Chapter Fifty-Two

Xiao Jie said, “I don’t really know what I want to learn. Whatever you teach, I’ll learn.”

Hearing this, Zhou Yu felt a headache coming on. Xiao Jie’s temperament was gentle, the very image of a good wife and loving mother. Yet all the weapons Zhou Yu knew how to wield were fierce and domineering—even his daggers were paired with broadswords.

He probed, “Would you mind if someone else taught you?”

At his words, Xiao Jie’s eyes filled with tears. She asked, aggrieved, “You don’t want to teach me?”

Zhou Yu was at a loss. Why did she look like she was about to cry?

He hurried to reassure her, “No, no, that’s not it. Please don’t cry, listen to me. The weapons I know are all rather domineering. They don’t really suit your personality.”

“But why do you teach Nian Yu and not me?” Xiao Jie protested, still wronged. “And besides, Nian Yu is learning sword techniques too.”

Zhou Yu found himself at a loss for words. After thinking for a moment, he said, “How about this—I’ll teach you spear techniques?”

Before Xiao Jie could reply, Nian Yu jumped in, “You? Teach spear techniques?”

Zhou Yu realized there’d been a misunderstanding. “Not that kind of gun—the red-tasseled spear! Haven’t you seen Journey to the West? The third prince, Nezha, from the Celestial King’s family—he used one of those. You know what I mean?”

Nian Yu rolled her eyes at him. “You should’ve said so earlier. Who knew what you were talking about? Besides, do you even know how to use that thing?”

Zhou Yu shot her an annoyed look. “Drop the ‘do you even’—of course I do.”

“Yeah, right,” Nian Yu scoffed. “You act like you’re something special.”

He snorted, “You cheeky brat, let me tell you, my skill isn’t just limited to the bedroom. Just wait, I’ll show you right now.”

With that, Zhou Yu dashed off, picked up his broadsword, and headed for the door. There, he hammered down one of the steel rods standing upright on the iron gate.

He returned to the center of the courtyard, where Wang Kui and Zhao Yan were practicing dagger techniques. “Out of the way!” he called. “Let me show you what real skill looks like.”

He handed the broadsword to Zhao Yan. “Step back, or you might get hurt.”

Gripping the steel rod in his right hand, Zhou Yu spun it twice, muttering under his breath that it was far too light.

“Watch closely!” he shouted. He lunged forward with a thrust, then pulled back.

A sweeping strike followed, borrowing the momentum to swing the rod back to his waist. Switching hands, he made the steel rod revolve around his body, spinning in tandem with it.

Abruptly, Zhou Yu stopped, pressing down with his left hand, pushing forward with his right in an upward flick. Following the motion, he bent at the waist and thrust the end of the rod backwards.

He let go, spun around, braced his hands on the ground, and darted forward. Seizing the rod stuck in the earth, he rolled, sprang to his feet, and swung another powerful arc.

Drawing the rod back, he shifted his grip—one hand at the center, the other at the end—and launched a series of rapid thrusts.

He drew the rod back once more, bent low, and with a graceful turn behind his back, the steel returned to his right hand.

Charging forward, Zhou Yu leapt into the air, mimicking a hunting eagle, and stabbed forward in a flurry of jabs.

Landing, he spun the steel rod once more at his side before driving it into the ground.

Zhao Yan stared in awe. “Brother, are you even human? That was… incredible.”

Nian Yu’s eyes sparkled with stars. “Zhou Yu, Zhou Yu, teach me this! That was amazing!”