Chapter 9: Gentle Water Eight Forms, Stake Dead God Alive

The little girl, hopping and skipping, ran beside the restaurant with a sugar phoenix in her mouth to listen to the storyteller.

Zhou Ping'an listened for a while, with the sitting scholar recounting the old tale of the Sword Power of Canghai cutting down the Five Desires Demon.

The story was wildly imaginative and unrealistic, but the people nearby listened with great interest...

After listening for a bit, Zhou Ping'an decided to find a place to have a good meal.

He wouldn't come out tonight; he needed to preserve his energy...

Early the next morning, he still had to learn the Gentle Water Eight Stance Method from the Lin Family. He didn't know how it compared to the Xingyi Three-body Form in terms of strength.

He hadn't taken two steps when he saw a middle-aged man in gray clothes carrying a little girl on his back.

The little girl looked to be about three or four years old, with hair like dried grass and skin and bones, a far cry from the "Tiger Head Hat" child he saw earlier.

"Master Wang is also out to take a look?"

Zhou Ping'an remembered that this man had a very powerful staff technique, and heard from Tang Lin'er that he would soon become an offering. Presumably, he would no longer have to lead a wandering life and could take better care of his daughter.

"Yes, Brother Zhou, please make yourself comfortable,"

Wang Jizu seemed not too fond of socializing, barely mustering a stiff smile and politely uttering a word.

However, the little girl on his back didn't even stare at the "Sugar Tiger" in his hand.

She didn't even glance at the sugar sculptor's stall across the street...

Poor thing, she might not recognize, have never seen, nor tasted sugar before.

Zhou Ping'an looked curiously at the middle-aged man and handed the Sugar Tiger to the little girl, "Here, try it, it's very sweet."

The little girl's eyes were blank, and she said nothing.

"Won't you thank Uncle Zhou?"

Wang Jizu turned his head to say.

The little girl remained silent.

The middle-aged man took the Sugar Tiger, thanked him, and explained, "Her mother passed away early; the little one doesn't really talk much yet."

"I understand."

Zhou Ping'an nodded with a smile.

After parting ways, he found a shop, ordered a meat dish, ate until he was full, and then slowly made his way back to the Lin Residence.

...

The next day.

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

Zhou Ping'an got up early, exercised his muscles and bones, quickly washed his face with water, and headed to the martial arts ground.

Along the way, he saw the house servants and Protectors from the East Cross Courtyard were already up.

At the east side gate, a steady stream of strong men dressed in robust attire kept pouring in.

These men were the Guardian House Servants living near the Lin Residence.

He overheard Tang Lin'er murmur once how lucky he was to have snagged a spot in the residence, so he didn't have to rent a place outside.

However, regardless of distance, everyone's enthusiasm for learning martial arts was high.

No one wanted to miss out.

...

"Starting today, we will teach the Gentle Water Eight Stances. Those who haven't learned them, come forward."

His words proved prophetic.

Sure enough, the Stance Instructor at the martial arts ground was Wei Dazui.

At this moment, Big Mouth Wei, his belly protruding like a general's, stood in the center, spit flying as he bellowed, commanding a powerful presence.

"In five days, there will be a competition. Those who make minor achievements in the stance method will receive the Chopping Wave Knife technique.

This is a powerful sword technique that ensures victory over enemies. Gentlemen, do not miss this chance."

As he spoke, Zhou Ping'an noticed Big Mouth Wei's gaze seemingly sweep in his direction, his eyes full of an inexplicable meaning.

Remembering what Tang Lin'er had once mentioned about the Gentle Water Stance Method, Zhou Ping'an felt a sense of dread.

Wei Dazui was indeed a petty man.

"For this new batch of Guardian House Servants, there are thirty-eight people in total. Whether you want to learn or not, we do not insist.

For those who want to learn, our Lin Family is willing to teach without reservation. For those who don't, just stick to your current duties."

After saying so, Wei Dazui took the broad-bladed knife off his back, his wrist vibrating slightly, causing the blade to hum.

The deadly sound, akin to the howling of wolves or the screeching of eagles, was startling.

With the knife in hand, he moved forwards and backwards, twisting and turning, dancing with the blade.

At times he would stick close to the ground, and at others, he would bounce up and straddle...

His movements were flexible, like a carp jumping through the waves, bobbing and sinking with the currents.

```

The Broad Blade in his hand, rolling up a thousand layers of snow, the successive waves of blade strikes sealed off all directions.

In a moment, all that could be heard was the thunderous roar of the blade whistling and the sharp singing of cutting wind.

"Can I block such movement and sword techniques?"

Zhou Ping'an watched with unblinking eyes.

The opponent indeed did not need to play pretty, nor did he need any super difficult maneuvers.

Just with the movements in his hand, a horizontal slash or a diagonal chop, a sweeping cut, simple and direct.

If you only look at this sword technique, aside from the method of exerting force, there is nothing much difficult about it.

What's formidable is that, combined with the Gentle Water Stance Method, Wei Dazui's broad blade strikes seemed to generate endless ferocity...

Indeed having the might to seal off eight directions with the blade.

Urgent breathing could be heard all around.

Zhou Ping'an turned his head and saw newly appointed Protectors and house servants, all with frenzied looks in their eyes.

Clearly, they were shocked.

However, Tang Lin'er's complexion was slightly pale.

She also realized.

During the selection, she only took a slight advantage by using some clever tricks, and perhaps fought in an underhanded manner.

If the opponent also had a blade, and, could let loose...

She probably wouldn't even come close to touching him before being "slain" on the spot.

"The blade is the Chopping Wave Knife, the stepping technique and the stance is the Gentle Water Eight Stances, now, everyone follow and learn from me."

Wei Dazui saw the expressions of the new personnel, grinned, nearly splitting his face with his smile, obviously in a very good mood.

He sheathed his blade behind his back, and meticulously demonstrated the Gentle Water Eight Stance Method.

"Pounce, fall, rush, crouch, spin, rise, stride, ride, the eight stances flow smoothly in a circle.

First practice the fixed stance, then the flowing stance, until the body seems to drift like duckweed on the waves, and the intention flows like water moving whichever way...

The main point of the Pounce Knife Stance is to seize the brink of falling to take the opponent's life in a critical moment.

Move all four limbs in unison, connect all three sections, stand rooted as your base, and focus power on the forefront."

This stance method is even more difficult than the Golden Rooster Stands Alone.

Watching the people around stumbling and falling, occasionally someone would collapse to the ground, none could stand stably.

Zhou Ping'an also gave it a try, and felt indescribably uncomfortable all over his body.

'It seems, this Gentle Water Stance Method takes the route of the most twisted and inhumane posture the human body can achieve, stimulating the flow of Qi-Blood to build natural instincts.

After extreme familiarity turns into fluidity, and then one breath connects through, the eight stances can be combined at will to strike in all directions.'

'It is a superior method that serves as a stance, stepping technique, and body movement, truly laying a foundation.'

Thinking of the Xingyi Three-body Form he practiced, Zhou Ping'an fell silent.

Not knowing whether Master Dong, Dong Qingshan, hadn't taught him at the beginning, or he himself didn't have such a tradition of stepping techniques and body movements...

He even sensed the roaring flow of blood within Wei Dazui, who was demonstrating the Eight-Form Method.

No need to guess.

As the stance transformed, the flow of his blood changed with it.

It seemed to correspond with his breath as well.

...

Following this, Wei Dazui did not say much more.

He simply observed until people got into the right stance, then he would come forward to point at parts of their body, seemingly able to aid in circulating their blood.

After he pressed and kneaded a few people's major areas like the back, shoulders, and hips, those who had been standing askew quickly assumed a proper posture.

"Remember this feeling, the stance is dead but the spirit is alive, Qi-Blood circulates in an orderly rotation at the pivotal points to increase strength, toughen muscles, and strengthen bones...

Otherwise, if you adopt a dead stance, not only will you not improve, but standing for long might lead to body rigidity and joint damage."

No one knew who that was meant for.

Zhou Ping'an, however, knew he was definitely one of them.

Because he found that among those practicing the stance, almost all had received Wei Dazui's personal touch.

Even Tang Lin'er received a shoulder press to find the right sensation.

From beginning to end, Big-mouth Wei never laid a finger on him.

The implication was clear.

You can learn, you can watch, but I simply won't guide you.

For kicking me in the nose.

Hmph....

```