Wandering Swordsman |

Qu Yifan stepped forward, his face filled with gratitude. "Shen Mo, we owe you a great debt of gratitude for rescuing Brother Luo and me from the Black Wind Gang. We can hardly repay this kindness." His voice was steady and sincere, his eyes shining with genuine affection. "To express my thanks, I would like to pass on my family's secret technique—the Thunder Palm—to you."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo quickly waved his hand and said modestly, "Senior Qu, you mustn't do this. I was just doing it on a whim. Besides, you are my master's close friend, and helping you is my duty. I dare not accept such a generous gift."

However, Qu Yifan appeared even more determined. He clasped his hands together and said solemnly, "Precisely because Brother Luo is my closest friend, his disciple is naturally also my disciple. Therefore, I hope you can accept my good intentions no matter what." His eyes revealed an undeniable determination, as if he had already made up his mind.

Luo Wangchen chimed in, "Shen Mo, just accept Brother Qu's kindness. It's his recognition and expectation of you."

Seeing that his master also said so, Shen Mo finally nodded in agreement. "Senior Qu, since my master has said so, then I will respectfully comply."

Afterwards, the three of them went to the backyard of the inn. The backyard was quiet and still at night, with only a few lanterns swaying gently in the breeze, casting dappled shadows. The surrounding trees looked exceptionally serene under the moonlight, as if the whole world had fallen silent for this moment.

Qu Yifan stood in the center of the courtyard, straightened his clothes, and then slowly spoke: "Shen Mo, the Thunder Palm is the culmination of the hard work of my family's ancestors. I hope you can learn it with your heart." His tone was serious and earnest, and every word revealed his awe and love for martial arts.

Shen Mo stood opposite, his expression focused, his eyes sharp, listening intently to Qu Yifan's explanation.

Then, Qu Yifan began to demonstrate the basic moves of the Thunder Palm. His body moved like lightning, his palms flying, each strike bringing a gust of wind, as swift and powerful as lightning.

"Thunder Palm emphasizes the perfect combination of speed and power," Qu Yifan explained while demonstrating. "Every move must be fast, accurate, and ruthless in order to unleash its maximum power."

Shen Mo carefully observed each movement, quickly analyzing its intricacies in his mind. He knew this was a rare opportunity and he had to give it his all to learn. After Qu Yifan demonstrated a complete set of moves, he gestured for Shen Mo to try practicing.

Shen Mo took a deep breath and, following Qu Yifan's instructions, began to imitate the movements. At first, his movements were a little clumsy, but with continuous practice, they gradually became smoother. With each palm strike, he could feel a powerful force surging within him, as if he were merging with the thunderous power of heaven and earth.

Qu Yifan patiently guided Shen Mo from the side, correcting the details of Shen Mo's movements from time to time. "Remember, exert force evenly, don't rush, take it slowly." His voice was gentle and encouraging, making Shen Mo feel incredibly warm.

In less than half an hour, Shen Mo had mastered the Thunder Palm technique quite well, which greatly surprised Qu Yifan. Shen Mo's palms flew across the paper, his movements fluid and natural, each move carrying the power of thunder. Despite being his first time learning it, his comprehension and execution were astonishing.

"Shen Mo, you're truly talented!" Qu Yifan couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. "In just half an hour, you've already mastered the Thunder Palm technique quite well."

However, for Luo Wangchen, Shen Mo's ability to learn the Thunder Palm so quickly seemed to be within his expectations. This reminded him of the flawless sword strike of the thirty-sixth form of the Heavenly Gang Sword Technique that Shen Mo had used against the White Tiger Saint Lord in the secret prison, a strike that was still vivid in his mind.

Luo Wangchen secretly sighed, 'Shen Mo was able to master the entire Heavenly Gang Sword Technique and perfectly execute the thirty-sixth move entirely thanks to his own comprehension and talent.' Because only Luo Wangchen knew that he had never personally instructed Shen Mo in the Heavenly Gang Sword Technique, but had only given Shen Mo a manual and let him practice on his own.

Just as Qu Yifan was still reeling from Shen Mo's surprise, a few crisp claps suddenly broke the silence of the night. They looked up and saw Zhang Zhenren standing at the second-floor window, gazing at the courtyard with an appreciative smile on his face.

"Luo Wangchen, your disciple's talent is indeed extraordinary. It's truly remarkable that he has mastered such profound martial arts in such a short time!" Master Zhang's voice came from the window, clear and powerful, as if carrying an invisible force that inspired respect.

Faced with Zhang Zhenren's praise, Luo Wangchen was overjoyed, but he still maintained a humble yet dignified attitude: "Zhang Zhenren is too kind." His tone was calm, neither overly modest nor arrogant.

Then, Master Zhang used his lightness skill to leap from the window, his figure as swift as a swallow, landing lightly in the backyard of the inn. He landed silently, as if he had merged with the ground, displaying his profound internal strength. This display of lightness skill drew silent admiration from everyone present.

"Master Zhang." Qu Yifan and Shen Mo greeted Master Zhang with cupped hands in unison. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, showing their utmost respect.

However, Zhang Zhenren's gaze fell on Shen Mo, as if he had discovered something very new. "Shen Mo, with your high level of comprehension and talent, would you be willing to make a bet with me?" His voice was gentle, but it carried a hint of challenge.

Upon hearing Zhang Zhenren's words, not only was Shen Mo taken aback, but Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan were even more bewildered. They exchanged glances, their hearts filled with doubt.

Shen Mo had his own considerations regarding Zhang Zhenren's suggestion. If he won against Zhang Zhenren, it might make Zhang Zhenren lose face; if he lost to Zhang Zhenren, he was afraid he would embarrass his master, Luo Wangchen.

Shen Mo frowned slightly, pondering how to refuse, when Luo Wangchen preemptively asked, "Master Zhang, how does the bet work?"

Master Zhang smiled slightly, a sly glint in his eyes: "I will demonstrate a sword technique. If Shen Mo can reproduce more than 60% of it, then Shen Mo wins. If Shen Mo cannot reproduce more than 60%, then I win. How about it?"

Zhang Zhenren's words put Luo Wangchen in a difficult position. Zhang Zhenren was one of the elders of the Wudang Sect, his name renowned throughout the land. The martial arts he practiced were all top-tier; how could a novice like Shen Mo possibly replicate them after just one reading?

However, just as Luo Wangchen was struggling with his dilemma, Shen Mo appeared unusually calm. He looked at Master Zhang with unwavering determination and said steadily, "Master Zhang, since it's a bet, there should be a stake, right?"