Medieval: Kingdom Come: Deliverance

After saying goodbye to the enthusiastic Gypsy woman, Peter continued on his journey.

The nomadic camp was a loose community where each member had their own job and social life, so Peter didn't need to visit the commander. He went straight to the sword training ground and found Master Cat.

"Male Cat" is not his real name, but a nickname for a master swordsman.

He was wearing a helmet, heavy armor, and a red hood, looking both powerful and flamboyant.

"Hello, I'm Peter Griffin, a wandering knight. Are you Master Cat?"

Peter respected capable people, and Tom and Jerry followed suit, bowing slightly.

"God is with you, guys, what do you want?"

The male cat has a big round face and a very kind and friendly smile.

"God also favors you, Master. I have heard some incredible things about you."

Peter didn't immediately say he wanted to learn swordsmanship; instead, he started by chatting to build rapport.

"Haha, is everyone already familiar with my reputation as a male cat, Carter? Hahaha!"

The male cat seemed very happy.

Peter boasted, "They say you can have a hay-laden wagon run over you."

"Ah, that performance was fantastic."

The male cat nodded in satisfaction.

"They also said you could dive into the frozen lake to catch fish."

Peter continued his story.

"I love the feeling of being in icy water, especially when I'm pulling big fish out from under the ice."

The male cat was quite pleased with himself.

"I heard you can climb towering cliffs with your bare hands?"

Peter exaggerated.

"Of course, I can climb a vertical cliff without any ropes, and then do a backflip back to the pond on the ground."

The male cat was grinning from ear to ear.

"Master Cat is indeed amazing, but this is just too crazy."

Peter gave it a huge thumbs up.

"Anything is possible, buddy. Anything is possible."

The male cat tilted its head back and laughed loudly.

"Do you often do this kind of... well, recreational activity?"

Peter asked in a seeking-of-knowledge manner.

"I do it often, and people like to watch. But don't think it's some kind of magic trick; it's real skill, and it's not easy to do. That's right, not everyone can do it, except me, because I grew up drinking bear milk and have an extraordinary physique, so it's not a problem for me."

Master Cat shrugged, feigning nonchalance but actually boasting.

"You were raised by bears?"

Peter exclaimed in surprise. He stared intently, but couldn't see Master Cat's health bar or stats, just like everyone else in the camp. Perhaps only he and his subordinates could access the stats.

"It was a cold winter thirty-five years ago when hunters found me as an infant in a bear den in the snow-covered forest. I then grew up in Kutenberg, practiced swordsmanship, and became a master swordsman."

Master Cat spoke with considerable pride about his past.

"And how did you become a homeless person?"

Peter asked curiously. You see, a sword master is at least level 20 or above, someone who can establish their own school of swordsmanship. Although not a nobleman, he is still a respectable person who can sit at the same table as a city councilor.

"How should I put it? Perhaps this is my destiny. I have a yearning for freedom etched in my bones."

The male cat said with a hint of melancholy, even using romantic metaphors in his rhetoric.

"Specifically?"

Peter was very curious about this.

"Well, you know, I'm incredibly strong, full of energy, a master swordsman, and very good at performing all sorts of incredible feats for ladies, so naturally I have many suitors and admirers. And I'm not good at saying no. So I offended Sir Vavank, the sheriff of Kutenberg. When I jumped out of his second-floor window wearing only my underwear, he was still clinging to the window cursing me, saying that if he ever saw me in Kutenberg again, he would kill me. So I ran for freedom that very night."

Where there are male cats, there are bound to be female cats. Which cat doesn't steal fish? His nickname says it all.

"Um, have you been part of this homeless group for a long time?"

This triggered unpleasant memories for the male cat master, so Peter quickly changed the subject.

"About three months ago, I met them near Kutenberg and helped the commander of the nomadic camp solve his horse problem, so I joined the group."

Master Cat said dismissively.

"You're actually a master horse trainer?"

Peter continued to praise him.

"No, my knowledge of horses is limited to knowing that they are four-legged animals. I hate the uncertainty of riding a horse."

"and you......"

"It was the dead of winter, and several of the packhorses in the vagrants' caravans froze to death. I used my excellent swordsmanship to get them some new horses."

"Got it?"

"It means that they dealt with a group of bandits who were robbing people on the road and took their horses away."

"Have even the robbers become wealthy enough to own warhorses?"

"What did you say?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I just didn't expect you couldn't ride a horse?"

"To be precise, I don't like the bumpy ride on horseback, not even a golden goose."

"But migrating from nomadic camps requires traveling long distances on horseback, doesn't it?"

"I can ride in a horse-drawn carriage."

"With women and children?"

"Ahem, why not? Those gypsy girls are all so lively and adorable..."

As expected of a master tomcat, he has an eye for beauty.

"Won't the homeless men have any objections?"

Peter asked.

"Anything is possible, cough cough, anything is possible."

The male cat winked slyly.

"Senior Tomcat is truly a role model for us all. We've learned a lot. However, the three of us have actually come here today to learn swordsmanship."

Now that they were already acquainted, Peter made it clear why the three of them had come.

"Oh, that's too easy. I welcome all hardworking and ambitious young people to introduce your current level of swordsmanship."

Master Cat didn't care about the nobles' rules against commoners carrying swords. This young man today suited him perfectly, so why not teach him swordsmanship?

"Thank you very much. My swordsmanship is only at a beginner level. I have practiced the stance since I was a child and have some foundation. My two attendants, on the other hand, have just started learning swordsmanship and probably can't even dodge a gravedigger's shovel."

Peter introduced himself, Tom, and Jerry.

"Is that so? It seems I need to teach in a more targeted way."

Master Cat stroked his chin and said.

"How much tuition will we need to pay? Or is there anything you need us to do?"

Swordsmanship is a skill that can provide a livelihood. Although the tomcat in the game is a generous and magnanimous person, Peter cannot take this kindness for granted.

"Haha, don't talk about payment. I did this entirely out of goodwill. You're a guy I really like. Anyway, I'm pretty free right now, so I'll pay you next time I teach you advanced combat techniques."

The male cat said dismissively.

After saying that, without giving Peter a chance to refuse, he led the three of them into the training ground.

The male cat first taught Tom and Jerry some basic sword stances, which were fundamental skills.

"What I teach you is heavy armor combat swordsmanship. You must imagine yourself wearing heavy armor, moving slowly, and each attack and each fight will consume a lot of energy. So you must cherish every bit of your energy. The basic stance is the most energy-efficient and fastest starting position for offense and defense, which has been explored through countless trials."

"Defense is not about taking the hit head-on, but about deflecting the force. You need to practice the force-deflecting techniques in the basic stances constantly until they become a physical habit."

"The battlefield now belongs to heavily armored soldiers. If you want to survive in future battles, you'd better abandon some of your current habits from unarmored combat."

After instructing Tom and Jerry, the tomcat let them practice on their own. Then he tested Peter's swordsmanship.

"Not bad, your basic skills are very solid."

"Very good, you have plenty of strength. You are a natural swordsman."

"I have two combo techniques, and I'll teach you how to use them now. Follow along and learn."

"The first move is called: Natural Strike. Hold the sword vertically with both hands at the bridge of your nose, keeping it still along the central axis of your face. Sway your shoulders from side to side, using the power of your upper body to strike the enemy's neck. While the opponent is busy blocking, use the natural momentum of the rebound to create a combo attack. Force the opponent to lose their balance."

"The second move is called: Horizontal Strike. In short, it involves using an uppercut to force the opponent to raise their weapon or shield, creating an opening in their abdomen. Then, quickly slash horizontally. This move has limited damage against people wearing double armor. However, it can be used to quickly and easily execute ordinary soldiers without heavy armor."

"The most effective ways to attack heavily armored enemies are threefold: first, to throw them off balance; second, to strike them hard on the head; and third, to pierce them with a thrust. If you practice these two combos diligently, they will be enough to handle most enemies."

"Come on, grab your wooden swords, let's practice together, I'll teach you step by step."

"Swordsmanship has been taught by a master; swordsmanship proficiency +10."

Swordsmanship Proficiency +10

......

Wow, when I practiced on my own, my proficiency would only increase by 1 point at a time. But now that I have a master teacher to teach me, my speed has increased tenfold!

With this boost, Peter practiced even harder, and by evening, not only had his swordsmanship improved by one level, but he had also mastered two combo moves, prompting Master Cat to exclaim that he was a genius.

"Haha, good Peter, you are the most talented swordsman I know. Don't waste your talent. When you have a set of plate armor, come to me and I will teach you an even stronger swordsmanship technique."

The male cat said happily.

"Oh, what kind of technique is that? Why wait until I have plate armor?"

Peter had already figured it out; it must be that invincible one-on-one technique.

The male cat laughed loudly, "This is a defensive counter-attack technique. It might be called something else in other places, but I call it—Master Counter. It's a set of insights I've accumulated over decades of sword practice. But if you want to learn it, you'll have to spend a lot of money. Only when you can afford plate armor will you be able to pay my tuition, hahaha!"

"I will."

As expected, this divine skill must be learned no matter what! Although in the game, even an old farmer with a pitchfork can master it, in reality, that is absolutely impossible. Profound swordsmanship is an art accumulated with time and experience. Without the guidance of a master, it is difficult for anyone to master it by self-study alone.