Early in the morning, Chen Tang had already woken up.
He went to the courtyard, practiced the Tiger Subduing Fist a few times until he was slightly sweating, then stopped and took out the book "Quick Blade Thirteen Forms" from his chest to study.
Although Chen Tang hadn't practiced sword skill before, after more than two months, he had cultivated the Tiger Subduing Fist to great success.
The Mountain Guest once said that the way of weapons is an extension of the body.
As long as the body cultivation is successful and the foundation is solid, no matter what weapon you pick up, you'll learn it particularly fast.
Moreover, Chen Tang inherently had the ability of Entering the Divine State, with extraordinary perception and a photographic memory.
Every detail of the moves can be revealed in the Divine Illumination State.
This trip down the mountain was by a stroke of fate; he left his knife and bow and arrow on Snow Mountain and did not bring them down.
In the courtyard, Chen Tang casually found a slender stick to use as a knife and practiced according to the illustrations in the secret manual.
Compared to a sword, a knife is easier to master.
Even an ordinary person without martial arts knowledge knows how to chop and swing a knife, with considerable lethality.
The beginning of the secret manual is about the basics of sword skill.
It seems basic, yet it includes eight variations: chop, slash, thrust, tip, raise, wipe, point, coil.
Each variation has different techniques for initiating the move, exerting force, and skills.
Chen Tang quickly mastered the eight basic knife techniques.
Then, he began to practice the truly important content of the secret manual, the Quick Blade Thirteen Forms!
The Quick Blade Thirteen Forms is a progressive sword skill.
The first ten moves are quite ordinary, focusing on building momentum.
The last three moves, however, are extraordinarily fast, increasingly so!
The Quick Blade Thirteen Forms also has a significant flaw. If the first ten forms are interrupted or countered, you have to start all over again.
Nevertheless, since this is the first sword skill manual Chen Tang acquired, he practiced it with great interest.
"Cough, cough!"
At this moment, a light cough came from the entrance.
Chen Tang snapped back to reality, turned his head, and saw that the fat old man was already up, standing at the door stretching and yawning.
"Morning."
Chen Tang greeted him.
Actually, the fat old man had been standing at the doorway for quite a while, getting a bit impatient.
But Chen Tang was so engrossed in sword skill that he didn't notice him at all.
In desperation, he lightly coughed to attract Chen Tang's attention.
"What sword skill are you practicing?"
The fat old man walked down the steps, frowned, and asked.
"Quick Blade Thirteen Forms."
Knowing the fat old man's skills far surpassed his own, Chen Tang didn't hide it and straight-up said.
The fat old man raised his hand, and Chen Tang only felt a blur before his eyes.
In the next moment, the book "Quick Blade Thirteen Forms" in his hand had already appeared in the fat old man's hand!
Chen Tang didn't even see clearly how the fat old man took it from him!
It seemed as if the old man raised his hand, and the secret manual was in his hand.
This old man has some skills; I wonder what realm he's in.
It wouldn't hurt to learn a thing or two from him if there's a chance.
While Chen Tang was calculating, he watched the fat old man flip through the book, then casually toss it back to him, his face full of disdain, saying, "What a trash sword skill, practicing this is a complete waste of time."
"These few pages of stuff, only the eight basic knife techniques in the front are useful. The so-called Quick Blade in the back is utterly worthless."
Chen Tang half-dubiously asked, "Is this sword skill really that bad?"
He had gone to great lengths to get a secret manual, only for it to be dismissed by the fat old man as worthless, which made him a bit unwilling to accept it.
The fat old man asked, "Where did you get this sword skill?"
"Hmm..."
Chen Tang hesitated for a moment.
The fat old man said, "Did you pick it up after killing someone?"
Was it really necessary to be so direct?
Chen Tang remained silent, tacitly admitting it.
The fat old man continued, "So let me ask you, if this Quick Blade was really useful, could that person have been killed by you?"
"Makes some sense..."
Chen Tang murmured to himself.
Seeing the timing was right, the fat old man slightly raised his head, clasped his hands behind his back, and pondered, "There are many secret manuals for cultivating a fast saber in the world, but few actual high-grade fast sabers. Among them, 'Wind Chasing Swift Saber' is the most famous one."
After saying this, the fat old man waited for Chen Tang to ask about the "Wind Chasing Swift Saber."
So that he could follow up by saying, I do know a few things.
At this moment, the fat old man's expression shifted slightly, saying, "Someone's coming."
"Who is it?"
Qingmu also walked out of the room.
"Judging by the sound, it's the officials."
The fat old man's ears twitched, then he looked at Chen Tang, saying, "They should be coming for you."
Chen Tang listened carefully but didn't hear anything.
After a while, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching from a distance.
Chen Tang carefully recalled.
He shouldn't have left too many flaws.
The only problem might be the scar on Li Tao's wrist.
But just this point isn't enough evidence.
Definitely cannot be linked to him.
He would play by ear and adapt accordingly.
Chen Tang took a deep breath, put the "Quick Blade Thirteen Forms" back into his chest, picked up a broom, and began to sweep the remaining snow in the courtyard.
"Knock! Knock! Knock!"
The sound of knocking on the door rang out.
Chen Tang stepped forward, removed the door latch, and opened the door wide.
At the door stood several officials, headed by one dressed as a chief constable, but looking quite young, about twenty years old, with a bamboo stick in his mouth and a slightly roguish smile on his lips.
Zhiwei also stood next to the officials.
When she saw Chen Tang, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes, and she said, "Brother Atang, you're alive?"
Chen Tang praised silently in his heart.
If the two hadn't met last night, Zhiwei's reaction would indeed be the expected one when meeting him after presumed danger.
This sentence from Zhiwei also conveyed information, hinting to Chen Tang that she hadn't exposed anything.
"It's you?"
Chen Tang mildly surprised, played along with Zhiwei.
Meng Liangyu's smile remained unchanged.
Their reaction when meeting seemed normal, without any suspicion.
Meng Liangyu's gaze shifted past Chen Tang to the fat old man and Qingmu.
Both of them looked calm.
Meng Liangyu said, "Last night there was a murder in the county. I'm here to ask two questions."
"Where were the three of you last night?"
"We had some drinks in the evening and came back to sleep."
"Didn't leave at all?"
"No."
Meng Liangyu nodded and said, "Okay, all good."
This visit seemed to be just a casual inquiry.
"By the way."
Meng Liangyu said, "This young girl's family is all gone, and she's homeless. Since you saved her, please take her in."
Hmm?
This development was a bit unexpected for Chen Tang.
This chief constable actually sent Zhiwei to his home and asked him to adopt her?
"Oh, and this dog too."
Meng Liangyu waved his hand, bringing over the yellow dog behind him, handing the leash to Chen Tang.
Chen Tang didn't take it.
But the yellow dog, seeing him, immediately recognized him, recalling last night's events and Zhiwei's instructions to it, couldn't help but wag its tail, showing great affection to Chen Tang.
Chen Tang's expression didn't change.
However, Zhiwei's face turned a shade paler when she saw this scene.
Meng Liangyu twirled the bamboo stick in his mouth a few times, saying with an ambiguous smile, "Brother Chen, does this dog know you?"
The atmosphere at the scene suddenly changed!
The fat old man and Qingmu in the courtyard also turned to look over simultaneously.
"Haha!"
At this moment, Meng Liangyu laughed out loud, patted Chen Tang's shoulder, and said, "Just kidding, this dog is friendly with everyone."