Chapter 774

Jiao Qiu looked innocent: "Eh eh eh, why are you suddenly scolding people? I was just popularizing medical knowledge for everyone, not inciting anyone to poison."

"When Master Shao Qiu talks about poison, his face lights up with excitement; I don't know whether to call it upright and aboveboard or sneaky and despicable…"

"Now suppose there are two people, one sneaky and despicable standing, the other upright and aboveboard lying down. You tell me, what recourse does the lying one have to accuse the standing one of being 'sneaky and despicable'?"

"Shao Qiu slowly opened his eyes and said: 'On the battlefield, in the instant of life and death, all thoughts vanish. To survive is the only truth. Anyone who can return alive from the battlefield will have all values redefined. In my view, whether upright and aboveboard or sneaky and despicable, they are as light as a goose feather.'"

"Yan Qing: 'Master Shao Qiu underestimated me and Yun Li; though we are young, we have also been on the battlefield.'"

"My apologies, my apologies. If that's the case, you should also know that the martial exhibition is just for a lively competition; why take it so seriously?"

"In response, Yan Qing calmly replied: 'When I was chosen as the defender of the martial exhibition, I once asked the general: fighting and killing enemies on the battlefield is our duty, so why must we also brandish our swords on the stage to please the audience?'"

"The general answered me, 'Enter the formation, draw the sword; mount the stage to show the sword; with one sword drawn, gather the brilliance of a hundred swords.' The martial exhibition is a fine opportunity to display martial virtue and make allies from all quarters. Suspending the sword above the exhibition, drawing it without harm, the display shows not only the sword but also the martial virtue and decorum of the Yun Cavalry."

"Shao Qiu couldn't help but admire: 'Those words are quite insightful; I, Shao Qiu, have been narrow-minded. Brother Yan Qing, I have been in Luofu for a while yet have not had the chance to see the venue of this martial exhibition. Hearing you speak so eloquently, I feel a spark of curiosity; could you perhaps take me to have a look?'"

"——"

"Blade Fang"

"That fox-like man isn't wrong. Miyamoto Musashi nodded in agreement, '…As long as one can survive on the battlefield, the means are not the problem; whether one can stay alive in the slaughter is the problem.'"

"... I cannot agree."

"Beside him, Lie Haiwang clenched his fists and stared straight at Musashi: 'If one cannot defeat the enemy openly and honorably in battle, but instead uses some despicable and shameful means, that is to let one's own skill suffer disgrace.'"

"So you're not fit for the battlefield, Lie Haiwang." Musashi sat down straight beside Tokugawa, poured himself a cup of clear sake, and said, "You've all heard of my fight with Zuosong Xiaoxiaolang, right? At that time his ultimate technique 'Swallow Return' was perfect swordsmanship, capable of cutting down birds in the sky. To ensure victory, I deliberately arrived a few hours late."

"I will make him anxious, exhausted, and his sword spirit disordered… then I appeared and slew him." Facing his own past despicable conduct, Musashi felt no shame; instead he lifted his head, proudly saying, 'Despicable… heh, but if I hadn't done that, the "Sword Saint" passed down today would probably be Zuosong Xiaoxiaolang, who would be sitting here chatting away, while I would merely be one of the countless masters he slew.'

"Of course… even if we compare swordsmanship, mine might not necessarily lose to his, but in battle, the one who can use any condition to win is the true strong one."

"——"

"Mentioning the joint viewing of the 'Battle-Edge Warship', Yan Qing also became interested and eagerly prepared to lead several people there."

"Several people arrived at the dock and found that the area was crowded with people; as far as the eye could see, a black mass of coming-and-going tourists filled the view."

"I didn't expect there to be so many people coming to gaze at the Battle-Edge Warship!"

"Shao Qiu seemed to have caught a whiff of something, and his gaze unconsciously flicked toward a group of soldiers and civilians nearby who were discussing."

"Oh?"

"Master Shao Qiu, what's wrong? Yan Qing asked curiously."

"No, nothing. Shao Qiu shook his head and watched as that group finished their discussion and went their separate ways."

"Did you see that? Over there, that airship is the competition venue for this martial exhibition—the 'Battle-Edge Warship'! Yan Qing excitedly tiptoed, pointing at the massive vessel hovering among the clouds."

"Having followed the general and witnessed countless grand scenes, Shao Qiu murmured, 'From afar, it doesn't look particularly special.'"

"Yan Qing didn't hear him; instead he grew even more excited and introduced the group: 'This Battle-Edge Warship is a refit of a retired vessel from Luofu. Before the martial exhibition officially begins, no one is allowed to land on it. But tomorrow, when the bell rings and the salute fires, Yan Qing will represent the Yun Cavalry of the Immortal Vessel Luofu, mount the stage, and accept challenges from brave warriors of all quarters.'"

"Since childhood, Yan Qing has been kept by the general's side, taught swordsmanship and military strategy. Each day he practices ten thousand sword slashes and ten thousand thrusts, over and over again…"

"I understand; I seem not so different from ordinary children. I have never envied their toys and freedom, nor have I felt that single-mindedly practicing the sword is some boring, arduous task. Even when I step onto the battlefield, slaying enemies in formation, when I clash with those monstrous abominations, I feel no fear."

"Every day I can feel myself growing stronger, stronger, and a bit stronger still… again and again grasping victory in my hand, there is nothing in the world happier than this."

"——"

"Lu Xiaohei War Chronicles"

"Twenty thousand times a day, how many seconds in a day again? 3600… multiplied by…"

"Xiaohei counted on his fingers, but hadn't figured it out yet when Lu Ye directly gave the answer: '86,400 seconds, on average he has to slash and thrust once every four seconds or so.'"

"Doesn't this young man need to eat or sleep? Xiaohei raised his head in confusion."

"Don't pry into the affairs of the Immortal Vessel people. Lu Ye shoved a newly bought ice cream into Xiaohei's hand and asked lightly, 'The point isn't whether he needs to sleep, but practice, effort, and sweat. Have you gained any insight from what Yan Qing said?'"

"Xiaohei silently licked the ice cream and shook his little head: 'No.'"

"Tsk… Even a genius like Yan Qing puts in such effort, training day and night—what about you, Xiaohei? When you usually follow your master, do you work as hard as he does? The most terrifying thing in the world is someone who has more talent than you and also works harder."

"If these geniuses work this hard, what use is there for ordinary people to strive? No matter how hard they try, they can't surpass them."

"You…"

"Lu Ye rubbed her forehead, and in an instant she felt that Xiaohei made a fair point."

"Right? Xiaohei licked the ice cream melting on his fingers, gave a hehe laugh, and said, 'It would be better to just eat well, drink well, and have fun every day; as for me… I'll leave the training to my master.'"

"——"

"But later, I took a sword from someone. That blow shattered my once-perfect confidence into pieces. At the moment that strike landed, I felt fear for the first time. This might be what Master Shao Qiu meant by 'in the instant of life and death on the battlefield, all thoughts vanish.'"

"After that, Yan Qing had to lower his head, pick up those fragments one by one, piece them together, trying to reconstruct his former happy self. But no matter what he did, he seemed unable to regain that former state of mind."

"As he spoke, Yan Qing lowered his head, his expression shifting from earlier excitement to simply gazing silently at the endless shuttles of star barges beneath his feet."

"I often ask myself, why do I wield the sword? If I am destined to face defeat, why should I continue to swing it? Is it to regain the joy of victory? To answer the general's expectations? Or to leave behind merit for the Yun Cavalry? The general can teach me swordsmanship, but he cannot teach me the reason to swing the sword. He told me: the reason for swinging the sword must be found by myself. For this, Yan Qing agonized endlessly, tossing and turning."

"But after this candid talk with Master Shao Qiu, Yan Qing already has the answer in his heart. The youth slowly lifted his head: 'As a member of the Yun Cavalry, the general's disciple, I bear much, and am destined to bear even more. Yet only when I swing the sword do I feel I can let go of everything. I love the self who exerts all his strength to strike forward against obstacles, advancing without hesitation.'"

"I too swing the sword precisely for that self."

"Shao Qiu, upon hearing this, couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion: 'Yan Qing, Yan Qing, so young yet already so old… tell me, how old are you this year?'"