The Title of 'Spear Spirit'

Time, like sand slipping through one's fingers, passed silently and invisibly.
Before they knew it, the view outside the window had already turned into a bitter winter with swirling snow.
To think that when Tai Yuan first embarked on his journey, it was early spring, with gentle warmth and everything budding. Who could have expected that time would fly so fast, and in the blink of an eye, they would enter the freezing cold of winter?
Over the past few months, Tai Yuan had devoted himself entirely to recuperating from his soul injuries. Through countless sessions of focused cultivation and self-healing, he had not only successfully repaired the damage but had even achieved a minor breakthrough in his realm, embodying the saying "destruction brings creation."
By comparison, Lin Pingzhi and Himura Kenshin recovered much faster.
The two of them had not suffered any substantial external injuries in the first place, merely excessive exhaustion of their mental energy. After a few days of meticulous soul-nourishing, they were brimming with vitality, their vigor restored to its original state.
However, during the months Tai Yuan spent recovering, the tales of two youths began to spread throughout the towns within a hundred-mile radius.
One of them was a slender youth clad in black, wielding a twelve-foot crimson spear.
He traveled everywhere, seeking out martial arts halls and sects to actively initiate spars. What amazed people was that throughout battle after battle, he had never tasted a single defeat.
What was even more astonishing was that among the spectators of each match, a few keen-eyed individuals noticed that the youth's martial arts were improving like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. His rate of progress could only be described as meteoric.
People secretly clicked their tongues; such terrifying talent was truly rare in the world.
They quietly speculated which sect this genius youth belonged to.
Among the spectators, female martial artists and daughters of wealthy merchants were not few, and their eyes were involuntarily drawn to the youth.
For no other reason than that the youth was simply too outstanding—not only in his martial arts but also in his exceptionally handsome appearance.
His face looked like a meticulously carved piece of art without a single blemish. His eyes were bright and deep, like radiant gems in the deep ocean, shining with a brilliant light that made people unable to resist falling for him.
Some shy young ladies could only steal glances at Lin Pingzhi, while some bold female martial artists actively inquired about the young man's background.
During these spars, Lin Pingzhi displayed extremely high moral character and refinement.
Even when facing opponents whose martial arts were far inferior to his own, he never spoke with a mocking tone, let alone used his superior martial skills to humiliate others.
On the contrary, in his dealings with others, he was straightforward, unbothered by trivialities, and composed in his actions, fully displaying his magnanimity.
Precisely because of this, even those who lost to his spear did not harbor resentment. Instead, they respected him and took the initiative to befriend him.
After all, anyone could foresee that a youth with such high martial arts would surely become a pivotal figure in the martial world in the future.
And this highly anticipated youth was indeed Lin Pingzhi.
After fully recovering his spirit and obtaining the consent of his master, Tai Yuan, he began his journey of sparring.
He was currently in the Lingnan Circuit. Unlike the Central Plains where sects stood in numbers, the martial arts sects with long-standing legacies here were mostly second- or third-rate.
But he kept his master's words in mind: to help others and do good.
Those masters who opened martial arts halls relied on this for their livelihood. If he completely stripped them of any ability to fight back during a spar, making them lose all face, how could they establish themselves in the martial world in the future?
Wouldn't that be making enemies?
Of course, it wasn't that he feared them; there was simply no need to offend others for no reason.
Lin Pingzhi once asked: "Master, Master, what if I accidentally offend someone narrow-minded who seeks revenge for even a glare?"
Tai Yuan cast a brief glance at him, then spoke unhurriedly: "When will vengeance ever end? It is better... to resolve it with a single slash."
Lin Pingzhi was dumbfounded: "..."
Therefore, when Lin Pingzhi challenged others to spars, if he encountered someone whose martial arts were far inferior to his, he would do his best to save them enough face.
Of course, these challenges were not without rewards. If they had been entirely fruitless, he would have stopped long ago.
His master had only taught him the methods of exerting force and finger techniques, saying that spear techniques had to be comprehended and created by himself. Through more than a hundred spars over these three months, Lin Pingzhi gradually developed a clear direction for his spear techniques.
Perhaps because he had originally learned the Pixie Sword Art, even though he was now using a spear, his style was still characterized primarily by "speed." Moreover, because his Qi and blood surged after practicing fist techniques, and his strength had greatly increased, his attacks emphasized the coexistence of the illusory and the real, combining hardness and softness. When striking, he was sharp yet restrained, and when retreating, he was as swift as the wind, cautious yet grand.
Coupled with his handsome appearance, he gradually earned the title of "Spear Spirit."
This also led to a rapid increase in the number of people coming to visit. Helpless, the three of them had no choice but to leave the inn and find an agent to rent a small courtyard.
Naturally, this money was paid by Lin Pingzhi, since all these people had come looking for him.
There was no other way. The travel expenses given by his father, Lin Zhennan, were limited, so Lin Pingzhi had to find a way himself. Ultimately, after being introduced by newly made friends, he went to eradicate mountain bandit strongholds a few times and took their heads to the government office to claim the bounties.
Lin Pingzhi discovered that fighting bandits was completely different from sparring. In life-and-death struggles, others would use any underhanded and despicable means. He had almost suffered a setback, but this also allowed him to clearly understand the true nature of the martial world.
Meanwhile, the other youth who became famous was also a young man who set up a stall at the eastern city gate every day, making a living by crafting small toys.
Originally, no one would pay attention to a minor craftsman, but this youth was simply too beautiful.
The youth once wore a set of orange clothes. He had delicate features and was exceptionally handsome, beautiful like a young girl.
His eyebrows were like distant green mountains, his eyes like clear springs, his demeanor elegant, his expression refined, gentle and humble, indifferent and serene.
A delicate, beautiful youth, even more captivating than a woman disguised as a man.
Many young girls would run over to watch him from not far away. Some would pretend to be calm, step forward, and drop a few coins to have him carve a small toy, stealing glances at him while he worked.
The youth's expression while carving was peaceful and pure, a pleasing sight to behold. The young girls wondered how someone could be so beautiful.
Whenever the youth occasionally raised his head, they would immediately look away, pretending to admire the scenery.
This youth was Himura Kenshin.
Following the teachings of his master, Tai Yuan, he spent his days carving in places with high foot traffic, and after dusk, he began to cultivate his mind and practice Zen.
When carving, he had no fixed subjects. At first, he observed the passersby, watching their limbs and expressions to deduce their psychology, and then expressed it with his knife.
At the beginning, his skills were still raw, but they gradually became proficient, and Himura Kenshin's works became increasingly lifelike.
Eventually, people began to ask to buy them. Once his reputation spread, some even came to commission specific pieces—beasts, birds, figures, mountains, rocks, and so on.
Since Himura Kenshin did not travel around like Lin Pingzhi and did not look like a martial artist, his fame was not as widespread.
But Himura Kenshin did not feel disappointed. This kind of peaceful, ordinary life was exactly what he dreamed of.
As his skills grew highly proficient, Himura Kenshin noticed that his hands had become steadier and more powerful, and his control was more precise. Although his time practicing swordsmanship over these past few months had been very short, he knew his swordsmanship had improved by leaps and bounds.