"I understand. I was just wondering if I could study another style or two. I thought drawing parallels might help me better comprehend the Pine Wind Swordsmanship and the Mist Rain Swordsmanship."
This was the excuse Lin Yan had prepared last night.
"Master, Lin Yan has a point. You should have taught me the Pine Wind Swordsmanship and Mist Rain Swordsmanship ages ago."
Jian Sheng, who was standing nearby, chimed in, his face full of anticipation.
Practicing only one or two styles of Swordsmanship was bound to get tedious. Especially after developing Sword Intent, subsequent breakthroughs became harder and harder.
And with his and Lin Yan’s talent for the Sword Dao, it wouldn’t even take three months to go from mastering the basics of a new Swordsmanship style to developing Sword Momentum. That kind of tangible progress was the most satisfying feeling.
He Qiaosheng looked at his disciple’s expectant gaze, then over at Lin Yan, and mulled it over for a moment. "Since you both want to practice a new Swordsmanship style, fine... The only one I have left that’s suitable for you, Lin Yan, is the Flowing Water Swordsmanship. As for Jian Sheng... you will learn the Mist Rain Swordsmanship."
"Thank you, Senior He."
"Thank you, Master."
He Qiaosheng pulled two small booklets from his robes. He didn’t come from a great family, and since he planned to travel throughout the entire Shandong Dao with Jian Sheng, he had already transcribed the swordsmanship manuals. He was just waiting for Jian Sheng to cultivate the Sword Intent of one style to Perfection before teaching him the next.
In the courtyard, He Qiaosheng had moved a comfortable armchair under the eaves. He sat with his legs crossed and his eyes half-closed, the picture of leisure.
Sunlight slanted down from the courtyard wall, landing right at his feet. He lifted his teacup for a sip, his gaze sweeping back and forth between his disciple and Lin Yan. A flicker of curiosity sparked in his old eyes; he wanted to see which of the two would master the basics of their new Swordsmanship first.
Not far away, on the courtyard’s stone pavers, Lin Yan and Jian Sheng each held a Sword Manual, poring over its contents.
Jian Sheng opened his copy of the *Mist Rain Swordsmanship*, muttering to himself and occasionally tracing the Sword Techniques in the air with his hand.
After a few moments, Jian Sheng closed the Sword Manual, stood up, and walked to an open area in the courtyard. He drew his longsword and began his attempt.
Lin Yan glanced at Jian Sheng. ’Rank B talent, indeed. He’s already capturing the aura of the Mist Rain Swordsmanship on his very first attempt.’
He didn’t rush to get up, but remained seated on the ground, turning the pages of the *Flowing Water Swordsmanship* one by one, as if carefully contemplating every word and diagram.
Not until Jian Sheng was on his fifth run-through did Lin Yan close the Sword Manual. He rose unhurriedly, walked to the other side of the courtyard, and drew the Abyssal Sword.
As the Abyssal Sword left its sheath, its jet-black blade glinted coldly in the morning light.
Lin Yan took a deep breath, assumed his stance, and struck.
The edge of the blade was not fast, but as Lin Yan executed his second and third strikes, the glint of his sword became a continuous, unbroken line. It was like water flowing naturally downstream, possessing an indescribable fluidity. It seemed as if he wasn’t the one swinging the sword; it was the water that flowed.
In his armchair, a sharp glint flashed through He Qiaosheng’s old eyes.
’He mastered the basics in a single attempt!’
’With talent like this, why did the Sword Inquiry Stone only rate him as Middle Rank B?’
’Could it be that Lin Yan is simply a natural fit for this particular category of Swordsmanship?’
On the other side of the yard, Jian Sheng had already stopped practicing by the time Lin Yan executed his third strike. He was staring at him, utterly dumbfounded.
’The Flowing Water Swordsmanship was the second style he had cultivated, which he’d only started after bringing the Sword Intent of his first Swordsmanship to Perfection. If he recalled correctly, it had taken him a full hour and over fifty attempts just to master the basics. Only then had he achieved the kind of effortlessness Lin Yan was now displaying.’
"And that talent is only Middle Rank B? Then what does that make my Lower Rank B? Is the gap between Middle and Lower Rank B really that huge? Or could the Sword Inquiry Stone be broken?"
Jian Sheng couldn’t help but mutter. A moment ago, he’d been feeling quite pleased with himself, confident he could master the basics of the Mist Rain Swordsmanship in under twenty attempts. Now, he felt utterly crushed by Lin Yan.
"Now you see the gap between you and Lin Yan, don’t you?"
He Qiaosheng chuckled and stroked his beard as he watched his disciple’s crushed expression.
"Master, I know there’s a gap between me and Lin Yan, but isn’t it a bit... extreme?"
"It’s probably because the Flowing Water Swordsmanship is a good fit for me. After all, I’ve cultivated the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques and the Mist Rain Swordsmanship, and they share some similarities with this style."
Lin Yan sheathed his sword and offered this explanation, but it only earned him a massive eye-roll from Jian Sheng.
"My Flowing Water Sword Intent has already reached Perfection, so how come I can’t master the basics of the Mist Rain Swordsmanship in one go?"
"Alright, that’s enough," He Qiaosheng interrupted. "Lin Yan is being humble to spare your feelings. Stop your muttering."
He Qiaosheng cut off Jian Sheng’s mumbling and turned his gaze to Lin Yan. "Do you want to travel around Taian Prefecture for a while?"
Lin Yan shook his head. "I’d rather return to Qing State Prefecture as soon as possible."
"It’s too early to return to Qing State. If Shen Guyun were to visit the Lin Family, your master would have sent a messenger. Since no message has come, it means Shen Guyun hasn’t arrived at the Lin Family’s home yet."
He Qiaosheng shook his head. The entire reason he had brought Lin Yan out here was to avoid Shen Guyun. Returning now would mean a high chance of running into him, which would make this whole trip to Tai Mountain pointless.
"Senior He, since I can’t return to Qing State, I was hoping to make a trip back to Deng State. It’s been a long time since I’ve been home."
’Lin Yan had already studied the map of the entire Shandong Dao before leaving. From Taian Prefecture, he could take a boat to Lai’an Prefecture and then travel by land. He could reach Deng State in half a month. He could go home to see his aunt and little brother, stay in Deng State for a while, and then head back to Qing State. By then, Shen Guyun would surely have departed for the North Sea Lineage.’
"Going to Deng State is a viable option," He Qiaosheng said. "Your background is a secret within the Lin Family, so Shen Guyun wouldn’t know to look for you there. However, Deng State is the territory of the Profound Celestial Sect, and I have some bad blood with one of their Elders. I’ll take you as far as Lai’an Prefecture, but I won’t go with you to Deng State. My presence there could bring you trouble."
"Thank you, Senior He."
Lin Yan didn’t ask about the history between Senior He and the Elder from the Profound Celestial Sect, but he gathered it must be serious. Otherwise, the senior wouldn’t have warned that it could cause him trouble.
’Even if Senior He himself wasn’t afraid of that Profound Celestial Sect Elder, if the Elder decided to implicate him, his own friends and family back in Guangping County Town could very well suffer for it.’
’In Deng State, the Profound Celestial Sect’s word was law.’
The thought of his aunt and little brother, whom he hadn’t seen in over a year, made Lin Yan’s heart swell with emotion.
’In this world, the place where his aunt and little brother lived was the only place that truly felt like home.’

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