Tian Rulie assumed a combat stance, gripped his saber, and cupped his hands in a formal salute—the traditional etiquette required when a newcomer in the pugilistic world crossed swords with a senior.
He felt a mixture of anxiety, timidity, and the thrill of facing a true master. His hands trembled slightly.
This was the normal reaction of an ordinary person encountering an expert. Someone like Shi Potian, who could defeat veteran masters with random, chaotic knife strikes, was ultimately a rare exception. After all, not everyone possessed Shi Potian's invincible posture; most people who practiced martial arts diligently all their lives still ended up being utterly crushed by masters, serving merely as stepping stones to the experts' fame.
Chapter 36