As I looked at the collection of both paper and bamboo books the elder gave me a booklet.

“This is the content of the third floor,” he said,” now, as I’ve said before, there are many martial arts methods here. Do not choose something that is flashy!”

I see. I won’t.

So I nodded at him, as a question appeared in my mind.

Why would there be flashy martial arts here? I mean, this is apparently the foundation of the Wu family, so I doubt there would be any use for the martial arts here to not be practical.

Hmm…

I better ask the elder.

“Elder,” I said to which he replied with a hum,” Why would there be flashy martial arts on the third floor? Didn’t you say that this is the foundation of our Wu family?”

“Oh, that,” he said as he looked annoyed,” Well, many flashy martial arts have good principles in them. Not all, but those that do are here. For example there is Meteor Fall sword technique that needs of the user to do various acrobatics in air before striking someone.”

“I see,” I said,” So the falling on someone and using the excess energy created is good, while the flashy moves that leave you open are the bad, in this case.”

“Exactly!” he said with a smile,” Finally someone who understands me! All those young men want to wear white robes, with a sword on their side, appearing handsome and suave! Yet nobody wants to be the one in the front, battling foes with brute force and straightforward attacks! Even in the people of the previous generation how many people use these flashy moves? Its absurd!”

“Hmm…” I hummed, as I let out a light chuckle.

“What are you laughing at?” the elder said with a questioning gaze.

“Nothing,” I said,” it’s just that even experts care about such things.”

“But of course they do!” the elder replied to my little joke with a roar,” Else do you think there would be so many wars over minor offenses? People want to look good and have others praise them for it! As such, everyone cares about face and reputation!”

“I see!” I said.

“Now imagine killing some great demon with great difficulty, while using flashy moves that look good on the surface but lack substance in reality,” he said.

“You get a reputation! An even greater one than someone who would easily kill the same demon. After all, the many useless moves make the battle seem more difficult than it should be!” I said.

“Exactly! A great warrior won’t make useless movements!” having said that the elder looked at me,” Now, a warrior with a great reputation must shield it by sword and pen, so be careful of them, lest they scheme against you!”

This!? What is that serious gaze? Did the elder experience something like that?

“I will keep your words in mind elder!” I replied.

“Good,” he said,” now you ought to choose the martial art. Go!”

And so, I looked at the catalog.

Hmm, there is the Meteor Fall Sword Art that the elder mentioned…but I don’t practice swordsmanship.

Though I could try to create a martial art with which I use gravity to aid my attack…that does seem like an okay idea when I consider it…

But I doubt there will be many opportunities to use it if I made one. Except maybe in a forest…

Now onto the others…

Demon Kings Palm? Hmm…cultivate a cold inner strength, palms as strong as steel, and a vicious heart…Wait what?

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

This technique requires me to use poison on my palms?

Filthy beast! Dare force me to use cowardly means.

The elder shot a side gaze and spoke,” The Demon Kings Palm, huh? Well, it isn’t a bad technique so to say, though it is quite shameless.”

“It’s cowardly! I won’t use it.” I replied.

“Alright,” the elder said with surprise in his voice,” you do you.”

So not only would this technique make my inner strength invade the enemy’s body and freeze his organs, but it would also poison him…Next!

Hmm, Dragon Hegemon Fist?

Cultivate a robust strength, with a pair of fists dominate the jianghu?

“That technique is quite strong,” the elder said,” but it is a bit outdated.”

“Outdated? How? I thought ancient techniques were quite strong…”

“Well, ancient methods for strengthening the body are oftentimes quite strong, as there were many geniuses, and the basic principle is quite well researched,” he said,” such as the Great Strength Technique you practice. It is based on the principle of increasing the basic capabilities of the body and strengthening the Qi and Blood.”

“I see…”

“Now, the Dragon Hegemon Fist was developed in a different time,” he said” and the martial arts the creator had to face were quite different. There were fewer advanced movement skills, and martial arts were a good bit more direct!”

“More direct?”

This term surprised me…though what does he mean by more direct? There were fewer feigns and mind games?

In but a moment the elder’s fist shot out! His expression was a casual one, so I didn’t expect a sneak attack and I tried to block it.

And I succeeded before he shot out several more. I blocked them, preventing them from hitting my torso…

Urgh!

As I felt the pain appear in my stomach, I saw the elder’s fist there.

So it was all a distraction?

“See?” he said,” in that time there was a widely enforced code of chivalry, not to say there isn’t one now, but in that time it was a lot more direct! So, a lot of people would rather get beaten than use distractions, hidden weapons, and such.”

“I see!” I said,” Thank you elder for your teaching!”

So I belong to a different time, eh? I will be a paragon of ancient virtues!

Though I did hear the stories of a Zhou nobleman fighting in a dual. The man missed his first arrow, and because of it being a duel in the middle of the battlefield, his opponent reminded him that gentlemen shoot in turns…

Then the nobleman died from getting hit by an arrow. And supposedly it wasn’t rare…with even one of the hegemons of the spring and autumn died due to chivalry!

“But a minor thing,” he said.

Well, Dragon Hegemon Fist, I’ll put you in my mind! Now, onto the next technique…

Heart Severing sword? I don’t practice swordsmanship so…Next!

One Yang Finger?

Cultivate a thick inner strength! Learn the thirty six lethal acupoints…the eleven stunning points…the one hundred and three disabling points….

This? I won’t be able to remember so many points…

“Hmm?” the elder hummed as he looked at me,” that’s the technique our Wu family obtained when we sacked the Duan family. Those bastards dared look down on us!”

This might me interesting…

“What happened?” I asked.

“Oh? You’re interested?” he said with a smile,” Very well! Let me tell you.”

Now I’m a bit more curious.

“You know of the thirteen families and seven sect of the central plains?”

“The central plains?”

Oh right! I forgot about the other domains...

“Yes, there are many other domains! Now, the most powerful family of the southern domain was the Duan family,” he said as he stroked his beard with a nostalgic smile,” at that time I was young and chivalrous! I doubt there was anyone who equaled me in looks and martial arts.”

The nostalgic smile on his face quickly disappeared and turned into a scowl,” but the damn Duan family kidnapped my sister!”

“What?” I exclaimed in genuine surprise…

“Indeed,” he said,” I had a cute little sister, but Duan Zhaolin, the crown prince of the Duan family kidnapped her!”

This? So the Duan family established a kingdom…

“Though you probably figured it out, the Duan family established a kingdom,” he said,” they were world renown for their One Yang Finger…But anyhow, I kicked up a large fuss, even though the former Patrairch wanted to marry her off to the Duan family…”

Damn…

“But I was not convinced…so I took matters into my own hands, trying to rouse up the elders, and get the help of the eight armies! But I failed, and even got imprisoned.

Then some incredible news were reported by the spies…My sister killed herself. I don’t know the reason why, but I assumed the worst.”

The elder made a sad expression,” It was only thanks to that act that the Wu family finally decided to wage war on the Duan family. After all, we lost face…But then it was my time to shine! And shine I did! I personally lead one of the eight armies, penetrating deep into the Duan territory’s heartland and besieging the Duan capital, forcing the King of the Duan family to fight me. I killed him.”

“So, what happened to the crown prince?”

The elder made an evil smile,” I put him into dozens of torture methods! And I even used dozens of poisons on him…that was the most exhilarating period in my life…”

“I see…elder I-“

“No need to apologize,” he said, interrupting me,” I made peace with it, and it is no secret! It’s recorded in the family’s annals. Not only that, but for a time I was the main topic of many storytellers! Some still speak about me!”

“That…that is incredible!”

So this man became a living legend? Quite incredible I must say. Though if he wasn’t, I doubt that the Duan family would fall. They would at most be weakened.

After all, war is a costly thing!

But…am I supposed to try to console the elder? Or…to look for new martial arts?

I mean he already told me to not apologize…

“What are you doing?” the elder questioned,” go look for martial arts!”

Oh good! Thank you elder!

So now…Oh?

This one seems interesting…