Just after the minor snow season, Lin Hai County's sky had taken on a clear gray-blue hue. It was nearly noon, and the sunlight barely dispelled some of the chill, yet a thin layer of white frost still clung to the bluestone slabs of Listening Tide Courtyard in the Inner Court of the martial arts school.
Chen Yuan stood in the courtyard bare-chested, gripping a long saber in a plain, antique-style scabbard. The scabbard was a deep blue-black, like a river frozen in midwinter, and icy cold to the touch.
The hilt was made of sunken wood from a frigid pool, its grain fine and delicate. Holding it actually brought a trace of calming peace to the mind. It was the weapon Second Senior Disciple Zhang Zhenshan had personally delivered that morning.
At the time, Zhang Zhenshan had stood nearby with his hands behind his back, his expression solemn. "This saber is called 'Cold Ripple.' In his early years, our honored master forged it himself beside a frigid river in the north, after witnessing ice split the river open and flowing water solidify into blades."
"I bestow it upon you today. I hope you will not let this saber down, nor fail our master's expectations. Carry on the foundation of our Blackwater Martial Arts School—the Cold River Spirit Blade Saber Canon."
His gaze swept over Chen Yuan as he continued, "The saber arts of our Blackwater Martial Arts School are not ordinary chopping techniques. Their soul lies in the artistic conception of the 'Cold River': resilience hidden within isolation, and killing intent contained within fluidity."
"Our honored master once said that anyone who practiced these saber arts had to endure loneliness and hold fast to their original heart. Only then could they find, amid the myriad saber arts, that chilling edge capable of freezing all things."
"Our honored master's talent in the way of the saber is peerless. With every move, he needs no deliberate effort; his saber naturally carries the meaning of a lone river's frigid current. Wherever his saber intent reaches, it can congeal blood and qi, freeze the mind and spirit, and unleash boundless power."
Zhang Zhenshan's tone brimmed with reverence. "Even Senior Disciple Brother Song Yun, already a peerless talent among his generation, openly admitted that he had yet to fully glimpse the profundity of this canon. Even so, relying on these saber arts, he achieved outstanding results in the prefectural examination, ranking among the foremost Martial Heroes and winning illustrious fame for our Blackwater Martial Arts School."
"Now, in pursuit of his own breakthrough, Senior Disciple Brother has temporarily stepped beyond the confines of the Cold River Spirit Blade Saber Canon and turned to studying the more individualistic Wave Breaking Saber, intending to walk his own path."
With that, Zhang Zhenshan slowly drew the Cold Ripple Blade.
The blade slid from its scabbard without the slightest sound. Only a dim blue chill shimmered along its edge, as though a stretch of an utterly frigid river current had been severed and refined into steel. The air itself seemed to grow several degrees colder.
"Watch closely. This is the opening stance of the Cold River Spirit Blade Saber Canon—'Cold River Reflecting Moon'!" As Zhang Zhenshan's voice fell, his saber moved. His body sank slightly, and he held the single-edged saber horizontally before him, its edge tilted faintly outward.
The movement looked simple, yet an unshakable, snow-facing-solitary-peak-like resilience rose naturally from it. It was as if, no matter how fierce the wind and rain, he alone would stand upon the Cold River, unmoving.
Then the saber momentum abruptly changed. The long saber no longer met force with force, instead tracing looping, winding arcs like the undercurrents of a frigid river—swerving around rocks and drilling through gaps. The dense, nimble blade light carried the grim adaptability of using softness to overcome hardness and advancing through every opening.
At last, the blade that had been gathering momentum for so long erupted without warning and cleaved downward! The saber wind was fierce, yet it carried an unstoppable resolve, an overwhelming momentum that could tear open ten thousand acres of surging waves. It was like a lone boat charging boldly through raging billows, determined to hack a passage through heaven and earth!
After finishing, Zhang Zhenshan sheathed the saber and stood calmly, his breathing steady. "This stance is the foundation for imitating the form of the Cold River Spirit Blade Saber Canon. It contains the mental states of isolation, fluidity, and decisiveness. You must study and comprehend it carefully, merging your blood-and-qi force into the saber moves rather than merely copying their shape."
Chen Yuan watched with his mind and spirit surging. He felt that the artistic conception contained in the blade light was far more exquisite than the moves themselves.
He took the Cold Ripple Blade. It felt heavy in his hand, and its icy touch and dim blue blade light seemed to resonate directly with the blood-and-qi force flowing beneath his skin.
He followed the example and slowly performed Cold River Reflecting Moon.
At first, his movements were somewhat stiff, but soon the Tidal Stele trembled faintly. A cool intent aided him in steadying his mind and adjusting his force.
He felt that his own blood and qi had also acquired a trace of chill, becoming more condensed, while the toughness of his skin quietly strengthened under the pull of the saber intent.
At that moment, Chen Yuan was recalling the saber moves Zhang Zhenshan had taught him that morning. He held his breath and focused his mind as his blood-and-qi force rose from his Dantian, flowed through specific meridians into his right arm, and finally reached his fingers and palm before slowly pouring into the blade.
"Ching—"
The long saber slid half an inch from its scabbard. Its edge glimmered with a dim blue chill in the clear, cold air, while fine wave-like forging patterns could faintly be seen across the blade.
Chen Yuan's body sank slightly before he suddenly exerted force. The blade halted instantly before touching the wooden training dummy, yet that condensed force pierced straight through it, leaving a clear, inch-deep saber mark. Its edges were smooth, without even a single burr.
"Force follows the saber, intent and strength unite... So this is the true method of exerting power in the Skin Grinding Realm." Chen Yuan returned the saber to its scabbard and gently exhaled a breath of foul air. The white vapor condensed in the cold air and lingered without dispersing.
Although it was far from as imposing as Zhang Zhenshan's, it had already begun to take on the rudimentary form of a lone boat suppressing the Cold River.
"Little Junior Brother, your comprehension is quite good." An approving voice came from the courtyard gate.
The familiar voice sounded from the entrance. Chen Yuan withdrew his fist and turned around, only to see that Zhang Zhenshan had arrived at some point.
"Second Senior Disciple Brother, this is..." Chen Yuan hurriedly put on his outer garment.
"You touched the threshold of the artistic conception on your very first practice. As expected, you are fated to be connected with our honored master's saber arts! Practice diligently, and your future achievements will be limitless." Zhang Zhenshan approached with a smile, glanced at the saber mark on the wooden training dummy, and nodded.
Zhang Zhenshan patted his shoulder and pointed behind him. "Our honored master heard that you're returning to the village today to fetch your family, so he specially ordered the martial arts school to prepare this carriage. The coachman, Old Zhou, is an old hand here. He is nimble and knows the roads well. He'll take you there and back."
Chen Yuan followed his gaze and saw a carriage of blackwood inlaid with copper. Its body gleamed, and fine wave patterns were embroidered along the edges of its blue-cloth curtains. Two date-red steeds were tethered beside the carriage pole, their backs covered with black saddles bearing the subtle pattern of the Blackwater Martial Arts School. A coachman in a clean blue-cloth short jacket stood nearby with his hands lowered respectfully. When he saw Chen Yuan looking over, he gave a slight nod in greeting.
Zhang Zhenshan walked over and cheerfully patted the carriage door. The copper rings clashed with a crisp sound. "These horses were selected from the prefectural horse ranch. Their footing is steady and their pace smooth. Even with the elderly and children aboard, the journey won't be bumpy. Old Zhou is an old companion of the martial arts school. He knows the roads and understands some basic boxing and kicking, so he can help look after things along the way."
As he spoke, he lifted one side of the curtain, revealing soft cushions and two lacquered boxes decorated with gold. "The box on the left contains dried seafood pickled by the school kitchen. The dried croaker and mussels were all selected for their plumpness. Let your father and mother have a taste of something fresh."
"The box on the right contains Foundation Strengthening Pills prepared by the medicine hall. They can drive out the damp sea air and are just right for nourishing your grandfather and grandmother. There are also two bolts of Suzhou Silk for your mother and younger sister to have new clothes made, along with a box of delicate pastries from the county's Eight Treasures Shop."
Chen Yuan looked at the neatly arranged dried goods in the lacquered box, then touched the soft carriage cushions. His heart warmed until it trembled.
He had not expected his honored master, Zhao Canghai, not only to remember the disciple-acceptance ceremony but also to consider every detail of his family's journey so thoroughly. "Thank you, honored master, and thank you as well, Second Senior Disciple Brother, for going to such trouble." He bowed, his voice filled with gratitude.
"We're family. Don't speak so formally." Zhang Zhenshan waved his hand, then took a neatly folded banknote and a slip of paper from his robes.
"Take this banknote for one hundred taels. Buy your family some incidentals on the road, and when you reach the county town, you can get Xiao Li some candied fruit and little toys. The paper has the address of An He Inn. Our honored master has already spoken with them. The owner will reserve three upper rooms with a courtyard—the sort where the elderly can stay comfortably."
Chen Yuan had just begun to refuse, saying that the allowance was enough, when Zhang Zhenshan caught him by the wrist. "Take it. This is our honored master's goodwill. Now that you've become a personal disciple, your family should share in the honor. Don't let the elderly feel that you've suffered at the martial arts school."
He then turned to the coachman, Old Zhou, and instructed him, "Old Zhou, keep a close eye on the road. After passing the tidal flats beyond West Stone Bridge, fishermen have recently reported seeing Iron Pincer Crabs. If you really encounter one, avoid it first and let Little Junior Brother handle it. Don't frighten the elderly."
"Rest assured, Instructor Zhang. This humble one understands." Old Zhou respectfully accepted the order, then said to Chen Yuan, "Young master, I've already helped move the pastries you bought yesterday onto the carriage. They're all in the rear compartment, secured properly."
Only then did Chen Yuan notice that the rear-compartment door was ajar. Inside, everything he had purchased the day before was stacked in perfect order. Even the sesame candy he had bought for Xiao Li had been wrapped in oil paper and placed in a ventilated bamboo basket.
He said no more. He carefully put away the banknote and slip of paper, then checked the Cold Ripple Blade at his waist once more. The blue cord wrapped around its hilt had been tied tightly. This was a weapon personally bestowed by his honored master; taking it home would also put his family more at ease.
"Then we'll be off." Chen Yuan bade Zhang Zhenshan farewell, lifted the curtain, and invited Old Zhou to board and drive. He himself sat in the side seat beside the carriage pole.
The carriage slowly left Listening Tide Courtyard. Its wheels rolled over the bluestone road of the Inner Court with a deep, steady rumble. When it passed through the Outer Court, several disciples who had risen early to practice saw it and stopped to greet him with smiles. Their gazes fell on the carriage, filled with envy but not the slightest jealousy. Chen Yuan had slain an Arrow Bone Fish and been accepted as the Martial Hall Master's personal disciple; the news had already spread throughout the martial arts school, and everyone knew he deserved this honor.
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