Chapter 0 Shaar Thunder (2/2)

When the boy grew a bit older, he became interested in weapons and martial arts. Constantly listening to the bragging of the old man, Shaar Thunder expressed a strong desire to learn martial arts from him. In the beginning the old man acted arrogantly and refused. Unable to endure Shaar Thunder’s constant nagging, he finally conceded andthe painful ten year period for Shaar began.

If it was only carrying water bucks and physical hardship itwould be still acceptable. In addition, he had to endure a smelly medicine bath everyday which would knock out everyone else just by the smell of it, but Shaar Thunder endured it all.

What he hated most was, that the old man who called himself sword master was actually not willing to teach him to use a sword!

One time, a minstrel who travelled the world visited the tavern in the town. He told the stories of the legendary warriors on the continent. At that time, the young Shaar Thunder was listening and found great joy in imagining the stories of these arrogant and noble warriors wearing snow white cloaks, cladding in full armour, with sharp long swords in hand and surrounded by allies and enemies ……ah so damn amazing!

For unknown reasons, the old man claimed that, to become a sword master, Shaar Thunder could only use an axe as weapon!

Do not misunderstand. It wasn’t the kind of axes or halberds that the legendary masters used.

It was the kind of axe that you could buy in the town blacksmith for six cooper plates and villagers used to cut wood in the mountains. People also called it a firewood axe.

As for how to practice and obtain axe techniques, Shaar Thunder was clueless. The old man once said that the path he taught Shaar Thunder was in matter of fact a return to the roots and original nature. People normally used the axe with precision and strength, however the old man told Shaar Thunder: “As soon as you can describe your axe technique as “skilful”, then you have reached your goal.”

Shaar Thunder knew what precise and strong strike meant. When he was 13 years old, he could throw his axe and cut the tail of a running rabbit 50 steps away.

In the end, how to practise a technique that was regarded as “skilful” was a matter of different opinions. According to the old man, he had to use a ten-kilo heavy axe and carve a piece of tofu into a chrysanthemum – which was obviously something very hard to do for normal people.

TL: chrysanthemum is a kind of flower.

In matter of fact, Shaar Thunder was always suspicious about the axe techniques that the old man taught him. The entire content of his martial arts exercises every day was: Cutting firewood, cutting tofu, in addition to cleaning his preys’ intestines, dividing its meat and chopping its bones.

Although he had some doubts in his heart, Shaar Thunder practised this set of “axe techniques” for a decade. He practiced very diligently, but the old man never gave him any assessments. At most, the old man would hold his liquor bottle and squat on the side while drinking. His look never showed any appreciation nor discontent and his eyes were always hazy.

Up until a year ago, just before the old man died of bad health, he was finally willing to open his mouth and assessed this adopted son’s martial arts. When he gave his assessment at that time, Shaar Thunder thought for three days and was still unable to figure out his meaning. He did not know if the old man was praising him or if he changed his attitude and was beating around the bush to curse him – he actually suspected the second guess. When the old man finally became ill and bedridden, he wanted to continue drinking. Shaar Thunder however refused his request while considering his health – also because his household was so poor that they had barely enough to eat.

This probably drew the old man’s rage onto him.

Ah, before dying, the old man said.

At that time he gave a complex look to his adopted son and sighed:

“ It was fucking creative of you to have practiced my technique “Thousand men army slaughter” to this extend – I forbid you to touch the axe ever again after I die. Anything else, swords, spears, clubs I don’t care, but you cannot use the axe or I will turn in my grave.”