novelapdf Chapter 121 Preaching and Instructing
Chapter 121 Preaching and Instructing
Chapter 121 Preaching and Instructing
Shen An remained bowed, not daring to raise his head, quietly awaiting the judgment of his master on the throne.
He could feel that gaze was fixed on him, scrutinizing and analyzing him, as if trying to see through him from the inside out.
What should I do? If my master asks me about my martial arts skills, should I tell him the truth or not?
Just as Shen An felt his back was about to be soaked in cold sweat, a burst of laughter came from the high throne.
The laughter was very soft.
Shen An was suddenly stunned, almost unable to believe his ears.
Even Lu Bai, who was standing to the side with a smile, froze for a moment. He stared at his senior brother in astonishment, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Does the eldest brother actually know how to smile beyond mere polite formalities?
Where does the sun rise today?
In his memory, ever since his senior brother took over the Songshan Sect, he had never shown such a heartfelt smile.
Shen An mustered his courage and quietly raised his eyes. He saw that on that usually cold and stern face, the corners of his mouth actually curled up in a barely perceptible smile.
"It's nothing but brute force." Zuo Lengchan waved his hand, his tone returning to its usual calm. "In front of truly accomplished people, it's nothing but a laughing stock."
Despite this, Lu Bai was no ordinary person, and he immediately discerned the hidden satisfaction beneath Zuo Lengchan's seemingly derogatory tone.
He laughed heartily and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zuo Lengchan: "What you say is true, senior brother. However, I think that with your brute strength, senior brother, after some proper training, Shen An will surely become a pillar of our Songshan Sect in the future."
"Alright, you and your master have been reunited after so long, you must have a lot to say to each other, so I won't get in your way."
After saying that, he smiled and nodded to Shen An, then turned around and left the main hall with composed steps.
The heavy palace doors were closed again, and the interior returned to darkness and silence.
This time, however, the atmosphere was no longer so oppressive.
Shen An kept his head down, waiting for his master's instructions.
After a long while, he heard a slight rustling of clothes. He looked up and saw that his master had stepped down from the throne and was standing next to the heavy sword that he had abandoned on the ground.
Zuo Lengchan bent down, picked up the heavy greatsword with one hand, casually weighed it in his hand, a strange light flashed in his eyes, followed by a surge of nostalgia.
He remembered that when the senior disciples of his sect fought a bloody battle with the Demonic Sect and were almost wiped out, he, as the senior disciple of the second generation at the time, gathered the remaining fellow disciples to reorganize and compile the incomplete Seventeen Forms of Songshan Sword Technique. He was about the same age as Shen An, or perhaps a little older.
It's true that like master, like disciple.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"Unorthodox and heretical".
The sound wasn't loud, but it made Shen An's heart tighten.
"disciple----"
"How dare you interrupt me when I'm speaking?"
Zuo Lengchan didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice suddenly turning cold: "After three years of wandering outside, have you forgotten all the rules of the mountain?"
Shen An choked up and quickly lowered his head: "This disciple dares not."
Seeing that he had regained his respect, Zuo Lengchan snorted coldly and continued, "My Songshan swordsmanship emphasizes a powerful and imposing style, overwhelming the opponent with sheer force. Your swordsmanship abandons all subtle variations, pushing the concept of 'force' to its extreme. Though the form is different, the essence is the same, even surpassing over 90% of the disciples in our sect. You have not gone astray."
"but!"
But there's always a "but," and Shen An's heart, which had just been at ease, was once again gripped by anxiety.
Zuo Lengchan abruptly changed his tone: "Grasping the essence doesn't mean your swordsmanship is perfected! On the contrary, in my opinion, it's full of flaws! It has domineering presence but lacks variation; it's all force and brute strength but lacks fluidity. Whether it's slashing, sweeping, or thrusting, it's all too immature and lacks refinement! If you encounter someone with greater strength and skill than you, you will be subdued within three moves!"
"I have learned a lot from your teachings," Shen An said, feeling ashamed. He knew that everything his master said was true.
"Daydreaming is useless." Zuo Lengchan's tone was as cold and hard as iron, revealing no emotion whatsoever. "You are walking a path that no one has walked before. My words alone cannot help you. Only by tempering yourself between life and death can this rough jade be polished into a true weapon."
He put his hands behind his back and paced slowly through the main hall, his voice echoing in the empty space: "Your third and fourth martial uncles are both on the mountain these days. Starting tomorrow, go find them every afternoon to train you in swordplay. They will show you just how many deadly tricks are hidden in these few sword moves you've mastered."
This order, which sounded like a punishment, actually delighted Shen An.
To have experts of Lu Bai and Fei Bin's caliber personally train you? What an incredible opportunity!
"Thank you, Master!" He bowed deeply, overwhelmed with emotion.
"Also," Zuo Lengchan stopped, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curving his lips, "when you're exchanging blows with them, remember to ask your seventh uncle to come and watch."
Shen An was taken aback, somewhat puzzled.
Zuo Lengchan spoke in a calm tone, almost as if stating a fact: "Your seventh uncle is most deeply immersed in the orthodox swordsmanship of Mount Song, unmatched by anyone. With him watching over you, he can constantly remind you of the fundamentals and the variations, lest you blindly pursue novelty, newness, and change, and go astray in your cultivation."
He paused, a hint of mockery in his voice: "Of course, given his temperament, seeing your bizarre swordsmanship will probably make him furious. It's a good opportunity—to temper his character."
Shen An was taken aback for a moment, then added casually, "In recent years, his teaching methods have indeed become increasingly rigid."
Shen An suppressed a laugh and respectfully agreed.
"Furthermore, your swordsmanship has one major flaw."
Zuo Lengchan's expression turned serious again: "A single sword strike with no return is too reckless. If it had been a real enemy instead of me, you would have been beheaded the moment you threw down your sword! To put all your bets on a single sword and a still immature sword technique is the act of a reckless fool."
The reprimand was extremely harsh, and Shen An was startled, about to admit his mistake.
"But your decision after abandoning your sword was quite interesting." Zuo Lengchan changed the subject again, "You remained calm in the face of danger, willing to let go and move on. Was that last Great Songyang Palm technique taught to you by your senior brother?"
"Yes," Shen An replied respectfully.
"Hmm, he did well." Zuo Lengchan nodded. "This palm technique is fierce and domineering, which suits your style quite well. After you go back, practice diligently day and night, especially your left hand. Only then can you master the technique of using your left hand and your right hand as a sword, leaving no openings in your body."
I'm not exaggerating, but could Yang Guo do that?
"Furthermore," Zuo Lengchan said coldly, looking at the greatsword, "besides this sword, go to the armory and find a suitable soft sword or short sword to hide in your sleeve or at your waist. In the future, if you encounter a similar predicament where you have to abandon your sword, after throwing away the greatsword, the enemy will think you are a lamb to the slaughter, but you can still strike again."
"Remember, those who survive are often not the strongest, but those with the most methods."
Shen An chuckled upon hearing this. "Master, did I forget to leave a bag of lime?"
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