With no awareness of the extra training he would receive that evening, Zhu Mingjun continued his lecture:
"Next, I will introduce you to the Six Harmonies Spear Technique:
First Harmony: Pear blossom spear circles as the mother, followed by enclosure and capture, pear blossom shakes its head for protection, inner eight gates, outer eight gates, flashing and blooming with spear artistry, named King Qin Polishing the Banner.
Second Harmony: First comes entwined spear, then burning spear, yellow dragon enters straight, black dragon enters the cave, eight gates for protection, flashing and blooming with spear artistry, named Phoenix Nods.
Third Harmony: First comes skillful piercing of fingers, then piercing sleeves, goshawk swoops on quail, landing straight in, twisting hand spear for protection, flashing and deceiving with spear artistry, named Pushing Grass to Find Snakes.
Fourth Harmony: First comes blocking spear, then seizing, cloud dragon entwines the pole, black tiger enters the mountain, carp leaps on its back, flashing and deceiving with spear artistry, spirit cat pounces on the mouse.
Fifth Harmony: Azure dragon swings its tail, white ox turns around, white ape offers peaches, yaksha probes the sea, white snake and strange phoenix, flashing and deceiving with spear artistry, collapsing and retreating for protection.
Sixth Harmony: Following up with thrusts, luring and capturing, riding the dragon upwards, stealing peaches from under leaves, mounting a horse and drawing a sword, flashing and deceiving with spear artistry, white ape drags the saber."
With each harmony, Zhu Mingjun would demonstrate a set of movements. After completing all six harmonies, he said, "Spear techniques are difficult to master, so I will first teach the forms. Once you have learned the forms, I will teach you the cultivation of intent. Now, everyone pick up your wooden spears and spread out a bit. I will demonstrate the key points of the first harmony and the first technique in slow motion."
Food is eaten bite by bite, and spear techniques are practiced step by step. This cannot be like Lin Yuan and Wu Tian practicing combat skills, where they spar daily until exhaustion.
This spear technique cannot be practiced that way, especially for beginners.
Upon hearing Zhu Mingjun's words, Lin Yuan and the others each picked up a wooden spear. The creation of wooden spears was simple: just dismantle a wooden sofa or bed frame, shape the wood into a stick with an axe, and sharpen one end, then nail on a piece of sheet metal.
What, you ask how the sheet metal was obtained? Household pots and pans are precisely that. Heh heh (°﹃°)
Half of the rooftop space was quite large, but for long weapons like wooden spears, it was a bit insufficient. Therefore, two people were sent to stand in the gap between the rooftop structure and the wall.
"The Six Harmonies Spear Technique has a total of 'six harmonies,' and each harmony has 'six moves,' making a total of thirty-six moves for the Six Harmonies Spear, plus six instances of flashing and blooming. The first technique: hold the spear steady and alive, the front tube locked behind, hold the spear with both hands, steady but not stiff, alive but not slippery. The posture of holding the spear is called the four planes. The so-called four planes are: the top is level, the shoulders are level, the feet are level, and the spear is level.
Everyone, watch my demonstration..."
Time slowly passed. The rooftop was filled with spear shadows, and Lin Yuan and the others followed Zhu Mingjun, moving their wooden spears. After each movement, Zhu Mingjun would go to each person to guide their actions.
However, the reality proved that this thing truly required talent. Among the seven people training, only Zhao Anjing had some talent, and it was only above average. The others had mediocre aptitude. To achieve mastery would require years of accumulation.
"Alright, that's all for today's practice. Tomorrow, we will learn the rest," Zhu Mingjun said, looking troubled.
"Everyone drink some water and rest. We'll go down to move supplies later!" Lin Yuan said, carrying a large bag of the slightly sweet spring water he had found.
"Hooray!" Everyone responded cheerfully.
Indeed, once people entered the apocalypse, they all entered hamster mode, with their interest in scavenging for supplies increasing severalfold.
No, it seemed that Chinese people had always liked it, oh no, they liked farming and then watching the harvest.
"Captain, Captain, what should we do about this!" Zhu Mingjun ran over, having barely taken a few sips of water. He was quite frustrated.
"What's wrong, Little Zhu Brother? Is there a problem with the training?"
"I'm ashamed to say it, but I feel it's my fault. I feel the training isn't very effective. Captain, you learned combat skills so well after only five days with Sister Wu Tian. Do you have any methods?" Zhu Mingjun's eyes sparkled.
It's possible, but are you sure you want them to stab each other with wooden spears?
The thought of that scene sent a shiver down Lin Yuan's spine. No, no, people would die.
"Little Zhu Brother, the spear technique itself is good, but it's not easy to learn. So, you should find the talented members and train them separately. For the remaining members, teach them some of the most basic things, so they have a way to use polearms. We are dealing with zombies now, so..."
"Right!" Before Lin Yuan could finish, Zhu Mingjun clenched his right fist and slammed it into his left palm, as if suddenly enlightened. "Captain, you're right. It's my first time teaching, and I didn't realize that spear techniques essentially involve blocking, seizing, thrusting, chopping, collapsing, pointing, entangling, twisting, pushing, lifting, and retracting. And when dealing with zombies, we can simplify it further. Add a few tips on techniques, and they'll have a foundation for using polearms. No need to be fixated on specific moves, and we don't have to fight individually. Two people can hinder the zombies' movement, and one can kill them. Ah ha, Captain, you're truly amazing!"
Watching Zhu Mingjun muttering about improvement plans while chugging water, Lin Yuan remained bewildered (ง°Θ°)ว.
What did I say?
What's so amazing about me?
However, it was best that Zhu Mingjun could figure things out on his own. Being a good team member meant having initiative.
"Remember to go collect supplies later!" Lin Yuan reminded him.
"Got it!"
Wu Tian also smiled. Although she lacked talent in spear techniques, she still had Lin Yuan with her. To her surprise, Lin Yuan, who she had always thought was talented in learning, was also defeated by the spear technique.
What a joyous occasion.
"By the way, Lin Yuan, have you figured out the route and plan for going to the countryside?" Wu Tian suddenly thought of this plan, which could only be executed in about half a month.
"I'm already thinking about it. It's mainly about the roads and vehicles. Using trucks is definitely out, as they're too loud, and we don't know how many quiet cars are in the underground garage..."
Lin Yuan suddenly stopped as he said this, his eyes widening as if he had just thought of something terrible.
Wu Tian also reacted at this moment.
"Underground garage!"
They said it almost in unison. Lin Yuan's heart pounded, and he could feel his heart about to leap out of his chest.
The entire residential area sloped from east to west and faced south. The stairwells of the three buildings where they were located all connected to the third basement level. The third basement level, near the central park, was the underground garage. The three buildings to the south were connected to the first basement level, which also connected to the underground garage.
Although there were first and second basement levels, there were no corridors or residences, only stairwells, which directly led to the underground garage.
However, there were definitely zombies in the underground garage, and they just didn't know if they had discovered a way to come up.
"Combat team, urgent assembly! Check your equipment and prepare to seal off the stairwells from the underground garage to the upper floors!"
Hearing the order, the three special police officers reacted first, packing their equipment. Zhu Mingjun was slightly slower, but he quickly picked up his wooden spear and stood before Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan stood before them, "This urgent operation is because I just suddenly realized that the zombies in the underground garage could move upwards through the stairwells.
The situation is sudden, and it's possible that zombies have already appeared. Starting from the first basement level, there is completely no light in the passages. The voice-activated lights cannot function, so everyone carry a flashlight. Zhu Mingjun, you don't have combat attire, and your clothing's resistance to bites is poor, so you only need to carry two chairs as doorstops. Everyone else, carry barricades and wait for us on the first floor. Wu Tian and I will be there shortly. Depart immediately."
After speaking, Lin Yuan and Wu Tian went downstairs to change.
Wang Zhihai and the others immediately took action: "Mighty Man Qingtian, we'll carry the barricades down. Little Zhu Brother, you follow behind us with two chairs."
Although the barricades were heavy, three people could carry them.
"One, two, three, lift."
"Captain Wang, this thing is quite heavy!"
"Stop the nonsense. If it's not heavy, how can it block zombies."
They weren't completely unenhanced. The broadcast stated that the effects of enhancement varied with the intensity of training, not that people couldn't be enhanced by fungal spores without systematic training.
They reached the first floor without much effort.
After waiting for about two minutes, Lin Yuan and the others arrived fully equipped, carrying a bag of flashlights.
They distributed them to Wang Zhihai and the others.
"Alright, I'll take the lead. Wang Zhihai and Zhao Mighty Man will carry the barricades behind me. Wu Tian and Mu Qingtian will be behind them. Zhu Mingjun will be at the very back. If I fall behind, open a path through the barricades so I can retreat behind them. Do you understand?"
Because there was no light below, the zombies' abilities would greatly increase in the dark. Wang Zhihai and the others were at the front, and even with barricades, they might be pounced on. Therefore, he would be in front as a buffer.
"Understood!"
"Good, turn on your flashlights, illuminate all directions, and go downstairs!"