Chapter 25: Three Moves

Chapter 25: The Three Axe Techniques

The farce concluded perfectly. Afterward, aside from the Jiang father and son ending up in rather pitiful states and the children gaining a sworn aunt, albeit a reluctant one, there were no further disputes.

However, the formidable methods of the Jiang family's eldest daughter quickly became the talk of Maocheng's inner circles.

Of course, such trivial matters were not even on Miss Jiang's radar. She was currently squatting in her newly tidied-up training ground, staring at her father in speechless exasperation.

"Could you repeat what moves you're planning to teach us, Dad?"

Jiang Huailiang hefted his large axe, somewhat sheepishly, and turned to stare at the sky.

Jiang Han, squatting beside her sister, blinked and glanced at the axe in her father’s hand, her little face full of resentment.

"Dad, have you considered that my sister and I are girls? Do you really expect the two of us to go around carrying a giant axe to fight? What would people think?"

"What’s wrong with an axe? Look how impressive this thing is—one swing and it’ll split someone’s head open!"

Hearing his daughter disparage his trusty weapon, the father couldn’t help but try to save face.

"Sure, the axe might look a bit rustic, but it’s super practical! It’s deadly on the battlefield, and when times are tough, you can take it up the mountain to hunt or chop firewood. It’s the most versatile tool…"

"After all these years fighting on the battlefield, you never managed to get your hands on a proper weapon?"

Jiang Wan found it hard to believe.

"Those highly skilled generals all use majestic weapons like the Green Dragon Crescent Blade or the Sky Piercer. At the very least, they might have a Dragon’s Roar Sword, a Red Tasseled Spear, or even a Golden Ring Broadsword. And you use an axe—a plain one meant for chopping wood. Dad, do we really have to stay so true to our roots?"

Embarrassed by his daughter’s bluntness, though somewhat shielded by his thick beard, Jiang Huailiang laughed awkwardly.

"It’s just… your old man can't handle anything else."

He would never admit he didn’t know how to use other weapons.

"See how practical these three moves I just taught you are? Chop, hack, slash—each one is a killing blow. Absolutely practical, no lie!"

"I’ll give you that much, but be honest, Dad—is that all you know? Just these three moves?"

His eldest daughter was clever, no doubt, but her sharp tongue always cut right to the chase.

The old man grumbled under his breath.

"Hmph, what’s wrong with these three moves? They’re more than enough for you. Why would you need all those fancy techniques?"

Jiang Yaozu, squatting beside his two sisters, hung his head and sighed.

"Ah, I was hoping to become an ultimate master, but now that dream is completely shattered. Ah, life… it’s all over!"

"Stop picking up phrases from your big sister and using them all over the place! If you want to die, go die somewhere far away. My wonderful life is just beginning—why should it be over?"

Jiang Han, annoyed, smacked her brother and then turned to her exasperated older sister.

"Sis, what do we do?"

Jiang Wan sighed, glanced at her younger siblings, then turned back to her father and offered a well-meaning suggestion.

"Dad, promise me you and Mom won’t have a fourth child."

"Why? Afraid a fourth would compete with you for the family inheritance? Don’t worry, your dad isn’t the type to play favorites. Whatever the family has, you’ll all share equally—no one will be shortchanged."

Just as Jiang Huailiang, hefting his axe, tried to reassure his daughter, his little rascal of a child shot back.

"You’re overthinking it. I’m just genuinely concerned for you."

She pointed at herself and her two siblings, her expression deadpan as she bared her teeth in that trademark mischievous grin.

"With the three of us each learning one move, you’ve managed to keep it fair. But if you have a fourth child, what will you do then?"

"Are you making fun of your old man?"

"No. I just have a habit of speaking the honest truth."

"…………"

He had always known his eldest daughter had a sharp tongue, but having it directed at him, her own father, left Jiang Huailiang feeling both pained and amused.

"Look, these three axe moves actually have deep meaning! I usually wouldn’t even bother teaching them to those weaklings who can’t even lift a chicken!"

"Oh, so you mean there’s no skill involved—it’s all about raw strength and physical power?"

He didn’t quite understand what she meant, but the disdain in his daughter’s words was crystal clear to Old Jiang.

And so, he lost it.

"I said I didn’t want to teach, but you insisted! Was it easy for me to seriously teach you three little rascals? This is my first time teaching anyone!"

"Oh, so all these years, you’ve never had a single disciple?"

"I…"

Old Jiang, gripping the axe with one hand, swung it hard at a nearby wooden stake, chopping it in half. Jiang Wan blinked but didn’t change her squatting position.

"That wooden stake cost three taels of silver. I’ll report it to Mom later—it’ll probably be deducted from your allowance."

…………

Jiang Huailiang wearily wiped his face, tossed the axe to the ground, and looked at his eldest daughter with earnest concern.

"What kind of wooden stake costs three taels?"

"The stake itself is thirty copper coins. The rest is my service fee."

Jiang Wan finally stood up, walked over to her father, bent down to pick up the axe, and delivered a fierce chop to the broken stake.

Her impressive stance was striking—a delicate young woman displaying the strength to uproot a willow tree.

"Dad, don’t I look pretty awesome just now?"

"Well, it’s… not bad…"

"Mm, I think so too. But do you think Jiang Han and Jiang Yaozu can pull it off?"

The mentioned Jiang second child and Jiang third child shook their heads so vigorously it seemed their heads might fly off.

"Dad, I really can’t lift it!"

Jiang Han pouted in frustration; she never really wanted to practice martial arts in the first place, and now, seeing that axe, she wanted to even less. Meanwhile, Jiang Yaozu frowned seriously and thought for a moment before replying.

"I can lift it, but I’m not as strong as Big Sis. What should I do, Dad?"

Their father wiped his face and could only compromise.

"Alright, tomorrow I’ll go talk to the Prince of Huai and see if I can arrange for the three of you to train with the Li family’s children!"

Jiang Wan set down the axe, turned to look at her father, and asked thoughtfully after a brief pause.

"Why do we have to train with the Li family? Can’t we just hire our own martial arts instructor?"

"It’s not as easy as you think!"

Jiang Huailiang explained the practical realities to the children.

"Do you think family heritage is just about literary/cultural pursuits? It’s the same with martial arts. Those who truly possess real martial skills aren’t people you can just hire casually.

The Li family’s martial arts instructor is actually a clansman of the Zhao family! Otherwise, with our common status, how could someone like that even take notice of us?"