Chapter 197 : Swordsmanship Guidance
Chapter 197: Swordsmanship Guidance
“Riverside Step? That name… doesn’t really sound like a sword technique, does it?”
Although Long Tao knew that, given his status, he probably shouldn’t ask such a question, he still couldn’t help speaking up. Sword techniques were usually called something like so-and-so Sword Art or so-and-so Sword Formula. Riverside Step sounded more like the title of a poem.
Xin Wushe’s expression did not change. He simply replied calmly,
“Yes. The name originally wasn’t a sword technique. In fact, it wasn’t even a cultivation method. It was merely the insight of an exiled official from a small country while he was traveling somewhere. Later, the casual essay he wrote from that insight was seen by a wandering cultivator, who gained new understanding from it and gradually evolved that understanding into a cultivation method.”
“Something like that can happen?” Long Tao became absorbed in the story.
“That’s perfectly normal. Excellent cultivation methods must have a core philosophy.” Xin Wushe’s gaze drifted thoughtfully into the distance. “Otherwise, at best they can only be considered martial arts of the Jianghu. Only when a cultivation method possesses a core philosophy and contains an artistic conception can its realm be deduced and developed beyond the Golden Core.”
He turned to look at Long Tao again, his eyes carrying a hint of deeper meaning.
“As for philosophy—there’s never been a rule saying it must originate from cultivators. Do you know the origin of the Ink Plum Art? It came from a mortal painter who comprehended something while observing plum blossoms on a snowy night. And the Flowing Cloud Heart Scripture—at the very beginning, it was merely a crude rhyme written by a shepherd boy who spent his days watching the clouds. In fact, many famous cultivation methods have core philosophies and artistic conceptions created by mortals or by people at the Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment stages. In this matter, higher cultivation doesn’t necessarily help.”
Xin Wushe shook his head lightly, his tone carrying a trace of ridicule.
“On the contrary, some people reach the Golden Core and live for hundreds of years, yet their insight and temperament are less clear than those of mortals. They live like dogs.”
After saying that, Xin Wushe glanced at the longsword in his arms and continued,
“Since I’m teaching you, I might as well tell you the story behind it. Although you’ll at most learn only some superficial moves, understanding the artistic conception will still benefit you.”
“Please go ahead.”
Long Tao had already switched to using honorifics.
“Hmm… The exiled official arrived at the riverside. He walked along the riverbank, captivated by the scenery on both sides. But because he wasn’t paying attention to the tide, his shoes were soaked by the rising river. That’s when the insight struck him.”
“That simple?”
“Yes, that simple. At that moment he comprehended a balance in walking. While admiring the grandeur of the scenery, one must not forget the ground beneath one’s own feet. The river represents flowing change, while the riverbank represents stable constancy. Walking between them is a search for balance between motion and stillness, change and permanence.”
As he spoke, Xin Wushe picked up a branch from the roadside that was roughly the right length. With a light tap of his toe, he kicked it into Long Tao’s hands and continued,
“He believed that the proper state of life is to find balance between turbulence and stability, to remain clear-minded between entering the world and withdrawing from it. While pursuing lofty ideals, one must also constantly pay attention to the ground beneath one’s feet and never forget one’s original heart.”
Long Tao listened, momentarily dumbfounded. So the man had basically been a philosopher. He took a walk by the river, got his shoes wet, and managed to think up all that philosophical stuff.
Still, if a sword technique derived from that philosophy had caught Xin Wushe’s interest, it must truly contain something worthwhile.
When the story ended, Xin Wushe still stood there with his sword in his arms. He lifted his chin slightly toward Long Tao.
“First, perform the introductory sword technique you’ve learned. Let me see it.”
Long Tao followed his instructions. Holding the end of the branch, he had barely begun the opening stance when Xin Wushe immediately called out to stop.
“Your wrist is too stiff. When holding a sword, it should feel like you’re holding something alive, not something dead.”
After restarting, Long Tao deliberately relaxed his wrist. But Xin Wushe spoke again.
“Too much. Now it’s limp. Where’s the strength?”
He then used the Natal Sword in his arms—without unsheathing it—to trace a flexible arc in the air. Relaxed but not loose, firm but not rigid.
“Remember this feeling.”
Long Tao nodded immediately.
But for some reason, he felt as though the sword had also sent him a gaze—one filled with dissatisfaction and hostility.
Could it be… a Sword Spirit?
He didn’t dare think too much about it and continued practicing.
When he reached the straight thrust, Xin Wushe stopped him again.
“Your force is wrong.”
He pointed at Long Tao’s waist with the sword.
“This move should be driven by waist power, not just the arms. You already have a good martial foundation, so you know that the core of the waist generates power. But your sequence and rhythm are incorrect. The fundamentals of sword techniques and fist techniques are similar, but the details differ.”
As he spoke, he tapped Long Tao’s waist and hips a few times with the sword hilt, letting him feel the sequence of force.
Soon, Long Tao once again felt the hostility coming from that sword.
This time it was even more obvious than before. It could no longer be dismissed as imagination.
“Senior Xin… your sword… does it… perhaps have some issue with me? I feel something isn’t quite right. It seems to dislike me. I’m just describing what I feel—I don’t mean any disrespect.”
For the first time, Xin Wushe showed a slightly surprised expression. Then he asked,
“You can sense her emotions? Interesting. Normally, unless one’s divine soul reaches a certain level, people can only feel the pressure of a Sword Spirit, not its emotions. Are you really only at the Qi Refining stage?”
“Yes. But I had some fortuitous opportunities before, so the strength of my divine soul is roughly at the Foundation Establishment level.”
“No wonder. Don’t worry about it. She’s naturally jealous. Whenever I grow close to anyone—especially in matters related to sword techniques—she becomes displeased.”
Long Tao nodded carefully, thinking to himself that hopefully this Sword Spirit wasn’t the obsessive, possessive kind.
But with that reassurance, he stopped worrying and continued hacking away with his crude sword moves.
Soon, during a turning motion, Long Tao—although somewhat clumsy—managed to complete the movement with the help of his core strength.
Xin Wushe naturally did not overlook the mistake. But this time he didn’t use his Natal Sword. Instead, he picked up another branch and tapped several spots on Long Tao’s body.
“Your lower stance is stable enough, but your feet are like roots growing into the ground. Too stiff. This isn’t a Horse Stance. Stability doesn’t only mean being steady when standing still. The sense of balance while moving is also stability. Continue.”
…
After that, nearly every movement Long Tao made was pointed out as flawed: his footwork was too fragmented, his turns were too abrupt, his finishing stance too scattered…
Xin Wushe always managed to see the problem at a glance.
What impressed Long Tao even more was that many of the corrections produced immediate results. He himself could clearly feel his sword movements becoming faster and smoother in their transitions.
This man truly had real skill.
“Let’s stop here.”
Although Long Tao had only practiced the set once, because they had paused repeatedly for instruction, it had taken nearly half a shichen. When he finally completed the whole sequence, Xin Wushe spoke.
“With your comprehension and talent, what I’ve taught today is already enough. If I say more, you probably won’t remember it anyway. Go back and practice well. Right now, the fundamentals alone are enough to keep you busy for quite some time. If you want me to formally teach you Riverside Step, you’ll have to wait.”
“Many thanks for your guidance, Senior.”
As Xin Wushe was about to return to The Village, Long Tao couldn’t help asking,
“By the way, Senior… you’ve been here for quite some time. Have you actually discovered any clues?”
Xin Wushe did not turn around. He only let out a sigh.
“I’ve found some things and made a few guesses. But… if that guess of mine is correct, then it will be extremely difficult. Let’s wait for now. When True Person Mingzhu’s condition improves a little… perhaps the chances of success will be greater.”