In the sword manual, the internal energy cultivation method was the simplest—after all, this was a secret not to be passed on, so only the most superficial layer was included. Next came the movement techniques and saber techniques, which were explained relatively clearly, using the most straightforward language.

As for the internal energy method, Grace Bolton's original body had been practicing it daily since the age of four until fourteen, so it was deeply ingrained in memory, and even in the residual memories, it remained very solid. Thus, he had basically mastered all three layers of what he had learned, which was far more profound and effective than what was written here.

As for the movement and saber techniques, they were not the main focus of the original body's training, so there was little memory of them. Grace Bolton had always been troubled by this, so now it truly felt like timely help in a snowstorm.

Especially in Grace Bolton's view, so-called movement and saber techniques must be practical. Adam Young had fought in over two hundred battles, so the saber techniques he acquired were naturally extremely practical. Even without actual practice, just from the descriptions, it was clear that every strike was made with maximum lethality in mind. There were only twelve moves, but they already captured the true essence of saber techniques.

Grace Bolton remembered that he had once read: during the War of Resistance, when fighting the Japanese with bayonets, there were only eight truly practical moves; the rest were all for show.

Even if this world had more variations due to internal energy, the basics must still be these few types!

He became so engrossed in reading that, before he knew it, a thin stack of pages was finished by the time a candle burned out. Only then did he realize he was already tired from sitting, and the heated brick bed had almost gone cold.

"Though the Long March is as hard as iron, now we are taking the first step anew!" Closing the thin pages, he got off the bed and walked outside. Although the cold wind outside was biting, the moonlight was like water. Reciting this line, he felt his spirit soar, his energy flow like a rainbow, and the meaning of striving in life was all contained in these fourteen characters.

The pent-up frustration and humiliation he had endured over the past half year all dissipated in that moment.

Chapter Four: On Meaning (Part One)

Although he had become a deputy incense master, he had neither money nor people, so Grace Bolton did not make any grand moves—he simply gathered a dozen or so street thugs about his age and took them out onto the street.

There were five markets in the city, with the South Gate market facing the Yangtze River being the most prosperous. However, there were several streets within the market. Grace Bolton picked one of them and never crossed the line. These thugs just collected a bit of protection money, but it was more than enough to support themselves.

With the reputation of the Bamboo Flower Gang and Mr. Foster, perhaps this little commotion would be noticed, but no obvious hostile forces had come to suppress them yet. It seemed people were still trying to figure out their intentions, and time just passed like that.

At Bai Family Academy, Old Master Bai taught classes for a meager fee. Every morning, Grace Bolton would go there to study.

During this period, Grace Bolton would listen to the teacher in the morning, practice saber techniques in the early morning and afternoon, and patrol the street. Although he originally did not know calligraphy and had to start from scratch, perhaps because this body had learned before, the residual habits and memories helped him progress quickly. In just over two months, he was already writing beautiful characters.

This day was just like any other. By noon, his subordinates arrived.

"How are things today?"

"Nothing much, all normal. The brothers practiced a bit and have made some progress." The one speaking was George Knight, and around him was Thomas Clark, who handed over a basket of steamed buns.

In the original book, George Knight and Thomas Clark were peripheral thugs of the Bamboo Flower Gang. Now that they had officially set up an incense outlet in Yangzhou, they naturally became his subordinates.

Grace Bolton took the buns and started eating right away. As for these two, he felt no particular emotion—he simply treated them as subordinates, neither enthusiastic nor suspicious, just calmly saying, "Do your job well. I know you sneak into Bai Family Academy to learn when you have time, which is a good thing, so I won't say anything. But don't neglect your main duties, or the gang rules won't be lenient."

"Don't worry, incense master, we won't neglect our proper work."

"Good. You two should learn some real skills from Mr. Foster. In June, I plan to hold an assessment. Those who achieve something will be promoted and given the Wind Bamboo badge." Grace Bolton picked up another bun and said, "Then we can negotiate with Big Carter to see if they will submit or prepare to fight us. In any case, in the second half of the year, we will launch an attack on the entire South Gate market!"

"Practice your martial arts more. That way, you can get promoted and also have a better chance of surviving. Do you two understand?" Grace Bolton scolded them as if they were children.

"Understood, incense master. We will work hard." George Knight and Thomas Clark exchanged a glance before replying.

"Good." Grace Bolton actually knew in his heart that, according to the book, these two always dreamed of joining the righteous army and becoming great generals or prime ministers, their ambitions were high. But that had nothing to do with him. As long as they were his subordinates now and did their jobs well, that was enough.

From the perspective of those in power, sometimes, that's all that is required.

In the Bamboo Flower Gang, the leader had ten bamboo sticks, the strategist nine, then the hall master eight, deputy hall master seven, helmsman six, deputy helmsman five, incense master four, deputy incense master three, two sticks for minor leaders, one for official members, and even some peripheral members without any sticks at all.