Chapter 157: Lack of Understanding (1/2)
Ming Yue followed him back to the Blade Hall, where he grabbed a chair and sat down.
She looked around for a chair but found that he had the only one. She could only blame it on his eccentricity and sat on the floor.
”I didn't tell you to sit! Stand! And draw your sword!” he barked out.
She did as he said, casually holding her sword.
”Good”, Elder Xiang looked at her, opening a jar of wine and guzzling it down.
Where he had obtained it, she did not know.
Suddenly, an invisible blade conjured itself and flew at her. Sensing its energy, she struck back, deflecting it into the ground. An even stronger one took its place to which she sent off a blade-wind*, which destroyed both itself and the attack upon impact.
”Alright enough, I've seen what I needed to see”, he said, casually tossing several books to her.
”Study these manuals and come by for some sparring at dawn.”
Ming Yue felt content and excited. She would be able to spar with the elder himself! She took the books and gave him a respectful bow before leaving.
As for Elder Xiang, he continued drinking his wine, staring off into space.
”More or less self taught, she lacks the proper knowledge. How she managed this far is quite surprising”, he assessed her quietly as she departed.
”So you just tossed more books at her?” Elder Hua appeared by him, giving a rather disapproving look and the apathetic middle aged elder.
”Mm, you were watching us.”
”Don't change the subject, you gave her more books to read. You aren't even going to teach her?” she was steadfast, not giving Elder Xiang a chance.
”I am, she's going to do some sparring. Those books are to supplement what she lacks.”
”What is she lacking?”
”A proper teacher”
”Wha-don't give me that!”
Elder Hua's aged appearance truly did not match her current childish act. Despite her attempts to pry more information from Elder Xiang, the Sword Elder no longer spoke to her, focusing on his wine jar.
In the end, she gave up, leaving in a huff.
What she didn't notice was that Elder Xiang seemed a bit uplifted.
”Finally, someone interesting”, he thought, looking the many racks of weapons around him.
As for Ming Yue, she returned to her room to skim the manuals. There were a total of four.
”The Formless Sword Manual”
”Veiled Death Sword Technique”
”Martial Wind Arts” and ”Martial Thunder Arts”
The first focused on her sword skill, emphasizing the idea of finding order within the chaos. It would aid her in perfecting her style of fighting where attacks were unpredictable and random. With this manual, her attacks may be unpredictable to others but to her, they would form a pattern or rhythm that only she knew.
The second was an assassination technique, hiding the killing intent and the feeling of death until the very last moment. It focused on controlling one's aura to achieve assassination without their victim ever noticing.
The third was larger than the others, containing a collection of techniques revolving the Wind Dao. In fact, she found techniques similar to the ones she thought of herself. Things like her wind needles, Savage Tempest, blade-winds were all within it. However, these were much more sophisticated compared to her simple renditions. This would massively improve her combat strength and her understanding of the Wind Dao.
As for the last book, ”Martial Thunder Arts”, Ming Yue found it strange that she was given this book. She had a bit of affinity for thunder and lightning but as a Dao, she did not pursue it. For now, she put this away for later.
Both ”Martial” books were similar, compiling numerous techniques as well as placing importance on several skills that indicate one's mastery of their Dao.
Ming Yue was surprised by Elder Xiang's choice of books. It was hard to believe he could determine so much about her through two invisible blades. She put down the books for later and headed off to do complete her daily training with medicine.