Chapter 96: Sword, Shoes, Mountains, and Rivers

The Village Chief’s vital energy overflowed, slowly forming into legs and feet, then arms appeared. He gently rose from the stretcher. With a wave of his hand, the Young Protector Sword in Qin Mu’s grasp instantly flew out and landed in his “hand.”

The old man’s eyes were distant, as if he were lost in ancient memories.

Clang—a sword hum resounded. The Young Protector Sword floated in the air. The sword appeared to move slowly, with distinct moves: upward thrusts, horizontal slashes, chops, stabs, cloud sweeps, hanging, pointing, collapsing, upward sweeps, cuts, blocks, horizontal sweeps, flourishes, and parries. All of these were the most fundamental sword techniques. What was different, however, was how the Village Chief combined these basic moves, displaying them to Qin Mu through a peculiar method of sword manipulation.

This was the "Sword Treads Rivers and Mountains" technique.

Under his swordsmanship, the sword light projected shadowy outlines, majestic and grand like mountains, swift and winding like rivers, with rising and falling contours. The interplay of light and shadow from the sword astonishingly formed a magnificent and expansive chronicle of rivers and mountains—a complete landscape painting—before Qin Mu's eyes!

The Village Chief’s first sword form was incredibly complex, imbued with the magnificent grandeur of mountains, cloud-shrouded seas, and vast rivers.

It was a geographical landscape depicted purely by the light and shadow of the sword!

As the Village Chief’s sword techniques shifted, the rivers and mountains depicted by them also changed. The old man wielded his sword and sang, his voice imbued with a mix of heroic spirit and sorrow.

“Strategists in halls devise, fierce generals clash at the borders! Heaven’s opportune time, Earth’s favorable terrain, and human harmony. Can gods be conquered?”

He replied: “Yes!”

“Today, towers and cauldrons stand; someday, swords will tread rivers and mountains. All people sing the Great Wind Song, commanding all gods to come and celebrate!”

His sword moved slowly, specifically to accommodate Qin Mu and allow him to discern the trajectory of the sword techniques. Despite its slow pace, the immense grandeur of the swordsmanship was fully demonstrated through his every guiding movement!

Qin Mu concentrated on memorizing. Although the Village Chief’s swordsmanship was complex, even the most intricate techniques were composed of basic moves like stabbing, upward thrusting, upward sweeping, and pointing. As long as one mastered the fundamental moves, even the most complex sword forms could be learned.

After the Village Chief demonstrated this form once, Qin Mu had already memorized the sword technique. He used a numerical memorization method: stab was one, horizontal slash was two, chop was three, and so on.

He only needed to remember the sequence of numbers, which allowed him to memorize even the most complex swordsmanship in the shortest time.

This was also a testament to the Village Chief’s meticulous planning. For the past two or three years, he had never taught Qin Mu any specific sword forms, instead only having him continuously practice basic moves like stabbing, horizontal slashing, upward thrusting, chopping, and cutting, ensuring he could maximize the power of these fundamental techniques.

With such an incredibly solid foundation, learning complex swordsmanship would now be much simpler and easier.

Qin Mu closed his eyes, reviewing the numerical sequence of the "Sword Treads Rivers and Mountains" technique repeatedly in his mind. Then, he converted the numbers back into moves and reviewed them repeatedly in his mind as well.

After a long while, he finally began to control the Young Protector Sword with his vital energy, slowly and clumsily executing the sword technique the Village Chief had taught him.

His movements were awkward, odd, uncomfortable, and very clumsy. He occasionally had to stop to carefully recall the moves.

By the second attempt, however, Qin Mu was much smoother, though he still occasionally needed to pause and think.

By the third attempt, he could already execute the entire sword form smoothly. However, he still couldn't perform the Village Chief's swordsmanship that depicted landscapes and was almost supernatural.

Qin Mu practiced repeatedly, and his mastery over "Sword Treads Rivers and Mountains" grew stronger. However, fully grasping its profound essence and unleashing its true power in a short time remained challenging for him.

Not long after, Granny Si prepared lunch and called him to eat. Even during the meal, Qin Mu occasionally used his vital energy to lift his chopsticks and practice in the air above the dining table.

When night fell, he practiced for a long time before sleeping, and even in his dreams, he was practicing his sword.

This continued for over ten days, and finally, he grasped the key to the "Sword Treads Rivers and Mountains" technique!

Just as reading a book a hundred times reveals its meaning, the same applies to swordsmanship. Qin Mu had practiced this "Sword Treads Rivers and Mountains" technique not just hundreds, but thousands of times.

He had already mastered this technique completely. This time, when he executed it, a sudden flash of insight struck him. He felt his vital energy and the sword merge perfectly; tall mountains flowed, mountain ranges resembled dragons, and long rivers hung like tapestries. His swordsmanship was executed swiftly, and the sword light and shadows painted a scroll of rivers and mountains!

Ding—the sword light suddenly retracted, returning to the Fish Dragon Mouth guard. Before him, the sword map of rivers and mountains slowly vanished.

Qin Mu was stunned. He had finally mastered this sword technique.

“Mu’er, you’ve come of age,” the Village Chief said with a smile. “From today on, you are an adult, no longer a child. You can leave Crippled Old Village, venture out of the Great Ruins, and make your own way.”

Granny Si leaned by the doorway, watching the sword map appear and disappear, feeling an indescribable mix of emotions.

“Mu’er, you’ve grown up,” she said with a smile.

Qin Mu stayed in the village for a few more days, learning the Sky-Stealing Sun-Shifting Hand from Cripple. Once he had mastered it, the day to leave finally arrived.

Granny Si prepared his luggage for the journey, a very large package filled with all sorts of things Qin Mu deemed unnecessary. She then transformed the Great Educational Heavenly Devil Scripture into a pair of white gloves for him to wear.

After finishing the farewell wine, Qin Mu finally set off, walking out of the village. The young man looked back and saw all nine villagers of Crippled Old Village standing at the village entrance; even the Village Chief, who had manifested his legs, stood among them.

Qin Mu turned back, hugged Old Ma, then Cripple, embracing each person. He then stepped back two paces, prostrated himself three times before Granny Si, and turned to leave.

“Mu’er, if you can’t win, run!” Cripple shouted loudly. “In the distance there is poetry, but even more so, there are challenges and compromises!”

Old Ma waved his hand. “Be strong! If someone bullies you, hit them back! Don’t always give in!”

The Butcher raised his pig-slaughtering knife. “Don’t bring shame upon us old cripples! If anyone bullies you, chop them up!”

“Be a civilized person!”

“If you can’t win, you can use poison!”

“Ah, ahh, ah ahh!”

Qin Mu looked back, waved his hand, and showed a sunny smile.

Not long after, he arrived at Zhenyang Palace Valley. The Demonic Ape was cultivating, breathing in and out, with a monk’s staff standing beside him.

This Demonic Ape was becoming increasingly burly and majestic, with profound cultivation. He had practiced Old Ma’s boxing techniques, and Qin Mu had also taught him the “Hegemon Body Three Elixir Technique.” He now wielded the monk’s staff skillfully, increasingly resembling an incredibly powerful, black-furred demonic monk.

Old Ma’s boxing techniques and the Xi Qiluo monk’s staff both originated from Buddhism. Although the Hegemon Body Three Elixir Technique was not Buddhist, it was very suitable for the Demonic Ape’s cultivation. Thus, the Demonic Ape unconsciously exuded a Buddhist aura, resembling a Buddhist guardian Vajra in a temple.

“What a demonic monk! If Big Fellow could have a monk’s robe and a string of human head-sized prayer beads, he would look even more like a guardian Vajra!”

Qin Mu praised him, then woke the Demonic Ape. “Big Fellow,” he said, “I’m leaving. I’m going on a long journey to a distant place, and I might not return for a long time.”

The Demonic Ape scratched his head. “Far?”

Qin Mu nodded. “Far.”

The Demonic Ape scratched his head again, then looked back at the beast herd in the valley. He suddenly let out a loud roar. From deep within the valley, the Dragon Elephant guarding the herd quickly galloped over, wagging its tail subserviently.

Without a word, the Demonic Ape pinned the massive creature to the ground and gave it a severe beating, leaving the Dragon Elephant black and blue. The Dragon Elephant continuously let out pained cries, trembling and daring not to fight back.

“Guard!” The Demonic Ape pointed at the beast herd in the valley, clenching his fist. The muscles on his arms bulged out like umbrella-sized mushrooms. He snarled, “Eat, die!”

The Dragon Elephant was utterly wronged, continuously nodding while lying on the ground.

The Demonic Ape pulled up the Xi Qiluo monk’s staff and thumped his chest. “Me, go.”

Qin Mu shook his head. “Far.”

The Demonic Ape pointed at himself. “Me, big. You, small.”

Qin Mu shook his head again. “Me, strong. You, weak.”

The Demonic Ape grew furious and stammered, “Talking to you is truly… exhausting!”

Qin Mu gave a wry smile and shook his head. “I’m going to human territory this time, and it’s not like the Great Ruins. There are vicious people everywhere, and bringing you along would be too attention-grabbing. Wait until you can cultivate into a human form; then we can go out and adventure together. Besides, the Dragon Elephant is savage. If you leave him here, he’ll be obedient for the first few days, but he’ll surely eat all your little friends in the valley eventually. And the Dragon Elephant is so stupid, what if it accidentally releases the old devil from Zhenyang Palace? That would be a huge problem.”

The Demonic Ape had no choice but to nod. The Dragon Elephant looked utterly wronged, tucking its tail between its legs and sadly wiping away tears, as if wondering if the beating had been for nothing.

Qin Mu waved his hand and walked out of Zhenyang Palace.

“Little one—” The Demonic Ape jumped onto the cliff, waving vigorously. “Return early!”

Qin Mu arrived at Cuiyun Valley Waterfall and saw Fox Ling’er holding a book, lecturing to several foxes. Just as she reached a profound point, the foxes were listening enthralled.

As Qin Mu walked over, Fox Ling’er quickly put the ancient book aside. The enchanting foxes also quickly stood up and gracefully greeted him, saying in unison with clear voices, “Greetings, Young Master Mu.”

Qin Mu returned their greeting. “No need for formalities,” he said. “Ling’er, I’ve come to bid you farewell. I’m preparing for a long journey to Yankang, beyond the Great Ruins, and I might not return for three to five months.”

The white fox’s eyes sparkled. She quickly ran into the thatched hut, packed a few things, and then swiftly walked out carrying a small backpack. “Sisters,” she said with a smile, “you stay here and cultivate. I’ll go out and adventure with Young Master. Let’s go!”

The little fox’s backpack was hundreds of times smaller than Qin Mu’s, appearing very tiny on her back.

“Sister, are you drunk again?” one fox cautiously asked. “The people outside are very bad; they’ll skin us to make clothes.”

Fox Ling’er smiled. “With Young Master Mu there, nothing will happen.”

Qin Mu felt exasperated. “Ling’er,” he said, “this journey isn’t child’s play; it’s very dangerous. You stay here with your sisters.”

Fox Ling’er smiled. “Demon Spirit King is forcing me to marry him, and I find him ugly, so this is a good chance to go out and avoid the marriage. My sisters here can also cultivate while I’m away and shed their beast forms to become human sooner.”

Qin Mu shook his head. “I’m not taking the Demonic Ape, and I can’t take you either.”

Fox Ling’er blinked her eyes. “Big Fellow is so clumsy; how can he be as clever as me? Besides, Young Master’s diet and daily needs along the way will require someone to look after, won’t they? I don’t want to marry Demon Spirit King. Would Young Master really have the heart to send a fox into a tiger’s den?”

Qin Mu was helpless. “If you insist on coming along,” he said, “you must obey my words and not cause any trouble.”

“Yes!”

By the Surging River, Qin Mu lit several incense sticks and sang a tribute to the River God. Not long after, a River-Bearing Giant Beast swam over. After feeding the beast, one person and one fox stood on its back and traveled downstream, with verdant green mountains on both banks and birds singing in the quiet valleys.

Qin Mu looked towards the river bank. Crippled Old Village flashed by, and Granny Si was still standing at the village entrance, waving to the young man.

“Mu’er, don’t let a vixen seduce you outside… you scoundrel!”

Beside Qin Mu, the little white fox sat primly, then turned her head and stuck out her tongue at Granny Si.

Meanwhile, at this very moment, an old monk arrived at Zhenyang Palace gorge. With fleshy protuberances on his head and dressed in a yellow kasaya, he strode into the valley. Seeing the Demonic Ape practicing the Eight Forms of Thunder Sound, he couldn’t help but stop and utter a word of praise.

The Demonic Ape quickly stopped. The old monk smiled. “Your practice is good; it belongs to my Buddhist lineage. However, you haven’t received the true transmission. I will fully impart this cultivation method to you, and if you are fated, you will learn it.”

The Demonic Ape was puzzled. “Baldy, who?” he asked.

“Are you talking about me?” The old monk, with kindly eyes and a benevolent yet dignified expression, smiled. “I am the abbot of Great Thunderclap Temple; they call me Tathagata. I’m not truly bald; feel for yourself. I have refined my hair into flesh.”

The Demonic Ape extended his large hand, touched his head, and exclaimed in surprise, “Bald, hair!”

The old monk smiled. “You’ve practiced my boxing techniques and taken my staff; our fated connection has arrived. I originally thought my staff had fallen into the hands of a young man, so I came to enlighten him. It seems he has no fate with me, but you do. Come, I will teach you the Tathagata Mahayana Scripture. When your time comes, come find me at Great Thunderclap Temple.”

The Demonic Ape seemed to understand, yet not fully.