"This martial arts manual reads "Twin Dragon Fists," the young woman said, leaning over to peek at the martial arts manual in the young man's hands.
"Twin Dragon Fists?" he repeated, his eyes dimming with disappointment.
"Yes. And from the name and illustrations, this martial art seems to require two people." She smiled and pointed at a picture. Two figures stood side by side, their shoulders nearly touching. Each extended one clenched fist forward while bending their knees into a stable stance, the other hand held close to their chest.
"Hmm… this seems to be an offense and defense martial arts" the young man said, studying another illustration. In it, one man unleashed a flurry of punches while the other stood behind him in a defensive stance.
Most martial masters struggle with shrine qi shortage and this was a martial arts which used two people to compensate for it, while one person uses his shrine qi to unleash attacks the other would defend
"I don't have enough knowledge about martial arts, but brother i don't think this martial arts suits you" the young woman looked at him as she gave advice.
"Even though I can't write nor read i had a gist based on the illustrations that this martial arts wasn't suited for me, Every attack and defense must be perfectly synchronized, one mistake and the whole formation would fall apart and both people would be completely vulnerable, it also requires both trust and cooperation, this is a type of martial arts which only royal guards can learn since their task is guarding the king," the young man thought to himself as he put the manual back in it's place,
"There are plenty of other manuals to choose from anyways, but brother since you can't read how about i help you pick a martial arts that suits you?" The young woman smiled as she asked.
On the wooden table a variety of martial arts manuals lay perfectly stacked together. after cleaning up the wooden house as ordered by elder feng jing, the youngsters had gathered and were choosing what kind of martial arts they wanted to learn.
"Thank you kind sister I would really appreciate that but what should I call you?" The young man lowered his head and cupped his fist towards the young woman.
"Oh how rude of me, I'm the one who approached you but did not identify myself, please call me Xiao Mei yue" the young woman also cupped her fists in greeting.
even though they were all fellow disciples they had not completely introduced each other. They were all busy climbing the mountain, the martial masters ritual, which they could've died if they did not focus. they had no time to interact with each other. You could say this was the only chance they would get to learn more about each other since they were in the same place and choosing martial arts manual.
"Sister Xiao Mei... as you are already aware I'm a former slave and don't have a name...for now"
"In that case then I shall call you brother, but what martial arts are you interested in?"
"There are countless martial arts manuals here, and as someone who only heard rumors about martial arts I'm completely ignorant, I would have to trouble sister xiao Mei yue" the young man lowered his head and cupped his fists once again.
"Haha, brother, no need to be so humble. We're fellow disciples after all, I believe we should help each other overcome our shortcomings, i too am ignorant when it comes to martial arts but I can read this is the only difference between the two of us"
"From what I have heard and learned back in my village martial masters use all types of martial arts, sword techniques, fist techniques and so on, and we can figure things out based on the names and illustrations"
"Right let's take a look at these manuals one by one then" the young man grabbed another martial arts manual, "Ten extreme illusion swords" Xiao Mei yue's eyes widened and shouted the martial arts manual name upon seeing it.
"Do you know this martial arts?" The young man asked after seeing her reaction towards the manual.
"No but i have heard rumors about this types of martial arts, they say there are many martial arts which cover everything from attack, defense to movements and this martial art seems to have all of that covered, though it consumes more qi compared to that "Twin Dragon Fists," in the martial arts manual there was an illustrations which showed one figure standing in the middle of nine floating swords, while holding one sword in his hand, the figure fluidity leaped through the air thrusting the sword in his hand forward.
The nine swords surrounding him Simultaneously also thrust forward cutting through the air, and it looked as if it was making whistling sounds.
"This is clearly an advanced martial art, as someone who's very ignorant when it comes to martial arts i need something that can teach me the basics first" the young man thought in his mind.
"Xiao Mei yue, are you interested in this martial arts manual? The young man asked as he looked at the young woman with a gentle smile on his face.
The young woman cupped her fists, "no brother i wouldn't dare covet something that isn't mine, you found this martial art, it's clearly your fortuitous encounter" even though she said this, the young man could clearly see her drooling over the martial art manual.
"Please Xiao Mei yue, accept this as a thank you for helping me choose a martial arts manual" the young man grabbed Xiao Mei yue hands gifting her the manual.
"Well if you insist"
The young man knew his limits and as someone who was just beginning to learn about martial arts it's best if he chooses a basic martial arts.
"Surely such a martial arts should be part of this pile of martial arts manuals, "twin dragon fists, requires a trustworthy companion and they have to be together at all times as for "ten extreme illusion swords" this one is too advanced for someone like me who is just learning, i don't have the confidence to learn it, perhaps I can upgrade to an advanced martial arts once I learn more about it"
"Brother look at this manual. "Dao of saber sword arts" just as he was thinking Xiao Mei picked a martial arts manual putting it in front of him. though this manual was made of bamboo same as all the other ones, this one was a little heavey and thicker,
"Brother I think this one suits you it doesn't explain the basics of martial arts but it seems to focus solely on Dao saber sword, and through that perhaps you can understand martial arts."
"Please opend it for me, junior sister Xiao Mei yue"
As xiao Mei yue opened the manual they both saw an illustration of a figure standing holding a saber sword, the figure slashed forward in stabbing way, vertically, followed by horizontal. All the attacks were neatly done and seemed to be a beginner martial art.
"What do you think brother?"
"Sister Xiao Mei yue i will take your advice and go with this martial arts," the young man looked at the entrance to the wooden house and the two other youngsters were standing there leaning on the wall with their martial arts manual, waiting for the young man.
He did not blindly choose this martial art manual, after looking at the manuals for a long time the young man concluded this was the only one which could provide him any basic level martial arts. He also did not have the time to go through all the other manuals, the other disciples had already chosen their manuals, he was the only one left.
"I was looking for something that starts from the very basics of martial arts, but I guess I'll have to make do with this one."