Chapter Twenty-Nine: Imparting Skills in the Army (Part One)

The next morning, Liu Fan once again slept in late, basking in the daylight before rising. This time, however, it was not simply laziness. The previous night, while others were distracted, he had returned to the Hetu Luoshu dimensional space to organize the jade slips left behind by the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan in the straw hut. From the martial techniques recorded there, he selected several secret methods and then set about refining them so that ordinary mortals might train in them.

After a night of tireless practice and adaptation, he finally created two unparalleled martial arts methods. Of course, these were unparalleled only by mortal standards, but should these methods ever find their way into the martial world, they would surely spark a storm of bloodshed. It was clear, then, that in the eyes of common men, these techniques would be considered of the highest order.

Liu Fan even gave these two methods grand and resounding names: Dragon Chant Manual and Tiger Roar Manual. Each had its own unique qualities. The Dragon Chant Manual balanced strength and gentleness, still as water at rest, yet fierce as a dragon in motion. The Tiger Roar Manual was all about overwhelming power and unstoppable masculine force, surging forward like a tiger's roar echoing through the mountains, intimidating all rivals. Both could be practiced individually or combined for dual cultivation, but only those blessed with exceptional talent could hope to fully master them.

Not long after he got up, Liu Fan heard the honking of a car horn from downstairs—a signal that Cao Wei was already waiting for him. He hurriedly dressed and went downstairs.

Sure enough, Cao Wei stood by the car below, waiting. Having disturbed Liu Fan’s sleep the day before and witnessed his formidable strength, Cao Wei dared not venture upstairs and instead waited outside.

Seeing Liu Fan come down, Cao Wei hurried over and said with a laugh, “Heh, Brother Liu, I hope I didn’t disturb your sleep by coming to fetch you today.”

Liu Fan noticed that Cao Wei’s words seemed a little fawning and tinged with respect, which made him a bit uncomfortable. He replied, “Brother Cao, what’s gotten into you today? We haven’t known each other long, but I already consider you a friend. Let’s not stand on ceremony. You’re older than me, yet you call me brother—it feels awkward. Just call me Xiao Fan, as before.”

Realizing that Liu Fan had not become distant despite his change in status, Cao Wei was secretly delighted. However, hierarchy was a strict matter in the military. After a brief hesitation, he smiled and said, “Heh, you’re a true friend, but now your rank is higher than mine. Wouldn’t it be improper for me to still call you Xiao Fan?”

Liu Fan was at a loss, so he suggested a compromise: “How about this—when it’s just us in private, we use our old way of addressing each other. In formal settings, we stick to the official titles. How does that sound, Brother Cao?”

“That’s a good compromise. Let’s get going now—the commander and the others will be impatient.” Cao Wei was easygoing and straightforward, so after a moment’s thought, he agreed, and the two set off together.

In no time, they arrived at the secret training ground. As soon as they entered, they saw that everyone had already assembled. Liu Fan got out and greeted Sun Jianguo and the others.

Sun Jianguo, seeing Liu Fan arrive, immediately stepped forward and said, “Ha! Xiao Fan, I’m entrusting these little rascals to you today. Train them however you see fit. If anyone acts up, just give them a beating—don’t worry about saving face for me. As long as they can amount to something, that’s all that matters.”

Liu Fan replied modestly, “Heh, I can’t guarantee they’ll all become outstanding, but as long as they’re willing to learn, I’ll do my best to teach them.” Since Sun Jianguo was so courteous, Liu Fan responded with equal humility.

Then Sun Jianguo turned to the formation of special forces soldiers and addressed them in a loud voice: “Today, I’m placing you under Instructor Liu’s special training. Whether you rise as dragons or fall as worms is up to you. Let me make myself clear: if anyone dares disobey or refuse an order, you’ll be sent back where you came from. Understood?”

“Understood!” Over a thousand voices roared in unison—a truly impressive sight.

Whether or not Sun Jianguo delivered this speech was almost irrelevant. After Liu Fan’s feat of standing alone against a thousand the day before, these roughnecks already worshipped him beyond measure. To train under such a legendary figure was a rare fortune. If they didn’t seize the opportunity to learn, even they would look down on themselves.

Seeing the spirit burning in the eyes of the assembled special forces, Liu Fan couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. Raising his hands for silence, he instantly commanded perfect stillness. Satisfied, he smiled and said, “Thank you all for your trust. But let me remind you—martial arts training is grueling. Can you endure it? If not, you’re free to leave. I’ll give you ten minutes to consider.”

“Instructor Liu, there’s nothing to consider! We’re soldiers—if we were afraid of hardship, we wouldn’t be here!” The burly fellow from the day before, impatient by nature, blurted out before Liu Fan had finished speaking.

Liu Fan saw that the big man was tall and sturdily built—a perfect candidate for martial training—so he asked with a grin, “What’s your name?”

“Reporting, Instructor Liu! My name’s Zhao Chengzhu, from Liaoning in the northeast! Heh!” Zhao Chengzhu replied with a simple, honest laugh.

“Good, I’ll remember you. You spoke first, but I’m giving everyone ten minutes to think it over. The training ahead will be extremely tough.” In truth, Liu Fan’s offer was a test to weed out those lacking in resolve. Such people, even if they learned, would never achieve greatness.

In the blink of an eye, the ten minutes were up. Liu Fan spoke again, “Anyone who wishes to leave, step to the left. Begin now.”

After a while, not a single person moved. This was gratifying to Liu Fan, but hardly surprising. These men dealt with drug traffickers and terrorists as a matter of course—how could they be frightened off by a mere warning? Besides, the chance to learn martial arts was not something a fool would pass up; more skills never hurt, and who knew—it might even save their lives on the battlefield.

“Excellent! Not one of you is backing down. The decision you make today will benefit you for the rest of your lives. Next, I will teach you two inner martial arts techniques. Either one, if introduced to the martial world, would spark a bloody storm. Therefore, you must guard this secret absolutely. No spreading it outside the military. Do you understand?” As he finished, Liu Fan’s sharp gaze swept across every face, sending a chill through the hearts of all present.

“Understood!” Soldiers are bound by duty to obey orders, and the military is governed by strict secrecy. Everyone knew how precious a martial arts manual was to a sect. At the mention of top-tier techniques, they cried out in excitement.

“Very well. Everyone spread out. I will now demonstrate a set of techniques.” As the men moved to either side, Liu Fan sprang into action. His form shifted like a tiger descending the mountain; his hands curved into claws, charging low and swift as lightning, internal energy swirling around him. Those watching saw a faint yellow aura rise from his body—he was like a mighty tiger in the forest, awe-inspiring and majestic.

Suddenly, a long roar erupted—like a tiger’s call echoing through the woods, the sound sharp and sudden. At that moment, yellow light flashed between his fingers. His right hand swept forward, his left hand rose in a hooking motion, and energy burst forth from his fingertips. Immediately, a thunderous rumble shook the earth. The ground erupted in a cloud of dust and debris.

When the dust settled, the concrete and steel-reinforced ground bore eight deep gouges—crossing each other, each more than ten meters long and half a meter deep, the edges clean as if cut by machinery. The destructive power was at least equal to several grenades, perhaps even greater.

This display truly stunned everyone present. At first, the explosion had them thinking the base was under attack. Only when they saw the aftermath did they realize Liu Fan had gone easy on them the day before. The thought left their mouths dry and their hearts pounding—they silently thanked their luck that he had shown restraint, for a single swipe from him could have torn them apart.

While everyone was still quietly sighing in relief, Liu Fan finished demonstrating the set of techniques. He paused and explained, “This method is called the Tiger Roar Manual. It follows the path of pure yang, comprising twelve moves, each infinitely variable. Every strike is forceful and domineering, with immense power—a perfect fit for the martial system of the military. Thus, this method is best suited to those who are tall and strong…”

As he spoke, everyone snapped back to attention and listened with rapt interest. The more they heard, the more they realized how extraordinary this method was, and the greater their respect for Liu Fan grew. In this age of fading martial traditions, every sect guarded its secrets jealously, passing their treasured manuals only to direct disciples. How many could match Liu Fan’s generosity in teaching without reservation?