Teaching the Art

Back in his room, Qin Fengming hastily took out the small booklet. The moment he sat down on the wooden chair, he began studying it carefully.

This Martial Arts manual contained a set of sword techniques called the Thirteen Forms of the Willow. On the first page was a general formula. As Qin Fengming studied it closely, delight and gravity coexisted on his face.

To the current Qin Fengming, this general formula was exceedingly profound. Although he had undergone half a year of specialized training, a child barely over ten still lagged far behind an adult in comprehension.

Qin Fengming read the general formula word by word and sentence by sentence, constantly comparing it against the meridians. Before he knew it, he had entered a state of complete absorption and had even forgotten to eat lunch.

For five consecutive days, Qin Fengming immersed himself in it, neglecting food and sleep.

During those five days, although the words in the formula were extremely difficult to understand, Qin Fengming still carefully studied the general formula from beginning to end. He also delved deeply into the lightness technique Hall Master Zhang had taught him.

Moreover, during those five days, Qin Fengming had already begun sitting in meditation according to the general formula. Whenever he meditated, he could feel a warm current moving through the meridians within his body. Each time it completed a circuit, his entire body felt incomparably comfortable.

On the fifth day, Hall Master Zhang appeared in the courtyard as scheduled. Duan Meng and Yuan Kejian each demonstrated the moves they had learned over the past five days. Though their techniques were somewhat raw, they still carried the fierce force of tigers and tigers, wind rising from their blows.

Hall Master Zhang watched carefully, but his expression did not change in the slightest. After they had finished, he pointed out the errors in each of their forms.

When asked what he had learned over the past five days, Qin Fengming, wearing a troubled expression, had no choice but to answer truthfully. "Reporting to Hall Master, this disciple has not practiced any sword moves during these five days. I have only carefully studied and practiced the general formula in the sword manual and the formula you taught."

"What? In these five days, you have already studied the general formula and the formula in their entirety, and even practiced them?"

Upon hearing Qin Fengming's words, Hall Master Zhang immediately showed a trace of disbelief. As he spoke, he reached out and seized Qin Fengming's left hand. With a stern look in his eyes, he said, "Follow the general formula and circulate it properly once."

Seeing the Hall Master's expression, Qin Fengming could not help but feel greatly frightened. He thought he must have done something wrong, yet he did not dare show the slightest negligence toward the Hall Master's command. With a movement of the formula within him, he began circulating his energy.

As Qin Fengming focused wholeheartedly on circulating the formula, the warm current within Qin Fengming's body began moving through his entire body along with his cultivation method.

As Qin Fengming circulated the formula, Hall Master Zhang, standing beside him, silently closed his eyes.

Only after the time it took to drink a cup of tea did Hall Master Zhang open his eyes. A trace of delighted surprise appeared in them. "I never expected you to be such a Martial Arts prodigy. In merely five short days, you have already cultivated to this extent. If I did not know your background, I would surely think you had previously been taught by an expert."

How could Hall Master Zhang know that every blood vessel and meridian throughout Qin Fengming's body had long since been opened? To Qin Fengming, worldly Martial Arts were as easy as eating a meal. All he needed was a pair of chopsticks and a bowl of rice.

"Come to Hundred Zhang Cliff in the back mountain early tomorrow morning. I will personally teach you swordsmanship." After saying this, Hall Master Zhang glanced at Qin Fengming, turned, and left.

Although he did not understand why the Hall Master had said this, Qin Fengming hurriedly nodded in agreement.

Seeing Hall Master Zhang leave without offering them further guidance, Duan Meng and Yuan Kejian showed slight disappointment. Yet before long, they threw themselves back into practicing Martial Arts.

Though Qin Fengming still did not understand why Hall Master Zhang had declared him a Martial Arts prodigy after he had merely circulated the formula once, the thought of receiving personal instruction in swordsmanship from Hall Master Zhang the next day filled his heart with joy.

Hundred Zhang Cliff was located in the back mountain behind the peak where Qin Fengming lived, a full five or six li away from his residence. Qin Fengming had learned this while eating lunch, after asking a senior brother from an earlier class.

That senior brother had been somewhat puzzled when Qin Fengming suddenly asked about Hundred Zhang Cliff. After all, it was the Hall Master's place of quiet cultivation. Ordinary disciples did not dare go there without reason.

Once he learned that Qin Fengming was one of the three disciples personally selected by the Hall Master for instruction this time, he readily told Qin Fengming the exact location of Hundred Zhang Cliff.

Early the next morning, before the sky had even begun to brighten, Qin Fengming rose, finished preparing himself, and headed toward the back mountain along the route indicated by that senior brother. Traveling at night posed no particular difficulty for Qin Fengming.

The air along the mountain path was incomparably fresh. After walking nearly six li, Qin Fengming saw a cliff ahead. At its summit stood a small courtyard, enclosed on all sides by a bamboo fence. Several rooms stood within, with vegetables planted both before and behind them.

Just as Qin Fengming paused in slight surprise, he suddenly noticed someone seated cross-legged atop a large rock near the cliff. Only after Qin Fengming approached did he clearly see that the man was indeed Hall Master Zhang.

"Greetings, Hall Master Zhang. This disciple Qin Fengming pays his respects."

Seeing Qin Fengming approach, Hall Master Zhang, who was sitting cross-legged, opened his eyes and smiled faintly. "Mm, very good. You came quite early."

"I did not dare keep you waiting long, Elder. This disciple set out before dawn."

Hall Master Zhang nodded and pondered briefly. "Fengming, you have already become familiar with the general formula and mental cultivation method. So long as you diligently circulate your energy according to that general formula from now on, you will certainly achieve something. Now, I will teach you the Thirteen Forms of the Willow. This technique follows a graceful and drifting path. You must carefully ponder this state of mind."

After saying this, Hall Master Zhang sprang to his feet. With a flick of his hand, a clear, crisp clang of a sword rang out. Qin Fengming only felt a dazzling flash of light suddenly flare before his eyes, so bright that he did not dare look directly at it.

Hall Master Zhang slowly stepped down from the great rock. Forming a hand seal and taking his stance, he began to wield his treasured sword. Qin Fengming only saw lightning dancing before his eyes, like a ball of white light spinning in the air. He could not see even the slightest trace of Hall Master Zhang's figure, only the constant flickering of dazzling radiance.

"How did it feel?"

Just as Qin Fengming stood dumbstruck, his soul seemingly hooked away by the scene before him, Hall Master Zhang had already completed the entire sword routine. Holding the sword, he looked at Qin Fengming and spoke.

"This disciple only saw a mass of white light dancing. I saw nothing else."

Hearing Qin Fengming say this, Hall Master Zhang nodded lightly. "This sword technique was taught to me by my wife. The artistic conception within it is difficult for me to fully display. But if you practice it attentively in the future, you will certainly grasp the true essence of this sword technique even better than I have."

Upon hearing this, Qin Fengming immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed. "This disciple will certainly not disappoint Hall Master's expectations. I will diligently practice this sword technique."

Hall Master Zhang stood before Qin Fengming without any intention of telling him to rise. After a brief pause, he continued, "Though I am the Hall Master of Hundred Refinements Hall, over the past dozen years I have only accepted two Direct Disciples. That was seven or eight years ago. You may be the third."

Hearing this, Qin Fengming was beside himself with joy. Being accepted as the Hall Master's Direct Disciple was an opportunity that could be encountered but not sought. Though young, he understood this much. Still kneeling on the rocky ground, Qin Fengming heavily kowtowed three more times.

"Master above, please accept this bow from your disciple, Qin Fengming."

Looking at Qin Fengming, Hall Master Zhang's eyes revealed delight as he slowly said:

"Your First Senior Brother is named Yang Lan and currently serves in Divine Dove Hall. Your Second Senior Brother is called Lü Xuan and is currently in Gale Hall. Both of them practice palm techniques and have received my true teachings. Though you do not practice palm techniques, you are learning my wife's swordsmanship, so you may also be counted as a disciple of my line."