Sword Moves

Reading too many Buddhist scriptures could make one overly fixated on fate and karma. Wang Ping was like that. Though he knew some things were hazy and illusory, whenever he read deeply enough, he could not help pondering his own karmic ties. In the end, he would inevitably take out the Jiaobei and cast a few divinations.

Just like now, before he had even read halfway through a Buddhist scripture, Wang Ping had already cast two divinations for himself. He was holding a copy of Fate Principles and studying the divination signs he had thrown when Wang Kang entered the courtyard carrying a meal box.

With Daoist Yucheng absent, Wang Kang seemed far more relaxed than he had been that morning. After setting down the meal box and seeing Wang Ping studying divination signs, he asked, "Senior brother, can you cast a divination for me?"

"I was just tossing them around for fun."

Wang Ping shook his head in refusal. His current cultivation could only be used to experiment on himself; he absolutely could not casually divine for others. As he spoke, he picked up the Jiaobei, rose, and opened the meal box. Compared with the food at the temple a year ago, it had improved greatly. Besides steamed buns, there was now a plate of fried tofu, its surface visibly coated in oil.

"There's something good under the tofu!" Wang Kang said, wiggling his brows.

Wang Ping looked curious. He picked up his chopsticks and lifted a piece of tofu, then saw six slices of sausage laid neatly beneath it.

"Let's eat together!"

"Okay!"

Wang Kang took two steamed buns from his pocket.

After lunch, Wang Kang did not hurry off. He told Wang Ping some news that had recently reached the mountain. Two matters piqued Wang Ping's curiosity: the county's military examination, and a major battle that had occurred at the Northern Border half a year ago.

Wang Kang had little interest in the military examination. He focused on the border war, repeatedly bringing up a young general named Liu Yue.

"...General Liu, all by himself, smashed through tens of thousands of Northern barbarian cavalry and drove them back to the Northern Icefield... Now General Liu has returned to the capital, been granted the title Earl of Ningnan, and appointed Vice Minister of War."

Wang Ping neither agreed nor disagreed with the story. Unless Liu Yue had also cultivated some secret art, there was no way he could have taken down tens of thousands of Northern Kingdom cavalry alone. But if he had cultivated secret arts, he most likely would not have appeared on an ordinary battlefield.

"I saw you learn a new swordplay some time ago. Can you show me?" Wang Ping had no intention of digging into the truth of the story.

"Master didn't teach you swordplay?" In Wang Kang's shallow understanding, Wang Ping, as Daoist Yucheng's Personal Disciple, ought to know everything.

"I learned other cultivation methods."

"Oh!"

Wang Kang's swordplay was called Thousand Wood Sword. It was divided into an earlier and later section. The earlier section had eight moves. They looked like flowery flourishes, but could strengthen the body. The later section had five moves. The first three were variations, mainly used to knock aside an enemy's limbs. The last two were killing moves: one was Eye Stab, and one was Throat Strike.

After Wang Ping copied the movements and practiced both sets, a new Light Screen Panel appeared before his eyes:

[Thousand Wood Sword Art: The eight moves of the earlier section are intent; the five moves of the later section are form. Form Refining is easy, intent refining is difficult. Use the Evergreen Cultivation Technique foundation to practice ten times daily, and you can reach completion in ten years. (Progress 0/100, today's progress 0/10)]

[Note: Using the later-stage method of the Evergreen Cultivation Technique can greatly shorten the time needed to reach completion.]

"What should I pay attention to when practicing this swordplay?" Wang Ping asked after reading the panel's guide. The panel's guide was the most foolish method.

"Senior Brother Mao said that one must focus on using intent to guide form. I didn't understand what that meant. He also said not to forcefully practice the last five moves, or else the foul breath in one's heart would be hard to extinguish."

Wang Ping nodded as he looked over the guide's explanation. The last five moves of this swordplay were all killing moves. Becoming too engrossed in them would indeed easily breed malicious thoughts. Given enough time, one would not be able to resist seeking others out to spar with—or fight to the death.

Having received his answer, Wang Ping gently moved the branch in his hand. He still could not understand what the intent behind sword moves was, so he could only practice according to the guide's method.

After successfully practicing ten times, Wang Kang had already packed up the meal box and left.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.

During those half a month, every morning Wang Ping studied Buddhist scriptures as his Master required, trying to find the great wisdom within them. In the afternoons, he used the stance work of the Evergreen Cultivation Technique to practice the sword moves he had newly learned.

Before practicing today, he felt something stir within him, so he took out the Jiaobei and cast a divination.

Sure enough, it was an auspicious omen!

He quickly completed today's ten repetitions of the sword moves. The instant Wang Ping finished his practice, something stirred in his heart. With a casual, gentle thrust, the branch in his hand immediately gave off a light tremor. This was Thousand Wood Swordplay's most lethal move—Throat Strike.

"Is this what they call using intent to guide form?"

Wang Ping muttered to himself. He lightly turned his wrist and, following the force-generating techniques contained within the previous eight seemingly useless sword moves, performed two variations once more. When he finished, a rush of exhilaration rose from the bottom of his heart.

"So that's how it is!"

Delight appeared on Wang Ping's face. He swung the branch in his hand with abandon, only stopping after a long while. The Light Screen Panel's guide for the Thousand Wood Sword Art had changed:

[Thousand Wood Sword Art: You have understood the mystery of this swordplay. Do not let the foul breath in your heart interfere with you. Practice ten times every day according to your method, and you can reach completion in two years. (Progress 65/100, today's progress 10/10)]

Wang Ping carefully read the new panel several times and understood that the key this time was controlling the foul breath in his heart. That foul breath was indeed easily born. After the exhilarating practice just now, even his State of Mind had produced the urge to fight others.

So, he returned to his room and meditated. Before long, he soothed his restless heart.

Only then did he finally understand why people in his previous life always said that the most important step in martial arts was subduing the dragon. The "dragon" here might refer to the malicious thoughts in one's heart.

If one could not suppress malicious thoughts, the final result would be harming others and oneself. That was why martial arts were divided into fighting methods and training methods. Training methods could not only strengthen the body, but also temper one's patience.

After understanding this principle, Wang Ping continued meditating in his room until Wang Kang brought dinner in the afternoon. While eating, he asked Wang Kang to pass a message to Second Senior Brother, saying that he wanted a sword.

The feeling of malicious thoughts being born was actually rather nice, and the process of subduing them was even better!

"If I use a real sword, malicious thoughts will arise even faster, right?" Wang Ping could not help thinking of the rapeseed flowers he had ravaged as a child in his previous life.

The next day.

When Wang Kang delivered breakfast, he brought Wang Ping an ordinary Iron Sword. Its style was similar to those carried by ordinary Jianghu Guests, though the words "Thousand Wood" were engraved upon its blade.

Another half month flew by.

One afternoon, Wang Ping had just finished practicing both sets of Thousand Wood sword moves and was meditating in his room when a familiar Footstep Sound reached his ears from the courtyard. He hurriedly rose and pushed open the door.

Sure enough, Daoist Yucheng stood in the courtyard, dressed in coarse cloth.

"Master!"

Wang Ping bowed in salute.

"This trip was not in vain. I got hold of what I was looking for for you." Daoist Yucheng flipped his right hand, and a Wooden Box appeared in it. Then he said, "I'll explain it to you in detail when you practice tomorrow morning."

With that, he put away the Wooden Box and quickly returned to his room to meditate and recover.

Wang Ping could clearly sense his Master's exhaustion. He forcibly suppressed the curiosity in his heart and saluted toward his Master's room.

At dinner, Wang Kang learned that Daoist Yucheng had returned. When he entered the courtyard, he became cautious once more.

After dinner, Wang Ping returned to his room to meditate, so that time would pass a little faster and satisfy the curiosity he was nearly unable to suppress.