Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Lin Dao Presents Sword Manuals

After Rong Shu had worked through the eighteen classical weapons, she was breathing a little heavily as she asked Lin Dao: “Senior brother, which weapon suits me best?”

Lin Dao pointed out a few: “Long spear, horizontal saber, bow.” He then added gently: “To know what you fit, first instinct matters, but so does what you cultivate through time. Listen to the voice of each weapon in your hand; it will answer you.”

Rong Shu nodded, half understanding: “Oh.”

Seeing that her stamina was close to spent, Lin Dao concluded: “That will do for today. You should continue with alchemy.” As he spoke, the lightning weapon dispersed from her hand.

Rong Shu cast a Cleaning Technique on herself and, glancing at the sky, judged she could still refine a few furnaces of Tendon and Bone Pill.

Lin Dao was about to leave when Rong Shu called to him: “Senior brother.”

He paused and turned back: “What is it?”

Rong Shu scratched her head: “About my alchemy… may I trouble senior brother not to mention it, not even to Senior Brother Qin or Senior Sister Yu?”

Lin Dao replied in a flat tone that carried his meaning clearly: “Do I look that idle?”

Rong Shu instantly understood, her eyes brightening with a smile: “Many thanks, senior brother! And thank you as well for today’s guidance!”

Lin Dao inclined his head, then after a moment’s thought said: “You still do not have a suitable weapon. For the time being, practice swordsmanship. That manual is only entry level, but for a beginner like you, it is just right.”

Rong Shu no longer felt embarrassed. After flailing around in front of Senior Brother Lin Dao for so long just now, any embarrassment had already passed; she was simply happy to be guided.

Over the next few days, Rong Shu attended lectures and refined pills, studied the sword manual and practiced her sword by day, and sat in meditation at night. Lin Dao would occasionally come to the grove, but only stand for a while before leaving, never disturbing her practice.

On the fifth day, Rong Shu had finished the entire manual. The swordwork that had been so awkward at first finally looked like something. But she had no way to access more advanced swordsmanship. She muttered, frowning: “Should I buy a higher-level manual? I just do not know how many Spirit Stones it would cost.”

Because she was practicing, she had only sold pills once in those five days, then used the proceeds to buy more herbs, which she had not yet finished refining. She had a little over two thousand Spirit Stones on her. A prior visit to a weapon shop had reminded her keenly that she was still a little pauper and could not spend Spirit Stones with a broad hand.

When Lin Dao arrived, he saw the not-quite-grown youngster with her pretty little face scrunched into a knot, as if something had stumped her. He asked simply: “What are you thinking about?”

Rong Shu looked up in delighted surprise: “Senior brother!” She stood from her round cushion and explained in a few words: “I finished that manual and was considering whether to buy another to practice.”

Lin Dao shook his head and advised: “No need. Ordinary manuals do little for cultivators beyond entry; being able to get started is enough. If you have the chance, seek techniques that pair with weapons.”

Rong Shu’s expression tightened a little: “Then I will have to wait until we return to the sect.” Moreover, to exchange for sect techniques with Spirit Stones, she would need a proper source for those stones. [Hmm… my nominal master gave me a thousand Spirit Stones earlier. Under the pretext of ‘Master gifted these Spirit Stones,’ I could justifiably exchange for a weapon technique.]

Lin Dao noticed her shifting look. Thinking of her alchemy and how she kept it hidden even from senior brother and senior sister of the same master, he faintly sensed there was more to the story. Thus, though he generally looked down on ordinary sword forms, he changed tack and said: “Among common sword routines, there are a few that are serviceable. They are not true techniques, but when you perform them, you can coat the blade with a layer of spiritual energy to enhance its power. Take these manuals.”

He took three worn sword manuals from his Storage Pouch and handed them to Rong Shu. Lin Dao was a sword cultivator; what he could readily produce were sword manuals, not the forms of other weapons.

Rong Shu accepted with both hands. Seeing the page corners marked by frequent reading, she asked curiously: “Senior brother, are these manuals you studied?”

Lin Dao answered softly: “Mm.” His gaze fell on the scuffed covers, and for a moment it grew gentler.

Catching the note of regard in his voice, Rong Shu hurried to decline: “Senior brother, then I cannot take these.”

“Take them,” Lin Dao said calmly, his eyes returning to their usual stillness. “Left with me, they will only lie forgotten in a corner and gather dust.”

Rong Shu was speechless. A Storage Pouch was immaculate; where would dust gather? But she only listened as he added: “If you have the heart, then treasure these manuals and practice well.”

Rong Shu nodded solemnly: “Thank you for the manuals, senior brother. I will keep them safe.”

After she put the books away, Lin Dao held out his hand: “Your Spirit Sword. Lend it to me.”

“Here, senior brother.” Rong Shu passed the Spirit Sword over.

Lin Dao stepped several paces away and said: “I will demonstrate the forms from the three manuals once.”

At once Rong Shu’s expression turned serious and intent. Lin Dao had practiced these forms many times; when he performed them now, the sword moved as it willed, with no stiffness or strain. The sequence flowed like water, light as a startled swan. Unconsciously, Rong Shu felt some kind of qi gathering around the sword as he moved; the fallen leaves on the ground stirred, rising and spinning along the path of the blade.

Lin Dao twisted his wrist and slashed forward; a startling surge of sword qi formed, sweeping up the leaves and pebbles and striking into the air. There was a boom as the airborne cluster of leaves and stones burst apart. The dispersing wave of air rippled outward, rattling the branches with a soft soughing.

Rong Shu’s eyes widened slightly at the sight. She wondered: [Does Senior Brother Lin Dao also have a wind spiritual root? I always thought he had only a lightning root.]

Before she could dwell on it, Lin Dao’s voice came, as if he had already anticipated her question: “This is not the power of a wind root, but sword qi.”