Chapter Seventy-Four

As soon as Liu Long heard this, he immediately sensed that Zhou Yu was hiding something, so he teased, “Oh, what nonsense did I just say? Don’t tell me you and Xin Xin aren’t official yet?”

Zhou Yu shot back, “Cut the chatter. If you keep this up, I’m going to smack you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Laughing, Liu Long replied, “You’d better think about how you’re going to sleep tonight. Haha.”

Zhou Yu stopped talking altogether, channeling all his irritation at Liu Long into a frenzy against the zombies.

After a while, Zhou Yu grew tired and said, “This thing’s no good. I’m taking a break. You guys have fun.”

With that, Zhou Yu hopped down from the wall, put his gun back in the car, slipped on a police-issue winter coat, and came back out. He vaulted back up onto the wall, ready to watch the show.

Before long, Liu Long and the others were worn out too and returned. Wang Hao continued to provide cover until Liu Long was the last to climb back onto the wall, at which point he ceased fire.

Zhou Yu tossed another crate of homemade Molotovs inside and left it at that.

After some idle banter that Zhou Yu found dull, he retrieved his gun and handed one to Nian Yu, saying, “Come here, love, let me teach you a few moves.”

Wang Kui chimed in, “Now that things have calmed down, can I learn how to use a dagger?”

“Oh, right, I almost forgot,” Zhou Yu replied. “Hey, kid, teach this blockhead—he wants to learn the dagger. And have that rascal Zhao Yan join too. He’s useless at everything.”

Zhao Yan protested, “Come on, bro, it’s not that I’m useless—it’s just you guys are freaks.”

Liu Hu added, “I want an apprentice too.”

Zhou Yu said, “Sure, just ask those two if either wants to learn from you. Whoever agrees, you teach them.”

He continued, “And, Xiao Haozi, teach those two uncles how to use a gun. As long as they can stand watch, that’ll do.”

Leaving them to it, Zhou Yu took Nian Yu by the hand and walked away.

He led Nian Yu to a more open spot and said, “Watch carefully, and listen to what I say.”

“The main techniques for using the spear are: thrust, jab, sweep, flick, smash, spin, circle, block, seize, pounce, tap, deflect, and flourish.”

“The most commonly used are: thrust, jab, sweep, flick, smash, tap, and flourish.”

“Earlier, when I was using both spears, that was the flourish technique.”

As Zhou Yu explained, he spun the spear in his hand, demonstrating a flourish.

“This is called the flourish, mainly used when dealing with multiple opponents up close.”

He then demonstrated to Nian Yu the methods for thrusting, jabbing, sweeping, flicking, smashing, and tapping.

“Xiao Long, come over here and spar with me for a bit so my wife can see how it’s done,” Zhou Yu called out.

When Liu Long arrived, Zhou Yu added, “Actually, I’m not that great with the spear—he’s much better. But his style is too forceful; it doesn’t really suit you. So I want you to observe as we spar and come up with a style that fits you.”

Nian Yu asked, “Come up with a style? Are you kidding me?”

“There’s nothing impossible about it,” Zhou Yu said. “A single master can teach ten disciples the same set of techniques, but each will use them differently.”

Liu Long agreed, “Zhou Yu’s right. You have to find what suits you best—only then can you reach your full potential. If it doesn’t suit you, you’ll never perform at your best.”

“Understood. You two get started,” Nian Yu said.

“Alright, Xiao Long, let’s begin,” Zhou Yu replied.

With that, Zhou Yu charged at Liu Long, spearhead extended, his hand constantly shifting. As he closed in, the tip suddenly dipped toward the ground. Liu Long, seeing this feint, quickly stepped back. Zhou Yu tapped the ground, then spun and brought the spear down in a heavy strike. Liu Long leaped to the side, then countered with a swift sweep aimed at Zhou Yu’s head.