Chapter 748: Getting the Best of Both Worlds

"Alright." Li He nodded, then added, "Actually, you don't have to talk about those poems."

"I wanted to cater to your interests." Pei Ye was silent for a moment, then said seriously, "But Senior, actually I really like the path of poetry..."

"Alright, no need to say any more." Li He interrupted, gathering the bowls in the basin, "I'll teach you a move."

Perhaps something had indeed changed. When they first met, this Ming Ming Jianzhu had said "actually I may not be able to give you any guidance," but now he agreed very readily.

Pei Ye's eyes lit up: "That's too embarrassing."

Li He acted as if he hadn't heard and said: "You are in the Pulse Realm, right? Do you know any True Qi techniques?"

Pei Ye thought for a moment: "I know one form of Sword Washing Water."

Li He sat on the stool and looked at him, signaling for him to demonstrate.

Pei Ye drew his Jade Tiger, frowned at the dishwater, turned around to look, scooped up a handful of clear water from the bucket, and splashed it onto the sword. Instantly, where the clear water brushed, sharp sword intent sprouted out, like seeds being watered.

Li He reached out and touched it, a neat, deep, and sharp cut splitting on his fingertip.

"What sword is this?"

"'Sword Washing Water' from 'First Moon North Rain'." Pei Ye said, "The sword technique of the Xiao Ma Sword."

Li He nodded, the cut on his finger healing as before: "Very good, your control over True Qi is already very exquisite. Like this, follow my guidance and transport your True Qi into this sword."

Li He pinched—using only two fingers—his wrist and placed his hand on the sword hilt.

Pei Ye confirmed with the man and began to transport True Qi into the sword. He had done this basic action thousands of times, and it was as natural as walking and stepping out with his left foot.

Since the Fourth Life, True Qi could be poured into objects in contact, and the first thing Pei Ye chose was the sword in his hand.

But now he was slightly stunned. The True Qi that was transported out had been filtered by Li He, pulled into countless fine threads of varying thickness, and spread toward the Jade Tiger sword.

This was the first time he had touched his weapon in this way, and he looked at the man curiously.

"Every sword has its 'breathing'." Li He said, "Experience this feeling. The first step is to take your sword's pulse."

Pei Ye was stunned. The cold and hard touch of the Jade Tiger was still in his palm, but the True Qi veins filtered by Li He began to pulse on the sword.

The man watched him quietly, and gradually Pei Ye perceived the countless tiny lines inside this sword.

Those were all traces formed during sword casting. A sword used many materials and went through many processes. Now they gathered into one, becoming a balanced and perfect sword, but the traces of every hammering had always remained inside.

Those were the sword's meridians.

Li He said nothing, guiding

his True Qi threads into it, filling out this complex set of meridians. Then, for the first time, Pei Ye felt that he had truly penetrated into every subtle part of this sword, and everything about the sword was exposed in his perception.

"The 【Cutting Sword Breath】 of the East Sea Sword Furnace, masters use this secret technique to feel everything about a sword." Li He said, "Now we have completed the second step: use your True Qi to cover the meridians of this sword that you have perceived."

Pei Ye nodded slowly: "And then?"

This was a completely novel field.

"Then you will discover that the meridians in this sword are also a separate circuit."

Pei Ye was stunned; he had indeed perceived it.

Just like the human body, the sword's meridians were actually a complex and complete set of veins. True Qi flowed through them, and after one cycle, it actually returned to Pei Ye's hand.

This process did not go through any of his control; he just let the True Qi flow out, and after a while, they traveled a full cycle and flowed back in.

But he truly felt that this sword was truly connected to him as one.

"Alright, now let go of your hand, slowly give up actively transporting True Qi into the sword, but do not close the channel for True Qi." Li He let go of his wrist and slowly picked up the sword from his hand.

Then Pei Ye was astonished to find that this sword had completely left him, and he hadn't tried to control it, but the ceaseless flow of True Qi still existed between them.

This sword had become part of his True Qi cycle.

Then Li He held the sword and looked at him: "Stand up."

Pei Ye stood up from the stool.

"Turn around."

Pei Ye turned around.

Li He put the sword into its scabbard, then placed it behind him, found an angle, and let go. The sword hung behind the youth's waist without wind.

Then Li He withdrew his hand and nodded with satisfaction.

Pei Ye stood for a while and turned his head blankly: "And then?"

"No then, it's done."

"What's done?"

"It's done like this." Li He raised his hand and flicked the scabbard lightly, the sword swaying twice like a tumbler, "This is the little trick I taught you, the True Qi technique 【Sword Tassel】, which ties you like a ribbon. You can hang the sword by your side without any need for your mental attention or control."

Pei Ye looked at the man silently: "The purpose of this is...?"

"It can serve a stylistic purpose." Li He said seriously, "It will look very graceful."

Pei Ye was silent for a long time: "What I want is not this kind of flashy but useless thing."

"Is that so? I thought you would like it very much."

"I don't."

Li He thought for a moment: "Actually,

it is not without use. Essentially, your connection with your sword is deeper. You are connected as one at all times, and no one can do anything to your sword... and drawing the sword will be faster. With just a thought, your sword can leave its scabbard."

"Is the sword breath secret technique of the East Sea Sword Furnace just for showing off?"

"That's not it. Experiencing sword breath is an important foundation. After this, 'Sword Controlling Technique,' 'Sword Unsheathing Technique,' etc., are all developed from this."

"Then I want to learn 'Sword Controlling Technique' and 'Sword Unsheathing Technique'."

"Not teaching."

"......"

Li He stood up and drew water to water the flowers again: "This is a secret technique of the Sword Furnace and cannot be widely spread. Since you have already learned 'Sword Tassel' and have high talent, you can figure out the rest yourself."

Pei Ye was curious: "Then how did Senior learn it?"

"I obtained a famous sword and was invited by the East Sea Sword Furnace. They wanted to see the famous sword, so they paid me with this secret technique as a thank you."

Pei Ye was attracted by the words at this time and said in a low voice: "Senior, then I won't learn it for now, I'll ask you a question."

"What?"

"Can you let me see your famous sword?"

Li He turned around by the flower pond, the youth's eyes staring straight at him.

Li He turned back and sighed lightly: "You have a bit too many 'by the way's before parting."

Pei Ye was silent for a moment and said: "After a pleasant conversation, with both poetry and sword being joyful, sincerely sighing that we met too late, it is hard to avoid exchanging swords arm in arm..."

"Alright." Li He raised his hand slightly, and a sword shadow flew out from the room and placed itself in front of Pei Ye, "If you want to see it, then see it."

Pei Ye lowered his two shining eyes and carefully observed this divine sword.

This was the first time he had been so close to it. At this time, he probably saw what those bright and dark, constantly growing and fading two colors were.

The sword body itself was dark, and a shuttle-shaped brightness grew from the hilt, constantly shaking and swaying slightly, as if brushed by an invisible wind.

Wherever it touched, the darkness faded away, yielding its territory; and wherever it left, the darkness flooded back. The two colors were interwoven like this, growing on this sword, creating a sword that was always moving.

Pei Ye stared at this picture for a while and suddenly realized what it looked like—a candle flame.

A bright and swaying candle flame placed in the darkness, the sword body seemed to only include this candle flame and some darkness around it, while in some unknown vastness, boundless darkness and fog were churning endlessly.

Pei Ye was stunned for a while and tentatively reached out to stroke its cold sword body.

At this time, he realized its temperament, which was completely different from the Cutting Heart Zhanxin Liuli. It was not as full of spirit as Zhanxin Liuli; if Cutting Heart Zhanxin Liuli was a lively little deer, it was like a tortoise or snake that rarely moved.

He still remembered that when he first touched Zhanxin Liuli, it dodged around, while this sword had no reaction to this contact at all.

"Don't let it cut you." Li He finished watering the flowers and walked over, "It will take away your lifespan."

Pei Ye was stunned: "Without your command, it will also take away the lifespan of things it touches?"

"It will. That is not something I control." Li He sat down on the ground beside him, took this famous sword on his lap, and lowered his eyes, "It is too thirsty, that is its instinct."

"......"

"Are you very curious about famous swords?"

"This junior is curious."

Li He sighed lightly: "【Flying Light】, the sword that cuts lifespan. Without it, I would have long been dry bones in a grave."

Pei Ye was stunned: "What do you mean?"

Li He turned his head and looked at him with eyes like ancient pools: "【Flying Light】 can cut human lifespan, and can also use it to give back to the Ming Ming Jianzhu."

Pei Ye looked at these eyes blankly, and a sense of horror slowly spread through his muscles and bones.

"The world only knows the former, not much about the latter." Li He said calmly, "My lifespan should have ended at twenty-six, and this year I am already thirty-five. Every day I have lived for the past nine years has come from 【Flying Light】."

"......"

"What I said at the beginning was not to deceive you. I really haven't learned much sword technique. After obtaining this sword, I truly began to learn the sword, and it has only been ten years until now. Even now, fighting with people is half relying on Flying Light's power." Li He said, "I met it in a pile of old papers deep in the palace, and an old senior gave it to me. I recited a poem for it, which is 'Sword Child Song of the Spring Workshop'."

Li He looked at the youth: "Since the age of twenty-three, my body has withered and my life has faded, blinking in a daze between life and death, seeing Yama in my dreams every night. From the moment I got this sword, this has been my second life, every bit of it borrowed from it."

Li He lowered his head and stroked the sword body gently. Under his touch, this famous sword, which had just been motionless, trembled and hummed intimately, as if responding.

"So I think. Every famous sword is tied to the Ming Ming Jianzhu's destiny." He said, "Therefore, famous swords do not change masters, parting only at death."

"You asked about famous swords, probably just curious about this. But I cannot answer you either. Sword talent, status, or even realm and strength, may not necessarily constitute the reason for a famous sword's choice. Since you have the Immortal Hunt, you should be able to understand some." Li He glanced at the beautiful black cat on Pei Ye's shoulder, "I cannot tell you the way to pursue it, but if there is a sword in your destiny, then it is waiting for you somewhere on this earth."

Pei Ye was stunned for a while and nodded slowly.

The small courtyard was quiet for a moment, and Pei Ye said: "Senior, I think I am quite like you."

"......" Li He looked at him silently and interrupted in advance, "I haven't written poetry for a long time."

"No." Pei Ye said seriously, "I haven't learned much sword technique either."

"......" Li He laughed.

"Since the conversation is over, if there is nothing else, let's part for now." He said.

Pei Ye stood up and bowed. Coming here today, he had seen 【Flying Light】, learned 【Sword Tassel】, and heard the Ming Ming Jianzhu's sincere words, so it was not a wasted trip.

Only the poetry discussion part earlier had gone a bit wrong. Pei Ye wanted to make up for it, thought for a moment, and said seriously: "Senior, although Pei Ye only counts as having just revealed my edge in the path of poetry, I will definitely persevere and be steadfast. These days, whether it is the path of poetry or the sword path, the person I most wanted to see was you. Today, having fulfilled my wish, I truly have no regrets even if I die."

Li He was silent for a moment: "You can just speak normally, no need to always use idioms."

He sighed lightly again: "Thank you for your admiration. I didn't expect you not to invite the Xiang Huang Ming Ming Jianzhu, who has a profound sword path, but instead insist on seeing me. We can be considered to have a bond, so let's leave it at that for today."

But at this moment, he was slightly stunned and looked at the door.

Pei Ye was about to clasp his hands and say more, but was poked lightly on the neck by the black cat.

He suddenly realized something, turned around to look, and a woman wearing a bamboo hat with a veil stood there. She was wearing a spring robe, and her face was not clear. Only a sword was hidden in her wide sleeves, with spots on it, like an immortal shedding tears.

"You said you weren't at the Sword Training Academy these past few days, and would be at the Tianshan Guest House, but unfortunately you were at neither place. I only found out you came to the Xiuwen Pavilion after asking." Li Tishui said, "That day you said something about admiring my heroic posture and asking for advice on sword techniques, is there something you want to ask—oh, Ming Ming Jianzhu Li, what a coincidence."

"......"

"......"

In the small courtyard stood three silent people. Ming Ming Jianzhu Li Tishui of Xiang Huang in front of the door, Ming Ming Jianzhu Li He of Flying Light below the steps, and Pei Ye in the middle.

"Good day, Ming Ming Jianzhu Li." Li He said.

"Good day, Ming Ming Jianzhu Li." Li Tishui said.

Pei Ye slowly raised his hand and clasped his fist, revealing a smile: "Haha, so both seniors are surnamed Li. Since we are so fated, why don't the three of us have a drink together and discuss the sword path!"

The black cat buried its face in his neck in shame.

No one in the courtyard spoke. After a while, Li He said: "Let's not do it today, Young Hero Pei Ye, let's part."

Pei Ye breathed a sigh of relief, clasped his hands, and said seriously: "Hearing one of your words is like reading ten thousand books. I will take my leave for now, reluctant to part, and next time I will bring another piece to present to your mansion and listen to your jade words."

Li He sighed and waved his hand: "Hurry up and go."

Pei Ye bowed and retreated until he saw a wisp of a skirt at the edge of his vision.

Li Tishui lowered her eyes and looked at him. Pei Ye lowered his head and said nothing, gently closed the small courtyard door for Li He, and then turned around.

"Senior Li, I have long admired you!" he said. ===== CHAPTER 749 =====

"Senior Li, I have long admired you!" he said.