Qiao Zaixian and Lin Beihai watched them depart, letting out a long, relieved sigh. Li Muzhan’s entire focus was on the scrolls; he paid them no mind.
Once they were all gone, Qiao Zaixian turned to Li Muzhan. “Junior Brother. What do you think?”
Li Muzhan had already unrolled the scrolls, utterly engrossed. He nodded in admiration. “Excellent calligraphy. Truly rare and fine calligraphy!”
Qiao Zaixian chuckled, shaking his head. “Junior Brother Li, you are looking at the calligraphy?”
Li Muzhan looked up, surprised. “If not the calligraphy, what else should I be looking at? …Senior Brother Qiao, how did you all gain insight?”
Qiao Zaixian replied, “We compared Elder Ma’s martial arts insights with the Zhaoxia Gong and stared intently at those three characters, ‘Zhaoxia Dian’ (Morning Cloud Palace). A subtle realization began to dawn.”
Li Muzhan frowned, studying him. Lin Beihai interjected, “Junior Brother Li, actually comprehending the Zhaoxia Gong isn't that difficult. Just staring at that plaque for a long time will naturally lead to some understanding eventually. However, everyone’s insights differ in depth, depending entirely on individual fortune.”
Li Muzhan laughed. “None of you studied Elder Ma’s calligraphy?”
“We martial artists, why would we study calligraphy?” Qiao Zaixian laughed heartily. “Junior Brother Li is indeed a scholar; your way of thinking is certainly different.”
Lin Beihai mused, “Senior Brother Qiao, we never considered that point. Perhaps Junior Brother Li has found an entirely new path and truly can achieve enlightenment!”
Lin Beihai had always been proud, being the top expert among the male disciples. He respected Qiao Zaixian for his conduct and magnanimity, not merely his martial prowess. After this recent fight, he harbored no ill will toward Li Muzhan; on the contrary, he regarded him with new respect, deeming him formidable. To have made Senior Sister Gu suffer a loss with such a low cultivation level was rare, and it felt like a small victory for Lin Beihai, as he himself had never managed to defeat Senior Sister Gu.
Li Muzhan smiled wryly. “I’ve only just started cultivating the core technique; I’ve always been a reader. Seeing this, I instinctively wanted to study the calligraphy.”
“Hmm, Junior Brother Lin has a point. Junior Brother Li, just follow your own intuition to comprehend it. Maybe your fortune is deep, and you really can figure it out.” Qiao Zaixian clapped Li Muzhan on the shoulder and grinned. “You managed to defeat Junior Sister Gu; truly impressive!”
Li Muzhan forced a bitter smile. “Senior Brother Qiao, please don’t mock me. I purely got lucky. Holding against two strikes was my absolute limit. One more blow and I would have lost.”
Qiao Zaixian shook his head with a smile. “That might not be true. Junior Brother Li, although your moves are simple, they are fast and fierce, packing quite a punch.”
Li Muzhan admitted honestly, “To tell the truth, I acted purely on instinct. I landed those two punches, but the next one was complete guesswork!”
Qiao Zaixian nodded. “This simply proves your extraordinary talent, Junior Brother. Your future achievements will be limitless! …Very well, Junior Brother, take these back and study them closely. We won’t keep you.”
With that, he pulled Lin Beihai away from the great hall. Li Muzhan watched them go, shaking his head. It seemed the days ahead wouldn't be easy; handling a hundred women wouldn't be simple.
Li Muzhan returned to his small courtyard and carefully examined the two manuscripts. One scroll was a martial arts journal, containing insights on combat developed after witnessing various schools of martial arts—a record of thoughts, outlining characteristics and methods of breaking the techniques of different sects.
The other scroll was a travelogue, detailing his ten years of experience wandering the martial world—exactly what Li Muzhan felt he lacked.
However, neither scroll seemed to relate to the Zhaoxia Gong at all. Although the first scroll mentioned the differences and variances between Zhaoxia Gong and other sect mind techniques, it never truly detailed the Zhaoxia Gong itself.
Li Muzhan vaguely understood: they had seen these scrolls, then looked at the three characters, ‘Zhaoxia Dian,’ and felt enlightenment and improvement, not because of the characters themselves, but because of the first scroll. After studying the first scroll, when they stared at the three great characters, the stillness of mind allowed what they saw to naturally transform into their existing knowledge, unconsciously broadening their perspectives and leading to insight.
Li Muzhan dimly guessed the underlying principle. In that case, these two scrolls offered no direct help. The key to the Zhaoxia Dian ultimately lay with those three characters.
Yet, the three characters seemed ordinary. Moving strictly according to their strokes wouldn't easily form a mental technique. His intuition failed him here; he couldn't decipher the mystery hidden within those three characters.
Li Muzhan, at last, resigned himself to a final method: practicing calligraphy. While the scrolls offered no direct clues to the Zhaoxia Gong, Li Muzhan had gained something: at least he knew this Elder Ma was a man skilled in both martial arts and letters—a true scholar steeped in literature. He had become a martial arts master later in life through chance, and his demeanor retained a certain scholarly elegance and romantic air.
He spent two days studying in his courtyard without realizing the time.
In the early morning, Li Muzhan stood motionless in the courtyard, practicing the Kurong Gong (Wither and Flourish Technique). Dawn and dusk were the best times to cultivate Kurong Gong, absorbing the fresh vitality of the morning.
A knock sounded at the door. Li Muzhan ceased his practice and opened it. Qin Yeqiu stood gracefully outside, clad in a purple robe that made her face look as fair as jade.
“Palace Master.” Li Muzhan smiled, stepping aside to invite her in.
Qin Yeqiu glanced at him, then entered the courtyard. “I heard you sparred with Junior Sister Gu and the others?”
Li Muzhan nodded. “Yes, I sought guidance from Senior Sister Gu for a couple of moves.”
Qin Yeqiu walked to the small pavilion and sat elegantly, watching him quietly. “They told me. They praised your exceptional talent.”
Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head. “My two Senior Sisters really are…”
Qin Yeqiu offered a faint, slight smile. “Do you feel they were being conniving, striking first?”
Li Muzhan replied, “It wasn't striking first; it was the villain crying foul first.”
Qin Yeqiu smirked faintly. “Junior Brother, it wasn't that serious.”
Li Muzhan gave a wry smile and said no more. Viewing the situation from the perspective of the Palace Master, it was indeed a minor matter, and it was difficult for her to consider the feelings of ordinary disciples.
Thinking this, he felt too weary to argue further and stated directly, “Senior Sister, I want to practice calligraphy!”
“Practice calligraphy?” Qin Yeqiu frowned. “You should focus on your cultivation now. I came today to teach you the Zixia Divine Palm.”
“Senior Sister, I want to use calligraphy to comprehend the Zhaoxia Gong.”
“Calligraphy?” Qin Yeqiu paused, then nodded. “No one has tried that before. …Are you confident?”
Li Muzhan replied with a hint of exasperation, “How would I know if I haven't tried?!”
Qin Yeqiu nodded. “I will have someone send writing brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone.”
“Actually, I’m just trying it out. I practice the Kurong Gong, not the Zhaoxia Gong. Even if I comprehended it, I couldn’t practice it.”
Qin Yeqiu shook her head. “Not necessarily. The Kurong Gong can integrate with other core techniques.”
Li Muzhan frowned. “But that would just convert into Kurong Gong power. It’s too troublesome.”
Qin Yeqiu countered, “Though troublesome, it is also convenient. If a mind technique that facilitates rapid progress could supplement it, the Kurong Gong would be perfect!”
While Kurong Gong could conceal one’s aura, its cultivation was more intricate than average mind techniques, and its progress was slow. Others focused solely on increasing the depth of their inner power, merely expanding without containment. Kurong Gong was different; for every amount cultivated, an equal amount needed to be reabsorbed. It required two or three times, or even more, the effort of cultivating standard techniques.
Li Muzhan pondered Qin Yeqiu’s words silently. The progress of Kurong Gong was indeed slow. If supplemented by another core technique—cultivating that first, then converting it to Kurong Gong—it would be better than cultivating Kurong Gong alone, despite the extra complexity.
There was a reason no one in the Purple Silk Palace had practiced Kurong Gong over the years; it truly had flaws. Though the Zhaoxia Gong was incomplete, it was easier to cultivate than Kurong Gong and progressed slightly faster.
“So, you’re saying I need to cultivate Zhaoxia Gong as well?” Li Muzhan asked.
Qin Yeqiu shook her head. “The current Zhaoxia Gong is incomplete. While slightly faster than Kurong Gong, cultivating both is too cumbersome. It’s better if you focus solely on Kurong Gong.”
“But Elder Ma’s Zhaoxia Gong must be more exquisite, right?” Li Muzhan pressed.
“Exactly.” Qin Yeqiu nodded. “Elder Ma actually began training midway, much like you, but ultimately becoming a top master in the world was all thanks to the Zhaoxia Gong.”
Li Muzhan nodded. “Alright, Senior Sister. Rest assured, I will strive to comprehend it.”
“You are a scholar; your insight is superior. Perhaps you can grasp it,” Qin Yeqiu remarked.
Li Muzhan smiled. “Palace Master, I will do my best.”
“Handle it as you see fit. Now, I will teach you the Zixia Divine Palm.”
Li Muzhan nodded with a smile. Qin Yeqiu left the pavilion and began imparting the palm technique.
**~~ShuShu Net
Several mornings later, Qin Yeqiu visited Li Muzhan’s small courtyard again. She saw him in the pavilion, vigorously applying ink. Her flowing purple robe trailed as she approached him from behind. She looked at the characters he was writing: “Zhaoxia Dian.” Beside him was a stack of plain papers.
She took two sheets to look at them; both bore the same three large characters: “Zhaoxia Dian.”
“Not bad. There’s a hint of Elder Ma’s spirit in it,” she nodded lightly.
Li Muzhan’s brush moved like a flying dragon, and he quickly finished another sheet. He placed the brush on the stand and turned. “Senior Sister.”
“How is it?” Qin Yeqiu gazed at his writing.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Still missing a bit of the spark.”
“Hmm—?” Qin Yeqiu looked up. “I think your writing already captures the spirit of Elder Ma.”
Li Muzhan sighed. “Just a tiny bit short. …Does the Palace have any relics left by Elder Ma?”
“There is a sword,” Qin Yeqiu replied. “It’s a treasured sword, always kept among the armaments.”
Li Muzhan hurriedly said, “I wish to use that sword.”
“…Very well. But I cannot give it to you. You may use it for now.” Qin Yeqiu hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding.
Li Muzhan smiled. “Thank you, Senior Sister.”
Qin Yeqiu asked, “Do you have any insight now?”
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Not a shred of understanding.”
“I see…” Qin Yeqiu seemed thoughtful and nodded. “Then I won’t disturb you further. Take your time, no need to rush. If you can comprehend it, that’s excellent. If not, it’s fine too. No one has managed to comprehend it these past years.”
Li Muzhan smiled and said no more. (To be continued.