Chapter 4: Teaching (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 4: Teaching (2)
“Seok Jin, relaxing your body doesn't mean suppressing your inner qi. It means you shouldn't forcibly push against the natural flow of qi through your meridians. Think about it. To exert great power, you must hold your inner qi for a moment, right? But what if you let it flow naturally? The moment the Third Initial Form concludes, you’ll see your opponent’s next move with clarity, allowing you to transition into the Fourth Initial Form with far greater efficiency.”
“Ah!”
“And there’s another reason to stay relaxed in this specific sword technique. The Nine Currents Sword is an external style. Since it’s such a practical technique, would there really be an attack that requires you to expend every ounce of your strength in a single strike? Attacks that completely disregard defense are secret techniques; you’ll only find a few in any given sect. How many martial arts in this world are like the Life and Death Sword, meant only for moments of absolute desperation?”
Seok Jin stared at Seok Myeong with wide eyes.
He finally understood why the Third Initial Form had felt so awkward and exactly what he had been doing wrong. The voice of his master, who had scolded him just a few days ago, echoed in his mind.
“Did I not tell you repeatedly that a single burst of strength is not true strength?”
“I think I understand now, Eldest Disciple,” Seok Jin said, his voice trembling. His eyes were slightly moist, as if the realization had hit him harder than expected.
“Don’t overthink it. In truth, the only way I’m better than you is—”
“Eldest Disciple, I’ll come back again soon!”
Seok Jin turned and sprinted back the way he came, leaving as abruptly as he had arrived. Seok Myeong wondered if he had misjudged the situation; perhaps the boy hadn't been that shocked after all.
“That fellow... always in such a hurry.”
Seok Myeong shook his head. In terms of impatience, Seok Jin was likely number one in the Qingcheng Sect.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Seok Myeong took his sword and swung it through the air. It felt like an eternity since he had truly held a blade.
Though he sharpened the steel on a whetstone every day, it had been well over a month since he had actually practiced his forms. He used to spend hours every day training in swordsmanship, but since his master passed away, he had rarely found the heart to do so properly.
“Anyway, I only remember seeing the Nine Currents Sword once a long time ago. I wonder why those thoughts came to me.”
He didn't dwell on it. The reason he could pinpoint the flaws in Seok Jin’s movements was simply because the boy's stiffness had been so glaringly obvious.
Seok Myeong suddenly focused on his weapon. It was the Azure Clarity Sword, a treasure passed down to him by his late master. He had heard that his master, in turn, had inherited it from the previous Grandmaster.
*
“Master, why don't you ever tell me to practice my martial arts?”
On a warm day years ago, Seok Myeong had asked his master, who was sitting on the wooden veranda.
His master replied with a gentle smile. “What brought this on so suddenly?”
“Well... the other masters teach their disciples so strictly, but you’re the only one who treats me so leniently. That’s why I’m asking.”
“Ho ho ho, is that what you think?”
“...”
“I shall sleep well tonight, knowing you’ve been watching me so closely.”
“Master, that’s not what I meant,” Seok Myeong pressed.
“So, are you dissatisfied?”
“It’s not that. It’s just...”
“Just?”
“I feel like I’m falling behind the other children.”
“Falling behind? You?”
As Seok Myeong stood there, unable to find the words, his master gave another hollow laugh.
“Seok Myeong.”
“Yes, Master.”
“The reason I do not drive you hard is because you already know.”
“...”
“Every morning, have we not climbed Azure Peak to discuss the martial studies of Qingcheng?”
“We have, but...”
“Do you know the expression Gak-gok-yu-mok?”
Seok Myeong answered confidently. “I know it means that even if you fail to carve a swan, you will still produce something resembling a duck.”
“I am not asking for the literal definition. I am asking if you understand the meaning behind it.”
In the context of learning the writings of the sages, it meant that even if one cannot fully master the teachings, one can at least become a decent person.
“Yes. But Master, I don't think that applies to my case.”
Seok Myeong felt the analogy was misplaced.
“Then let us use a sword as a metaphor. Creating a masterpiece of a sword, and repairing one—which do you think is more difficult?”
“Naturally, creating the sword...”
Seok Myeong hesitated. At first, he was going to say that forging a masterpiece was harder. But then he realized that repairing such a magnificent blade would be equally daunting. Once his thoughts reached that point, it became difficult to say which was truly more difficult.
His master nodded. “Yes, do you feel it now? The task of creating a masterpiece is incredibly difficult. But repairing such a masterpiece is no less a feat. The reason is simply because it is a masterpiece.”
“...”
“Martial arts are the same. Finding the flaws and truths within a martial art is an arduous task. The greater the martial art, the harder it is to supplement or fix. But you have been researching the martial studies of Qingcheng since you were a child. That is why you don't realize how incredible a thing you are doing. To be able to see the flaws and truths of a martial art... that alone means you have reached a realm different from the other children.”
“Master...”
“Do not worry. And there is no need to fear. One day, you will realize it. You will see that the efforts you’ve made weren't a waste of time, and that the things you researched with such joy will return to you with immense significance.”
*
“Master.”
It wasn't a memory he had intentionally sought out. After teaching Seok Jin and looking at his own sword, his master’s words had naturally surfaced. It was a problem he had once agonized over.
“Will such a day really come, just as you said?”
Seok Myeong gazed at his sword. The morning sunlight reflected off the beautiful blade.
“Master.”
Seok Myeong turned his gaze toward the horizon. The peaks, as high as the Heavenly Mountains, filled his vision. High above, he could almost see the faint image of a kind-faced old man smiling brightly down at him.
“I miss you. I truly wish to see you again, Master.”
*
“Eldest Disciple, are you there?”
It was early morning. Seok Myeong, who had been reading, was startled by Seok Jin’s shout and ran outside. He wondered what was happening so early, but his primary concern was that he might have taught Seok Jin something wrong the day before.
However, the moment he saw Seok Jin’s expression, he knew that wasn't the case.
“Hah! Have you heard the news?” Seok Jin was breathing heavily. No matter how far he had run, it was rare to see someone as skilled in lightness skills as Seok Jin panting like this.
“What news could there be this early in the morning?”
“The Qingcheng swordsmen are finishing their travels through the Jianghu! They’ll arrive in three days!”
“Already? I heard it would take a few more months.”
“That was the plan, but word came that the vanguard is arriving early.”
“Ho.”
It was a rule in the Qingcheng Sect to travel the Jianghu once one became a Qingcheng swordsman. Six months ago, eight new swordsmen had been named, and they had set out on their travels along with a few senior members.
A sudden thought occurred to Seok Myeong. “Then Yeon-hui will be coming too?”
Among the eight swordsmen chosen six months ago were two first-generation disciples. Though her Taoist name was Seok Bin, she was the daughter of the Sect Leader. Because she shared the Sect Leader’s surname, Yeon, she was uniquely called by her name, Yeon-hui, rather than her Taoist name.
“Of course. In fact, isn't that why I came to tell you? The whole place is in an uproar.”
“An uproar?”
“Yes. You know how popular our Junior Sister is. The first-generation disciples are already making bets just to get the best spot to see her.”
“Haha, was Yeon-hui really that popular?”
“You didn't know? She was evaluated so highly during her time in the Central Plains that she earned the title 'Azure Star Beauty.' I also heard that while she was exterminating a group of heretics near the Sichuan River, the Great Monk Yeoyeosinni saw her and said she was 'worthy of being one of the Seven Peaks of Martial Women.'”
“Yeoyeosinni... Isn't she the legendary master of the Emei Sect who took the Jianghu by storm with her Emei Palm?”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
“For her to say such a thing... that is truly impressive.”
Seok Myeong was struck with admiration. Ten years ago, a heterodox master named Heuk Gal-hwi had caused chaos in Sichuan. He had committed countless atrocities, backed by his terrifying Giant Spirit Divine Fist.
One day, while wandering the country as if he feared nothing, he stayed in a village and tormented the people. By chance, word reached the Emei Sect. Enraged, the Emei Sect sent a single senior master, and that nun eventually clashed with him in the village.
The moment he saw the nun—who was small in stature and quite old—he burst into a roar of mad laughter. At the time, no one had been able to face his perfected Giant Spirit Divine Fist head-on, yet a withered old monk had dared to block his path.
He unleashed a massive amount of inner qi in his fury, but that was his end. With a single gesture from the small nun, who released her own inner qi simultaneously, his entire chest was torn open. She had crushed his brute strength with even greater power. It was through that incident that Yeoyeosinni’s name became legendary throughout the Jianghu.
“Her martial arts are excellent, she’s young, and she’s beautiful to boot. There’s no other woman in the world like our Junior Sister.”
Seok Jin’s praise bordered on excessive, but Seok Myeong didn't disagree. Though she had received the help of many spiritual medicines since childhood and had been granted special sword techniques by her father, Sect Leader Song Jeong, she was still barely twenty years old.
The fact that she had become a Qingcheng swordsman at that age was proof of her innate talent. Even looking back through the long history of Qingcheng, the number of people who became swordsmen at that age could be counted on one hand.
“And from what I’ve heard, she was quite active during her travels. She spread the martial arts of Qingcheng to the commoners and healed the sick, handling the difficult tasks that are often neglected.”
“I’m proud of her.”
Every time Seok Myeong heard of Yeon-hui’s exploits, he beamed with pride. His junior sister, out in the Jianghu for the first time, was bringing honor to the Qingcheng Sect. As a fellow member of the sect, how could he not feel good?
Of course, a part of him felt a twinge of envy. To roam the Jianghu and make a name for oneself was the dream of every martial artist. However, he was in no position to do so, nor did he have the ability. Thus, simply hearing that someone close to him had achieved such things made him happy.
“Eldest Disciple, won't you come with me later?”
“Me? Where?”
“To the path where our Junior Sister will be arriving, of course! They say a welcoming ceremony will be held at the Palace of Supreme Clarity. Not only the first-generation disciples but also the Sect Leader and many elders will be attending. Are you really not planning to go?”
“Ah!”
At those words, Seok Myeong’s heart began to race. The thought of seeing his beautiful junior sister again made his chest tighten with an inexplicable excitement.