Chapter 24

This is Du Mu's "Letter to Judge Han Chao of Yangzhou." Although Moxiang, the ignorant one, had no way of knowing this, when she heard this poem on a moonlit night, her heart was quite moved. So she played another tune and put down the zither.

"Haha, no one can match my zither skills."

Moxiang's shameless self-praise made the words "well played" rise to her throat, but they came out as a rather curt response.

"Don't be so full of yourself. It's not that great a skill..."

Before Moxiang could finish her rebuke, Moxiang said,

"Let's end it here for today. See you tomorrow."

Feeling regretful for having rebuked her, Yuling tried to persuade her.

"Can't you stay a bit longer?"

"I wish I could, but that troublemaker is coming out over there..."

As Moxiang stood up, everyone followed her out. Han Yingying, who had been putting on airs from a high position and talking about boring things, saw Moxiang chatting with some woman and became furious. She tried even harder to talk with the leader, but inside she found it utterly boring. When the sweet sound of Moxiang's zither, infused with her inner strength, reached her ears, she was captivated by its sweetness and tried to seduce the leader to join Moxiang. However, contrary to her expectations, Moxiang came out of the pavilion as she approached.

"It's late. You should go to bed now."

Moxiang's tone was gentle, but her gaze, which pierced Han Yingying, was a terrifying, silent pressure. Han Yingying thought about refusing Moxiang's words by using the leader, but since she had to return to the headquarters, she had no choice but to go with her. She didn't want to be locked in a box again or dragged away tied to a carriage as Moxiang had threatened. So she hurriedly bowed to the leader.

"I'm sorry, but I think I should go back now."

"Wouldn't you like to enjoy yourself a bit more before going to bed?"

The next morning, the leader met his granddaughter walking briskly while taking a walk. Seeing her, the leader greeted her warmly.

"Already up?"

"Grandfather, did you sleep well?"

"Yes. But I'm sorry about this matter. I sent a formal letter to the leader of the sect, asking for the person you wanted, but he sent his granddaughter instead, so I couldn't fulfill your request."

Yuling smiled and said,

"No, you've already done it for me. Thank you so much."

"What? That's strange. You mean the person you wanted was the leader's granddaughter?"

"No, it's the deputy leader who came with her. I'm on my way to meet her now. Would you like to come with me?"

"Upon hearing your story, I also wanted to meet her. Please lead the way."

The grandfather and granddaughter walked side by side, talking, heading towards where Han Yingying and her group were staying. When Yuling knocked on the door, Nan came out to greet her.

"Hello?"

"Yes, hello, Miss Nan. I've come to see the deputy leader."

Nan smiled and guided her.

"Please follow me. She's in the middle of practice right now."

"Is she practicing here too?"

Nan made a face as if to say, "She never slacks off."

"Indeed, she never slacks off in her practice."

Following Nan, they found Moxiang sitting cross-legged under the warm autumn sun, her sword on her knees, her eyes closed. When Nan approached and whispered, Moxiang gave her some instructions and closed her eyes again. Nan came to Yuling with an apologetic look.

"She doesn't want to be disturbed during her early morning practice. She says you should just go back."

"When will her practice end?"

"Sometimes when she's at the sect, she can sit for days on end. I doubt she'll sit all night, though."

At this moment, the leader, who had been watching Moxiang intently, asked Yuling.

"Is that Moxiang, the deputy leader?"

"Yes."

"He's quite remarkable for his young age. When I heard that the Lightning Sword Emperor challenged him to a duel, I thought it was unusual. If I weren't the leader, I would have challenged him to a duel myself. Hey."

"Yes."

"Would you ask your master to give me a chance to discuss swordsmanship over a drink?"

When the leader said this, Nan looked at him in surprise, then went back to Moxiang. As Nan approached Moxiang, the leader said to Yuling,

"He refused to discuss swordsmanship. Instead, he said that after his practice, you should stay and spar with him."

"If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to stay and watch my granddaughter spar."

At this moment, Moxiang stood up and slowly approached the leader. Moxiang bowed respectfully and said,

"Good to see you."

The leader returned the bow and said,

"I heard that if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to stay and watch my granddaughter spar. Would you allow it?"

"Sure. Follow me."

As Yuling followed Moxiang to a slightly wider area, Moxiang said,

"Explain again what you asked about yesterday."

"So, in the Three-Second Heart Calming Technique..."

She demonstrated the technique and said,

"This part is strange. Even though I move my inner energy according to the instructions, it doesn't work well."

"Tell me the part of the instructions that you find difficult, using telepathy."

"..."

Moxiang listened to the telepathic message for a while, then said,

"Is there any other part that doesn't work well?"

"Yes, the 8th, 12th, 16th, and 21st techniques."

She demonstrated the parts that didn't work well. Moxiang watched her silently and said,

"When you perform the techniques, your inner energy doesn't flow smoothly, and you feel a sudden loss of strength and increased fatigue. Sometimes, your inner energy seems to flow backward, right?"

"Yes! How did you know?"

Moxiang looked at her with a sympathetic expression and said,

"Dear, it's because your inner strength is so weak. If you work harder to improve your inner strength, everything will naturally fall into place."

"Can't this be solved in a short time?"

"There is a way, but it depends on your talent. Give me your hand. I'll check your pulse."

Moxiang checked her pulse and infused his inner energy into her body, exploring every corner. After a while, Moxiang said happily,

"You haven't taken any elixirs."

"No, my sister took them, but they said I had no talent for martial arts, so they didn't give me any."

"If you haven't taken any elixirs, there's still a chance."

Moxiang knew that the leader was listening intently, but he didn't pay much attention.

"I can infuse my inner strength into you, but your inner strength is in a mess, so it won't help much. The best way is to completely remove your useless inner strength and refill it with new energy."

"Remove my inner strength?"

"Why? If you're scared, we don't have to. I'm just suggesting the best way, but the choice is yours."

Feeling a bit annoyed that Moxiang might be doubting her, Yuling said hurriedly,

"No, it's not that I don't trust you, but I'm afraid of the pain..."

"Endure the pain. It will hurt, but you can wriggle around as much as you want as long as you don't open your mouth. Can you do that? If you open your mouth, it's all over."

"I'll try."

"You must do it. If not, in the worst case, you might lose your martial arts skills. Understand?"

"Okay, I'll do it."

"Good. Sit cross-legged. Just sit quietly without any thoughts. I'll take care of everything. Hey, Nan! You stand guard."

After placing his palm on Yuling's back, Moxiang said after a while,

"I've completely removed your inner strength. Now I'll transfer the breath of nature to you. Follow my lead and circulate it."

As time passed, a cloud-like shape formed above Yuling's head, condensed from the energy emitted from her body. While Yuling's face showed signs of pain, Moxiang showed no signs of strain. As time passed, Yuling's expression changed. She gradually became more peaceful, and after about two hours, she fell into a deep state of tranquility. After another half an hour, Yuling, guided by Moxiang, inhaled the condensed energy through her nose and completed the process. Moxiang praised her as she stood up.

"This is important at the beginning. You did well. Really well."

Then he said to Nan,

"Good job. You can rest now. No need to stand guard."

"But what we just did... It seems different from the breathing techniques I've learned so far. As time passed, my mind became clearer and more peaceful... What is this?"

"This is the Void Spirit Heart Method. Normally, you should start with this, but since your inner strength was not pure enough, I had to use this as a last resort. From now on, you must only practice the Void Spirit Heart Method. Otherwise, all your efforts will be in vain. Understand?"

"Yes."

"The Void Spirit Heart Method is a traditional breathing technique of the orthodox sect. The longer you practice it, the faster your progress will be. It also calms your mind, so there's no risk of losing control. Do you know what's strange? Among the martial arts I've taught you, there's not a single one from the evil sect."

"I can't teach the sect's martial arts to just anyone. And the promise I made back then is still valid."

"What promise?"

Moxiang poked Yuling and said,

"Have you forgotten the oath you made while learning martial arts?"

"But even if I don't say it, someone else might..."

"It's impossible. The Void Spirit Heart Method has been lost in the orthodox sect for a long time. If it's out in the world, you're the only suspect."

"I understand."

"In return, I allow you to pass it on to your children. The Void Spirit Heart Method is based on purity, so for someone who has practiced other breathing techniques, using this one would do more harm than good. Teaching it would be like leading someone to lose control. Now that you've rested enough, demonstrate the Red Demon Sword Technique I taught you."

Yuling demonstrated the sword technique, and it was markedly different from before. Each technique exuded a powerful aura and strength, and a red glow like a sunset continuously emanated from her sword. When she reached the techniques she had previously struggled with, her sword glowed with a faint red light, indicating that she had reached the level of the Red Demon Sword, though she was still inexperienced.

With each technique, a red glow extended from her sword, and occasionally, a chunk of red energy shot out, colliding with the ground and causing explosions.

Her Red Demon Sword was a result of her deep inner strength and the way she channeled it through the techniques. It was different from the Red Demon Sword created freely by someone at the Fire Stage.

When her 36 techniques were complete, Moxiang clapped and said,

"Now it's starting to take shape. Let's spar."

"Okay."

She confidently demonstrated the techniques towards Moxiang. Moxiang was completely different from her easygoing senior. He attacked with his sword between her techniques. Each time, Yuling gasped in shock, abandoned her techniques, and focused on blocking his attacks. However, Moxiang's sword, when blocked, would bend and strike at another weak point. After about half an hour, Yuling was drenched in sweat, and Moxiang was toying with her without breaking a sweat. Yuling felt increasingly desperate and eventually burst into tears. When Yuling started crying, Moxiang approached and consoled her.

"The result is due to your poor execution of the techniques."

Yuling sniffled and argued,

"I performed the techniques correctly."

"How far apart were we during our sparring?"

"About one zhang? Or a bit closer."

"The Red Demon Sword Technique is not very effective against close-range opponents. Out of 36 techniques, only about ten can be used in close combat. Most of them use sword energy to attack from a distance, so the opponent should be at least one zhang away."

"What about close-range opponents?"

"For very close opponents, you should strike vital points with your free hand or kick them. For slightly farther opponents, you need to attack directly with your sword, but that requires proficiency. With your level of application, it's impossible."

"Is there no way to improve that?"

"There is. In close combat, you often need to rely on your senses more than your eyes. To enhance your senses, close your eyes and listen. Listen to the wind, the birds, footsteps, and many other sounds. Think about the distance between you and the sounds. Don't miss even the slightest sound. It's similar to the wall-gazing practice of monks."

"Do all practitioners train like that?"

"Yes, at least the Four Gentlemen were trained that way. Thanks to that, they are among the top experts in close combat in our sect. I taught them diligently."

"So the Four Gentlemen are your disciples. And me too."

"No, I never take disciples. I just pass on some of the martial arts I know when I have a connection with someone. I've never revealed my true martial arts to anyone, and I have no intention of doing so."

"Why? Wouldn't it be a great loss to the martial world if your martial arts were lost?"

"No, it would also be a blessing. If a good person inherits them, it's fortunate, but if not, it could lead to bloodshed. I alone can cut down a decent-sized sect."

"Are you overestimating yourself?"

"No, I evaluate myself realistically. Ask anyone, this ignorant girl. What can a high-level expert at the Profound Stage do? And I'm not just at the Profound Stage; I feel I'm almost at the Life and Death Stage."

"Really?"

"Yes. But being close to the Life and Death Stage and actually reaching it are different. For example, there's a huge difference between me, who is close to the Profound Stage, and your grandfather, who is listening over there and hasn't broken through the final barrier to reach the Profound Stage."

"What if your grandfather breaks through and reaches the Profound Stage?"

"Then the gap between us would narrow significantly. However, there are still differences between the lower and higher levels of the Profound Stage, so I can confidently say I won't lose to him."

"What about now?"

"Even if ten experts like your grandfather attack me, it wouldn't work."

"But your grandfather will soon reach the Profound Stage. Don't say such things."

"No, many people are close to the Profound Stage but can't break through the final barrier. Many martial artists can't even reach the Fire Stage, and only a few, like me, have reached the Profound Stage. It wouldn't be strange if your grandfather remained at the Fire Stage for the rest of his life."

"But your words lack credibility. Are you exaggerating the difference between the stages? Tell me, am I right? Is it an exaggeration?"

At this, the leader, who had been listening, spoke up.

"He's right. But it seems you've learned the Northern Mystic Skill."

Hearing this, Moxiang's expression hardened.

"How could you have such a ridiculous thought?"

"I've heard that the Northern Mystic Skill absorbs the breath of nature to enhance one's inner strength. You didn't just transfer your true inner strength to the girl; you acted as a medium, absorbing the breath of nature through your body and transferring it to her. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to release such vast true inner strength without breaking a sweat. Is the Northern Mystic Skill in the Heavenly Demon Sect?"

"I can't answer that. If I did, I would have to kill you. Please don't ask about it."

"I understand. Thank you for the advice. I'm sorry for asking unnecessary questions. It seems the sparring with your granddaughter is over. How about discussing swordsmanship together? I'll treat you to my favorite Houya wine."

"Grandfather, it's morning, and you're talking about drinking?"

"Even if I die tomorrow from drinking, I don't care. Meeting a high-level expert like this is not easy. This is a rare opportunity. I've never had such an opportunity in my life, and now I have one..."

"If you insist, I'll have a drink. But Yuling will be bored, so it's better to bring her along. I'm worried about what trouble she might cause if I'm not around..."

"Do as you please."