Forge a path to success

"Control your emotions." Some say, "Fear can cloud your vision."

The sound of flapping wings was no longer heard; only the rustling of leaves in the wind could be heard. She was indeed leaning against a large tree, its trunk purplish, but it was just a normal dark-colored plant. Qingye followed Jianming and saw a campsite in a sparse area of ​​trees, where a pale-faced man sat alone on a wooden stake.

He had medium-length hair, wore a silver hoodie, and the short sword on his knee was still trembling slightly; he was clearly a ruthless individual.

"How are things now?" the man asked.

"I...can't feel it at all." Qingye herself couldn't believe it. "Is it...an illusion?"

“It’s an illusion,” the man said in an unquestionable tone. “Fear amplifies the sense of crisis.”

"But, neurotoxins..."

"It smells like flowers."

Qingye was speechless, then said, "Such a loud flapping sound." "It's the wind." "The trees are melting!" "A hallucination."

"But, but..." Qingye shook her head vigorously, pointing to the broken shadow behind her, "My threads are all broken!"

"It's because I'm practicing swordsmanship," the hooded man said calmly. "Any other questions?"

"Yes, that's all." Qingye subconsciously lowered her head in response, just like when she was in class. Her awe of the strong made her remain silent.

"Sit down and rest." "Okay." Qingye carefully sat down on the ground. The hooded man stared blankly at his short sword.

"name is?"

"Light illuminates the night..."

"I am Longyu."

The name sounded more like a knife than a person's name; it was obviously a fake. Qingye didn't dare to expose it: "Thank you, Mr. Longyu."

Then the conversation ended. Long Yu continued to stare blankly at the short sword, his muddy gaze like that of an office worker just waking up from a drunken stupor. This awkward and unsettling silence lasted for more than ten minutes before Long Yu looked up at Qing Ye as if he had just noticed.

"You have a problem."

"Ah," Qingye nodded, "Yes."

Longyu made an ice knife and tossed it to her, then picked up the short knife from her lap.

“Then let’s practice Kendo,” the man said. “No matter what the problem is, Kendo is always the best way to solve it.”

Chapter 189 The Art of Seeking the Dao with a Broken Heart (2)

"Speaking of swordsmanship, like technique, it can be considered proof of our remnant spirit," the old man on the futon said slowly. "It's something very unique. Yes, a one-of-a-kind technique. But outsiders can never quite tell the difference."

Question: What's the difference between the Remnant Heart Swordplay and the Dragon Village Fist? Qingye, you answer that.

She was called upon again, and immediately stood up, answering as quickly as possible: "Yes! Dragon Township Fist Technique can prolong life, but Remnant Heart Sword Path cannot make one live to be a hundred!"

The classroom erupted in laughter, and Qingye, her face flushed, quietly sat down. The patriarch laughed so hard his beard trembled.

"To put it simply, that's how it is. The effects of Longxiang Boxing are very obvious. If you practice diligently, your muscles will grow, your body will become stronger, and even ordinary people can live longer."

The patriarch flexed his biceps and struck a bodybuilder pose: "But Zanshin Kendo is different. All you do is improve your 'efficiency in killing enemies.' Of course, your mindset will change, and you'll accumulate some thoughts, but it won't benefit your body."

"Why is there such a difference? Because Kendo is a practice that integrates oneself into the sword. When you swing the sword, you are constantly 'giving' yourself; those emotions, thoughts, and feelings are incorporated into your technique through practice."

Just as martial arts practitioners forge their own swords of the heart, those with broken hearts forge their own skills and techniques, which are what you know as the 'Secret Soul'... This is how different schools of swordsmanship came about. The mood of the swordsman varies, and the same move will naturally differ as well..."

The patriarch drew his long sword, "Mian Sheng," and gestured as he spoke: "Our Mitsuki family's 'Musou Gyakushin-ryu' is considered a relatively gentle style of swordsmanship. I cannot demonstrate it for you now. Does anyone know why?"

"Because you're only carrying one knife?" Qingye whispered. Wuxiang Nixinliu is a dual-sword style.

The audience burst into laughter again, and Qingye wished she could disappear into the tatami mats.

"Haha, that's absolutely right! You can't use two swords with just one. You must remember that..."

Everyone was busy laughing at Qingye, but only Qingye noticed. At that moment, the elder was looking at the long sword, but his gaze seemed to have drifted across the ocean to a very, very far place.

"One knife won't do," the old man repeated, seemingly to no one.

·

Reality, the forest.

The short sword slashed at the ice blade, flowing straight down the blade and stirring up snowflakes. Seeing his five fingers about to be severed, Qingye used his left hand to perform a sudden thrust with the Crown Rising technique, then changed his move mid-strike to strike Longyu's lower arm.

Long Yu extended two fingers, pressing down on the blade of Mian Sheng with his left hand, which was not holding the sword, maintaining his short sword attack. Qing Ye was caught off guard and hurriedly abandoned his sword and withdrew his hand. At this moment, Long Yu changed from pressing to pinching with his two fingers, and with a release of force, he pulled Mian Sheng from Qing Ye's hand as easily as drawing his own sword from its sheath.

With his hands empty, Qingye's defeat was imminent. No, it was a dead end.

Longyu tossed Miansheng back to her and sheathed his short sword. He slightly lowered his center of gravity, gripping the hilt with one hand, assuming a stance for iaido. Qingye immediately ran to the side, using an arc-shaped movement to evade the attack range, forcing Longyu to turn. But suddenly, a sword's cry pierced her mind; Longyu's short sword was still in its sheath, yet a splash of ink-like slash descended straight towards her forearm.

It was the intent of a sword drawn from its sheath! An overwhelmingly powerful intent surged forth, unleashing a vertical Iaijutsu strike that disregarded spatial orientation. Qingye rolled hastily to dodge, the dark slash grazing her hair. At that moment, Longyu drew his sword, his short blade's horizontal slash sealing off all escape routes, intersecting with the intent's strike to form a cross. He had unleashed a dual-sword style with a single blade!

The short sword knocked away the defender Mian Sheng, and Qing Ye suffered a crushing defeat.

Longyu ceased her stance and sat back down on the wooden stake. Qingye quickly picked up her knife and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your guidance..."

“By sparring with each other in swordsmanship, you can find out what kind of person the other is,” Longyu said. “You’ll know their personality and what they’re thinking as soon as you exchange blows.”

Longyu was absolutely right; different people have different sword styles. The patriarch's sword style was expansive and unrestrained, his natural swordplay displaying the grandeur of a master; Mr. Chu's sword style was swift and ruthless, unstoppable and unstoppable, a deadly sword as decisive as himself; and Longyu…

Longyu's swordsmanship was dull and unfocused, like a sleeping giant wielding a wooden club; even the most exquisite moves appeared listless. Such a swordsmanship utterly annihilated her, leaving Qingye momentarily unsure whether to admire Longyu's strength or reflect on her own weakness.

"You're so confused. Your sword," Longyu said, "You must have been scolded by Chongming."

"Actually..." Qingye shrank back guiltily and told the whole story. After she finished speaking, she realized that it was really no big deal, and she was surprised at her own strong reaction. It seemed that after the chaos in Jinye City and the interrogation in the arena, something inside her was about to collapse, like a wooden barrel that was rotten inside and would break at the slightest impact.

“Like this.” Long Yu looked over, his eyes a misty gray. “Then let’s put it another way.”

"?"

"The one with the broken heart, Guang Shi Qing Ye, embarked on her journey with the tacit approval of the patriarch, carrying the mission of seeking help from her destined master. She knew this mission was arduous and impossible to accomplish, but she still set off on the journey with her own determination," Long Yu said. "So what?"

It's the same story, but the feeling is completely different. The protagonist instantly transforms from a reckless little girl running away from home into a warrior embarking on an adventure with a clear conscience. Qingye stood up happily: "Yes! That's exactly it..."

Her tone fell, and she sat back down on the floor: "No. You can't use high-sounding words to cover up stupid things."

“What a stupid thing to do,” Longyu repeated ambiguously. “That was indeed a stupid thing to do.”

"what?"

But Longyu offered no answer. He rose and walked deeper into the forest. Qingye realized the man was leaving, and—she instinctively sensed—that if she said goodbye here, she would never have another chance to speak with him. She hurriedly stood up, driven by impulse to follow him.

"Mr. Longyu, may I ask why you have come here?"

"Mourning a deceased friend."

"Until you reach your destination!" Qingye shouted without hesitation, "May I travel with you?"

Longyu stopped and looked at her for a while.

"it is good."

"Thank you very much!"

Qingye felled two large trees in succession, marking the cross of their trunks. She hurriedly carved "I'm going to cultivate" and followed Longyu's footsteps into the distance.

This was a reckless decision, but wasting any more time was not an option. Chongming, being a person of the mist, couldn't teach her, and she was the only one among her companions with a broken heart. Even if it meant taking risks, she had to become stronger!

·

The Misty Forest was vast, and the deeper one went, the thicker the fog became. After walking for half a day, Qingye had completely lost her sense of direction; blurry tree shadows surrounded her on all sides, and the occasional soft rustling sound in the fog resembled the footsteps of unseen people. She followed closely behind Longyu, not daring to stray far or make a sound. Until night fell, Longyu cut down a large tree to make a makeshift campsite.

He didn't light a fire, and the two heartless individuals sat silently facing each other in the dark. Qingye mustered the courage to speak.

"Mr. Longyu...how did you manage to make that cut?"

Long Yu sat there blankly, seemingly not understanding. Qing Ye gestured with his sword, "It's... using a single sword to create a dual-sword style..."

“It’s reverse-blade drawing,” Longyu said. “It’s about internalizing the slashing motion into the sword, so you can use it to strike when needed.”

"Is this what you call exercise?!"

"If you rely purely on impulse, it will take about a year. But you can take shortcuts."

Long Yu placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, and a jet-black slash, as black as ink, instantly appeared, far more composed than a purely impulsive attack. Long Yu's thoughts shifted, and the slash instantly turned deathly white, flashing past in the mist.

"Oh, if we use light and shadow!"

“Trying to be clever will only make things weak and turn them into petty tricks.” Long Yu released her grip. “Don’t rely on techniques. Swordsmanship is the foundation of your life.”

"Our patriarch said that both martial arts and swordsmanship are important, and only those who excel in both can be considered 'disabled souls'..." Qingye said weakly.

Is that your opinion?

Qingye was speechless. "This..."

Long Yu didn't offer a definitive answer or advice. This man was always like this; he posed a question but didn't state his opinion, leaving the "correct answer" shrouded in mystery. Qing Ye, accustomed to observing her elders' expressions, found this attitude difficult to handle and didn't know how to start a conversation.

Seeing that Longyu was about to fall into a daze again, she quickly changed the subject: "Mr. Longyu, what school of cultivation do you practice?"

"What about you?"

"I am from the Musou Gyō-ryū school," Qingye answered proudly. "It's a dual-sword style passed down through generations of the Kōshō family, and it's hailed as one of the three great sword styles of Shura Island! I wonder if this was the case in your time..."

"What is the essence?" Long Yu seemed very interested; he really did like swordsmanship.

"The key is to go against one's own heart." Qingye answered meticulously, "The most important thing for a cultivator is to listen to the opinions of others. Going against one's own will will inevitably lead to extremism, or even to the evil path."

“Then this swordsmanship should be called Reverse Heart Style.” Long Yu’s tone suddenly became very harsh. “There are even extra words in just five characters. The patriarch of the Guang Shi family should go back to his studies.”

"No, no! That's not it! I haven't explained it clearly yet." "What have you learned?" Long Yu interrupted. "Um, basic Shadow Robe Technique, Super Sin Technique, Illusionary Light Technique, and I've also learned some techniques from the Cold Intent Sect—"

Long Yu's eyes were full of confusion: "You volunteered to join the Spiral Tower?"

I can't take this anymore! What does this guy think the Soul-Breaking Technique is? Some kind of Cataclysmic magic?! Does this swordsman think everyone who uses magic is a Cataclysmic reserve?!

Qingye puffed out her cheeks in anger: "I've also practiced swordsmanship! I'm naturally proficient in the basic moves, and I've also learned Dudu, Juexi, Shuangfeng Sha, and more... I've even mastered Qianye Shunxing!"

"Oh?" Longyu was clearly interested. "Really?"

"I learned it in theory..." Qingye's voice gradually lowered, "but in actual combat... I haven't used it even once..."

To be honest, it's not entirely her fault. Theoretically, "Thousand Nights Instant Star" is a secret technique of equal status to "One Qi for a Thousand Autumns" from Longquan Township. Learning it is no simpler than learning the secret techniques from Longquan Township, and its effects are far more extraordinary. However, in actual combat, "One Qi for a Thousand Autumns" is practically synonymous with martial arts cultivation, while "Thousand Nights Instant Star" is rarely mentioned by those with a broken heart. This is entirely because the difficulty in using this broken secret technique has reached an inconceivable level.

—Its condition for use is that the person with a broken heart remains "unharmed" during the fierce battle.

Mental attacks are unacceptable, falls are unacceptable, even a glancing blow from a stray bullet is unacceptable. One must perfectly maintain peak condition to unleash this secret technique; once the window closes, it's gone. While legitimate martial arts practitioners in Dragon Village unleash their "One Qi, a Thousand Autumns" technique and charge into enemy lines, killing relentlessly and growing stronger with each battle, this secret technique from Shura Island requires half a day of preparation; a single misstep and a hit renders it all useless, forcing one to start all over again.

Everyone's life is precious; there's no reason to risk your life in a fight for a theoretically powerful trick. Therefore, among Qingye's generation, not a single person was willing to spend the time learning this secret technique…

She was the only one who foolishly spent half a year studying... By the time she finished, everyone else had already advanced...

"You must learn how to use them." Long Yu tapped her temple. "Qianqiu is the heart of a martial arts cultivator. Shunxing is the soul of a crippled heart. If you can't learn them, you're just a third-rate person."

"But Instructor Ghost Eye specifically told us about its practical value..."

"Third-rate Ghost Eye. Unfit to be an instructor."

Qingye was speechless: "Even the general who was invited to give the lecture said..."

“A third-rate general,” Long Yu asserted. “That general will be killed by the real machines like a chicken.”

Qingye didn't know what to say, because according to the battle report, that general had died not long ago at Changuang Fortress, and was indeed easily dealt with by the Empire's war commander.

“Think about it,” Longyu emphasized. “How do you use it?”

She truly couldn't figure it out. Even someone as agile as Chu Hengkong couldn't avoid getting injured in battle, let alone someone like her, a crippled individual whose skills were inferior. Qingye thought and thought, but realized that no matter how she tried to cheat, there was no way to succeed. This thing was a theoretical secret technique that couldn't be used unless you could guarantee that you were invulnerable to swords and spears, fire and water, and invincible on the battlefield.

She stared blankly at the bottomless fog.

She thought about it.

Chapter 190 The Art of Seeking the Dao with a Broken Heart (3)

"To live as a martial arts practitioner in Dragon Township is a very fortunate thing. Because their path of cultivation is clearly divided into primary and secondary aspects. Heart Sword and talismans are just means, and the core is always Dragon Township Fist. When you are stuck, you can just practice your fist. As long as you master the fist technique, you are a worthy martial arts practitioner."

The old man drew a straight line on the scroll, ending with the character "武" (martial arts). He then drew two arcs, one for "术" (skill) and the other for "剑" (sword).

"However, those with broken hearts are not so fortunate. Without a consistent martial art, they seem to be using both methods... Between swordsmanship and broken heart techniques, which is more important?"

The students all turned to look at her. Qingye swallowed hard, bracing herself for another embarrassing moment. The head of the family watched her with a smile.

"Qingye".

"Yes!" Qingye stood up.

"You don't need to answer that question."

"Okay." Qingye sat down.