Chương 35: The Essence of Martial Arts
Drawing the bow, nocking the arrow, releasing the string.
In the gentle morning light filtering through the wooden lattice windows, Lin Xi meticulously repeated these actions time and again.
This time, he held the bow with his right hand and controlled the string and feathers with his left. After completing this sequence slowly and with utmost concentration fifty times, Lin Xi set down the black longbow and arrows, removed the two pale golden finger caps from his left hand, and gently massaged the sore, swollen muscles of his arm.
After a brief pause, a clear bell chimed from the Zhi Ge New Student Hall. Lin Xi then placed the black longbow and arrows into the cabinet, stowed the golden finger caps in a small black pouch, and tucked it into his sleeve. He pushed open the door and stepped outside, where he awaited Tang Ke and Li Kaiyun. Together, they walked effortlessly into the western dining hall on the first floor, joining Bian Linghan and others at a table to finish their meal before exiting the Zhi Ge New Student Hall.
This marked the third day of his and Bian Linghan's special training as Windwalkers, coinciding with the first day of their other classes. It was said that in the evening, numerous clubs from the academy would gather at various new student halls to recruit like-minded members.
Lin Xi and the legendary middle-aged man shared a simple thought: since they had inevitably arrived in this world, they could only find ways to live well and make their lives more extraordinary.
Having become a student of Qingluan Academy, and thus bearing certain responsibilities, it was wise to maintain a few discreet secrets.
Instructor Tong had advised him to abandon the notion of practicing holding the bow with both hands to avoid wasting time, yet Lin Xi understood that despite his aptitude being rated at two, he was destined to shoot many more arrows than those of the same cultivation level. Most importantly, this endeavor would not consume too much time.
After practicing with his left hand, he would then train with his right. With his current physique, he could draw the bow about fifty times at most.
Moreover, this was merely an ordinary hundred-step hardwood longbow... According to Instructor Tong, Windwalkers always pursued the instantaneous lethality, and thus, the bows and arrows they would eventually be equipped with must be ones that their bodies could barely withstand, wielding tremendous power.
Such bows and arrows would likely be drawn only a few times in a day, with the true limitation being the soul power.
Soul power is the foundation for all practitioners in this world; hence, the initial courses for all new students at Qingluan Academy focused on soul power cultivation. After several days of soul power training, students began to grasp the fundamentals. Subsequently, the Zhi Ge department's curriculum consisted of alternating days of soul power training, martial arts, archery, wilderness survival, followed by four days of elective courses, repeating this cycle.
The schedule was densely packed, leaving little time for rest; however, most instructors only taught for about half a day, allowing students nearly half their time to choose their activities.
This day's lesson focused on martial arts.
...
Similar to the first class of soul power training, the first day of martial arts lessons took place in a valley adorned with purple flowered hills, flowing streams, and thatched bamboo huts.
Standing by the stream beneath a willow tree was a black-robed instructor, a middle-aged man with a pale, beardless face, cold and expressionless. His black robe bore the same two emblems as Instructor Tong: one a thorn emblem, the other a falling star emblem.
"I am Xu Shengmo, and from today onwards, I will be your martial arts instructor."
As he observed the new students of the Zhi Ge department arriving, the pale-faced, beardless instructor broke a willow branch from the nearby tree, gesturing for everyone to gather in the open space before him.
Throughout his speech, his face remained devoid of expression, resembling one wearing a white mask.
Lin Xi's brow twitched; it seemed Xu Shengmo cast a glance in his direction, his eyes icy, with a hint of yellow in the pupils, even evoking a sense of murderous intent in Lin Xi.
If he treated his own students with such indifference... this instructor's demeanor suggested a lack of affection or compassion for living beings, akin to the careless breaking of the willow branch.
"What is martial arts?"
Without any unnecessary preamble, Xu Shengmo abruptly inquired in a tone devoid of warmth.
"Lin Xi!" Before anyone else could respond, Xu Shengmo pointed directly at Lin Xi.
Taken aback, Lin Xi pondered for a moment before replying, "Martial arts is the skill of defeating others?"
"To even ponder such a question for so long as a member of the Zhi Ge department, and still answer incorrectly," Xu Shengmo remarked without sparing Lin Xi a glance, his expression as cold as ever as he addressed the others. "Martial arts, naturally, pertains to the art of killing."
The chilling implication behind his words and demeanor sent a shiver through all the new students of the Zhi Ge department. Tang Ke, standing next to Lin Xi, could only imagine facing such an adversary—just the thought weighed heavily on his chest, conjuring a dread that made him break into a cold sweat.
By the stream, beneath the willow tree, silence enveloped the group.
"Lin Xi, I trust you won't refuse to cooperate with me, making it easier for them to understand the principles I convey," Xu Shengmo's gaze suddenly returned to Lin Xi, his voice cold and commanding.
Lin Xi furrowed his brow, but Xu Shengmo continued without allowing for refusal: "Come forward and attack me with all your might, using any method you wish."
...
Standing before Xu Shengmo, Lin Xi suddenly shrank his figure and threw a punch toward Xu Shengmo's abdomen.
He knew that even if he landed a punch, it would hardly inflict any damage. Thus, he executed the strike with full intensity, leaving nothing in reserve.
Yet, as his fist surged forward, a willow branch swept across, striking his arm with a resounding crack.
Though slender, the branch delivered a searing pain that made Lin Xi cry out in suppressed agony, causing his entire body to curl up and come to a halt.
"..."
The pain contorting Lin Xi's features and the loud crack of the willow branch against his arm made all the new students of the Zhi Ge department gasp involuntarily, some even feeling the urge to rub their own arms. Meanwhile, Xu Shengmo, standing under the willow tree, looked at Lin Xi with derision and said coldly, "I instructed you to attack me with all your strength. You are still capable of fighting; it's merely a bit of pain. Why do you wish to stop? If this were the battlefield, such pain would lead to your demise at the hands of your opponent. Continue!"
Lin Xi gritted his teeth; the pain in his right arm left him slightly numb. After a moment of hesitation, he swung his left fist fiercely toward Xu Shengmo's chest.
"Crack!"
Xu Shengmo's willow branch struck Lin Xi's left arm accurately, causing that side of his body to sink slightly and curl in response to the pain.
As Lin Xi's body curled, he simultaneously kicked out hard toward Xu Shengmo's groin.
Anyone witnessing a boy in such agony still managing to deliver a kick would feel a chill, but with a swift crack, Xu Shengmo merely flicked his wrist, and the willow branch struck Lin Xi's foot once more.
Lin Xi stumbled and half-sank to the ground, his body trembling. Observing this scene, even Mu Shan Zi and Qiu Lu, who had previously been at odds with him, felt a chill rather than reveling in his misfortune. They were relieved, yet all the new students were taken aback when Lin Xi, seemingly intending to rub his aching ankle, suddenly seized a stone from the ground and hurled it at Xu Shengmo, simultaneously leaping up to deliver another fierce kick.
This unexpected strike could only be described as cunning, yet Xu Shengmo remained expressionless, coldly waving his hand as the willow branch accurately intercepted the stone.
With a resounding crack, the branch splintered into fragments, while Lin Xi's fist-sized stone ricocheted back, crashing into his chest.
Lin Xi's complexion turned pale; his foot was less than a foot away from Xu Shengmo, yet he faltered, unable to reach, and collapsed heavily to the ground.
...
"Lin Xi, are you alright?"
Hua Jiyue reached out to help Lin Xi up, her bold nature disregarding the gazes of others. However, upon seeing Lin Xi struggle to breathe, his face pale and trembling, her hand froze in mid-air, fearing that her actions might cause him further harm.
The severity of Xu Shengmo's actions stirred within her a silent indignation toward the instructor.
"Soul power allows you to endure injuries you normally couldn't withstand." Yet Xu Shengmo did not even glance at the fallen Lin Xi, discarding the half-broken willow branch, and coldly stated, "I can easily defeat or even kill all of you because I am faster and stronger. All tricks are futile in the face of absolute speed and power. Many academies teach flashy techniques, but at Qingluan Academy, I will teach you to be faster and stronger, utilizing the most direct and effective means to eliminate your opponents. If we must speak of techniques, I will only tell you which vulnerable points on the body yield the best results."
Still not looking at Lin Xi, Xu Shengmo continued coldly, "Thus, our students at Qingluan Academy develop their instincts for combat through relentless practice."
"The essence of martial arts... is to fight continuously, to engage in battle without end?"
Finally catching his breath, Lin Xi felt as though he had danced on the edge of life and death, a bitter smile forming within him. Quick, precise, and direct methods of killing—wasn't that merely Jing Wuming?
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