Chapter 10: Leaving the Mountains and Entering the World, still within a lush mountain forest.
Still, there was a pile of bonfire.
Roasting on the bonfire was still half a wild boar meat.
However, the aura of Chu Weiyang at this moment was completely different from when he first escaped from the Demon-Sealing Cave.
His figure was still slim, his complexion still deathly pale.
But within that sickly appearance, there was a sharp edge emerging, making it clear at a glance that this person was not to be trifled with.
Once resembling a sick cat, now, he truly had a semblance of a sick tiger.
Bowing his head, Chu Weiyang carefully wiped the bloodstains off the long sword with a piece of animal skin.
Not far away, the robust wild boar stabbed to death by Chu Weiyang still had half of its meat left on the ground.
After cleaning the long sword and seeing that the meat was almost roasted, Chu Weiyang picked it up with a tree branch, disregarding the scalding heat, and devoured it hungrily.
Now, when practicing the "Essence Cultivation Technique of the Five Viscera," the intense pain that used to shuttle through the viscera meridians had been adapted by Chu Weiyang.
At least, he could endure it briefly.
However, recalling the pass and essentials that Guo Dian had informed him of in the past, Chu Weiyang pondered to himself.
The cultivation method of the Hundred Flowers Tower practitioners seemed to be deviating, and now, it seemed that his own cultivation method might not be the right path either.
The intrusion of malevolent qi into the body was shaking the foundation of Chu Weiyang's cultivation!
Now, the more he cultivated, the more he felt hungry.
The more hungry he felt, the more he needed to eat to cultivate.
Chu Weiyang's eating frequency increased, and the amount of food he consumed in one meal surpassed the previous.
Fortunately, he was wandering in the mountains, where food could be easily obtained.
If it were in the mundane world, Chu Weiyang's eating habits could bankrupt a family.
However, the process of obtaining prey also accelerated Chu Weiyang's mastery of the "Springtime Sword."
He dared not claim to have refined it to the level described by Ma Guanshi, where the mind and intention were in harmony, but at least the thirty-six sword moves, combined with the nimble movements of the Yu Step, had become proficient in Chu Weiyang's hands.
He believed he was proficient.
However, the way of the sword was a very unfamiliar field for Chu Weiyang, and perhaps his judgment was not conclusive.
Thinking of this, just as he finished the last bite of the half meat, Chu Weiyang stood up and hung the other half over the fire to roast, then looked with interest at Ma Guanshi beside him.
As time passed, the basket appeared increasingly worn out, and Ma Guanshi looked more unkempt, as if he were wrapped in a layer of mud.
But as Ma Guanshi did not speak, Chu Weiyang did not pay attention, allowing him to become more disheveled.
"Guanshi, do you think my swordsmanship is up to par now?" Chu Weiyang asked.
In response to Chu Weiyang, Ma Guanshi let out a disdainful laugh.
After spending a long time together, Ma Guanshi seemed to have grasped Chu Weiyang's pulse.
He knew that as long as he did not play tricks, occasionally making overly mocking remarks about cultivation matters, Chu Weiyang would not react.
Therefore, in recent days, Ma Guanshi had become more unrestrained.
"Haha! Up to par? Up to which of my eyes? What kind of situation is this? If we were in the sect, if you were my disciple, and your swordsmanship turned out like this, I would have to break your legs!"
"Furthermore, your question is wrong."
"What does 'up to par' mean?"
"You cultivate swordsmanship to understand your own intentions, to achieve sword intent through forgetting oneself. Progress depends on oneself, fast has its own way of cultivation, slow has its own pace of progress. Whether others approve or not is none of your concern!"
"Don't ask me such confused questions again!"
"The path of martial arts into the Dao has always been a straightforward method. There are no clever shortcuts, just repeated hard training. When you truly understand your intentions and feel the internal and external connection, you don't need to ask anyone. You will be the clearest and most sensitive one!"
His words were quite blunt.
However, Chu Weiyang did not get angry but instead restrained the smile on his face.
The fierce aura of a sick tiger in his body also softened slightly.
The young man nodded.
"I have learned from your teachings."
With that said, he picked up the remaining half of the meat and began to eat heartily.
-
Ma Guanshi said that the path of martial arts into the Dao was a straightforward method, and indeed it was.
As they traveled south, it was unclear how far they had come, and the lush forests gradually became sparse.
Chu Weiyang ate voraciously along the way, and vaguely saw the threshold of the Mid Qi Refinement stage.
As for the practice of the "Springtime Sword," Chu Weiyang was becoming more and more familiar with it.
Even though Ma Guanshi taught him repeatedly and pointed out details, Chu Weiyang could not feel the connection and understanding.
This inevitably made him anxious.
Sometimes, when he calmed down, Chu Weiyang would ponder to himself.
According to the miscellaneous books he had read in his past life, perhaps he was not someone with a sword heart and sword bone, and he might not be suitable for this path.
But even if he was unsuitable, Chu Weiyang still had to cultivate sword intent.
The malevolent qi throughout his body was like a death knell.
With these thoughts in mind, Chu Weiyang continued to move forward.
His steps were now steady, unlike before when a gust of wind could easily knock him down.
After walking through the sparse forest for a while, suddenly, Chu Weiyang's vision cleared.
Beyond this mountain, there was no other mountain to climb.
Beyond this tree, there was no other tree blocking the way.
The true wilderness lay before Chu Weiyang, a green stone path slanting through it, leading to a distant place unseen by Chu Weiyang.
Subconsciously, Chu Weiyang almost turned around and rushed back into the vast mountains.
Facing the green stone path that seemed to symbolize the human world, Chu Weiyang hesitated inexplicably.
Even feeling fearful.
As if this vast world had no place for him to stand!
Just as Chu Weiyang's mind was wavering, a faint voice came from the basket behind him.
"Where are you going? After passing through the mountains of the Demon-Sealing Cave, not far to the south, I know of a market. When I first came to guard the Demon-Sealing Cave, I visited it a few times. There is a shop in the market run by the Dan River Valley, where you might be able to buy some demon-suppressing elixirs..."
Ma Guanshi was about to continue, but Chu Weiyang suddenly grabbed the basket, not even looking, and grabbed Ma Guanshi's throat straight away.
Without waiting for Ma Guanshi to speak, a force imbued with malevolent qi rushed into the Governor and Conception Vessels.
The intense pain made Ma Guanshi's eyes roll back, and he struggled violently.
After a while, when Chu Weiyang released his hand, Ma Guanshi opened his eyes in a disheveled state.
"You—"
Before he could finish speaking, Chu Weiyang drew his long sword, avoiding vital points on Ma Guanshi's body and leaving several sword marks.
Lowering the sword, he grabbed Ma Guanshi's throat again.
As the force entered the Governor and Conception Vessels once more, nourishing the flesh and invigorating vitality, the malevolent qi flowed along with the blood and qi, heading straight to the wound.
It was a torture far more painful than before!
After a few breaths, when Ma Guanshi's wound scabbed over, Chu Weiyang finally withdrew his hand.
"Have you forgotten my background? How dare you use such bewitching words to confuse my mind, a despicable trick of the demonic sect! There won't be a second time. Ma Guanshi, leaving the mountains and entering the world, you are now dispensable. Swordsmanship? Elixirs? A way out? Is there no one else in the world who can provide these for me? The next time will be the settling of scores!"
At these words, Ma Guanshi, in the basket, struggled to open his mouth.
His hoarse voice sounded like the scraping of metal against stone.
"I have learned from your teachings."
Many books are now hard to find, so cherish what you have.