บท 103: Contrarian Approach
What is a sword?
Zhao Wei's confusion stemmed from the fact that Hai Yun was asking something quite unexpected.
In the novel, it wasn't clearly stipulated what type of arts or Dao, the traitorous Hai Yun pursued.
Maybe it was because Hai Yun was just a minor antagonist meant to be there as a mere chopping board for the protagonist.
Zhao Wei was once again reminded that he was just a reader and even the creator of the novel, King of Gods, was just an author with no power over his fictional reality once he put an epilogue on it.
But then came the question that Hai Yun had asked, "What is a sword?"
To Zhao Wei, the question was very simple with no sense of profundity whatsoever.
There was no deep meaning behind it and honestly, Zhao Wei didn't care if Hai Yun was testing them.
He didn't rush to tackle the question as he waited to hear how the other two would answer.
Zhao Wei didn't have to wait long as Quan Chen raised his hand.
"Master, can I answer?" Quan Chen smiled confidently.
"You may try," Hai Yun hummed a reply as he curiously looked at Quan Chen.
He wondered what type of answer he would get from Quan Chen.
"The sword is the swordsman's closest kin and it represents his conviction and feelings. It is his pride and ideals capable of cutting through injustices, evil, and those who stand in his way." Quan Chen fluently explained with pride in his voice.
'Oho, I honestly didn't expect something like that from you, Quan Chen. You are truly an enlightened being.' Zhao Wei secretly praised Quan Chen in his heart albeit with hidden sarcasm.
Zhao Wei was honestly disappointed by Quan Chen's overly complicated explanation.
Hai Yun didn't show any ripples in his facial expression after hearing Quan Chen's insights.
It was hard to know what was going on inside his mind.
Quan Chen was expecting praise from his master but he only got a blank, unreadable expression from him.
He clenched his teeth in frustration.
"What about you, Bei Moi?" Hai Yun diverted the question to the genius, Bei Moi.
'How will Bei Moi answer the question?' Hai Yun wondered.
"Um, I don't understand the Dao of Sword nor have I ever been interested in it. So I don't think I am confident enough to give the right answer." Bei Moi didn't give a straightforward answer as he didn't want to be proven wrong.
It was true that he didn't dabble in anything related to the Dao of Sword and as a genius, it was a lie to say that he didn't know a thing or two about the sword.
Bei Moi hated nothing more than losing his face after what that detestable Zhao Wei did.
Although he considered himself a true genius, Bei Moi had to acknowledge that he was sitting close to an intellectual monster with all sorts of brainy answers.
Bei Moi understood that Zhao Wei had more comprehension talent than him.
That was the true essence of his rival.
Hai Yun's expression showed some changes after hearing Bei Moi's reply.
Well, he didn't see that coming. If Bei Moi was reluctant to share his insights about the sword, then as the master, he shouldn't bother to pressurize him.
This was an atmosphere of learning anyway.
Zhao Wei felt like laughing after observing Bei Moi's expressionless face.
'He really doesn't like embarrassing himself that boy. Why strive for a perfect answer when the question itself is very simple?'
Zhao Wei understood Bei Moi and even admired him for taking a beating.
"What about you?" Hai Yun had lost hope of getting any exciting answer from his three disciples as he gave the last chance to Zhao Wei.
Zhao Wei slightly cleared his throat as if he were preparing his vocal cords for a bombastic, heaven-shattering answer.
"What is a sword?" Zhao Wei started by asking himself loudly.
Quan Chen looked at Zhao Wei with an anticipatory gaze. He was waiting for the latter to embarrass himself or give an unsatisfactory reply.
'Why are you pretending when you are simply a kid wet behind his ears? You know nothing about the sword compared to me!'
Bei Moi was just curious about what type of sh*t Zhao Wei was going to cook this time.
"A sword is just a tool, simply disposable trash!"
W-What??!
"..."
???
After taking your sweet time to think about the question, now what type of answer are you giving to us?
Bei Moi almost choked on his own saliva. After all, he was the only one who truly understood how Zhao Wei liked to talk like an old sage with near-limitless knowledge.
How could he foresee Zhao Wei spouting bullsh*t with such a straight face?!
Although he was confounded as everyone else, Quan Chen felt happy that Zhao Wei made a fool out of himself.
It would be a lie to say that Hai Yun wasn't angered by the cheap reply from Zhao Wei.
It's just that he didn't show it on his face and kept his cool.
As a dignified True Spirit Realm expert, it wouldn't portray well if he got triggered easily by the words of a mere mortal.
"Can you explain the reason behind your answer?" Hai Yun had an amiable expression on his face as he urged Zhao Wei to expound more on his unforeseen reply.
Zhao Wei arched his brow comically as if his answer didn't need more exposition but to not 'sully' the dignity of his 'master', he cleared his throat.
A scholarly aura merged with indomitable confidence surrounded him as he began.
Elder Hai Yun, Bei Moi, and Quan Chen had the illusion that Zhao Wei was really going to explain something profound as seen by how serious he was.
"As I said before, a sword is simply a disposable tool just as any weapon."
"It is simple and has no deep meaning."
This time round, Zhao Wei gave his true perspective. He had read quite a lot of books related to Weapon Dao in general and the Dao of Sword was very common, with many users in the Azure Flower Continent.
It was your typical, mainstream weapon and Dao of choice in almost every cultivation universe.
"Earlier, I didn't mean to sound vulgar or disrespectful master. I dare not claim that I know everything that there is to know about the sword but what I know is that simply, the weapon matters not."
"The sword shouldn't be overly complicated or overly glorified. The same can be applied to other weapons."
Zhao Wei had more to say but he put an ending to what he had in mind.
Hai Yun looked at Zhao Wei with a stupefied expression for a few seconds before a rare smile formed on his handsome face.
'What a simple explanation. I thought he was going to cause trouble again.' Hai Yun shook his head lightly.
'But it seems the answers that I have been looking for, are very well contained in his inspirational insights.'
'Who would have expected this disciple of mine to indirectly help me in unraveling the mysteries of the Dao of Sword?'
Quan Chen had his mouth hanging wide open, nearly kissing the floor.
A nearby fly narrowly escaped death as Quan Chen quickly composed himself by closing his mouth shut lest he look like a fool.
'I have never seen the master smile. Where in the world are we heading?' Quan Chen cursed inwardly.
"I didn't call you here to ask about the sword by the way. Bei Moi and Zhao Wei, I have something to give you two," Hai Yun said as he removed two jade cases from his sleeves.
A weird expression flashed on Zhao Wei's face when he saw Hai Yun's actions.
Just how the hell do these masters hide things in their sleeves?
Bei Moi received the palm-sized tightly closed jade case from Elder Hai Yun. Zhao Wei also received one.
Even though the special jade case was tightly closed, it didn't prevent the thick medicinal scent contained within from diffusing out.
"Those are the Broken Moon Breath Returning Pills. They are helpful to the cultivation of anyone below the 4th sky of Ascended Realm."
"Also, Zhao Wei, congratulations on your breakthrough. I look forward to your future progression." Hai Yun brandished a meaningful smile as he looked at Zhao Wei.
What? Zhao Wei had a breakthrough? When?
Both Quan Chen and Bei Moi stared at Zhao Wei and true to Hai Yun's words, he had really broken through.
The peak of the Eighth Level of Consolidated Realm!
"I didn't intend to hide it from you guys. It is just that you are too blind. Why didn't you realize it earlier on?" Zhao Wei shamelessly spoke without restraint.
Emotional Damage!
It was true Zhao Wei never took any measures to hide his newly gained cultivation realm.
There was simply no need!
Also, Masters of the True Spirit Realm had spiritual sense and that meant that you really couldn't hide anything from them especially if you had a weaker cultivation base.
***
//OnearmedImmortal//
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