by Mao Ni
Qi Jian clearly understood that what had allowed him to escape the Three Forms of Wenshui were his own movement techniques and sword intent.
But this was all premised on the retreat.
He first needed to retreat before being able to once more stand firm.
The retreat had been an admission that he was inferior, was going with the flow.
Whether the mountain peak was near or far at the time only depended on whether the cloud on the horizon was coming or going.
What Gou Hanshi had taught him was not any specific sword technique, but how to correctly confront pressure.
Because of his age, because of several objective facts, there would always be a time where he would not be able to bear the pressure.
To hold on in spite of adversity was admittedly quite courageous, but learning how to retreat was a sort of wisdom.
Gou Hanshi had used his own wisdom to help Qi Jian alleviate the overbearing pressure of Tang Thirty-Six's Three Forms of Wenshui.
Now, it was Tang Thirty-Six's turn to bear the pressure.
Qi Jian's expression grew slightly more serene and his sword energy rose once more, swift and forceful like the boulders of a mountain.
But different from before, the Iron Ruler Sword in his hands went with the flow, rising up like a cloud.
Those two mountains were no longer slowly closing shut, but rather… collapsed!
His clothes furiously flapped in a strong gust of wind. The youth wielded his sword and stabbed, breaking through the setting sun, his sword carrying the momentum of an avalanche!
When the mountain face suddenly shattered, it collapsed the clouds into disarray!
With a groan, Tang Thirty-Six drew back his sword, his feet seeming to step on clouds as he retreated. His movements carried a sense of indescribable casualness and ease.
At this time, a thump resounded in the night sky.
The clash of the Wenshui Sword and the Iron Ruler Sword.
In but an instant, the situation had suddenly reversed.
In this single exchange, a wound had appeared on Tang Thirty-Six's stomach.
His two feet touched down. The hand holding his sword at his side was shaking slightly.
He knew that he was already at a disadvantage, but he was still not the least bit panicked.
Just then, a voice came from behind him.
"Retreat again!"
Tang Thirty-Six heard Chen Changsheng's voice and thought, What's he playing?
How confident and at ease he would seem by calmly awaiting Qi Jian's strike with his sword. If he retreated again, wouldn't he look rather wretched?
This was what he thought, but for some reason, his feet retreated several steps.
Just as he left, an extremely deep crack appeared where he had stood a moment ago!
Tang Thirty-Six's complexion slightly changed. Only now did he realize that Qi Jian's sword intent had managed to stealthily and noiselessly approach him!
Only now was his opponent's sword intent finally exhausted!
The collapsing mountain face had crossed the river and destroyed the red maples on the shore, but the boulder had tumbled even farther than imagined!
If not for Chen Changsheng's warning, he would now be severely injured!
* * *
Very surprised, Gou Hanshi turned to Chen Changsheng.
The stone steps in front of the palace were completely silent. Everyone's eyes were fixed on Chen Changsheng.
Tang Thirty-Six and Qi Jian had only crossed swords a few times, for a few moments, but both had been in extreme danger.
Gou Hanshi was able to see through the true meaning of the Three Forms of Wenshui and break it with a single shout, assisting Qi Jian in using the simplest of Mount Li's sword techniques to respond, reverse, and strike. This sort of experience, this sort of wisdom, was truly worthy of praise. However, he was Gou Hanshi, so no one felt too shocked or surprised.
Yet… why had Chen Changsheng been able to see through Qi Jian's sword energy? Why did he seem uncannily familiar with the Mount Li Sword Style?
Could he be like Gou Hanshi, possessing an incredibly vast and profound amount of experience?
No person could believe this conjecture.
Xiao Songgong also could not believe it. He thought of that old affair from several hundred years ago and then stared across the plaza at Jin Yulu, his eyes even more resentful.
The silence over the plaza lasted for only a brief moment before being broken once more.
Chen Changsheng seemed to be unaware of those several hundred gazes on his body.
He drew back his gaze from Tang Thirty-Six and turned to Gou Hanshi.
"Falling Golden Flask!
"Heavy Sea Air!
"Shadow Cast on the Window!
"Hang the Sword in the Tall Forest!"
He said four phrases in succession.
They were the names of four sword techniques.
Four techniques of the Wenshui Tang clan's sword style.
Chapter 76 – Pretty Good Youths
At Chen Changsheng's shouts, Gou Hanshi's expression turned grave.
"Mountain Spirit Splits the Cliff!
"Stars Stitching Across the Day!
"Splendid Dew Withering Wu!"
He also spoke three phrases in succession.
These were three sword techniques.
Three techniques of the Mount Li Sword Sect's sword style.
The two of them did not look at Tang Thirty-Six and Qi Jian, nor at the crowd with indescribable expressions on the steps in front of the palace.
They only looked at each other and rattled off techniques.
In reality, when Chen Changsheng said the first technique, Gou Hanshi had begun to respond.
Chen Changsheng's second technique was a response to Gou Hanshi's response.
Their voices echoed in front of the quiet and serene Weiyang Palace, echoed above the plaza and in the darkness.
Their voices were not loud, but they were very clear, especially in Tang Thirty-Six's and Qi Jian's ears. There, they seemed more like the sound of thunder, rumbling and booming!
With a solemn expression, Qi Jian raised his sword and gave a clear cry. In the darkness, his body dragged a trail of broken shadows behind it.
The pitch-black Iron Ruler Sword in his hands tore through the wind. Noiselessly, like a demon or god, it treated hard stone like cakes or pastries.
'Mountain Spirit Splits the Cliff'!
Tang Thirty-Six's expression suddenly became apprehensive and he raised his sword upside down in front of him. The second technique Gou Hanshi spoke of was Stars Stitching Across the Day. He did not know what that technique was, if it would be as powerful as Mountain Spirit Splits the Cliff, but he could faintly sense that the three sword techniques Qi Jian used were a set. With each move, power was added on to the next!
If he used his own methods, he would probably be able to receive the first two techniques, but he had no confidence in his ability to deal with the final and most powerful attack.
Chen Changsheng's voice was still ringing in his mind.
Those four phrases were extremely distinct, and he was extremely familiar with those four techniques.
At this time, he had no time to ponder about how Chen Changsheng knew his clan's sword style. Subconsciously, he raised his sword and acted according to Chen Changsheng's words.
The split second that he raised the Wenshui Sword, he realized that something was wrong.
…Just how were these four sword techniques supposed to be used in succession!
The Falling Golden Flask was the seventh move of the Original Prosperity Sword Style, Heavy Sea Air was the eleventh move of the Founding Sect Sword Style, Shadow Cast on the Window was the third move of the Original Prosperity Sword Style, and Hang the Sword in the Tall Forest was the opening form of the Founding Sect Sword Style.
These were clearly sword techniques from two different sword styles; how could they be mixed together? The corresponding met
hods of circulating true Qi for these techniques were completely different, so how could they be forcefully connected? Could he not be afraid of true Qi reversing backward and inflicting injury? He had been learning the sword styles of the Tang clan from his teachers ever since he was a child, but he had never heard that his clan's sword styles could be used this way!
No matter how doubtful or confused he was, there was already no time to think.
Qi Jian's sword was already in front of him. Behind the terrifying sword of Mountain Spirit Splits the Cliff, the Stars Stitching Across the Day was already beginning to take shape!
Tang Thirty-Six hardened his heart as his sword used Falling Golden Flask!
Then it used Heavy Sea Air!
His true essence circulated through his meridians to his wrist, then it instantly sank down and returned upon a path it had never used before.
Only this way could Falling Golden Flask move to Heavy Sea Air.
Tang Thirty-Six had already prepared his mind for the backflow of true essence and the vomiting of blood from internal injuries.
Yet… nothing untoward happened whatsoever.
His true essence easily traveled through the channels in his wrist, sinking into his Yangming meridian!
Not only was there no injury, that feeling of absolutely no hindrance whatsoever made him want to happily shout!
With a sudden boost of confidence, Tang Thirty-Six moved his sword like the wind, breaking the figure of Qi Jian's sword bared in the darkness, turning from Heavy Sea Air to Shadow Cast on the Window!
There was still not a single problem!
His true essence circulated with abnormal efficiency. He even felt like these two sword techniques were not part of two separate sword styles, but should have been linked in the first place!
The countless crisp clashes of swords rang out in the darkness.
The spectators on the stone steps only saw Tang Thirty-Six's movements become extremely strange, seeming just like a puppet with cut strings. In hasty retreat, his actions seemed very awkward, yet they also seemed like the natural and expected actions!
No matter how powerful Qi Jian's sword energy became, it was never able to trap him.
After these countless clashes, Qi Jian's sword finally used Splendid Dew Withering Wu.
This was also the final technique of Gou Hanshi's instructions.
It was a major technique of the Mount Li Sword Style. It used the frost that dyed the mountains, the loneliness of the solitary Wu tree on the cliff.
Hidden within the gorgeous sword intent was a desolate, life-stealing aura.
The Iron Ruler Sword seemed covered in ice, slowly pressing down everything in all directions as it came.
It was like the aura of winter creeping into the forest: slow, but unstoppable.
If he had not heard Chen Changsheng's voice, Tang Thirty-Six would have probably chosen at this time to use his most violent sword technique, attempting to bring his opponent down with him or use this method of indiscriminate destruction to make another attempt at striking at Qi Jian's weak point.
But now, he didn't need to.
He only used a simple technique.
"Hang the Sword in the Tall Forest!"
This was the opening move of the Tang clan's Founding Sect Sword Style.
At any other time, this opening move of the Founding Sect Sword Style would absolutely have no use whatsoever.
But earlier, Tang Thirty-Six's sword techniques had succeeded at drawing with Qi Jian's previous two sword techniques, simultaneously making preparations for this final strike.
Whether it was from angle, posture, circulation of true essence, or state of mind, all preparations had been made.
The tall forest was utterly dyed in frost.
He hung his sword above the solitary Wu tree.
He turned his wrist and held his sword horizontally.
The Wenshui Sword passed horizontally above the Iron Ruler Sword, carrying a spark of fire.
The sword did not injure Qi Jian in the slightest, but it stirred up a wind.
After this gust, his elbow struck the hand Qi Jian used to wield his sword.
Smoothly and cleanly, right on the target.
There was a light clap.
The Iron Ruler Sword whistled through the air and fell somewhere in the darkness.
* * *
Tang Thirty-Six retreated two steps and sheathed his sword.
Qi Jian lowered his head and stared at his empty right hand, somewhat at a loss. Only after a moment did he realize… he had lost.
In only an instant, his eyes moistened, and he was overcome with sadness and grief.
Seeing his look, Tang Thirty-Six became rather irritated. "What's there to be sad about? You're still stronger than me, and originally I wouldn't be able to beat you, but… the Orthodox Academy just didn't lose, that's all."
He was a proud person so he had to make the distinction clear—the Orthodox Academy not losing did not mean that he had won.
Qi Jian tightly pursed his lips, not willing to cry, his stifled and small face turning deep red. Finally, in a sobbing tone, he said, "Many thanks."
Then he turned to his most trusted and respected senior brother, wanting to make clear just what had happened.
Gou Hanshi was looking at Chen Changsheng.
The plaza was absolutely silent.
Everyone was looking at Chen Changsheng.
Many people had no idea what had just occurred. Not even Tang Thirty-Six himself could describe it clearly.
When the crowd thought back, the crucial moment rested completely on that final wave of the sword and strike of the elbow. That single strike could truly be described as utterly wondrous, subtle and inexplicable.
But no one could imagine that the crucial point of this strike rested on the previous sword techniques.
The sword techniques that Chen Changsheng had stated.
Mao Qiuyu gazed at Chen Changsheng, somewhat surprised. Prince Chen Liu also looked at him, his eyes brimming with praise. Xu Shiji and the Qiushan clan head had abnormally ugly expressions while Mo Yu's expression was extremely complex. Earlier, she had not been able to understand just how Chen Changsheng had been able to leave the Tong Palace. Only now did she understand that it turned out that everyone had underestimated this youth.
Tonight was the first time many people truly became acquainted with Chen Changsheng.
Including those people who had already met him, such as Xu Shiji and Mo Yu.
The many wrinkles on the archbishop's face all relaxed as he said, "Pretty good, pretty good."
Everyone knew that the person he was calling 'pretty good' was not Tang Thirty-Six, but Chen Changsheng.
Chapter 77 – Telling a Story in Four and Nine City[8]
The silence in front of the palace was broken by Gou Hanshi. He looked at Chen Changsheng and asked, "This is a historical record from the Returning to the Origin scripture?"
Chen Changsheng nodded and added, "The endnote to the second book."
Gou Hanshi slightly raised his brows, saying, "The names of these four sword techniques truly were recorded, but the author did not explicitly state their order."
Chen Changsheng replied, "Miscellaneous Notes of the Western Capital and Records of the Youyang Region all mention a spectating Daoist and describe the stories told by this Daoist. In reality, what happens in those stories is precisely the ordering of the phrases in the Returning to the Origin scripture."
Gou Hanshi pondered this explanation. Such records certainly did exist in those classics, but before Chen Changsheng mentioned them, very few people had ever associated them with the story in the Returning to the Origin scripture. The most important reason was that the Returning to the Origin scripture had not been deemed as a scripture by the Orthodoxy. Several hundred years after this book's publication, the number of people who had read it was extremely small.
The crowd was confused at this conversation, completely mystified as to what he a
nd Chen Changsheng were talking about.
Even figures like the extremely knowledgeable teachers of the academies and the Qiushan clan head felt like they were listening to a reading of the Heavenly Tomes.
The archbishop slightly frowned, asking Prince Chen Liu by his side, "What scripture are they speaking about?"
Somewhat unsure, Prince Chen Liu replied, "Apparently it's some Returning to the Origin scripture."
The archbishop was rather irritated, questioning, "How have I never heard of it before?"
Only Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng remembered that there was a story recorded in the long-forgotten Returning to the Origin scripture. In the distant past, some ancestor of the Wenshui Tang clan engaged in a bloody battle with a demon expert in Xinxiang County. When none of the spectators had any hope of his victory, this ancestor of the Tang clan displayed four sword techniques in succession, killing the demon expert on the spot.
These four techniques were: Falling Golden Flask, Heavy Sea Air, Shadow Cast on the Window, and finally Hang the Sword in the Tall Forest.
This battle only became a recorded story, handed down until the present day, because all the spectators of this battle could not understand just how these four sword techniques could be linked together. Why had those clearly stiff shifts and changes suddenly become so smooth and casual after confronting the demon expert's utterly chilling techniques?
"Why did you think about using these four techniques?" Gou Hanshi asked.
"The first technique being Falling Golden Flask was because of Tang Thirty-Six's personality. He likes these sorts of unorthodox techniques, but you immediately responded with Mountain Spirit Splits the Cliff… too unyielding."
Chen Changsheng explained, "Your three techniques contained both rising momentum and falling momentum, ending finally in splendor, a mountain range covered in frost, all its power resting on the word 'desolation'.
Gou Hanshi replied, "Correct."
Chen Changsheng continued, "I couldn't think of any sword techniques of the Tang clan that could firmly receive your three techniques, unless the Three Forms of Wenshui were used again… but you also probably understand Tang Thirty-Six's temperament. In these sorts of circumstances, he wouldn't do it even if you beat him to death, and I didn't have the time to convince him."