Jianming Chaos

"Then when shall we leave?" Zhiming wanted to make a quick decision.

Zuo Mu thought for a moment, and said: "I wanted you to stay here for a while, and I wanted to teach you some of my country's sword skills. From the competition last night, I can see that your sword skills are very powerful , but when used on a sword, especially a samurai sword like this, it will look a bit awkward. It is more than enough to deal with ordinary masters, but once you meet a more powerful person, it will appear a little beyond your power."

"I don't have much time, my master's light of life is slowly disappearing. However, I am very interested in your country's samurai swordsmanship. I hope that you can teach me today. I hope that I can go to Yamatai country tomorrow. Execute the mission." Zhiming pumped his fists and said confidently.

"One day?" Zuo Mu felt that it was impossible for him to learn it in one day.

"That's right, trust me. Time is running out, and I hope you can make it happen." Zhiming looked at the other party with firm and unyielding eyes, and said.

Zuo Mu nodded, believing it.After lunch, they came to the training ground.

Zuo Mu pulled out his saber and said, "The Yidu country's sword technique emphasizes practicality, winning with one blow, with speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness as its basic principles. Perhaps it is not as fancy as Dahan's martial arts."

"Actually, the martial arts of the big man are not bad. Some moves that look like fancy fists and legs on the surface, if used properly, can also produce good results. The moves that my original master taught me are all actual combat moves." Zhiming said solemnly.

Zuo Mu held the handle of the knife tightly with both hands, pointed at a wooden stake tied with a rope, and asked, "Guess what will happen to this wooden stake if I slash straight down with the knife?"

"It will be split in half together with the rope." Zhiming said without thinking.

Zuo Mu pursed his lips and smiled, took a deep breath, and slashed with the force of lightning; after that, he quickly put the knife back into its sheath, turned around and walked back.

The stake was unharmed; in less than three seconds, there was a cracking sound, as if the internal structure had been destroyed.

Zhiming took a closer look, and there was obviously a crack on the wooden post, but it didn't fall down because the rope binding the wooden post was not broken.

Zuo Mu walked over and pulled the rope buckle, the stake was untied, and fell down in two halves from the middle.

"How did this happen?!" Zhiming was amazed, "How could the rope not be broken?"

Zuo Mu smiled triumphantly, and said, "This is what I'm going to teach you now—the air knife technique!"

"Space-like swordsmanship?" Zhiming felt that the name was quite murderous.

"That's right, the big man probably doesn't have this kind of sword technique?" Zuo Mu asked with a little disdain.

"No...no, there are similar ones, but a little different." Zhiming couldn't let the other party underestimate the martial arts of the Han Dynasty.

"This kind of sword method focuses on the combination of speed and strength, and tests the explosive power of the sword holder in an instant. It is one of the essence of Yidu country's martial arts."

"The point is, why does the rope stop?"

"It depends on the mastery of the saber qi. I can't explain it in a short time. Didn't the Han Dynasty have a kind of martial art called 'Beat the Bull across the Mountain'? The mystery is somewhat similar."

"I understand, it's actually the diversion and merger of saber energy." Zhiming nodded thoughtfully.

Zuo Mu was taken aback, he didn't expect the other party's understanding to be so high; but then he thought, Zhi Ming is not an ordinary human being, and he cannot be viewed with the eyes of a beginner.

"If you are going to Yamatai tomorrow, it is impossible for you to learn this kind of skill. Although your martial arts are extremely high, it does not mean that you can master all martial arts in the shortest time." Zuo Mu said with a serious face.

"I roughly understand. Master Sagi, please teach me the next move!" Zhiming's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had realized something, and nodded happily.

"...Okay. The second move is: Shadow Moon Cross Slash." Zuo Mu held the handle of the knife tightly with both hands, took a deep breath, and started to move.

After he finished playing once, Zhiming said: "This seems to be the trick used by the first samurai on the stage last night, right? It seems to be called something?"

"Yes, it's the trick used by Akasaka. Its main point is to use various sword techniques to create chaotic light and shadow illusions to confuse the enemy's audiovisual nerves; and then take advantage of the unpreparedness to defeat the enemy with one move."

"To be honest, I have already learned it." Zhiming said with a little pride.

"What?! You only met once last night..." Zuo Mu couldn't believe it.

Zhiming immediately demonstrated it with a knife. Although the movements were not 100% up to the standard, it is undeniable that he has mastered the core essentials.

Zuo Mu was dumbfounded when he saw this move. Even he himself had to practice hard for half a year to reach this level. Unexpectedly, Zhi Ming learned it in one day.He had to admire the martial arts talent of the Han man in front of him.

"So, if you have any special skills, just show them, don't worry that I won't be able to learn them." Zhiming winked at Zuo Mu and said triumphantly.

Zuo Mu nodded and said, "I understand. Come on, the third move: Iai three-stage slash!"

…………

After a day of hard work, Zhiming has basically mastered the essence of Yidu country's sword technique.He had a deep feeling. Although the martial arts here were different from those in the Han Dynasty, they remained the same. Compared with them, they were a little more vicious and murderous.As a warrior, he feels that this "journey" to a foreign country is a good opportunity for him to practice.Next, it depends on whether he can apply what he has learned to actual combat.

In the evening, the two sat opposite each other in the courtyard and drank.The night sky in the open-air courtyard is full of moonlight and the wind is clear. The moonlight sprinkles freely on every corner of the ground, as if covering the earth with a layer of silver frost, adding a touch of beauty to the pure white and flawless ground.

It only took one day for the two to go from meeting to knowing each other, from being hostile to being intimate.At this moment, Zhiming, driven by the drunkenness, poured out a lot of thoughts to Zuo Mu, including his vague love for Xuechan, his lifelong regret for not being able to save Xiaolan, and so on.Of course, he still maintained a certain bottom line, and he didn't say a word about things that shouldn't be revealed.

Zuo Mu also narrated some past events through drinking, including how his master picked him up and taught him the way of swords, how he met Qianqing and fell in love, how he joined the feudal clan for revenge, and so on.

Between the lines, Zhiming deeply felt that many of Sagi’s experiences were surprisingly similar to himself, just like what a celebrity said: At the other end of the world, there is always a highly similar self.

Of course, Zuo Mu also felt the same way, and the two couldn't help feeling sympathetic and compassionate to each other.

"By the way, I've always wanted to ask something. How did you... get your saber? It's not... you... picked it up, right?" Zuo Mu asked drunkenly.

"...It was given...to me by a kind person." Zhiming's alcohol gradually became stronger, and his vision began to blur. He actually saw the moon in the sky begin to produce "cell division".

"You just... met a kind person when you landed?" Zuo Mu continued to ask.

"That's right, I...was rescued by a fisherman....not really rescued, but provided me...with board and lodging, and sent me...this knife and...to Chiwei Well....Oh , No, I was wrong, it was lent to me, and I have to… return it.” Zhiming picked up the flagon with trembling hands, and helped Zuo Mu refill.

Zuo Mu gently held the spout of the pot with his hands, afraid that the wine would spill on the table, and said, "Does a fisherman have... such a good knife? I can see that this knife...is specially made, not the ones that can be bought in the general market... knife."

"That's right, the person who gave me this knife...is...Yamada Yabe, I don't know...Have you heard of it?" Zhiming felt his head getting heavier and heavier, and he must pour the kind within three cups.

The wine that Zuo Mu had just poured into his mouth suddenly got stuck in his throat, unable to enter the stomach through the esophagus.As soon as he heard the name, the luster in his eyes suddenly darkened, and he lost all alcohol.

However, he immediately pretended not to care, put the wine into his stomach, pursed his lips and said with a smile: "I see. It seems that the fisherman was also a warrior before!"

"Isn't that right? He said that he... used to be... the killer of the Shadow Alliance..." Zhiming suddenly realized that he had gone too far, and quickly changed his words, "It's all right, I guess he's bragging, fisherman... how could such a thing be done?" Great? That knife must have been picked up somewhere... by him, right?"

"It seems that you are so lucky to get the holy knife 'Soul of Steel' bestowed by him!" Zuo Mu said something thought-provoking.

"What? You know him too?" Zhiming was more than half sober, and suddenly realized that he had made a slip of the tongue.

"It's more than just acquaintance! He was in his country back then, but he was a famous man of the hour!" Zuo Mu had something in his words.

"Oops! I shouldn't have harmed Uncle Shangzaki's family, right?" Zhiming suddenly had a bad premonition.

"Come on, keep going, don't stop!" Zuo Mu continued to add wine to reassure the other party's doubts.

Zhiming was worried at first, but when he saw that the other party didn't bring up this matter anymore, he thought that Shang Qi was just famous in the past, and now it's a thing of the past, so he relaxed a little.In the end, this worry has been completely immersed in the sea of ​​alcohol and gradually washed away.

While the two were chatting, they didn't know that the walls had ears, and a black figure was hiding in the dark, eavesdropping on all the conversations.When he heard that Yamada Yabe had turned into a fisherman, Kuroyue shuddered and left immediately.

For tomorrow's task, the two of them didn't dare to drink too late, so they almost went back to their rooms to rest.

Zhiming lay on the mat (tatami) beautifully, put the saber aside, and was about to fall asleep.He knew that tomorrow's task would be very difficult.

…………

Travel back in time to not so long ago.

Entrusted by Kong Ming, Huang Zhong and Wei Yan came to Jiangxia to protect Liu Qi and Mrs. Gan's mother and son.When they arrived at the county mansion, Zhi Ming had already left for several hours.Liu Mi and others also woke up from the coma one after another.

After everything was settled, Liu Mi said: "You two are late. General Lei has already been here before. I think he has driven the assassin away. I lost consciousness before I finished speaking. When I woke up, I found He's gone; and strangely enough, the assassin didn't take our lives."

"General Lei? Could it be the one you met in Xinye?" Wei Yan glanced sideways at Huang Zhong.

"Is the magistrate Liu talking about a young man with high martial arts skills? It seems to be...Lei Zhiming, right?" Huang Zhong wanted to confirm.

"Yes, it's him. You have seen him before, so why...do you seem to not know him?" Liu Mi was a little confused.

"It's a long story. We joined Liu Bei's army not long ago, and he wasn't with us at that time." Huang Zhong didn't want to explain too much, and asked, "Where is Mr. Liu? Where are Mrs. Gan and the young master? "

"Mr. Liu has already set off to Chibi to assist Uncle Liu; a few days ago, he secretly sent Mrs. Gan and the young master to Zhuge Jin's mansion in the Wu Palace. Zhuge Jin is Kong Ming's elder brother and will protect them well. "

Huang Zhong and Wei Yan looked at each other.Huang Zhong said regretfully, "It means that our trip was for nothing?"

"No, you came at the right time and can help defend the city. After all, Jiangxia's geographical location is important, and I am afraid that Dongwu will suddenly invade. In addition, it is not sure whether the assassin will make a comeback. You are really timely. I am worried that I will not be able to find reinforcements!" Liu Mi was relieved to see them coming.

"Didn't Mr. Liu explain how to defend the city before he left?" Wei Yan asked.

Liu Mi suddenly remembered the matter of releasing the pigeons to call the Yue people to help, and said: "I have already sent out a distress signal to the Yue people, asking them to help defend the city. If I had known that you would come, I would not have released the pigeons."

"Invite more people to defend the city?" Huang Zhong felt that this wave of operations was a bit boring.

Liu Mi told them about Liu Qi's material assistance to the Yue people, and said, "They should sell us a favor to help defend the city."

"There is nothing wrong with selling favors. The key is to deal with risks in this way! First of all, I heard that Wu Yue has reconciled and sent Yue people to guard the city. Their position will be awkward; secondly, it is impossible to confirm that all Yue people are of the same heart. De, if the signal for help is used by these people with ulterior motives, it will be very unfavorable to Jiangxia. These extremists will never let go of such a great opportunity! After occupying Jiangxia, the sphere of influence of the Yue people will expand to Jingzhou Now, there is one more capital to check and balance Soochow. Wuyue's reconciliation, for the war years, is simply a castle in the sky and a flash in the pan." Huang Zhong thought a lot.

"General Huang may have worried a lot. I don't think the situation is so serious?" Liu Mi thought that although what the other party said had some truth, it was not easy to happen.

"I also hope that I am worrying too much." Huang Zhong said with a narrow gaze.

"In this case, let's stay and defend the city first. If something happens, it's easy to deal with it." Wei Yan suggested.

"That's right, I'll trouble you both about defending the city." Liu Mi said, clasping her fists.

Therefore, Huang Zhong and Wei Yan led the army to temporarily station in Jiangxia to guard the city.

Huang Zhong's guess is right, everything may develop in a bad direction, no matter how small the probability is, this is the "Murphy's Law" proposed by later generations.