Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

Looking at the woman's bright, fair face, which seemed to glow, he thought she was truly beautiful and couldn't help but be mesmerized.

"You're using Fu Cailin's Yi Sword Technique? Your sword strikes are like playing chess, combining orthodox and unorthodox moves, but that's about it." Su Yuchen sighed as he looked at the woman in white.

You met Fu Junzhuo.

[Fu Junzhuo: A master of Goryeo swordsmanship, a direct disciple of Fu Cailin, one of the three great masters in this world. She is proficient in the Nine Profound Great Law and the Yi Sword Technique. She came to the Central Plains to assassinate Yang Guang.]

The woman in white was Fu Junzhuo. Upon hearing what Su Yuchen said, she immediately showed anger: "Who are you? What right do you have to comment on my master?"

Su Yuchen shook his head...

"I had only heard that Fu Cailin created his own Yi Sword Technique and was proud of it. It's a pity I've never seen it. Only today do I realize that he's nothing but a fool."

"The martial arts of our Central Plains are vast and profound, and the swordsmanship is unparalleled in the world. Fu Cailin's sword is merely a inferior swordsmanship of 'using man to fight with sword, and using sword to fight enemy.' If one regards the sword as a mere tool, how can one attain the heart of the sword? Moreover, the highest level of swordsmanship is when man and sword are one, when heaven and earth are like me, and I am the sword."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged glances, feeling that they had learned something new today. Although they didn't know what Su Yuchen meant, they both silently remembered it. Since the woman in white couldn't beat 'Master Shi', Master Shi must be right.

“Heh…” Fu Junzhuo snorted coldly, not arguing, but her expression was disdainful.

Su Yuchen shook his head: "Barbarians from beyond the realm are barbarians from beyond the realm. Explaining such profound sword techniques to you would be like asking a blind man for directions. I only hope that Fu Cailin can understand a little bit, so that I won't be disappointed."

With that, he flicked his sleeve, and a gust of wind sent the longsword flying from the ground. No more, no less, the longsword clattered back into the scabbard in Fu Junzhuo's left hand...

“I left a sword aura in your body. You have ten days to return to Goryeo and see Fu Cailin.”

"If he can break through my sword energy, you can still live; otherwise, returning to your roots and being buried in Goryeo would be a good thing. You should go back quickly."

Fu Junzhuo's eyes narrowed. She didn't want to believe it, but she knew that such a person would never lie to her. Without any visible movement, she leaped into the depths of the woods.

………………

Su Yuchen didn't even glance at Fu Junzhuo, but looked at the two people in the stream and said, "You two lads, hurry up and get up here."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged a glance, then splashed around in the water, rolled up their clothes from the stream, and put them on, still soaking wet.

Su Yuchen sat on the dry rock and pointed to the opposite side: "Come and sit down."

The two looked at each other, and could only sit obediently opposite each other. A mountain breeze blew, and they both shivered. Kou Zhong composed himself and said respectfully, "Greetings, Master Shi. I must thank you for saving my life."

Su Yuchen looked at him with a serious expression, shook his head and sighed, "You're quite the smooth talker, always good at flattering people." As he spoke, he flicked his finger, and two streams of pure yang energy landed on the two of them.

The two felt a surge of heat flow through their bodies, and their previously damp clothes were enveloped in wisps of white mist. As the mountain breeze blew, the mist dissipated, and their clothes dried.

The two men, looking excited, bowed and thanked him in unison. Su Yuchen waved his hand and asked, "Which of you understood what I just said?"

Xu Ziling pondered for a moment and said, "Master Shi just said, 'Use the person to fight the sword, and use the sword to fight the enemy.' But that means that the person only sees the sword in his hand as an object, something to be used; rather than seeing the sword as his own limb, where the sword naturally follows the hand, and the sword is an extension of the arm."

Kou Zhong continued, "Master Shi said that heaven and earth are like me, and I am the sword. That is to say, everything in the world is like a sword, and I am both heaven and earth and the sword. Since that is the case, then naturally I can kill without lifting a finger, and even kill my opponent with a single glance."

Xu Ziling shook his head and said, "The sword is an extension of the body. The range that the sword can reach is the range that a person can control. Within this range, everything is determined by my heart. But how can one reach beyond this world?"

Kou Zhong exclaimed, "If the sword can't do it, there's still sword energy. If you cultivate that sword energy, wouldn't you be able to extend your reach? But how much sword energy would it take to fill the entire world?"

The two of them spoke back and forth, clearly each with their own understanding, and even able to draw inferences from one instance to another. It was only due to their limited knowledge that they did not gain further insight, but their strong comprehension was evident.

Su Yuchen's primordial spirit reflected on the two and discovered that their physical constitution was far stronger than that of ordinary people. Thinking back on their previous lives, even if they didn't go hungry for three days and nine meals a day, they often ate one meal and then skipped another. Even so, their physique was still comparable to those soldiers who trained every day.

"They are indeed the darlings of the heavens. Now it's up to you two to see how much of the 'Longevity Manual' you can comprehend," Su Yuchen thought to himself.

Chapter 343 Guidance by the Stream 2

Seeing the two arguing, Su Yuchen waved his hand and continued, "That person was named Fu Junzhuo. She was an assassin trained by Fu Cailin, a master swordsman from Goryeo. Her martial arts and swordsmanship are mediocre, but Fu Cailin does have some merits."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged glances, wondering to themselves: Master Shi had just belittled that woman's master to nothing, so why is he praising her now?

Su Yuchen knew exactly what the two were thinking. He flicked out a finger with his right hand, watched the two men grimacing, and then said, "Although I look down on Fu Cailin's petty swordsmanship, as one of the three grandmasters, he still has some merits."

Xu Ziling nodded upon hearing this and said, "What Master Shi means is that no one is perfect. Although Fu Cailin's swordsmanship is not good, he still has strengths that we can learn from. We are just beginners, so how can we have the right to look down on other people's strengths?"

Kou Zhong exclaimed "Ouch!" and said, "So, although Boss Yan is a scoundrel, he does take care of his subordinates, so he's not completely beyond redemption. May I ask, Master Shi, what are the Three Grandmasters?"

Su Yuchen heard him misinterpret the concept and omit a word, but he was too lazy to correct him. He said, "The three most powerful martial arts masters in the world are Ning Daoqi, the free spirit; Fu Cailin from Korea; and Bi Xuan, the martial arts master of the Turks. They are collectively known as the three grandmasters."

Kou Zhong said, "Why isn't Master Shi here?" He then gestured to Xu Ziling with his eyes.

Xu Ziling nodded and said, "That Fu Junzhuo's martial arts are just average, and her master's swordsmanship is probably not very good either. May I ask Master Shi, does he have any other powerful techniques?"

Su Yuchen knew that the two boys were flattering him, but he was too lazy to tell them that he was not Shi Long. They wouldn't understand anyway, and they might even think that he was possessed by a ghost.

“I never cared about those empty titles, you will know that in the future, there is no need to worry about these trivial matters.”

"Although Fu Cailin's swordsmanship is average, he has his merits. In addition to the Yi Sword Technique, Fu Cailin also has another Nine Profound Technique, which is a top-notch internal energy cultivation method in the world."

He once said to people, "All supernatural powers and transformations are inherent within oneself." This means that the human body itself is a huge treasure trove, and once it is developed, one can possess various means of fighting enemies.

Xu Ziling nodded upon hearing this and said, "Is that why Fu Cailin is confident in his own wisdom, and therefore treats the sword as an external object?"

Kou Zhong was taken aback, then said, "That's not right. If he believes in his own wisdom, then why can't he comprehend the Heavenly Sword Realm that Master Shi mentioned?"

Su Yuchen glanced at the two of them and praised them...

"You two are quite perceptive. Goryeo is a small and poor country, how could it possibly understand the mysteries of martial arts from the Central Plains?"

"However, his Nine Profound Great Method does have its merits. He believes that all things are ultimately based on the same principle, and that all things originate from 'one'."

"Therefore, the tenet of the Nine Profound Great Law is quite in line with the Taoist concept of 'the inferior guard the form, the superior guard the spirit, and attain the spirit while forgetting the form. Seemingly empty yet not empty, seemingly forgotten yet not forgotten, existing between intention and unintentionality.' Do you understand?"

Kou Zhong asked curiously...

"Master Shi explained it so clearly, so what is there to not understand? What Master Shi is saying is simply about transcending form to preserve spirit, using the methods of form to enter the methods of formlessness."

"Just like Master Shi teaching martial arts techniques at the martial arts school, that is a tangible method. But as long as one can sense the opportunity between forgetting and remembering, and use the spirit to control the tangible method, one can cultivate true qi."

Xu Ziling shook his head and said, "Master Shi just said that whether it is intentional or unintentional, one must be calm and not impatient. If it is as you said, Kou Zhong, then one will fall into a lower level and find it difficult to maintain one's spirit."

Kou Zhong nodded and said, "Xiao Ling, you are right. We should not force it. Instead, we should let it happen naturally, so that no thoughts arise in our minds, our spirit moves on its own, and our energy arises naturally."

"Good, good, good!!" Su Yuchen clapped his hands and said, "You two are indeed intelligent people, which saves me a lot of trouble."

As he spoke, he picked up the "Longevity Manual" beside him and asked, "Do you know what this is?"

Xu Ziling said, "Kou Zhong said this is a martial arts manual, but we can't understand the scribbles on it."

Kou Zhong said, "This was taken from Yuwen Huaji and then stolen by us... Let's borrow it to take a look. Does Master Shi recognize this?"

Su Yuchen nodded: "This item is called the 'Longevity Manual,' a treasure left behind by the Taoist Guang Chengzi. It is a supreme martial arts secret method for Taoists to cultivate Qi and seek longevity. Many people dream of obtaining it, and even Yang Guang sought it."

Kou Zhong chuckled and winked, saying, "I told you, this must be a divine martial arts manual. If you master it, you'll be invincible. Xiao Ling, you didn't believe me."

Xu Ziling frowned and said, "If what Master Shi said is true, then why is Yang Guang only seeking it now? And I've never heard of anyone achieving immortality?"

Kou Zhong was stunned upon hearing this, then somewhat deflated, and said in a huff, "Could this be a lie? If so, why did Master Shi say that so many people dream of it?"

Su Yuchen waved his hand, changing the subject, and said, "This item was originally in my possession. Later, Yuwen Huaji came on behalf of Yang Guang and asked me for it. I gave it to Yuwen Huaji. Then it ended up in the hands of the two of you."

Seeing Su Yuchen's ambiguous smile, Kou Zhong suddenly had an idea and immediately asked, "Does Master Shi mean that the 'Longevity Manual' is real? Master Shi, is it the 'Longevity Manual' that you practice?"

Su Yuchen nodded, then shook his head...

"I only referenced a part of this 'Longevity Manual.' Taoist traditions are only passed down to those with affinity. What does it mean to have affinity? It means to grasp its true meaning and forget its form."

"People who obtain this 'Longevity Secret' believe that it must be useful since it was left by the sages. They are unwilling to miss even the slightest detail, fearing that they might not learn it well. But they do not know that it is just a test left by the sages."

Kou Zhong, struck by a sudden inspiration, excitedly said, "So what Master Shi meant when he said to 'discard the form and preserve the spirit' was that he was teaching us how to practice the 'Longevity Formula.' This 'Longevity Formula' is the tangible method Master Shi mentioned, which can cultivate true qi."

Xu Ziling's spirits lifted, and he exchanged a glance with Kou Zhong. The two immediately knelt down and said, "Please, Master Shi, teach us the 'Longevity Formula'."

Su Yuchen shook his head, and before the two could be disappointed, he said...

"As I said before, the Dao is passed down to those with affinity. Without affinity, even if you obtain this 'Longevity Manual,' you will not be able to cultivate it. Otherwise, why would I have given it to Yuwen Huaji?"

"But this 'Longevity Manual' is useless to me now, and I should find another destined person for it. I never expected that, after all the twists and turns, it would end up in the hands of the two of you."

"Since you were able to obtain the Longevity Manual, it means you are destined to meet. As for the nature of that destiny, you will have to figure it out yourselves. Everyone is different, and so will their opportunities."

"Please enlighten us, Master Shi," the two said, bowing deeply.

Su Yuchen flicked his sleeves and helped the two up. He pointed to the seven diagrams on the "Longevity Manual" and said, "Discard the form and preserve the spirit. Carefully comprehend the diagrams. Whichever one touches your mind is the one you are destined to be with. Do not force the others."

"Of course, before that, you two need to learn about meridians and acupoints." Under the two's fixed gazes, Su Yuchen rolled up the cloth and threw it to them.

Kou Zhong hurriedly and clumsily took it and carefully stuffed it into his arms.

"Let's go, let's find a place to eat first, and then I'll teach you about the meridians and acupoints."

The two hurriedly got up and followed, disappearing into the woods and heading into the distance.

Chapter 344 Travel and Teaching

The three emerged from the woods and headed away from Yangzhou City. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged glances but didn't ask any questions. To them, this opportunity was too rare to be true, and worth the risk.

Su Yuchen didn't turn around, seemingly knowing what the two were thinking: "You can't go back to Yangzhou City. Yuwen Huaji is a top-tier expert of our time, and the Yuwen Clan is one of the four great aristocratic families. Going back will only lead to your death."

Kou Zhong followed with a grin and said, "Isn't Yuwen Huaji afraid of Master Shi? If he knew we were Master Shi's disciples, wouldn't he be so scared that he'd run to pay his respects to Master Shi?"

Su Yuchen looked at him with amusement, unmoved, and said, "I am passing on the Longevity Manual to you for two reasons. First, because you are destined to learn this martial art. Second, I also want to see how the martial art you have practiced is different from the one I have practiced."

Fearing that he might speak recklessly and anger Shi Long (Su Yuchen), Xu Ziling quickly said, "That's right. Kou Zhong, don't you want to be a great general? If you only rely on Shi Shi's reputation, how will you achieve your dream?"

As she spoke, she winked at Kou Zhong, signaling him to wait until he had learned the martial arts before continuing the conversation. Kou Zhong remained smiling, showing no sign of interest, but he didn't press the matter further.

The three of them left the woods and had just stepped onto the main road when they heard a series of hoofbeats behind them. Xu Ziling listened intently and his face immediately darkened. "Listen," he said, "isn't that the sound of dogs barking?"

Kou Zhong listened for a moment after hearing this, and as the sound of horses' hooves and dogs' barking grew closer, he exclaimed in surprise, "My God, they've even sent out hunting dogs. It seems they can only be here for us."

He then glanced at Shi Long (Su Yuchen) walking ahead and said in a barely audible voice, "No need to rush. Let's wait and see. I'm sure Master Shi won't let us fall into the hands of that Yuwen Huaji."

Xu Ziling looked somewhat worried, glanced at the unhurried Su Yuchen in front of him, and whispered, "Do you think Master Shi can defeat Yuwen Huaji? Otherwise, why would he give this manual to Yuwen Huaji?"

Kou Zhong asked in surprise, "Of course, it's to find the two of us who are destined to be together."

Enraged, Xu Ziling grabbed his neck and shook him violently. Kou Zhong pretended to be about to strangle him, signaling him to let go immediately.

Seeing that Su Yuchen did not turn around, he whispered, "It's alright. Master Shi is our greatest asset now. He doesn't seem that difficult to talk to. Let's wait and see."

Xu Ziling nodded upon hearing this, and the two reached a consensus, hurriedly following in Su Yuchen's footsteps.

"You two have finished discussing it." Su Yuchen didn't turn around, glanced at the sky, and stood in the woods to the side. "We'll wait here for a while."

"Waiting for what?" Kou Zhong asked in surprise.

No sooner had they finished speaking than the sound of hooves approached. The two men, their faces pale, looked back and saw more than twenty fine horses galloping towards them from around the bend. The riders were menacing, and several hunting dogs ran back and forth beside them, barking occasionally.

Just as the two men were trembling and almost embraced each other, the horse galloped past without even glancing at the three men by the roadside, and quickly disappeared into the distance before their incredulous eyes.

"Gone...gone?" Kou Zhong muttered to himself, looking dazed.

Upon hearing this, Xu Ziling nodded and then pulled him along to catch up with Su Yuchen.

Kou Zhong stumbled and almost fell as he was pulled along, but seeing the man's excited expression, he immediately realized the reason and his eyes lit up. He whispered, "Is it Master Shi? What kind of immortal technique is this?"

Xu Ziling didn't turn his head and said in a low voice, "Whatever it is? In short, we made the right choice." Without waiting for Kou Zhong's reply, he quickly followed.

"What a disloyal bastard," Kou Zhong muttered, and followed after him, his attitude even more respectful than before.

Soon the three of them found a tea stall by the roadside. Kou Zhong went up first to ask for some steamed buns, and then reluctantly took out his money bag to buy a piece of braised meat.

"You two eat, I don't need any," Su Yuchen said calmly, glancing at the food on the table. He then closed his eyes and sat quietly, not looking at the two of them.

Upon hearing this, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged glances, swallowed hard, and immediately began to wolf down their food without any hesitation.

After they finished eating, it was already late, with only a sliver of the setting sun remaining on the horizon. Su Yuchen got up and walked towards the depths of the nearby woods, where he quickly lit a bonfire.

When Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling saw that he had simply pointed a finger and the campfire had started to ignite automatically, their eyes immediately burned with even more fervor.

………………

"Take off your clothes," Su Yuchen said, sitting by the campfire and looking at the two of them.

"Huh?" Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exclaimed in surprise, exchanging bewildered glances.

Kou Zhong gritted his teeth, stripped naked, and stood before the campfire. Su Yuchen pointed, and a thin branch snapped with a crack, falling into his hand. He flicked his right hand, the branch tip touching Kou Zhong's head: "These are Baihui, Fengfu, Yamen, Shenting, Shangxing... The places the branch tip just passed over are the connecting meridians. Each acupoint has its own use, Baihui..."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were taken aback, not expecting the lesson to have already begun. They immediately dared not be distracted and focused on memorizing the information. Xu Ziling even went up to Kou Zhong and touched his meridians with his hand.

Ignoring the two of them, Su Yuchen proceeded to describe Su Yuchen's appearance, starting from the top of his head, down to his limbs, chest, and back. After he finished, the two were completely dazed, their minds buzzing.

After speaking, Su Yuchen sat quietly by the campfire. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling calmed themselves down and immediately began to whisper among themselves about the acupoints and meridian diagrams they remembered. After checking and filling in any gaps, the two confirmed that most of them were correct.

The two carefully recalled what they couldn't remember, and remembered a small part of it. Su Yuchen then filled in the rest for them.

"They really are blessed by God. What others need months or even years to learn, they finished in two hours," Su Yuchen thought to himself.

Little did they know that, on one hand, the two boys were indeed exceptionally talented, blessed by heaven; on the other hand, they were worried that if they were too dull, they would displease Su Yuchen and simply stop teaching them. Now that they finally had this opportunity, they naturally devoted themselves to it with utmost care and dared not be careless in the slightest.