Chapter 23: Selecting a Technique

Feng Zi stood before the gate of the County Government Office, looking at this most imposing building in Wutai County, and the corners of his mouth could not help but twitch twice.

The reason was simple: he suddenly realized that, whether in his past life or his present one, he seemed never to have had any dealings with a "County Government Office."

But before he could sink into awkwardness, a Constable on duty in front of the County Government Office walked up and respectfully asked:

"Martial Master Feng Zi, may I ask if you are here today to select a technique or register your Martial School qualifications?"

Even though Feng Zi held no official post, he was, after all, a Martial Master, and the Constable dared not show him the slightest bit of negligence.

Heh... and here I was saying my parents hadn't changed their mindset; aren't I exactly the same?

After mocking himself in his heart, Feng Zi's expression remained unchanged, and he said indifferently: "Thank you for your hard work."

Hearing this polite remark, the Constable waved his hands repeatedly and led him into the County Government Office: "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare, this is all part of my duty."

Are you kidding? Let a Martial Master bow his head to him? The Constable didn't want to lose this job of his!

As he spoke, the other man looked at his colleague and said: "Thank you for your hard work. I will take Martial Master Feng Zi to the storehouse first and return shortly—I'll treat you to wine tonight."

Having said that, the Constable walked into the County Government Office.

Feng Zi said nothing, only silently maintaining a distance of five steps from the other man, looking around at the layout of the County Government Office.

That said, the internal layout of this County Government Office did not differ much from what he had imagined.

After entering the central hall, the Constable turned to the right, leading Feng Zi toward one side of the interior of the County Government Office.

As the two of them went deeper, the figures of ordinary clerks gradually disappeared, but the number of Constables patrolling back and forth increased.

Finally, after the Constable passed through yet another door, a Chief Constable standing in the shadows blocked Feng Zi: "Proof of identity."

A place guarded by a Martial Master, besides a room for storing confidential documents, could obviously only be the County Government Office storehouse.

After carefully checking the Martial Token and the numbered plate Feng Zi handed over, the Chief Constable cleared a path: "The credentials are correct; walk to the end and that is the storehouse."

Seeing Feng Zi pass the inspection, the guiding Constable bowed slightly and said:

"Martial Master Feng Zi, the road ahead... is not one that a lowly Constable like me can walk. Please, I ask that you proceed on your own."

To this, Feng Zi had no objections, nodding slightly: "Mm, thank you for your trouble."

Having said that, he turned and walked toward the depths.

The path leading to the storehouse was not long—this was also reasonable, as one still had to consider the issue of security.

Seeing Feng Zi approach, two Constables on duty stepped forward to block him: "Please present your proof of identity again."

These two were both Martial Artists, but in Feng Zi's perception, the Qi and Blood Power within their bodies was very dense; they could break through to the Martial Master realm at any time!

Regarding the repeated inspections, Feng Zi did not feel it was excessive in the slightest:

In Wutai County, Human Grade Techniques were among the most precious existences; they concerned a Martial Master's strength, so no amount of caution was too much.

After one Constable checked them, he took the numbered plate, returned the Martial Token to Feng Zi, and explained:

"Returning the numbered plate proves that you have used your opportunity to exchange for a Human Grade Technique, while the Martial Token is your credential for entering and exiting the storehouse; it must be returned together when you return the technique."

The other Constable heard this and took the opportunity to push open the heavy cast-copper gate of the storehouse.

"Understood, many thanks." Feng Zi nodded slightly and lifted his foot to walk into the storehouse.

The heavy gate slowly closed, and the two Constables' voices, as soft as mosquitoes, drifted from behind the door—

"Strange, truly strange. When did such a powerful Martial Master appear in Wutai County? How come I didn't know?"

"You didn't know? Did you not watch the Martial Tournament three days ago?"

"Isn't that a waste of words? I was assigned to the mountain patrol team half a year ago, patrolled a hundred miles in every direction, and was only transferred back to guard the storehouse yesterday."

"My fault, I forgot about that—the one who just walked in is the champion of this year's Martial Tournament!"

"What?! He defeated that gifted Young Master Lu? There really is always someone better than the best in this world."

"Indeed, as far as I know, even looking at the entire Baishan Jun, there are few whose talent is higher than Young Master Lu's."

The discussion gradually faded, and Feng Zi's eyes also gradually adapted to the dim light in the storehouse.

Looking up, he saw that not far in front of him, an old man with a hunched back was holding a lamp, looking at him with a smile.

Yet even though the other man looked like a candle in the wind, the Qi and Blood Power within his body was still thick!

"Old sir, are you the manager of the storehouse?" Feng Zi asked respectfully.

Obviously, this politeness was well-received by the old man, who smiled and replied:

"I can't be called an 'old sir'; I'm just a useless old thing. You can just call me 'Lao Qian'."

The surname Qian... Feng Zi pondered briefly, but he did not remember any powerful family with the surname Qian in the county.

That said, his attitude remained humble, and he smiled: "Young people should always respect their elders, Qian Lao."

Hearing this answer, the old man became even more delighted: "This youngster, his mouth is truly sweet.

"Do you have any techniques you are interested in? I will lead you to find them so as not to waste your time."

Regarding this question, Feng Zi admitted: "This junior does not have a set idea in mind; I just want to try my luck here."

The old man was well-prepared for this and suggested: "In that case, these old bones of mine can help you make some decisions—what type of technique do you practice?"

"It is a Fist Technique." Feng Zi answered truthfully.

"Fist Technique, Fist Technique..." Qian Lao muttered, falling into deep thought.

A moment later, the other man raised his head and asked: "Have you ever practiced movement techniques?"

There are movement techniques too? Feng Zi was stunned upon hearing this and subconsciously asked: "Are there actually specialized movement technique methods?"

Regarding this question, Qian Lao could not help but laugh: "To practice fists without practicing footwork is the same as not practicing fists at all. I wonder how the martial arts school masters are teaching these days?"

Having said that, the other man walked toward the depths of the storehouse: "Consider yourself lucky, kid; there really is a complete technique in the storehouse."

Hearing this, Feng Zi hurriedly followed the other man's footsteps while thinking about Qian Lao's suggestion.

Before long, he understood that the other man's proposal was the most suitable for him:

Fist Techniques have many advantages: fast strikes, flexible responses, a balance of tension and relaxation...

But at the same time, Fist Techniques have one huge, unavoidable flaw—the practitioner can only attend to what is in front of them and cannot deal with threats beyond their arm's reach!

However, if he practiced a movement technique, he could at least make up for his own shortcomings.

Feng Zi knew deeply that he had reached a certain bottleneck in his cultivation of Fist Technique, and his top priority now was to compensate for his shortcomings and add to his trump cards as much as possible.

Qian Lao appeared elderly, but his gait was actually vigorous, and his speed was completely not inferior to Feng Zi's.

The other party walked in front, and as if sensing the anxiety in Feng Zi's heart, he said leisurely, "Judging by your bone age, you should be no older than sixteen."

"A Martial Master of fifteen or sixteen... such talent is already very astonishing; you must never be impatient. Only by firmly establishing your foundation can you go further."

The other party was not a roundworm in Feng Zi's stomach, so naturally, he did not know his thoughts.

But for this young man who knew how to advance and retreat with propriety, Qian Lao still appreciated him very much and could not help but feel a sudden urge to offer a few words of guidance.