Samuel Foster asked the question that Henry Carter wanted to ask but was too embarrassed to voice, full of anticipation: “Master, are you going to teach us swordsmanship? When can we get our swords?”

Ethan Clark: “No rush, there are wooden swords.”

After speaking, under the watchful eyes of his disciples, he flapped both arms and assumed a soft, limp starting stance, demonstrating each move one by one. As he performed, he chanted, “Fuyao—wooden sword technique—strengthens the body—improves health—regulates breath—invigorates blood—live long—like an immortal—”

Henry Carter: “……”

His budding dreams of summoning wind and rain were shattered amid the “dong qiang—dong dong qiang” of “clashing blades and flashing swords.”

The master’s “exquisite” swordplay quickly attracted a sparrow, which landed on a nearby wooden stake to watch.

This was truly the quietest sword technique in the world. Wherever the wooden sword passed, it was as if nothing was there—not even a breeze was stirred. It was gentle to the extreme; by the time the sword tip made a slow circuit, even a snail could have climbed to the top of the tree.

Combined with the master’s soul-stirring commentary about “strengthening the body and living like an immortal,” the effect was truly impressive.

The master lifted his foot and took a step, bent over and swept the wooden sword horizontally, trembling as he approached the sparrow on the stake.

The little sparrow, bold as brass, stared unflinchingly with its beady black eyes at the approaching wooden sword.

Ethan Clark shamelessly warned, “Little beast, move aside! Beware, our sect’s wooden sword could cost you your life!”

By the time he finished this long sentence, the wooden sword had only just reached the sparrow’s feet. Hearing this menacing warning, the little bird calmly lifted one leg and stepped aside, completely clearing the Fuyao Sect’s “sharp sword,” and watched serenely as the gentle sword shadow drifted away.

Samuel Foster was already beside himself with laughter, and Henry Carter found it hard to comprehend. Even the street performers he’d seen at the village entrance weren’t as ridiculous as this wooden sword, but he didn’t dare laugh out loud, because he noticed that his senior brothers weren’t laughing either—if the eldest was busy fixing his hair and couldn’t double over, then the second brother, who loved toads, was a more useful reference.

Just moments ago, Emily Thompson had been so restless he seemed to have nails in his seat, but now, not only was he not laughing, his usually mischievous face actually showed a hint of focus as he watched the master’s shaman-like moves without blinking.

The master finished the first form of the Fuyao wooden sword in its entirety, finally stopping in a one-legged “golden rooster stands alone” pose, arms spread wide. Holding the wooden sword, stretching his long, thin neck, he struck a pose as if gazing into the distance, teetering as he declared, “This is the first form of my Fuyao wooden sword—A Bright Future!”

Unfortunately, he didn’t look much like a great roc spreading its wings, but more like a rooster crowing.

Samuel Foster covered his mouth, his face turning red from holding back laughter.

This time, the master showed no mercy, raising the wooden sword and tapping him on the head—a move much more decisive than before.

Ethan Clark scolded angrily, “What have I told you? Calm your mind! Stop being so restless! What are you laughing at? This is unacceptable! Copy the ‘Classic of Purity and Tranquility’ five times tonight and bring it to me tomorrow.”

Since Samuel Foster couldn’t read yet, even the step of copying the sect rules had been delayed for him. Upon hearing this, he immediately put on a pitiful face and played his trump card, whining, “Master, I can’t read yet.”

Ethan Clark said, “Make a rubbing and copy the characters—Emily Thompson!”

The second brother stepped forward.

The master said, “Lead your junior brothers in practicing the starting stance and the first form. When I return, I’ll teach you the second form.”

Henry Carter thought to himself, “I heard he’s been here for over a year and has only learned the second form. Has he really spent a whole year practicing the rooster crowing?”

Before he could finish marveling, Emily Thompson had already taken his place as instructed, holding the wooden sword, and performed the starting stance with impressive precision, exuding the confidence and vigor of youth. This energy was worlds apart from their half-dead, middle-aged master. The boy’s name was as green as bamboo, and so was his figure. With a serious face, he wielded the wooden sword with a sound like slicing through the wind, the sword’s force sharp and unstoppable.

That was the sharpness of youth, impossible to resist.

The previously unflappable sparrow was startled by this and immediately flapped its wings and soared into the sky.

Before Henry Carter and Samuel Foster could recover, they saw their second brother, face stern, breath sinking to his dantian, shout each word with emphasis: “Fuyao wooden sword technique! Strengthens the body and improves health! Regulates breath and invigorates blood! Live long like an immortal!”

…In the blink of an eye, the young swordsman had turned into a street vendor selling miracle tonics.

Yet Emily Thompson wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. After howling out the lines, he even turned back and made a funny face at his two dumbfounded junior brothers.

☆, Chapter 8

Charles Bennett slowly wiped his wooden sword with a silk handkerchief, watching his junior brothers practice nearby.

His junior brothers’ swordplay was a complete joke. Aside from Emily Thompson, who was at least somewhat presentable, the other two were basically just a pair of big monkeys waving sticks around, playing with wooden swords like they were juggling, while the master corrected their grip.

The master said to one, “Even though the wooden sword is forgiving, real blades are not. When dealing with weapons, you must be extremely cautious—Henry Carter, don’t rest your finger on the edge. Can’t you feel that all ten fingers are connected to your heart?”