Chapter 130

"Do you have a moment?" Wang Lingling said suddenly from behind Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu frowned and asked, "Why are you so insistent on learning the Twin Flowery Spears?"

"I've reached a bottleneck," Wang Lingling explained. "I simply cannot progress any further. That is why I need to learn another style of spear technique."

Zhou Yu was taken aback. "Are you very skilled?"

"Perhaps in your eyes it amounts to nothing," Wang Lingling replied, "but I was once one of the four top masters of the Shanghai Military District."

Zhou Yu became instantly intrigued. "Who are they?"

"The first is the former all-around soldier king, Liu Haishan. Then there is the 'Tyrant Blade' Wang Yong, myself, and finally, 'the Fox,' Hu Li."

Zhou Yu asked, confused, "Fox? Fox? What is that?"

"It is the Fox, Hu Li. Her surname is Hu and her given name is Li. Since she is quite bewitching, her codename is Fox."

Zhou Yu asked again, "Don't tell me your codename is 'Flowery Spear'."

Wang Lingling nodded awkwardly.

Zhou Yu exclaimed in surprise, "It's actually called Flowery Spear?"

Wang Lingling pressed, "Can you teach me the Twin Flowery Spears?"

Zhou Yu replied, "You've been here long enough; you should have noticed by now that I have no aptitude for teaching others."

Wang Lingling insisted, "It doesn't matter. As long as you are willing to teach me, I can endure any scolding or beating. No matter how hard it is, I can see it through."

***

Zhou Yu asked, "When you use the Flowery Spear, which hand is dominant?"

Wang Lingling was stunned. "The right hand, of course. I'm not left-handed."

"I know why you've remained stagnant all this time," Zhou Yu said.

Wang Lingling was startled again. "You know?"

"Listen to what I have to say and see if I'm right," Zhou Yu said.

Wang Lingling nodded.

Zhou Yu began, "Your feints are primarily executed with your right hand, and your main attacks are also right-hand dominant. Whether it's pulling the spear, thrusting, or flipping, your left hand always leaves the shaft whenever you perform a flip or a leap. Am I correct?"

Wang Lingling was shocked. "You couldn't have seen me practicing with the spear before. How could you possibly know this?"

Zhou Yu ignored her question and continued, "In truth, the Twin Flowery Spears don't need to be learned separately, because the single Flowery Spear is the foundation and the basic training for the twin version. I suspect that among the four masters you mentioned, you are currently the weakest."

Wang Lingling nodded, saying, "No matter how I change my techniques now, they can always dodge or break them. That is why, after seeing your Twin Flowery Spears, I became so desperate to learn them."

Zhou Yu said, "I can teach you how to break through your bottleneck, but I will not be your master."

***

Wang Lingling was taken aback. "Why?"

Zhou Yu laughed teasingly, "I'm afraid Xiao Leng would try to kill me for it. Ha ha!"

Wang Lingling's face flushed a deep red.

Zhou Yu continued, "Stop practicing the spear techniques for now. Focus on the dexterity of your left hand instead."

"Why?" Wang Lingling asked.

"Just start practicing it," Zhou Yu said. "It will be good for you. Besides, if you practice quickly, you will break through your bottleneck much faster."

Wang Lingling nodded thoughtfully. "Although I don't understand your reasoning, I don't think you would wish me any harm."

Zhou Yu looked awkward. "Do I really look like such a bad person?"

Wang Lingling replied, "Someone once told me that people who wear glasses are especially devious."

Zhou Yu was incensed. "Which idiot said that? I'll chop him to pieces!"

Wang Lingling said, "Who else could it be? It's someone you know, of course."