Late that night, amidst the rugged mountain rocks, Chu Weiyang, carrying the basket where the stableman was hiding, struggled to find a sheltered spot against the wind.
Leaning against a pile of firewood, they dispersed the faint chill and dampness of early spring with the flickering flames.
The dancing firelight cast ever-changing shadows on their faces.
Unlike daytime, lighting a fire at night was dangerous.
Chu Weiyang knew that with their own strength, they hadn't strayed too far from the Demon-Sealing Cave.
The flickering firelight in the midst of silence could easily attract cultivators from the Qianyuan Sword Sect.
But Chu Weiyang had no other choice.
Trapped in the Demon-Sealing Cave for many years and recently afflicted by malevolent energy, Chu Weiyang's body was on the verge of collapse.
If exposed to the harsh mountain winds and dampness, a severe illness could spell the end for Chu Weiyang.
Gazing back in silence at the path they had come from, after a long while, Chu Weiyang reluctantly averted their gaze, then huddled up, closed their eyes to rest, lost in thought.
At the same time, the stableman's mocking voice rang out.
Perhaps due to sleeping too long in the basket during the day or the phantom pains from their crippled lower body, the stableman seemed more alert now.
"I've told you, no need to worry about being pursued today. So much has happened in a day - the Demon-Sealing Cave destroyed, someone breaking through the mountain gate, offending the Chunyu family, and provoking the Tingchang Mountain lineage..."
"Among all these, in the eyes of the Sword Sect, each event is far more important than your life!"
"Mountain? Stone?"
"Moreover, Elder Ding is guarding the Demon-Sealing Cave. I know that person has some skills, unlikely to die at the hands of the Tingchang Mountain people."
"As long as Elder Ding is alive, no one from the sect will act without going through him."
"The conclusion of these matters will fall on Elder Ding. Knowing his lazy nature, as long as we don't show up in front of him, he'd rather believe we both died in the Demon-Sealing Cave. There's no need for a wild goose chase all over the mountains!"
"Of course, they'll have to make a show of searching the mountains afterwards."
"As long as we keep moving diligently and leave these mountains early, we'll be fine."
Perhaps the rushed journey of the whole day had drained Chu Weiyang of too much mental and physical energy.
At this moment, the young person couldn't muster any emotions.
After listening to the stableman's words, Chu Weiyang simply nodded calmly.
"Indeed, there's unease in my heart, but as you said, we have no choice. Moving too slowly increases the risk of being caught, moving too fast risks harming the body. We can only proceed at a steady pace and leave it to fate."
"Destiny is beyond our control."
"These are things I cannot decide. Focusing on the details, even if drowning in water, one must struggle to reach out, seize the opportunity. Time waits for no one. I plan to start practicing sword techniques tomorrow!"
"I've been pondering along the way for most of the day."
"Now, what do you have to teach me?"
With that, Chu Weiyang opened the bundle and took out several Daoist books, carefully placing them on their knees.
When Chu Weiyang mentioned sword techniques, the stableman became completely focused.
In a daze, Chu Weiyang even saw a hint of a grandmaster's demeanor and a touch of genius arrogance on this blood-stained wreck of a person.
"To cultivate our sect's sword techniques, one must understand the essence and heritage of our sect's swordsmanship!"
"Regarding the Qianyuan Sword, it is vast and profound, supreme and pure!"
"Therefore, our sect's swordsmanship, the highest level, is close to the way of heaven and earth. Such as the Zhenjiao's Opening Heaven Scripture, the Cloud-Cutting Scripture, the Qianjing Scripture, the Taiyin Sword Scripture, all are within this principle."
"Don't look at me like that. The Elder taught me like this back then. I don't even know a single word of these methods."
"As for a secondary approach, all kinds of sword techniques can be cultivated, with no distinction of high or low, but varying in difficulty to master."
"The easiest to start with is the Four Seasons Sword Technique, following the sequence of the four seasons to circulate the sword technique internally and externally. With diligent practice, insights can be easily gained."
"As it is now deep into spring, I am prepared to start teaching you the 'Springtime Sword.'"
At this point, the stableman looked at Chu Weiyang and, seeing no change in the young person's expression, nodded.
Only then did the stableman continue.
"Our sect's sword cultivation combines martial arts with Daoist visualization techniques. At the initial stage, the focus is not on meditation but on sword dancing as a dynamic practice, incorporating all moves to form the internal circulation!"
"When the moves are practiced to perfection, when the mind is truly connected, when there is a genuine internal-external resonance, when the myriad phenomena of the world are within the sword!"
"This is the entry into the Dao. It requires transitioning to static practice, using Daoist visualization techniques to enter deep meditation!"
"Within deep meditation, visualize all the sword techniques, then - forget everything!"
"Forget its entirety! Forget its form! Attain its realm! Attain its intention!"
"Then, that strand of sword intent hovers above the dantian in the sea of qi, just like the great sun shining over mountains and rivers! From then on, your power is the sword qi!"
"Subsequently, you can cultivate both movement and stillness, continuously refine the sword techniques, then forget in meditation to attain the sword intent, until the inherited sword techniques can no longer help you progress. The sword intent you have mastered will be your unique sword technique!"
"In fact, from entering deep meditation and forgetting to attain the first sword intent, you can gradually integrate malevolent energy to enhance its power, to sharpen its edge."
"Of course, ordinary people first attain the sword intent before refining malevolent energy, but you will refine malevolent energy first before entering deep meditation to attain the sword intent."
"The same sword technique, due to individual comprehension, our sect's inheritance has never produced two identical sword cultivators!"
"When it comes to you, it might be even more miraculous!"
"I am curious to see how, with malevolent energy invading your marrow, you will forget what kind of sword intent in the 'Springtime Sword.'"
At these words, Chu Weiyang smiled, a satisfied smile.
"I don't care if this sword technique is supreme or ordinary, miraculous or mundane. As long as I can condense the sword intent, as long as that intent can refine more malevolent energy, for me, it is the highest and most supreme method!"
The stableman beside them couldn't help but sigh, "I finally understand why you, with the cultivation of the early Qi Refining stage, have survived in the Demon-Sealing Cave for so long, and why Guo Dian eventually passed on the 'Five Organs Absorbing Qi Essence Technique' to you."
With that said, as the smile gradually faded from Chu Weiyang's face, the stableman quickly changed the subject, pointing to the thickest Daoist book.
"If you're not tired, I'll now explain in detail the thirty-six sword techniques of the six small chapters of the 'Springtime Sword.' The Four Seasons Sword was created by the same ancestor of our sect, with all four sword techniques using the steps of the Yu Step. This is the first move of the first chapter..."
Many books are now hard to come by, so cherish them while you can.