Flowing Sword of Memory

At the top of Castle Morne's watchtower lay a moderately sized open space covered with a waterproof tarp, suitable for sparring.

Alberich, Helena, and Irina sat on a long bench, eating fruit and drinking tea as they watched the two men standing in the middle of the space-Zhao Si and Blaidd?.

"Two blades this time?" Blaidd? had no complaints about Zhao Si's frequent changes of weapon. It was perfectly normal for a competent warrior to master every kind of weapon.

As long as Zhao Si knew how to use them, he could make a name for himself even with daggers.

Zhao Si tapped the backs of his blades together with a crisp clang. "Yes, two blades. I remembered some things about fighting, and I think the sword techniques in those memories would work better with these."

"Your combat memories even include sword techniques? They're pretty complete." Blaidd? let his twinblade hang slightly downward, facing Zhao Si in a relaxed stance.

Zhao Si understood that although Blaidd? looked relaxed, he had left no openings. Since the queen had returned his combat memories, his eyes could clearly read his opponent's condition.

Blaidd?'s stance allowed him to respond swiftly to all kinds of attacks from Zhao Si. Whether they came from the front or the side, high, middle, or low, he could react quickly.

Zhao Si drew a deep breath and held it. Breathing mattered in combat, too; breathing haphazardly would only disrupt the rhythm of his attacks. He mapped out an attack in his mind: overwhelm Blaidd? with a rapid flurry delivered in a single breath.

One line stood out with perfect clarity in his combat memories: stagnation breeds rot; cowardice and retreat invite death.

So hesitation means defeat, huh? Only courage can take you farther and keep you alive longer.

Zhao Si's gaze abruptly sharpened. Even Blaidd? could sense the change in him.

"If you're not going to attack first..." Before Blaidd? could finish, Zhao Si seized the initiative.

He unleashed the Flowing Sword of Memory, wielding his two blades in a dance-like motion, gentle as water yet concealing deadly intent.

Blaidd? moved instantly. Rather than defend with his twinblade, he attacked, intending to strike first despite moving second and use his weapon's reach to force Zhao Si back. He caught an opening in Zhao Si's sword technique, thrusting the tip of his twinblade between the two blades like a spear aimed at Zhao Si's throat.

With one blade, watch the hands; with two, watch the footwork.

Zhao Si had anticipated the direction of Blaidd?'s attack as well. He began to "flow" along the path of the sword tip, alternating steps on the balls of his feet to shift his position. His hands moved with the twist of his body, changing the direction of his attack. The high slash at Blaidd?'s neck traced a half circle and became a cut at his waist.

Blaidd? reversed his twinblade and swept it toward Zhao Si's waist in turn. He used offense as defense: if Zhao Si wanted to avoid injury, he would have to abandon his attack.

Yet the twinblade was like an oar stirring a river. Zhao Si shifted position again, following the direction of Blaidd?'s force. This time, he spun all the way behind Blaidd? and brought his blades down toward both shoulders.

Blaidd? thrust his twinblade backward past his shoulder, aiming at Zhao Si's face to stop him. Zhao Si abruptly dropped into a half crouch and slashed both blades at Blaidd?'s ankles. Blaidd? leaped up and brought his twinblade down.

Crouching on the ground, Zhao Si twisted his body and dodged the strike.

The entire exchange took only a few breaths, while Zhao Si had fought through it on just one. Their weapons had never even clashed; every move had forced the other to change his attack.

"The little loser's different now," Alberich said with a frown. She had been explaining the two men's sparring to Helena and Irina throughout.

"Different how?" Helena asked.

"Well, he seems pretty brave. Not all timid like before." Alberich recalled her first encounter with Zhao Si. "He used to be a little brat hiding behind the White Wolf. Now he's actually putting up a decent fight against him."

Zhao Si slid along the ground, opening up some distance from Blaidd?, and expelled the last of his held breath. He could not help panting a little. He had launched into strenuous exercise right after waking, and his stamina was struggling to keep up. The Flowing Sword also demanded considerable agility and endurance.

It was practically like pressing his body against his opponent's blade, using the force generated by the opponent's attacks to move. Whoever had devised this sword technique must have been out of their mind, because its greatest difficulty lay in clearly sensing the flow of the opponent's strength. He had to grasp the rhythm of battle to react quickly enough.

No, that's not right. Zhao Si shook his head, feeling that his understanding of the Flowing Sword was too superficial.

It was not merely about moving with his opponent's force. There had to be something deeper, but he could not grasp its essence just yet.

Flowing water, flowing water... If this weren't Elden Ring, I'd think I was learning tai chi swordsmanship.

Zhao Si could not help making that inward quip. Still, it made sense when he thought about it. People were much the same, and the fighting methods masters came up with were bound to share some common ground. That was hardly surprising.

Blaidd? waved his twinblade. "That sword technique of yours really throws me off. It feels like I can never get a satisfying hit in. Judging by the distance, I think I'm about to land a blow, but somehow you dodge it. It's strange."

Zhao Si felt over his clothes and found a few cuts in them. "You still caught me in places. I haven't mastered the technique yet."

"Get some more actual fighting experience and hone it properly. You're already much better than before, when you only knew how to dodge on instinct." Blaidd? offered Zhao Si a measured compliment.

Zhao Si sheathed both blades at his waist. "Thank you for the pointers, Master Blaidd?."

Nearby, Helena excitedly tugged Alberich's sleeve. "Who won? Who won?"

Alberich considered for a moment. "It was just sparring, so there wasn't a winner. But the little loser really has improved enormously. He might become an excellent warrior."

"That's wonderful!" Helena clapped happily.

Irina did not quite understand. "Is that silly big brother really strong?"

"Hehe, he's not that strong yet, but one day he'll surpass everyone!" Helena firmly believed it.

Alberich shook her head with a smile. "Such a little girl."

Zhao Si came over, wiping away his sweat, and asked Irina, "Would you like to learn swordsmanship?"

"Hm?"

All three girls froze.

Alberich spoke first. "She's so young, and she's blind. How is she supposed to learn swordsmanship?"

"But the founder of the Flowing Sword was blind," Zhao Si said. "Irina happens to be blind, too. Isn't it a good thing to start learning swordsmanship as a child?"

Irina's little cheeks flushed as she clenched her small fists. "What's good about learning swordsmanship?"

"Once you've learned it, you won't need your father to protect you. You'll be able to kill bad guys yourself, and even protect your father," Zhao Si said with a smile.

It was better to teach someone to fish than to give them a fish. When it came to protecting her, Zhao Si could not be everywhere at once. Relying only on

himself, he could never protect Irina at every moment. Rather than try, he might as well help her become a peerless swordswoman.

If the Blind Swordsman could do it, and Malenia could do it, why couldn't Irina?

Zhao Si refused to believe otherwise.

As long as someone was willing to work hard at swordsmanship, it would never betray the time they put into practicing.

Irina was the castellan's daughter, so she certainly would not lack nutrition. Aside from her blindness, her physical constitution should be fairly good, too. After all, Edgar was no weakling.

She could definitely learn the Flowing Sword!

Irina thought for a moment. "Okay, then I'll learn swordsmanship. I don't have much else to do anyway."

Zhao Si's smile grew even brighter. "Wonderful. Oh, right, Helena, have the Two Fingers given us any new tasks?"

"No, the Two Fingers have given no new instructions." Helena shook her head.

Zhao Si turned to Alberich and Blaidd?. Blaidd? said, "Do as you please."

Alberich spread her hands. "I don't have anything to do either. I wouldn't mind staying here and enjoying good food for a few days."

Zhao Si immediately felt a weight lift from him. Although rain lingered over the Weeping Peninsula, everyone seemed to be in good spirits, unaffected by the weather.