Swords, magic, and martial arts

After dinner, Weber approached Rod and said he wanted to learn how to cook tonight's meal from Rod.

Rod agreed without hesitation, telling him that he would teach him how to do it if he had time the next day.

Back in his room, Rod lay on the bed, not wanting to move at all. He was already injured, and then he spent so much time cooking, only to end up not eating much himself.

He decided to practice Shenzhaogong briefly tonight and then go to sleep, so as not to disrupt his sleep schedule.

It is said that Shenzhao Gong is similar to ordinary breathing exercises in the beginning, and you can't see a significant difference in the first ten or twenty years. It only becomes powerful in the later stages.

If it's this powerful, similar to other breathing exercises, then how powerful must the likes of "Nine Yang Divine Skill" and "Yi Jin Jing" be? Luo De felt a sense of longing.

But can mastering martial arts like the "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms" kill the evil dragons that actually exist in this world?

My right hand is injured right now. I can still cook, but I'm at a disadvantage in combat. Should I take advantage of these few days of rest to practice left-hand swordsmanship?

Using a sword with the left hand can be very unsettling for opponents who are used to using swords with their right hand. Often, it can kill even the strongest but most accustomed opponents right at the start of a battle.

Thinking about it carefully, it seems that I am entirely passive, with nothing that I can actively use.

Leaving aside Iron Shirt, the only offensive martial art is Basic Swordsmanship, which can only be practiced in ordinary times to improve one's control over the sword.

When fighting someone, you can't just shout and unleash a powerful attack.

Next time I have the chance, I must learn a martial art that I can use proactively.

Rhodes was really tired, and he fell asleep while thinking about it...

……

The next day, Rhodes practiced left-handed swordsmanship in the castle courtyard, holding the sword given to him by the female knight.

Except for his thigh and left palm, all the injuries on his body were cuts he made himself with a dagger; they were all superficial wounds. After resting for so long and receiving treatment from the castle maester, he is now able to practice swordsmanship again.

The injury to his thigh hadn't broken the bone; it only caused him some pain when moving. The injury to his left hand, while initially appearing serious, was actually minor. It had completely scabbed over, and with the bandage and gloves on, it had virtually no impact on Rhodes's left-hand sword practice.

His charred right hand was still somewhat clumsy, and he couldn't grip it as tightly as before. He could still use a spatula, but he couldn't hold onto a sword very well.

With the help of basic swordsmanship, he quickly adapted to using a left-handed sword. In just one morning, he was almost as proficient as when he first transmigrated to this world using a right-handed sword.

I estimate that after another day or two of practice, my left hand will be as dexterous as my right, and maybe in a few more days I'll be even better at using a sword with my left hand than my right.

He returned to the castle to rest, preparing to have lunch before training for the entire afternoon.

His previous experience made him realize how important strength is; without strength, one can only be slaughtered by others.

It is said that last time, the priest of the Cult of Death used his mask to hypnotize the residents of several nearby villages and towns, gathering them on that mountain in preparation for their deaths to enhance the mask's power.

If Rhodes and his group went again the next day, they definitely wouldn't be able to save a single person. Weber said that the actions of the Cult of Death in Nord had angered the Holy Spirit August, who was the protector of the Nords.

Rhodes was chosen by the Holy Spirit to save the innocent villagers, and at the most dangerous moment, he unleashed a power that was not his own, killing the priest and using his remaining power to save his innocent followers and the female knight who stood on the side of justice.

After Rhodes' mission was accomplished, the Holy Spirit withdrew its power, and Rhodes fell into a coma for three days. He could no longer use the dark green flames as he had near the altar. Weber did not notice that Rhodes suddenly unleashed black flames from his sword, breaking through the priest's protective shield.

Rhodes didn't believe Weber at all, but Weber understood why Rhodes disagreed with his point of view.

Last night at dinner, Rod asked Baron what was wrong with his right hand. Baron said he didn't know either, because he had never been burned by the flames he generated.

Weber said that the flames were a gift from the Holy Spirit, which is why they burned Rhodes.

The Nords worship fire because it provides warmth and protection, and the Holy Spirit August is also the god of fire.

According to legend, he used the flames he generated to resist and kill the dragon king's dragonfire, ultimately freeing the Nords from the dragon's tyrannical rule.

"Let's go to the kitchen now," Webber said as Rhodes found a seat in the hall.

In the kitchen, Rhodes taught Weber his best recipe for fried rice. Weber was amazed to see the cooking method of "frying" for the first time and believed that it must be knowledge given to Rhodes by the Holy Spirit.

Rod was somewhat helpless after learning of Weber's thoughts; he had always been a staunch atheist.

Upon arriving in this world, he believed that all the gods in the world were fabricated by humans, and in the end, he not only deceived himself but also others.

The main reason is that the gods and doctrines they fabricated have some merit, which is why many people believe them.

Like the cult of death, they believe that this world is actually the real hell, and that death is returning to the embrace of the Lord and enjoying bliss every day.

This idea was firmly believed by those who had suffered greatly, and even some nobles who were kind-hearted and compassionate towards the poor believed in this view and went to extremes.

It's obvious that the priest Rhodes killed before must have been a nobleman in the past; it's unclear why he went astray.

Killing the priest with his own hands did not make Rhodes feel uncomfortable at all, as it was his first time killing someone. In fact, he felt quite pleased. He knew that he was not doing this because he was cold-blooded or bloodthirsty, but because killing the priest was the right thing to do and in accordance with his conscience.

If he doesn't die, everyone near the altar, including himself, will be killed by him.

Soon, Webber made a plate of fried rice himself. Just by looking at the color and smelling the aroma, Rod knew that this plate of fried rice must be delicious, but it was still a little worse than what he could make himself.

Rod added some chopped cured ham to the fried rice this time, so it will definitely taste better than yesterday's.

After making the fried rice, Rod asked the plump cook Jenny to prepare a bag of flour that could not be sifted finely, and to chop the pork and the scallions from this world together into minced meat, so that he could make dumplings that evening.

Yesterday, Rhodes promised Jon that he would teach his cook some dishes, and in return, he would receive a variety of tableware crafted by the castle's blacksmiths and carpenters.

Rhodes showed the blacksmith a drawing of the wok and frying pan from his memory, and gestured to indicate their approximate size. The blacksmith thought it would be a very simple task for him. The carpenter would then make a steamer and a lid for Rhodes.

Of course, a few sets of these things will also be made for the castle's kitchen.

Rod and Webber carried a large bowl of fried rice back to the hall, where Baron and the others were already sitting at the table waiting to eat.

This huge bowl of fried rice should be enough to make them throw up.

After the maid divided a large bowl of fried rice evenly onto everyone's plates, the doors to the castle hall were pushed open, and a guard brought in an old acquaintance of Rhodes and his companions...