Whispering Blade
The gentle breeze made the leaves rustle, as the falling rain made for a scenic backdrop for the two figures kneeling on the soft earth with their clothes drenched. Their clothes grew muddy, yet they knelt there solemnly, seemingly paying no heed to their state, looking at the bamboo swords laying besides them.
The old man had a head full of white hair, black irises with a flowing white beard drenched from the rain. The young man beside him was tall for his age, with black hair, the blood red irises granting his eyes a passionate aura like none other.
"The path of martial arts begins with the training of the body and the mind. Only by forging the body into a divine weapon, and sharpening the will into an unparalleled sword, can one cut apart the obstacles on their path and keep improving their cultivation." Jiang Junjie seemed to be a completely different person from his usual gentle and composed persona. His face solemn, his eyes lit up with an unbridled passion and unwavering determination. In that instant, Jiang Ting, felt his blood boil as he could finally see his grandfather in his element, not as a gentle old man but as a grand warrior without match, burning with endless arrogance and heroism.
"When the ancestors of humanity first stepped into the path of martial arts, they blindly floundered around, seeking to find the right path through trial and error. This came at great cost, as most of them either made errors that either blocked their future path of cultivation, caused irreparable damage to their foundations, destroyed their foundations completely, or even cost them their lives. Through the unwavering spirit of these fearless pioneers, the human race finally developed its own cultivation system, sought through endless failures, minor improvements, the tears, sweat, blood and too many lives of the human race's forebearers. The final result is our current cultivation system, which possibly can be perfected further. This perfection of the system is the proud dream our ancestors once dreamt and entrusted to us to fulfill." Jiang Junjie's voice was tinged with pride, and Jiang Ting found it hard to keep his enthusiasm in check.
"Over the course of millions of years, several humans reached great heights in the martial path, reaching realms never known before. They mastered and claimed dominion over the laws of heaven and earth, giving rise to legendary figures who could burn the skies, drown the earth, and use on sword to cut down continents. Our Jiang clan is one such clan that focused on the path of the sword for the few thousand years of our clan's illustrious history." Jiang Junjie smiled at his grandson, well able to imagine his thoughts. Jiang Ting shivered slightly. He felt slightly lost. 'The Jiang clan? What is that? Judging by grandpa's words, it was quite obvious that he, his grandfather and his mother should have been from the Jiang clan. Yet how is it that this is the first time he's hearing about his mother's side of the family after having reached fourteen years of age?'
Jiang Ting tried to compose his emotions. The answers he sought lay with his grandfather, and the truth would soon reveal itself to him.
"Our Jiang clan is one of many clans since ancient times to specialize in the cultivation of the sword, yet we have had rather remarkable achievements among our peers. Naturally, over the course of millennia, the seniors of our clan learnt several sword arts and passed down these arts along with their comprehension in the learning of these arts. Today I will teach you the Jiang clan's secret art which is comparable to the 7 core techniques of the Jiang clan."
Jiang Junjie stood up, walking towards the edge of the cliff of the mountain where they resided. He motioned for Jiang Ting to follow. Jiang Ting stood up all excited, 'Finally, I can learn martial arts.' He ran behind his grandfather till he caught up, following just behind him and trying his best to keep his bubbling enthusiasm in check.
Jiang Junjie walked to the edge of the cliff and raised his right hand, as if grasping the wind. Jiang Ting looked on, puzzled. His grandfather hadn't drawn the bamboo sword in his left hand, instead raising his right hand as if there were a real sword in it instead.
Swoosh. Suddenly, the sound of the air splitting could be heard from below, seemingly from the foot of the mountain. Jiang Junjie looked straight ahead indifferently as Jiang Ting was confused.
Suddenly a marvelous azure blue hilted sword with a snow-white sheath streaked through the air into Jiang Junjie's raised right hand, who unsheathed it to reveal the most beautiful emerald-green blade Jiang Ting had ever seen.
"So beautiful..." whispered Jiang Ting, seemingly entranced by the beauty of the sword. At this point he knew. He must be a swordsman. If only to be worthy of wielding such a magnificent blade.
"Watch carefully, I will only be able to show you this sword once." Jiang Junjie stated in a calm tone as he closed his eyes. Jiang Ting tensed up, focusing on his grandfather's proud figure with every bit of concentration he could muster.
Slowly opening his eyes, Jiang Junjie revealed a tranquil expression, taking his time to slowly perform 9 slashes in the air. After that, he slowly returned his sword to its snow-white sheath before turning around and walking off, leaving a dumbfounded Jiang Ting behind. All Jiang Ting could see were 9 emerald streaks of light in the sky, tens of miles long each. Suddenly the sky splintered and shattered, revealing a black void with 9 emerald streaks of light illuminating it.
Destructive winds flew through the heavens, seemingly to destroy the forests and mountains, yet instead of running in fear, Jiang Ting stood still, watching the sky in a trance.
"Incredible... Is this... a swordsman?" muttered Jiang Ting as the sky slowly repaired itself.
The old man walking down the mountain smiled as he heard this.