According to Iroh, the fundamental difference between a Firebending Master and an ordinary Firebender lay not in combat strength, but in their understanding of Firebending, of flame, of their own bodies, spiritual power, and minds, and of all things in nature.
An indescribable realm separated the two.
Yet many in the Fire Nation now scoffed at this view. They regarded the power and combat strength of Firebending as absolute truth and disdained the so-called contemplation of flame, dismissing it as a trick to make things seem mysterious.
Ozai, the current emperor of the Fire Nation, was a leading example.
Kahn neither agreed nor disagreed with this thinking. In a troubled age where the Hundred Year War had raged for a century, greater strength really was better on the battlefield, just as they said. After all, enemies would not spare you merely because you understood Bending more deeply.
The saying that the bigger fist spoke the hardest truth clearly applied anywhere.
But couldn't understanding Firebending also indirectly improve one's strength?
He believed it could, only the improvement might be neither quick nor obvious. That was why most people dismissed it: not everyone had the talent, nor did everyone have the time to devote themselves to studying it.
He could only say that he was truly fortunate. He lived in a relatively peaceful environment, had a formidable teacher at the level of a Firebending Master, and possessed extraordinary talent himself. Only then did he have both the ability and the opportunity to pursue a higher realm.
In the courtyard, Iroh was giving him his first lesson on the Firebending Master Path.
His figure had gradually grown plump and round. Together with his gray hair, long beard, and kindly face, his former martial grandeur had faded, and he looked more like a good teacher possessed of great wisdom.
Even now, Iroh often visited the Council Chamber, but unlike before, his mood had become quite tranquil. He looked every bit an idle old man watching the spectacle.
To Ozai, Iroh's behavior looked like helpless despair that had finally turned into numbness, which pleased him immensely.
Through his maneuvering, Iroh's influence among both the public and the military had dwindled to almost nothing. During this time, Iroh had even willingly let himself go, becoming a fat, greasy old man who had probably lost most of his strength as well.
In the past, Ozai had kept Iroh around to keep him in check. Now, he simply wanted to show off in front of him.
After all, without spectators, how could the world know of his greatness?
Back to the matter at hand.
Looking at Kahn before him, Iroh stroked his beard and said:
"At this point, there really isn't much left for me to teach you."
After saying this, he deliberately paused and secretly observed Kahn's reaction.
To his disappointment, Kahn continued looking at him calmly. His face showed none of the surprise or confusion Iroh had imagined; he even gave Iroh a disdainful look.
"Ah, Zuko is still a little more adorable. You should learn more from him in that regard."
Finding no fun in it, Iroh teased him briefly before continuing cheerfully:
"Although there's little left to teach, as someone who has walked ahead of you, I do have some experience to share. Just give it a casual listen."
I knew it.
Kahn muttered this to himself.
Iroh could be described as an old rascal, always amusing himself by teasing people whenever he had nothing else to do, such as by putting these long pauses into his speech.
Kahn had more or less grown familiar with Iroh's tricks and could turn a blind eye to them. Only an innocent, kind little fellow like Zuko would be run around in circles by Iroh with no way to fight back.
Iroh explained:
"Although you're very talented and clever, and you enjoy reading, some things cannot be gained through imagination alone or from books."
"The broad horizons that come from seeing a thousand mountains, the firm resolve forged through hardship, the wealth of experience gained through life's upheavals, the precious lessons earned through a hundred battles, and keeping a thoughtful mind toward everything in the world-all these are indispensable elements on the path to mastery."
"Most importantly, don't limit yourself to Firebending itself."
"Of course, someone whose understanding of Bending itself is sufficiently thorough can also be called a Bending Master. But I believe these things beyond Bending itself, which seem unrelated to it, embody the essence of a master even more fully."
"With these things, even without Bending, a master remains a master."
Hearing Iroh's final words, Kahn murmured thoughtfully:
"Even without Bending, a master remains a master..."
If someone really reached that level, wouldn't that be the so-called Innate Perfection, Supreme Grandmaster realm in martial arts novels?
Kahn gained a little more insight into the path of a Bending Master. At this stage, it was no longer as simple as training; it was more like cultivation.
Cultivating the body, cultivating the mind.
No wonder Iroh had said that a Firebending Master could not be taught into existence. Becoming a Firebending Master required one's own insights. Even with the same principle, being told by someone else and grasping it oneself felt completely different.
It was probably like the difference between traveling in person and taking a virtual trip through videos.
Yet after saying all this, Iroh suddenly changed tack and said with a smile:
"The above is merely my personal view, so just take it as something to listen to. Your main goal now should still be to focus on Firebending itself and deepen your understanding of Bending and flame."
"But if you can hold yourself to a higher standard, that would naturally be all the better."
"Sure enough, here we go again."
At this, Kahn finally could not resist rolling his eyes at Iroh.
It had been the same back then as it was now. Iroh loved dangling grand promises in front of him, hoping to fool him into becoming more enthusiastic. He was an old master at painting tempting pies.
But he had to admit that the pies Iroh painted were indeed very successful. At least his goal had truly been raised a notch.
Innate Perfection, Supreme Grandmaster!
Uh, that sounded a little adolescent.
But the mention of promises Iroh had made him suddenly reminded Kahn of something, and he said:
"Speaking of which, didn't you say before that once I'd learned Firebending well, you'd teach me more powerful moves?"
Iroh froze for a moment at this, then recalled that there did indeed seem to have been such a thing.
"Of course, of course I remember. But the time hasn't come yet."
"You aren't trying to go back on your word, are you?!"
"How could I? Though the time hasn't come yet, I imagine it will be soon. After all, that little girl Azula has already started making moves."
With that same unruffled air, Iroh began speaking in riddles again, making Kahn's teeth itch with anger, though there was nothing he could do.
There was no helping it. He really could not beat this man.
But judging from Iroh's words, he seemed to know what the new move Azula had mentioned to Kahn was, and the move Iroh had promised to teach him also seemed to have some connection to the one Azula had spoken of.
Could it be some Royal Secret Technique?
Considering their identities and relationship, he made a wild guess.
Giving up on thinking about it and returning to their earlier topic, Kahn asked Iroh:
"Then have you reached that realm you described?"
"Me?"
Iroh rubbed his big belly and said with a smile:
"Who knows? I haven't trained in a long time, but I've been living quite well. Haha!"
Indeed, after spending so much time with Iroh, Kahn had yet to see him do much training. Instead, he had watched his belly grow rounder by the day.
But Kahn felt that Iroh was fooling him.
To him, Iroh's state seemed more like the return to simplicity and truth described in the martial arts novels of his previous life. At any rate, Iroh could still beat him with ease.
This fellow wasn't holding back some ultimate move, was he?
Before you continue