Swordsmanship

Kneeling on the ground, Qin Fengming quietly listened to his master's words, yet his heart was already surging like storm-tossed waves. Now that he had become Hall Master Zhang's disciple, his future achievements would undoubtedly surpass those of the other companions who had come with him.

"I have a daughter as well. She is fifteen this year. After we finish practicing, I will introduce you to her. Now, I shall formally teach you swordsmanship. This sword art has thirteen forms in total. Today, I will teach you only the first form. Watch carefully."

After Hall Master Zhang finished speaking, he flicked his treasured sword and moved again, beginning to demonstrate the sword techniques at an extremely slow pace. This time, his movements resembled Taiji swordplay, every minute motion displayed with exceptional clarity.

Qin Fengming watched attentively from the side without even blinking, afraid of missing the slightest detail. At the same time, following his master's slow movements, Qin Fengming's hands, feet, and steps began to move as well.

When Hall Master Zhang finished demonstrating the first form, Qin Fengming closed his eyes and silently pondered every motion his master had made while practicing. Without realizing it, he entered the State of Clear Emptiness.

Although this sword art had only thirteen forms, each form was divided into eight moves, and every move contained eight further variations. With such intricate layers, this sword art was complex to the extreme.

As Qin Fengming silently contemplated, his hands and feet continued to move, and half an hour passed without his noticing. During this time, Hall Master Zhang merely stood to one side, smiling as he watched Qin Fengming. He did not utter a word to interrupt him.

Nearly an hour passed before Qin Fengming finally opened his eyes. A thoughtful look appeared on his face, and after bowing, he said, "Master, this sword art is truly intricate. Could this disciple ask Master to demonstrate it once more?"

Upon hearing Qin Fengming's words, Hall Master Zhang said nothing. With a sword gesture, he slowly demonstrated the first form of the Thirteen Forms of the Willow once again.

Qin Fengming watched with great care. Afterward, he closed his eyes again and sank into thought.

This time, not much time passed. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Qin Fengming's eyes abruptly opened. He casually picked up a branch from nearby and, imitating his master, began practicing move by move.

As he watched the youth demonstrate each move, the delight on Hall Master Zhang's face grew even stronger than before.

"A'Wei, have you ever seen such a genius? I merely demonstrated the first form of the Thirteen Forms of the Willow twice, yet he can already perform it without the slightest error."

Just as Qin Fengming finished practicing the first form of the Thirteen Forms of the Willow, he suddenly heard his master say this. Startled, he immediately turned around.

At some unknown time, two beautiful women had appeared more than ten zhang away, both watching him with smiles on their faces.

One of the women looked around thirty, yet was incomparably beautiful. Qin Fengming recognized the other—it was the stunning young woman he had seen in a small mountain valley several months ago.

Seeing the two of them, Qin Fengming did not know what to do for a moment.

"Hehe, when Master taught me the first form back then, it took me five whole days before I could practice it properly. When I taught Xiaotong, it took four days before she could perform it without the slightest error. I never expected your little disciple to learn the first form so quickly. It truly is astonishing."

As the beautiful woman spoke, she and the maiden walked toward where Qin Fengming stood.

Only then did Hall Master Zhang remember that he had not yet introduced his newly accepted disciple. He laughed heartily. "Fengming, come here. These two are my wife, Liu Wei, and my daughter, Zhang Ruotong. Hurry and pay them your respects."

Upon hearing this, Qin Fengming naturally understood. He quickly stepped before the beautiful woman, bent both knees, and kowtowed. "This disciple, Qin Fengming, pays respects to Mistress. I kowtow to you."

The Beautiful Woman looked at Qin Fengming with delight in her eyes. She reached out with both hands and helped him to his feet.

Qin Fengming then walked before the maiden, bowed, and said, "Junior Disciple Brother pays respects to Senior Disciple Sister."

"We have met before. You are the newly admitted disciple who spied on me practicing swordsmanship that day, aren't you? I never expected you to become my Junior Disciple Brother."

Hall Master Zhang and Liu Wei were both startled upon hearing the maiden's words and hurriedly asked what had happened.

The maiden giggled and recounted how she had met Qin Fengming back then.

After hearing his daughter's words, Hall Master Zhang finally understood. Smiling faintly, he said, "Fengming, was it because you saw your Senior Disciple Sister practicing swordsmanship that you wanted to learn sword arts?"

Qin Fengming's face reddened. He did not hide it as he replied, "Master, that day, I saw Senior Disciple Sister practicing with her sword. It was so beautiful that my heart filled with joy, so I went back and told you that I wanted to learn swordsmanship."

Nodding, Hall Master Zhang looked at Qin Fengming, flicked the longsword in his hand, and passed it to him.

"Fengming, use this sword and demonstrate the first form from earlier once more."

Upon hearing his master's words, Qin Fengming naturally did not dare disobey. Forming a sword gesture with his hand, he unfolded the sword art move by move once more. At first, because the sword was too long and he had never used one before, his movements were indeed extremely stiff. But later, they gradually became light and flowing.

After Qin Fengming finished practicing the first form, his face was flushed and he panted for breath as he looked toward his master, waiting for guidance.

Just as Hall Master Zhang was about to speak, the beautiful woman standing nearby suddenly stepped forward and stopped several zhang in front of Qin Fengming. "Your master has demonstrated it once. I will demonstrate it for you once more and let you see what is different."

Before Hall Master Zhang could say anything, the beautiful woman had already drawn a sharp treasured sword from her waist. With a hand gesture, her graceful figure became faintly visible and indistinct within the clearing.

Mistress's figure was incomparably light and nimble. As her sword art unfolded, she seemed like an Immortal Fairy dancing amid flowers. Though she practiced slowly, the drifting, swaying charm of willows in the wind was revealed perfectly.

Only then did Qin Fengming truly understand why this sword art was named the Thirteen Forms of the Willow.

Even long after Mistress finished practicing the first form, Qin Fengming remained immersed in the light and ethereal artistic conception he had just witnessed, unable to pull himself free.

Only when the maiden lightly patted his shoulder did Qin Fengming come back to himself.

"Your Mistress has practiced this sword art for more than twenty years and has long understood its essence in full. How could someone like me, who took it up halfway through life, compare to her? Carefully comprehend the artistic conception within your Mistress's swordsmanship. It will be of great help to your future training."

Hearing his master's words, Qin Fengming immediately replied respectfully, "Mistress's artistic conception is profoundly deep. Even reaching Master's level, who knows when that could be accomplished?"

"How can martial arts be achieved in a single leap? They require decades of unremitting perseverance. You must not grow arrogant or slacken. Only constancy can lead to the Way. You must remember this point firmly."

Seeing the anger on his master's face, Qin Fengming was immediately alarmed. He hurriedly bowed and said, "This disciple has received Master's instruction. I will certainly study diligently and train hard, and I will not disappoint Master's expectations."

Seeing that Qin Fengming's comprehension was so high, Hall Master Zhang pondered briefly before speaking again:

"Though this sword is not an unparalleled divine blade, it is exceptionally sharp. It was a gift from an old friend of mine and has long remained at my side. Today, I give it to you. I hope you will treat this sword well in the future."