Chapter 466: Training

In this Spell Class, Professor Lupin returned, looking a bit more "destitute." This time he introduced some kind of aquatic monster and taught the students how to deal with it. After class, Harry was kept behind; it seemed Professor Lupin had something to say to Harry.

"In any case it's just about boosting morale, right? I recall Professor Lupin taught Harry the Patronus Charm," Bai Lang thought. He was now polishing a wooden sword and a wooden staff—given Neville Longbottom's rapid growth, Bai Lang thought perhaps several weapons would be needed. "With your skill, a length of one‑and‑a‑half arms makes a good choice," Bai Lang said to Neville Longbottom. "What's a one‑and‑a‑half arm?" Neville Longbottom asked. "You fool, it's your weapon," Bai Lang handed Neville Longbottom a smooth wooden sword that now had a shape.

"This distance is more suitable, and I think you'd be better off making a wand sheath that can retract the wand into your forearm; that way you can use a sword‑and‑shield—almost the safest weapon setup," Bai Lang said. "If you use a small round shield, should the opponent cast a troublesome spell, you can simply throw the shield to block—I'm not sure whether a thrown shield counts as part of your body..."

Bai Lang muttered, "Sometimes I can't figure out whether the armor on your body counts as part of the body? What about clothing? Or does only a direct hit to flesh count?" He shook his head. "The judgment is a bit vague; next time I'll find someone to help test it—like Hermione Granger."

"Obstacles, your weapon, and other spells can all be tried out to see how the judgment works," Bai Lang thought. He also produced a short tuft of golden‑brown long hair and a vial of powder in his hand. "It's a good chance to ask Hermione to appraise them, and maybe ask her something else as well."

Harry hadn't emerged yet, while Ron Weasley and Hermione were waiting outside. Bai Lang walked over. "Hermione, this is the mane of the Dio, and this is powder I ground from its horn; could you tell me what magical effects they have?" He then added, "You're the most learned young wizard I know." Instantly Hermione's nose seemed to point toward the sky.

Ron Weasley, looking at the wooden staff in Bai Lang's hand, asked, "Is this for training your 'magical martial arts'? The kind that can deal with a Dementor? Can Harry learn it?" Bai Lang replied, "Yes, Harry has never asked me. But I think he probably can't, because he has more promise with spells—magical martial arts rely on one's own strength, so only someone like me, who performed poorly in Spell Class, and Neville Longbottom, would be suitable."

At that moment Harry stepped out, and after hearing Ron Weasley's words he thought for a moment. "Ron Weasley, I want to try it," Harry said. "I don't want to hear my mother's crying anymore." Bai Lang looked at Harry. "Alright, I hope you can hold on, though I think you'll find a better way through spellwork."

Bai Lang's assessment was spot‑on; Harry truly isn't a suitable heir to magical martial arts, especially since he's much busier than Neville Longbottom—Ravenclaw defeated Hufflepuff, and the incoming Gryffindor Quidditch captain Wood now seems to keep his teammates on the training field almost around the clock…

During this period, Bai Lang was training Neville Longbottom in hand‑to‑hand combat, which didn't need to go deep because, after all, Neville Longbottom's magical martial arts still rely on weapons—Bai Lang's hard‑won hand‑to‑hand skills are built upon his Golden Bell Shield Divine Skill. Neville Longbottom's Qi play release system? That's no joke.

By the end of November, Neville Longbottom had started handling a wooden sword and wooden shield, and Bai Lang taught him a relatively orthodox "knight combat technique," especially one‑on‑one and one‑against‑many fighting combined with footwork—one‑against‑many was tough, but in one‑on‑one Neville Longbottom got beaten quite badly.

Neville Longbottom was still quite resilient; even after being battered by a sponge‑wrapped staff until his face was bruised, the most he did was ask Madam Pomfrey for some topical ointment—Professor McGonagall knew Neville Longbottom was learning combat from Bai Lang, she had spoken with both Neville Longbottom and Bai Lang, but since Neville Longbottom wanted to learn, Bai Lang was willing to teach, and no personal injury occurred, Professor McGonagall found it hard to object.

If even this were opposed, the injuries from Quidditch training would be far greater than those from this learning. Neville Longbottom was no longer the clumsy chubby kid he used to be; as he grew a bit taller, he also became a nimble chubby kid. "Your skill with sword‑and‑shield is already pretty good; you can try using a wooden staff and shield, and perhaps later develop dual swords or dual staffs—those are high‑level martial arts."

"What follows will be a real confrontation," Bai Lang said. At that moment Professor McGonagall was present, and Hagrid as well—because the training ground was near the Forbidden Forest, not a spot visible from the castle. "Sorry, Professor, I need to cast a spell," Bai Lang told McGonagall. "Mummy Mummy Red!" he intoned.

His wand struck the ground heavily, and from about a yard and a bit in front of his wand, black smoke billowed up from the earth. Before Professor McGonagall could examine it, the black smoke coalesced into a massive hyena the size of a white rhinoceros; the brown‑tan striped beast instantly drew Professor McGonagall's caution and Hagrid's delight.

"Mr. Ron Weasley!" Professor McGonagall's voice was very stern; she had come to monitor Neville Longbottom and Bai Lang's training, fearing Neville Longbottom might get hurt, which would make it hard to explain to her friend—Neville Longbottom's grandmother. And now she saw what? A huge, ferocious‑looking monster! Moreover, the fellow who summoned the monster claimed there was no need to worry, saying it was for combat training!

She thought Bai Lang was completely reckless, and she also found it rather exaggerated—this young wizard was only in his third year; where did he learn that spell? McGonagall was certain she herself didn't know the spell; summoning a monster is an extremely rare incantation.

Hagrid, on the other hand, was much simpler; he was full of love for all fierce animals.

Neville Longbottom almost wet his pants again, but after the hyena appeared—though it looked ferocious—it bowed its head and obediently let Bai Lang stroke the mane that grew from the back of its head, confirming that the creature was under Bai Lang's control. "Don't worry, Professor, it obeys my commands completely," Bai Lang said, and at the same time, a massive male lion with horns and wings slowly emerged from the Forbidden Forest.

"Dio has also arrived," Hagrid's voice said, then he saw McGonagall's expression. "Sorry, Professor, um… this is a little secret."