Chapter 402

Mu Mingtang was embarrassed. Although she knew that Xie Xuanchen was plotting something, she still didn't want to lose. She nodded and replied, "Okay, but we'll do it as you say— I will determine your score."

Xie Xuanchen nodded easily, "Sure."

Mu Mingtang had to try as well. The poor wouldn't choose to take up martial arts(1), so she actually hadn't seen that many weapons in her life before. In fact, she didn't even know most of the weapon's names that stood before her.

(T/N: Back in ancient China, the wealthy were the ones who could afford to send their children to learn martial arts from a Master, whereas the less fortunate had no choice but to devote their money towards studies in hopes for a better future)

Mu Mingtang wanted to go to the weapon rack to have a closer look. She stood up and planned to go around behind the railing, but Xie Xuanchen carried her suddenly. Mu Mingtang was startled and instinctively held on to his shoulders as the world was spinning before her eyes, watching as the golden leaves on the branches were fluttering around her in circles. Before Mu Mingtang could react, her feet had already landed on the ground and Xie Xuanchen's tone was very indifferent, "Why did you use the long way around? Aren't you here now?"

Mu Mingtang was a little dizzy, so she collected herself and said, "Why did you do that so abruptly? You startled me."

Xie Xuanchen said leisurely, "If we were to do that a few more times, you wouldn't be startled anymore."

Mu Mingtang glared at him and scampered away quickly as Xie Xuanchen followed behind her slowly. Mu Mingtang hovered in front of the different rows of weapon racks, noting that she couldn't even identify a lot of them.

Xie Xuanchen took the opportunity to explain, vanquishing Mu Mingtang's doubts at the right time, "This is a battleaxe, this is a hook and these two are maces."

Mu Mingtang nodded slowly, trailing beside Xie Xuanchen to understand everything. At the end, she was sceptical,"I only saw you using one-handed weapons before, but you practised with two-handed weapons before as well?"

"I wouldn't count it as practice since I only got started with them a few years ago," Xie Xuanchen said, "I was in the military camp when I was 12 or 13 years old. I knew a lot of people there and I wanted to try everything. There was someone who inherited a mace from his family and was famous for his unique skills. After all, the family's mace-wielding skills were considered one of the greatest. I exchanged moves with him a few times out of curiosity and through that, I kind of somewhat learnt how to wield it. As for the other two-handed weapons, I later learned them on my own."

Mu Mingtang didn't believe this— Xie Xuanchen was capable of learning the martial secrets that were passed down in other families after merely fighting with them a couple of times? Mu Mingtang smiled and asked deliberately, "Really?"

"Of course. But after I learned it, he was no longer the best man in the army."

"I see," Mu Mingtang nodded, giving him a chance to perform, "Then show me."

Mu Mingtang expected that Xie Xuanchen would not lie. He might be able to use these two-handed weapons, but he might not be able to use them well. Unexpectedly, Xie Xuanchen changed his style immediately after getting started, becoming a completely different form from when he used the sword.