Chapter 6: Martial Arts Prodigy

In just a few days, Pace Zorn learned to read, and even picked up a bit of history along the way. That day, Lilith invited Pace to come play in her courtyard. Ever since Pace had shown that frightening memory of his, Lilith had grown noticeably warmer toward him. She worried her family might end up far less close to him than Flora's side. In the courtyard, Lilith and Luna Juggins sipped tea and chatted idly. Pace stood in the middle of the yard, eyes fixed on his second cousin, Jasper Juggins, as the boy practiced a set of Sword Art. Lilith had two sons. Her eldest, Hugh Juggins, was already ten. When he was three, he had been tested and found to have a Superior Wind Spirit Constitution, and he had long since been sent to a major sect for training. Her second, Jasper, was six this year. He had been tested at three as well, and found to have a Medium Grade Wind Spirit Constitution. The plan was to send him to a major sect around the age of eight. The Sword Art Jasper practiced was called the Breeze Sword Technique. It was a solid beginner set, perfect for introducing children to swordplay. Jasper held a wooden sword and practiced with earnest focus. Every movement was measured and proper, and he already carried a faint, airy rhythm, as if a breeze followed his blade. When Jasper finished the Breeze Sword Technique, Pace opened his panel to check. Under [Martial Techniques], a new entry had appeared: Breeze Sword Technique [unrated] (0/30). Jasper sheathed his wooden sword and strode up to Pace, unable to hide his pride. "Little cousin, how was my Sword Art? Pretty impressive, right?" "So impressive!" Pace cried at once, wearing an expression of pure admiration. Jasper's mood soared. Lately, he had heard his mother go on and on about how clever Pace was, so much that it made his ears itch. He had not expected Pace to admire his swordplay, too. "Want me to teach you?" Jasper asked, practically vibrating with excitement. "Sure," Pace said. "Thanks, Jasper." Jasper immediately produced a smaller wooden sword and handed it to Pace. Then he brought him to an open patch of ground and taught him move by move. Pace did not add proficiency points right away. Instead, he humored Jasper's childish urge to play teacher, and he learned with a seriousness that made Jasper feel even more accomplished. Inside the pavilion, Luna and Lilith chatted while watching with smiles as Jasper taught Pace the sword. To them, it was nothing more than two little cousins playing around. After teaching it twice, Jasper grew tired and stopped. "That's enough for today. If I have time tomorrow, I'll teach you more." "Thank you, Jasper," Pace said, then gave him a proper little half-bow. Jasper beamed even wider, waving both hands. "No need, no need! I also know Arhat Fist. When there's time, I'll teach you that too!" "Really?" Pace put on a child's delighted surprise. "Of course!" Jasper thumped his chest hard. "A real man keeps his word! Arhat Fist is amazing. It's the best boxing form for building your foundation. If one day you don't have your sword, you can still use Arhat Fist to beat bad guys!" Pace nodded vigorously, eyes bright with anticipation. Lilith's voice called out with a smile, "Jasper, Pace, come over and drink some water. Wipe your sweat." "Mom's calling us," Jasper said, reaching for Pace's hand. "That's it for today. Come on." … Late at night, the world fell silent. Laurel Court. Pace woke and pushed himself upright. He studied Luna for a moment, making sure she was truly asleep. Then he moved as quietly as he could, slipped out of bed, and took the small wooden sword Jasper had given him earlier. He left the room and went to the open space in the courtyard. With the wooden sword in hand and his feet set shoulder-width apart, Pace closed his eyes. In his mind, he opened the panel and filled the Breeze Sword Technique's proficiency to the limit. In an instant, a flood of insight poured into his head. It felt as though he had practiced the Breeze Sword Technique countless times, until every detail had been carved into his bones. After about two breaths, Pace snapped his eyes open. A sharpness flashed in them, like a blade drawn from its sheath, and he began to practice the Breeze Sword Technique. His sword moves and footwork looked light as a passing wind, yet the edge in them did not soften. He had already grasped the true meaning of the Breeze Sword Technique. In less than half a tea's time, he finished the set flawlessly. When he stopped, he thought, *At least I have a little ability to protect myself. It's a shame the Breeze Sword Technique is too low-level. Its power is limited.* He had cultivated the Codex of Cosmic Truth in the womb and learned one spell that came with it: Primordial Aura of Protection. 〖Primordial Aura of Protection [Earth Grade] (100000/100000): A defensive spell derived from the Codex of Cosmic Truth. Its defense depends on the caster's True Energy. At its strongest, it can withstand Earth Grade spells or Earth Grade Martial Techniques.〗 But the True Energy in his body was pitifully scarce. He could barely cast Primordial Aura of Protection once, and even then it would not block anything too strong. As he pondered, a thought surfaced. *Even after proficiency is full, I can still add proficiency points. If I pour ten times more into the Breeze Sword Technique, could I comprehend a stronger Sword Art?* *Worth a try. Even if it fails, it won't waste many proficiency points.* Pace opened the panel and raised the Breeze Sword Technique's proficiency to 300. Another surge of deeper understanding crashed into him. After a single breath, he absorbed it all, but he did not feel as though he had grasped anything new. *Keep going,* he told himself, hardening his resolve. He dumped the proficiency points in one breath, raising it to 3000, a hundred times what the Breeze Sword Technique required. Again, profound insights flooded in. Then those insights changed in quality, as if something broke through a threshold, and they transformed into a new Sword Art, a full tier stronger. Pace opened his eyes and practiced the newly comprehended Sword Art. His footwork turned swift as wind. The sword followed his body, and his body followed the sword. Every strike was razor-sharp, carrying a chill, killing autumn intent. The air around him stirred, and a wind rose in the courtyard. At the final move, Pace rode that wind's momentum. His small body lifted more than half a meter off the ground, and he slashed at a branch as thick as a thumb. Whoosh! Before the wooden blade even touched it, the branch snapped cleanly, severed by the keen sword-wind that rode his strike. The cut surface was smooth as if it had been planed. Pace landed steadily. He calmed his breathing, withdrew the technique, and looked up at the falling branch. Joy spread across his young, handsome face. *Finally. Something with real bite,* he thought, then opened the panel. The Breeze Sword Technique had changed. It had become Unnamed Sword Art [Low Grade]. However, Unnamed Sword Art no longer displayed proficiency, which meant he could not force an even stronger sword technique through sheer accumulated proficiency points. *Then I'll call it Swift Wind Sword Art,* he decided. With a thought, Unnamed Sword Art on the panel changed to Swift Wind Sword Art. Pace put away the wooden sword, satisfied. He slipped out of the courtyard, quietly returned to the room, climbed back into bed, and fell asleep beside Luna. The next day, Jasper invited Pace to his courtyard to learn swordplay. Pace happily brought the little wooden sword along. In the yard, Jasper held his wooden sword and asked, "Little cousin, did you practice last night?" "I did," Pace replied. "I already learned it." His voice was still baby-soft at his age, so it did not sound convincing at all. Jasper clearly did not believe him. "Seriously?" Pace nodded. "Then let's spar. I'll check how you practiced," Jasper said. "I'll hold back." "You don't have to. I'm really strong," Pace said. So the two of them faced off with wooden swords. In only two exchanges, Pace's little wooden sword rested against Jasper's neck. "I wasn't paying attention. Again!" Jasper protested. Pace smiled, withdrew his sword, and took two steps back. Then he sparred Jasper again. Two exchanges later, Pace's sword tip pointed at Jasper's chest. Jasper still refused to accept it. His small face flushed red. "Again!" "Okay." The third spar ended the same way. Two exchanges, and Jasper lost. In the pavilion, Luna and Lilith noticed what was happening. Their conversation died off. They rose to their feet and watched more closely, shock plain in their eyes. Three straight losses, and he could not last more than two moves each time. Jasper could not take it. His eyes reddened. "That's not the Breeze Sword Technique!" he shouted at Pace, furious. Tears spilled despite his efforts to hold them back. Startled, Luna and Lilith hurried out of the pavilion and went to the boys. "What happened?" Lilith asked quickly. "You're cousins. You can't fight like this." "Mom, he isn't using the Breeze Sword Technique!" Jasper pointed at Pace, voice full of grievance. Lilith did not believe him. Pace was so little, and he had only clumsily followed along yesterday. How could he possibly know another Sword Art? More likely, he had simply won by accident. Still, she did not scold Jasper right away. She looked at Pace. "Pace, tell us." "Jasper, I used the Breeze Sword Technique," Pace said seriously. "It's just that your Sword Art had some openings, and I caught them." Jasper bristled. "What openings? You're using what I taught you!" Lilith smiled. "Then spar again. Your aunt and I will judge." They sparred once more. To prove he had no openings, Jasper used the same moves as before. Just like before, in two exchanges, Pace's wooden sword was back at Jasper's neck. Lilith and Luna were not sword experts, but they had eyes. They could tell Pace truly was using the Breeze Sword Technique. "Pace, how did you do that?" Lilith asked gently, even as astonishment churned in her chest at his terrifying talent. Pace, like a tiny adult, pointed out where Jasper's openings were. Then he explained how he used the Breeze Sword Technique to seize them. Jasper still refused to accept it. He repeated the second and third spars from earlier, and the result stayed the same. "Jasper," Lilith said, her tone turning serious, "Pace is a sword-path genius. Talent like this shows up once in a hundred years. You didn't lose unfairly." Then she turned to Pace. "Pace, your cousin taught you the Breeze Sword Technique. As repayment, could you give him some pointers too?" "Sure!" Pace agreed without hesitation. He looked at Jasper. "Jasper, let's practice together, okay?" Jasper's face stayed red. He fidgeted, then muttered, "Fine." In truth, he had already started to accept Pace. So Pace began to guide Jasper's Breeze Sword Technique in earnest. His understanding of the Breeze Sword Technique ran so deep it completely surpassed the teacher who had taught Jasper, and even surpassed the creator of the technique itself. "Raise your sword tip half an inch. Pull your right elbow back another inch and a half…" Luna and Lilith returned to the pavilion, but they did not sit. They stood and watched, intent on every word Pace spoke. "Little sister," Lilith said with envy, "congratulations. Pace doesn't just have perfect recall. He's also a sword-path genius." A relieved smile appeared on Luna's breathtaking face. She kept her words modest. "I hope so." Lilith added, "The Southern Marquisate will regret this." "They will," Luna said, nodding hard. After half an hour, Pace finished his guidance. Jasper's Breeze Sword Technique looked almost reborn, carrying the true rhythm of the art. "Little cousin, thank you," Jasper said to Pace. He could clearly feel how much his swordplay had improved. Pace smiled and shook his head. "No problem. You're the one who taught me the Breeze Sword Technique. Also, didn't you say you know Arhat Fist? Another day, teach me Arhat Fist too, okay?" "Okay!" After Pace and Luna left, Lilith immediately had a maid invite Jasper's sword instructor over. Half an hour later, the middle-aged instructor watched Jasper perform the Breeze Sword Technique once, then praised him without restraint. "Congratulations, First Madam. Jasper's comprehension is outstanding. He has already grasped the true flavor of the Breeze Sword Technique. Give him a bit more time to practice until it's smooth, and he'll be ready to graduate from it." "It's thanks to Mr. Zehendner's teaching," Lilith said with a smile. Then she turned to the maid behind her. "Go fetch one hundred taels of patterned silver to reward Mr. Zehendner." The maid acknowledged and hurried inside. Before long, Mr. Zehendner received the one hundred taels. He encouraged Jasper with a few compliments, then left with a broad smile. "Mom, why did you give Mr. Zehendner so much extra silver?" Jasper asked, half confused and half indignant. "Little cousin was the one who taught me." Lilith stroked his head, smiling. "Mr. Zehendner has taught you for many days. He deserves credit." After a pause, she continued, "Didn't Pace want you to teach him Arhat Fist? Teach him tomorrow. Then have him guide you in Arhat Fist in return. That way, you'll learn it faster." "Okay!" Jasper nodded hard. Lilith added, "From now on, you have to get along well with Pace. If you need to, yield to him a little." "We're cousins. Blood is thicker than water," Jasper said as if it were obvious. "I'm the older cousin, so of course I'll yield to him." On the third day, Lilith brought Jasper to Laurel Court. "Little cousin! I'm here to teach you Arhat Fist!" Jasper shouted the moment he stepped through the gate. Inside the bedroom, Pace was in Flora's arms, nursing. Hearing Jasper's voice, Pace stopped drinking at once and looked up. "Flora, Jasper is looking for me. Can I go see him first?" "Go ahead," Flora said, smiling with gentle indulgence as she fastened her clothes. Flora finished tidying herself and came out after a short while. In the courtyard, she saw Pace watching Jasper seriously as he practiced Arhat Fist. She walked gracefully to Lilith's side. "Sister-in-law." "Mm, sister-in-law," Lilith replied with a small nod. Her gaze drifted, involuntarily, to Flora's full chest, and envy flickered in her eyes. "You've worked hard, nursing Pace." Pace was bound to achieve great things in the future. Since Flora had breastfed him, he would surely be closer to Flora's family than to Lilith's. Flora noticed the envy and felt puzzled, but she only smiled and shook her head. "It's not hard. I'm raising him like my own." Then her gaze shifted to Pace and Jasper. "Pace is still so little," she said carefully, worry in her voice. "Is it too early for him to learn martial arts?" She was not afraid he would learn the wrong thing. She was afraid he would get hurt. After all, Pace was only half a year old. He was far too young. Lilith drew a long breath, then said seriously, "Sister-in-law, you don't know. Pace is extraordinary. Not only does he have perfect recall, he might also be a Martial Arts prodigy." "Huh?" Flora's confusion deepened. Lilith explained, "Two days ago, Jasper taught Pace the Breeze Sword Technique. The next day, Pace not only learned it, he fully comprehended it. I had Pace give Jasper some pointers, and Jasper's Breeze Sword Technique improved by a huge margin. I even had Mr. Zehendner watch. He said Jasper's Breeze Sword Technique already carries the true flavor, and with a bit more practice, he can graduate from it." Flora was stunned. She could hardly believe it. "Really?" Pace was only half a year old. Another baby would still be far from even walking. "You'll see in time," Lilith said with a sigh. "I truly don't understand what the people of the Southern Marquisate were thinking, to dislike Pace like that." Flora mostly believed it. Her thoughts immediately began to turn. If Jasper could improve the Breeze Sword Technique so dramatically through Pace's guidance, then she could also have Pace guide her eldest son, Justin. Justin Juggins was only two or three months younger than Jasper, and he had already begun learning the Breeze Sword Technique as well.