Humans in All Heavens: Starting with Detective Dee

Once the last six moves of the chain knife are used, the front blade can be controlled by a thin iron chain to perform a variety of actions.

For example, if someone is playing with a whip and the whip is too long, they might accidentally injure themselves.

The chain knife is similar; if you don't master the last six moves, you can easily injure yourself.

After demonstrating it once, Li Yuanfang started teaching Zhou Yi again, beginning with the first move.

Zhou Yi imitated Li Yuanfang's movements.

Repeating constantly.

A single move can involve multiple actions. The key to mastering a move is to smoothly connect these actions and execute the entire routine flawlessly.

It can only be described as skillful, not as masterful.

Suddenly, Zhou Yi thought of the time when Feng Qingyang taught Linghu Chong swordsmanship in The Smiling, Proud Wanderer.

At that time, the martial arts of the Five Mountains Sword Sect were broken by the ten elders of the Demonic Sect.

This caused Linghu Chong to doubt himself for a moment.

Feng Qingyang instructed Linghu Chong that he should not follow the rules when using swordsmanship.

The first and second moves were used just like that.

So Zhou Yi shared his thoughts with Li Yuanfang.

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanfang chuckled lightly: "Hahaha, Brother Di, no matter what kind of martial arts it is, martial arts are static, but people are dynamic."

When facing an enemy, one doesn't necessarily need to use the sword techniques one move at a time.

You can use it as you please.

I understand your concerns; you mean, what if the enemy is someone who knows you very well?

Once you are familiar with your sword techniques and routines, you can predict your moves.

So they can exploit the weaknesses in your moves to defeat you, right?

That's definitely possible.

But you are practicing martial arts now.

A martial art has been passed down for so many years, and there must be a reason why the first move is the first move and the second move is the second move.

When you practice martial arts, you should naturally follow the correct order.

This is similar to a newborn person just learning to walk; naturally, they take one or two steps at a time.

You can only run after you've mastered it.

You have to learn to walk before you can learn to run.

Learning martial arts is the same way. Practicing swordsmanship now is like walking.

Only after you've mastered the technique can you break up the sequence and use it, which is essentially learning how to run.

For example, when I served in Liangzhou, I fought against the Turks, and there were enemies on all sides.

What moves should I make at this point?

Do I have to think about which move to use first and which move to use next?

Wait until you've thought it through before using the corresponding move?

If I were to do that, I'm afraid I would have died at the hands of the enemy long ago.

The essence of dealing with an enemy is to respond to their moves, act flexibly, and adapt to their needs.

When the enemy attacks you, before your brain can even react.

Your body will react naturally.

But all of this is based on the premise that you have practiced these moves very well in the normal order.

Instead of trying to figure out what the enemy would do if they anticipated your moves from the start.

These are not things you should be thinking about right now.

Li Yuanfang's words made Zhou Yi suddenly realize something, reminding him of when he was practicing driving in his previous life.

Back then, when I was turning the steering wheel to the left and straightening it, I was always wondering whether it would take one full turn or one and a half to straighten it.

When I first started learning to drive, I thought about too many things. But once I became more proficient at driving, I stopped thinking about so many things.

Your body's instincts will already help you react.

They never think about whether they should do one lap, one and a half laps, or how many laps they should do.

When you're driving, there's no time to think carefully.

"It seems I was worrying unnecessarily."

"Brother Yuanfang is right. I'm thinking of running before I've even learned to walk." Zhou Yi scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed.

……

"Alright, Brother Di, let's continue practicing." Li Yuanfang smiled, said nothing, and continued to instruct Zhou Yi.

It begins when Di Renjie and the other two leave to go to Yuanjue Temple to find the emperor.

The two stayed at the inn for three days before someone came looking for them.

Zhou Yi led Li Yuanfang into Di Renjie's residence in the capital, familiar with the place.

This was originally Di Renjie's, but a few years ago, Di Renjie was framed and imprisoned by Lai Junchen, and was later demoted to the position of magistrate of Pengze County.

The mansion was also taken back.

Now Di Renjie has been reinstated as the Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat and appointed as an official.

The mansion is now his again.

As the executive vice emperor, his residence was naturally exceptionally large.

Even though he is quite frugal, he still needs to have the necessary things.

He led Li Yuanfang into the main hall.

Di Renjie was seated at the head of the table, next to a middle-aged man dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guard.

The two stepped forward and clasped their hands in greeting.

"master."

"grown ups."

"Ah, Di Chun, and Yuan Fang, let me introduce you. This is Hu Jinghui, a personal attendant of the Emperor and a General of the Thousand Bull Guard."

Di Renjie pointed to the middle-aged man beside him and introduced him.

"Now the Emperor has sent General Hu to my side to serve under my command for the time being."

Zhou Yi glanced at Hu Jinghui, then at Li Yuanfang.

Presumably, the emperor didn't quite trust Li Yuanfang and was worried about something going wrong, so he sent Hu Jinghui out to serve under Di Renjie.

"General Tiger." The two men rushed forward.

"Hmm." Hu Jinghui's Qianniu Guard General is a fourth-rank official, and he is also a person close to the emperor, so he can be said to have a high position and great power.

Naturally, the two of them bowed to him.

"Jinghui, this is my butler, Di Chun."

This is Li Yuanfang, the former guerrilla general of Gannan Circuit and the head of the guard for the Turkic delegation.

After listening, Hu Jinghui nodded slightly, as if to say hello.

He naturally knew Li Yuanfang; the two had already fought.

Among the Serpent Spirits, aside from Flash Spirit Serpent Wenzhong and the mysterious Blood Spirit whom no one has ever seen, he is considered to be the most skilled in martial arts.

I never expected to see someone with such high martial arts skills in the guard of the Turkic delegation.

He should naturally show due respect to experts, but as for Zhou Yi, although he was Di Renjie's steward, he did not take him seriously.

Di Renjie looked at Li Yuanfang: "Yuanfang, the Emperor has reinstated me to my post and temporarily pardoned your crimes."

You are no longer the most wanted criminal. You are to serve under me and atone for your crimes.

"Thank you, sir." Li Yuanfang stepped forward with a delighted expression.

He knew that Di Renjie had helped him with all of this.

"Oh, no need for such formalities."

Di Renjie waved his hand and looked at Zhou Yi: "Di Chun, from today onwards, all the servants in the mansion will be under your command."

You are still the steward of my Di family.

Go arrange accommodations for Jinghui and Yuanfang.

Tomorrow I must depart immediately for Taiyuan, the northern capital, to perform the ancestral rites on behalf of the Emperor.

"My lord, going to Taiyuan? The mission was killed in Shihechuan, Gannan Province, wasn't it?"

"Shouldn't we be going to Shihechuan in Gannan?" Li Yuanfang was completely baffled, looking utterly confused.

"Ah, it can't be said, it can't be said." Di Renjie smiled, stroked his beard, and squinted his eyes.