You’er spent five days with the old man. During those five days, he dedicated every waking moment to practicing his sword techniques, save for eating and sleeping.
Of the four sword techniques, You’er had successively mastered the Drawing Sword Technique, the Sword Cycle, and the Sword Wind Thrust. However, the final technique, the Three Consecutive Vertical Slashes, remained stubbornly out of his grasp.
The reason was simple: a phasing, multi-stage thrusting sword technique proved exceptionally difficult to cultivate. It wasn’t merely a matter of mastering it; even understanding *how* to practice it was a challenge, despite You’er possessing the Blade Rush as a foundational skill.
Regrettably, the single-axis nature of Blade Rush offered no applicable techniques for the Three Consecutive Vertical Slashes.
Early this morning, You’er, as was his custom, stood in the center of the courtyard, gripping ‘Hidden Edge’ and attempting the practice again and again, yet progress remained elusive.
“Heh heh, young one, it seems you’ve encountered a predicament, haven’t you?”
Predictably, the old man soon emerged from his room on the second floor and greeted You’er. This time, however, his gaze was fixed on You’er’s plight.
“Indeed, senior, to be frank, I am currently cultivating a thrusting sword technique, but I find myself at a loss as to how to proceed.” You’er bowed with his sword, answering the old man candidly.
“Sword techniques, you say? If it’s something of that nature, this old man might be able to lend a hand.” The old man set down his kettle, wiped the moisture from his palms, and walked into the courtyard, stopping before You’er.
“I humbly request that senior not withhold your guidance!” You’er earnestly pleaded. If this venerable senior were willing to condescend to instruct him, it would, of course, be an invaluable opportunity.
“Guidance is too grand a word; this old man can only impart to you some of the most fundamental principles for a Sword Wielder.”
The old man gently shook his head, walked to the edge of the courtyard, and snapped off a green bamboo branch.
“‘The most fundamental principles for a Sword Wielder?'” You’er questioned, puzzled.
“Combat, young one, is always the finest teacher.”
The old man tossed the bamboo branch in his hand. The instant he caught it, his entire demeanor underwent a radical transformation.
“‘Such a formidable aura?!'” You’er’s face was etched with shock. He no longer felt he was standing before a white-haired, elderly man, but rather a drawn sword, its keen edge fully revealed!
“The growth of a Sword Wielder itself requires passing through several stages before reaching true mastery. Sword Qi and Sword Aura are mere child’s play; the true path to proficiency begins with forging one’s Sword Intent.”
The old man spoke softly, his voice seeming ethereal and untraceable. Though he stood directly before You’er, You’er felt as if the sound emanated from all directions simultaneously.
“‘Sword Intent… is this Sword Intent?'”
You’er deeply etched the term into his mind, his eyes fixed intently on the old man. He knew that the state the old man was now demonstrating was precisely Sword Intent!
“Attack this old man with all your might. Experience the true power of Sword Intent.”
The old man’s gaze burned into You’er as he issued this challenge.
“Then… venerable senior, please forgive my offense!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, You’er drew ‘Hidden Edge’. Its ice-forged blade gleamed with chilling sharpness, and with a powerful thrust, it cut through the air, aimed directly at the old man.
“‘Sword Wind Thrust!'”
To break through his own limitations, You’er unleashed his attack without reservation, just as the old man had instructed.
“A decent sword technique, but it’s a bit unfamiliar, and your angle is slightly off.”
The old man offered a faint comment. As You’er’s thrust arrived, he miraculously diffused the immense pressure from ‘Hidden Edge’ with two simple movements of his bamboo branch—a press and a lift. Following this, a gentle side tap sent a powerful jolt up the hilt of ‘Hidden Edge’, nearly causing You’er to lose his grip.
You’er shifted his stance, twisting his body to dissipate the counter-force. In the same instant he steadied himself, he returned his sword to his waist, then, with lightning speed, unleashed the [Drawing Sword Technique: Frost Mark].
The old man’s response was even simpler. He channeled his profound Sword Intent into the bamboo branch, then, like You’er’s initial thrust, he lifted and pointed the branch, precisely touching the center of the ethereal blue sword arc.
That single point of contact caused the seemingly formidable sword arc to shatter instantly, crumbling like fragmented glass.
The power of that bamboo tip extended far beyond; after piercing the sword arc, it struck ‘Hidden Edge’, which You’er had held horizontally across his chest. The Sword Intent surged forth like a tide, sending You’er’s body flying backward as if struck by a massive hammer.
“‘Sword Cycle!'”
Mid-flight, You’er abruptly hurled ‘Hidden Edge’ forward, creating a sword ring about a meter in diameter that spun into the air, horizontally slicing through the bamboo and fences in its path. Its ultimate target, naturally, was the old man in the center of the courtyard.
Watching the sword ring approach with an indifferent gaze, the old man simply lifted his bamboo branch, flicked it, and then twisted it, effortlessly breaking the ring’s momentum and sending it spiraling back towards You’er.
The moment You’er’s feet touched the ground, the sword ring flew back to him. As he reached for the unbalanced ‘Hidden Edge’, a scene flashed through You’er’s mind: the old man initially tossing and catching the bamboo branch, and in that very instant, his aura had shifted, becoming like a sword itself.
‘Sword Intent… trust in one’s sword, merge with one’s sword!’
You’er closed his eyes. His hand, no longer hesitant, reached for the sword hilt with fearless resolve, grasping ‘Hidden Edge’ in his palm. In that moment, a powerful aura erupted from You’er, an aura that bore a nine-tenths resemblance to the old man’s own!
“‘I am the sword, the sword is me… a powerful presence, an imposing aura… is this the essence of Sword Intent?'”
Feeling his own presence in that moment, and the intimate connection with ‘Hidden Edge’, You’er slowly raised the blade and gently swung it down.
“‘Three Consecutive Vertical Slashes: First Strike!'”
*Whoosh!
The instant ‘Hidden Edge’ descended, You’er’s figure abruptly shifted forward over ten meters, closing the distance to the old man in a flash. As he brushed past, ‘Hidden Edge’ had already unleashed a flash of sword light!
““Hmm?””
In that split second, a subtle change finally flickered in the old man’s eyes. He swung his bamboo branch horizontally, blocking the heavy sword a mere second before it could strike.
“‘Second Strike!'”
Having just parried ‘Hidden Edge’s’ attack, You’er’s figure abruptly folded back from behind, delivering a horizontal slash in the very same motion.
This strike, too, was undeniably blocked by the old man with a back-handed sweep of his bamboo.
“‘Third Strike!'”
The instant this strike was parried, You’er used the Three Consecutive Vertical Slashes to phase a short distance to his left and rear, simultaneously unleashing the final blow at a 45-degree angle.
With this angle and follow-through, You’er was absolutely confident that the old man would be unable to block it with his bamboo branch again.
Indeed, this proved true. The old man abandoned any thought of blocking with his bamboo branch; instead, he stepped forward, narrowly dodging the final slash as it grazed past the sword light.
You’er had poured his entire being into the effort, yet the sole outcome was that he had made the old man move a single, small step.
However, it was precisely after that single step that both the old man and the young one in the courtyard revealed expressions of gratification.
“Well done, young one.”
The old man applauded, praising You’er. Having discarded the bamboo branch, he seemed to revert to his former self, a simple, wizened old man.
“This junior has benefited immensely from this encounter! Many thanks for your guidance, senior!”
With both his magic and Sword Intent extinguished, You’er raised his hand to sheath ‘Hidden Edge’ on his back, then bowed deeply in a respectful fist-and-palm salute, expressing his gratitude to the old man.
“Heh heh, it’s no trouble at all. Rather, it’s your talent, young one, that has taken this old man by surprise,” the old man said, waving his hand with a chuckle. His ancient eyes held an undeniable admiration. Truth be told, he hadn’t anticipated You’er mastering Sword Intent so swiftly; his expectation for today’s lesson was merely to plant the seed of Sword Intent in You’er’s heart.
You’er merely offered a faint smile. Having endured the crucible of life and death, he was no longer one to be swayed by even the slightest achievement.
“Neither arrogant nor impetuous; truly a fine disposition,” the old man mused, stroking his beard. He then abruptly changed the subject, asking, “Now that your sword techniques are perfected and Sword Intent is mastered, young one, I imagine you won’t linger here much longer. Where do you intend to go next?”
“To be honest, senior, this junior is quite lost on that front.”
You’er lowered his head slightly, a hint of bewilderment clouding his dual purple and red eyes. He had fulfilled his promise to Princess Yuina, guarding her until her final moments and safely escorting her back to the Capital of the Azure Rose Kingdom. There, nothing remained for him to yearn for.
“Lost, are we…? Life’s journey is long, and bewilderment is often unavoidable.” The old man looked at You’er with gentle eyes, asking with a smile, “Young one, think carefully: in this world, was there ever a place that held a deep longing for you, or a person you could never truly let go of?”
The old man’s words conjured a wondrous vision in You’er’s mind: a landscape adorned with wildflowers across vast mountainsides, within it a beautiful mountain village nestled by water, inhabited by kind and friendly villagers, his childhood friend who had always cared for him like an elder sister, and that adorable younger sister who always spoke of wanting to do things for him…
Everything from his past was so deeply cherished, so profoundly missed, yet all of it had become but a memory. The village burned before his eyes, Marlene was brutalized in front of her, and he had heard of Lilinai’s death directly from Mecaphes’s own lips…
‘Was there any meaning in returning there?’
“Hahaha.” As if sensing the tumultuous emotions swirling within You’er, the old man burst into laughter, patting his shoulder. “Young one, sometimes, premature conclusions can cause you to miss out on many things. Go back and see; you might find unexpected rewards.”
“Thank you, venerable senior, for illuminating my path. In that case, this junior shall take his leave! For everything, I am grateful for your care!”
You’er bowed deeply. Beyond this, he could conceive of no other way to repay the old man’s benevolence.
“Go forth. Beyond the bamboo grove lies the place you wish to go.” The old man turned, waving a hand in farewell.
“Once I step into the Saint Realm, I shall return to see you!”
With this resolute declaration, You’er turned and walked straight into the green bamboo grove.