Chapter 49 : Chapter 49
Chapter 49: Disciple Tao Dapao Begs Master to Accept Me as Your Student!
For the sake of the Sword Dao, Jian A could not say anything more. However, he didn't truly believe in this so-called "Master." He had inquired about him—a Jinyiwei who spent every day hacking people with a Xiuchun Saber and commanding subordinates to fire crossbows. How could he have anything to do with the true intent of the Sword Dao?
Nevertheless, he followed Liu Xiong’s lead into the hall of the Jinyiwei Hundred-Household Office.
"Greetings, Master! Elder Jian A has arrived!"
When Jian A saw Cheng Yu’s young and handsome appearance, his expression grew even stranger. He struggled internally for a moment before deciding not to use his age as a shield, choosing a polite form of address. "Jian A greets Brother Cheng."
"Elder Jian A is too polite. What business do you have with me?"
Looking at Jian A in his tattered clothes, Cheng Yu thought he looked like an ordinary, messy old man at first glance. If not for the sword qi that was practically overflowing from him, it would be difficult to see that he was extremely powerful. At the same time, Cheng Yu saw at a glance that the reason his Sword Dao had stagnated was precisely because he had too much sword qi; it was so sharp that it had reached a point where it was difficult to circulate.
"Elder, speak!" Liu Xiong nudged Jian A.
"This..." Jian A froze. For a moment, he found it impossible to explain his problem to Cheng Yu. Could a Jinyiwei Hundred-Household Commander even understand? Much less solve it? He looked at Liu Xiong with some reproach. It was one thing to casually take a master, but to drag an old man here to lose face! "It's nothing, nothing at all. I just came to see your Master, A-Xiong."
Jian A told a casual lie. Cheng Yu smiled at this attitude; Jian A was at least not a hypocrite who immediately shouted "Imperial Hound." He was sincerely treating him as an equal. It was understandable that he didn't believe Cheng Yu could solve a Sword Dao problem that had plagued him for thirty years.
Thus, Cheng Yu did not take the initiative to speak further and instead looked at Liu Xiong. "Since Elder Jian A is here, I shall take the opportunity to give you some guidance, lest it be said I am an incompetent Master."
Cheng Yu finished speaking and tossed a sword manual to Liu Xiong. On it were written the words: "Wudang Sword Art."
"Thank you, Master!"
Liu Xiong excitedly caught it and flipped it open. With just one look, he was struck as if by lightning. He began to recite the first few lines as if they were precious treasures. "The Wudang Sword Dao lies in using martial arts to perform the Dao. One must understand the principles of the sword as the rain falls, and fulfill the nature of the sword to achieve the union of man and sword..."
With just that short sentence, Jian A’s eyes widened, and a storm rose in his heart. Was this a technique that sought the union of man and sword?
"Turning the heavens to startle the birds in flight, rolling on the earth without catching a speck of dust. In a single strike, it is like a gentle breeze where the sword is unseen; amidst ten thousand changes, only the sword is seen, not the man..."
The more Liu Xiong read, the more excited he became, and his entire body began to tremble. This was not a simple offensive move of the Sword Dao; it was a comprehensive technique, equivalent to several techniques combined into one. Multiple techniques originating from the same source and augmenting each other—its actual grade far exceeded "Middle." This one book was enough for a martial artist to cultivate their entire lives. To master this sword technique, one needed the hand, eye, body, method, and steps to be divine and exquisite in both form and spirit. Furthermore, it actually came with its own cultivation heart art.
It was named "Taiji Qi"!
Most techniques used by martial artists in the Jianghu were offensive moves meant for killing; they provided the best and most direct improvements. They were the most widely circulated. But aside from those, there were also "Heart Arts" used to build the internal foundation. Those who cultivated Heart Arts could solidify their foundations and were often far stronger than those who only cultivated offensive moves.
"I thank Master for bestowing this Heart Art!" Liu Xiong could hardly believe that Cheng Yu was teaching him a Heart Art. He immediately knelt and kowtowed to Cheng Yu. Heart Arts were the keys to the founding of renowned great sects in the Jianghu; weaker practitioners would never even see one.
"Rise. Being my disciple, I naturally will not mistreat you." Cheng Yu saw that Liu Xiong recognized its value and was grateful, so he nodded in satisfaction.
The River-Severing Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects of the Great Qian, cultivated a Heart Art called "River-Severing Qi." Back then, Cheng Zhenjiang had said he would only teach it once Cheng Yu returned to the correct path, and nothing ever came of it. That was also merely a Middle-Grade Heart Art, but its accompanying techniques could not reach the level of the Taiyi Mysterious Gate Sword.
Cheng Yu had the True Martial Inheritance to purify his internal energy; his foundation exceeded all martial artists. He didn't need to cultivate a Heart Art. This Wudang Heart Art was perfect for someone like Liu Xiong, who had started from scratch on a "wild" path, allowing Cheng Yu to fulfill his duty as a Master.
"The union of man and sword... the union of man and sword..." Jian A was awestruck by the spirit of pursuing that realm, muttering to himself. He felt that while the union of man and sword was profound and attractive, it was far too difficult for those like them, the Sword Bearers. Without a stable inheritance, how easy was it to climb to the peak through trial and error?
Hearing Liu Xiong thank Cheng Yu for the Heart Art, he was stunned. "A Heart Art?!"
He subconsciously wanted to look at the Heart Art in Liu Xiong’s hands. But he forced himself to resist; that was someone else's sectarian inheritance! Furthermore, his accumulation was already full; a Heart Art was used to build a solid foundation and could not solve his current problem. However, he no longer dared to have even a hint of disrespect toward Cheng Yu. Regarding Liu Xiong’s decision to take Cheng Yu as his Master, he no longer had any doubts. To be able to produce this Wudang Sword Art, Cheng Yu was worthy!
But at the same time, the hope that had slowly been dying in Jian A’s heart—the hope for a breakthrough after thirty years of searching—was reignited at this moment. If Cheng Yu had the ability to produce such a technique, was it possible he truly had attained the true intent of the Sword Dao and could solve his problem?
He gritted his teeth but did not speak. Beside him, Liu Xiong carefully put away the Wudang Sword Art manual and looked at Jian A with intense excitement. "Elder, hurry and beg Master! Thirty years of wasted time can be resolved today!"
"Don't talk nonsense." Jian A suppressed the longing in his heart. He truly could not bring himself to lose face. He told himself that Cheng Yu might not necessarily be able to solve his problem. Perhaps the Wudang Sword Art was simply a chance find and didn't represent Cheng Yu’s own attainments in the Sword Dao. Back then, his talent had been transcendent and his progress too fast, leaving his sword qi as tangled as a mess of hemp. Everyone in the world suffered from too little sword qi; who had ever considered the problem of having too much? He had already resigned himself to his fate; it was impossible to find a solution.
He stubbornly said, "A swordsman is unyielding. How can I easily bow to another? Do not make things difficult for your Master."
Cheng Yu looked at Jian A’s gritted teeth and conflicted expression and smiled. He was truly a stubborn man. But no matter how stubborn he was, he could not escape Cheng Yu's grasp.
He spoke plainly. "Liu Xiong, there is no need to force Elder Jian A. Seeing you cultivate well is what he most desires."
"Yes!" Jian A smiled. He took the exit offered to him; as a senior and guide for Liu Xiong within the Sword Bearers, he was satisfied to see the boy have a bright future.
But upon hearing the second half of Cheng Yu’s sentence, his expression instantly froze on his face.
"This is the foundational sword technique of our sect. When you have finished cultivating it, I will teach you the advanced sword technique I personally authored, the Taiyi Mysterious Gate Sword Art."
Cheng Yu spoke to Liu Xiong, but his eyes silently watched Jian A. "The Taiyi Mysterious Gate Sword features both speed and slowness, a balance of hardness and softness. It is most suitable for those with an excess of sword qi in their bodies to organize and soothe their qi..."
Master personally authored the sect's technique! Soothing sword qi!
Liu Xiong’s eyes widened, and he subconsciously looked at Jian A. "Elder, did you hear that? This is no time to talk about 'bowing' or not—"
Before he could finish, he witnessed an unbelievable sight. The "unyielding" Elder Jian A was now prostrate on the ground with a look of pure fanaticism. He looked as if he wanted to press his face into the dirt. He begged Cheng Yu, "Disciple Jian A... No, Disciple Tao Dapao begs Master to accept me as your student!"
To author his own sword technique and Heart Art at the age of twenty! He was a genius for the ages! What did the "unyielding nature of a swordsman" matter compared to pursuing a higher realm of the Sword Dao? It was not worth mentioning!
Cheng Yu smiled and rose to help him up. "Elder Jian A, please rise. If you have a request, just speak. You are making it so I cannot accept this!"
"I will not rise! In the path of martial arts and the sword, the one who attains it first is the teacher! Lord Cheng’s attainments in the Sword Dao are peak-tier and unprecedented. You are more than worthy of being my senior in the sword!"
Jian A shook his head firmly and looked at Liu Xiong. "Senior Brother Liu, please help me persuade Master!"
Liu Xiong’s eyes went wide. Senior Brother? Is the Elder calling me that?