Coiling Dragon Silk

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Name: Du Ruo
Age: 31
Essence: 9.06
Energy: 9.08
Spirit: 9.40
Attribute Points: 0.03
Skills: Xingyi Boxing LV2 (2/500)
Natural School Techniques: LV1 (0/200)
Special Skill – Hidden Weapons: LV0 (0/100)

“Special skill? Hidden weapons?”

Du Ruo was ecstatic. If obtaining Xingyi Boxing wasn’t already something so common in the real world, it would still be considered somewhat remarkable. Even though the version he had acquired seemed to be the complete, authentic transmission, as if passed down from the great masters of the late Qing Dynasty, it was still firmly within the realm of traditional martial arts.

The second skill he gained, Natural School Techniques, was even more so. He had hoped for some miraculous lightness skill that would let him leap and soar, but in the end, it too was just traditional martial arts. Not that Du Ruo was dissatisfied—only that the reality fell far short of his expectations.

But now, with the appearance of hidden weapons, Du Ruo’s interest was truly piqued. He eagerly called to mind the knowledge about hidden weapons that had appeared in his mind.

Because the hidden weapons skill was at level zero, it only contained the basic techniques—methods and forms for using small, concealed weapons like the Flying Locust Stone and flying needles. Although Du Ruo found these somewhat interesting, his attention was irresistibly drawn to another item:

“Coiling Dragon Thread”—shaped like a metallic bracelet, hollow inside, with nearly eight feet of transparent thread coiled within. A coiling dragon, sculpted on the bracelet, could be separated into a dragon’s head and tail; the tail was at the end of the thread, the head in the middle. When in use, simply lift the tail and gently pull to reveal the thread.

One could grasp the dragon’s tail as a weapon, winding the thread around an enemy’s limbs or neck. With a light tug, the thread could sever limbs or even take a head.

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It could also be used as a concealed weapon: with a flick of the tail, the thread could be manipulated to kill invisibly.

“This is exactly what I’ve always wanted.”

Upon seeing the description in the hidden weapons manual, even knowing it was a fearsome device, Du Ruo could not contain his delight. Who hasn’t dreamed of being a martial hero? This weapon perfectly matched the mysterious allure of wuxia he’d always imagined. Holding it would be like a modern man holding a firearm: he might never use it to kill, but he couldn’t be without it.

“Is it just a blueprint? And instructions? So what am I supposed to do? Make it myself?”

After finishing the description, Du Ruo was stunned. There was only a detailed introduction—how to use it, how to forge it, what materials to use—everything except the actual object. It was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head; his excitement instantly evaporated. He could only look, not touch. How was this any different from a eunuch visiting a brothel? Was he really supposed to learn the craft of forging himself? That wasn’t something that could be managed overnight.

“Oh well, I’ll set it aside for now. I’ll find some time to draw up the blueprint, then see if anyone can forge it; that’s better than trying to research it all by myself.”

After thinking for a while, Du Ruo sighed inwardly and decided to put the idea aside for the time being, then turned to absorbing the other knowledge. Still, now that he’d found something he truly loved, he couldn’t help but feel a little unwilling to let it go.

After upgrading Xingyi Boxing, he gained a wealth of new knowledge. The difference was obvious: if level zero was about health preservation, and level one was about basic forms and techniques, then level two marked a true qualitative leap.

Now, Du Ruo’s understanding of Xingyi Boxing had deepened. His stance training had changed—what was once a textbook-perfect template was now more suited to his own physique, with subtle adjustments that made his practice more effective.

His mind was also filled with much more information. No longer limited to the Five Elements Fist and the Twelve Animal Forms, he now knew the Linked Fist, Six Harmonies Fist, Eight Forms Fist, the Three Harmony Saber, Six Harmonies Spear, Linked Sword, and more.

He could now claim mastery of every aspect of Xingyi Boxing: from foundational stance training, introductory health practices and forms, to advanced techniques and even weapon applications—everything relating to Xingyi Boxing was within his grasp.

Of course, knowledge was one thing; actual mastery would require diligent practice.

With the upgrade of the Natural School Techniques came new knowledge as well—it was no longer limited to lightness skills but now included some of the school’s hard skills, such as “pushing circles,” “tiger mouth staff,” “body conditioning,” “sand insertion,” “sticky grip,” and “jar grabbing,” all methods for strengthening the body.

Du Ruo absorbed all the knowledge that had appeared in his mind. When he opened his eyes, he felt as though he’d undergone a transformation. He was still the same person, his body unchanged, but his command of technique was utterly different.

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Du Ruo glanced around. As he had been practicing martial arts here, his mother had already cleaned up the area—there wasn’t even a stray branch or a stone larger than a pebble left.

Fixing his gaze on a nearby tree, Du Ruo took a step forward, employing the explosive force of the Tiger Form from Xingyi Boxing. In a single stride, he covered nearly two meters, arriving at the base of the tree. Bending his body slightly, he pressed down with his foot and leapt upward—using the Natural School’s “Scallion Lift” lightness skill to soar into the air.

“Crack!”

While airborne, Du Ruo reached out and snapped a branch from the tree, catching it in his hand. Spotting a pepper plant not far away, he aimed at the largest pepper, pinched the branch between his fingers, and with a sudden flick, sent it whistling through the air.

He missed. The branch passed half a meter above his target pepper, landing in the field and knocking down some unripe peppers.

“Ah… My Xingyi Boxing application is much smoother now, and my Natural School lightness skill is pretty good too. That branch must have been about 2.8 meters high—so my actual reach is even higher. As for the hidden weapons…my finger strength and aim need work. Looks like I know what I need to practice next.”

Standing in place, Du Ruo quietly summarized his own performance. Despite the self-assessment, the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth was impossible to suppress, betraying his true feelings.

He’d been practicing for some time, but this was his first real test. Although his hidden weapon skill was lacking, his overall physical capabilities had far surpassed his expectations—and this had just been a simple trial, without using his full strength.

“Grandma, grandma! Uncle’s hitting the pepper plants with a stick again! Come and scold him, and don’t let him have any vegetables tomorrow!”

Huang Yamei, who had been sitting nearby, had no idea what it meant for Du Ruo to stride two meters or leap up to pluck a branch nearly three meters off the ground. All she saw was her uncle breaking off a branch to strike the pepper plants and knocking down the peppers her grandmother had grown. With a quick turn, she dashed toward the house, shouting as she ran.

As for her motives, it was simple: not long ago, she and Maomao had taken sticks and chopped down most of the peppers, for which she’d been slapped on the hand and given half portions at dinner. The hardship she’d suffered, she was determined her uncle would share.