The kindness of imparting a cultivation method was naturally something to remember.
But gratitude aside, Jiang Che's heart remained as clear as a mirror.
How had he obtained the Upper Azure Smoke Cloud Embryonic Breath Method? He had died over and over in the time fragments, then led men in searching the mountain and earned merit. In the end, he had won it himself. It was no one's charity.
The Azure Torrent Sword Art had come about because Yu Cheng, an Azure Mystic True Disciple, had praised him, and Luo Wenling had gone with the flow and given the order.
Du Yongchang had merely handled the matter.
That said, Du Yongchang was still someone he could not afford to offend.
He would certainly be punished upon returning to the sect, but his offense did not warrant death. A Qi Refining Cultivator might not amount to much within the Azure Mystic Sect, but crushing a small fry who had only just entered Embryonic Breath would take no more effort than blowing away dust.
And the man liked refining living people into pills. Why offend him?
If he truly wanted to act as he pleased, he ultimately needed strength of his own. Only then would he no longer have to bow and scrape.
Before long, everyone returned to Willow Source County.
Jiang Weichuan called Jiang Che to his residence in the county town.
"Che, this great opportunity you've gained is a good thing. Once you enter the sect, you must work hard. As long as you join the sect and become a proper Azure Mystic disciple, you'll bring glory to your ancestors."
Jiang Che did not respond. He merely smiled and nodded.
He genuinely had little affection for this so-called lineage. That went without saying for someone who had transmigrated here, but even the original owner of his body had felt no gratitude toward it.
What was there to be grateful for? They would not even let him into the genealogy. He had received neither protection nor preferential treatment. His parents were merely farmers who worked the lineage's land and paid rent, no different from tenant farmers.
Seeing Jiang Che like this, Jiang Weichuan sighed.
"Do you know that our Jiang lineage of Willow Source has produced two Qi Refining Cultivators over the past forty years, but never a disciple of the Azure Mystic Main Gate? If you return, the lineage will certainly treat you well, and your parents will be able to hold their heads high."
"Uncle Chuan, do you mean the lineage will make things right for my parents and me?"
"They certainly will, and you won't be treated poorly. The lineage will do its best to provide the resources you need for cultivation. Your parents' lives will improve, too. Given your standing now, unless the elders have lost their wits, they should know how to treat your branch."
When Jiang Che still said nothing, Jiang Weichuan continued persuading him.
"At the end of the day, one stroke cannot write two different Jiangs. Now that you've made something of yourself, returning to acknowledge your ancestors and rejoin the lineage would be good for both you and your parents. You cannot travel far down the path of cultivation alone. Having the lineage behind you is better than fighting every battle single-handed."
There was nothing wrong with that reasoning.
Cultivation required resources. Whether he became an outer disciple or went to the sect later, he would receive a small allowance, something like wages, but that alone would certainly not suffice.
The Jiang lineage might not be particularly powerful, but having a cultivation lineage rooted in a region behind him would help to some extent.
How his parents would be treated was another important consideration.
He would certainly spend long stretches away from home in the future, setting out to seek immortality and the Dao. Whether he could attain eternal life remained uncertain, but he should at least be able to prolong his years. One day, immortality might separate him from his mortal parents, but until they passed away, he would always have that bond to worry over.
If the lineage could treat the elderly couple well, he would have far less to worry about.
With that thought, Jiang Che relented. "All right. I'll go back for a visit."
Uncle Chuan was overjoyed. "If you're willing, I can take you back today."
Jiang Che shook his head. "Not today. I need to spend another day learning swordsmanship from Steward Du. He leaves tomorrow."
Jiang Weichuan paused, then nodded. "Very well. I'll return today and tell the elders. Come over first thing tomorrow morning."
Jiang Che agreed and took his leave.
Jiang Weichuan escorted him outside the residence. As they parted, he patted Jiang Che's shoulder and said with feeling, "Che, when I brought you out two months ago, it was only because your grandfather had some connection to my branch. I wanted to find you a way to make a living. Who could have imagined you would encounter such fortune? In the future, I may be the one who needs your care."
"Don't say that, Uncle Chuan. Without you, there wouldn't be the Jiang Che I am today."
After leaving Uncle Chuan's residence, Jiang Che headed straight for Du Yongchang's lodging.
He had barely reached the entrance when Du Yongchang's voice came from within.
"Come in."
He pushed the door open and entered. Du Yongchang was sitting on a stone stool in the courtyard, a pot of tea before him. He looked somewhat less murderous than usual.
"My lord." Jiang Che bowed.
On the way back to Willow Source, Du Yongchang had instructed him to come over when he had time.
Imparting a cultivation art meant more than handing over a manual. Some instruction was still necessary.
"I leave town tomorrow. You have only one day, and you're still injured. How much you learn will depend on your own ability."
"This disciple would not dare slack off."
Du Yongchang rose and walked to an open space in the courtyard. Casually breaking off a branch, he hefted it in his hand. "The sword is not my primary path, and my swordsmanship is nothing exceptional, but it's enough to guide a boy who has only just entered Embryonic Breath. Watch closely. The Azure Torrent Sword Art has twelve forms in all. I'll demonstrate them for you."
With that, he turned his wrist. The withered branch cut through the air with a low whistle.
Du Yongchang might have said he did not cultivate the sword path, but he still possessed the keen eye and strength of a Qi Refining Cultivator. The speed, angle, and force of each stroke were precisely controlled. The withered branch danced in the morning light, the wind it stirred rising from a low whistle into a clear, ringing sound, like successive waves surging through a blue-green forest.
After demonstrating all twelve forms, Du Yongchang casually tossed the withered branch aside. "Did you understand what you saw?"
He had only asked in passing, yet to his surprise, Jiang Che actually looked deep in thought.
"Azure Flow takes its name from its form. Waves sweep through the forest, their momentum ever changing, their sound unbroken. I could sense that grandeur when you wielded the sword, my lord. The sword moves like wind through a blue-green forest, feints interwoven with true strikes, flowing without end."
"This sword art does not prevail through brute force. Its essence lies in change. Branches and leaves move with the wind, yet never leave their roots. The sword's movements are elusive, hiding where the next thrust will land, while one's own foundation remains steady and one's force does not scatter."
Du Yongchang was slightly taken aback.
What Jiang Che said was not especially profound, but it did capture insights Du Yongchang had gained over his years of practicing the Azure Torrent Sword Art. He was not a sword cultivator; his understanding of swordsmanship only went that far. He had infused those qualities into his demonstration, and after seeing it just once, Jiang Che had grasped most of them!
Entering the Dao overnight was one thing, but did he have such insight into swordsmanship as well?
If someone like this could be made into a Blood Elixir through human refinement...
Du Yongchang unconsciously licked his lips, then remembered his current predicament and lost some of his enthusiasm.
He gave a soft snort. "Your words are interesting enough. Let's see what your hands can do. You've read the sword art and watched my demonstration. Come, try it yourself."
He tossed the branch over and returned to the stone table to sip his tea, as though he no longer cared about Jiang Che.
Jiang Che picked up the branch and stood in the courtyard.
Rather than moving immediately, he first closed his eyes. In his mind, he reviewed the text and illustrations in the sword manual, then blended them with Du Yongchang's demonstration and his own insights.
A moment later, he opened his eyes. His wrist flicked, and the withered branch thrust forward.
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