12 Be My Shifu

Luo Qingye sat against the mouth of the cave and watched as Wang Jingyuan practiced the martial arts forms he taught her this morning. They first covered a few basic items, such as the proper stances and gripping the sword correctly, and Wang Jingyuan mastered those quickly. Now they had moved on to the Xuanyan Sword Skills, and she was doing well—much better than Luo Qingye had anticipated.

"You're a quick learner," Luo Qingye commented when Wang Jingyuan concluded the set. "But you always forget to parry from the left. And when you thrust your sword out in the third form, make sure to keep your right side protected. Otherwise, it is extremely easy for your opponent to strike you there."

Wang Jingyuan nodded. "Thank you for your pointers, Senior Luo. I'll practice the set again." She stepped into the beginning stance and started from the first form.

The Xuanyan Sword Skills consisted of forty-nine forms. Luo Qingye had only taught Wang Jingyuan the first ten, but he thought that he could teach her another ten in the afternoon. The girl really did have a knack for this, he thought to himself. With his internal forces that he'd spent more than two decades cultivating, she will be a formidable force indeed. Hopefully, it would be enough for what he will eventually send her to do.

Meanwhile, Wang Jingyuan had never felt more alive. Raw energy coursed through her veins. Although she had a rocky start in the beginning, she quickly got used to the feel of a sword in her hand. She loved watching it flash in the sunlight and hearing the whoosh of wind as she sliced through the air. At first, she was hesitant about her ability to master the Xuanyan Sword Skills, but Luo Qingye was right—now that she had his internal forces and power, it was only a matter of familiarizing herself with the actual moves.

Wang Jingyuan practiced all day, and continued to even after the sun set. Finally, when she really couldn't see much in the darkness, she returned to the cave. Luo Qingye was already eating a white radish bun by the fire. "You're doing great," he said. "You really have an aptitude for martial arts. If you had started training when you were young, I am confident that you would be as good as some of the chiefs of the smaller sects."

"Really? Senior Luo, you're too nice." Wang Jingyuan returned the sword to its sheath and held it out to Luo Qingye. "Here's your sword back, Senior Luo."

"It's yours now." Luo Qingye swallowed a bite of the bun.

Wang Jingyuan blinked once, twice, before the full weight on what he said sunk in. "Senior Luo, you've already given me your internal forces and taught me the Xuanyan Sword Skills. I can't take your sword too!" She continued holding out the sword to Luo Qingye, who pushed it back towards her.

"Miss Wang, I have no use for it anymore. This Feng Ming Sword has served me well for over two decades, and it will serve you well in your lifetime too. What's a martial artist without a proper weapon?"

"But—"

"Besides, you saved me; I should thank you properly. I don't have anything else, but Feng Ming is one of the best swords in the world and ranked as one of the highest grade weapons. Please take it as a token of gratitude from me, Miss Wang."

"Senior Luo…" Wang Jingyuan didn't know what to say. An idea flashed in her mind and expanded, until she couldn't believe she didn't think of it sooner. Her knees buckled and she knelt in front of Luo Qingye, who was so startled he almost dropped his half-eaten radish bun.

"Miss Wang, what are you doing? It's just a sword; no need for such formalities!"

"Senior Luo, we met only two days ago, and you not only gave me the internal forces and powers that you spent your entire life cultivating, but you are also teaching me the sword skills of your sect. Now you're giving me the sword that has accompanied you for years. I—I can't express my gratitude enough, Senior Luo. How can I ever repay you?"

As she spoke, Wang Jingyuan began to kowtow towards Luo Qingye. Even though telling the auntie in the village that Luo Qingye was her mentor was originally a lie, now that he was teaching her swordsmanship, Wang Jingyuan has come to see him as really her mentor. What kind of proper disciple does not kowtow to her mentor?

"Oh my, dear child, please rise." Even with one good arm, Luo Qingye was able to prevent Wang Jingyuan from bowing all the way to the ground. "Miss Wang, it should be me who is thanking you. You went out of your way to help a dying stranger; that is a commemorable deed. Like I said, I have no more use for my internal forces and sword. I'd rather someone else take them and use them to do more good in the world."

Wang Jingyuan remained kneeling. "Senior Luo, I have a bold request. Can you become my shifu?"

Luo Qingye hesitated. "Miss Wang, I'm a dying man. I won't be a very good mentor, nor will I be able to teach you anything beyond the Xuanyan Sword Skills and Song of the Phoenix."

"You've opened the door to a world I've always wanted to be a part of, and that's good enough for me." Wang Jingyuan was very insistent. "Shifu, please accept this disciple's respect!" She bowed all the way down so her head touched the ground, and repeated this motion three times. This time, Luo Qingye didn't stop her.

"Alright, dear child. I accept. Please, rise." Luo Qingye pulled Wang Jingyuan to her feet. "I'm glad to have such a bright and hardworking disciple like you, Miss Wang."

"Shifu, please just call me Jing-Jing," Wang Jingyuan said. "I know normally there would be a big ceremony for taking in a new disciple and such, but I'm afraid I don't have anything for us to celebrate the occasion."

"That won't be necessary," Luo Qingye waved her concern aside. "You are still my disciple even if there isn't an official ceremony. If anyone questions you, you have Feng Ming and the Xuanyan Sword Skills to prove it."

"Tomorrow, I'll go down to the village and buy some wine and meat," Wang Jingyuan planned. "I'm going to be a filial disciple."

Luo Qingye laughed. "You're going to be using my money to buy things for me? A little strategist, aren't you?"

Wang Jingyuan smiled sheepishly. As the crickets chirped outside, mentor and disciple chatted and laughed over a warm fire, their worries momentarily forgotten.