situations, so it is necessary to have some self-defense skills.”

“The Body Nourishing Fist is sufficient for dealing with ordinary people, but if you face a martial artist who has also cultivated martial arts, it won’t be enough…”

Lu Qing nodded.

The Body Nourishing Fist isn’t entirely unusable in combat, but when matched against techniques that can unleash tremendous destructive power, it clearly falls short.

“Now that you have stepped into the Qi and Blood Realm and become a true martial artist, it is time for you to choose a martial combat technique to cultivate.”

“Master, what kind of martial combat techniques can I learn?” Lu Qing asked with a hint of anticipation.

“I have quite a few martial combat techniques, but most of them are quite ordinary and only suitable for the Qi and Blood Realm. Among them, there are only three that can truly be called masterpieces. Hold on a moment.”

After saying this, the Old Doctor walked back into the house and returned shortly after with three books.

“These three martial arts include a staff technique, a blade technique, and a sword technique. Each one is a Bone Refining Realm martial art. Which one do you want to learn?”

Lu Qing’s gaze lingered on the three manuals.

He did not say something foolish like ‘I want to learn them all.’

Even though he possessed a special ability, he understood the principle that being too greedy and unfocused could lead to poor outcomes.

He was currently just a minor Qi and Blood Realm martial artist, so focusing on mastering one technique was the best choice.

After contemplating for a moment, Lu Qing finally said, “I choose the blade technique.”

“Have you thought it through? Once you make your choice, it might influence your future path in martial arts,” the Old Doctor said seriously.

“Disciple has made his decision. I choose the blade technique,” Lu Qing stated firmly.

He wasn’t very interested in the staff technique, and the sword technique was just so-so.

On the contrary, he was very interested in the blade technique.

After all, the blade exuded a domineering aura which suited his preference.

“Since you’ve decided, take this manual,” the Old Doctor handed one of the manuals to Lu Qing.

Lu Qing accepted the manual, flipped to the first page, and his brow twitched: “‘Four Directions Blade’?”

“Correct, this blade technique is called the Four Directions Blade. I discovered this manual in a mountain cave by chance while collecting herbs.”

“In that cave, there was a corpse that had turned into bones. In front of the remains, there was a package wrapped in oil paper, containing this very ‘Four Directions Blade’ manual.”

“After burying the remains, I took the manual with me.”

Lu Qing listened in astonishment.

He realized that his master seemed to have quite a few fortuitous encounters.

In his youth, he could discover unknown techniques that led to the creation of the Body Nourishing Fist.

Even while simply collecting herbs in the mountains, he could stumble upon martial arts manuals.

This luck was indeed extraordinary.

“Ah Qing, I have only read through the Four Directions Blade Technique and have not practiced it. Since you have chosen this blade technique, I can only give you some training advice, but I can’t teach you step-by-step.”

“So how far you can cultivate it will depend on you.”

“Disciple understands,” Lu Qing nodded.

“Although the Four Directions Blade Technique is intricate, once cultivated to a profound level, even Bone Refining Realm martial artists would struggle to withstand a single strike from it. But with your martial talent, you should have no trouble mastering it.”

The Old Doctor’s confidence in Lu Qing made him feel a bit embarrassed.

If it weren’t for his special abilities, he might indeed disappoint his master.