Book 16 Chapter 9

Sword Crest (劍紋)

Five years ago, a nameless peak on Mt. Ami.

An old man and a boy stood in a wide clearing in front of a thatched hut, exchanging words.

The old man, with snow-white hair reaching below his chest, was mostly the speaker, and the boy, at the age of growth, was mostly the listener. The old man was lecturing on sword techniques.

"To understand sword techniques, one must first grasp the entirety of their changes. Changes that occur without rules do not exist. It's just that we cannot discern their complex rules. This is because everything in the world is connected by a single principle, yet they mutually resonate to create an infinite number of new changes. However, human arms bend inward unless specially trained, and we have only two legs, and our necks do not move in circles. Sword techniques are thus constrained by these practical limitations. So, when attacking, what must one do to discern those changes?"

To his master's question, Biryuyeon shook his head.

"That is to discern the Sword Crest (劍紋)."

"Sword Crest? What is that?"

"The Sword Crest (劍紋) is the path the sword takes, the pattern it embroiders in space. All beings, living or inanimate, that exist in this world emit waves toward the fundamental basis of the world and also receive waves from that basis. You can call it the wave of Qi. If you're bothered, you can just call it Qi. There's only a difference in size, complexity, and simplicity, but all beings emit countless waveforms toward this basis, and these intertwine on this basis to create unimaginably beautiful patterns. This basis is called by countless names such as Dao (道), Reason (理), Taiji (太極), Spirit (神), but its characteristics are constant. It seems empty, yet its depth is endless, and everything comes from it. Therefore, it is infinite (無窮). Therefore, it is ever-changing (萬變). The world is built upon this basis. Human movement, or rather, the movement of all Qi, moves upon that basis. It is an unmoving driving force and a single entity without beginning or end. All existence begins from a single, beginningless entity, and all that existence ends in a single, endless entity. That is to say, we move, are given life, and live upon an unmoving single entity without beginning or end. The Sword Crest can be called the path a sword leaves upon a part of that basis. Do you understand?"

"No!"

Biryuyeon replied in a tone that suggested it was not worth a moment's consideration. It was as if he were protesting that it was not shameful to not understand, but shameful to be taught in a way that made understanding impossible.

He protested again.

"After saying that, you expect me to understand? You need to provide more concrete and clear examples. Excessive metaphors and symbols become enemies to understanding."

"Hoo~ It was foolish of me to teach you something like this. Anyway! I'll tell you in the simplest way possible. There is a Sword Crest. Discern it. Then you can discern the beginning and end of that sword technique. The next step is to evade those changes without resisting them. That's all there is to it. Do you understand now?"

Biryuyeon nodded.

"It's much simpler than before. But how do I discern that Sword Crest?"

Then the master smiled broadly. And replied.

"With your body!"

In the master's hand, five Flying Thunder Blades (飛雷刀) had suddenly appeared, holding their lightning blades.

Click!

The folded lightning blades unfurled like a tiger's claws, glinting with a greedy light. The sharp gleam of the blades was as pale as frost.

"Let's start lightly with five!"

The master said, maintaining a gentle smile on his lips. Biryuyeon flinched and shuddered.

'Damn it! It's happening again.'

Biryuyeon sighed.

He had never seen the master's peculiar smile that didn't bring a sense of ill omen.

Everyone thought Biryuyeon's body would be torn into a thousand pieces by the Sword Master's ever-changing storm of sword energy. That ultimate technique was so meticulous, like a net, that there seemed to be no room for escape. However, Biryuyeon knew better than anyone else how to move and how to evade in response to the countless variations. That's what he had been doing every day on the mountain.

The movement techniques of the Flying Thunder Blades were fundamentally designed with the goal of evading the attacks of the Flying Thunder Blades. They were a kind of shield and spear. And to face the ultimate spear, that shield had to carry the destiny of aiming for the ultimate. Thus was born the Phoenix Dance (鳳凰舞), the unique secret movement technique of the Flying Thunder Blade sect.

'Follow the changes of the moment, and follow the Dao! True change is just this. Do not resist; surrender your body to the flow of the Dao. Because it is formless, it can change infinitely. If you do not resist the flow of change, you can walk between raindrops without getting your clothes wet. Think carefully about this ultimate teaching.'

The master's words still seemed to ring in his ears. It was a hellish lesson. But he had survived it. Therefore, no matter how fiercely the whirlwind of sword energy pressed upon him, he could not die here. He still did not believe that there were martial arts more complex and with more innumerable changes than the Flying Thunder Blades.

Biryuyeon's eyes flashed open.

Flying Thunder Blade (飛雷刀) Secret Movement Technique

Phoenix Dance (鳳凰舞) Secret Supreme Ultimate Teaching (秘傳極上奧義)

Walk in the Rain (雨中去), Not Wetting Clothes (不霑衣)

Rustle!

Biryuyeon's body moved as naturally as an empty boat surrendering to the flow of a river. The movement was as natural and gentle as flowing water.

A downpour of sword energy was fiercely falling, intending to slash through a person's body and rain blood. However, even this fierce baptism of sword energy could not harm him. He did not try to resist even the sword techniques that aimed for his life; he merged into their flow.

The illusory technique that can be displayed when the study of the Phoenix Dance reaches its pinnacle, "Walk in the Rain, Not Wetting Clothes." This phrase, meaning "walk in the rain without getting your clothes wet," finally manifested through the body of a human.

He had already grasped the Sword Crest of this technique, and his body had merged into its flow. Therefore, no matter how ferocious the Sword Master's sword techniques were, it was impossible to inflict wounds on his body.

'It would be better to go between the raindrops than to clash.'

This was the opinion he had raised when he first learned this. And the price, as always, was a hot lump on his head. Still, learning it was worth increasing his lumps by one. Although names he named himself were much better! Indeed, the master's aesthetic sense had problems.

"Amazing! To have such a broad and deep vision at such a young age."

The Sword Saint, having witnessed Biryuyeon's movements just before, could not suppress his excitement. The movement technique Biryuyeon displayed was a unique kind that even he had never witnessed. The very fact that such magical movements could be performed by a human was astonishing.

"I can't believe it! No, I don't believe it! I never thought he would actually be able to do it…"

The Dao Saint also exclaimed in excitement.

"But we have to admit it. Reality is reality. To penetrate the Sword Master's dazzling Sword Crest so perfectly! To what realm has he reached at that age? What kind of training did he receive? Who is his master?"

"Did he at least gain Broad Vision (廣眼)?"

"He might have even reached the Mind's Eye (心眼)."

"Impossible, surely? Can one reach such a realm at that age?"

"I don't know. Honestly, I'm skeptical. But I think one must value one's own experience and one's own eyes more than blindly believing in fixed notions."

"In any case, if this is the case, the bet…"

"It's the child's victory!"

A miracle was happening in a valley on the southern peak of Mt. Hua.