The Essence Of Dragon Qi Sword Art, ‘Moon On Water’

While I was training in Dragon Qi Throwing Art under Elder Shanshi’s guidance, I became able to use Dragon Cannon Shot, a secret technique. This Dragon Cannon Shot was a technique where one wrapped dragon qi around the surface of the hand and flicked a projectile with three fingers. If one imagined the dragon qi exploding at the instant the projectile was flicked, the projectile could be launched with tremendous force.

Incidentally, the projectile used at the beginning of practice was a copper ball about two centimeters in diameter. As I was practicing Dragon Cannon Shot, Elder Shanshi approached.

“You still have a long way to go.”

My Dragon Cannon Shot had succeeded in launching the projectile, but it was quite weak.

“When I flick the copper ball, I cannot properly make the dragon qi explode. I feel like I might injure myself, so I hesitate somehow.”

Elder Shanshi nodded as if he understood. Apparently, among Taoist practitioners training in Dragon Qi Throwing Art, many stumbled over similar points.

“If you wrap your hand in dragon qi, you will not injure yourself.”

“I see. The dragon qi protects the hand, then?”

“That is right. By the way, is your training in Dragon Qi Sword Art progressing?”

“Little by little, but I am improving. However, I do not understand how to use Dragon Qi Dance.”

“Ah, I had never shown you what the true Dragon Qi Dance is like. This is a good opportunity, so I will show you.”

Elder Shanshi had three long poles set up in the training ground and picked up a practice sword. Was the reason he used a wooden sword with poor qi flow to restrain its power?

“Use the Lone Awakening Eye.”

“Understood.”

Elder Shanshi began circulating dragon qi through his whole body and poured it into the practice sword. The dragon qi evenly covered the area around the practice sword. As expected of an elder.

With the slow movements of Dragon Qi Dance, the elder approached the pole and swung the practice sword wrapped in dragon qi down at it. The practice sword drew a slow arc as it struck the slender pole, which was about five centimeters in diameter, and it looked as if it had passed through the pole. The next instant, the upper half of the pole dropped to the ground. The elder’s movements did not stop, and he cut through the poles one after another. I could only call it magnificent.

“Magnificent.”

I found a new possibility in Dragon Qi Dance. If dragon qi was used, perhaps anything could become a weapon. In my previous life in Japan, I had seen an anime where someone cut people using paper products. With Dragon Qi Dance, that might be possible too.

When performing Dragon Descending Control, the training method for Dragon Qi Dance, one swung the sword with slow movements. Part of it was because slower movements made it easier to wrap the sword in dragon qi, but Elder Shanshi taught me that the movements of Dragon Descending Control also concealed deep swordsmanship essences, and it was to accurately acquire them.

Apparently, mastering that essence required a fairly strong core. In Gyorei Cave’s martial arts, the core referred to the skeleton, internal organs, and muscles in the center of the torso, and it was said to play an important role in maintaining posture and balance.

After that, I decided to analyze what kind of essence was hidden in the movements of Dragon Descending Control. Incidentally, there were inner disciples besides me who trained in Dragon Qi Sword Art. It seemed those inner disciples were satisfied once they became able to use Dragon Wing and wrap their swords in dragon qi.

According to Elder Shanshi, understanding the essence hidden in Dragon Descending Control was more important than wrapping dragon qi around a sword. When I suggested that he organize the essence into key principles and explain it, it seemed difficult to explain.

“For example, there is a technique called Moon on Water. It cuts the moon reflected on a water surface without a single ripple, but at that moment, you must not create waves. How would you explain that?”

Of course, I knew of Moon on Water. I had also practiced cutting the moon reflected on the water surface, and I had become able to do it. Since it was made possible by a combination of subtle movements, it seemed difficult to explain.

While occasionally receiving Elder Shanshi’s teaching, my Dragon Qi Sword Art improved. My Dragon Qi Throwing Art also improved, moving from the initial stage of flicking copper balls away toward the completed form of launching a ball of dragon qi. This completed form resembled the qi bullet gun. However, its power and range seemed inferior to the qi bullet gun.

At Gyorei Cave, the entrance exam was held as usual. Six inner disciples and two outer disciples passed. Then the appointment of assistant instructors was carried out. The ones chosen as assistant instructors were Haoxuen’s seniors, Jinhai, Shajun, Xinni, and the others.

Among the inner disciples who became assistant instructors, Jinhai, Shajun, and Xinni were good friends. Jinhai was the third son of a large inn and a boy with a sturdy build, Shajun was the son of an official and a lanky boy, and Xinni was the daughter of the county magistrate who governed a region east of the commercial city Boushin.

The three of them were discussing things in the dining hall.

“Shajun. What are assistant instructors supposed to do?”

Jinhai asked.

“We just have to do for the new disciples what was done for us, right?”

Hearing that, Xinni cut in.

“Wait. What was done for us was just being taught the rules of Gyorei Cave and being shown around various places, wasn’t it? Is that really enough?”

Jinhai nodded.

“I feel like that would be bad. I heard that Senior Brother Zurui and the others, who were the previous assistant instructors, were scolded by Senior Brother Johnrin.”

“I heard that too. Maybe we should ask for the details.”

“Who should we ask?”

“We cannot ask Senior Brother Zurui or Senior Brother Minfu, since they were the ones scolded, so why not ask Senior Sister Shunlin?”

“All right, let us go ask Senior Sister Shunlin.”

Jinhai and the others headed to the apothecary where Shunlin was. There, they caught Shunlin and asked her about what assistant instructors should do.

Shunlin smiled wryly.

“I see. So this year, Xinni and the others are the assistant instructors. I was troubled last year too.”

“So what did you do?”

“Kou helped me.”

Shunlin told them that she had learned martial arts and qi training methods from Kou.

“If you want the details, you should ask Kou himself.”

Xinni and the others looked hesitant.

“What is wrong?”

“Senior Brother Kou is called a genius. We are worried whether we will understand his explanation even if we hear it.”

Hearing that, Shunlin laughed.

“Kou is a kind person. I think he will teach you carefully. If you really do not want to, you can ask Haoxuen or Seiran.”

“Understood. We will ask Haoxuen and the others.”