Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

Page 55

Su Yuchen was generous and took the time to explain the principles of heavy swords and light swords to him.

That morning, in the desolate wilderness off the main road, Su Yuchen held a tree branch in his hand and demonstrated to Xie Yanke...

“In the past, there was a senior sword demon who divided his swordsmanship into five realms.”

"First Realm: The Sharp Sword, 'sharp and fierce, invincible, wielded by those who, before reaching adulthood, contended with the heroes of Hebei.'"

"The second realm: the soft sword. 'The Purple Rose Soft Sword, used before the age of thirty, allows for effortless use, combining strength and flexibility.'"

"The third realm: the heavy sword. 'The heavy sword has no edge; true skill lies in simplicity.' Before the age of forty, wielding it, one can roam the world unchallenged."

"The fourth realm: the wooden sword. After the age of forty, one is no longer bound by material things; grass, trees, bamboo, and stones can all be used as swords."

"The fifth realm: No Sword, 'From this point onward, one refines one's skills, gradually progressing to the state where no sword is superior to having a sword.'"

"My abilities are limited, so I can only demonstrate the profound meaning of the heavy sword to you using the Snow Mountain School swordsmanship. Watch carefully!"

After saying that, Su Yuchen gently waved the branch in his hand. The branch, which was as light as a feather, made a whistling sound like a landslide and a tsunami, as if he was holding a spiked club weighing more than a hundred pounds instead of a branch.

As Su Yuchen unleashed the Snow Mountain Sword Technique, "Welcoming Pine Trees" transformed into "Heavenly Tree Collapses," "Vast Sandstorms" became "Desert Tornado," and "Plum Blossoms and Snow Compete for Spring" turned into "Avalanche in the Wilderness."

With just the first move, "Welcoming Guests from the Pine Tree," Su Yuchen's branch appeared infinitely larger in their eyes, leaving them with no way to avoid it. They had already closed their eyes and awaited their death.

In Xie Yanke's and Feng Wanli's eyes, it seemed as if all sorts of natural disasters in the desert and snow-capped mountains were being repeated before their eyes.

As the branch in his hand whistled through the air, piercing the trunk of a large tree, leaves scattered and fell like rain. Su Yuchen's cool voice rang out…

"This is the essence of the greatsword. Even a withered branch in hand is like a divine weapon. Remember the feeling I gave you."

"When you can use a halberd weighing a hundred or so pounds to perform the Snow Mountain Sword Technique with a subtle and gentle touch, that is the realm of light sword."

"When you can freely switch between light and heavy, that is the fourth realm, the realm of wooden swords. From then on, grass, trees, bamboo and stones can all be used as swords."

Chapter 107 Introducing the Island

After speaking, he looked at Xie Yanke, who seemed lost in thought and vaguely comprehending the Dao of Intent; and at Feng Wanli, who looked completely bewildered and whose mind was captivated, and said regretfully…

“Your talent and wit are not as good as Xie Yanke’s, and coupled with your disability, it’s difficult for you to understand the meaning you just experienced. So starting tomorrow, I will strengthen your control over balance.”

"Once you can maintain your balance without this iron rod and find your own point of leverage, you can practice the Snow Mountain Sword Technique with your left hand."

After that, Xie Yanke always seemed lost in thought and absent-minded, mechanically following behind the two of them, and Su Yuchen ignored him.

On the contrary, Feng Wanli was required by Su Yuchen to carry that iron rod on his back whenever he was sitting, lying down, or walking, so that he could get used to his own sense of balance.

After the three of them left the wilderness and reached the banks of the Yangtze River, Su Yuchen bought a small boat and headed directly towards the mouth of the Yangtze River near Suzhou.

The three of them were not in a hurry. They traveled intermittently, and whenever they found a suitable place, Su Yuchen would drive the two to the bottom of the river.

Feng Wanli, who initially couldn't even stand steadily, eventually managed to thrust his sword into the river. He then began practicing basic moves at the bottom of the river.

Xie Yanke went from being constantly swayed by the river current to being able to practice the Azure Wave Palm technique at the bottom of the river.

………………

Tomorrow is the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month. Our fate has run its course. Let us part ways here!

That morning, Su Yuchen spoke to the two who had swum back from the bottom of the river.

He took out a stack of papers with the ink still wet from his pocket, handed them to Feng Wanli, and said, "You can find a waterfall to practice slowly. Once you can complete a set of basic sword techniques, you can start practicing left-hand sword techniques."

After saying that, he flicked his sleeve, and a gentle Tai Chi force carried the two of them to the shore. A small boat shot off like an arrow into the distance.

On the river, a clear, melancholic chant echoed between heaven and earth from somewhere...

Life's trials and tribulations temper one's character.

All who come and go are people from a dream.

Today I'm sober, tonight I'm drunk; yesterday's deep affection, yesterday's sorrow.

Traveling thousands of miles, passing through the mortal world.

A hundred years later, a solitary grave remains.

We must part ways in the netherworld and the heavens, so why bother leaving a name for ourselves to be known in the world?

………………

December 5th.

Following the guidance on the back of the bronze plaque, Su Yuchen found the location on Xia Ke Island that had guided him, a dilapidated fishing village at the mouth of the Suzhou estuary.

This place must have been abandoned for a long time. When Su Yuchen arrived, many houses in the village had collapsed, and the few that were relatively well-preserved were dilapidated.

According to the inscription on the back of the bronze plaque, someone should be coming to pick me up in the afternoon.

Su Yuchen wasn't impatient. He searched around the village, found a fishing rod, and went to the seaside to fish and pass the time.

It wasn't until late afternoon, when the sun was setting, that a fishing boat was seen coming from the south on the sea. When it got close to the reef, it was seen that the boatman was a middle-aged man dressed in yellow.

The figure, from afar, cupped his hands in greeting to Su Yuchen and asked, "Is this Chief Su in person? I am the welcoming envoy from Xia Ke Island, ordered to guide Chief Su to Xia Ke Island."

Su Yuchen nodded, thinking, "It seems that Xia Ke Island is not far away, just near the coast. Otherwise, this small boat wouldn't be able to reach the deep sea."

Thinking to himself, Su Yuchen's expression remained unchanged. He moved his feet and leaped into the air, soaring more than ten feet. Then, he stepped on the instep of his left foot with his right foot and leaped more than ten feet again, landing on the small boat.

"Chief Su, your skills are truly impressive. May I ask what kind of lightness skill this is? I have never seen it before," the man in yellow asked, his eyes filled with admiration as he cupped his hands in respect.

Su Yuchen's inner light manifested, and he glanced at him, seeing that his eyes were clear and unwavering, clearly indicating that the question came from the heart. Su Yuchen already understood; these disciples of Xia Ke Island had lived in seclusion overseas for many years, rarely interacting with others, and were obviously extremely naive.

"Do you know a lot of kung fu?" Su Yuchen asked instead of answering.

The man wasn't annoyed. He simply turned the boat around with the oar, nodding confidently as he said, "I wouldn't dare say I know them all, but I recognize about 50 or 60. But I've never seen Chief Su's kung fu before."

Su Yuchen, however, felt that he was being modest. Over the years, Xia Ke Island had gathered countless talents from the martial arts world. Various schools and sects gathered on the island to study the "Xia Ke Xing" divine skill. Through exchanges, the martial arts of each school had probably already spread on the island.

Moreover, those who could be sent as welcoming envoys by the two island lords, Dragon and Wood, must be skilled in martial arts. So, what he said about five or six out of ten is at least eight or nine out of ten.

Thinking that in addition to the Xia Ke Xing Divine Skill, Xia Ke Island also contains the essence of various martial arts, Su Yuchen felt excited, but then he was also a little annoyed. He could only stay for fifteen days, and he was afraid that the time would not be enough!

Thinking to himself, Su Yuchen replied, "This is the Golden Goose Technique, created by a senior Taoist who observed the Golden Goose Soaring Through the Sky."

The man nodded knowingly and said, "These strange birds have disappeared from the sky and roam freely among the clouds. Presumably, Chief Su's lightness skill not only allows him to gather power in mid-air but also to soar straight up into the sky."

Su Yuchen nodded and praised, "Brother, you have great insight. You can see the whole picture from just one glimpse. Your insight is remarkable."

The man checked the wind direction, hoisted a sail, shook his head and laughed, "Chief Su, you flatter me. I've just heard about it a lot."

"But the essence of martial arts sometimes lies in these flashes of insight. Brother, with your insights, you will learn martial arts much faster than those who are clueless," Su Yuchen sighed.

The man nodded, and the two chatted about these things.

Su Yuchen possessed extraordinary martial arts skills and had experienced martial arts from two different realms. Coupled with his burgeoning inner light, his thoughts raced rapidly.

The man was able to give a general overview of the various martial arts schools in this world, and the two found themselves getting along very well as they chatted.

It was the dead of winter, and some fishing boats were still out hunting near the coast, clearly indicating that they were living in dire straits and were trying to make a living.

………………

By evening, the small boat the two were on had turned southeast and was heading into the distance.

The sea was calm at this time, which was obviously a day that Xia Ke Island had specially chosen, otherwise the small fishing boat would not have been able to withstand the deep sea waves.

"I was wrong. It turns out that Xia Ke Island isn't near the sea. It just happened to be a calm day." As Su Yuchen thought to himself, his hands were not idle. He seized the opportunity and slapped the sea surface.

A gentle, internal force pierced through the sea surface, stunning a passing sea fish and causing it to float to the surface.

The man said, while observing the direction of the stars...

"The Su family was mainly hungry. There were flatbreads, a stove, and hot water in the cabin, so they could also make fish soup."

"We will be traveling for three days. The supplies in the ship's hold are sufficient; we just need to avoid wasting them."

Su Yuchen nodded, made a sword shape with his right hand, killed and cleaned the sea fish on the deck, and then went to the cabin to cook rice and soup.

After the meal, Su Yuchen sat cross-legged in the cabin to meditate. The man cleared away the dishes and, by the moonlight, circulated his internal energy, and the small boat shot away.

After traveling for three days, they saw a large island floating on the sea in the distance. The man laughed and said, "Chief Su, we have successfully completed our mission and arrived."

Chapter 108 Xia Ke Island

Su Yuchen sat at the bow of the boat, gazing into the distance. He could only see a dark line stretching endlessly in the distance, with faint outlines of mountains and clouds.

After sailing for more than an hour, the boat approached and the island's full view was finally revealed: jagged rocks, crashing waves, lush vegetation, and a towering mountain peak reaching into the clouds.

The island is lush and vibrant, with birds occasionally darting through the forest, their songs echoing in the mountain streams and the chirping of insects in the wilderness.

The man turned the boat around and headed towards the leeward side of the island. After passing the reefs and strange rocks, a golden beach stretched out before him.

Looking out, under the warm sun, the golden sand ripples, and dozens of boats of all sizes churn up piles of snow-like foam.

"What beautiful scenery!" Su Yuchen exclaimed.

The man just laughed it off, clearly having seen it many times before and getting used to it.

As soon as the boat docked, Su Yuchen jumped off and saw four people running out of the forest. The leader cupped his hands and asked, "Is this Chief Su? I am the welcoming envoy of Xia Ke Island. The island lord is already waiting for your arrival at the guesthouse."

Su Yuchen returned the greeting with a cupped hand and said, "It is indeed I, Su. Thank you all for waiting so long!"

The man was slightly taken aback, then reached out to lead the way, heading into the woods first.

………………

As they walked, they observed Su Yuchen's expression. Seeing his calm demeanor, clearly admiring the surrounding scenery, they couldn't help but think to themselves...

"Over the years, people who have come to the island have either been terrified, pretended to be calm, cursed and swore, or acted as if they were going to die."

"Only this Chief Su is different; he is truly calm, as if he were here for a visit, and he treats us with courtesy."

As Su was thinking, the man led the way, saying, "If Chief Su is interested, once we've settled into the guesthouse, you can ask me to be your guide and show you around the whole island."

Su Yuchen nodded his thanks, but then realized he only had half a month and didn't know if he would have enough time to explore the place.

The man seemed to be thinking of something, and then fell silent.

Soon after entering the woods, the overgrown path underfoot transformed into a winding trail paved with stone slabs, meandering through the trees, its destination unknown.

After walking several miles at their own pace, the man led the way and turned into a rocky mountain path. To the left of the path was a mountain stream with rushing water, splashing everywhere and making the rocks tinkle.

As the group climbed higher along the mountain stream, after turning two bends, they came upon a waterfall cascading down from a height of over ten zhang (approximately 33 meters). In the sunlight, a rainbow hung over the mist, creating a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

"The sun shines on the incense burner, creating purple smoke. In the distance, I see a waterfall hanging over the river. The waterfall plunges three thousand feet, and I wonder if it's the Milky Way falling from the sky."

Su Yuchen exclaimed, "The beauty of the waterfall is truly remarkable; Li Bai was right."

The man just smiled. He wasn't well-versed in poetry and literature, and he felt more and more that this Chief Su was not a martial arts master, but rather a wandering scholar.

Upon arriving at this point, the man leading the way retrieved an oilcloth raincoat from behind a large tree by the roadside, handed it to Su Yuchen, and pointed behind the waterfall, saying, "The guesthouse is built inside the Water Music Cave. Please put on this raincoat, Chief Su, to avoid getting your clothes wet."

"Oh? It really is a hidden gem." Su Yuchen took the raincoat and put it on without hesitation.

The man nodded in acknowledgment, walked to the waterfall, and jumped in. Su Yuchen followed suit.

After entering, it was dark for a moment before I saw that it was a long passageway with oil lamps lit on both sides. Although the light was dim, it was still enough to make out the way.

Su Yuchen followed the man into the tunnel. He discovered that the tunnel was carved into a natural cave in the mountainside, and most of the connecting parts showed signs of artificial excavation, indicating that a lot of effort had been put into its construction.

"No wonder Xia Ke Island has so many disciples and gathers so many martial arts heroes, yet there are hardly any buildings outside the island. It turns out they've carved out such a large area inside the mountain," Su Yuchen thought as he walked.

After walking for a while, Su Yuchen felt that the terrain was getting lower and lower, as if he were going downhill. The air was not stuffy at all, but rather full of moisture, and he could feel a slight breeze. He couldn't help but think to himself, "Could it be that these people from Xia Ke Island have hollowed out the bottom of the mountain?"

While they were pondering, the two entered a cave. Inside, there was the sound of flowing water, murmuring and tinkling like a zither, clear and melodious, like the sound of jade chimes. This was the origin of the name "Water Music Cave".

The cave is tall and wide, like a welcoming gate. Looking up, at the other end of the cave, there is a jade gate with the three large characters "Welcoming Guest House" carved on the lintel.

………………

Stepping through the stone gate is like entering a new world. The original natural and rugged landscape has been neatly restored. The uneven mountain path underfoot is now paved with clean bluestone slabs.

On both sides of the cave, there are rows of stone caves, some with tallow candles burning at their entrances, indicating that people live there.

The man led Su Yuchen to the first seat on the left, took out a tinderbox from his pocket, lit the tallow lamp at the entrance, then took out a candle from the side, lit it, and led the way into the cave.

Su Yuchen followed him inside and saw that the cave was fully furnished with tables and chairs, all carved from rock. At the far end was a bed carved from rock, complete with bedding.

No one knew how much effort these people had put in, but the cave was well-ventilated and not stuffy at all. Su Yuchen had no interest in any of this and sat down at the stone table.

The man lit candles in several locations within the cave, and a ray of light refracted down from the cave ceiling, illuminating the cave with a pure white glow.

Su Yuchen looked up and saw a crystal bead reflecting the candlelight.

Just then, a child entered through the door. He recognized Su Yuchen and smiled slightly. He placed the fruit and water he was carrying on the table and then left.