Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 48 - 46: Entry-Level Spear Technique, Finally Meeting the Pharmacist!
On his way back, the young man glanced at Qingshui Town from afar, without stopping his steps, and arrived smoothly at Qingyun City in the evening.
Returning to Qingyun City, the youthful innocence on the boy’s face had faded within a mere ten days. The remnants of the sunset glow fell on his face, appearing resolute and calm.
"Let’s head to the pharmacy first."
Su Mu arrived at Wine Dust Lane, and seeing the closed bamboo door, his heart tightened. As he turned to leave, he suddenly halted and turned back with a smile; the Wandering Wooden Token hanging on the bamboo door had been taken down by someone.
The young man quickly walked towards the tranquil entrance of the pharmacy, where an elderly person approached and reminded him softly.
"Young man, Pharmacist Lin has been invited to the County Magistrate’s residence today. You should come back tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Su Mu was not worried but rather delighted. To him, it was undoubtedly good news — Pharmacist Lin had returned.
"Old man, do you know when Pharmacist Lin came back to the city?"
"I can’t remember very clearly, perhaps five or six days ago?"
"Thank you for letting me know, sir."
Five or six days.
Revisiting the past five or six days, it was precisely when he was busy seeking revenge. Although he couldn’t assist much with the Little Doctor’s task this time, the journey to Qingshui Town held extraordinary significance for Su Mu.
After thanking the old man, Su Mu quickly left Wine Dust Lane and headed towards the market.
He remembered the Little Doctor mentioning that Pharmacist Lin loved to eat osmanthus cake. When Su Mu arrived at the pastry shop, luck was on his side; there was exactly one box of osmanthus cake left.
"Brother, we have some jujube paste pastries today. These pastries are soft and sweet, and the young masters and young ladies of the prominent families in the city love them the most. Usually, one box sells for one tael of silver. Brother, you came at the right time; this box is only half a tael of silver."
As the young girl in the pastry shop spoke, she opened the wooden box. Su Mu looked in and saw it was made with pastry dough, golden in color, shaped like peach blossoms, elegantly miniature.
"Great, wrap them all up for me."
A box of osmanthus cake for Pharmacist Lin and a box of jujube paste pastries for the Little Doctor — just perfect.
After buying the pastries, Su Mu returned to the house to first prepare the Three-in-One Body-Strengthening Soup, then delved into the Torrential Rain Spear Technique, starting with a thorough reading.
Swish, swish.
The pages turned, producing a calming sound.
After a thorough read, Su Mu managed to memorize the entire secret manual. He then speed-read it several times to identify any gaps, and amidst his strong comprehension, he faintly gained understanding.
At this moment, the long spear was yet to be crafted. Recalling the Black-armored Strongman’s Whistle Stick, he casually picked up a bamboo broom from the yard. Practicing the spear should start with the Pile Standing Step; otherwise, it would just be for show.
Su Mu first warmed up with a set of Five Animals Qigong, then split his hands to grip the spear shaft, the front hand controlling direction, the rear hand managing explosive force, combining his waist and horse stance to cultivate the Four-direction Step.
"The basic moves of the long spear are block, grab, thrust, along with flick, and sweep."
"The Torrential Rain Spear Technique comprises four styles: Cloud Surge, Torrential Rain Pear Blossom, Thunder Shock Break, and Hundred Waterfalls Plummet, corresponding to the four realms of this spear technique."
Su Mu had not previously handled any weapon; in his past life, there was a saying: "A month for staff, a year for the saber, a lifetime for the spear, keep the sword by your side."
This phrase emphasizes the time required to master different weapons: a month for entry-level staff technique, a year for proficiency in saber technique, a lifetime of study for spear technique, and always carrying the sword to maintain familiarity.
This highlights the difficulty of spear technique, but there is also a saying: "Weapons are extensions of fists and feet."
The fist technique is the ancestor of all martial arts!
Su Mu had mastered Five Animals Qigong and Tiger Subduing Fist to perfection, his fist technique reaching a level beyond ordinary people. Hence, even upon first contact with the Great Spear, he quickly grasped some understanding.
Every half hour, he swapped the Pile Standing Step, Bow Step, Horse Stance, Void Step, practicing each basic step method. Post these, Su Mu attempted to start training the basic moves.
When holding a spear, the inside gate corresponds to the chest, the outside gate to the shoulders and back.
Thus, block and grab are divided: to defend against outside gate spear thrusts, use the block; against inside gate spear thrusts, use the grab — this is the block and grab in spear technique.
Whoosh!
Su Mu flipped his wrist, spinning the spear halfway around, and with a block, the bamboo broom whirled, producing a gale as it thrust forward.
This thrust used no Qi power; it was purely Su Mu’s physical build surpassing ordinary people, driven solely by Qi power.
After blocking ten times and grabbing ten times, Su Mu’s eyes began to light up;
Upon blocking a hundred times and grabbing a hundred times, he gradually achieved understanding, the high 17 points of comprehension guiding Su Mu, even at his first encounter with the spear technique, into quickly entering into the phase.
The sound of the long spear whistled incessantly throughout the night.
As the morning sun rose, a touch of dawn poured over the earth.
Whoosh!
In the courtyard, suddenly, a spear thrusted swiftly without pause — a ’long spear’ without a spearhead carried a strong gust, sending fallen leaves swirling in the courtyard.
Bang!
Followed by a crisp sound, the long spear pierced three inches into the old locust tree.
The tree swayed, its yellowed leaves falling like a scattering rain.
If there were bystanders, they would be dumbstruck at the sight; the ’long spear’ embedded in the tree was, in fact, a bamboo broom.
Torrential Rain Spear Technique (Entry-level 1%)
The youth wiped the sweat the size of soybeans from his forehead and looked satisfied. After a night’s hard practice, the Torrential Rain Spear technique officially appeared on his panel.
"Indeed, spear technique shares a lot in common with fist techniques."
Su Mu lifted his eyes to the morning sun; throughout the night, his clothes had been soaked in sweat and then dried by his Qi strength, forming layer upon layer of salt stains, appearing from a distance like a frosting of white.
"It’s still early... Take a bath, eat something, and head to the pharmacy."
After a bath, Su Mu felt his stomach growling in hunger, and he devoured three pounds of marinated meat and several large bowls of rice before letting out a breath, then lifted several boxes of pastries and headed for the pharmacy.
Su Mu slightly delayed due to underestimating Pharmacist Lin’s fame in Qingyun County. The day was barely breaking, and upon his arrival, several figures were already waiting outside the pharmacy.
He quietly made his way to the back of the queue when a surprised voice came from the courtyard.
"Young brother, quickly come in!"
The Little Doctor noticed Su Mu, waving energetically, her arm resembling a white, tender lotus root.
Upon hearing, Su Mu passed through the crowd, carrying two boxes of pastries, and stepped into the serene courtyard.
"Are these for me, young brother?"
"Yes, one box for you, and one for Pharmacist Lin."
Su Mu followed the Little Doctor to a side room, where the Little Doctor brought a cup of tea, "This is the tea Master just brought back from the south. Master is taking a nap now; I’ll go call him. You can sit here for a while or maybe take a walk in the backyard."
Hearing that the pharmacist was napping, Su Mu planned to wait for a while. Just as he was about to speak, the Little Doctor ran out of the room.
"Well then... I’ll trouble you, Little Doctor."
Su Mu lifted the teacup; as wisps of steam rose, the room filled with the aroma of tea. Taking a sip of the tea, its fragrance was rich and pleasant.
"Good tea."
With the tea finished, Su Mu pushed open the door and strolled through the medicinal garden. Behind him came the sound of footsteps, steady, unlike the Little Doctor’s brisk pace.
The visitor was not the Little Doctor; it must be Pharmacist Lin!
Behind him, an old man with white hair but a youthful face hesitated slightly upon Su Mu’s turning before speaking with a smile.
"It’s been several days since we last saw each other, young friend. How have you been?"
The boy’s pupils slightly contracted, his face showing signs of surprise and doubt.
"Are you... Pharmacist Lin?"
