MHNEB 16 (1/2)

Book 1:  Now we don’t hear the loom shuttle; we only hear our daughter sighing.

练武木兰

Chapter 16: Mulan Practices Martial Arts

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Edited by Granny

After the fourteen horsemen left, the Hua younger brother took the silk out from the woodpile in their house.

Silk is easier to exchange for other goods than other types of cloth, because silk can be used as silk paper or spun into silk threads, and it can also be brushed on bamboo windows, for protection against the wind and cold.

Mulan’s family will naturally discover the cloth when it is stuffed into the woodpile. However, as the silk cloth is rolled into small circular ball-like shapes and stuffed into the seams of the woodpiles if it weren't for Hua younger brother who discovered this as he got up early to chop the firewood, nobody would have noticed it in the woodpile.

Hua younger brother dug out all the silk cloth and carefully patted off the dust. Then, he stuffed the cloth in 3 to 4 baskets. 

These 3 to 4 baskets of silk cloth would be enough to upkeep their family’s expenditures for a few years. 

When Hua younger brother carried the basket out of their house to find his elder sister, He Mulan was practising martial arts in front of the house.

He Mulan was unable to recall Hua Mulan's memory that was passed down to her clearly. He Mulan had seriously considered whether Hua Mulan had also transmigrated like her. Therefore, the memory left to her was not kept in her brain but remained in Hua Mulan’s soul. If that's the case, she sincerely hopes that General Hua can dictate her life as she pleases.

Nevertheless, Hua Mulan’s bodily memory was completely inherited by He Mulan. This probably reflects why many are "all brawn and no brains” because moving the body is easier than using the brain. At least, when you hardworkingly put an effort in improving your physical strength, you will see an upward improvement. However, if you are not smart, efforts made to improve your IQ would be less effective.

There is a simple reason why He Mulan practices Martial Arts. It is neither to become an expert that can defeat invincible enemies nor improve her health. The main reason is to maintain her figure.

That’s right. The reason is that simple.

She was a doctor in her past life and as a forensic doctor who had dissected many corpses, she naturally had a thorough understanding of the structure of the human body.

If both fat and muscle weigh the same, the volume of fat is more than thrice the volume of muscles. This is why many athletes and bodybuilding enthusiasts became so fat until they are unrecognizable after they stop exercising.

He Mulan diagnosed that the reason behind why Hua Mulan is not menstruating is because her body fat is too low, which has caused her menstruation cycle to mess up. 

This is a common condition many athletes have. It is probably that Mulan joined the army at the age when she was about to start menstruating. After the intensive training, she lost weight rapidly. The fat on her body became muscle. Oftentimes, in times of war and long-distance journeys, the improper diet that she had been on could cause her body fat to be lower.

Hua Mulan possesses the typical tall and slender figure. In modern times, she would surely be one of the models with the best figure. Hua Mulan has no trace of fat on her body and her streamlined muscles allow her to have both the daintiness of a woman and the boldness of a man.

But all these actions are based on the fact that "Although Mulan retired, she has not slacked off on exercising".

People had nicknamed her idol with titles like the “Retiree General” or “Old Hag”. For the sake of allowing her idol not to be dubbed another title of “The Fat General”, He Mulan could only continue exercising early in the morning. She did a series of exercises, including boxing, practising her swordplay, jogging around the perimeter of the village fields and other activities.

For the sake of maintaining the image of her idol, He Mulan had continuously worked hard.

If not because every time Hua younger brother saw her carrying a bucket to fill the water in the water tank at home, or chopping up a few pieces of firewood, Hua younger brother would display his expression of "Oh my God, I let my sister do this kind of chore. I deserve to die", He Mulan had really wanted to fill several large water tanks in his house and continue to chop the large block of wood into firewood.

At this time, He Mulan was wielding Hua Mulan’s famed sword, "Pan Shi” (0), as she made a stabbing motion.

The sword, so-called "Pan Shi", is a heavy sword that is not a popular choice of the weapon within the soldiers. Among melee weapons, the men in the army prefer sabres best. Even if they choose to carry a sword, most will opt for long swords. After all, the motion of chopping is less laborious and more lethal than the motion of stabbing.

Pan Shi is a unique sword. According to several tales and legends, the sabre belonged to one of the fierce generals of the Three Kingdoms Period. Because of his incomparable strength, he tried to wield many different swords and he found it too light. The general’s liege then searched far and wide to smith this type of heavy sword that would crack any ordinary swords.

As for who this fierce general is, there are different views. Still, it does not discount the fact that this sword was terribly fatal. In the end, it unknowingly fell into Hua Mulan's hand and became a legendary weapon.

For people who don't have enough energy, she feared that most of them will use it like a steel pipe or a mace.

Hua Mulan is not a wandering swordsman traversing in Jianghu. She does not possess the exquisite forms to confrontational swordplay, but her strength has influenced the style of her swordplay to the route of “using brute force to resolve problems”. With this, few people dare to confront her using their brute strength.

Notably, although "Pan Shi” is not a very sharp sword, it is still an extremely sturdy sword. This type of sword is suitable for her swordplay style.

In the army, this style of sword technique that emphasizes broad swings and strong stabs can only be complemented by people like Hua Mulan.

"Sis, look what I found in the woodpile …... Ahhhhhhhh!" Brother Hua screamed in surprise as the sword tip has almost reached the tip of his nose. The silk held in his hands also had slipped off. The pieces of cloth fluttered in the air, creating a humorous atmosphere. 

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(0) Pan shi (磐石): monolith; her sword is named monolith

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Fleur's corner:

I finished my finals, I have officially graduated from my undergraduate studies; yay! Updates would be more regular, but as the later chapters get longer, they may be split into more parts. 

I may pick up another novel or release one chapter of the novel as a trial as I get freer. If any of you guys have any suggestions on what novel to pick up, please leave it in the comments section. No guarantees I'll pick the novel up, or any novel up though. 

Part 2 is coming up by next week(weds?). 

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