Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Chang'an Ink Sword Grove Training Ground (2)
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I gripped the sword lightly.
The sensation of it clinging perfectly to my hand. Now, holding the sword felt more natural than not holding it.
That time in the Black Wall Cavern had shaped me that way.
The sword was an extension of my arm. A part of my body.
It didn't matter what kind of sword it was. Even if it didn't take the form of a sword.
Unity of Man and Sword.
It wasn't some profound realm. Or was it just me?
In any case, you achieve Unity of Man and Sword when the sword no longer feels heavy.
Just like how people don't fuss over the weight of their own arms.
I swung the sword lightly three times.
Horizontal slash. Vertical slash. Thrust.
Three Talents Sword Technique.
The most basic of martial arts. So fundamental that it's hardly worthy of being called a sword technique.
But everything was contained within it.
All swordsmanship begins there. No exceptions. Even the loftiest advanced techniques start from the basics.
The key is 'how you wield the sword?'
A twig in the hand of a master can be deadlier than a famed sword forged from millennia-old steel.
The foundation is the same. It's all about how you combine them and adapt to the situation.
That's why every swordsman's journey starts the same way.
Horizontal slash. Vertical slash. Thrust.
I swung the sword horizontally.
The horizontal swing traced a horizon line. Or you could call it a horizontal plane.
Dividing. Separating.
This was the earth. Vast and endlessly spread out.
I swung the sword vertically.
The vertical swing was like a falling thunderbolt. Or descending rain.
Connecting. Linking.
This was the heavens. Vastly stretching out.
I thrust the sword forward.
The thrust marked a direction. A gaze. A fate.
The path forward. True orientation.
This was humanity. Like the path humans tread.
Heaven, Earth, and Man. The Three Talents.
Everything begins there.
Heaven and earth. And man.
It might sound grandiose, but that's what I realized. From there, countless variations branched out.
The first variation created is the diagonal slash.
Swords aren't always swung purely horizontal or vertical.
Countless diagonals. Countless sword techniques.
The diagonal is the meeting of heaven and earth. The harmony of heaven and earth, the union of yin and yang.
Thus, the diagonal is the Taiji.
Separate yet united.
Depending on which direction you lean when swinging, the energy contained within changes completely.
Heaven and earth meet. Separation and union, gathering and scattering.
A horizontal slash followed immediately by a vertical one.
Briefly separating, then merging again.
Tributaries converging from all directions become a single mighty river, surging powerfully.
So this technique is called Great River.
The sword slashes upward in reverse.
A simple horizontal slash, but ignoring body weight and gravity to slash upward isn't efficient.
However, that unpredictability makes it more destructive. The opponent would be stunned by a sword rising from below.
So this technique is called Defying Heaven.
A powerful thrust, followed by a horizontal swing and a forceful downward strike.
This technique is called Cumulonimbus.
Layered clouds. Dark clouds birthing lightning.
When striking down powerfully, it must startle all creation under heaven.
That was the swordsmanship I created.
Or rather, could I even call it creation?
I had merely imitated the great nature.
After swinging the sword for a good while, I caught my breath, brought the sword in front of me, and stood it upright properly.
As the demonstration ended and I looked at Seolha and Yeonhwa, they stared at me blankly before snapping back to reality simultaneously.
"What do you think?"
"It's... too difficult."
"Profound..."
Similar reactions. Expressions showing they couldn't quite grasp it.
"Right? Honestly, me too."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"How can the Great Hero demonstrate it and then say he doesn't understand either?"
The two women spoke to me with a hint of exasperation.
But there was no helping it. That was the truth.
"The sword I showed recreates the phenomena of all heaven and earth. I merely imitated them; I don't fully understand them all. What I gained was just a small insight."
The two still looked like they couldn't comprehend.
Of course. That's natural. But someday, they would understand. Even if not now.
"You're saying you'll tailor this for us?"
"Yeah. You can't do everything yet, so I'll observe what you're good at and create specialized martial arts for those strengths."
"It's such a distant goal. Impossible to even fathom."
Seolha said that, and Yeonhwa wore a similar expression.
Well, sure. Creating martial arts isn't easy.
No one becomes a Grandmaster of a Generation just like that.
Moreover, I was saying I'd customize them for each individual.
If they were more advanced, they'd have looked at me like I was crazy.
Seolha and Yeonhwa were at the first-rate level.
Once their internal energy fully recovered, they'd be at the entry of peak realm, probably.
Right now, they could barely fend for themselves.
But with solid fundamentals, their skills would rise quickly.
I could probably get them to transcendent realm without much trouble.
Beyond that was self-realization, nothing I could do.
And so, the two women began training their martial arts.
Separate from the dantian.
Lack of a dantian didn't prevent martial arts training.
My job was to identify their strengths as they trained.
Nothing beats honing what they're already good at.
A perfect hexagon is hard to make.
Right now, perfecting even one aspect was priority.
Then, even a mere peak expert could defeat a transcendent one.
A martial artist's duel isn't a simple battle power comparison.
That's what life-or-death battles are.
A peak expert's peak could exploit a transcendent's weakness.
So don't obsess over realms.
I needed to craft one thing they excelled at.
Of course, teach counters so it wouldn't be easily broken.
While Seolha and Yeonhwa trained with their swords, I fetched the Black Wall and began forging swords.
Since it's called Ink Sword Grove, I had to live up to the name.
It wasn't too hard since I'd made one before.
But tailoring to their strengths meant no rush.
Seolha was tall.
Tall for a woman. With ample chest and slender build, truly blessed.
Not innate heavenly martial body, but with a new dantian and purified meridians, comparable.
Artificial heavenly martial body, at least. Wait, bad phrasing.
Acquired heavenly martial body.
Anyway, martial arts are profound. Yet sometimes utterly simple.
Level often rides on internal energy.
But physical traits aren't meaningless.
Tall stature and long arms are advantageous, right?
That slight reach difference can take a life.
Compared to men, women's height and arm length mean less, but not entirely disadvantageous.
Women have inherent softness. Delicacy.
Not always, of course.
But genetic origins and repeated social roles make it pronounced.
Same for Seolha and Yeonhwa.
They're soft. Delicate.
So tailor martial arts and swords to that.
Yeonhwa was a full handspan shorter than Seolha.
A size that fits perfectly in one's arms.
If Seolha was cool beauty, Yeonhwa was the cute type.
Her small frame made her quick. Lightness is a drawback? Depends on perspective.
To harm, the blade needs just enter an inch. Wait, inch too short? Inch is about 3 cm. Make it two inches.
Anyway, their strengths were clear.
See?
Forcing Namgung Family's heavy, rigid swordsmanship on such women? No wonder inefficient.
The family had no choice. With their sword style like that.
People adapt to the swordsmanship.
I made Seolha's sword a bit longer.
A handspan longer than standard. As thin as possible to maximize flex.
A whip-like soft sword would be ideal, but Black Wall doesn't bend easily.
So approximate it. Martial arts would handle the rest.
Yeonhwa's sword was shorter and sturdier.
Her strength is agility. Small and fast, perfect for thrusts.
Thrusts need precision, no need for flex.
Just quick stabs to target spots.
So Yeonhwa's sword resembled a Western blade somewhat.
Adapting the martial arts wasn't hard.
With clear traits identified, specialize accordingly.
"Seolha. Your sword technique is Cloud Flow Sword Technique. Like the gentle, intricate flow of clouds. Here, this is yours. Name it yourself. It's a handspan longer than usual and flexes more. Handling it will be tricky at first, but it'll baffle your opponents even more."
"Thank you, Great Hero. Can I name the sword after the technique? Cloud Flow Sword."
"Doesn't matter. Up to the owner."
"Then I'll do that. I'll treasure it, Great Hero."
Seolha hugged the sword to her chest.
She really likes it, judging by that.
"Yeonhwa, yours is Piercing Branch Sword Technique. Specialized for penetration. Perfect for you. But the name's meh; change it if you want. Same for the sword."
I handed her the sword. She gripped it, swung a few times, then tried a quick thrust.
A flash-like thrust. Impressively fast even without internal energy.
I saw right. Bright future ahead.
"No need for complicated names for thrusts, right?"
"True."
"Then, just One Sword?"
"That's too plain."
"Thrusts don't need complexity."
"Fair. How about Flash One Sword Technique."
"Flash One Sword... I like it. That'll do. Great Hero. Sword name Flash One Sword too."
I nodded, and Yeonhwa inspected her sword happily, turning it this way and that.
Now that the foundation's set, time to refine it further.
Swords take a lifetime to perfect, but raise the completion anyway.